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Luka Doncic plays and scores 27 points as the Lakers rout the Hawks

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu, left, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Luka Doncic and Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reach for a loose ball in the first half. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Luka Doncic and LeBron James were listed as questionable for the Lakers' back-to-back game Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Doncic because of left groin soreness, James because of left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica.

Also, checking the stat sheet before the game, the Lakers were listed as one of the worst three-point shooting teams and one of the worst defensive shooting percentage teams in the league.

Well, Luka played and LeBron played and the Lakers shot lights-out from three-point range and were solid across the board on defense while building a 32-point lead in the third quarter and rolling over the Hawks 141-116 at Crypto.com Arena.

“We didn't expect him (James) to be able to play. I mean, that's just the nature of a 41-year-old body who plays heavy minutes. And he just said, "I'm going to try. I'm going to try to do everything I can, do my normal routine if I'm able to go.’ And same thing with Luka,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “So, both those guys I thought just completely led the group tonight and it was evident 22 assists between them. Obviously they made some shots too, but I just thought they did a great job of leading the group.”

Doncic felt soreness in his groin when the Lakers played at Sacramento on Monday night and was unsure about playing Tuesday. But he played and delivered 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.

“For me, I want to play,” Doncic said. “So, obviously I wasn’t feeling 100%, but in my head, I always want to play.”

After playing 33 minutes and 17 seconds, Doncic was asked how he was feeling physically.

“It’s a little bit worse than yesterday,” he said. But I’ll be fine."

James didn’t play in the second game of a back-to-back game last week at New Orleans and San Antonio and said he will be listed as TBD, to be determined, in such scenarios. But James played against the Hawks and nearly produced a triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

James described what went into his day that led him to playing in his first back-to-back game of the season.

“Woke up, got in the cold tub. I got in the cold tub in the hyperbaric chamber,” he said. “After the hyperbaric chamber, I took a nap, then I played PGA EA golf for a little bit, as I [wore compression boots] for 45 minutes, and I took a shower, got dressed and headed here.

"And once I got here, I did my normal game day routine — activation, treatment, rehabbing, stretching, lifting, mentally, doing everything while I watched TPG on the TV.

"And then me and (my trainer) Mike (Mancias) looked at each other, and he looked at me, asking me, ‘What you thinking? I said , ‘I think I feel pretty good.’ And then there's a pregame meal in between there.”

Read more:Why LeBron James' Lakers jersey has a new 'super cool' patch

Coming into the game, opponents were shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.4% from three against the Lakers, ranking them 28th and 26th, respectively, in the NBA.

The Hawks began the game ranked fourth in three-point shooting, making 37.4%, and they were ranked eighth in field-goal percentage, making 43.6%.

All of the above made for a bad recipe for the Lakers entering the game.

But when the game started, none of that mattered to the Lakers, who held the Hawks to 45% shooting and 28.3% from three-point range.

The Lakers shot 55.9% (19 for 34) from three-point range.

The Lakers’ big lead was sliced to 11 points in the fourth.

Read more:Luka Doncic scores 42, but is hampered by injury in Lakers' loss to the Kings

But back-to-back three-pointers by James and Marcus Smart, both off passes from Doncic, and a Doncic basket gave them a 19-point lead, and they never looked back.

The Lakers scored 81 points in the first half, a season-high for points in a half, a half in which they opened a 23-point lead and had the Hawks reeling from the beginning.

“We shared the ball great,” Doncic said. “We knocked down shots, so it was very fun out there.”

Rui Hachimura had missed the previous seven games with a right calf strain but was back in action against the Hawks. He had seven points and two rebounds in 18 minutes.

ETC: The Lakers signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 Bufkin played in seven games for the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G League team, where he averaged 28.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists over seven games. He has appeared in 27 career NBA games over two seasons with the Hawks. “You know, during the stretch, we'll have opportunities during this 10-day,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.... Backup center Jaxson Hayes didn’t play against the Hawks because of left hamstring soreness. Redick said Hayes got some “imaging” Tuesday on his injury and that the Lakers will have “more information” going forward.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Reed and Demary power No. 3 UConn to a 69-64 win over No. 25 Seton Hall in a Big East clash

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Tarris Reed Jr. scored 21 points and Silas Demary Jr. made four free throws in the last 29 seconds as No. 3 UConn extended its winning streak to 13 games with a 69-64 win over No. 25 Seton Hall on Tuesday night.

The Huskies nearly squandered an 18-point lead — 42-24 — with 17:20 left to play. Seton Hall battled back and closed within a point at 65-64 on a 3-pointer by Mike Williams III with 48 seconds left.

Demary made two free throws to give UConn a 67-64 lead with 29 seconds to play. Williams had a chance to tie it for Seton Hall on its next possession, but his 3-point attempt was blocked by freshman guard Braylon Mullins. Demary closed out the win with two more free throws with 11 seconds remaining.

