NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement this week players with NBA contracts aren't eligible to play college basketball.
Week 11 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Nikola Jokić, Josh Giddey among the sidelined
The days after Christmas have been rough for the NBA from an injury standpoint. In addition to the illness-related absences that can happen this time of year, multiple players who are highly impactful in fantasy basketball have been sidelined due to injury. Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is the headliner, as a hyperextended left knee will sideline him for at least four weeks. Already without Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson, Denver will be down four starters for the foreseeable future.
Among the other teams needing to compensate for the loss of starters this week are Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas and New York, to name a few. Below is a look at some of the injuries affecting fantasy basketball and team rotations.
The Nuggets will be without the three-time MVP for multiple weeks, leaving a massive hole in the team’s lineup.
Raphielle JohnsonC Ryan Kalkbrenner and F Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Including Wednesday's game against the Warriors, Kalkbrenner has missed Charlotte's last five games with a sprained left elbow. While Mason Plumlee (less than one percent rostered, Yahoo!) was the initial replacement in the starting lineup, Wednesday's game will be the fourth that he's missed due to a strained right groin. That's opened the door for Moussa Diabaté (22 percent) to step into the void, and he has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats over the last four games, according to Basketball Monster. Given the opportunity, with Diabaté playing nearly 33 minutes per game, it would be wise to hop onto the bandwagon.
Bridges sprained his right ankle during the first half of Monday's loss to the Bucks and, at the time of publishing, was considered questionable for Wednesday afternoon. While he only scored three points against Milwaukee, Tidjane Salaün (one percent) grabbed 11 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. However, Collin Sexton (19 percent) would be a superior streaming option for those needing offense if Bridges misses time, even though he does not have forward eligibility.
G Josh Giddey, G Coby White and F/C Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls
Monday's loss to the Timberwolves was brutal for the Bulls, who stood no chance after losing Giddey and White to hamstring and calf injuries. On Tuesday evening, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Giddey has been diagnosed with a strained left hamstring and is expected to miss "at least a few weeks." As for White, he was diagnosed with tightness in his right calf, but it would be unsurprising if he were sidelined for multiple games as well.
As for waiver wire options, Tre Jones (18 percent), Ayo Dosunmu (16 percent) and Kevin Huerter (eight percent) are the players to target. Jones began the season as a starter due to White's offseason injury, averaging 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals in 29.9 minutes over 11 games. With Giddey also out, the Bulls will likely require more from Jones as a floor general.
As for Collins, an injury initially described as a sore left big toe is now a sprain. His absence cuts into Chicago's depth behind starting center Nikola Vučević, leaving the backup responsibilities to Jalen Smith (three percent). At first glance, this won't do much for Smith's fantasy value. He's averaging 18.0 minutes per game this season, and that number may not increase much, if at all, since Vooch is healthy. However, if Smith can exceed 20 minutes consistently, he may turn into a deep-league option for managers needing rebounds.
F/C Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Davis exited the Mavericks' Christmas Day loss to the Warriors with right groin spasms and has missed the last two games. Daniel Gafford (15 percent) moved into the starting lineup, totaling 28 points, 17 rebounds, two steals and four blocks in losses to the Kings and Trail Blazers. And his playing time increased, with Gafford playing 23 and 26 minutes in those two games. If Davis remains out, Gafford will be worth a look in a higher percentage of fantasy leagues, but it would be nice if he could be relied on to hit the high-20s in minutes.
Someone else to watch in Dallas is Max Christie (seven percent), who has replaced Naji Marshall (21 percent) in the starting lineup and scored 25 points in Tuesday's loss to Portland. If Christie can retain his place in the starting lineup, deep-league fantasy managers may be able to get some value from rostering him, but the 2022 second-round pick is not worth the risk just yet.
G Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons
LeVert had to leave Detroit's December 28 loss to the Clippers after playing 13 minutes due to a sore left knee, and he did not play against the Lakers on Tuesday. While the production has not been good enough to affect fantasy basketball, LeVert's absence may ultimately benefit Jaden Ivey (21 percent). Working his way back from the fractured leg that ended his 2024-25 season on New Year's Day, he played a season-high 29 minutes against the Clippers. We'll see if that trend continues and whether Ivey ultimately returns to the starting lineup, especially given Ausar Thompson's offensive limitations.
C Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets
Şengün has missed Houston's last two games with a left soleus strain. While Steven Adams (eight percent) moved into the starting lineup, he had to leave Monday's win over the Pacers with a sprained right ankle. If Şengün and Adams can't play on Thursday against the Nets, it may be "Clint Capela time" in Houston. Rostered in one percent of Yahoo! leagues, Capela is averaging 11.0 minutes per game as the third man in the Rockets' center rotation.
F/C Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers
Jackson has been in the league's concussion protocol since suffering a head injury during a December 22 loss to the Celtics, missing Indiana's last five games. While Jay Huff (24 percent) was already the starting center, Jackson's absence has not resulted in a sharp increase in his playing time. Huff has averaged 20.6 minutes per game over the last four, with recent signing Micah Potter (less than one percent) averaging 13.6 minutes in his three appearances. Huff has been fantasy-relevant in the minutes he's received, but fantasy managers have to keep their expectations in check for obvious reasons.
G Austin Reaves and F Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers
Reaves was forced to exit the Lakers' Christmas Day loss to the Rockets with a Grade 2 left calf strain, and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Marcus Smart (six percent) has been the replacement in the starting lineup, and that won't change anytime soon. The veteran guard can be inconsistent offensively, but there's a clear need for what Smart can bring to the table defensively. He's a player who fantasy managers should track for the time being, rather than rushing to pick him up.
Unable to participate in Monday's practice, Hachimura was diagnosed with a sore right calf. During his availability ahead of Tuesday's game against the Pistons, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that he expected Hachimura to be out for "about" one week. Jake LaRavia (10 percent) was moved into the starting lineup, and he's in a similar boat to Smart regarding fantasy streaming value. Adding him can be considered, but it isn't a must.
G/F Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat
Having missed time earlier this season with a sprained left ankle, Larsson suffered a sprained right ankle during Monday's win over the Nuggets and did not return. While he has not been an especially impactful fantasy option, the second-year wing missing time would free up additional minutes for Jaime Jaquez Jr. (42 percent) and Nikola Jović (16 percent), with the former offering a higher fantasy ceiling. However, since returning from a right elbow injury, Jović has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats.
F Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Jones has missed the Pelicans' last five games with a sprained right ankle, including Wednesday's matchup with the Bulls. While Bryce McGowens (less than one percent) was the replacement in the starting lineup for the first three games, interim head coach James Borrego took a different approach for Monday's loss to the Knicks.
Zion Williamson (98 percent), who was coming off the bench as part of his minutes restriction, was inserted back into the starting lineup, while McGowens (who's on a two-way contract) was inactive. That change preserved the fantasy value of Saddiq Bey (33 percent), who scored 23 of his 27 points in the first quarter of Monday's defeat. Fantasy managers certainly can't find Williamson on the waiver wire, but that isn't an issue for Bey, who's worth a look as long as he's playing starters' minutes.
G/F Josh Hart and C Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks
Hart and Robinson are dealing with ankle issues, robbing the Knicks of two rotation players. Injured during the fourth quarter of New York's Christmas Day win over the Cavaliers, Hart did not travel with the team for its three-game road trip, which concludes in San Antonio on Wednesday. Rookie Mohamed Diawara (less than one percent) moved into the starting lineup for wins over Atlanta and New Orleans, going for a career-high 18 points (16 in the first quarter) against the Pelicans.
Diawara isn't worth the risk in fantasy leagues, but Miles McBride (five percent) and Tyler Kolek (five percent) are worth watching, especially with Deuce playing 18 minutes in his first game back from a sprained ankle. Robinson's absence initially resulted in rotation minutes for Ariel Hukporti (less than one percent), but a mouth contusion sidelined him for the second half of Monday's win in New Orleans. Guerschon Yabusele (less than one percent) also isn't worth the risk in fantasy leagues, although he was solid in his return to the rotation on Monday.
Clingan has notched a double-double in six out of his last seven games.
Cole HuffC Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder
Hartenstein has not been playing in both games of back-to-backs recently, but Wednesday's game will be the second that he's missed with a right soleus strain. Cason Wallace (23 percent) has moved into the starting lineup when iHart is unavailable, which moves Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren down a position. Also, more minutes become available to Ajay Mitchell (24 percent), Aaron Wiggins (five percent) and Isaiah Joe (three percent). Wallace and Mitchell are the players who fantasy managers should first seek on their league's waiver wires.
G Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic
Bane left Monday's loss to the Raptors briefly due to back spasms but returned and ultimately logged 30 minutes. However, at the time of publishing, he was considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pacers. With Anthony Black (40 percent) now on the radar of many fantasy managers due to his play in the absence of Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, there aren't any great options if Bane is limited or cannot play. Jase Richardson (less than one percent) played 20 minutes off the bench in Toronto, but he has not reached the point where he can be trusted in redraft leagues.
G Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns
Despite having missed Phoenix's last seven games, including Wednesday's matchup with the Cavaliers, Allen's issue is still listed as right knee injury management on the official injury report. With Jalen Green still sidelined by a strained hamstring, there really isn't a good reason not to go all-in on Collin Gillespie (37 percent). Over the past three weeks, he has provided third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. Of course, Royce O'Neale (15 percent) has been Allen's replacement in the starting lineup, but he has not offered the all-around fantasy value that Gillespie has.
F Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
Counting Wednesday's matchup with the Thunder, Grant has missed the last seven games with left Achilles tendonitis. With details scarce, it's unknown when he'll be healthy enough to return. Kris Murray (one percent) was Grant's replacement in the starting lineup, but he has also missed time due to injury and was listed as questionable for Wednesday night at the time of publishing with a right quad contusion. His absence opened the door for Sidy Cissoko (less than one percent) to make a few starts, but he hasn't done enough to merit rostering.
If fantasy managers are going to commit to any of the Trail Blazers wings sitting on more than half of Yahoo! waiver wires, it should be Toumani Camara (41 percent). His percentages have been poor recently, but he has been able to offer solid value in the steals and three-point categories.
G Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings
LaVine has missed seven straight and eight of Sacramento's last nine games, most recently sitting out Tuesday's loss to the Clippers with a sprained left ankle. Kings head coach Doug Christie has gone big with the guard's replacement, starting Precious Achiuwa (five percent) at power forward with DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray (when available) shifting up a position. Unfortunately, Achiuwa has not offered much value to fantasy managers, ranking well outside the top-200 in eight-cat formats since moving into the starting lineup on December 18. He and LaVine may not play the same position, but rookie center Maxime Raynaud (31 percent) is deserving of more fantasy attention as he continues to fill in for the injured Domantas Sabonis.
G Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
Vassell was ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Knicks with a strained left adductor, and that's the kind of injury that can cost a player multiple games, depending on the grade. With Stephon Castle listed as questionable at the time of publishing with a sprained left thumb, the Spurs could be down two perimeter starters against the Knicks. Julian Champagnie (six percent) and Dylan Harper (22 percent) have usually been next in line when the Spurs are down a perimeter starter, and while the former may offer a safer floor, it's hard to overlook Harper's ceiling as a lottery pick. Another option is Keldon Johnson (15 percent), but he offers no defensive production in his reserve role.
C Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors
Poeltl's lower back has been an issue since the preseason, and Wednesday's game against the Nuggets will be the fifth straight that he's missed. On Monday, it was announced by the team that the 7-footer would miss at least one more week before he's re-evaluated. Sandro Mamukelashvili (21 percent) has not been guaranteed to start every night when Poeltl is unavailable, but he has been a sixth-round player over the last two weeks. He should be the first player considered by fantasy managers looking to compensate for Poeltl's absence. Collin Murray-Boyles (two percent) has seen his playing time increase recently, but not to the point where he should be rostered in most redraft leagues.
G/F Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
Tuesday's loss to the Celtics was the second that Bailey has missed since suffering a strained right hip flexor during Friday's win over the Pistons. Brice Sensabaugh (10 percent) moved into the starting lineup, totaling 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four three-pointers in games against the Spurs and Celtics. While the production hasn't been elite, Sensabaugh has played 33 minutes or more in each of Utah's last three games. That may make him worth a roll of the dice in deep leagues until Bailey is cleared to return. Taylor Hendricks (one percent) replaced Svi Mykhailiuk (two percent) in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game but only played 17 minutes. There's no need to consider rostering either player.
