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Phoenix has been one of the best stories in the league this season. Former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott has done an excellent job leading what felt like a rudderless team after the disastrous Kevin Durant trade back into relevancy. They’re firmly in the playoff race in a tightly contested Western Conference with a 27-19 record.
Despite the good play, the Suns have struggled without Booker this season. They’ve been outscored by 2.1 points per 100 possessions (40th percentile) when he isn’t on the floor and are 1-4 in games he doesn’t play overall.
On the season, Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 6.2 assists, and four rebounds per game on .456/.313/.864 shooting splits.
No matter who is in the lineup, this upcoming stretch will be difficult for the Cavs. We’ll see how the Cavs handle it in the coming week, after they host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks Date: January 28th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CST Location: American Airlines Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
The Wolves finally stopped the bleeding Monday night, snapping the five-game losing streak by beating the Warriors’ B squad at Target Center. And yes, we all understand the fine print on the receipt: no Steph Curry, no Jimmy Butler, and Golden State looked like a team that was mostly trying to survive the evening without someone pulling a hamstring tying their shoes.
But here’s the thing: when you’re 0–5 in your last five and you’ve spent the last week playing basketball like you’re distractedly scrolling Twitter at half court, any win counts. Not “counts” like it moves you up the standings in some dramatic way. “Counts” like a drowning person grabbing a life preserver.
Minnesota did it without Anthony Edwards again, who continues to have issues with his foot. They had four of five starters available, they brought competent energy, and they handled business the way a serious team is supposed to handle a compromised opponent: build separation, keep it, don’t get cute.
Now comes the next test, and it’s the kind of test that tells you whether the Wolves are actually pulling themselves together or just enjoyed one nice evening before returning to their regularly scheduled chaos.
They head back to Texas, scene of the recent crime spree (Houston and San Antonio), except this time the opponent isn’t a contender with Kevin Durant or Victor Wembanyama. It’s Dallas, who is struggling, banged up, and missing major pieces. No Kyrie Irving. No Anthony Davis. And maybe no Cooper Flagg, who’s listed as a game-time decision. This is less “climbing Everest” and more “successfully walking up a flight of stairs without tripping,” which… considering the last two weeks… still qualifies as progress.
And that’s the point. Sometimes you don’t fix a shaky season with one grand moment. Sometimes you do it with baby steps: beat the depleted Warriors, beat the depleted Mavericks, and then you look up and suddenly you’ve got some stability heading into Thursday’s OKC game instead of an emotional crater.
So let’s treat this correctly. Dallas isn’t the type of team you circle as a signature win. Dallas is the type of game you circle as mandatory.
Here are the keys.
Keys to the Game
1. Weaponize the size advantage Dallas is limping into this one, and without Anthony Davis in particular, there’s no excuse for Minnesota not to own the paint. This is where the Wolves’ identity is supposed to live: Rudy Gobert anchoring the back line, and Julius Randle and Naz Reid crashing to the rim. They did a solid job exploiting the Warriors’ lack of size. Now they need to turn that into a habit, not a one-night stand. If Minnesota wins the paint and the boards, Dallas runs out of ways to stay in the game.
2. Play like the game matters for 48 minutes — because it does. This is the danger zone game. The Wolves finally get a win, the schedule looks friendly, and the brain starts whispering, We can coast a little. That’s how you lose to injured teams, turn a possible two-game win streak into another spiral, and end up doing the “how did we end up in the play-in?” math in March. Minnesota has already proven they can flip intensity on and off like a light switch. The problem is they’ve been using it like a broken one. This has to be a professional effort from the opening tip. Sprint back. Hit the glass. Make the extra rotation. Don’t wait until the fourth quarter to start caring. You don’t build momentum by winning one game. You build it by stacking another one right after it, especially on the road.
3. Guard the perimeter. Even depleted teams can beat you if you let them get comfortable from three and turn the game into a math problem. Minnesota has been at its worst when the wing defense becomes optional. When guys get blown by, Rudy gets dragged into impossible help situations, and suddenly every possession is either a layup or a scramble into an open corner three. Dallas doesn’t need to be healthy to make you pay if you’re lazy. The Wolves have to close out like they mean it, contain dribble penetration, and keep the ball in front. The goal should be simple: make Dallas work for every shot, and make their offense feel heavy. If Minnesota keeps Dallas in the mud for three quarters, this game ends early.