The Huskies (17-1, 7-0 Big East) were held without a field goal for the final 5:40 of the game

Seton Hall had beaten UConn in the teams’ last four games at the Prudential Center.

Seton Hall (14-3, 4-2) had overcome double-digit deficits after halftime in all three of its wins since losing to Villanova on Dec. 23.

Alex Karaban had 13 points and Mullins scored 11 points for the Huskies.

Williams scored 16 points, Adam Clark added 12 and Najai Hines 10 for Seton Hall, which shot 1 for 16 (6%) from 3-point range. The Pirates were making third first appearance in The Associated Press’ Top 25 rankings since a No. 20 ranking nearly four years ago.

NO. 12 MICHIGAN STATE 81, INDIANA 60

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears scored 19 of his career-high 23 points in the first half and Jaxon Kohler finished with 16 points, leading Michigan State to a win over Indiana.

The Spartans (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) trailed by seven midway through the first half when Fears was their only scorer and led 39-32 at halftime after some of his teammates contributed offensively.

The Hoosiers (12-5, 3-3) tied the game with 11:19 to remaining, before giving up 19 straight points while being held scoreless for nearly seven minutes.

Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson scored 19 points and didn’t get much help because none of his teammates scored in double figures. Reed Bailey, who is averaging 10 points, fouled out for the Hoosiers.

NO. 16 VIRGINIA 79, NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 70

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Malik Thomas made six 3-pointers and scored 19 points, Johann Grunloh added 16 points and Virginia shot 55% in the second half to beat Louisville.

Thomas went 6 of 8 from beyond the arc and 6 of 9 overall for the Cavaliers (15-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Virginia shot just 40% from the field but led throughout and made 7 of 13 3-pointers after halftime in its first meeting with a ranked foe this season.

Grunloh, a 7-foot freshman, went 3 of 4 on 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and four blocks.

Isaac McKneely, who spent the previous three seasons at Virginia, scored a season-high 23 points for Louisville (12-5, 2-3), which shot 36% and has dropped three of four.

Ryan Conwell added 14 points for the Cardinals, who played a seventh consecutive game without guard Mikel Brown Jr. (back) and were missing forward Khani Rooths because of an illness. Ex-G League player London Johnson dressed but did not play for a second straight game.

NO. 22 CLEMSON 74, BOSTON COLLEGE 50

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Nick Davidson scored 21 straight points in the first half and finished with a season-high 25 as Clemson beat Boston College to remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Tigers (15-3, 5-0 ACC) won their eighth straight game, one day after reaching the Top 25 rankings for the first time this season.

Davidson, the Nevada transfer, accounted for all of Clemson’s scoring in a 21-9 run in the first to turn a four-point deficit into a 32-24 lead.

Clemson started the second half on a 9-2 run. The Tigers were led by RJ Godfrey’s five points and extended their lead to double digits.

Davidson’s two foul shots with 9:50 to play extended Clemson’s lead to 21 points and Boston College (7-10, 0-4) failed to respond. The Tigers eventually led by 25 in the second half.

Davidson made 8 of 11 shots from the field, including four of Clemson’s eight 3-pointers. He finished a point shy of his career high, set against Sam Houston State in November 2024.

Fred Payne led Boston College with 20 points.

NO. 24 TENNESSEE 87, TEXAS A&M 82, 2OT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nate Ament scored 23 points, 10 of which came in the two overtime periods, as Tennessee beat Texas A&M.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 18, Bishop Boswell had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Felix Okpara had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Volunteers (12-5, 2-2 in Southeastern Conference), who outrebounded the Aggies 60-35.

The Aggies (13-4, 3-1), who had their six-game winning streak snapped, were led by Jacari Lane with 20 points, Pop Isaacs with 16 and Ruben Dominguez with 15.

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Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Austin Rivers to coach Rising Stars during All-Star weekend

Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Austin Rivers have picked up a side hustle, coaching during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The four NBC broadcasters — three of them Hall of Famers — will coach the Rising Stars Game on Feb. 13, the Friday night of All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The game will start at 9 p.m. Eastern that night and be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

This year's Rising Stars game will be must watch because it is overflowing with talent from an impressive and deep rookie class.

Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen and Tre Johnson are among the rookies expected to take part in the game at the Intuit Dome (the home of the LA Clippers). There are plenty of talented second-year players expected to participate as well, including Stephon Castle, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.

All of those rookies and sophomores will be drafted onto three teams, with the draft taking place in two weeks (Jan. 27) at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock. NBA G League players will make up the fourth team. Those four teams will be put into a straight-up tournament, where in the initial round the first team to reach or surpass 40 points will win and advance to the championship game. In that title game, the first team to reach 25 points wins.