F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
Wednesday's game against the Bucks will be the third that George has missed with a strained left hip flexor, and the Wizards have not provided a return timeline. Could it be "Tre Johnson time" in the nation's capital? The rookie, who's rostered in seven percent of Yahoo! leagues, has totaled 38 points, six assists, two steals and seven three-pointers in two games as George's replacement in the starting lineup.
Johnson does not offer much value as a rebounder or defender, but he shot 14-of-23 from the field in games against the Grizzlies and Suns. Bilal Coulibaly (25 percent) and Bub Carrington (15 percent) are also worth a look, but managers looking for pure scoring should consider Johnson now. And he'll likely be a popular target for the "silly season."
Kansas HC Bill Self weighs in on the Kansas City Chiefs stadium news
Kansas Jayhawks men's college basketball head coach Bill Self weighed in on the Kansas City Chiefs stadium news | @EdEastonJr
Life after LeBron James: who will inherit the NBA’s future?
That the NBA is reckoned in seasons is apt. To measure a legacy this way is as much existential as it is symbolic. Martin Heidegger argued that time is not something we pass through, but the condition of our being – less a pathway than a pressure. Heavy stuff, yes, but the NBA has always operated under similar weight.
The millennial superstars who stabilized the league for two decades are now entering their twilight: LeBron James (who turned 41 on Tuesday), Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Chris Paul. In their wake comes something genuinely new. For the first time, the league’s next dominant generation is unmistakably international. The NBA’s gen Z elite now emerge from Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, Canada and France.
Related: The ascendant San Antonio Spurs are the gift the NBA needed
America’s domestic pipeline still produces talent, but the excesses of AAU culture, one-and-done college basketball and eroding fundamentals have dulled its once overwhelming edge. In a garden crowded by its own overgrowth, the question is which strain ultimately thrives.
Each of the millennial stars now plays under the pressure of finitude. Heidegger described this as living toward an ending – an awareness that sharpens responsibility rather than diminishing it. That sense defines the league’s aging icons. For them, responsibility means one more run. Collectively, this group has won 10 championships and appeared in 23 Finals, but the odds of one last triumph are slim. Curry is straining to extend a dynasty time is quietly dismantling. LeBron is both the Lakers’ largest contract and no longer their centerpiece. Westbrook chases relevance on a lottery-bound roster. Harden remains productive but unsettled. Only Durant, newly aligned with a rising Houston team, appears plausibly positioned for one more push.
The question of succession is unavoidable. Elder statesmen Nikola Jokić (30) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (31) understand the clock well enough to know urgency has arrived. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27) looks capable of anchoring something durable in Oklahoma City, with Luka Dončić (26) and Victor Wembanyama (21) pressing close behind. The American presence has not vanished, but it has dimmed since the 1990s. Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Jayson Tatum keep the idea of domestic succession alive, while 19-year-old Cooper Flagg now complicates the hierarchy entirely.
The NBA has never struggled to define its image. From its rise into national consciousness, the league’s authority flowed through Black American players who made the game modern and irresistible, even while navigating deep economic contradictions. But dominance erodes. The world has caught up.
Generation Z moves differently. Previous generations were asked to embody systems that rarely worked in their favor. These players arrive as brands unto themselves, unburdened by history. American moxie still matters, but it no longer travels alone.
For decades, only Hakeem Olajuwon briefly disrupted American supremacy, and even that required Michael Jordan’s retirement. Now the balance has shifted. The millennial generation reshaped the sport – stretching shooting, flattening positions, weaponizing collectives – but even golden eras end, and their fading has left a vacuum no single nation can easily fill.
There is an uncomfortable symmetry to the timing. As American authority softens on the global stage, so too does its basketball hegemony. Players from countries once peripheral to the sport now produce its gravitational centers.
Can an American reclaim the mantle? Until recently, the answer felt unconvincing. Then Cooper Flagg arrived. As his shooting stabilizes, his path becomes clearer – and it begins where greatness has always been defined: defense.
Across generations, the truly defining stars shared not just brilliance, but responsibility on both ends of the floor. Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James could dominate a game while guarding its most dangerous opponent. That same two-way versatility distinguishes Flagg. It is what gives his ceiling historical weight.
Thrown immediately into the burden of replacing Dončić-level expectations, Flagg initially wavered. But after Dallas moved on from general manager Nico Harrison, the collective exhale allowed him to find his footing. The Mavericks sit on the fringes of the play-in picture, but Flagg already checks the league’s most important box: trust.
