Category: NBA

First there was a back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Nick Nurse and featuring the G.R.O.A.T himself, Kyle Lowry, in what was likely his last appearance in a game in Toronto. Then there was Wednesday’s game against Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers.

Now, the Raptors’ week of familiar faces culminates in a contest at Scotiabank Arena against Kawhi Leonard, the franchise’s only ever Finals MVP (to date), and the Los Angeles Clippers.

While the Clippers’ 17-23 record isn’t anything to write home about, they are currently on a four-game winning streak, and have won 11 of their last 13 games. As the Clippers continue their steady ascent into the middle of the Western Conference pack, they face a Raptors team that is just one game out of second in the East.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.

Here are some storylines to consider ahead of the matchup:

Everybody flex

With Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter all out, plus Jamison Battle leaving mid-game, Gradey Dick was afforded an opportunity on Wednesday night to play an increased role coming off the bench. Dick was fairly pedestrian from three, shooting just 1/5 from beyond the arc — and yet it was one of his best games of the season.

Dick registered his first career double-double, playing 30 minutes and putting up 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on 9/15 shooting. His effort earned him the Raptors’ chain, and led to the post-game photo we’ve all been waiting for: the whole team doing the customary Gradey Dick flex. Tonight, with the Raptors still short-handed, Dick will look to build off his recent success, which has involved finishing strong at the bucket and playing well as a roller. Now the key question is whether he can get out of his shooting funk.

Klawing back

The Clippers have won 11 of their last 13 games, and Kawhi Leonard has been the engine behind their turnaround. Leonard is averaging 32.7 points per game across that 13-game span, including a 55-point performance against the first-place Detroit Pistons. His dominance is a familiar sight for Raptors fans (apparently it’s been six years??!!) — but now the Raptors will need to throw everything they can to slow down the surging 34-year-old forward. Look for a mix of sturdy wings like Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji and even the rookie Collin Murray-Boyles to have a go at defending him.

Next man up

The Raptors’ stretch of playing shorthanded will continue tonight, with Barrett, Poeltl and Walter all being ruled out with their respective injuries. The team is also likely to miss the spacing that Battle affords them, as he’s doubtful with an ankle injury, and Quickley and Mamukelashvili are both questionable. While All-Star voting is now closed, Barnes and Ingram can continue to make their cases for the team by carrying the load for the shorthanded squad. Players like Agbaji and A.J. Lawson also figure to play “next man up” roles for the team.

But the biggest revelation from the team’s shorthanded stretch has been the rookie, Collin Murray-Boyles. Poeltl’s absence has given CMB a runway to establish himself as an impressively stout defender — he’s 99th percentile in the league in deflections — and a promising offensive player who’s just scratching the surface of his upside. Over his last six games, Murray-Boyles is averaging 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 57% shooting.

Now for another Bucks trade candidate! So far, we have mulled over Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. This time, we analyse Charlotte Hornets wing/forward Miles Bridges.

The Player

Miles Bridges, 27, 6’7”, 225 lb, forward

Season averages: 19.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, .445/.335/.842

Miles Bridges has been a serviceable wing/forward for some time now after the Hornets selected him in the lottery back in 2018. He’s another one who fits into the “more of a power forward than a small forward” category; however, he floats my boat a tad more than another player we’ve applied that term to, Jerami Grant, because he has a slightly more well-rounded arsenal. I think Bridges is much more capable of toggling between the SF and PF than Grant is.

Over Miles’ last four seasons, he has scored the rock at a decent level, averaging 20.3 PPG, though it’s not as if he’s done it on great efficiency (45.9% from the field and 33.1% from deep). Where Bridges separates himself from Grant, though, is in his passing and rebounding. As a secondary playmaker, Miles has been able to get his teammates more involved, boasting an assist-to-turnover ratio very close to 2/1. Additionally, Bridges isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and rebound, hauling in 7.1 boards per game.

On the defensive end, I was unable to find much on the trusty NBA Reddit, so I have nothing to give you guys other than what I know firsthand: he’s athletic, got good size, and has been the designated “Giannis guy” in most Bucks-Hornets matchups. He’s obviously very powerful and seems to have decent feet; I have no clue where he’s at as an off-ball player. He does average 1.5 stocks per game, though, which is a decent sign that he’s at least active off the ball. And so here we are, the Bucks need help on the wing, and Miles seems as good a bet as any. Thus, it makes sense that Milwaukee is showing interest in the former Michigan State Spartan, per Matt Moore’s latest reporting:

“Speaking of Bridges, the Hornets forward— who should absolutely not be in the NBA and who has a -2.5 on-court net rating and -8.5 on/off split— has drawn interest from Milwaukee as they continue to try and troll for an upgrade to magically unlock some version of the team that keeps Giannis from leaving.”

