Category: NBA

This week, the Mavericks are turning the spotlight toward two of their originals.

On Wednesday night, Norm Sonju — the franchise’s first general manager and co-founder — will be honored at American Airlines Center. The following night, Mark Aguirre will have his number 24 retired, nearly four decades after being drafted first overall by the Mavs in 1981.

For a team that’s spent the past year recalibrating its identity post-Luka, this stretch is less about nostalgia and more about finally doing right by a couple of trailblazers who’ve been on the margins of the franchise’s public story for too long.

Sonju, now 87, is flying in with 18 family members — some of whom have never seen a Mavericks game in person. It’s a thoughtful gesture from the new ownership group and CEO Rick Welts, who made a point to visit Sonju in upstate New York last summer to film a sit-down conversation about the team’s earliest days. That video will be part of the Sonju tribute on Wednesday.

If Sonju was the architect, Aguirre was the early anchor — a scoring machine who gave the franchise its first real shot at national relevance. His numbers still speak loudly: 13,930 points as a Maverick (third all-time), a franchise-record 29.5 points per game in 1983–84 that stood until Luka Dončić reset the bar, and three All-Star selections before his 1989 trade to Detroit.

The emotional arc here isn’t hard to follow. There was distance. And now, there’s closure. The door began to reopen last summer when Aguirre attended the draft watch party — the night the Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg, their first No. 1 pick since Aguirre himself. Since then, he’s been gradually woven back in. This week marks the full return.

If you’re attending the games or just watching at home, this won’t feel like a spectacle. But it will feel earned.

No fireworks needed. Just two foundational names finally getting their turn to be seen.

There were many doors for Boston to walk through this season. Some led to a high lottery pick, where player development became the priority — while others offered a chance to stay competitive. Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics found something at the intersection of both, where uncertainty is a weapon and development is the byproduct of a relentless, winning system.

Effort, consistency, and impact are the only true currencies in this locker room. Most teams — especially contenders — rely on rigid hierarchies. Mazzulla, however, treats his rotation like a living organism. It’s a literal revolving door where strong performances are rewarded with minutes and roles can shift on a game-to-game basis.

For opponents, it’s a nightmare to prep for. Without a fixed rotation to scheme against, pressure points shift nightly, if they exist at all.

We’ve seen the importance of the Stay Ready Group culture the organization has built, but this team has taken it to another level. In previous years, that meant being prepared in a pinch. Now, your moment could come any game, at any time.

The lack of a set rotation could’ve been problematic. Instead, it’s led to heightened competition that is accelerating development.

When opportunity exists in a tangible, reachable way, players know they’re working for something. Celtics teams of the past few years haven’t had room for young players to truly break through from practice to the rotation. Boston’s most stable minutes belong to Brown, White, Pritchard, and Queta. Simons and Hauser lead the rest of the pack, but on a nightly basis, either could see their minutes swapped for anyone.

The youth movement has been the most visible beneficiary. Jordan Walsh went from an afterthought to the fifth starter for 20 straight games, leapfrogging Josh Minott, who had his own impressive stretch as a starter. Hugo Gonzalez found his path, stealing minutes whenever the game calls for effort and tenacity — even in crunch time. Baylor Scheierman has become a trusted rotation option, too.

Most recently, Amari Williams and Ron Harper Jr. have followed suit, earning opportunities on two-way deals.

But the revolving door applies to the veterans, too. Sam Hauser saw his minutes shrink in December, and now he’s started 12 games in a row, playing arguably the best basketball of his career. Similarly, Luka Garza was completely zapped from the rotation for nearly a month, yet he stayed ready enough to reclaim a significant role as the first big off the bench.

The approach is fittingly ironic for a coach who has long treated even the most basic life situations with tactical paranoia. Mazzulla has admitted he avoids physical revolving doors because “if one of them gets stuck, then you’re just a sitting duck.”

On the court, Mazzulla has weaponized that very fear. By refusing to let his rotation get stuck in a rigid pecking order, he’s ensured the Celtics are never the ones trapped. Instead, it’s the rest of the league left guessing — trying to prepare for a team where any man can be up and the door never stops spinning.