4. Take care of the ball and keep the offense flowing. We just watched the Wolves cough it up 25 times against Golden State on Sunday. That wasn’t a “bad luck” thing. That was a carelessness thing. Monday only looked better because it couldn’t possibly be worse, with Minnesota giving the ball away 22 times. This game cannot become another “we gave them life” situation where Dallas hangs around because Minnesota is throwing away possessions like expired coupons. The Wolves need clean decision-making, purposeful ball movement, and a steady pace. No dribbling the air out of it. No lazy cross-court passes. No possessions that end with someone launching a bailout three because the offense died at the top of the key. Especially if Ant is out again, the Wolves have to score through structure with movement, paint touches, kickouts, and extra passes.
5. Leadership can’t be a postgame quote — it has to show up in the first quarter. This is the big one, especially if Edwards remains sidelined. When a team is wobbling, and make no mistake, Minnesota is wobbling, leadership isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you demonstrate. Rudy has to set the defensive tone. Conley has to organize the chaos and keep everyone connected. Randle has to play forceful but smart bully-ball with reads, not tunnel vision. And the “middle class” guys (DDV, Naz, Jaden) have to bring real edge, not passive cardio. Monday was a step toward stopping the bleeding. Wednesday has to be the game where they show they can walk normally again.
This is where the Wolves are right now: not in the “make a statement” phase, but in the “prove you’re not broken” phase. Dallas is injured. Dallas is struggling. Dallas is vulnerable. If Minnesota plays with maturity, this is a workmanlike road win, the kind you bank, the kind you don’t brag about, the kind that quietly steadies your season.
But if they come out sloppy, unfocused, and casual, if they treat this like a night off because the opponent is shorthanded, then we’re right back in the swamp. And the OKC game won’t be a measuring stick. It’ll be a scheduled disaster.
So yeah: baby steps. Beat the depleted Warriors. Beat the depleted Mavericks. Get your footing back. Then turn your attention to OKC with something resembling confidence.
Because the Wolves dug this hole themselves. And the only way out is to start stacking wins that aren’t glamorous, just necessary.
PAARL, South Africa (AP) — South Africa captain Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls as the Proteas beat the West Indies by 9 wickets Tuesday in the opener of their three-match T20 international series.
Markram, who hit nine boundaries and three sixes, shared a partnership of 83 with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (44) and 93 with Ryan Rickelton to reach 176-1 with 13 balls to spare.
Left-arm spinner George Linde picked 3-25 to earn player-of-the-match honors, while Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch took two wickets each as the visitors reached 173-7 in 20 overs after South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Shimron Hetmyer top-scored for the West Indies with 48 runs off 32 balls that included four boundaries and three sixes. Hetmyer and Rovman Powell (29 not out) shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 74.
We certainly already knew the three Hall of Famers who will be coaching those young stars: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. Those three, not so coincidentally, make up three-quarters of the NBA Showtime crew at NBC Sports.
Tuesday night, we found out who would be on which team — a live, schoolyard-style draft of the rosters that happened live on NBC and Peacock. The Hall of Famers drafted those 21 rookies and sophomores onto their three squads.
Here is how the teams shook out:
Team Carmelo Anthony
Team Vince Carter
Team Tracy McGrady
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
Kel'el Ware (Miami Heat)
Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
Tre Johnosn (Washington Wizards)
Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
Egor Dëmin (Brooklyn Nets)
Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
Anaylysis
• Carmelo Anthony picked the Mavericks' Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall selection in this draft. The only surprise would have been if he hadn't taken Flagg first.
• Vince Carter made the first mildly surprising pick, taking the Pelicans' standout rookie big man Derik Queen No. 4 — in front of any of the sophomores.
• It wasn't Stephon Castle who was the first sophomore selected, it was the Heat's Kel'el Ware, because McGrady "likes his game" and wanted some rim protection.
• My early pick to win it all: Team Carmelo Anthony. On the broadcast, the Showtime crew talked like general managers, discussing balance and defense. Anyone who has seen a Rising Stars Challenge (or, for that matter, any All-Star Game) knows this is a pickup game. It's free-form. Who has the athletes? Who has the shooters? Who has the guys who can play in transition? Give me Flagg, Castle, Harper and Fears running the break with Sheppard sprinting the arc and knocking down 3s.
• That said, Team Vince Carter, with Edgecombe, Buzelis and the underrated Coward, will be tough to beat. The guy who could thrive in this setting and break out? Derik Queen. If that happens, Carter could get bragging rights with his squad.