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The NBA All-Star Game returns to the Los Angeles area this season, with the big game itself played on Feb. 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. All events will be broadcast on NBC Sports and Peacock. The All-Star Friday Night Rising Stars game (featuring NBA rookies and second-year players) as well as the All-Star Saturday Night events, including the Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest, will also take place at the Intuit Dome. Fans will be able to watch all of it on NBC Sports and Peacock.

How to Watch the NBA 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.

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What we learned as De'Anthony Melton's 23 points spark Warriors' win vs. Blazers

What we learned as De'Anthony Melton's 23 points spark Warriors' win vs. Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors reached the halfway point of the season Tuesday night, and rarely have they looked better than they did in Game 41.

That their tip-to-buzzer 119-97 victory came over a skeletal version of the Portland Trail Blazers matters not because these Warriors (22-19) have not earned the right to overlook any version of any opponent on their schedule, particularly one they had lost to three times this season.

On a night when Stephen Curry, with his father, Dell, in attendance at Chase Center, did not find his shot – 2-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-8 from deep – his teammates provided more than enough cover.

De’Anthony Melton, continuing his strong recent play, scored a game-high 23 points, with Jimmy Butler III finishing with 16, Brandon Podziemski had 15 and Moses Moody put in 14, with Draymond Green adding 10.

This was one of those rare occasions when Curry and Green were spectators for the entire fourth quarter, and Butler played only 90 seconds in the fourth before joining them on the bench. The fourth “uncle,” Al Horford, played six minutes for the fourth for conditioning.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s second blowout win in its last three games:

Pride matters

Having lost to Portland in all three previous meetings this season, and realizing the Blazers were a mere 2.5 games back in the Western Conference standings, there surely was a measure of pride within the hearts of the Warriors.

Their commitment to avoiding a season sweep against a rebuilding team was prevalent early, as they took leads of 11-4 and 33-15 in a blistering opening quarter. 

The Blazers were without leading scorer Deni Avdija (lower back soreness), who is having a terrific season. Also unavailable were No. 3 scorer Jeremi Grant, part-time starter Kris Murray and Matisse Thybulle.

The Warriors, healthy as they have been all season, led by as much as 29 in the first half. They spread joy across the roster, as 14 players took the floor – everyone by Jonathan Kuminga – with 12 getting into the scoring column.

Golden State has not given itself many cathartic victories this season, but this one can be defined as such.

Melton keeps coming

As Melton has found his rhythm after missing the better part of two seasons with injuries – including a torn ACL sustained in November 2024 – he continues to exhibit the full scope of his abilities.

After playing solid defense but struggling with his shot in the first few weeks upon his Dec. 4 season debut, his defense continues to be stellar, but his scoring has become the answer to Golden State’s dreams.

His 23 points came in only 18 minutes off the bench, as he shot 9-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He scored 11 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, crushing any notion of a late Portland comeback.

Melton, over the last eight games, is averaging 13.7 points on 52.5-percent shooting from the field, including 42.5 percent beyond the arc.

Coach Steve Kerr has been carefully increasing Melton’s workload. At this rate, he could enter the starting lineup in a matter of weeks.

Far from perfect

Coming off a light practice (mostly video study) on Monday after being demolished by the Atlanta Hawks a day earlier, this matchup presented the Warriors with a splendid opportunity to play a clean game.

They failed to meet that standard.

While it looks impressive enough to hold the Blazers to 24 first-quarter points on 39.1-percent shooting from the field, including 20 percent from distance, 10 of those points came off Golden State turnovers.

Green, who of late has been much more careful with the ball, was the primary culprit. He regressed to his worst tendency, committing six turnovers in 22 minutes.

There was just enough sloppiness by the Warriors to give the coaching staff enough ugly video to review, should they be inclined to show it.

It’s even less often that Golden State’s turnovers – 13, giving Portland 21 points — are irrelevant, but this was one of those nights.

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Ja Morant trade rumors: Destinations including Miami, how much might Grizzlies get back in deal?

Ja Morant remains the hottest name in trade speculation, but while there is a lot of smoke, how much fire there is remains in doubt.

The most interesting question may be: Do the Grizzlies already have an acceptable trade lined up and in their back pocket, and are they shopping Morant publicly, hoping another team steps up with a better deal? Or is this it? There's a lot to talk about, so let's break it down in bullet points.

• Does Ja Morant want to be in Miami? Yes. At least that's what NBA insider Rachel Nichols said she heard during the latest episode of the Open Floor podcast with Chris Mannix.

Morant may want to go to Miami, but does Miami want Morant? While the Heat have been star-hunting for a couple of seasons, they might only have interest in Morant if the price was low enough (keep reading the next bullet point about what that might be). Nichols goes on to make an excellent point about the Heat taking a potential flier on Morant.