The Trade

Look, the mechanics of acquiring Bridges in a trade that would satisfy the Hornets are not simple. We have looked at a few trade candidates in which the other team would be expected to send Milwaukee assets to acquire their player. But in the case of Miles—considering his relatively cheap contract and the fact that he is a clear upgrade on the likely outgoing salary of Kyle Kuzma—the Bucks would need to send assets the other way. The problem is that the Bucks don’t really have the “right assets” to trade. Put simply, Bridges is not worth a first in general, let alone one five years out, which is all the Bucks have to offer; what he’s worth is some second-round picks, and the Bucks have none! The only guy on the Bucks roster that might equate to the value of a second-round pick (or two) would be Andre Jackson Jr. Ergo, the deal would have to look something like this:

If you’re the Bucks, I think you’d do this deal in a heartbeat. I’ll try my best to make the case for why the Hornets might do it, though. You could argue that, with their new influx of young talent—namely Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel—Charlotte might be looking to turn over a new leaf and leave the old(er) players from yesteryear behind. It’s also worth noting that they might be looking to move on from Miles, in particular, because of his off-court transgressions (people can Google those themselves if they aren’t aware). Additionally, they’d get to take a flyer on a gifted defender in Jackson, who the Bucks simply don’t have the time to give a real shot. Also, if Charlotte wasn’t interested in AJax, he wouldn’t have to be included; they’d still shave $2.6m off their books just trading for Kuzma (who has the exact same contract length as Bridges).

The Fit

As I alluded to above, I’d feel much better starting Miles Bridges at the three than I would Jerami Grant. Do I think he’s some perfect fit? Absolutely not. Sidenote: Michael Porter Jr. would be my first choice, though the price of a future first is simply off the table for me. Teams would sag off Bridges in the half-court and force him to make threes, which makes me nervous. However, this team just needs firepower in general, and although Miles isn’t some elite shooter, he’s a 20-PPG scorer who also gets his teammates involved. Put simply, he can be a key primary cog in Milwaukee’s offence, and the Bucks need more key cogs if nothing else but to replace certain guys who don’t deserve that title.

I also want to mention that Bridges would have learnt a lot playing with LaMelo Ball in how to play off a special player like that, which might help him play with Giannis. I’m talking about when to set the screen, when to slip out, when to cut, when to stay spaced, etc. Miles seems to have a decent mind for the game, and I think he’d work through how to impact the game next to the Greek Freak. Additionally, I think Bridges would be a solid fit next to Ryan Rollins and KPJ (especially in the non-Giannis minutes), playing the two-man game with those guys.

Arguably, though, the biggest impact he’d have would be on defence and rebounding, both of which the Milwaukee struggles with. The Bucks play smaller lineups a lot of the time and have gotten monstered by dominant wings and centres. Bringing in the 225-pound Bridges would immediately assist in those two areas. Moreover, Miles is durable. He’s averaged 34.7 minutes over his last four seasons and hasn’t played fewer than 64 games in his seven-year career; the Bucks would be able to count on him being on the court. All in all, I think Bridges is one of the best fits of all the candidates we’ve looked at so far. The issue is the mechanics that would go with acquiring him.

Are people with me on Miles Bridges, or am I overrating him? Let us know, as well as if there are any other guys we should cover!

The Los Angeles Clippers look to pick up their fifth straight win, but they’ll have to go through the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena tonight.

Scottie Barnes has been a jack of all trades for the Raps this season, but it’s his playmaking that’s really caught my attention.

I’ll break down why Barnes should stack up plenty of dimes in my Clippers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 16. 

Clippers vs Raptors prediction

Clippers vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists (-135)

The Toronto Raptors have been dealing with injury issues for a few weeks now, and three starters remain out or questionable for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Toronto has managed to stay afloat, though, and that’s largely due to Scottie Barnes’ ability to play a variety of roles.

Need 25 points? Barnes is there.

Need someone to clean up the glass? Scottie’s got it.

However, perhaps his most important skill for the Raptors has been his playmaking.

Barnes is averaging 6.7 assists per game since December 28 — that’s the seventh-best mark in the NBA among all forwards over that span.

The Raptors star is also averaging 50.2 passes made per game, second only to starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (56.1), who may be out tonight with a back injury.

Barnes is coming off a 13-assist game on Wednesday, while topping 4.5 dimes in six of his last 10. He hits that number with ease against the Clippers tonight.

Clippers vs Raptors same-game parlay

Just like Barnes, Brandon Ingram has had to step up into other roles to help his team down the stretch. The Raptors forward has snagged Over 5.5 boards in six of his last seven contests, and they’ll need him to be a factor on the glass with Poeltl sidelined.

The Raptors may be banged up, but so are the Clippers, who could be without three starters of their own in Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac. Toronto is 5-2 in its last seven home games and appears somewhat undervalued as the underdog here.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Raptors moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Zub Cleans the Glass

Zubac missed LA’s last game, but the 7-foot center is undeniable on the glass.

He’s posted Over 10.5 rebounds in three of his last five outings and is averaging 10.7 rpg this season — tied for 10th in the NBA.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Raptors moneyline
• Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 rebounds

Clippers vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Clippers -2 (-110) | Raptors +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers -130 | Raptors -115
• Over/Under: Over 216 (-110) | Under 216 (-110)

Clippers vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Raptors.