• Those three teams will enter a mini-tournament (more on the format below). That fourth team is made up of G League players and will be coached by former NBA player and NBC analyst Austin Rivers. That team is:
Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars) Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics) David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs) Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers) Alijah Martin (Raptors 905) Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)
Rising Stars Game format
The Rising Stars game will take place starting at 9 p.m. ET, Friday night, Feb. 13, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. — less than a mile down the road from the (now) Kia Forum where Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers once held court.
The Rising Stars Game will follow last year's format that led to some entertaining basketball: Those 21 rookies and sophomores listed above will be drafted by the Hall of Famers into three teams of seven players each, with G League players forming the fourth team.
Those four teams will play in a traditional, straight-up mini-tournament with two semi-final games to 40 — no time limit, it's just first to score 40. The winners of those first two matchups will face off in a championship game to 25.
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Every moment of NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles — Friday's Rising Stars game on Feb. 13, All-Star Saturday Night, including the 3-point Contest and Dunk Contest on Feb. 14, and the All-Star Game itself on Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
After nearly half a decade of watching ping pong balls and waiting for the draft to improve the roster, the San Antonio Spurs finally have a winning team. At 31-15, the Spurs are second in the Western Conference and on the fast track for a playoff spot. The NBA Draft is out of sight and out of mind for most Spurs fans.
But when you’re a basketball junkie, catching college hoops games and doing deep dives on the next class of NBA players, it’s hard not to think about which exciting young prospect could don the Silver and Black next season. It’s even more exciting when San Antonio has a pick that may be headed for the lottery, despite their success. The Spurs own swap rights with the 23-25 Atlanta Hawks in the upcoming draft. If the season ended today, that pick would be 12th overall.
Experts have praised the 2026 draft class for having top-tier talent and strong depth. If San Antonio lands a pick in the 10-14 range, they could likely grab a rotational player. That’s great news for a Spurs team that could use more high-quality depth at the wing and forward positions to complement Victor Wembanyama and their guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
Of course, trading a lottery pick in a package for a high-quality wing upgrade will still be on the table, but if the Spurs use their pick in the upcoming draft, here are some names to keep an eye on when you flip on a college game.
The Spurs have built a long, versatile, tough defensive squad around Wembanyama. They could double down on that team build by taking Haugh in the upcoming draft. The Junior Gator has been outstanding in his first season as a starter for Florida. He’s a big, strong wing who can guard on the perimeter and swat shots away inside. He’s got a high motor, and Florida head coach Todd Golden has trusted him to play 34.3 minutes per game (a college game has 40 minutes).
Haugh has developed a lot offensively over his 3-year career at Florida. He’s great at attacking the rim and has a high basketball IQ, knowing where to be on the floor and making the right passing reads. Here comes the part Spurs fans won’t want to hear – his shot is still developing. It’s a clean release, but it doesn’t always look the most fluid. He’s shooting just under 34% from deep, so he’s not a sharpshooter, but he is a threat when left open.
Betting on Haugh would take belief in his development over the course of his college career. He went from an energy big man off the bench to the sixth man for a National Championship team, to a go-to option on the wing in his junior season. He’d fit into the Spurs roster as a player who could guard bigger players and quicker wings, while giving them another swingman who can finish around the basket and put pressure on the rim. Mix in a high motor on both ends, and he could be a winning player for San Antonio. His jump shot is the final piece that needs to fall into place.
The Spurs have gone through anemic offensive stretches this season. When Wembanyama is jammed up, and the paint is blocked off for Fox, Castle, and Harper to do damage inside, the team has struggled to find shots on the perimeter and mid-range. If they want an offensive weapon on the wing, look no further than Carr. The Baylor Junior is a great athlete, fluid with the basketball and drills threes. You’ll see him hit deep contested threes, shots coming off movement, or pull-up threes off the bounce.
He’d fit well into the Spurs system, too. He’s not a primary playmaker, but he’s shown some decent passing chops this season as a secondary ball-handler, tossing 2.5 assists per game. He’s not a great defender right now, but he certainly has the tools to be. His athleticism and long arms let him rise above offensive players for big-time blocks or highlight reel dunks on the other end. With some coaching on attention to detail, the Spurs could unlock Carr as a two-way threat on the wing.
