Category: NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed two-way forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin to a standard contract worth $3 million over two years, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Tomlin has played 43 games with the Cavaliers this season. The Cavs have currently filled all of their standard roster spots and now have one two-way slot remaining.

The Cavs first signed Tomlin to an Exhibit-10 deal in September of 2024. After a strong season with the Charge, where Tomlin averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, he was signed to a 10-day contract in February of 2025, then later converted to a two-way deal after that.

Tomlin, a 6’8” forward who didn’t start playing organized basketball until college, is the quintessential example of how the G-League should work. Cleveland found a hidden gem, polished him with the Charge, then allowed him to prove himself.

The Cavaliers quickly learned how beneficial Tomlin could be when they turned to him for minutes earlier in the season. Tomlin made an immediate impact by being a high-motor athlete whose energy and activity made him a contributor. Especially at a time when the team was lacking effort more than anything.

Tomlin has averaged 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game this season. He’s delivered on highlight plays such as stripping Luka Doncic and throwing down a windmill dunk in Cleveland’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers. But he’s also played a smaller role in numerous wins for the Cavs, playing his role and doing the dirty work.

There is still room for improvement. Tomlin, at this point, is shooting just 22% from downtown. Opponents have begun ignoring him entirely on the perimeter. While he can cut to the basket and make up for some of this, it will eventually become a deal breaker if Tomlin can’t consistently knock down corner three-pointers.

Nevertheless, this is the dream for all two-way players. Make the most of your opportunities, prove you belong in the rotation, and then earn the big deal. The job is never finished, but this is a moment worth celebrating. Congrats, Tomlin. You earned it.

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We’re two games into the James Harden Cleveland Cavaliers era, and things couldn’t be going much better. The initial chemistry he’s shown with Donovan Mitchell is encouraging, and his ability to get Jarrett Allen involved in the offense has unlocked a dimension that wasn’t otherwise there.

That said, the cost of Darius Garland was steep — provided he can return to his All-Star form in the future. Reactions to the trade weren’t necessarily positive from Cavs fans at the time of the deal, and understandably so.

Now that a week has passed since the initial rumor and we’ve seen what it looks like on the court, have your opinions changed? How would you grade the trade?

Let us know with the survey below!

Indiana plans to build a permanent bronze statue of former men’s basketball coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Knight inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, the Hoosiers’ home arena.

The university announced the move on Monday, Febr. 9, the same day that Indiana’s 1976 national championship team was honored at halftime of the Hoosiers’ 92-74 win against Oregon.

"Coach Knight's influence on the game of basketball is immeasurable, but his impact on this university and Hoosier basketball fans is even deeper," said Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said in a statement. "On a personal level, having started my career here as a student manager under Coach Knight, I saw firsthand the unparalleled standard of excellence he demanded. He taught me, and countless others, that success is the result of meticulous preparation and unwavering discipline. This statue will be a well-deserved tribute to a man who didn't just win games; he changed how the sport is played."

REQUIRED READING: IU home to last undefeated basketball, football champions. 'Incredibly humbling,' Quinn Buckner says

Knight’s statue would be displayed in the south lobby of the arena, alongside the statue honoring the 1976 team that he led to an undefeated season. Fifty years later, it’s the last time a Division I men’s basketball champion has finished a season unbeaten.

Details about the project and its timeline, which is being funded by an anonymous longtime Indiana donor, will be released “in the coming months,” the school said.

Knight is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential coaches in the history of basketball at any level. He led the Hoosiers to three national championships — in 1976, 1981 and 1987 — and won 904 games over his 42-year head-coaching career at Indiana, Army and Texas Tech. He went 662–239 in 29 seasons with the Hoosiers. During that tenure, he popularized the motion offense and routinely had some of the country’s toughest, most tenacious defensive units.

Beyond his work at Indiana, which also included 11 Big Ten championships and five Final Four appearances, he was the head coach of gold-medal-winning USA Basketball teams at the 1979 Pan American Games and the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Knight’s legendary run at Indiana came to an abrupt end in September 2000, when the university fired him two months before the start of the upcoming season. His dismissal came after he violated a zero-tolerance behavioral policy that had been placed on him by school president Myles Brand earlier that year when a tape was released of Knight putting his hand around the neck of former Hoosiers guard Neil Reed during a 1997 practice.

In February 2020, nearly 20 full years after his firing, Knight returned to an Indiana game for the first time. He received a standing ovation while being honored at halftime of the Hoosiers’ game against Purdue.

