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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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

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

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

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

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

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

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

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

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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

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

BOX SCORE

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pride matters

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

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

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

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

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

Melton keeps coming

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

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

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

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

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

Far from perfect

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

They failed to meet that standard.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Davis posted this not long after the Charania report.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Spurs at Thunder

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

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

Game Odds: Spurs at Thunder

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

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

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

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

Expected Starting Lineups: Spurs at Thunder

Spurs

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

Thunder

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

Important stats, trends and insights: Spurs at Thunder

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Portland Trail Blazers:

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

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

Golden State Warriors:

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

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

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

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

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors:

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

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

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

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

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

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

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

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

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

STOCK UP

John Collins — PF/C, Clippers

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

Naji Marshall — SF/PF, Mavericks

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

LaMelo Ball — PG/SG, Hornets

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

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STOCK DOWN

Jaden Ivey — SG/SF, Pistons

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

Ace Bailey — SG/SF, Jazz

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

Dylan Harper — PG/SG, Spurs

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

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Three areas the Celtics should focus on instead of the officials

Three areas the Celtics should focus on instead of the officials originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have, in various tones, utilized their last three losses to vent about a perceived lack of whistles this season. 

Jaylen Brown twice complained about a lack of whistles: first, calmly after a loss to the Nuggets, then not-so quietly after a loss to the Spurs. His expletive-filled outburst on Saturday night included a plea to be punished, and the NBA obliged with a $35,000 fine.

After Monday’s loss in Indiana, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla spent the entirety of a 44-second postgame media session repeating, “Illegal screen,” seemingly miffed at the lack of a call when Pascal Siakam stuck out a leg to stall Derrick White before Siakam banked home a game-winner in the closing seconds.

Do we understand the Celtics’ frustrations? Absolutely. Brown has relentlessly attacked the basket this season and doesn’t seem to get the same friendly whistle that many superstars generate. Mazzulla knows better than anyone that Monday’s loss did not hinge solely on Siakam’s questionable screen, but likely used it as a means to join Brown’s bigger battle for whistle equality. 

Sometimes you have to be your own advocate. Brown has not been bashful about voicing his mind this season. Mazzulla lives to make others uncomfortable. Our only quibble would be that, after three vent sessions in six days (all following losses), the gripes land a bit like sour grapes for a team that had otherwise been one of the league’s feel-good stories to start the season.

Time will tell if Boston’s cries leads to better whistles. In calling out a referee and his crew by name after Saturday’s loss, Brown has most certainly caught the attention of the referee fraternity.

Mazzulla’s “illegal screen” reply to every postgame question spread quickly on social media and might have been a clever way to express dissatisfaction without losing any money from his wallet. We doubt any admission of a missed call in the Last 2 Minute report will make Mazzulla feel any better.

But the referees are far from Boston’s only concern after dropping three of its last four. The Celtics were cruising after winning nine of 10 while storming into the new calendar year, then endured consecutive defeats for the first time since mid-December with losses to San Antonio and Indiana.

It’s probably time for Boston to put the focus back on itself.

Mazzulla has famously stated, “When you decide you want to win at something, you don’t get to pick the environment. You don’t get to pick the circumstances. The only thing you get to pick is how you respond.” He’s typically been a firm believer in controlling what you can control.  

It’s time for the Celtics to put their energy into their play and not what the referees are calling (or not calling, in this case).

Here are three areas the Celtics need to tighten up, regardless of whether their whistle gets better or not: 

1. Opponent 3-pointers

Starting with the 2007-08 title campaign, the Celtics have ranked in the top 10 in opponent 3-point percentage in 17 of the past 18 seasons. The wonky 2020-21 COVID season is the only outlier in that group — until this season.

The 2025-26 Celtics rank 23rd in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage, with opponents shooting 37 percent beyond the arc. What’s more, Boston ranks 26th in opponent 3-point makes (14.4 per game). Zoom in on the past 10 games, and Boston ranks 29th while allowing 15.9 opponent 3-pointers per game. 

The Celtics watched the Nuggets make five more 3-pointers than them last Wednesday. The Raptors were +4 on 3-pointers on Friday (only offset by Boston’s dominance in the paint), and the Pacers were +7 in Indy. Spotting the opponent 21 points on 3-point makes is tough, particularly in a game where both teams failed to reach triple digits.