Carr gives me college Zach LaVine vibes. He’s a crazy athlete with a good jumper and shows signs of passing chops. But before this season, Carr was completely off the map. He barely played for Tennessee in his first two seasons. Is this year indicative of who he is as a player? Or is it simply a hot streak? His talent makes it seem like it is the former. If that is the case, he could give San Antonio a real offensive weapon who could develop into a defensive asset as he gets stronger and more experienced.
Many teams shy away from older prospects. The Spurs should not be one of those teams. With most of their young core established, it’s okay to draft a good player with more miles on them. Lendeborg fits the bill.
The Michigan forward is a true modern college player. He’s in his 6th collegiate season, and will be 24 years old when he steps on the NBA floor as a rookie. He’s been great in his sole season for the Wolverines. Lendeborg is a big, strong big/forward who often plays alongside Michigan’s giant big man, Aday Mara. He has a great blend of physicality, athleticism, and skill that make him versatile enough to play inside and out. He can handle the ball to get to the rim, spot up from three, or score in isolation on the interior. Defensively, he’s tough and has created advantages for his team with 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
He’s cooled off a bit from three since starting the season shooting 40% from deep. His jump shot going down is key to his fit in San Antonio. If he’s hitting threes, he’d be an awesome fit next to Wembanyama. He could protect the rim alongside him and further build out the team’s versatile offensive talent. His upside may be capped a bit with his age, but it’s not hard to envision him coming in and contributing to winning on day one.
The Spurs probably don’t need another guard, but they could use a lights-out shooter. Wagler, the freshman from Illinois, would provide exactly that. Wagler made headlines after dropping a whopping 46 points on 9-11 shooting from three against Purdue over the weekend. Despite being a three-star prospect coming out of high school, Wagler has established himself among the elite players in the draft.
Wagler’s highlight skill is his shooting. He’s got a quick release and will make teams pay if they sag off or close out late. He’s getting better and better every game as a primary playmaker, but he can also play off the ball. He isn’t a high-level athlete, and he definitely needs to get stronger to play at the next level, but Wagler brings a high-level skill and one that the Spurs definitely need.
If San Antonio selected Wagler, he could play alongside their other guards off the ball and give the Spurs another ball-handler and passer to get Wembanyama the ball. You could call his selection a triple-down on a team built with multiple, bigger ball-handlers. Unlike the others, this one would give San Antonio the knockdown shooter they’ve been needing.
Draft experts are torn on Jefferson. Some have him in the lottery; others have him in the second round. The Iowa State senior is one of the most impactful players on one of the best teams in college basketball. He’s a point forward with a high basketball IQ, strong frame, and NBA-level athleticism. He’s a true statsheet stuffer, putting up two triple-doubles for the Cyclones this season.
Jefferson’s shooting ability has been a question mark for his entire career. This season, he’s answered those questions by shooting 40.4% from deep on 2.9 attempts per game. Watching Jefferson, it’s clear he still doesn’t have great touch, including some finishing ability around the basket, but it’s good to see some of these spot-up threes go down for him this year.
Alongside Wembanyama, Jefferson would give the Spurs a smart positional defender who can handle the ball and act as a secondary playmaker. He’d thrive in San Antonio’s transition game and fit right into what they want to do defensively as a smart positional defender. If he can knock down threes at the next level, he could be a long-term NBA starter. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote that he is the closest thing he has seen to Draymond Green’s college tape. Whether he climbs boards and the Spurs have to take him in the lottery or in the second round, Jefferson should be on San Antonio’s radar come draft day.
They are expected to be without Evan Mobley (calf) for the next one to three weeks and are still without the services of Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot). Additionally, standout two-way player Nae’Qwan Tomlin only has eight more games he can be active with the Cavs unless they convert his contract to a standard deal. For reference, the Cavs have seven games before the All-Star break.
This all creates a crunch where the Cavs could need more available bodies that they trust to provide NBA minutes as they await the Feb. 5.
With that in mind, it isn’t surprising that the Cavs are reportedly waiving two-way player Chris Livingston.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived two-way forward Chris Livingston, league sources told @hoopshype.
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Livingston hasn’t provided many meaningful minutes for the Cavs this season despite the team’s injuries. The Akron native had just 17 minutes of playing time spread across three games with the team.
The majority of Livingston’s time has been spent with the Cavs’ G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. Livingston has appeared in 16 games with the Charge and averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on .437/.258/.844 shooting splits.
The release of Livingston opens up one of the team’s three two-way spots. Additionally, it stands to reason that another one of those two-way spots will be made available when the team presumably converts Tomlin’s current contract to a standard NBA one.