Knight died at 83 years old in 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana plans to build statue of former basketball coach Bob Knight

The Knicks (34*-19) host the Indiana Pacers (13-40) tonight at Madison Square Garden, pitting a team from the top of the conference against one from the drain. Over their last ten contests, New York has won nine and the Hoosiers have lost seven. One fanbase is salivating about a deep postseason run; the other is checking ticket prices for Fever games.

The clubs last clashed on December 18, 2025, when New York edged Indiana 114-113 in Indianapolis. A go-ahead three-pointer by Captain Clutch with 4.4 seconds remaining saved the day for our heroes. Brunson finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 31 points and Pascal Siakam added 26. 

Injuries and inconsistency have undermined Indiana’s season. They’ve struggled on both ends of the floor, averaging 110.6 points per game (28th) while allowing 118.5 (24th). Their 109.4 offensive rating ranks last in the NBA, and their defense is only slightly better with a 117.2 rating (21st). Across the Basketball-Reference stat box, they rate in the top 15 for only two categories, two-pointers attempted (12th) and turnovers (11th).

In the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam (23.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 3.9 APG) remains Indiana’s primary offensive engine. Guard Andrew Nembhard (17.3 PPG, 7.4 APG, 36% 3P%) continues to handle much of the playmaking responsibility, and young contributors like Jarace Walker (10.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and Ben Sheppard (6.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG) have assumed larger roles with the roster depleted. They last played on Sunday, in a 122-104 loss to Toronto. The starters for that game were Nembhard, Sheppard, Walker, Siakam, and Jay Huff.

Both teams enter the game dealing with multiple injuries. The Pacers list Ivica Zubac, Aaron Nesmith, Micah Potter, and T.J. McConnell as game-time decisions with ankle, hand, hip, and hamstring issues, respectively. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby (toe) is a game-time decision, while Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is out.

Prediction

ESPN projects an 82% win probability for New York. That checks out. Given the roster and record disparities, this should be a Me: Godzilla, You: Tokyo sorta game for the home team. Total demolition, ya dig? Sure, the last game between the two teams was a one-point squeaker, but KAT, Josh, and Deuce were out, the Knicks hadn’t yet added Jose Alvarado, and Mohamed Diawara was still gestating in his cocoon.

Tonight, the Knicks should rest OG Anunoby and give more reps to the rising rookie Diawara against an (allegedly) NBA team. When the teams played in December, New York allowed Indy to score 36 in the opening quarter and 30 in the third. Look for the Knicks to right their defensive sins of the past. The Hoosiers don’t even have Bennedict Mathurin anymore, since he was jettisoned to the Clippers at the trade deadline. If anything, this should be a short night for the starters and a nice showcase for Knicks’ bench mob. Knicks by 10.

Game Details

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Suspensions are coming after a gnarly fight broke out between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons on Monday night. The Hornets entered as the hottest team in the NBA riding a nine-game winning streak. The Pistons entered with the top record in the Eastern Conference and tied for the fewest losses in the NBA. Detroit beat Charlotte, 110-104, but a great game was overshadowed by a fight that is going to have long-lasting consequences.

Tensions had been building between Hornets big man Moussa Diabate and Pistons All-Star center Jalen Duren earlier in the night, and they boiled over in the third quarter after Diabate fouled Duren on a drive to the rim. The two started shoving each other, Miles Bridges got involved, Isaiah Stewart ran off the bench to fight, and all four players were ejected. The traditional TV camera angle doesn’t really do this brawl justice, but it’s still important context. Watch the fight here:

HORNETS V PISTONS LETS GET NEGATIVE pic.twitter.com/mG3Ds0d7Yq

— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) February 10, 2026

Diabate has been known for his extra efforts this season, and he really did give multiple efforts in this fight to try to sock Duren. He had to be held back from the Detroit All-Star multiple times, and while it was happening, Bridges and Stewart were fighting on the other side of the court.

This alternate angle from inside the building best shows the full scope of the fight. This was legitimately chaos.

Absolute CHAOS at The Hive tonight! Moussa Diabate and Jalen Duren were teeing it up all game. Both throwing punches. Miles Bridges and Isaiah Stewart also went at it. Insane, wild scenes.

Shades of Malice at the Palace.
All 4 were ejected. Holy hell. pic.twitter.com/dGzTxv6Fg3

— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) February 10, 2026

As Diabate was being held back by teammates and coaches, Miles Bridges charged in and threw a punch at Duren. That escalated the fight to a new level and triggered Isaiah Stewart enough to run off the bench. Stewart is not someone you want to mess with, and has a long history of fighting tied to his reputation.

