Let’s address the elephant in the room first, Dub Nation. Jimmy Butler went down with a knee injury against Miami on Saturday night, and while the Warriors pulled out a 135-112 victory, the mood feels less celebratory and more cautiously optimistic. Butler’s status for Tuesday remains uncertain, which means the Warriors might be walking into Toronto without one of their most important two-way weapons.
Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors When: January 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM PT TV: NBC Sports Bay Area Radio: 95.7 The Game
Jimmy Butler's been a top 15-20 player this season at 36 years old.
Words cannot describe how big of a loss it would be for the Warriors if he misses significant time. Not just in terms of the on-court product but for their roster building.
This isn’t just any road game. This is a revenge game wrapped in psychological warfare. The last time these teams met in Toronto, Scottie Barnes put together a performance that belonged in a museum, dropping 23 points and grabbing 25 rebounds in a 141-127 overtime victory that left Warriors fans questioning the meaning of existence itself. That loss exposed Golden State’s kryptonite in the most painful way possible: getting physically dominated on the glass and watching leads evaporate like morning fog.
Toronto enters this game after getting handled 110-93 by the Lakers on Sunday, a contest where Luka Doncic and LeBron James reminded everyone what veteran excellence looks like. The Raptors shot just 39.8% from the field and got outscored 30-17 in the fourth quarter, the kind of finishing struggle that should give the Warriors hope if Butler can’t go. But here’s the thing: this Toronto team is 25-19 for a reason. Barnes remains one of the most versatile young players in basketball, and Brandon Ingram still provides silky mid-range assassination and is playing at an All-Star level.
For the Warriors, this game represents a critical test of depth and adaptability. If Butler sits, Steph Curry will need to shoulder an even heavier offensive burden, something he’s done brilliantly this season but which carries real physical costs. Draymond Green’s ability to facilitate and control pace becomes absolutely essential. Can he replicate the 21-point, 7-assist performance he delivered in that Toronto loss?
The rebounding battle will define this game. Toronto grabbed 55 boards in their last matchup with Golden State while the Warriors managed just 42. That 13-rebound deficit translated directly into second-chance points and momentum swings. Without Butler’s physicality and rebounding presence, guys like Trayce Jackson-Davis need to play with controlled aggression on the glass.
This isn’t just about winning a regular season game in January. It’s about exorcising demons, proving Butler’s absence doesn’t crater the entire operation, and showing that the December 28th collapse was an aberration rather than a blueprint. The Warriors need this win psychologically as much as they need it in the standings.
BOTTOM LINE: Miami (OH) comes into a matchup against Buffalo as winners of seven straight games.
The RedHawks have gone 7-0 at home. Miami (OH) is 1-0 in one-possession games.
The Bulls are 0-6 against MAC opponents. Buffalo has a 0-1 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
Miami (OH) averages 70.7 points per game, 0.2 more points than the 70.5 Buffalo gives up. Buffalo averages 58.2 points per game, 0.4 fewer than the 58.6 Miami (OH) gives up to opponents.
The RedHawks and Bulls square off Wednesday for the first time in MAC play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Amber Scalia is shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the RedHawks, while averaging 13.5 points. Amber Tretter is averaging 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Aniya Rowe is averaging 11.1 points and two steals for the Bulls. Paula Lopez is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: RedHawks: 9-1, averaging 67.7 points, 26.6 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 11.4 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 58.7 points per game.
Bulls: 1-9, averaging 60.4 points, 34.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 9.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 37.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.3 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Golden State Warriors crushed the Miami Heat on Monday night, winning 135-112, and giving them their 12th win in their last 16 games. But it came at a serious, and heartbreaking cost. In the third quarter, star forward Jimmy Butler III left the game after falling to the floor in agony following a non-contact injury to his knee. Butler was helped off the court, unable to put weight on his leg.
And as the clock struck midnight and the day flipped from Monday to Tuesday, the worst fears were confirmed: ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Butler has suffered a torn ACL.
That officially will end his season, and unofficially will end whatever slim chances the Warriors had of competing this year following their recent surge.
