Adam Silver and the NBA league office singled out the Utah Jazz among the myriad of tanking teams this season because the way Utah went about it — playing their best players, including Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., for three quarters then sitting them in the fourth — was bad PR and a black eye for the league. Silver slapped Utah with a $500,000 fine. However, other teams have sat players for extended periods after injuries — or come up with dubious medical reasons to keep them out — and gone untouched.
Center Jusuf Nurkic is going to miss the remainder of the season following surgery to his nose, a story broken by NBA insider Chris Haynes. The Jazz have yet to confirm this, but it tracks and we can expect that on Tuesday or Wednesday.
With Walker Kessler out for the season following shoulder surgery, Nurkic, 31, has stepped into a larger role and is averaging 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds a game for Utah, although he has not played since the All-Star break.
Without Nurkic out of the rotation, look for more Kyle Filipowski, Kevin Love and Oscar Tshiebwe.
Utah owes its first-round pick this year to Oklahoma City, but it is top-eight protected, which is why the Jazz are tanking — they want to hold on to a high pick in what scouts believe to be an exceptionally deep draft. Utah currently has the sixth-worst record in the NBA and, with that, a 96% chance of retaining its pick. This is the kind of tanking that has NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on a crusade, one that generates a lot of headlines but largely feels misguided and likely will end in "solutions" that don't fix the core issues of improving paths for bad teams to get the kind of elite players needed to turn their fortunes around. Silver is treating the symptom, not the problem, but that's the topic for longer stories coming later in the week here at NBC Sports.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Basketball center Charles Bediako is asking the Alabama Supreme Court to let him play the rest of the season for the Crimson Tide.
The recent NBA G-League player on Monday filed an appeal of Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet’s recent decision that ended Bediako's temporary playing status with the University of Alabama. While Bediako appeals the decision to the state Supreme Court, his lawyers asked Pruet to grant interim relief and allow him to return to play.
Bediako spent two seasons (2021-23) at Alabama, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and helped the Crimson Tide make the NCAA Tournament both years. He wasn’t selected in the 2023 NBA draft, but he played for the Motor City Cruise in the G League as recently as mid-January.
He returned to Alabama this season and filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied Alabama’s request to allow him to return to collegiate competition. His lawyers argued that Bediako remains within his five-year college eligibility window. NCAA President Charlie Baker and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey have opposed Bediako’s reinstatement.
A judge, who later recused himself from the case, issued a temporary restraining order that allowed Bediako to play while the case moved forward. But Pruet on Feb. 9 ruled against Bediako, writing that the player “failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks.”
On Monday, Bediako’s lawyers asked the judge to issue an interim order while the appeal is pending requiring the NCAA to reinstate Bediako as a student-athlete immediately eligible to compete in NCAA competition. They noted that the end of the season and collegiate tournaments are rapidly approaching, and it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will rule on the appeal before the season concludes.
“Without interim injunctive relief, the whole purpose for Plaintiff’s appeal — the ability to play basketball for the University of Alabama for the remainder of play in 2026 — will be null,” lawyer David W. Holt wrote.
Alabama’s regular season ends on March 7. The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament takes place in mid-March, and the NCAA Tournament will be held from March 17 through April 6.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 5: Members of the Indiana Hoosiers warm up wearing traditional candy stripe Adidas warmups before of the NCAA basketball game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on November 5, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indiana men’s basketball made a front office type of move on Monday with the hiring of Ryan Carr, a former program manager, as Executive Director of Basketball, effectively a general manager type role with a focus on roster building.
Such hirings have become more common in college basketball due to relatively recent shifts in team and program building philosophies with the onset of NIL and the transfer portal. Indiana has plenty of connections around the basketball world with former players and managers in coaching and front office roles around college basketball, the NBA and other levels. Carr, working just up the road in Indianapolis with plenty of scouting and leadership experience, seems a natural fit.