How to watch Clippers vs Raptors

Clippers vs Raptors latest injuries

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

Michael Jordan’s contributions to the NBA coverage on NBC have been lacking.

The GOAT’s addition to the lineup for his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment has been one single long-form interview with Mike Tirico, with clips shown throughout the season — leaving fans who wanted to hear from the six-time NBA champion on the league’s current events unfulfilled.

“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not,” Tirico said on “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” this week. “Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha. In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time.”

The issue, however, is that Jordan was pitched to fans and viewers as a “special contributor,” a role that would seemingly include more than one two-hour interview filmed over two days months ago.

There is no doubt that basketball fans want to hear from Jordan, a six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, 14-time All-Star and 10-time scoring champ.

He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and his Jordan Brand remains a major part of the league’s culture.

“Every time one airs, people say, ‘Oh, this is from the same interview.’ But they also talk about what he said,” Tirico said. “It starts a topic of conversation. His voice still resonates.”

Tirico confirmed that there are no plans for a second interview with the 62-year-old at this point.

“Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility,” he said. “I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome.”

Just when things looked like they couldn’t get any worse for the Milwaukee Bucks, they got absolutely embarrassed by the San Antonio Spurs last night. After winning six of nine, the Bucks have now dropped three in a row and sit at 17-24 on the season, two games behind the 10th-placed Atlanta Hawks. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

22 minutes, 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 7/12 FG, 1/1 3PT, 6/9 FT, -31

Giannis looked primed for another epic performance against Victor Wembanyama in his first stint (more on that later), but with the his only help coming from a trigger-happy Kyle Kuzma, he too succumbed to the Spurs’ suffocating defence and was a non-factor thereafter. He was the Bucks’ best but it didn’t matter one bit.

Grade: D

Kevin Porter Jr.

23 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 0/9 FG, 0/4 3PT, -35

I’ve arguably been Porter’s biggest supporter around here, but tonight even I can’t find a silver lining. It was the kind of game that had you rethinking his role in the Bucks’ future. He was that awful.

Grade: F

Ryan Rollins

26 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, , 1 block, 2/8 FG, 1/5 3PT, 1/2 FT, -18

Rollins crashed the boards and found some assists. He even rose up for an impressive chase-down block. But he just couldn’t get any penetration agains the Spurs’ defence and, for the fifth time in six games, shot less than 37% from the field (25% on the night and 31% over that span).

Grade: D-

Myles Turner

23 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2/7 FG, 1/5 3PT, -23

Turner was again largely invisible, offering minimal resistance against penetration and hovering around the three-point line on offence. Even there, though, he was bad, clunking several of his five attempts. The contrast between Turner and Luke Kornet—the Spurs’ backup centre—was stark, and not in a good way for the Bucks centre, who often looked timid and lost.

Grade: F

AJ Green

15 minutes, 6 points, 1 assist, 2/4 FG, 2/4 3PT, -25

You could argue that Green was hindered by foul trouble that kept him off the court, limiting him to just 15 minutes of action. But defending without fouling is part of being a productive player and last night Green fell back into old habits. The fact that he recorded a -25 plus/minus in those 15 minutes of action is also telling.

Grade: F

Kyle Kuzma

22 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 6/17 FG, 5/13 3PT, 1/1 FT, -5

Kuzma came out firing, hitting his first two threes—and five in the first half alone—in a bid to keep the Bucks afloat. It didn’t and by the time his night was over he had converted just 6/17 from the field. Overall, he was physical and made a few nice passes, but when Kuz is your leading shot taker, it’s usually a sign of bad times.

Grade:D

Bobby Portis

21 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5/8 FG, 3/5 3PT, 1/1 FT, -15

Close game or blowout, Portis is going to look to score and he did so efficiently, adding a half-dozen rebounds to his baker’s dozen point total in what was another productive box-score night for the Bucks’ sixth man. On offence, he was one of the few Bucks who didn’t look deterred by Wembanyama’s presence. Of course, with the worst plus/minus off the bench, it’s not as if he made much of a positive contribution either.

Grade:D

Gary Trent Jr.

14 minutes, 3 points, 1 assist, 1/5 FG, 1/5 3PT, -9

Last year’s playoff performance now feels like a distant dream, as Trent scored in single digits for the fifth consecutive game (and 10 out of his last 11). To paraphrase our very own Jack Trehearne, whatever deal Horst had lined up for Trent in the offseason has to be broken.

Grade:F

Gary Harris

21 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1/1 FG, 1/1 3PT, -4

Gary Harris is just a pro, quietly having a very unexpectedly solid season for the Bucks. And it’s almost always on the defensive end where he stands out—at least twice in the first half alone he blew-up Spurs’ possessions. But if he’s playing this much for the Bucks, then maybe it’s time to start expecting more—or give those minutes to someone who might be able to win you a game rather than just stabilise it.