"Heat Culture is not boot camp for wayward souls. It is not, 'Oh gee, the Heat will clean him up.' Heat Culture is, 'We are tough and we are disciplined, and you either play by our rules or you leave and go home. We are not here to babysit you, hope you get up to our level.' And that's why the players who have worked there have really worked.

"Morant, and the way he approaches the game, seems to me to be the opposite of that. I used to live down in Miami, I used to cover that team, it just seems to be the opposite of what that team represents and stands for. And I know he wants to go down there, from what I've heard, I just can't imagine that would be a smart move."

• East exec rips Morant. Everyone seems to have a fake trade idea for Morant, but many vastly overestimate Morant's value around the league — this is not the 2021 All-Star version of Moarnat teams would be trading for. Here is what ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said during the latest Hoop Collective podcast:

"He's not attacking the rim nearly like he used to be. … He's a bad jump shooter who's shooting more jump shots than ever. And I'll just quote an East executive from then: 'The combination of pain in the a**, injury-prone, not that good anymore, and big contract is a bad one.'"

• Realistic fake trades. About all those fake trades floating around, the return Memphis will get for Morant will be similar to what Atlanta got for Trae Young, who was dealt for expiring contracts. Zach Lowe explained this well on his podcast:

"I saw some fake trade where it was like [Andrew] Wiggins plus [Jamie] Jaquez and two first-round picks, and I was like, 'What are you smoking?' The Miami trade is more like [Tyler] Herro plus dead money [Terry Rozier] and not much more than that.

"I think some team will trade something real for him eventually. It's the ultimate 'buy low' thing; He'll never be this unhealthy. The off-court stuff is hopefully in the rear view. He's totally unmotivated there, and will get the motivated chip on his shoulder [once traded]."

• Motivated Morant. The idea that there is a Ja Morant revenge tour is what gives him a little more value than Young (that and the fact that Morant has, in the past, shown he can be a decent team defender). That said, Morant has not looked like an All-Star for a few seasons, he's not been consistently healthy for a while (he has not played six consecutive games since 2023), and he's not developed a 3-point shot that teams fear (20.8% this season). More concerning, scouts have told NBC Sports that Morant is not driving as much as he used to, not blowing by players and finishing inside (or kicking out) like he once did.

That said, there are teams willing to find out whether that is still in him and if he is motivated. Draymond Green laid out the positive case for Morant on his podcast.

"Needless to say, if Ja Morant is traded, whatever team lands him instantly gets better. Make no mistake—when you have that level of talent, your team improves overnight.... And sometimes when you think about reviving a career, etc., sometimes guys just need a fresh start. And I don't know that Ja feels he need a fresh start. I don't know the sentiment around that. But maybe he do. But I think nonetheless, if he does get a fresh start, I think we'll see the Ja Morant that we've grown accustomed to seeing."

• What might Memphis get in return? Expect the return for Morant in a trade to be a young player with potential who has struggled in his current setting, and expect any picks dealt to be heavily protected, or more likely swaps and second-round picks. Certainly not unprotected firsts. Teams are willing to take a flyer on Morant, but they are not giving up much to do so.

• Long-term money. What makes this trade different from Young and Atlanta is that the Hawks did not want to take back long-term money in any trade, but that is not the case in Memphis. Just last summer, the Grizzlies got four first-round picks and a swap for Desmond Bane, except at least one of those firsts (and really, two) was for taking on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's contract (two years and $43 million). The same is true here, Memphis is letting teams know that if they get the right compensation, they will take on a longer contract as part of this trade, according to Kevin O’Connor at Yahoo and other reports.

• Is Toronto a destination? Along those lines, look north of the border. Toronto could be facing win-now pressure, which is why they would be open to a splashy trade, like one for Morant, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

The Raptors want to get off Immanuel Quickley's salary (he is owed $97.5 million over three guaranteed seasons after this one), and if the Raptors are willing to include the right draft compensation, the Grizzlies will be open to the idea. How well the ball-dominant Morant fits with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram is up for debate (what the Raptors need more is a center) but it's worth watching, this could be more than just smoke.

• More fake trades.At The Athletic, Zach Harper came up with a couple of realistic Morant trades: One to Brooklyn (a team others have mentioned as a dark horse) and one to Chicago. Would the Bulls want to pair Josh Giddey and Morant, moving Giddey more off the ball? Not sure they do, but Chicago needs talent so if the price was right… maybe?

• Jaren Jackson Jr. In all the talk about a potential Morant trade, other front offices are wondering if the Grizzlies will blow the whole thing up, specifically trading former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. (a player a lot of front offices covet). Teams are being told the Grizzlies have no interest in trading him, league sources told NBC Sports. That is not going to stop teams from asking.