What makes him viable as the NBA’s next face is the rare blend of responsibility, versatility and control at an age when most players are still learning how to stay on the floor. He plays the basketball the league prefers to elevate – two-way, connective, portable. His defensive impact resembles that of elite bigs, while his offensive reads mirror those of primary creators. He spots mismatches early, toggles between force and patience, and resists rushing possessions into waste.
The NBA crowns players it can trust. As the youngest player in the league, Flagg already plays like an old one.
If the NBA is shaped by contingency rather than ceremony, then the passing of the torch is not an event but an obligation. LeBron’s generation carried the league until their bodies gave way. The world has stepped forward to claim it. But as Heidegger reminds us, what matters is not the future we imagine, but how we handle it once it arrives.
The league is not waiting for Cooper Flagg to become something else. It is already responding to what he is.
Nikola Jokic’s injury changes everything: West playoff chase, MVP race, more
It sounds strange to say, but it is true: Nikola Jokic missing a month is great news for Denver.
Not great that he's out, but great in the sense that the hypertension of his left knee that will sideline Jokic for at least the next month is the best possible outcome from what looked like a far worse injury when it happened.
While it may “only” be a month (although don't be shocked if he is out through the All-Star break), Jokic's absence is going to change things with the Nuggets, the Western Conference playoff chase, and the MVP race (it changes everything for people betting on NBA awards futures). Let's break it all down, starting with the team itself.
How Nuggets change without Jokic
Before Monday night, the Nuggets were already dealing with a rash of injuries. Three starters were out: Aaron Gordon (hamstring strain), Christian Braun (ankle sprain) and Cam Johnson (a knee hyperextension, just like Jokic).
Despite the bad luck, the Nuggets could always rely on Jokic, one of the league's most durable players — he had played fewer than 70 games in a season only once in his career (69 in 2022-23). He hasn't missed more than five games in a row since the 2017-18 season.
Without him, Denver has to find a way to keep its head above water in a deep West. The Nuggets remain arguably the biggest threat to the Thunder in the NBA, but only if Denver enters the playoffs with everyone healthy.
Denver also needs several players to step up. For the next month at least, even more playmaking falls on the shoulders of Jamal Murray, who deserves to be a first-time All-Star this season, averaging 25.2 points and 7 assists a game, shooting 45.4% from beyond the arc. He has to be the alpha on this roster now.
Beyond Murray, this is a chance for some key guys to get paid. Peyton Watson will be a restricted free agent after this season and can make his case in the next month for a big payday. Tim Hardaway Jr. is in Denver on a minimum contract, here is his chance to prove to Denver and others that he deserves a bigger deal.
Also, Jonas Valanciunas — who was signed to back up Jokic —needs to step up and be a solid anchor in the middle on both ends of the court for the next month.
How West playoff race changes without Jokic
Denver is at 22-10 and sits as the No. 3 seed in the West, however, they remain just three games out of the play-in in a deep West. Without Jokic, the Nuggets will slide down the standings, raising two key questions.
1) How far do they slide? Can Denver win enough games in the next month to stay in the top six in the West? Or, at least stay within striking distance of the top-10? The good news for Denver is it is entering its softest part of the schedule — Tom Haberstroh noted on his podcast that the Nuggets' opponents through the end of January have just a .434 winning percentage. That helps, there are some winnable games in there. Still, the Nuggets need some guys to step up.
2) Do the Nuggets end up on the same side of the bracket as the Thunder? In an injury-free world, we would be headed for a Nuggets vs. Thunder Western Conference Finals (that would feel like the de facto NBA Finals). Now, these teams may end up on the same side of the bracket and meet in the second round — maybe even the first if things go really poorly enough for Denver in the next month.
A Denver/OKC second-round showdown would clear the path for Houston, San Antonio or another team to slide in and make the Western Conference Finals.
How Jokic’s injury changes MVP race
Jokic was the frontrunner — or at very least the co-frontrunner — with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race. In Tim Bontemps 1/3rd of the season straw poll at ESPN, voters had Jokic and SGA lapping the field.
The best people to talk about this race are the betting experts from NBC Sports, starting with Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper).