Which seems to be the broad takeaway from the move based on reactions around social media. Here’s some that stick out:
Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell:
Pacers point guards T.J. McConnell and Tyrese Haliburton wish executive Ryan Carr well in his newly-created role with #iubbpic.twitter.com/JpHiFnu23G
Former Indiana men’s basketball head coach Tom Crean:
This is absolutely awesome for @IndianaMBB to have @Ryan_Carr11 join in this role. As good as an evaluator, connector, executive and truth teller that he is, he’s even a far better Person, Family Man and encourager. @IUHoosiers nailed this one. Ryan truly loves @IndianaUnivhttps://t.co/fBXsDTy8kN
Significant hire for Indiana. Carr is one of the most respected scouts/front office members in the NBA and has deep ties to the state. https://t.co/RXmlA9EGKg
This is a major hire for Indiana. Ryan Carr is a longtime, highly respected NBA executive and former IU manager who ran the Pacers’ pre-draft process for years and has been a constant presence on the scouting circuit. https://t.co/MLne71eJjR
One of the first guys I met in the business as an advance scout in 2005. While others were cold/competitive, he was kind, embracing and a huge help. He’s one in a million with greater and deeper purpose. Go Ryan!🙏 https://t.co/O5zD9h1tDI
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 9: Jusuf Nurkic #30 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on February 9, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Jazz will be without backup center Jusuf Nurkić moving forward due to an urgent medical procedure:
BREAKING: Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkić will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose Wednesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/MFYjY333GU
I’m not a doctor, but I figure this procedure is urgent because Jusuf Nurkić is playing too well. For the Jazz, who are fighting to keep pace in a hotly contested race for draft position, every loss matters.
This leaves the Jazz with frontcourt rotations which will include Lauri Markkanen, (for now) Kyle Filipowski, Kevin Love, Oscar Tshiebwe, John “Jitty” Konchar, and Blake Hinson. The Jazz now have an opportunity to a) improve their draft position and b) Evaluate their end-of-the-bench talent before going all-in on competing next season. Kyle Filipowski has proven to be a skilled offensive player, but his defensive footwork leaves much to be desired. Can he learn to hang with upper-end NBA talent? New additions John Konchar and Blake Hinson have shown promise, but will they be part of the team’s long-term plans? The answers to these questions may be more clear after 30 games of watching them play big minutes.
Admittedly, if you had told me prior to this season that the Jazz would be Urgently Resting Nurkić for a Very Urgent Surgery, I would not have believed you. I was stuck in the past, dwelling on stuff like this:
I have officially gone from “Well, I guess we had to take back salary to unload Colin Sexton” to “Wow, Nurk is a really nice backup with a cool skillset. It would be great if he re-signed here this summer.” Turns out that, sometimes, professional basketball players are really good at playing basketball, even if six-foot nothing, 5PPG-at-the-local-pickup-game guys like me think they’re washed.
Jazz coach Will Hardy has a few hours to re-work his rotations as the team prepares to take on the Houston Rockets at 7:30pm MT.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This hasn’t been the dream season we envisioned entering the year. If you came from the future and told everyone the Knicks would be the No. 3 seed and considerably behind the No. 1 seed in late February, I’d imagine near-universal disappointment. That’s fine, that’s reasonable.
What’s not reasonable is the way some people act after every single loss. Losing sucks, there’s no question about it, but you don’t need to write a thinkpiece about the entire organization after an off night. It’s an 82-game season, you’re not going undefeated. I think most people understand that, but then you also get takes like this on social media after the team’s disheartening loss against the Pistons on Thursday.
"I cannot wait till we get to the summer so they could blow this team the f*** up… Has there ever been a more unlikeable 'good' team in NBA history?"@JCMacriNBA condemns the Knicks effort after their 3rd loss of the season to the Detroit Pistons, bringing their total margin… pic.twitter.com/ExtPJ3aHPH
If you’re ever on social media, especially when one of these games are going on, you see the same tropes.
“This team doesn’t care”, “They’re soft.”, “They’re pathetic.”
This is especially the narrative after all the Pistons games. I understand it’s a different Pistons team than last year, but we also have to remember the regular season doesn’t tell the whole story. There’s also a misrepresentation of how Thursday’s game went. While the Knicks absolutely got punked in the first two meetings, they overall played with a good amount of intensity on Thursday. You know why the score was lopsided? The No. 3 3pt shooting team in basketball couldn’t buy one, while the worst wide-open shooting team in basketball once again shot over 40%.
The sky is not falling because the Pistons seem to have our number. There’s no guarantee that, assuming the Knicks stay in the 2 or 3-seed, the Pistons would even be the matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals! People saying that these three matchups are the reason they have no chance to come out of the East are being dishonest.