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Wofford hosts Chattanooga after Machowski's 33-point showing

Chattanooga Mocs (7-10, 1-3 SoCon) at Wofford Terriers (11-6, 3-1 SoCon)

Spartanburg, South Carolina; Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Wofford hosts Chattanooga after Nils Machowski scored 33 points in Wofford's 109-97 loss to the Mercer Bears.

The Terriers are 6-1 on their home court. Wofford ranks seventh in the SoCon in rebounding averaging 32.5 rebounds. Kahmare Holmes leads the Terriers with 6.0 boards.

The Mocs are 1-3 against SoCon opponents. Chattanooga is second in the SoCon with 16.1 assists per game led by Jordan Frison averaging 4.2.

Wofford averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game, 2.2 more made shots than the 7.6 per game Chattanooga allows. Chattanooga has shot at a 44.5% rate from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points below the 46.4% shooting opponents of Wofford have averaged.

The Terriers and Mocs meet Wednesday for the first time in SoCon play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Holmes is shooting 48.2% and averaging 17.5 points for the Terriers. Machowski is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.

Billy Smith is shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Mocs, while averaging 9.6 points. Frison is shooting 52.1% and averaging 16.5 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Terriers: 7-3, averaging 81.0 points, 31.5 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.5 points per game.

Mocs: 3-7, averaging 75.0 points, 29.8 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.0 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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East Tennessee State plays Western Carolina after Barkley's 24-point performance

East Tennessee State Buccaneers (12-5, 4-0 SoCon) at Western Carolina Catamounts (5-10, 1-3 SoCon)

Cullowhee, North Carolina; Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: East Tennessee State takes on Western Carolina after Blake Barkley scored 24 points in East Tennessee State's 86-60 victory against the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

The Catamounts are 4-1 in home games. Western Carolina is the SoCon leader with 11.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Samuel Dada averaging 2.9.

The Buccaneers are 4-0 in conference play. East Tennessee State has a 0-1 record in one-possession games.

Western Carolina scores 77.2 points, 11.0 more per game than the 66.2 East Tennessee State allows. East Tennessee State averages 7.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 fewer made shots on average than the 9.7 per game Western Carolina gives up.

The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Kell is scoring 13.7 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists for the Catamounts. Cord Stansberry is averaging 11.5 points over the last 10 games.

Cam Morris III is averaging 14 points for the Buccaneers. Maki Johnson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Catamounts: 2-8, averaging 79.0 points, 34.8 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.1 points per game.

Buccaneers: 6-4, averaging 76.6 points, 30.1 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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No. 23 Utah State hosts Nevada after Camper's 31-point outing

Nevada Wolf Pack (12-4, 4-1 MWC) at Utah State Aggies (14-1, 5-0 MWC)

Logan, Utah; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Nevada visits No. 23 Utah State after Corey Camper Jr. scored 31 points in Nevada's 92-83 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys.

The Aggies have gone 6-0 in home games. Utah State is 2-0 in one-possession games.

The Wolf Pack have gone 4-1 against MWC opponents. Nevada ranks fifth in the MWC with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Elijah Price averaging 3.1.

Utah State averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 7.8 per game Nevada gives up. Nevada has shot at a 43.9% rate from the field this season, 3.7 percentage points above the 40.2% shooting opponents of Utah State have averaged.

The Aggies and Wolf Pack face off Wednesday for the first time in MWC play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Collins Jr. averages 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, scoring 20.5 points while shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc. Mason Falslev is shooting 52.3% and averaging 16.2 points over the last 10 games.

Tayshawn Comer is averaging 13.9 points and 3.8 assists for the Wolf Pack. Price is averaging 12.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies: 9-1, averaging 86.1 points, 31.1 rebounds, 17.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.5 points per game.

Wolf Pack: 8-2, averaging 76.1 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Saint Louis hosts Fordham after Reaves' 31-point outing

Fordham Rams (10-7, 1-3 A-10) at Saint Louis Billikens (15-1, 3-0 A-10)

St. Louis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Fordham visits Saint Louis after Dejour Reaves scored 31 points in Fordham's 81-77 win over the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies.

The Billikens have gone 11-0 in home games. Saint Louis has a 1-1 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Rams are 1-3 in A-10 play. Fordham has a 2-1 record in one-possession games.

Saint Louis averages 10.6 made 3-pointers per game, 2.8 more made shots than the 7.8 per game Fordham gives up. Fordham scores 6.2 more points per game (73.6) than Saint Louis gives up to opponents (67.4).

The Billikens and Rams meet Wednesday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Green averages 2.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Billikens, scoring 10.9 points while shooting 44.8% from beyond the arc. Robbie Avila is averaging 12.9 points and 3.8 assists over the past 10 games.