Luke Travers occupies the Cavs’ other two-way spot. He’s appeared in just 12 games this season for the Cavs this season. Travers is averaging 18.1 points, nine rebounds, and 5.1 assists on .430/.284/.636 shooting splits in 14 G-League appearances.
We’ll see what direction the Cavs go with those openings. It’s worth mentioning that Killian Hayes — who is playing well — isn’t eligible for a two-way deal due to his previous service time. Darius Brown and Tristan Enaruna are potential internal candidates for a deal. The team can also look outside the organization for a possible two-way player.
"PR has tried," he said, "but I'm not going to sit here and give some politically correct (answer)."
The 22-year-old from France then expressed dismay and disgust over the incidents, but admitted he didn't feel comfortable offering his complete thoughts on the situation as the debate over the Trump administration's immigration tactics rages nationally.
"Every day I wake up and see the news and I'm horrified," Wembanyama told reporters on Tuesday, Jan. 27. "I think it's crazy that some people make it seem like, or make it sound like, it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians (is) acceptable. Every day I read the news and sometimes I'm asking very deep questions about my own life. But, you know, I'm conscious also that saying everything that's on my mind will have a cost that's too great for me right now. So I'd rather not go into too many details."
When asked later if being a foreigner in the United States played into his hesitancy, Wembanyama answered, "For sure."
Wembanyama is the latest NBA player to be asked to comment in the wake of Pretti's death in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, which led to the postponement of an NBA regular-season game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks forward and former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as the National Basketball Players Association, have condemned the shooting publicly.
"Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent," the NBPA said in a statement. "Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice."
Wembanyama, in the midst of a breakthrough third season with the Spurs near the top of the Western Conference standings, followed the union's lead.
"It's terrible. I know I'm a foreigner, and I live in this country, and I'm concerned," he said.
Tuesday at Spurs practice, Wembanyama spoke out on what he saw, saying he was "horrified" by the "murder of civilians." Here is his full quote:
"PR has tried, but I'm not gonna sit here and give some politically correct [answer]. Every day I wake up and see the news and I'm horrified. It's crazy that some people make it seem like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable," Wembanyama said. "I read the news, and sometimes I'm asking very deep questions about my own life, but I'm conscious also that saying everything that's on my mind would have a cost that's too great for me right now, so I'd rather not go into too many details."
Wembanyama also admitted he is concerned about repercussions from what he said.
"For sure. It's terrible," Wembanyama said. "I know I'm a foreigner, I live in this country and I am concerned for sure."
If there are any repercussions, they will not come from the Spurs, who have the outspoken Gregg Popovich at the helm. Wemby will have the Spurs' support.
Wembanyama is not the only NBA player — or the only French NBA player — to speak out.
I can't stop thinking about the tragic events unfolding in Minnesota, and even though I'm French, I can't remain silent. What's happening is beyond comprehension. We're talking about murders here, these are serious matters. The situation must change, the government must stop…
What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness. These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on…
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Friday afternoon for the show where we’ll be joined by DBB’s own Kyle Metz to discuss the upcoming trade deadline. What should, and more importantly what can, the Pistons do? Who should Detroit target on the trade market? Which Pistons, if any, are most likely to find a new home during the season?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
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BOSTON — The Celtics (29-17) and Atlanta Hawks (23-25) are set to face off for the second time this month on Wednesday — and both teams could be without several rotation players.
For the Celtics, Neemias Queta is doubtful to play with illness, while Luka Garza is questionable. Jayson Tatum, of course, remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a right Achilles repair.
The Celtics were without Garza and Chris Boucher on Monday night in a 102-94 win over the the Trail Blazers. Both big men were dealing with illness and were not with the team. Queta (illness) and Josh Minott (ankle sprain) were questionable until game-time, but both were made available. Queta suited up for 22 minutes, while Minott did not get any action.
Celtics Injury Report vs. Atlanta (1/28):
Luka Garza – Illness (Non-Covid) – QUESTIONABLE Neemias Queta – Illness (Non-Covid) – DOUBTFUL Jayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – OUT
For the Hawks, Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendonitis), Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion), and N’Faly Dante (right knee torn ACL) are out.
Porzingis has only appeared in 17 games for the Hawks this season, and he hasn’t laced up since January 7th. As such, he has yet to face off against his former squad.