Watch Stewart charge in off the bench here. The WWE announcers added by the poster really makes the whole thing work:

WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL…..IT'S THE BEEF STEW! pic.twitter.com/PgdFlpe9wm

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 10, 2026

Why was Diabate so upset? It seems like he sure didn’t like getting poked in the eye by Duren during one confrontation.

Yep, that'll do it: https://t.co/M3zd8A7OMJpic.twitter.com/fnfNuDxzyU

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) February 10, 2026

Stewart is a repeat offender at this point, and is probably going to get hit with a long suspension. That’s a bummer, because it will likely cost him a spot on the All-Defense team at the end of the year. Stewart has been a fantastic paint defender for the Pistons this year, and deserves to be recognized for his work. He also has to be poised enough to stay on the floor.

Stewart has never been All-Defense before. He probably won’t go down in the history books for his work this season, but it’s another reminder that he needs to keep himself under control.

We’ll update this post when the suspensions are announced.

It has been a turbulent past few days for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following a trade deadline that saw many of the players involved in rumors of a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and a pair of concerning losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers, the Wolves looked to turn it around before the upcoming All-Star Break:

— The Wolves had a solid showing on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks, winning 138-116. Ayo Dosunmo showcased why the Wolves coveted him at the trade deadline, as he led the Wolves off the bench with 21 points on 9-13 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers.

— Rudy Gobert and Chris Finch had standout comments following the loss to the Pelicans. Gobert mentioned that effort and accountability were issues, seemingly calling out Edwards and Julius Randle. Finch mentioned at practice the next day that he wished his comments had remained in-house.

As frustrated as Rudy Gobert has been about the Wolves' effort this season. He also said the accountability is not there.

"There's just no effort. We've seen that many, many times this year, last few years since I've been here. We always know it's coming, and when it comes… pic.twitter.com/p8R1fmwwwP

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 7, 2026

— The Timberwolves followed up the loss against the Pelicans with one of their worst performances of the year on Super Bowl Sunday against the Clippers. It was a game that spoke to many of the issues Gobert had brought up following the previous game.

— Despite the loss, Johnny Juzang had his best night of the season on Friday against the Pelicans. With Jaden McDaniels in foul trouble, Juzang played well in his limited minutes, getting a big block and later knocking down a 3-pointer.

— Through 55 games, the Timberwolves have not looked like a championship-caliber team. There is still plenty of time to turn that around, and they’ve shown an ability to go on a run down the stretch of a season, as last season they won 17 of their last 21 games to secure a top-six seed.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Tell us what you think! And sign up for those weekly surveys. Answers will be posted later this week!

With a trivial event like the Super Bowl finally over, much of the American sports public can fixate their attention on a sport that truly deserves it: college basketball.

The 2025-26 men's college basketball season has been one of the best in recent memory, with a pair of undefeated teams entering February, a handful of elite teams behind them and arguably the best freshman class in decades.

Adding to the excitement are what some of the teams outside the sport’s five power conferences are doing.

REQUIRED READING: College basketball rankings: Houston surges in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25

Though it suffered a stunning loss last week, No. 11 Gonzaga is once again a bona fide Final Four threat. No. 19 Saint Louis and college basketball folk hero Robbie Avila continue to plow through the Atlantic 10. After Monday, No. 24 Miami (Ohio) has improbably outlasted No. 1 Arizona as the lone remaining unbeaten team at the Division I level.

Where do things stand for teams outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12 and SEC? Here’s a look at the latest power rankings:

College basketball mid-major power rankings

1. Gonzaga (23-2)

The Bulldogs were on the losing end against one of the best stories in college basketball this season, falling on the road as a 21.5-point favorite against a Portland team whose coach, Shantay Legans, was immobilized after tearing his Achilles with the Pilots’ scout team in practice because it was missing too many of its players due to illness. The loss snapped a 15-game win streak, but Gonzaga still has a resume no other team on this list can match.

Shantay Legans had to join #Portland’s scout team because of the Pilots’ recent injuries and illnesses. It resulted in him tearing his Achilles.