Reaves is shooting 47.2% and averaging 17.4 points for the Rams. Akira Jacobs is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Billikens: 9-1, averaging 93.6 points, 40.2 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.6 points per game.

Rams: 5-5, averaging 71.1 points, 35.6 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 6.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Anthony Davis denies report he is likely to undergo hand surgery for torn ligaments

Where things stand with Anthony Davis' hand injury remains up in the air, with Davis stepping in to deny the latest reports.

Davis is "likely to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand," reports Shams Charania of ESPN, something that would sideline Davis for months. Charania's use of the word "likely" is interesting as a qualifier, implying Davis is still looking to find a way back sooner from this injury.

Davis posted this not long after the Charania report.

Davis also replied "lies" to an aggregation site's echoing of Charana's report. There has been no official confirmation from the Mavericks on Davis' plans (or, for that matter, details about the injury).

In addition to his injury report, Charania adds that Dallas is reengaging in trade talks with "multiple interested teams." The idea is that if Davis has surgery, he might be able to return during the playoffs and help a team. Assuming Davis even goes through with the surgery, betting on him being able to return and be impactful is a considerable risk for a team, the kind of gamble contenders are hesitant to make in-season. These teams would be giving up a large package of players and picks in the hope that Davis could make a comeback during the playoffs and step right in, instantly helping them in an intense series. He'd also be "establishing himself for the long-term elsewhere," Charania writes. A Davis trade in the offseason remains the most likely outcome.

Davis' injury happened to be on what appeared to be an innocent play against Utah on Jan. 8. Lauri Markkanen tried to drive past Davis, who was physical in response, but he got his hand caught up in Markkanen's jersey. Davis was clearly in pain and left the game.

Davis, an NBA champion and 10-time All-Star, has played well when healthy this season, averaging 20.4 points on 50.6% shooting, grabbing 11.1 rebounds per game, plus playing at an All-Defensive Team level on that end of the court. Dallas has been looking for a trade partner as it works to pivot to building around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. However, pulling off an in-season trade for a 32-year-old injured player making $54.1 million — plus $58.5 million next season, a $62.8 million player option after that, and he wants a contract extension — is very difficult to pull off.

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Why LeBron James' Lakers jersey has a new 'super cool' patch

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James wears a special patch, upper left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
LeBron James wears a special patch on his jersey commemorating his unprecedented 23rd NBA season. (Justine Willard / Associated Press)

LeBron James wore a patch on his jersey for the first time Tuesday commemorating his unprecedented 23rd NBA season in the city where he played his first NBA game. It features a silhouette of his pregame chalk toss and three colored stripes that represents the three franchises he has played on — the Lakers, Cavaliers and Heat.

James, who scored 22 points in the Lakers' 124-112 loss to the Sacramento Kings, will wear the patch for the remainder of the season. After each game, the patch will be removed from his jersey for that game, dated and shipped to a Topps’ production facility to be authenticated and inserted into a pack of trading cards.

“Super cool. Super surreal. Super humbled, blessed,” James said. “I walked in here and saw it for the first time. It was like an emotional moment as well. Just think about the journey thus far and have an opportunity to be here where it kind of all started obviously, but in this city.

Read more:Luka Doncic scores 42, but is hampered by injury in Lakers' loss to the Kings

"And it's been a heck of a journey and people have followed my career and my fans have followed my career to get an opportunity to be a part of it."

Lakers fans might not get the chance to see James and his patch up close on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. There's a good chance he will not play in the second game of a back-to-back.

“We’ll see how he feels in the morning,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Spurs vs. Thunder predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for January 13

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (33-7) have lost just seven times in 40 games this season. As impressive as their start has been it might be even more impressive that the San Antonio Spurs (27-12) have beaten them three times. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs look to improve to 4-0 this season against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder tonight in Oklahoma City on NBC and Peacock.

After “sputtering” in late December and earlier this month, the Thunder have won their last three. Truth be told, they have only struggled in stretches surrounding games against the Spurs. They are 9-6 in their last 15 games but three of those losses were to San Antonio. It feels worse than it actually is for the Thunder because they started the season winning 24 of their first 25 games.

Losers Sunday in Minneapolis to the Timberwolves, the Spurs are just 3-3 in January. Wembanyama (24.3PPG, 11.1RPG) is the headliner for San Antonio but running mates De’Aaron Fox (20.7PPG, 5.8APG) and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (17.2PPG, 6.8APG) help form one of the stronger nucleuses in the league.

The initial meeting between these teams this season was back on December 13. The Spurs pulled out a nail-biter, winning 111-109 in Oklahoma City. The most recent two games have been less than close. San Antonio won at home by 20 on December 23, 130-110, and won by 15 on Christmas Day in OKC, 117-102.