“Jokić is likely to miss a month with the hyperextension and bone bruising which will make his qualification for MVP fairly difficult on top the massive impact it will have for the Nuggets trying to avoid the play-in seeding. The clear advantage goes to SGA in this case who has somewhere between and 85% to 90% to win now; the only realistic path to victory for an outsider is if the defending champ sustains a long-term injury as well. In that black swan event, I think Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown all have compelling cases and would be great long shots at current prices because the current second tier of players face qualification questions themselves as Doncic, Giannis and Wemby have already amassed significant missed time.”
Trysta Krick (@trysta-krick) takes a slightly different angle but comes to the same conclusion.
"When it comes to winning MVP, the criteria are actually pretty simple. Either you’re the best player on one of the top one or two teams in your conference, or you’re so far ahead of the field that voters are willing to overlook team record altogether.
Last season was a perfect example of how that balance plays out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić were essentially neck and neck from a production standpoint, but Oklahoma City’s sustained dominance all year — combined with the reality that Jokić had already won the award three times — tipped the scales. The tiebreaker went to Shai.
This year, it felt like Jokić had regained momentum until the injury, and now the race once again looks like Shai’s to lose. There simply isn’t another team operating at OKC’s level, and no other player has separated himself from the pack the way Shai has over the full body of work.
The other candidates all come with caveats. Luka Dončić? The Lakers’ record just isn’t strong enough. Jalen Brunson? Same issue — the Knicks sitting as a three seed hurts his case. Jaylen Brown? Possibly, but Boston has been inconsistent at times, and the Eastern Conference is far more congested in the middle than the West.
At this point, it would take a seismic shift for the MVP to come out of the East at all. As things stand, the combination of elite individual performance and team success still points in one direction — and it’s Shai’s award to lose.
James' birthday spoiled by Lakers' loss to Pistons
LeBron James' 41st birthday was spoiled by the Detroit Pistons, who claimed a 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points for the Pistons, who remain top of the Eastern Conference with 25 wins from 33 games after avoiding a season-worst three-game losing streak.
Luka Doncic registered 30 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, with NBA all-time leading scorer James adding 17 points.
James became just the 12th player in NBA history to compete at age 41 or older.
He has now played 1,577 career games - second only to Robert Parish's 1,611 - as he contests his record 23rd NBA season.
The Lakers end 2025 having lost four of their past five games and sit fifth in the Western Conference.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored with 1.7 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Philadelphia 76ers victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 20-year-old contributed 25 points - including his clutch three-pointer - as the 76ers earned a 139-136 victory on the road.
Team-mates Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid led their side with 34 points apiece as the 76ers ended a three-game losing streak.
Ja Morant responded with 40 points for the Grizzlies, while rookie Cedric Coward added a career-high 28 points, but the hosts fell to back-to-back defeats.
There were also wins for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
The Clippers claimed a fifth straight victory with a dominant 131-90 win over the Sacramento Kings, while the Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 129-119.
Lakers implode in fourth quarter of turnover-filled blowout loss to Pistons
LeBron James strolled to the scorer’s table Tuesday night and went through his pregame routine of throwing chalk up in the air, an iconic moment in his NBA-record 23rd season and on his 41st birthday.
James still marvels with his abilities to be a force at this stage of his career, leaving teammates and opponents in awe.
But the Lakers were unable to give James the celebration he wanted, losing 128-106 to the Detroit Pistons at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers, who had 20 turnovers, have lost four of their last five games, and their 11 losses this season have been by at least 10 points.
James finished with 17 points and Luka Doncic had 30 points and 11 assists but they took a seat on the bench for good with four minutes and 9 seconds left when the Lakers were down 122-96.
The Lakers (20-11) were better defensively in the third quarter after struggling in the first half. After giving up 36 points in the first quarter, 34 in the second, the Lakers gave up 26 in the third and were down 96-88.
But the Lakers fell apart in the fourth, getting run over by an 18-6 Pistons run that put the Lakers in a 20-point hole midway through the quarter. Detroit went on to outscore the Lakers 32-18 in the quarter.
Lakers coach JJ Redick called a timeout with six minutes remaining, but that didn't stop the Pistons (25-8), who got 27 points and 11 assists from Cade Cunningham.
Before the game, Redick said he's had conversations with James about what it takes to play at such a high level for so long.