Legans after the first top-10 win in school history: “That’s life, shouldn’t be out there. I’ll take an Achilles’ for a couple wins.” pic.twitter.com/umbM5dv7Z9

— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) February 5, 2026

2. Saint Louis (23-1)

While Avila gets many of the headlines, the Billikens’ dominant run this season has been fueled by a remarkably balanced and selfless offense. Five Saint Louis players are averaging double figures in scoring this season while two others are averaging at least 9.5 points per game this season. The Billikens don’t have quite as many top-tier wins as Gonzaga, which is why they’re just behind them, but that doesn’t take anything away from what they’ve managed to do the past three months.

3. Miami (Ohio) (24-0)

The RedHawks haven’t gotten to 24 wins and no losses without a few tense moments, as four of their past six wins were decided either by a basket or in overtime. The latest of those came in a 73-71 win at Buffalo, a game in which Luke Skaljac had 19 points and five steals. How much longer can the run keep going? As of Monday night, KenPom gave Miami at least a 67% chance of winning each of its final seven regular-season games.

4. Utah State (20-3)

The Aggies picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season last week, going to The Pit and putting an 86-66 stomping on a New Mexico team that had won 15 of its past 17 games. In two wins last week, guard Mason Falslev averaged 25 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

REQUIRED READING: Bracketology projection for NCAA Tournament field has new No. 1 seed

5. Santa Clara (21-5)

Few teams in the country have been playing as well since Christmas as the Broncos, who have won 12 of their past 13 games (with the lone loss coming on the road to Gonzaga). The most recent of those victories, a 96-92 win at Washington State, was made possible by a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds from freshman forward Allen Graves.

𝑨𝑮 𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑹-𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 ‼️

A. Graves | 30 PTS, 13 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL#StampedeAheadpic.twitter.com/DaSb6hTQg8

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) February 8, 2026

6. Saint Mary’s (21-4)

The Gaels are making a Division I-best 81.4% of their free throws this season, with their top three scorers all making at least 83% of their attempts from the charity stripe. It has only meant so much to a team that has won seven of its past nine games by at least 10 points, but late in a tight NCAA Tournament game, it could be the decisive factor.

7. San Diego State (17-6)

As they have for so much of coach Brian Dutcher’s tenure, the Aztecs have a suffocating defense, one that ranks 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. In each of the past six seasons, they’ve never finished worse than 21st among all Division I teams in that category.

REQUIRED READING: Kansas upsets No. 1 Arizona, hand Wildcats first loss of season

8. VCU (18-6)

Under first-year head coach Phil Martelli Jr., the program’s third head coach in the past four years, the Rams continue to do what they’ve done for most of this century: win. After an 11-6 start, VCU has reeled off seven victories in a row, a run capped off by a 26-point drubbing of Dayton at home last Friday.

9. New Mexico (18-6)

After winning their first 12 home games of the season, the Lobos stumbled last week, dropping back-to-back home contests to Utah State and Boise State. The 91-90 loss to the Broncos came despite a 30-point outburst from guard Luke Haupt, nearly tripling his previous season high.

10. George Mason (20-3)

The Patriots have been faltering a bit of late, with two losses in their past five games after a blistering 18-1 start to the season. The latest of those setbacks came last Wednesday in a 71-65 loss at home against Duquesne, which got 25 points off 17 George Mason turnovers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mid-major basketball power rankings: Gonzaga remains No. 1 as VCU enters top 10

The Indiana Pacers head to Madison Square Garden tonight to take on the New York Knicks, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Jalen Brunson has been brilliant at home this season, and my Pacers vs. Knicks predictions target him to show out here.

Read more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, February 10.

Pacers vs Knicks prediction

Pacers vs Knicks best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-110)

Jalen Brunson is having another spectacular season for the New York Knicks, averaging 27.1 points per game. The guard has easily cashed the Over in two of his last three games. 

The Villanova product has averaged 27.4 ppg at MSG this season, and he’s hit the Over in points in two of his previous four appearances at home. 

The Knicks star also had 25 points against the Indiana Pacers earlier this season. While that’s a tad below tonight’s total, he’s playing with confidence at the moment. Brunson will ball out. 

Pacers vs Knicks same-game parlay

Pascal Siakam has been a superstar for the Pacers this season without Tyrese Haliburton, but shooting the three isn’t his biggest strength.

The Cameroonian has cashed the Under in converted triples in four of his last five outings. Across his last two games, Siakam is just 2-for-11 from 3-point territory. 

It’s been a down campaign for Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 19.7 ppg. He’s hit the Under in points in eight of his last nine contests.