Grade: D

Doc Rivers

What do you say? For the second game in a row the Bucks were down in excess of 30 points. Granted, Rivers isn’t the one bricking shots or conceding threes and layups, but the buck stops with him—and the Bucks haven’t ever really started with him. If it wasn’t time before, it is now.

Grade: F (for “Fire”. As in he needs to be fired. Now. Get it?!).

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey, Andre Jackson Jr., Jericho Sims, Pete Nance.

Inactive: Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Giannis gets up for Wemby and last night was no different—at least to start. He had 14 of the Bucks’ first 17 points, and drew two fouls on the Spurs’ unicorn, sending him to the medical room with donuts and one very sore knee.
• Unfortunately, the rest of the Bucks couldn’t follow Giannis’ lead, combining for a measly three points on 1/14 shooting up until a Kuzma three with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.
• The Bucks just couldn’t stop the Spurs getting to the line in the first half, conceding 23 attempts (and earning just 10 of their own). So much for that vaunted paint protection.
• Kuzma’s fivethrees in the first half tied his personal game-high total for the Bucks, a total he reached twice last season.
• By the 8:44 minute mark of the third quarter, Giannis’ early-game dominance was a distant memory. Stuck on 16 points, there was nothing he could do but watch as Wemby hit his fourth three to cap a 15-6 start to the quarter for the Spurs. Moments later, instead of taking Green down low, Wemby decided his fifth three would be of the turnaround fadeaway variety. He really is an alien.
• The Spurs won the third quarter 40-16. Yes, you read that correctly. And by the end of the quarter, the Bucks were down by 37 points, 106-69. You read that correctly too.
• Outside of Giannis, the Bucks’ next three best players—Turner, Rollins, and KPJ—combined to shoot just 4/24 from the field.
• Want more? While Rollins and KPJ combined for just six points on 2/17 shooting, their immediate opponents—Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox—combined for 37 points on 12/19 shooting.
• According to Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network analyst and Locked on Bucks host Justin Garcia, the combined 54-points the Bucks have lost by over the last two games is the largest two-game margin in franchise history. Yikes.
• Bonus crossword: Across 1. Inferno MD (4, 3).

Up Next

Following a three-day break, the Bucks head to Atlanta to take on the new-look Hawks where things have to be better, right? You can find all the action on Peacock—tip off is at 12:00 p.m. Central.

When Dirk Nowitzki first started playing basketball in Germany, he was a member of DJK Würzburg, a team in Germany’s second-tier division, behind the Bundesliga. It was there that his longtime trainer, Holger Geschwindner, noticed him for the first time.

“The first thing [I noticed] is you had no technical skills,” Geschwindner joked after being asked by Nowitzki during a video segment with Amazon Prime, prompting a laugh from the Mavericks legend as the two jested back and forth.

Nowitzki went on to be one of the greatest players in NBA history, winning league MVP in 2007, an NBA championship in 2011, and scoring over 31,000 points in his career, good for sixth on the all-time leaderboard. He retired after 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 and took a job with Amazon Prime’s new NBA coverage team last year.

That job led him to this game, a Thursday matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic, taking place in Berlin, Germany. It’s the first regular-season game in NBA history to be played in Germany following numerous preseason and exhibition games in previous years.

Amazon Prime is covering the game and sent Nowitzki to Germany to cover the game and take a stroll down memory lane with his longtime friend and trainer. Nowitzki and Geschwindner shared memories of their first training sessions as they walked past courts in Germany. Nowitzki remembered having trouble shooting when he first started training with Geschwindner.

“The key is first of all, the ball has to be your friend,” his trainer said. “Shooting only on the fingertips, the most sensitive, and put some pressure at the end.”

Nowitzki told stories of the two sleeping on mattresses on the gym floor. Geschwindner said players often dream of NBA careers and 5-star hotels without doing the work first, so he wanted Nowitzki to start at the bottom and work his way to that level of success.

They discussed the 1998 Nike Hoop Summit where most NBA and college scouts saw Nowitzki for the first time in person.

“The hoop summit completely changed our lives,” Nowitzki said.

The 7-footer played well in the exhibition game and was selected 9th overall in the NBA Draft later that year, but struggled in his first season — a 50-game, shortened season due to a lockout earlier that summer. Nowitzki and his trainer remember all the harsh words that were shared about him during that season, including predictions he’d be back in Germany within a year’s time.

“All the things those top coaches told us, it was garbage,” Geschwindner said in the segment.

He often had Nowitzki doing abnormal drills that focused on balance and footwork. He wanted Nowitzki to be able to do all things on the court.

“Those days, all the big guys had been pretty clumsy,” he said. “The big guys usually had to be responsible for the rebound, but a good basketball team has to have five guys on the floor that can shoot. That’s the reason why we started the Institute for Applied Nonsense.”

Applied nonsense, Geschwinder explained, is the explanation for why they did these drills that most others saw as garbage or useless. They helped make Nowitzki the legend he was. His trainer was always there, every step of the way from the time Nowitzki was 14 on the streets of Germany to his final game in the NBA after 21 grueling seasons.