For the second time in two weeks, Southern California basketball will face off against Iowa in a Big Ten matchup.

The Trojans (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) will look to complete the season sweep of the No. 25 Hawkeyes (14-5, 4-4) on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

REQUIRED READING: NCAA tournament bracketology: March Madness projection dominated by Big Ten

USC earned a 99-89 win over Iowa on Jan. 14 in Los Angeles behind a 25-point effort from Desmond Claude and 24 points from Saint Thomas. The Trojans led by 16 points at halftime and cruised to the victory.

The Trojans are coming off a 73-71 win over Wisconsin, while Iowa earned a 68-62 win over Rutgers in the teams' respective last games.

Here's how to watch USC vs. Iowa men's basketball, including the start time, TV channel, streaming information and more:

What TV channel is USC vs Iowa on today?

• TV: Big Ten Network
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial) | Fox Sports app

USC vs. Iowa men's basketball will air nationally on the Big Ten Network. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Jordan Taylor (analyst) will be on the call while Andy Katz serves as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports app or Fubo, which offers a free trial. 

USC vs Iowa time today

• Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
• Time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)

The matchup between USC and Iowa is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

USC vs Iowa predictions, picks, odds

This section will be updated when odds are available.

Prediction: Iowa 76, USC 70

The Hawkeyes' offense overcomes the length of the Trojans' defense to win this one at home. The win moves Iowa a game above .500 in conference play, while USC falls two games below.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch USC vs Iowa basketball today: Channel, time, streaming

Every longtime Cleveland Cavaliers fan remembers exactly where they were on June 19, 2016. It’s impossible to forget the anxiety that turned into euphoria when the final buzzer sounded, LeBron James fell to the floor, and a professional sports team in Cleveland was crowned champion for the first time in 52 years.

Members of the current Cavaliers had a different perspective on that Finals.

Larry Nance Jr. is the only one from the current group who grew up in the area and was in the league a decade ago. The rest were just college, high school, or even middle school-aged kids watching one of the best Finals of their lifetime.

Jaylon Tyson was 13-years old at the time, but he remembers that Finals vividly.

“I was 1,000% locked in,” Tyson told Fear the Sword. “We were seeing it at my dad’s house. Me, him, and my little brother were sitting there watching it. And all I remember is the block. I got up. That was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Tyson grew up a fan of LeBron, so he was thrilled with the result.

“I was happy for LeBron, happy for Cleveland, obviously, and then I got drafted here,” Tyson said. “It was a full-circle moment.”

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Lonzo Ball was a little older. He was preparing for his freshman year of college at the time.

“I did like the Cavs at that time,” Ball told Fear the Sword. “LeBron was my favorite player, so I actually watched Game 7 in my homie’s dorm room in UCLA on a little, tiny ass 30-inch screen.

“College life was definitely exciting. I was on the basketball team, so obviously, we loved the game. So, can’t really ask for anything better than that Game 7 and for it to end the way it did.”

Dean Wade had a similar story. He watched the game with his college teammates at the Kansas State practice facility.

“Half my team was split, like 50/50,” Wade said to Fear the Sword. “We were all cheering for a different team. It was the loudest the locker room had ever gotten.”

Wade was also rooting for the Cavs, but more so out of a disdain for the Warriors.

Not everyone was as locked in. Both De’Andre Hunter and Nae’Qwan Tomlin followed the series as high schoolers, but they weren’t living and dying with every possession.

Jarrett Allen didn’t watch that Finals at all, admitting that he didn’t pay attention to the NBA when he was in high school.

Then, there’s Craig Porter Jr., who was 16 at the time, remembers the actually important stuff.

“I remember J.R. Smith,” Porter told Fear the Sword. “I remember some shit like he ain’t put a shirt on for a week or something like that. I remember that it was one of the biggest parades. [Matthew] Dellavedova almost died guarding Curry.”

Delly was hospitalized during the 2015 series, but that’s important lore in the Cavs and Warriors rivalry.

“I wasn’t a fan of either team,” Porter said. “But you gotta watch that. It’s the best brand of basketball.”

Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers will be as close to a 10-year celebration of that Finals as the Cavs will get. It’s the one time LeBron will be back in Cleveland this season. They’ll undoubtedly show highlights from that series, and the crowd will give him a standing ovation.

Even though 10 years have passed, we still haven’t seen a Finals come close to recreating the cultural and local impact that one did. And it will likely be several more decades until we see one that rivals it.

That 2016 Cavaliers team and championship are one of one.

“In my opinion, it was the finest Finals victory there ever was,” Ball said.

The Houston Rockets’ offensive philosophy is to bully opponents on the glass. Buy and large, it works.

The more scoring opportunities one gets, the higher likelihood that they’ll score. Especially put-back opportunities around the rim or open kick-out threes.

Steven Adams has been a big part of that, as he leads the league in offensive rebounds, with 4.5 per contest.

Adams is out indefinitely with a Grade 3 ankle sprain. He’s going to miss a considerable amount of time.

Clint Capela provides insurance for Adams, but he now becomes the only back-up big behind Alperen Sengun, who has also missed time here and there with injury (seven games through the first half of the season).

What was once viewed as a deep rotation isn’t quite the same without Adams.

According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, the Rockets are looking into adding more depth in the big man room.

Iko reports that Houston’s brass hasn’t made definite plans, but that they are merely mulling and assessing whether it’s necessary, whether via trade or buyout.

Complicating matters is Houston’s financial hamstring, as they’re just $1.2 million under the hard cap. They can reasonably afford to part with Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate or Jeff Green, without any regret.

Doing so would pretty much indicate that the team won’t be adding an on-ball facilitating guard.

The buyout market would help the Rockets financially.

But that will be scarce, although more realistic, featuring the names of Precious Achiuwa, Marvin Bagley III, Daniel Theis.

Not to say the trade market will be plentiful either. The Rockets won’t be going after the likes of Daniel Gafford or Onyeka Okongwu.

Jay Huff might be the best possible option on the trade market, considering the Rockets’ financial situation. Especially when considering his seemingly reduction in playing time, as he’s played just six minutes in the Pacers’ last two games.

Early in the season, Sam Hauser didn’t look like himself.

Shots he usually makes in his sleep weren’t falling, and his percentages were by far the worst they’ve ever been in his career.

In November, he shot 31 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from 3-point range. It was a true nightmare for a shooter who prides himself on efficiency and reliability.

Gradually, he built his way out of the slump. In December, those numbers rose to 39 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from distance. He wasn’t where he wanted to be, but he was making progress.

Now, so far in January, Hauser is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from 3. He’s averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.9 steals per game this month. After seeing the worst version of Hauser, we’re now seeing the best version of Hauser yet. Of course, hitting 10 3’s in a game helps the numbers look better, but hey, they all count.

As Hauser has returned to form and unlocked a new level, the Celtics have hit their stride and blossomed into one of the NBA’s biggest success stories. While there are of course a wide range of factors at play, it’s not a total coincidence that Hauser’s ascension aligns with the team’s.

Often a barometer for how the Celtics are shooting as a whole, his contagious confidence has helped them reach new heights collectively. To put it in perspective, Boston is 15-3 when Hauser makes three-plus 3’s and 14-14 when he hits two or fewer.

While Hauser’s 3-point shooting will always be his superpower, there’s a lot more to his game than just his marksmanship. Even when he doesn’t ultimately take the shot, he shines as a decoy and is a master spacer.

The action where the Celtics use Hauser as a screener and have him scurry to the wing is very difficult to stop. If teams worry about Hauser, the ball-handler will make them pay; if they worry about the ball-handler, Hauser is often the beneficiary. If they somehow guard both of those options, the big is often alone under the rim. Simply having him as a threat keeps defenses off balance and constantly scrambling.

His passing and playmaking have also reached another level. When defenders fly at him, Hauser consistently makes the right decision. He’ll get the shot off quickly, relocate and shoot, upfake to drive and shoot or upfake to drive and pass. Playing way up on him is still the right decision more often than not, but he’s learned how to handle the additional attention and get others involved.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is always quick to point out Hauser’s defense. It’s not an easy task guarding players who are often bigger, stronger or faster, but Hauser uses his smarts, anticipation and court awareness to compensate and more than holds his own.