Pacers vs Knicks SGP

• Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
• Pascal Siakam Under 1.5 threes
• Karl-Anthony Towns Under 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Not enough Hart

Josh Hart has hit the Under in rebounds in six straight appearances, and he’s grabbed only 12 rebounds combined across the last two.

Pacers vs Knicks SGP

• Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
• Pascal Siakam Under 1.5 threes
• Karl-Anthony Towns Under 19.5 points
• Josh Hart Under 8.5 rebounds

Pacers vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Pacers +12 | Knicks -12
• Moneyline: Pacers +475 | Knicks -650
• Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5

Pacers vs Knicks betting trend to know

The New York Knicks have covered the spread in 30 of their last 45 home games (+14.60 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Knicks.

How to watch Pacers vs Knicks

Pacers vs Knicks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

One decisive quarter proved too much for the Atlanta Hawks to overcome.

The Hawks surrendered 40 points in the second quarter and never fully recovered in a 138–116 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Target Center.

Atlanta was shorthanded, as Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels were both ruled out before tipoff. Johnson missed the game due to left knee inflammation after being listed as questionable on the injury report. The Hawks opted to sit him as a precaution in the second game of a back-to-back road set.

Daniels was also held out with right ankle inflammation after being listed as questionable earlier in the day, as the team chose to prioritize his recovery.

Despite the absences, the Hawks showed early fight, trading baskets with Minnesota in an up-tempo first quarter and trailing by just seven points.

The game swung decisively in the second quarter, however, as Minnesota capitalized on defensive breakdowns, pushed the pace and found open lanes to the basket. The Timberwolves shot efficiently and used crisp ball movement to stretch the margin to double digits by halftime.

Atlanta showed resilience coming out of the break, trimming the deficit in the third quarter behind improved ball movement and shot-making. But the Hawks were unable to string together enough defensive stops to seriously threaten Minnesota down the stretch, as each run was quickly answered.

The Hawks were led offensively by CJ McCollum, who finished with a game-high 38 points and kept Atlanta afloat even as the deficit grew. Nickeil Alexander-Walker turned in a strong all-around performance with 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and five rebounds, while Corey Kispert and Jock Landale each scored 12 points.

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points, consistently breaking down Atlanta’s defense. Julius Randle recorded a triple-double, and Rudy Gobert was perfect from the field, anchoring the paint on both ends as the Timberwolves controlled the game.

The loss dropped Atlanta to 26–29 on the season and underscored the challenge of sustaining defensive intensity against elite Western Conference teams.

While the Hawks’ offense continues to show it can score with anyone, turning games like this into wins will require consistent defensive effort over full quarters, not just brief stretches.

The Milwaukee Bucks put up a good fight but ultimately fell to the Orlando Magic 118-99. The game was ugly in the first half, with neither team making much from outside, but the Magic’s final 18 minutes were stellar. The Bucks have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow night (or not, for the pro-tank crowd) when these teams play once again. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Myles Turner

27 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5/9 FG, 2/6 3P, -6

Myles had some truly great looks from three that didn’t drop. His stats are what they are because the Magic were basically switching everything on defence. Turner is not the type to take advantage of mismatches. His job was to set a strong screen and force the switch. From there, it was up to the guards to make a play—KPJ was the only guard who did so effectively.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins

32 minutes, 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 4 fouls, 6/16 FG, 2/6 3P, -11

Rollins started the game poorly and never really got better, which, I should note, has not been the norm for him this season; he usually finds his way into games. There were a bunch of no-pass possessions where he rushed a tough shot. He also overpossessed the ball, leading to turnovers. He was often too aggressive on defence, playing a key role in the Magic getting into the bonus. Yeah, this was one of Ryan’s worst games this season.

Grade: D

AJ Green

32 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4/8 FG, 4/8 3P, -13

Loved AJ’s game. He did his job and was aggressive in seeking his shot (including a ridiculous side-step triple over Franz Wagner with the shot clock winding down).

Grade: B+

Kevin Porter Jr.

36 minutes, 28 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 10/19 FG, 1/5 3P, -21

With the Magic being the defensive team they are (or have been, I should say), the Bucks desperately needed KPJ’s shake-and-bake ability. He did make just a single three, but he knocked down a bevy of mid-rangers, which kept the Bucks in it. Porter’s passing game was great too; he aggressively pierced the defence and made two defenders commit to him, finding the open man more times than not.