“Every time I needed you, one phone call and you were here helping me out,” Nowitzki said.

The gasps from the crowd at Crypto.com Arena — a mix of shock from Lakers fans and anticipation from fans rooting for the local hero — grew each time LaMelo Ball pulled up from seemingly more and more audacious spots on the court. The Charlotte Hornets star guard held three fingers to his bicep each time he splashed a shot through the net. He stared up into the packed stands to meet the eyes of his hometown crowd.

The former Chino Hills High star ignited the Hornets to a 135-117 win over the Lakers on Thursday with 30 points and 11 assists. After a quiet three points in the first half, Ball erupted for 27 points after halftime, including making eight three-pointers on 12 attempts in the second half that gave the L.A. crowd flashbacks of the brace-faced freshman on Chino Hills’ famous undefeated team.

“We all know LaMelo,” Lakers guard Marcus Smart said. “He’s been playing like that since he was in high school. To us, they’re some crazy shots, but to him, those are his shots.”

Read more:Lakers’ defensive issues once again prove costly in loss to Hornets

Ball, now 10 years removed from the 35-0, national championship season with the Huskies, still plays with the looseness of the freshman who was hooping with his older brothers. But the 24-year-old is now starting to own the maturity of a six-year NBA veteran.

“He's always been an explosive scorer, explosive passer, but now he knows how to win games when it comes down to, what, two possessions, one possession,” said Hornets guard Miles Bridges, who had 25 points, including five baskets assisted by Ball. “He knows how to make the right play and win the game.”

Ball, who is averaging 20.4 points, 7.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds, has a career-high plus-2.8 rating this season. Ball’s traditional stats are modest compared to some of his stat-stuffing early seasons when he averaged more than 30 points and eight rebounds in each of his first two years in the NBA, but he is playing more efficiently than ever in some ways. He has a 120.8 offensive rating and a 42.2% assist percentage, which estimates the percentage of a player’s teammates’ field goals they assist while on the court. His assist percentage trails only Denver superstar Nikola Jokic.

“We've always marveled at his shot making, but the thing that I think continues to just impress me, the thing that continues to help our team get better and better is that he's trusting the pass,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee, who called Ball the team’s emotional leader. “I think that he's really maximizing everyone around him. He's making them better. … And then he just does what Melo does: He's a shot-maker.”

Ball hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the third quarter. With his confidence growing, he started pulling up earlier in the shot clock. He danced with Lakers center Deandre Ayton, driving toward the lane on the 7-footer to only pivot back and drain another three. Fading away out of the corner of the court and almost into the laps of his teammates on the Hornets bench, Ball hit a rainbow three over Smart’s outstretched hand.

“I was really just playing for real,” Ball said.

Ball did not play in the Lakers’ first game against the Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., because of an ankle injury. In November, the Lakers held off a fourth-quarter surge from the Hornets, who showed how dangerous they can be. Young and athletic, with eager drivers and knock-down shooters, the Hornets can be one of the NBA’s most dangerous offensive teams. In the 15 games since Ball returned from a three-game absence because of an ankle injury, Charlotte has the top-ranked offense in the league. The Hornets hung 150 points against Utah. They blew out the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

“Our coaching staff and the guys in the locker room, we all knew that they got our full respect and attention pregame,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And I thought we fought. Just another team that has a hot-shooting night.”

The Lakers, who next play consecutive games at Portland on Saturday and at home against Toronto on Sunday, have lost four out of the last five. They are 25th in opponent three-point shooting, allowing teams to shoot 37.3% from deep.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Anferno: Five stats that highlight Simons' impact with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Anfernee Simons erupted for a season-high 39 points on Thursday night in Miami, fueling the Celtics as they erased a 19-point deficit and delivered a gritty 119-114 road triumph over the Heat. 

Simons, who has had a penchant for loud quarters and halves this season, put together maybe his most complete game of the season while shooting 13 of 28 from the field and 7 of 16 beyond the 3-point arc. Add in 10 assist points off four assists and Simons, accounted for nearly 41 percent of Boston’s scoring output in 34 minutes off the bench.

The Celtics are now 9-2 when Simons scores 17-plus points this season, and 14-15 when he doesn’t. On a night when the core trio of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard all struggled with offensive efficiency, Simons reaffirmed his value as a microwave scorer who piled up 18 fourth-quarter points as Boston surged to the finish line for a must-have win after dropping three of its last four. 

All this happened as trade rumors kick into overdrive three weeks before the trade deadline. Simons, operating in the final year of a contract paying him $27.7 million, is one of Boston’s few movable assets, but his recent output certainly has given president of basketball operations Brad Stevens even more to ponder as he charts a path forward.

On one hand, Thursday’s game is a loud reminder of how vital Simons’ offense can be for a Boston team that ranks second in the NBA in offensive rating. On the other, his value might never be higher than at this very moment, and the potential in-season return of Jayson Tatum will soon bite into everyone’s shot totals.