This rivalry is certainly building into one of the best in the league. Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Spurs at Thunder

  • Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
  • Time: 8PM EST
  • Site: Paycom Center
  • City: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Spurs at Thunder

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs (+260), Oklahoma City Thunder (-325)
  • Spread: Thunder -8.5
  • Total: 229.5 points

This game opened Thunder -6.5 with the Total set at 229.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule! 

Expected Starting Lineups: Spurs at Thunder

Spurs

  • PG De’Aaron Fox
  • SG Stephon Castle
  • SF Julian Champagnie
  • PF Harrison Barnes
  • C Victor Wembanyama

Thunder

  • PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG Cason Wallace
  • PF Luguentz Dort
  • PF Jaylin Williams
  • C Chet Holmgran

Important stats, trends and insights: Spurs at Thunder

  • OKC is 19-2 at home this season
  • OKC is 19-21 ATS this season
  • OKC is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games
  • San Antonio is 13-7 on the road this season
  • San Antonio is 22-16-1 ATS this season
  • San Antonio is 6-5 ATS in their last 10 games

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Jay Croucher’s (@croucherJD) Play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to be tonight’s King of the Court

“It's Tuesday night, so we're playing King of the Court at DraftKings. All customers get one shot at a share of 1 million dollars in bonus bets. The key is to select the player who leads the association tonight in points, rebounds and assists combined. I'll take the MVP SGA. Shai’s office is that 10 to 16 feet area in the midrange and he is shooting 59% on those short middies. For context, Dirk Nowitzki, one of the greatest midrange shooters of all time, shot 47% on those shots in his career. Shai remains completely unguardable and should have plenty to prove tonight not wanting to fall to 0 and 4 against San Antonio."

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
 
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Spurs and Thunder game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs +8.5
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 229.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar! 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick) 

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Wisconsin's Nick Boyd named AP men's college basketball player of the week

The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 10 of the season:

Nick Boyd, Wisconsin

The 6-foot-3 senior guard was named co-player of the week in the Big Ten after helping the Badgers stun previously unbeaten Michigan on the road. Boyd had 22 points, six assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal with no turnovers in 31 minutes against the then-No. 2 Wolverines. Earlier in the week, he had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a win against UCLA.

Runner-up

Richie Saunders, No. 11 BYU. The 6-5 senior was named Big 12 player of the week after big scoring outputs in wins against Arizona State and Utah. Saunders had a career-high 31-points on 10-for-13 shooting with eight rebounds and six 3-pointers in the win against the Sun Devils. He followed with 24 points and 14 rebounds against the Utes. He also had three assists in each win while shooting 19 for 29 (.655) in the two games.

Honorable mention

Silas Demary Jr., No. 3 UConn; Tre Donaldson, Miami; Joshua Jefferson, No. 2 Iowa State.

Keep an eye on

Cruz Davis, Hofstra. The 6-3 junior guard has been putting up big numbers all season for the Pride, which has won eight straight games and started 4-0 in Coastal Athletic Association play. He had 32 points in Thursday's win at Towson, a performance that included him going 13 of 14 at the foul line. He followed that by scoring 16 of his 19 points after halftime in an overtime win against Monmouth, and he's snagged at least five rebounds in four straight games.

Davis — who has thrice won or shared CAA player of the week honors this year — ranks 11th in Division I in scoring (21.7) and scored 36 points in a win at Pittsburgh in early December. He also ranks third in Division I in minutes per game (37:48).

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Golden State Warriors: TV/live stream info for tonight's game

Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features two exciting NBA matchups. The action begins at 8:00 PM ET, with a San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder showdown. Then at 11:00 PM, the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Golden State Warriors. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Portland Trail Blazers:

The Trail Blazers five-game win streak was snapped by the New York Knicks in a 123-114 loss on Sunday. Denji Avdija had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists before suffering a lower back injury with under two minutes left in the game. He will miss tonight's game. Avdija has led Portland in scoring this season and is on pace to average career highs in scoring (26.1 ppg), assists (6.9 apg), and threes made per game.

RELATED:NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26 - Ja Morant latest, Anthony Davis likely stays in Dallas, Celtics looking for big

Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors are coming off a 124-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Stephen Curry finished with 31 points, marking his 13th game of the season with at least 30 points. The 11-time All-Star guard ranks ninth in the league in scoring among qualified players (28.8 ppg) and is on pace to lead the NBA in made threes per game (4.7) for the third straight season and five of the past six seasons.

Jimmy Butler also had a big night, finishing with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Despite the loss, the Warriors have shown some improvement, going 8-4 in their last 12 games. Golden State has been ranked fourth in the league in scoring (119.3 ppg) since December 20.