The Celtics and Hawks face off for the second time this month
Last time the two teams faced off, Jaylen Brown exploded for 41 points and the Celtics came away with a 132-106 win in Atlanta. Sam Hauser also flirted with the franchise three-point record, hitting 10 threes for the Celtics, though he fell just short.
After this match-up, the Celtics and Hawks will face off two more times, both in March (the 27th and 30th).
The Celtics have the second-best offensive rating in the NBA (+120.8), the third-best net rating (+7.2), and the 11th-best defensive rating (113.6). They’ve won 6 of their last 10 games, and currently have the second-best record in the East.
The Hawks have the 19th-best net rating (-0.9), 21st-best offensive rating (113.5), and 16th-best defensive rating (114.4). They’ve also won 6 of their last 10 games, and currently have the 10th-best record in the East. The Hawks are coming off of a 16-point win over the Hawks on Sunday night.
This season, the Hawks have been led by Jalen Johnson (23 points, 10.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.3 points, 3.5 assists). Since he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Hawks, CJ McCollum has averaged 18 points and 3.9 assists.
Celtics-Hawks — the second game in a four-game Celtics homestand — tips off at 7:30pm at TD Garden.
The Cavs are playing their best basketball of the season. They’ve won four in a row, seven of their last nine games, and 11 of their last 15. However, that was before it was announced that Evan Mobley (calf) will be sidelined for one to three weeks. We’ll see how the team responds to a bit more adversity.
The Lakers have been a good, but not great, team this season. They’re 11 games over .500 despite having a negative point differential. Their defense — particularly defending the rim — has been an issue all season. We’ll see if that’s something the Cavs can exploit.
Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), De’Andre Hunter – PROBABLE (knee), Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – PROBABLE (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)
Lakers injury report: Austin Reaves – OUT (calf), Adou Thiero – OUT (knee)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen
Lakers expected starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, LeBron James, Deandre Ayton
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley will be sidelined for the second time this season due to a strained left calf, the team said Tuesday.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is expected to miss 1 to 3 weeks.
Mobley suffered the injury during Monday night's 114-98 victory over the Orlando Magic. He had tightness in the calf after the game and an MRI on Tuesday revealed the strain.
Mobley missed five games in December with a Grade 1 strain of the calf. The fifth-year 7-footer is averaging 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds in 40 games.
Cleveland enters Wednesday night's game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on its second four-game winning streak of the season and is a season-high eight games over .500 at 28-20. The Cavaliers depart for a season-long, five-game trip after hosting the Lakers.
Mobley recorded his 500th blocked shot on Monday night, making the 24-year-old the youngest Cavs player to reach that milestone. He's second in the league in blocks this season, averaging 2.0 per game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing their best basketball of the season of late, but that was before another former All-Star was added to the injury report.
The team announced that forward Evan Mobley injured his left calf during the team’s win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. An MRI the following day revealed a left calf strain that is expected to sideline him for one to three weeks.
This isn’t a new injury for Mobley this season. He sustained a Grade 1 left calf strain on Dec. 12. That injury kept him out nearly two weeks.
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Calf injuries have become something of an epidemic in the NBA, given the speed and pace at which the game is being played. The Cavs will likely be cautious with Mobley because of that and due to it being a recurring injury.
The injury isn’t coming at a convenient time, although there’s never a good time to lose the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The Cavs are already without point guard Darius Garland, who is out with a toe injury, and are set to go on a week-and-a-half Western Conference road trip starting on Friday. Missing only a week of games would have him missing games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers.
However, if the injury keeps Mobley out for the full three-weeks, he wouldn’t return until after the All-Star break. That would have him missing seven games.
Additionally, this injury could mean that Mobley isn’t able to participate in the NBA All-Star Game if he were to make the team. Even if he does return before the break, there aren’t a lot of incentives to have him participate in an exhibition game.
The Cavs are 3-3 in games without Mobley this season. He’s averaging 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and four assists in 42 games played.
Trade rumors are, well, just rumors at the end of the day. Look no further than the reporting of the Knicks’ midseason intentions. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen reporters, notable ones at that, flip-flop on how likely, or unlikely, New York is to make big changes this season.
We’ve heard that they want to make a move for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Maybe they go after guys like Jose Alvarado or Naji Marshall. Or they may potentially decide against any moves and trust the roster, the players, and their new coach. My solution? Go after Ayo Dosunmu.