The Warriors have experience with torn ACL timelines, most recently with Butler’s current teammate, De’Anthony Melton, who returned in early December from ACL surgery. Melton’s return came just shy of 13 months after he initially suffered the injury. It’s not uncommon for players to return from ACL tears after 11 or 12 months, but given Butler’s age (36), and the fact that this is his third serious injury to his right knee, and it’s safe to pencil him in for the long end of the spectrum. A return shortly after the 2027 All-Star break seems like the most likely scenario for Butler.
We’ll see if he’s still on the Warriors then, as his enormous contract now becomes salary that the Warriors may look to move, either at the deadline or in the offseason (it will be an expiring contract if they wait until the latter, so it will have some value). But that’s something to think about on another day.
For now, it’s just sadness. For Butler, and for the Warriors.
Tobias Harris was one of four Detroit players to score at least 10 points [Getty Images]
Tobias Harris scored 25 points as NBA Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons held on to beat the second-placed Boston Celtics 104-103 on Martin Luther King Jr Day.
Jaylen Brown, who registered 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, almost snatched victory when his shot in the final seconds bounced off the rim at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds and Cade Cunningham 16 points and 14 assists for the Pistons.
"We wanted this game. It's a heck of a win for us," said Harris.
"Two of the best teams in the East - our group is always up for the challenge."
The Pistons improved their record to 31-10, while the Celtics are 26-16.
Western Conference leaders and defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder got back to winning ways with a 136-104 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Thunder went into the game on the back of a defeat by the Miami Heat and dominated the Cavaliers as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points.
Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are second in the Western Conference, to a 123-110 home win against the Utah Jazz.
Wembanyama scored a season-high seven three-pointers in a display which also included 10 rebounds, while six other Spurs players reached double figures in points.
In a way, it kind of feels like the Spurs have switched places with their IH-10 Rivals this season. While they’re close in the standings, it has been two entirely different seasons for the Spurs and Houston Rockets. Both teams have been on similar rebuild schedules, with the Rockets being a year ahead, and it culminated in them rising to the second seed in the West last season before they were upset in the first round by the Warriors. They appeared to address most of their depth issues in the offseason and added more star power with the addition of Kevin Durant, but so far, it has been a letdown season in no small part due to the loss of Fred VanVleet.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are experiencing the same rise the Rockets did last season, from play-in-contender who ultimately missed out the season before, all the way up to the second seed the next (although hopefully the similarities end there when all is said and done). Additions like Dylan Harper, Luke Kornet and a healthy version of De’Aaron Fox have shored up depth issues from last season and helped them not only survive a spate of injuries, but even thrive.
Today, the two rivals meet up for the first time since early in November, when the Spurs won a tight contest that was ultimately the launching point to them winning their group and making the NBA Cup Finals.
San Antonio Spurs (30-13) at Houston Rockets (25-15)
January 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: NBC/Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs injuries: Not due until 1 PM.
Rockets Injuries: Steven Adams — out (ankle); Tari Eason — questionable (ankle); Fred VanVleet — out (knee)
What to watch for
No point guard for the Rockets
In a situation the Spurs can relate to from a couple of seasons ago, Houston has been playing the entire season without a true point guard after VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in September. As a result, it has been a point-guard-by-committee approach, with those duties being split between players like Amen Thomson and Reed Sheppard. The result has been a bottom 10 team in the league in turnovers and an offense that can get stagnant and lean too much on Durant at times, but that doesn’t mean the Spurs can take them lightly. They have improved a decent amount in taking care of the ball in the month of January and still rank 4th overall in offensive net rating.
Can the Spurs take their newfound offense on the road?
The Rockets played a very road-heavy schedule to start the season, playing 23 of their first 36 games away from home. (I don’t know why; I work just up the street from the Toyota Center, and unlike the Rodeo for the Spurs, there was nothing of note going on there.) The trade off was fewer games and back-to-backs, but still exhausting. Regardless, they have still have the second best record at home in the West at 14-3 and are currently 3-1 on their five-game homestand, including a win over the Timberwolves, and will look to cap it off with a win tonight.
At the same time, while the Spurs are a good road team this season at 13-8, Houston has been one of those places that gives them trouble over the years, even during their dynasty days. It’s probably safe to say they rediscovered their offensive form while sweeping their three-game homestand, and now they have to take it on the road into a hostile environment. They showed it was no problem earlier in the season, so hopefully the offense starts traveling with them again.