Different sects of the fanbase have different criticisms of the team. Some blame Jalen Brunson’s isocentric playstyle, which prevents guys like Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns from getting in rhythm. Some blame Mike Brown’s coaching style for not getting Towns the ball and treating him more like Domantas Sabonis. Some get on Josh Hart for the bad stretches when he misses an assignment off-ball defensively, and his reluctance to shoot. And then, of course, there’s criticism of Bridges and Towns for being soft.
Are some of these criticisms warranted? Sure! The Knicks are far from perfect, but they’re still a damn good basketball team. But some of these narratives are silly, especially the small, small sect that calls Brunson a ballhog and shows misleading on-off numbers.
But honestly, the most frustrating part about this stuff is glorifying the past. And no, I’m not talking about the 1990s or the 2013 Knicks, I’m talking about the recent teams. There was an unironic tweet during the 11-game skid that the 2021 Knicks, because of the defense and physicality, would beat this team in a playoff series.
(Speaking of the 11-game skid, this is possibly the worst tweet I‘ve ever seen.)
Watching the Knicks these last two seasons has been as bad as watching them during the 2021-22 season & the beginning of the 2022-23 season
Nostalgia is a real virus. That 2021 team was the first playoff team for an entire generation of Knicks fans, but they were tremendously flawed. Once the Hawks learned to turn Julius Randle’s water off, it was over. Do we really think that team would be able to score enough in the playoffs and lock up Brunson and KAT? Seriously?
The more sensible nostalgia acts are coming from the 2023-25 teams. The Knicks played with a certain level of grit then, but people forget how things went for those teams.
The 2023 Knicks were an inspiring group that was genuinely ten-deep. The problem? The team’s second-best playoff performer was 23-year-old Quentin Grimes. Randle, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley were terrible against the Heat.
The 2024 Knicks might’ve been the most fun team to root for, and that’s what this boils down to. You love to root for the undermanned underdog with likable players and personalities, who play with a certain level of nastiness. But that team had a ceiling; their second option was Donte DiVincenzo. Now, if you want to talk about the January 2024 Knicks, I’m listening. They were special. But you were never getting that team again, not with the CBA forcing Isaiah Hartenstein to OKC.
There’s also a lot of comparing Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown, some reasonable, some not. But let’s not act like the same people who are yearning for Thibs weren’t the ones begging for him to be fired midseason last year.
The Cavs fired JB Bickerstaff despite leading the team to the playoffs for three straight seasons, and now they’re 32-5 under Kenny Atkinson. Meanwhile, Knicks fans say we can’t fire Thibs because “we were bad before he got here”😂 pic.twitter.com/xW37HBTdAn
But remember alot of Knicks fans celebrated thibs being fired in the offseason and wanted to act like Mike Brown was the reincarnation of Pat Riley pic.twitter.com/GlEdq4ZlFn
And that’s my point. There has always been something to complain about. In 2021, they couldn’t score. In 2023, they had no offense aside from Brunson in the playoffs. In 2024, a similar story. Then, when you add the offensive firepower, the pendulum swings the other way.
Make no mistake, this is the best Knicks team since Patrick Ewing was wearing orange and blue. They’re on pace for 52 wins. While they’ve had frustrating losses to Detroit and San Antonio, they’ve beaten Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Toronto, and Denver. They went 0-10 vs the top-three teams last year and 5-14 against teams that won at least 50 games. This year, they’re 7-5 (technically 6-5 but the NBA Cup counts to me, dammit) against teams playing at a 50 or more win pace. It’s a Pistons issue right now, not a crippling league issue.
It’s one thing when the likes of Draymond Green or Charles Barkley use buzzwords to insult this team. They’re outside media personalities who benefit from clicks. It’s disingenuous when it’s our fans doing it, pretending that we aren’t less than six years removed from Mo Harkless starting games with regularity and less than eight years removed from Allonzo Trier being our most promising player.
You know what, maybe I just need to get off social media.
Feb 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert (24) dribbles against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards are playing the Hawks in Atlanta tomorrow night. I’ve got you covered with the preview:
Game info
When: 7:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 24
Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
Wizards — Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and Cam Whitmore are all listed as OUT. Tristan Vukcevic and Justin Champagnie are listed as DAY-TO-DAY. Additionally, D’Angelo Russell is not being asked to report to the team.