The Celtics could benefit from adding more size and depth at the center position, something Simons might be able to help fetch. His name will continue to float in the rumors, even if the Celtics ultimately decide the most prudent path forward is to simply carry him to the finish line of the season and then ponder future pathways. 

For now, let’s crunch the numbers on Simons’ 2025-26 impact:

Hot from downtown

Simons is now shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc over his last nine games. That’s up 13.2 percent over his first 30 games in green (36.8 percent).

Simons has connected on 37 of 74 3-pointers over those nine games and is a +61 in plus/minus in that span. Maybe most notable is that 88.8 percent of Simons’ 3s this season have come off non-corner attempts, and he’s making 40 percent of those shots (90 of 223).

His ability to generate quality pull-up looks, particularly when he’s in full Anferno mode, is a huge luxury for an offense that is prone to stagnation. 

Simons says: Gravity

The number-crunchers over at BBall-Index note that Simons ranks 8th out of 508 players in “overall gravity,” or the defensive attention a player draws even when they don’t have the basketball.

That’s accentuated by Simons’ assist numbers being way up lately, popping to 3.7 per game over the last nine outings (up from 2.3 over his first 30 games).

When teams send extra bodies to take away his shot, Simons has been good at creating for others. And the attention defenses must afford him has also opened up opportunities for the rest of Boston’s bench players.

Effort on both ends

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has gone out of his way to praise Simons’ defensive engagement since arriving in Boston. Trying hard to improve his reputation, Simons is staying attached to his matchups, and the effort is obvious.

Opponents are shooting 2 percent below expected output when Simons is the primary defender this season. Any negative number is excellent, and consider that All-Defense stalwart Derrick White is holding opponents to 2.2 percent below expected and Jordan Walsh is at 1.3 percent below expected.

To be fair, White and Walsh have far more difficult assignments most nights, and the Celtics have done a good job hiding Simons on lesser offensive players, but the effort is what matters here. And Simons is clearly trying to show he’s invested.

What’s more, Simons remains excellent at avoiding fouls when defending, committing infractions on a mere 2.9 percent of team plays. 

Fourth-quarter punch

When you think of Boston’s fourth-quarter scoring, you probably think of White and Jaylen Brown shouldering that load. But Simons has quietly been a fourth-quarter force.

With Thursday’s 18-point final-frame outburst, Simons is now third in the NBA in fourth-quarter bench points with 162, behind only Jaime Jaquez Jr. (169) and Naz Reid (163). Simons’ 28 fourth-quarter 3-pointers are second to only Cam Spencer (30). 

Sixth Man campaign brewing?

Simons ranks fourth in the NBA while averaging 14.1 points per game off the bench (minimum of 20 games off bench). He’s +169 in 970 bench minutes, which is the fourth-best total in the league (and second-best on the Celtics behind rookie Hugo Gonzalez, who is +190 in 491 minutes).

Simons is the first bench player in the league to reach triple digits in 3-pointers (106 for the season, next closest: Tim Hardaway, 99).

By Adam King, RotoWire.com

As momentum towards the NBA trade deadline continues to gain steam, injuries have quietly gone about their business, providing others with unexpected opportunities. We are also starting to see certain teams showing their cards when it comes to what the rotations could look like post-All Star break. As always, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the fantasy basketball rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles–whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals–is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors (31% rostered)

The NBA has discussed its "vision" for a proposed European basketball league with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs, says commissioner Adam Silver.

Initial plans for 'NBA Europe', starting in 2027, are for 10 to 12 set franchises that would stay in the league on an annual basis.

Silver said the idea would be to mix established European teams with new ones, with the league initially being funded by the selected member clubs.

The 63-year-old was speaking before the NBA's first regular season game in Berlin, Germany on Thursday, which the Orlando Magic won 118-111 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The two sides face each again at The O2 arena in London on Sunday.

• Why do NBA's Europe plans divide opinion?

A league of potentially 16 teams is also being looked at, combining the regular 10 to 12 franchises with open spots that teams will be able to qualify for.

With the rise in popularity of basketball and the NBA in Europe, the American league is holding six games in four different European cities across the next three seasons, with London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris hosting games between 2026 and 2028.

Silver said talks with Real Madrid, who play in the EuroLeague and are regarded as one of the greatest basketball clubs in Europe, were "more in the category of fact-finding", but he confirmed discussions had taken place with another EuroLeague side, Alba Berlin, whose Uber Arena hosted the NBA game.

"We're trying to find the best combination of the old and the new; the tradition and the innovation," said Silver.

Alba Berlin, he said, was "the model of the type of club that we would like to see in a potential European league".

Reports say the existing EuroLeague has concerns about the new venture, threatening legal action against the NBA should clubs break existing agreements to take part in the new competition.

But Silver said he does not think the two leagues would clash, adding: "There's plenty of room for competition".