This won’t be as easy as acquiring some of the other guys, as the fifth-year guard should be targeted by many contenders. He is having a career-year, averaging14.5PPG and 3.4APG while shooting 51.2% from the field and 45.3% from three. Some of those numbers may eventually come down, but Dosunmu has developed into a very good player who provides a little bit of everything.
My reasoning for adding Dosunmu, though, isn’t just about who he is and what he adds. It’s more than that. He would instantly bring in more scoring, more spacing, and shooting, solid, to good physical defense, with size, and some ballhandling, and playmaking. All of those are things the Knicks need. But what bringing in a single player that can do all of that does is, in theory, improve the players around him-most notably, most notably Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Over his first year and a half as a Knick, Bridges and Towns have become the de facto scapegoats. Some of it is self-afflicted and more than justified. They’ve both played subpar defense, been inconsistent shooters, and lacked physicality and discipline, respectively. But we’ve all seen both of them be very good as well. Fans have conveniently forgotten the former’s crucial play in the playoffs, as well as how well he started out the current season, and many have also forgotten the season and postseason the latter had just one year ago.
But there are also a lot of concerns about whether either, let alone both, have been optimized and put in the best positions to succeed. Bridges, at his core, is a very good role player, but he’s not capable of being more than that. Yet, the Knicks ask him to be a shot creator, a secondary playmaker, and a point-of-attack defender. And that’s when the cracks start to show. In the moments where he’s tasked with being more than he is capable of being, his shooting becomes inconsistent, his energy on defense worsens, and he becomes much less active and involved in the game. It’s a similar story with Towns, who is an All-Star and one of the most talented players in the league. But he also hasn’t necessarily been utilized in a way that brings the best out of him.
Can, and should, Bridges and Towns be able to overcome and improve on some of those things? Yes, absolutely. But for the Knicks, it may just be easier for them to change their roles instead of hoping that either of them suddenly changes.
In Dosunmu, they have a player who allows them to do that. It’s hard to say with certainty how Dosunmu would do not just as a full-time starter, but as a starter on a contending team that will likely be playing more meaningful games this year than the Bulls have during the combo guard’s career. But if he can replicate most of what he has done for most of this season, the Knicks would improve overnight.
Dosunmu’s athletic and physical build would instantly allow him to become the best point-of-attack defender in the starting lineup, allowing Bridges to wreak havoc as a help defender, something he does exceptionally well. His improved shooting also takes pressure off everyone and provides Jalen Brunson and Towns with more space to operate. And his ability to be a reliable advantage creator off the dribble by getting into the paint frequently would take a lot of pressure off of Brunson, Bridges, and Towns, which should lead to a lot fewer offensive fouls from Towns, and much fewer positions where Bridges has to create, and ends up with a contested midrange shot.
The Bulls guard isn’t the big name that some fans want. He won’t instantly become a fan favorite like Antetokounmpo, nor will he sell a bunch of jerseys like Anthony Davis could. But Dosunmu is coveted by many good teams, and for good reason. If James Dolan and Leon Rose are against making a big mid-season change that could derail the season, a smaller, yet meaningful move like this could improve the team drastically, not only addressing weaknesses, but slotting everyone into their most optimal roles. The only problem is, can the Knicks get him? And can they do so without giving up Deuce McBride?
The Lakers were struggling early in January. Los Angeles had lost four of five games, with its only win coming against a mediocre Atlanta Hawks team.
In defense of the Lakers, they were playing without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura also missed some games during this stretch. Still, they looked more like a play-in team than a squad that could earn homecourt in a playoff series in the Western Conference.
Since that slump, however, the Lakers have been rolling. They’ve won four of their last five and have done the majority of their damage away from home.
After their win in Chicago, Jake LaRavia reflected on why the Lakers have been able to change their fate.
“I just think there’s been a lot better communication between the players as we’re out there on the court,” LaRavia said. “We know that we’re messing up when we’re out there so we kind of grew back together and locked back in. Everyone has a job to do and we know what it is.”
In life, clear communication leads to understanding and less confusion, and basketball is no different. Talking can help the defense set up, rotate and discuss what to do when things are breaking down and they are being put into the blender.
Communication is just as necessary as offense. Players have to know what’s being called, adjust when breakdowns happen and talk on pick-and-roll actions, for example.
As LaRavia stated, this deep into the season, players know their roles and jobs are clear. It’s a matter of understanding, communicating and executing the game plan so the Lakers can win more than they lose.