The Warriors and Trail Blazers are currently eighth and ninth in the Western Conference, respectively. Neither team has been more than three games over .500 this season.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, January 13
  • Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock and NBCSN
  • TV Channel: NBC

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers
Week 13 Fantasy Basketball Schedule Primer: Low-rostered Lakers like Jake LaRavia should be popular
The Lakers have the NBA’s first five-game week of the season, while four teams only play twice.

How to watch the NBA 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.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Naji Marshall stepping up for Mavs

The midway point of the NBA season is almost here, as most teams have played close to 41 games, and some have already hit that mark.

Even with season-long data available, we will focus on the here and now. Which players are on the rise? Which ones are trending in the wrong direction? Let’s discuss.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock, as the Thunder take on the Spurs in a marquee Western Conference matchup at 8 p.m. before the Trail Blazers visit the Warriors at 11 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

NBA: New Orleans Pelicans at Washington Wizards
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Should Trae Young managers be concerned?
Young is the newest member of the Washington Wizards, but how much will he play the rest of this season?

STOCK UP

John Collins — PF/C, Clippers

Before his three-point, five-rebound outing against the Hornets on Monday, Collins had a season-best performance against the Pistons in which he added 25 points, seven rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and five three-pointers. The dominant showing included several season highs and was part of a five-game stretch in which the veteran forward had averaged 19.8 points, 3.2 three-pointers, and 2.2 blocks per game. Collins’ uptick in production is massive for the Clippers, who traded away Norman Powell this past offseason to bring him over from Utah, and as he continues to play well and have a positive impact on the Clippers’ recent strong play, he should keep seeing opportunities to play an important role and provide fantasy production.

Naji Marshall — SF/PF, Mavericks

There’s been a lot of discourse surrounding the Mavericks, but probably not enough about Naji Marshall and his sustained production. He’s quietly had a productive season and has put up some particularly nice numbers of late — Marshall has scored 15 or more points and also collected multiple steals in three of his last four appearances and is coming off one of his most balanced performances of the season, tallying a 22/4/9/3/1 line in Monday’s win over the Nets. With Anthony Davis sidelined, it’s reasonable to expect that Marshall fills a lot of those open power forward minutes. His fantasy value will be even higher in games that P.J. Washington is also unavailable for. Marshall is rostered in only 24 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

LaMelo Ball — PG/SG, Hornets

Ball came off the bench for the first time in years in a recent game against the Pacers and proceeded to take his game to a greater level. The superstar point guard scored 33 points, dished out eight assists, and collected three steals in the much-talked-about recent game against the Pacers, but moved back into the starting lineup stating lineup a game later to tally a nice 17/5/5 line in just 23 minutes of a 55-point win over the Jazz, before heading to his hometown to give the Clippers 25 points and a near-double-double. He’s also drilled 15 three-pointers over the last three games and tallied 5.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game over that span. Ball is currently in a nice rhythm that will hopefully sustain throughout the rest of the fantasy basketball season.

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Add NBCSports.com as a preferred source to see more Rotoworld insight, betting analysis, and breaking player news across NFL, NBA, MLB, and college football.

STOCK DOWN

Jaden Ivey — SG/SF, Pistons

The return from offseason knee surgery and a 2024-25 season-ending leg injury has not gone as planned for Ivey, who is searching for a consistent role and success on a Pistons team rostered with several impactful backcourt players. Even with Cade Cunningham missing Saturday’s loss to the Clippers, Ivey only found his way to 20 minutes, totaling eight points and three rebounds. He’s averaging 8.2 points and 1.6 assists on 40.5/11.8/83.3 shooting splits through five games during January and has shot 50 percent from the floor and scored in double figures in just one of those five games. It’s hard to predict when or how a corner is turned, but things certainly aren’t trending in the right direction for such a talented player.

Ace Bailey — SG/SF, Jazz

Rookie seasons often are filled with ups and downs. For Bailey, he’s in the midst of one of the “down” periods. His stock was rising after a four-game December stretch that saw him average 15.0 points and 2.3 three-pointers, but ended in the fifth game when a hip injury against the Pistons limited him to 11 minutes, and cost him to miss five straight contests. Bailey has returned and played in two of the last four games, but combined for only six total points in 25 minutes. How long does the injury linger? When does he reclaim his former role in the rotation? These are questions we’ll have to wait to get answers for. But hopefully, the young and promising player can get back on track soon.

Dylan Harper — PG/SG, Spurs

Harper’s rookie season has also featured several twists and turns, with a timeline that saw him start the season strongly before getting injured, then return and eventually succeed in his role off the bench, and now struggle to find consistent production. He went scoreless with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in the Spurs’ most recent game against the Timberwolves, and had only totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists on 7-of-32 shooting in the four prior games. Harper is in a tricky spot off the bench playing behind two high-minute guards in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. Yet he’s proven earlier in the season to be a productive, difference-making player regardless. He’ll have to find his way, once again, to get out of this slump.