Size on size
Even without Steven Adams, who suffered a scary looking ankle sprain in their last game against the Pelicans and whom the Rockets have played much better with than without, they are still a long, strong team with players like Alperen Sengun, Durant and Jabari Smith. The Spurs also have plenty of length alongside Wemby, especially when they go French Vanilla by playing him with Kornet. I imagine they definitely would have broken it out if Adams was available, but they still might, especially if Wemby keeps shooting threes at this rate, having hit 16-27 over the last three games.
Jimmy Butler’s aggression on offense had been on an uptick as of late. But this night against his former team felt entirely personal.
With just under eight minutes and thirty seconds left in the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ rematch against the Miami Heat (Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green were unavailable for the first matchup in Miami), Quinten Post hauled in the rebound and promptly passed the ball to Curry, who brought the ball up. Scanning the floor, Curry throws a rocket to Will Richard in the corner, with Bam Adebayo sauntering back and becoming visible on the NBCS Bay Area broadcast.
At that point, Adebayo and the television audience had one thing in common: none of them saw Butler zooming toward the half-court view like a bullet shot out of a gun. With his “stampede” cut, Butler caught the pass from Richard on the run, blew past the unsuspecting Adebayo, and rocketed all the way to the rim for the easy finish:
Butler made it a point to make an example of his former teammate, going at him at every opportunity he could get. Despite good defense from Adebayo under the paint, as he is wont to do as one of the league’s preeminent defenders, Butler was able to create ample separation from Adebayo using a turnaround fadeaway jumper:
If ever there was a night for Butler to move differently — in the sense of having that extra motivation to perform better than usual — it would be against the Heat, a squad Butler led to the Finals in 2020 and 2023. Butler fell short of achieving a championship in both instances, but those runs stamped his reputation as a big-game performer and playoff riser.
A rather acrimonious exit with the organization that Butler toiled for is certainly a catalyst for showing off. The proverbial fire was lit underneath him on both ends of the floor:
Players who have something to prove often get lost in the tunnel vision accompanies wanton aggression. Butler could’ve easily fallen victim to ball-hogging ventures born out of a desire to stick it to his former employers, coaches, and teammates. But in true Butlerian fashion, he refrained from waging a one-man crusade and still sought to create good looks for his teammates.
With Moses Moody setting a “Pistol” screen for him in the possession below, Butler coaxes a switch out of the Heat on the drive. Warriors legend Andrew Wiggins drifts too far off of Moody and Butler simply finds the open Moody for a three:
Things were looking dandy for Butler and the Warriors. In his 20 minutes and 50 seconds of time on the floor, the Warriors outscored the Heat by a total of nine points, buoyed by Butler’s versatile floor game and steadiness on defense (as evidenced by the Warriors’ 94 defensive rating in such minutes). However, a story that was seemingly on its way toward a happy ending quickly turned into a nightmare scenario.
Jimmy Butler had to be helped to the locker room after appearing to injury his knee pic.twitter.com/sOSpAxbbAP
Unable to put much weight on his injured right knee, Butler was taken to the locker room and was promptly ruled out for the rest of the game. As of this writing, he is currently having an MRI to determine the nature and severity of the injury.
Words cannot describe how consequential a potential extended Butler absence would be for the Warriors. Butler has played at a top 15-20 level this season, ranking highly in several advanced metrics such as Estimated Plus-Minus (plus-4.2, 14th), Box Plus-Minus (plus-5.5, 12th), and DARKO Plus-Minus (plus-2.8, 19th). He leads the team in total plus-minus (plus-176) and the Warriors have been 10.9 points per 100 possessions better with Butler on the floor.
Most notably, non-Curry minutes spearheaded by Butler have outscored opponents by 8.9 points per 100 possessions in 561 low-leverage minutes. To not only be a positive during Curry’s bench minutes but be a significant positive is unheard of. With Butler potentially missing time, the fear is that the previous status quo — that of non-Curry lineups having trouble creating any sort of positive impact — will return.
At 36 years old, Butler’s prime years are past him; to be playing at this level, with impact that contributes to winning basketball, is quite an amazing feat. But should Butler miss a year or more, he will be 37 years old. For injuries such as this, the extensive rehabilitation and re-acclimatization process isn’t as kind to older players as it has become to younger ones.