Look at Sam Hauser's defense on Bam Adebayo. Miami probably thought this was an easy basket but Hauser stands up to Bam, switches off then back onto him, and they contest the shot that falls short. pic.twitter.com/pYz0ARbB6T

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@John_Karalis) January 17, 2026

If you ask Hauser, he’ll still shake his head about the cold stretch to start. But he’s earned the right to give himself a break and forget all about it. This has been one heck of a response, and he looks like the player he knew he could become.

When the Celtics are rolling, there’s a good chance Hauser is as well. When Hauser is rolling, there’s a good chance the Celtics are as well. Lately, both have been rolling, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Doc Rivers: Joel Embiid ‘Most talented I ever coached' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

No matter what your opinion is on the man, or the coach, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has seen a thing or two when it comes to the NBA.

In his third year in Milwaukee, and 27^th season as an NBA head coach, he has coached more than 2,000 games, and hundreds of players.

In 2008, he coached a Boston Celtics team with three Hall of Famers – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen – to the NBA championship, which makes his comments last night carry that much more weight.

Before last night’s 139-122 Sixers win over Rivers’ Bucks, Doc was asked about his former star player, Joel Embiid, and his resurgence after dealing with yet another injury.

“You know, it’s funny, it’s like Groundhog Day, you know, it really is,” said Rivers. “I was telling a very, very, very Hall of Fame player that I coached that Joel is the most talented player that I ever coached. And he was like, ‘What?’ And I was like, ‘He is, you know, it’s the things that you guys see and then the things you actually don’t see in practice sometimes that he can do. It’s incredible, it really is.’”

“Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs,” he continued. “He wasn’t healthy last year; he wasn’t healthy the year before. You know, that’s five years straight, I think. And if he ever gets to the playoffs healthy, especially with, they’ve added some big pieces here. They’re gonna be a dangerous team, but it’s all gonna come down to that. And nothing’s changed.”

Considering all the players Rivers has coached – he currently has 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on his roster! – these are mighty words from a coach who has roamed a sideline for more than a third of the NBA’s actual existence.

Not counting Giannis, or the Celtics’ “Big 3” in 2008, here is a list of players Doc Rivers has had on his rosters:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill, Patrick Ewing, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Tracy McGrady, James Harden, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Sam Cassell, Stephon Marbury, and Blake Griffin.

All told, Rivers has coached nine players who made the Hall of Fame (for now), and six total MVP awards, aside from Embiid’s.

Rivers and Embiid didn’t enjoy much playoff success in their three seasons together, but perhaps this year can be different.

But you can’t help but wonder how the Greek Freak feels about all this.

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, January 28th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 28-20 and host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Is this LeBron’s last game in Cleveland? Who can say? All we know is it’s the last time his Lakers will play in Rocket Arena this season, barring a matchup in the NBA Finals. As exciting as that would be — I’d take this as the King’s last game in the Land for a while.

The Cavs went 2-0 against the Lakers last season. This will be their first meeting in the 2025-26 campaign.

Today’s Game of the Day

• Cleveland Cavaliers vs Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM, ESPN

There’s no way this wasn’t going to be our pick.

The Cavs have been one of the league’s best teams since December 22nd. They are tied for the most wins in the NBA during that period and have ranked in the top 10 in offense and defense during this stretch.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are 28-17 and have won two straight games. Luka Doncic is averaging 33 points per game, while James is posting a historic 22.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 6 rebounds per game at 41 years old.

Both teams are dealing with significant injuries. The Cavs will be without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Max Strus, while the Lakers are without Austin Reaves. Nevertheless, the one player we’re all coming to see will be on the court.