“He talked about, you had to sacrifice loved ones,” Redick said. “I think there's an external cost that comes with caring, and I think there's also an internal cost, and that can be exhaustion, could be burnout, could be mental fatigue, physical fatigue.
Read more:Lakers takeaways: Nick Smith Jr. shines in win over Kings with Austin Reaves sidelined
"That's why you don't see many — I don't know about in other industries — but you don't see many great athletes that can sustain it for as long as he sustained it."
Detroit also showed its ability to sustain a level of greatness, scoring 70 points in the first 24 minutes and making 67.5% of their shots and 57.1% of their threes. They had 19 fast-break points in the first half.
Doncic had 24 points in the first half, making eight of 10 free throws.
James had 15 at the half, going five of 10 from the field and three of six from three-point range.
Etc.
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura missed the game with right calf soreness and is expected to be out for about a week.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Warley’s 22 points and 14 rebounds help No. 7 Gonzaga beat San Diego
NORTH CAROLINA 79, FLORIDA STATE 66 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Wilson had 22 points in North Carolina's win over Florida State. Wilson also had 16 rebounds and six assists for the Tar Heels (13-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Seth Trimble scored 20 points while shooting 6 of 13 from the field and 8 for 11 from the line and added seven rebounds and four steals.
Warley’s 22 points and 14 rebounds help No. 7 Gonzaga beat San Diego 99-93
Jalen Warley had 22 points and 14 rebounds as No. 7 Gonzaga held off a late charge to beat San Diego 99-93 on Tuesday night for its 20th straight win against the Toreros. Gonzaga (14-1, 2-0 WCC) was making its final trip to San Diego as a member of the West Coast Conference. Tyon Grant-Foster scored 18 points while Mario Saint-Supery and Braden Huff had 14 apiece for Gonzaga, which won its seventh straight game since its only defeat, a 101-61 loss to then-No. 7 Michigan in the championship game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.
Wooley scores season-high 21 points as No. 16 Louisville beats California 90-70
Sophomore Adrian Wooley scored a season-high 21 points and No. 16 Louisville beat California 90-70 on Tuesday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. Ryan Conwell made six 3-pointers and had 26 points, and all five Louisville starters scored in double figures. Sanandra Fru added 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Isaac McNeely and J’Vonne Hadley each scored 11.
Wilson’s double-double helps No. 12 North Carolina beat Florida State 79-66 in ACC opener
Caleb Wilson had 22 points, 16 rebounds and six assists to help No. 12 North Carolina beat Florida State 79-66 on Tuesday night to open Atlantic Coast Conference play.
No. 13 Nebraska pulls away in 2nd half against New Hampshire to go unbeaten in nonconference play
Pryce Sandfort scored 19 points and No. 13 Nebraska shook off a second straight slow start to beat New Hampshire 86-55 on Tuesday night and go undefeated in nonconference play for the first time since 1928-29. The Cornhuskers (13-0) extended the best start in program history but not before the Wildcats (4-9) of America East, like North Dakota of the Summit League nine days earlier, caused some anxious moments. The Huskers led by just three at halftime but were much sharper on both ends after that and will ride momentum into Friday night's Big Ten home game against ninth-ranked Michigan State.
Gillespie scores 21 to lead No. 19 Tennessee’s rout of South Carolina State 105-54
Ja'Kobi Gillespie had 21 points and eight assists to lead No. 19 Tennessee to a 105-54 win over South Carolina State on Tuesday night. Nate Ament scored 16 points and Amari Evans added 14 for the Volunteers (10-3). Jaylen Carter had 13 points and 10 rebounds and J.P. Estrella finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Wilson’s double-double helps No. 12 North Carolina beat Florida State 79-66 in ACC opener
Caleb Wilson had 22 points, 16 rebounds and six assists to help No. North Carolina beat Florida State 79-66 on Tuesday night to open Atlantic Coast Conference play. The 6-foot-10 freshman set a season high on the boards and matched his high in assists as clearly the best player on the floor, from his energy in chasing down rebounds to high-flying athleticism that showed in throwing down four dunks.
NCAA tries to clarify NBA stance after Baylor’s addition of 2023 draft pick prompts criticism
The NCAA says it won’t grant eligibility to any player who had signed an NBA contract after Baylor’s midseason addition of a 2023 draft pick who had been playing professionally in Europe prompted criticism from coaches across college basketball.