Despite their lack of size, the Celtics have done a good job limiting opponents near the basket. But opponents seem way too comfortable shooting from the perimeter. Each night, Celtics fans are scrambling to rosters to see which random opponent is catching fire from deep. 

The Celtics have to find the right balance between protecting the basket and hunting rebounds, while not giving opponents as much space to fire away from distance.

2. Clutch stumbles

The Celtics are now 8-12 in clutch games (score within five points in the final five minutes). They rank 27th in clutch defensive rating (123.6) and 25th in net rating (minus-13.5). It’s not a terribly large sample size at 56 total minutes, but Boston has certainly not played its crispest basketball in those moments.

Operating without Jayson Tatum and — on nights like Monday, without Jaylen Brown — obviously adds a layer of complexity to late-game situations. Boston is 5-8 in one-possession games in the final minute. Its offense has actually been solid but the team’s inability to generate stops has complicated matters. 

The 2021-22 Celtics taught us that regular-season clutch numbers are not indicative of what will happen in the postseason. The Celtics were 13-22 in clutch games during that season, then stormed to the NBA Finals. A healthy Tatum on a playoff stage could give the Celtics the focus they’ve lacked at times this season. 

But Boston still has a ways to go in nailing down the five-man lineup it wants to trot out in must-have situations, and can also tighten up the execution in those spots. 

3. Need more from the core

Derrick White is shooting 36.8 percent overall and 23.6 percent on 3-pointers over Boston’s last five games. He was 7-for-19 shooting vs. Denver, 11-of-26 vs. San Antonio, and 7-of-21 vs. Indiana. White ranks 133rd out of the 136 qualifiers in field goal percentage and 141st out of 164 qualifiers in 3-point percentage during that span. 

White’s defense has been excellent, and he’s clearly impacting winning on most nights. But he still hasn’t quite pulled himself out of an early-season shooting funk. And particularly on nights when the Celtics don’t have Brown, it’s even more imperative that he and the rest of his teammates find a bit more consistency. 

Payton Pritchard eventually kicked into high gear in the third quarter against the Pacers, but was 7-of-22 combined shooting against Denver and San Antonio. Anfernee Simons has quarters where he’s off-the-charts hot, and the Anferno is fun to watch in those moments, but he sometimes struggles to maintain that output.

On a night-to-night basis, it’s hard to know which of Boston’s young wings the team can lean on, and Mazzulla is forced to pick which dart to throw. He’s been more successful than not, but the wings could help that cause by all stating their cases more often.

The Celtics simply need more consistency from the supporting cast. It felt like Boston was finding that a bit during their December surge, but better opponents — and certainly more physical defenses — have diminished the team’s offensive efficiency. 

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How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: TV/live stream info for tonight's game

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

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

San Antonio Spurs:

The Spurs fell 104-103 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Victor Wembanyama led the way for San Antonio with a game-high 29 points. Keldon Johnson scored 15 off the bench, while Julian Champagnie finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

San Antonio, currently 27-12, is third in the league behind Oklahoma and Detroit. The Spurs look to end their six-season playoff drought, the longest in franchise history and the second-longest active drought in the league.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder:

The Thunder defeated the Miami Heat 124-112 on Sunday night in their third straight win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points. Jalen Williams finished with 18, and Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren each added 16.

Gilgeous-Alexander is second in the league in scoring (31.9 ppg) and is on pace to become the first player since Michael Jordan to average 30-plus points per game for at least four consecutive seasons.

Tonight's game will be the fourth meeting between the Thunder and Spurs this season. Oklahoma City has won all three matchups.

How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, January 13
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock and NBCSN
  • TV Channel: NBC

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

  • Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors - 11:00 PM ET
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers
Week 13 Fantasy Basketball Schedule Primer: Low-rostered Lakers like Jake LaRavia should be popular
The Lakers have the NBA’s first five-game week of the season, while four teams only play twice.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

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Steve Kerr remains committed to Warriors starting five, but should he be?

Steve Kerr remains committed to Warriors starting five, but should he be? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

They still are searching for their first four-game win streak and haven’t been four games above .500 once.

Inconsistency in the starting lineup also was a major theme, until four weeks ago. Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Dec. 14 started Moses Moody and Quinten Post alongside Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green and hasn’t looked back since. 