Hawks — Jonathan Kuminga is listed as OUT and has yet to make his Hawks debut.
Game notes and more
The Atlanta Hawks were a hip NBA Finals contender ahead of the season, yet even in a rollercoaster of a season they’ve failed to kick their play-in addiction. They’ve traded their franchise player in Trae Young, minted a new All-Star in Jalen Johnson, rolled the dice on Jonathan Kuminga and watched Zaccharie Risacher, who they selected no. 1 overall last year, fail to make an impact. They are still the same middling old Hawks, and they currently sit at a meager 28-31, fending off a challenge from the flaming hot Charlotte Hornets.
The aforementioned Young was, as any reader of this site is no doubt aware, traded to the Wizards ahead of the trade deadline. He has yet to make his debut, and it is unknown whether he will be playing this season or not, as all team-issued updates have been quite vague.
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain (AP) — Lucas Boyé scored twice for Alaves to draw with Girona 2-2 in an end-to-end La Liga encounter at Estadio Mendizorroza on Monday.
The second straight draw for Alaves lifted it three points clear of La Liga’s relegation zone.
Girona was three places and three points better off, although only six points separate Girona in 11th and Mallorca in the last of the three relegation spots.
The home side took the initiative after just five minutes when Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga missed Yusi’s low cross, allowing Boyé to side-foot home from close range.
However, Girona came roaring back and 14 minutes before the break it was level, Axel Witsel’s glancing header touched into the net by Vladyslav Vanat.
Girona took the lead in the 73rd minute when Azzedine Ounahi’s superb reverse pass split the Alaves defence. Viktor Tsygankov showed a cool head to round the keeper and slot the ball into the empty net.
But Boyé’s header a minute from time gave Alaves a deserved draw that could be crucial in its fight against the drop.
“We’re at home, and we know that to reach our objective as quickly as possible we have to pick up three points here, especially against direct rivals,” Boyé said. “We’re frustrated by the draw and by not getting all three points.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 07: Jalen Green #4 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns walk during a timeout in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns had three games in four nights, going 1-2 with a dramatic win over the Orlando Magic and tough losses where the offense struggled against the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trailblazers. While it was a short week, the team lost multiple key players due to injury.
Here are the main questions for Week 18 that we want your thoughts on:
Getting Through the Injury Bug/Jalen Green’s big shot
Two questions in one block here. In the Suns’ three games this week, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin all went down with injuries and missed the next game. Booker will be re-evaluated later this week, Brooks broke his hand and is out without a timeline, and Goodwin strained his calf and is also without a timeline.
Phoenix has now played 14 games this year without Booker and are en route to play at least two more. On a side note, if Booker misses four more games, he’ll be ineligible for All-NBA awards this year.
With the Suns’ top scorers likely out for an extended period, look for Jalen Green to get more into a rhythm with his new teammates. He played 30 minutes for the first time as a Sun on Saturday in the team’s double-overtime win that ended with him hitting a buzzer-beating three, green has been inefficient so far in his first ten games as a Sun, shooting 38% from the field and 31% from three. His shooting splits are the lowest of any season of his career. Averaging over 20 points per game in his previous three seasons combined, he has the potential to lead the team in scoring amid the injuries.
JALEN GREEN HITS THE GAME-WINNING @TISSOT BUZZER-BEATER TO WIN IT FOR THE SUNS IN 2OT!
Is the answer to the Suns’ injury issues getting Jalen Green more acclimated into the offense? Who else needs to step up for the time being?
Offensive Issues
The Suns didn’t shoot over 40% from the field once this week. Their win against Orlando was the first time since 2023 a team won while shooting under 35% from the field, and their 77 points against Portland was the least points they’ve scored in a game all year, and is tied for the second-least points a team has scored in a game this season.
To win games, independent of whose in the lineup, the Suns need to hit more shots. While Grayson Allen missed Sunday’s contest due to injury management, he should be back in the lineup Tuesday.
What is wrong with the Phoenix offense? How can it improve?
For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.
Jalen Green went 6/26 from the field, but finished the game with a buzzer beater.