Grade: A

Bobby Portis

16 minutes, 10 points, 0 assists, 0 rebounds, 4/6 FG, 2/2 3P, -12

My theory that the Magic are the worst matchup for Bobby in the entire league was proven once again last night. He really struggles to find scoring opportunities against their big, athletic defence. He can’t get to his back-down game because of their size, and he also can’t get to his shot because of their athleticism (and then he’s slow, so they can recover if he tries to pump and go). There was simply no impact from BP, evidenced by his limited playing time.

Grade: D

Kyle Kuzma

17 minutes, 3 points, 0 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers, 1/3 FG, -13

Copy and paste from above, but worse.

Grade: F

Gary Harris

14 minutes, 0 points, 0/2 FG, -7

At least Gary got to catch up with his old buddies.

Grade: C

Cam Thomas

13 minutes, 4 points, 1/5 FG, 0/1 3P, –1

I did not think Cam would even play, and thus I am taking nothing from this one. It looks like Doc is going to have two of Porter, Rollins, and Thomas on the court at all times.

Grade: C

Jericho Sims

27 minutes, 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2/4 FG, -9

I liked Jericho’s activity on both ends of the court. He set some great screens, forcing his man to commit to the ball-handler and opening up lob opportunities (take note, Giannis). On defence, I thought he was strong and stuck with guards on switches.

Grade: B

Pete Nance

9 minutes, 5 points, 2/2 FG, 1/1 3P, -3

Pete played sparingly, but didn’t do anything wrong from what I can recall.

Grade:

Doc Rivers

Well, Doc played a lot of the right cards with respect to who got playing time in this one; Kuzma and Portis were major negatives and thus played sparingly, while Jericho and KPJ were solid and thus played more. While I suspect that Gary Trent Jr. getting a DNP will become more common as Cam Thomas takes most of his minutes, this was an especially bad matchup for GT. Why? Because the Magic is a team that needs guys who can pierce the defence more than it needs stationary shooters. So good choice by Doc there. Other than that, I thought Rivers coached a fine game.

Grade: B

Garbage time: Ousmane Dieng, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.

DNP-CD: Gary Trent Jr.

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Doc said the Magic won in large part because they were the more physical team.
• KPJ said a major reason for the Bucks’ 19 turnovers was the aggressive doubling the Magic do. Interesting.
• Bobby said there has to be a greater focus on boxing out for this team. And not just one guy—it has to be two, three, four guys hitting the glass. There were some folks online pointing out that BP had 0 rebounds. I’m not positive that’s the dunk people think it is; you can still box out and help your team rebound without grabbing them yourself. Overall, I appreciate the message.
• There were some admittedly funny quips online about people being shocked that Cam Thomas did not shoot once during his first stint on the court.
• We got our first look at Ousmane Dieng in garbage time; I want to see him in real minutes at some point.
• Franz Wagner returned in this one after a long layoff.
• Paolo Banchero… I’m sorry, but that dude is mid (and his contract could be a real problem).
• Anthony Black is proof that sometimes development takes a minute.

Up Next

The Bucks will hang around in Orlando for another day and play the Magic again tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. CST. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

The latest NBA rumor making the rounds recently has been related to expansion. The league has been flirting with expansion for a number of years, but there may finally be a vote for it this summer according to this report.

Think it's going to be an extra-great year for Seattle. I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored.

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 9, 2026

Please keep in mind, these things take time to work out. We’re talking a couple of years at least before it becomes a thing. With that said, I thought it would be a fun thought exercise to go through the roster and see which players the team would protect. (Come to think of it, the team kind of did essentially that with the trade deadline, but I digress)

Before we start, I want to point everyone to the work that Keith Smith did a couple of years ago when this was originally ramping up.

Each of the NBA’s existing 30 teams will be allowed to protect players ahead of an expansion draft. Teams are allowed to protect players who fit one of the following categories:

Players under contract

Players who are restricted free agents (there is a quirk to this that we will cover next)

Players who have a player or team option for the following season

Any player who is a pending unrestricted free agent cannot be protected

There are some more rules related to protecting players:

Each team can protect up to eight players (but can choose to protect less)

Each team must expose at least one player (but can choose to expose more) that can’t become an unrestricted free agent

If a restricted free agent is drafted, they automatically become an unrestricted free agent (if selected, the former restricted free agent can not re-sign with their original team)

Player status is as of the day of the draft (this pertains to players with player or team options)

So with those rules out of the way, and understanding that this is just a “what if” exercise, how would you set up the protections on the Celtics if it was somehow happening this summer?