Kerr says though the stats of the group together don’t show the best results, he’s sticking with them for multiple reasons. 

“I’m committed to it because we’re generally in a good place. … We committed, what was it, three weeks ago, to just staying with the same starting five and same rotation to try to get guys more comfortable and we’ve achieved that,” Kerr told reporters Monday after Warriors practice. “I know that five-man group hasn’t been great, but again, it allows Draymond to start at the 4. Like tomorrow, he doesn’t have to guard [Donovan] Clingan to start the game. That’s a big deal for us.” 

The first game Kerr unveiled the Curry-Moody-Butler-Green-Post starting five was in a 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in which Curry’s 48 points couldn’t result in a win. That same starting five is expected to begin the game Tuesday night when the Warriors play the Blazers for the fourth time this season. They’re 0-3 against them thus far, losing twice without the starting five and once with it. 

Moody and Post have each played and started every game since Dec. 14. Curry, Butler and Green each missed one, a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 2. In the 13 games all five have played and started alongside each other in that span, the unit has produced a minus-1.3 net rating with a 113.5 offensive rating and 114.8 defensive rating. 

“While the numbers may not be that impressive, it allows the game to unfold in a way that we like,” Kerr explained. 

So, should Kerr be this committed to the current starting five? And does it really matter? 

Since turning to the starting five, the Warriors are 8-6 overall and 8-5 in the games they have played together. Following a three-game losing streak, the Warriors now have won eight of their last 12 games but haven’t gained ground in the Western Conference standings and remain the No. 8 seed. 

It was a goal of Kerr’s to not start Green at center all season and limit his minutes against giants like the 7-foot-2, 280-pound Clingan. That is a big deal for him and the Warriors alike. Theoretically, the lineup makes sense in putting size, shooting and defense around the Warriors’ veteran Big Three. 

Outside of the start of the first and third quarters, the group isn’t playing long stretches next to one another. Kerr quickly is turning to his depth and playing his bench players in short bursts, another stylistic decision he appears to be sticking to. 

“As a player, it’s not easy to play a four-minute stretch and come out,” Kerr admits. “You feel like maybe you don’t have a chance to get your rhythm. But with the speed and pace of the game and the nature of our roster, where we have a lot of depth but not a lot of clear separation, we’re definitely playing more people. 

“I think we’re playing an 11-man rotation right now, pretty consistently, which I don’t think we’ve ever done since I’ve been here, and as a result of that we’re playing guys in shorter bursts of four or five-minute stretches.” 

Defense and spacing is the idea around starting Moody and Post as the complements to Curry, Butler and Green. Post leads the Warriors in defensive rating (106.5) and Moody is second (107.2). Fast-twitch guards still give Moody problems, however, and teams aren’t exactly scared of Post protecting the rim. 

Advanced stats have flipped for the Warriors since implementing their new starting five. The Warriors rank fifth in offensive rating (117.5) and 19th in defensive rating (115.3) since Dec. 14. Oddly enough, Moody (30.6 percent) and Post (33.3 percent) have struggled shooting from long distance in their 14 straight games starting together. 

The Warriors rank dead last in first-quarter points per game this season (27.1) but are 22nd since Dec. 14 (28.9) and scoring 23 first-quarter points in the one game Curry, Butler and Green didn’t play doesn’t help. 

This starting five also rarely, if ever, closes games. 

Whenever De’Anthony Melton, who has been Kerr’s closer out of the bullpen, is able to play 30 minutes, he more than likely will be Curry’s backcourt mate. Post is shooting 41.2 percent from three in the first quarter, which is by far his best 3-point percentage of any quarter. He provides the size and spacing needed next to Green, and it allows Al Horford to thrive in lineups centered around Butler and be able to finish games. 

Changes could come eventually, and maybe even from the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Until then, Kerr is going to stick to one of the only parts of the season that has been consistent for the Warriors after searching for a starting five for so long early on.

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'Pretty Cool To See Him Wear That': Why Kyle Lowry Wore An Auston Matthews-Signed Maple Leafs Jersey Into Scotiabank Arena

As the Philadelphia 76ers rolled into Scotiabank Arena on Sunday for a matchup against the Toronto Raptors, a familiar face walked in wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey.