What do you make of his performance tonight and his ability to come up clutch when he's most needed?@BrightSideSun
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors stands on the court during their game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Having torn his ACL on January 19th, Jimmy Butler is out for the season — and likely a little bit of next season, too.
However, despite this, he is still incredibly dedicated to being a Golden State Warrior. Earlier this week, Butler sent this email to Warriors season ticket holders reminding them of how much he loves playing for Golden State:
“Dear Warriors Season Ticket Family,
I have played in front of many incredible crowds over my 15 seasons in the NBA, but there was always something about playing in the Bay Area that made it feel like more than just another game. It was always electric. So, when I received the phone call on February 5, 2025, that I had been traded to the Warriors, I knew it had a chance to be special. But even I wasn’t prepared for what it means to be part of Dub Nation, playing in front of the loudest, most loyal and dedicated fans in the NBA.
The energy you provided us down the stretch last year was magical, as we finished the season winning 23 of 31 games and, ultimately, clinching a playoff berth. And playing with Steph and all of my teammates in The Bay has been an incredible experience. Steph is truly the greatest shooter and showman of all time, and I am honored to be the Robin to his Batman. The energy you gave us during the first round against Houston was palpable, and further reinforced my desire to play through my Game 2 injury. It was your love, encouragement, and joy that helped me dig deep to play – and win – for this fanbase. Ultimately, last year’s playoffs left us with a big “what if,” as Steph’s injury was too much for us to overcome in the Western Conference Semifinals vs. Minnesota. But we knew what we had and were eager to play meaningful basketball once again this season.
After a roller coaster start to this season, we were finally rounding into form in mid-January, winning 12 of 16 games, looking like the playoff contender we envisioned and the NBA feared. Every NBA season is a puzzle and we were beginning to figure ours out. Unfortunately, on January 19 against Miami, I tore my ACL. I was/am devastated. For me, for my teammates, and for all of you. After being in this league for as long as I have — 15 years now — you eventually realize that you only have a certain number of these golden opportunities. We had that opportunity this year in a league filled with parity and a team full of promise. Nonetheless, we move forward and will continue to battle our way to the postseason. I am excited to see my guys compete for the remainder of this season, but also heartbroken to know that I will not be out there with them. They’re my brothers.
Despite experiencing almost every emotion over the last 12 months — from the highs of the fourth most wins in the NBA to the lows of a pair of season-ending injuries — your support has been unwavering. I can see clearly now why you, our Warriors season ticket family, are known as the best fans in the NBA. You are our most loyal supporters, and your incredible energy is the fuel that drives this team.
I can promise you that I will attack my rehab with a singular focus that will enable me to get back to playing the game that I love, in front of the fans that I have grown to love and appreciate. My life has shown me repeatedly that when something happens that is out of my control, all I can do is work and wait for the answer and the why. Both have always been shown to me, and this time will be no different. This story, which has been interrupted twice, is not complete. Not by a long shot. This period is simply a part of our journey. I can’t wait to see what next season holds and will treasure the opportunity to put my jersey back on and take the court with Steph, Dray, and the rest of the guys, in front of you all. I’m sure that when I return and hear all of you in unison chant “WAAAAARRRRRRIIIIORRRSSSSS,” it will push me forward and provide an incredible adrenaline rush.
I am the author of my story. I always have been and I always will be. I look forward to you all continuing this journey with me and with us. If you have learned anything about me over our year-plus together, it’s that I am never hard to find.
I will be back, and I need you back, too. Here’s to what’s ahead.
Go Dubs”
Since being acquired by the Warriors in January of 2025 (after a lengthy and dramatic saga with the Miami Heat), Butler has played in 68 games and has become a fan-favorite player both on and off the court. Even at age 36, he was still a valuable asset for the Warriors up until his ACL tear, putting up an average of 20 points per game. Hopefully, Butler will stay a Warrior after his recovery — he certainly seems dead-set on it, based on what he said in his email.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Manchester United supersub Benjamin Sesko scored 13 minutes after entering the field to give his side a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Monday.
It was the third time in four games that Sesko has scored after coming off the bench and secured points for United.
“I believe in me and so do the other players as well,” Sesko told Sky Sports. “They know what they are going to get when I arrive in the game. It's up to me to deliver of course.”
His goal with 19 minutes remaining finished off the slickest move of an otherwise stodgy game.