The Rest of the NBA Slate

• Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers – 7 PM
• Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics – 7:30 PM
• Orlando Magic at Miami Heat – 7:30 PM
• New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 PM
• Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies – 8 PM
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks – 8:30 PM
• Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz – 9 PM
• San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets – 9:30 PM

Cavs links of the day

• Cavs waiving two-way player – Cleveland.com
• Could LeBron James leave the Lakers for Cleveland? – New York Post
• Cavs’ Evan Mobley to miss at least one week with an injury – Cleveland.com
• Opinion: Donovan Mitchell’s voice is important, but so is yours – Fear the Sword

NBA links

• NBA Trade Deadline: Tier ranking all 30 teams – ESPN
• 2026 NBA Rising Stars Draft – NBC Sports

UT Arlington Mavericks (8-11, 2-5 WAC) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (12-7, 5-3 WAC)

Cedar City, Utah; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Ava Uhrich and Southern Utah host Kira Reynolds and UT Arlington in WAC action.

The Thunderbirds have gone 7-1 at home. Southern Utah has a 1-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Mavericks are 2-5 in conference play. UT Arlington ranks third in the WAC shooting 31.9% from 3-point range.

Southern Utah averages 6.1 made 3-pointers per game, 1.9 more made shots than the 4.2 per game UT Arlington allows. UT Arlington has shot at a 39.6% rate from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points higher than the 39.3% shooting opponents of Southern Utah have averaged.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season for the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Devyn Kiernan averages 1.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Thunderbirds, scoring 6.4 points while shooting 35.5% from beyond the arc. Sierra Chambers is averaging 15.9 points and 3.3 assists over the past 10 games.

Reynolds is averaging 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks for the Mavericks. Mila Reynolds is averaging 7.6 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunderbirds: 6-4, averaging 67.2 points, 37.0 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 4.4 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 40.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.0 points per game.

Mavericks: 3-7, averaging 57.2 points, 30.8 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 37.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.0 points.

___

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

Did Jayson Tatum give us another hint about his in-season return? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum’s lengthy visit with The Pivot podcast delivered a treasure trove of headlines.

The part that stuck out most to us: Tatum displaying a heavy dose of self-awareness while admitting he’s been thinking a lot lately about how his return might impact a Boston Celtics team that has been entrenched near the top of the East standings for much of the 2025-26 season.

He also seemed to offer a rare hint about the timing of an in-season return.

At one point, Tatum noted, “If or when I do come back this season, they would have played 50 some-odd games without me.” He showed impressive maturity by saying out loud that he’s concerned his return could somehow disrupt the flow of the team.

But we all know the best version of the Celtics features Tatum, even if it will take time to get him back to the peak of his All-NBA powers.

Tatum later noted he’d be rejoining the team “50, 60 games into a season.”

That’s one of the few hints that Tatum has offered about a potential return during his limited media appearances since the injury. He has also noted:

1. He circled a target date near the start of his rehab. We’ve long wondered if that date was around his birthday on March 3. That would be just shy of 10 in his rehab from Achilles surgery.
2. He would prefer his return to action come at home at TD Garden, in order to make his return in front of Celtics fans.

So, here are all of Boston’s upcoming home dates between games 50 and 70:

• Feb. 6 vs. Miami (Game 52)
• Feb. 8 vs. New York (Game 53)
• Feb. 11 vs. Chicago (Game 54)
• Feb. 27 vs. Brooklyn (Game 59)
• March 1 vs. Philadelphia (Game 60)
• March 4 vs. Charlotte (Game 62)
• March 6 vs. Dallas (Game 63)
• March 14 vs. Washington (Game 67)
• March 16 vs. Phoenix (Game 68)
• March 18 vs. Golden State (Game 69)

There are a lot of fun possibilities in there. A Super Bowl Sunday return against the same Knicks team that Tatum was injured against — that would serve as an appetizer before the Patriots play in the NFL’s title game — is the stuff of Disney movies. But it’s also 11 days away and might be a bit too ambitious.

Waiting beyond the All-Star break gives Tatum a whole bunch of extra time to ramp up, though the Celtics come out of the midseason respite with a four-game road trip out West. The Celtics don’t play their first post-break game at home until February 27.

The Charlotte game after his birthday always felt like an intriguing option, and a 2024 Finals rematch with the Mavericks looms on March 6. (That’s also the first game in Boston for Maine native Cooper Flagg.)

Celtics brass repeatedly has stressed it will exercise plenty of caution with Tatum’s return, but when the calendar flips to February — and particularly after the Feb. 5 trade deadline passes — the hype around his potential return to game action will kick into overdrive.