Former Raptor Kyle Lowry sported an Auston Matthews-signed sweater going into the arena ahead of the first half of a back-to-back in Toronto. Lowry, who won an NBA Championship with the Raptors in 2019, has known Matthews ever since the Maple Leafs' forward was drafted into the NHL in 2016.

On the back of the jersey, Matthews wrote: "To Kyle, Toronto legend! Much love, Auston Matthews".

"I respect the hell out of Auston," Lowry told reporters (via TSN's Josh Lewenberg) with a smile on Sunday. "We have a mutual relationship, and I gotta pay tribute to my city and, I'm not going to say my country because it's the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"But you know, I'm a Maple Leafs guy, and that's a great jersey. I didn't know how big those damn jerseys were, but it looked good with my fit. I appreciate him and I wanted to show the support for the city and also for him, for giving me the jersey."

The video of Lowry entering Scotiabank Arena wearing the jersey received a lot of love from Toronto's fans, not only because of what he was wearing, but also for what the 39-year-old means to the city and the Raptors.

"He's a Raptors legend, Toronto legend and a guy I got a lot of respect for," Matthews said after being asked about Lowry wearing his jersey. "I bumped into him a few times in my tenure here, and he’s been nothing but class. It was pretty cool to see him wear that jersey."

Matthews had been to several Raptors games while Lowry was with the team. Lowry was with the Raptors from 2012 to 2021, playing 601 games for Toronto. He was an NBA All-Star in six of his nine seasons with the Raptors.

Lowry potentially played his final game in Toronto on Monday night with the 76ers. Once he calls it quits, Lowry said he will retire a Raptor, and it's also likely he'll have his number '7' retired and put up in the rafters inside Scotiabank Arena.

"If it does and when it does, it will be a super emotional day. I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that seven," Lowry added, "and to know that it probably won't ever be worn again, it'd be pretty special. I think, something that, for my basketball legacy, is pretty, pretty darn cool."

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Prep talk: Verbum Dei set to retire jersey of the late David Greenwood

Former UCLA standout, David Greenwood, talks about his career during a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction event on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Former Verbum Dei standout David Greenwood in 2021. He died on June 8 last year at the age of 68. His jersey will be retired on Friday at Verbum Dei. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)

David Greenwood, one of the best high school basketball players in Southern California history, will have his jersey retired on Friday night during a ceremony at his alma mater, Verbum Dei.

Greenwood, who died on June 8 at the age of 68 after a bout with cancer, teamed with Roy Hamilton to make Verbum Dei one of the best teams during his high school days in the 1970s. He'd go on to be an All-American at UCLA and played 12 years in the NBA. He came back to coach at Verbum Dei.

Verbum Dei is playing Gardena Serra on Friday at 7 p.m. The ceremony will be held at halftime.

Greenwood was the No. 2 pick in the 1979 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Magic Johnson went No. 1 to the Lakers. He'd win an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons.

He coached Verbum Dei to state championships in 1998 and 1999.

"David was a hero to me," said Verbum Dei alumnus DeAnthony Langston. "He's one of the all-time greats in Verbum Dei history."

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Clippers star James Harden passes Shaquille O’Neal for 9th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list

LOS ANGELES — James Harden has passed Shaquille O’Neal for ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

The Los Angeles Clippers guard made a 3-pointer early in the third quarter on Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets, pushing his career total to 28,598 points in his 1,187th regular season game. O’Neal had 28,596 points in 1,207 games over 19 years.

Harden, who began the night 14 points behind O’Neal, finished with 32 points in the Clippers’ 117-109 win against the Hornets. He had 13 points in the first half — including 11 in the first quarter — and scored 11 in the third and eight in the fourth to increase his scoring total to 28, 614.

Harden entered the night averaging 25.6 points per game, his highest average since the 2019-20 season (34.3 points per game) when he won the last of three straight league scoring titles.

Harden, who began the game with 28,582 career points in his 17th season, faces a steep climb to the next spot. Wilt Chamberlain is eighth with 31,419 points, in just 1,045 games over 14 years. LeBron James is the all-time leader with 42,601 points entering his game with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Following him are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant.

Harden recently moved up to 12th on the all-time assists list. The 11-time All-Star also ranks second all-time in 3-pointers made, behind Stephen Curry.