Butler still very much wants to contribute to winning, desiring that championship that has eluded him twice. That window was already somewhat narrow before this injury; it has become much closer to being shut with the untimely and unfortunate inward buckle of his knee.
In the grand scheme of things, if the diagnosis turns out to be what everyone isn’t hoping for it to be, the Warriors’ window for contention will be equally close to being shut. The Warriors will have little incentive to move off of their tradeable assets in Jonathan Kuminga (besides the fact that this relationship has run its course) and their treasure trove of picks. Without a keystone for championship contention, what leverage the Warriors had in trade talks would be eliminated, as well as reasons for front office and ownership to go all in on the remaining years of the Curry era.
Most important of all, let us not forget the human element — and hope that Butler will recover expeditiously and in a manner that will allow him to return to play, without any hindrance and setbacks.
Indiana Pacers (10-34, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (26-16, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Indiana Pacers take on Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference action Wednesday.
The Celtics are 19-10 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston averages 116.7 points while outscoring opponents by 6.7 points per game.
The Pacers are 7-22 against conference opponents. Indiana has a 4-27 record against teams over .500.
The Celtics average 116.7 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 118.3 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 110.1 points per game, 0.1 more than the 110.0 the Celtics give up to opponents.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pacers won the last matchup 98-96 on Jan. 13. Pascal Siakam scored 21 points to help lead the Pacers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is shooting 39.1% and averaging 17.7 points for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 27.8 points over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 116.1 points, 48.2 rebounds, 22.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 110.1 points, 42.4 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Josh Minott: day to day (ankle), Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta Hawks (20-25, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (18-23, 11th in the Western Conference)
Memphis, Tennessee; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta looks to break its four-game losing streak with a victory over Memphis.
The Grizzlies are 10-11 in home games. Memphis is 9-9 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 14.9 turnovers per game.
The Hawks are 13-12 in road games. Atlanta is the league leader with 31.0 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 8.0.
The Grizzlies are shooting 45.5% from the field this season, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 47.8% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than the Grizzlies give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 114.3 points, 46.8 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.7 points per game.
Hawks: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 43.6 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 10.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.1 points.
INJURIES: Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota visits the Utah Jazz after Anthony Edwards scored 55 points in the Timberwolves' 126-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Jazz are 0-8 in division matchups. Utah has a 6-19 record against teams over .500.
The Timberwolves are 4-4 against the rest of their division. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Jazz score 119.1 points per game, 4.4 more points than the 114.7 the Timberwolves give up. The Jazz average 120.0 points per game, 7.5 fewer points than the 127.5 the Jazz allow.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 120-113 on Nov. 11, with Edwards scoring 35 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Keyonte George is averaging 24 points and 6.8 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.
Gobert is scoring 11.0 points per game and averaging 11.4 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 25.2 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 116.8 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 122.6 points, 46.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot), Naz Reid: day to day (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (31-10, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (10-35, 15th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will attempt to extend its three-game win streak with a victory against New Orleans.
The Pelicans have gone 7-18 at home. New Orleans averages 13.6 turnovers per game and is 8-15 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.
The Pistons are 13-6 in road games. Detroit ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 32.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 6.8.
The Pelicans make 46.5% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (43.9%). The Pistons average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.6 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Pelicans give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derik Queen is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III is averaging 23.3 points over the last 10 games.
Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 112.5 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.1 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 110.7 points, 44.3 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 11.7 steals and 8.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.3 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Jose Alvarado: out (oblique), Dejounte Murray: out (leg), Herbert Jones: day to day (ankle).
Pistons: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix visits Philadelphia for a non-conference matchup.
The 76ers have gone 11-11 in home games. Philadelphia ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference with 48.2 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 11.7.
The Suns have gone 12-12 away from home. Phoenix has a 4-6 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The 76ers average 116.7 points per game, 4.8 more points than the 111.9 the Suns allow. The Suns average 114.7 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 115.4 the 76ers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the 76ers. Maxey is averaging 28.5 points over the last 10 games.
Devin Booker is averaging 25.3 points and 6.4 assists for the Suns. Dillon Brooks is averaging 19.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 6-4, averaging 117.6 points, 41.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 10.4 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.5 points per game.