“[This year’s Celtics] have an identity this year — or things that they’ve felt that has clicked for them and it’s been successful, right?” Tatum added on The Pivot. “Second team in the East up to this point. So there is a thought in my head of like, how does that work?

“How does that look with me integrating myself off an injury, and 50, 60 games into a season? Obviously, could be some challenges and it is a thought like, damn, do I come back? Or should I wait? It’s something that I honestly, recently, in the last like two weeks or so kind of just kind of contemplate every single day.”

Despite his concerns, the Celtics having to figure out how to reintegrate Tatum on a 50-plus-win pace with the fourth-best point differential in the league is the best sort of problem to have.

There will be obvious bumps in the road, especially as Tatum shakes rust from an extended absence. But that game action is vital to getting Tatum back to feeling like his old self, and getting Boston back to being a legitimate title threat.

The San Antonio Spurs had a slight speed bump on Sunday at home against the New Orleans Pelicans and are now on tour against their in-state rivals in Houston. The Spurs are hardly separated from the fifth seed (2.5), making it critical to take care of business so they don’t lose their precious home-court advantage in the playoffs. 

It’s the third of four match-ups, and some of the biggest factors determining victory will be closing out to the corners quickest and maintaining an edge on the glass. Keep in mind that Houston is third in isolation frequency, and it’s mostly Kevin Durant turning water into wine on those possessions.

San Antonio Spurs (31-15) at Houston Rockets (28-16)

January 28, 2026 8:30 PM CT

Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs injuries: Harrison Ingram – G-League, two-way (out), David Jones Garcia- G-League, two-way (out), Jeremy Sochan- left quad soreness (questionable), Stanley Umude- G-League, two-way (out)

Rockets injuries: Steven Adams- left ankle sprain (out), Tristen Newton- G-League, two-way (out), Fred VanVleet- ACL repair (out)

What to watch for

Fourth quarter intensity

The Spurs were recently in control against the Rockets on Jan. 20, but got pantsed in the fourth quarter, settling for jumpers and getting lit up everywhere. Notably, the only shot in seven attempts Victor Wembanyama made late in that game was at close range. When Tuesday’s fourth quarter starts, whether it’s down 10 or up 10, expect the Spurs to not play with their food and be sharp on pick-and-roll defense. The misses and turnovers allowed the Rockets to get out in transition, where they added seven back-breaking points, so the Spurs will have to get back quicker.

Reed Sheppard’s quick triggerand Houston’s athleticism

Sheppard is a small guard, but he compensates for it by having some of the fastest hands in the NBA on his jumper. His deep shooting ignites them like rocket fuel, so he’ll likely be played much closer when off-ball. 

Furthermore, the Rockets don’t use a traditional point guard, which is part of the reason their offense can be suspect. Their best playmaker, despite not having the highest assist-to-turnover ratio on the team, is Alperen Şengün, because he is a post threat that causes the most overreactions. A great way to lower his impact is not to play help defense when Victor guards him. He should be fine if he avoids falling for Turk Nowitzki’s fake. 

As much of an offensive threat that Durant still is in year 19, Amen Thompson is the next dangerous man to look at. His game-changing athleticism is only rivaled in this matchup by Stephon Castle, and he is a wrecking ball on defense. His torque and first step make him recover quickly when jammed into a screen. Offensively, he is a better player than a point guard and is still averaging 5.4 assists, mostly on drive-and-kick plays. 

Heavy lifting by the stars

Wembanyama, Castle and De’Aaron Fox got outplayed by Houston’s star trio in their last matchup. Even if they shoot poorly, their pride will make them play more forcefully against Houston’s interior, since the team only took 10 free throws on Jan. 20. Anticipate a higher frequency of off-ball screens to get them loose.

You can follow along with game here on the Game Thread, as well as on our X profile (@poundingtherock).

Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench in crunch time is starting to become a familiar sight.

He didn’t play the last 6:51 of the Knicks’ 103-87 win over the Kings Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, with coach Mike Brown opting for Mitchell Robinson instead. 

“He saw what he saw,” Towns said after the game. “We got a win, that’s the most important thing.” 