Steph Curry, Warriors stars adamant Jonathan Kuminga saga is ‘not a distraction' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Day 200 of the Jonathan Kuminga Chronicles is upon us, and it likely won’t be much different than the previous 199, except for the expansion of his bank account on Day 92 and the fact that Day 199 dragged him onto the trade market. The polarizing chatter will continue for the Warriors, their fans and anyone following this tediously extended epilogue.

The noise, however, will not have any effect on the Warriors. That’s what they say, emphatically so, and their statements are credible.

“It’s not a distraction at all,” Stephen Curry said Thursday night, after scoring 27 points in a win over the New York Knicks while Kuminga sat idle on the bench for the 13th consecutive game. “It’s a very unique situation, but our job is to just keep playing. Keep winning. It’ll resolve itself one way or the other.”

Curry believes that this will not shake the Warriors because of their history. As the longest-tenured player on the roster, he has seen potential distractions come and fade like waves at the ocean shore.

“(If) you’ve been around for the last three, four years, we’ve done it this whole time,” Curry continued. “We’re sort of very, very well trained in this area to just play basketball.”

Curry’s comments echoed those of coach Steve Kerr, said to be Kuminga’s most fervent antagonist. So much so that some outsiders suspect personal motives.

“There won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said two hours before tipoff against the Knicks. “Jonathan’s a great young guy. His teammates like him. He’s handling himself well. There won’t be a distraction.”

Yet Curry’s words carry more weight. He was a Warrior before Kerr arrived. Curry had early-career obstacles, one being the presence of Monta Ellis and the other being the odd and brief belief among the coaching staff that Acie Law should start at point guard.

Steph has been there, done that, and seen it many times. He is several weeks removed from watching his closest teammate, Draymond Green, walk into the locker room amid a furious quarrel with coach Steve Kerr. There was the up-close deterioration of the relationship between Klay Thompson and the franchise. There were the indefinite absences of Andrew Wiggins, the shock of Draymond punching Jordan Poole during a practice and, oh yes, Kevin Durant’s gloomy final season as a Warrior.

Kuminga is neither Klay nor KD, established All-Stars and essential components in the daily operation of the team.

Kuminga is a young man with a good heart who is making $22.5 million to be a spectator. He is stuck on the Warriors, despite the obvious incompatibility; they drafted him and spent four years resisting thoughts of trading him.

Jimmy Butler III brushed aside any thought that Kuminga’s status – visible but isolated from the games – was a source of turbulence.

“Oh, hell no,” he said Thursday night. “Hell no. That has nothing to do with us. We love JK in this locker room, that’s not going to change. If he happens to not to be here, we still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. I don’t care. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here. I wish him the best forever. Doesn’t change.

“We don’t listen to the noise. I hope he don’t listen to the noise. He keeps coming in here with a smile, doing what he’s supposed to do, and being the ultimate pro.”

There is enough maturity in this locker room – Curry, Butler, Green and Al Horford – to repel any creeping dissension related to Kuminga’s ongoing disuse. The vets are built to keep the focus on the greater collective goal of lifting the Warriors from mediocrity, which through the first half of the season had a very stubborn grip.

There have been games when it appeared Kuminga could have been helpful on the floor. The last time he was slated to play, Jan. 2 against Oklahoma City, he was a late scratch due to very sudden “back soreness.”

Yet Kuminga, by all accounts, remains popular and has not been a frequent source of irritation – at all. There is a primary reason why Kuminga is not, and will not be, a distraction to the Warriors, according to Green.

“Because he’s not a distraction,” Green said, pointing toward Kuminga’s vacant cubicle. “How he handles it is everything. If he handled it a certain way, it becomes a distraction. But it doesn’t have to be. And the way he’s handled himself, the way he’s dealt with things not going his way, says a lot about his character.

“Everyone around here can confidently say it won’t be a distraction, because he’s not a distraction.”

Green and Butler have done their part to mentor Kuminga on the ways of life in the NBA. Nearly every young player entering the league has “a vet,” someone who assumes a big brotherly role. Kuminga has two.

They both wish Kuminga well, wherever he lands, as does everyone in the locker room. He senses that, which is one more reason, trade “demand” notwithstanding, that he won’t crater this squad.

JK is not built to do that. And, moreover, he hasn’t earned the status.

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In a back-and-forth high-scoring affair Thursday night, the Lakers led by 13 points in the second quarter before the Charlotte Hornets rallied to build a 15-point lead in the third quarter.

In the end, the Hornets kept the momentum they stole from the Lakers, rolling to a 135-117 win at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ defense couldn’t slow down LaMelo Ball in the second half and it was unable to stop the Hornets from scoring 20 three-pointers.

As a result, the Lakers (24-15) lost for the fourth time in five games.

Read more:Lakers' JJ Redick defends LeBron James amid 'unfortunate' criticism

“I mean, it doesn't matter who it is. Doesn’t matter the team, doesn't matter the player," Marcus Smart said. “If they were shooting 20% [before], they’re shooting 50%. And it's unfortunate, but that's part of the game. It's tough. We got to figure it out. We got to play with a little bit more urgency on that end, especially, and kind of impose our will.