Bryan Mbeumo controlled Matheus Cunha’s superb long ball and played a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of Sesko, who steered the ball past Jordan Pickford with aplomb.
“It was a great finish," United interim coach Michael Carrick said. “It was a ruthless finish. I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from Cunha and Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break.”
Until then defenses had been on top and the lack of attacking fluency was not helped by a heavy pitch that appeared to slow down both teams.
The result took fourth-placed United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool. United was three behind Aston Villa.
It also extended Carrick’s unbeaten run to six games since he replaced Ruben Amorim on Jan. 13.
The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth and eight points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool.
David Moyes’ men have gone seven games without a win at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Generally we did very well in lots of bits," Moyes said. "We got done on the counterattack and they ran away and got the goal that was there. We put in a great effort to get the goal but lacked the quality to make it count.”
Kevin Durant, 37, is feeling the Olympics call to him yet again. After the United States won gold in both men and women's hockey in Milano Cortina, the former NBA MVP and the United States' all-time leading Olympic scorer debunked the theory that 2024 was the last Olympic ride for many of the games biggest stars.
"You guys, the media, have projected that," Durant told ESPN. "That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from? I didn't say I wasn't playing. LeBron said he wasn't. You didn't hear that from me or Steph."
Curry is unlikely to participate in 2028 and James has already said that he will not play. Durant added that he wants to play, but only if he is still at the "top of [his] game."
He said, "I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team." He continued, "I want to still prove I can help the team win."
Durant's Olympic resumé
As mentioned earlier, Durant is the United States' all-time leading scorer at the Olympics. He began his Olympic career in 2012, playing in London.
Durant averaged 19.5 points per game in the London Olympics, all while hitting more than 48.5% of his three-point attempts. Durant has averaged at least 19.8 points per game in every Olympics since with his worst mark coming in 2024, when he averaged just 13.8 points per game in Paris.
The U.S. has won gold at every Olympics Durant has participated in.
When and where will the 2028 Olympics be?
The 2028 Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, California. The basketball games, specifically, will be played at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The first basketball game of the event will take place two days prior to the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, July 12, 2028, with the gold medal game not yet set but likely on Sunday, July 30, 2028. Durant will be 39 years old.
Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Guard Luka Doncic, left, along with teammate guard Marcus Smart #36 and guard Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the bench late in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Both a lack of effort and a lack of execution doomed them, bitter pills to swallow in a rivalry game. But while it may not have ultimately affected the outcome of the game, officiating was also a big storyline.
Across the course of the contest, though mostly in the first half, the Lakers had some fair complaints toward the officials. At least one missed goaltending call and questionable foul calls culminated in a sequence in which both Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart received technical fouls.
The technicals came after Jaylen Brown appeared to elbow Smart in the face on a play when Smart was called for a foul.
Reaves was assessed a technical immediately after the foul for clapping at the official. Smart protested for quite a while after before eventually earning his own technical After the contest, Reaves was asked about hte play, leading to some larger thoughts on what is and isn’t a technical in the league now.
“I mean, I thought (Jaylen Brown) elbowed Marcus [Smart] in the face,” Reaves said. “I didn’t say anything disrespectful. He told me I got a tech because I clapped my hands. I just said, ‘Offensive foul’ over and over again. I kind of walked by him, didn’t turn around and say anything else. But he told me that it’s an automatic tech when you clap, I guess, towards a ref.
“I don’t know. I’ve heard way more disrespectful things said to officials and nothing, no tech or anything. But yeah, I mean, there’s a level of frustration. You want to stand up for your teammates. But alsoI know he elbowed him in the face and might have fouled him before. But yeah, I didn’t think that it warranted a tech, but it’s not for me to say.”
Complaints about officials always land pretty hollow after a blowout loss to a rival, but it doesn’t mean they’re wrong either. Officiating was, at best, lackluster in this contest and the Lakers were on the wrong end of things.
That being said, they also let the poor officiating impact their play. Every questionable play became an opportunity to complain to the refs again. The focus shifted from the game to the officials and Boston took full advantage, opening up a double-digit lead late in the second quarter that changed the game.
For as little or much as it matters, Reaves acknowledged that the Lakers can’t let that happen moving forward.