Towns finished with 17 points, though on rough 5-for-15 shooting from the field, along with 11 rebounds. He finished minus-3, worst on the team.  

Towns was similarly on the bench down the stretch of the win over the 76ers in Philadelphia on Saturday, but that was because he had fouled out.

Still, his minutes have waned recently. 

On Tuesday, Brown opted to go with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Robinson for the closing minutes. And that was when the Knicks were most effective, finally taking control of the lowly Kings. 

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS

“At the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that was playing well,” Brown said of Tuesday’s decision. “It was a tight ballgame, so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before. We have Deuce out there, who’s not a starter, Mitch out there, who’s not a starter. We needed to get the win.” 

Keeping starters on the bench at the end of games is not something Brown is afraid to do — he benched Bridges for the end of Saturday’s game. 

“During the flow of the game, you find a group of players that you feel are playing well together,” Brown said. “And you roll with it as long as you can.” 

With the Knicks at full strength, Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek are both firmly out of Brown’s rotation. 

Neither played in Tuesday’s win, the second straight DNP for each of them.

New York Knicks (28-18, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (29-19, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Raptors -1.5; over/under is 224.5

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto heads into a matchup with New York as winners of four games in a row.

The Raptors are 4-8 in division matchups. Toronto is fourth in the NBA with 29.6 assists per game led by Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.2.

The Knicks are 7-3 against Atlantic Division teams. New York has an 11-14 record against teams over .500.

The Raptors are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points higher than the 46.4% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks score 5.6 more points per game (117.5) than the Raptors allow their opponents to score (111.9).

The teams play for the third time this season. The Knicks won the last matchup 117-101 on Dec. 10, with Jalen Brunson scoring 35 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Quickley is averaging 16.5 points over the last 10 games.

Mikal Bridges is scoring 15.7 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 18.4 points and 2.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 114.0 points, 42.6 rebounds, 31.5 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.

Knicks: 5-5, averaging 109.8 points, 48.2 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.7 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back), Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).

Knicks: None listed.

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

Detroit Pistons (34-11, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (28-19, sixth in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Pistons take on Phoenix.

The Suns have gone 15-6 at home. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing only 111.6 points while holding opponents to 46.8% shooting.

The Pistons have gone 15-6 away from home. Detroit is third in the league allowing just 110.0 points while holding opponents to 44.3% shooting.

The Suns score 114.0 points per game, 4.0 more points than the 110.0 the Pistons give up. The Pistons score 5.6 more points per game (117.2) than the Suns give up to opponents (111.6).

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 108-105 in the last meeting on Jan. 16. Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, and Grayson Allen led the Suns with 33 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dillon Brooks is averaging 20.5 points for the Suns. Allen is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Cade Cunningham is scoring 25.3 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Robinson is averaging 13.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 45.9% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 6-4, averaging 110.9 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points per game.

Pistons: 8-2, averaging 111.8 points, 44.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 12.0 steals and 7.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Jalen Green: out (injury management), Devin Booker: out (ankle), Isaiah Livers: out (illness), Collin Gillespie: out (hand).

Pistons: Caris LeVert: out (illness).

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

Brooklyn Nets (12-33, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (31-16, third in the Western Conference)

Denver; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn is looking to stop its six-game slide with a victory against Denver.

The Nuggets are 12-9 in home games. Denver is fourth in the Western Conference with 28.0 assists per game led by Jamal Murray averaging 7.4.

The Nets are 6-16 in road games. Brooklyn averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 3-11 when turning the ball over less than opponents.

The Nuggets average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Nets give up. The Nuggets average 107.8 points per game, 8.2 fewer points than the 116.0 the Nuggets give up to opponents.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Nets won the last meeting 127-115 on Jan. 4, with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 27 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Murray is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 assists for the Nuggets. Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Porter is scoring 25.2 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Nets. Nic Claxton is averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 55.8% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 106.6 points, 40.0 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.

Nets: 1-9, averaging 103.0 points, 39.8 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Nikola Jokic: out (knee), Christian Braun: out (ankle).

Nets: Tyrese Martin: out (knee), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Noah Clowney: out (back).

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