“It's not easy. Especially when you play for the Lakers, you always are the hunted— no matter what."

The Hornets (15-26) shot 53% from the field 54% percent from three-point range in the second half. Ball had 27 of his 30 points in the second half. After the Lakers closed to within 10 points with 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth, Ball's back-to-back three-pointers essentially closed out the game.

“He had some crazy shots, but that's what he do," said Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points. “He was shooting a lot of threes off the dribble ... so he got really hot. So it's kind of hard to stop."

Even with all of the Lakers’ starters scoring in double figures, it wasn't enough. LeBron James, who didn’t speak to reporters after the game, had 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jake LaRavia had 18 points, Deandre Ayton scored 12 points and Smart had 10.

The start of the game was so different for the Lakers.

Doncic blew a kiss to the crowd and threw his hands in the air after drilling a first-quarter three. Doncic smiled at the Lakers’ bench after shooting another three-pointer a short time later.

During those moments, Doncic epitomized the kind of joy Lakers coach JJ Redick wants to see his team exhibit.

The rest of the Lakers followed Doncic’s lead as the team built a 48-55 lead in the second quarter.

Doncic led the Lakers in the first quarter, scoring 19 points on seven-for-12 shooting, which included a trio of threes. The Lakers had 14 three-pointers in the game, but it wasn’t enough to stop a more consistent Charlotte attack.

The Lakers were outscored 34-16 in the second quarter, 40-38 in the third and 31-24 in the fourth.

“We all knew that they got our full respect and attention pregame and I thought we fought,” Redick said. “Just another team that has a hot shooting night.”

Etc.

Redick said backup center Jaxson Hayes had an MRI scan that revealed hamstring tendinopathy in his left leg. Hayes, who is averaging 6.3 points per game, has missed two games because of the injury. "It's hopefully a short-term thing and hopefully he'll be back at some point this weekend,” Redick said. The Lakers play at Portland on Saturday before facing the Toronto Raptors at home on Sunday.

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

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Knicks were defeated by the Golden State Warriors 126-113 on Thursday night at the Chase Center. 

Here are some takeaways...

- The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury, but they did receive a nice boost, as Landry Shamet was finally deemed ready to return after missing the last 25 games with a dislocated shoulder. Shamet didn't jump back into the starting lineup, though, as it was Miles McBride who slid in in Brunson's place. 

- New York was able to get off to a much better start coming off one of their worst offensive performances of the season on Wednesday in Sacramento. Every starter recorded a bucket and they knocked down six of their first seven shots from behind the arc to open a quick double-digit advantage (15-5). 

Shamet was the first man off the bench halfway through the first, and he immediately knocked down his first shot. 

- The Knicks pushed the lead out to as many as 17 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns was forced to the bench after picking up a pair of early fouls, and Golden State was able to flip the momentum. The home team used a 13-2 run to cut the deficit all the way back down to five at the end of the opening quarter (35-30). 

- Towns had five points and a game-high six rebounds in the first before being forced to the bench. The big man continued his domination into the second, picking up four more boards and a pair of putback buckets to help keep the slim lead midway through a back-and-forth middle quarter (46-44). 

- The Warriors took their first lead minutes later, and they were able to keep it at three heading into the break (62-59). Jimmy Butler led the way with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, KAT racked up a first-half double-double, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 12 points. 

- Steph Curry didn't make a three during the first half (0-for-5), but it didn't take long for him to snap that skid in the third. The All-Star sharpshooter knocked down his first two coming out of the break as part of a Golden State 13-2 barrage, helping them quickly push the lead out to 11 points (78-67).

Moses Moody added two more triples, giving him seven on the night and a season-high 21 points. 

- Each time it looked like the Knicks were ready to take back some of the momentum, the Warriors responded right back. New York simply could not get consecutive stops when they needed them the most, and they found themselves trailing by 12 points heading into the final frame. 

- Curry's big second half continued into the fourth, but the Knicks refused to go away, and they used a 10-2 run to get the deficit back down to nine points with just over four minutes remaining. Golden State's hot shooting couldn't be slowed down the stretch, though, and they held on for the victory. 

The Warriors shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc in the game. 

- McBride took advantage of the start with 25 points, Anunoby had 25 as well, Bridges had 21, and Towns had 17 and 20 boards. Shamet knocked down just two of his seven shots in his return and Jordan Clarkson chipped in 11 points, but the rest of the bench combined for just one point. 

Butler led all scorers with 32 points, Curry had 27, Moody finished with 21 and Brandin Podziemski had 17 off the bench. 

Game MVP: Steph Curry

Curry got hot after a slow start, making big shots to put this one away late. 

Highlights

KAT 👌 pic.twitter.com/eQNzt8fXJE

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 16, 2026

Welcome back Landry Shamet! pic.twitter.com/6e05v7nXIi

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 16, 2026

What's next

The Knicks return home to MSG to host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.