“When you don’t get those calls, you can’t stay frustrated,” Reaves said. “You got to move on to the next play. I’m a culprit of that. I got to do better in that situation and our whole team does as well.”
Unfortunately, this has become a trait of this Lakers team. It’s pretty easy to point the finger at Luka Dončić, but this is a team-wide problem and everyone else shouldn’t escape blame.
But so long as this remains a constant for the Lakers, they will fail to be a real contender.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Nikola Vuevi #4 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 10: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers look for the ball during the game on January 10, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!
There are still 25 games left for the Golden State Warriors to play. We have no idea how those 25 games will go. Yet despite that, we can feel fairly confident that the Dubs will end up in the play-in tournament.
After Sunday’s shocking win over the Denver Nuggets, the Warriors are 30-27, and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. All four of the play-in seeds are potential landing spots for Golden State: they’re just 2.5 games behind the seventh-place Phoenix Suns, just 2.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers, and a mere three games atop the 10th-place Los Angeles Clippers.
It seems highly unlikely that the Warriors rise out of the play-in seeding: both the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves sit 4.5 games ahead of the Dubs. And it’s even less likely that the Warriors fall out of the play-in seeding, as they’re a full eight games ahead of the tanking Memphis Grizzlies, who are the first team out.
So it’s almost certainly the play-in for the Warriors.
But how things shake out once in the play-in is subject to change. Those four teams could end up in any order, or the Suns could jump into the top six, while the Lakers or Timberwolves (or possibly even the Nuggets or Houston Rockets) could slip to the seventh spot.
As a reminder, the No. 7 team hosts the No. 8 team in the play-in tournament, while No. 9 hosts No. 10. The winner of that 7/8 matchup makes the playoffs as the seventh seed, while the loser hosts the 9/10 winner, with the eighth seed on the line.
So who would you like the Warriors to face, with a spot in the playoffs on the line? Among the current play-in teams, the Warriors are 3-1 against the Suns, 1-3 against the Blazers, and 1-1 against the Clippers. They’re 1-1 against the Lakers, and 1-2 against the Wolves.
It feels to me like Portland should be the easiest matchup, but their athleticism gives Golden State fits. The Clippers have been gutted with the James Harden and Ivica Zubac trades, but they’re always a tough out for the Dubs, and Kawhi Leonard is on a serious heater. The Suns seem to be the best of those other play-in teams, yet I also trust the Warriors against them. So that’s my pick. What’s yours?
Bonus question: if the Warriors make it out of the play-in tournament, would you rather they have a first-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs?
Kevin Durant of Team USA during the game against Serbia in July 2024 at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France. NBAE via Getty Images
“Hell yeah, I want to play,” Durant told ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill. “But I’ve got to stay on top of my game. I’m not expecting. I want to produce on the floor and make Grant [Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director since 2021] and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. Not just for seniority; I want to still prove I can help the team win.
“Today, yeah, I feel like I’ll put my name in that hat,” he added.
Durant is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, and alongside LeBron James and Steph Curry, is considered one of the top-three greatest players of his generation.
In his first season with Houston, the 37-year-old is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field, 40.4% from three, and 88.1% from the free-throw line.
Durant admitting he wants to play in 2028 when Los Angeles serves as the host city has caught many pundits off guard. Many assumed the 2024 Olympic Games would be the last one for the trio of James, Curry and Durant after the three — playing together for the first time — dramatically led Team USA to the gold medal with victories over Nikola Jokić and Serbia in the semifinals, and Victor Wembanyama and host-nation France in the finals.
L–R: LeBron James, Durant, and Steph Curry of Team United States after their win against Team Serbia during the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Getty Images
But Durant was quick to point out that neither he nor Curry said it was their final go-round.
“That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?” Durant asked Goodwill. “I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”
Durant already boasts the best Olympic career of any male US basketball player.
His four gold medals is a record in basketball, and a fifth one would not only extend his record, but put him in all-time rarified company.
Durant dunks against Spain during the quarterfinal game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Getty Images
Durant’s desire to be on the 2028 squad is far from the most pressing matter on Hill’s mind.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been tapped to replace Steve Kerr as the new head coach of Team USA. No stranger to the environment, Spoelstra won gold in 2024 as a part of Kerr’s staff, giving him an understanding of expectations about what’s needed to win Olympic gold again as the competition continues to ramp up.
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