Suns: 7-3, averaging 113.3 points, 43.1 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Paul George: day to day (knee).
Suns: Jalen Green: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
What a scene in Chase Center Monday night on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There was Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ prized acquisition who was supposed to solve their wing problem once and for all, crumpling to the Chase Center floor with 7:41 left in the third quarter against Miami. His right knee buckled and he couldn’t put weight on it. Teammates helped him limp off the court while the building held its breath.
And there was Andrew Wiggins, wearing Heat colors now, who had received a standing ovation during pregame introductions. As the video tribute played on the big screen Wiggins humbly basked in the adulation, more than worthy of the honor he received from Dub Nation. After all, the crowd that had watched him transform from “worst contract in basketball” to championship contributor had every reason to roar their golden approval.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga sat on the bench in warmups for the 13th straight game, having formally demanded a trade just days earlier. Past, present, and potentially absent future, all visible at the same time.
This is what happens when you spend years trying to replace Kevin Durant. You get a carousel of talented wings, each carrying their own baggage, each representing a different gamble, each reminding you that sometimes the house doesn’t win.
The irony was almost too perfect
Remember how the Warriors got Wiggins? It all started with them wanting D’Angelo Russell in that sign-and-trade with Brooklyn after KD left, knowing Russell might not fit but believing his trade value would eventually help them reload. Six months later, Minnesota was desperate to pair Russell with Karl-Anthony Towns. The price? Wiggins and the seventh round pick that became Kuminga.
At the time, people called Wiggins one of the worst players in the league with no trade value. Those fools. The Warriors made him into a two-way force on their 2022 championship team, completing his redemption arc, an arc that coincided with Steph, Klay, Dray, and Iguodala’s fourth rings. Front office was looking like geniuses as Wiggins’ All-Star berth proved he was the man of the hour.
Until they decided last winter Wiggins wasn’t the answer anymore and sent him to Miami.
“Welcome back to the Bay, Andrew Wiggins!
He gets a warm ovation from the crowd in his first game back in Golden State 👏 pic.twitter.com/kQUTwuE2fp
Wiggins is averaging 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with the Heat now. Not spectacular, but Erik Spoelstra thinks it might be the most complete basketball of his career considering the responsibilities he’s handling on both ends. He’s thriving in a system that doesn’t ask him to be someone he’s not.
Kuminga? He started the first 12 games this season leading Coach Steve Kerr to call him a secure starter. Then struggles led to a benching that landed poorly with the 23-year-old. He’s been completely out of the lineup since December 18th and now team sources say everyone agrees the best resolution is trading him before February 5.
Butler was supposed to be the answer, which is why the Warriors gave up Wiggins to get him. They believed his intensity, his playoff pedigree, his two-way dominance would bring All-NBA caliber play to the position. Golden State has gone 12-4 since December 18 with a top-five offense during that stretch.
Losing Butler for any extended time would almost certainly derail that momentum.
Steve Kerr was asked if the Jimmy Butler injury could lead to Jonathan Kuminga minutes.
And so what a scene it was in San Francisco as we got to see those three talented players. They’re on three different trajectories, providing three reminders that sometimes you can make all the smart moves and still end up exactly where you started: searching for the piece that fits.
Butler will get an MRI. The Warriors will hope it’s short-term. They’ll canvas the market for Kuminga trades, prioritizing expiring contracts that don’t lock them into long-term money. They’ll keep spinning the wheel, hoping this time it lands on the right number. Because when you’ve tasted championships, when you’ve had Kevin Durant and know what elite wing play looks like, you can’t stop chasing it.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Anthony Duclair scored twice and the New York Islanders beat Vancouver 4-3 on Monday night, handing the Canucks their 11th consecutive defeat.
Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (27-17-5). Ryan Pulock's second goal of the season put New York ahead for good with 4:02 remaining in the second period.
Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer and British Columbia product Mathew Barzal each had two assists. Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots.
Duclair has seven goals in his last seven games after scoring four in his first 38 appearances this season.
Max Sasson, Evander Kane and Drew O’Connor scored for the NHL-worst Canucks (16-28-5), who have lost eight straight games in regulation. They are 0-9-2 during the losing streak, and still winless in 2026.
Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver, which fell to 4-14-3 at Rogers Arena and hasn't won at home since Dec. 6.
Sasson gave the Canucks an early lead, scoring 2:49 into the game, and Kane put them up 2-1 with his eighth goal of the season before the end of the first period.
But the Canucks gave up two goals in 1:24 late in the second and couldn’t recover in the third despite a late goal from O’Connor.
Pulock gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead when he took a pass from Schaefer at the top of the slot and sent a shot over Lankinen.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at the NBA's presentation to potential investors on Monday over a proposed European NBA league [Getty Images]
London hosted its 10th regular-season NBA match on Sunday as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Orlando Magic 126-109, but there was a different feel to the occasion than in previous games in the city.
Three days on from the Magic's win over the Grizzlies in Berlin's first regular-season NBA match, the Grizzlies' victory concluded a European double-header that brought much excitement around the sport and its potential room for European growth.
In 2027 Paris and Manchester will host a double-header - the latter also getting its first NBA in-season match - while in 2028 Berlin and Paris will take another game each.
All four cities are among those being touted by the NBA as part of its long-term plans for an independent European league that could launch within two years.
Football clubs including Manchester City and Real Madrid are among targets for the NBA to have teams in a European league, with representatives from both attending a presentation on Monday in London.
At grassroots level, basketball is the fastest-growing sport in the UK and has received further recent investment from the NBA, UK government and regionally.
But, professionally, the UK is significantly straggling on its European counterparts and, while there were a record four UK-listed players on NBA rosters in starting squads this season, it is still a low number compared to other European nations.
As plans continue to develop over a potentially transformative NBA European league, there is a sense that this is a major moment for the future of British basketball.
The plans for 'NBA Europe' and why now?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has described NBA Europe as a "decade-long" project [Getty Images]
The NBA is planning to launch an independent European league under the working title of NBA Europe.
Talks remain ongoing, but plans lead towards it starting as a league of 12-16 teams that could include a merit-based qualification system as well as promotion and relegation.
London, Manchester, Paris and Berlin are expected to have teams in NBA Europe.
The league is expected to consist of existing teams, new sides and football clubs that currently do not have associated basketball teams.
Talks are in preliminary stages, but there is optimism around the plans and, under the NBA's running, they have the potential to transform European basketball's landscape.
London is being tipped to be among the key cities for the NBA's European hopes, despite its lack of basketball presence.
It is unlikely that London will be a franchise that is part of a football team, with the city earmarked to become a model city to be emulated at other NBA Europe locations.
This is also in part because of London's global appeal to US audiences, and infrastructure that includes the O2 and a reported new indoor arena in the process of being built.
"We know that here in London in particular, in many ways we think this market is tastemakers for much of Europe," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
"The last I looked, I think the O2 is the leading arena throughout Europe and, from a revenue standpoint, exceeds most arenas around the United States.
"Culturally, all the top acts come through there. There is this New York-London connection from a fashion and music standpoint."
An increasing number of international players in the NBA, a growing viewership in the league across Europe, and the fact that five of the NBA's past seven Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards have been won by Europeans point towards a prime opportunity for the NBA to capitalise.
The NBA has worked on European plans in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation (Fiba), the sport's international governing body.
As well as Silver describing interest from potential investors and sponsors as "significant", current and former players have been showing their support for a European NBA league.
"The NBA has been such a successful brand and they have talked about expansion for 20 years ever since I was in the league, so I'm excited that this next step is finally here," Dirk Nowitzki, the first European to win the MVP award, told BBC Sport.
"If the NBA normally does something, they do it right. Hopefully it is going to be good for European basketball and exciting."
The challenges faced by the NBA
EuroLeague chief executive Paulius Motiejunas (right) has criticised the NBA's plans and questioned whether they are necessary [Getty Images]
The NBA's main opposition has come in the form of EuroLeague, which operates Europe's primary club basketball competition.
EuroLeague has been strong in its objection to NBA Europe and has recently threatened the NBA with legal action should it approach EuroLeague clubs over a switch.
"I'm here to grow basketball in Europe, to make it better," EuroLeague chief executive Paulius Motiejunas told BBC Sport in October.
"From time to time, you have these new projects or new ideas coming. They can either grow the status quo or make it much better or they can hurt.
"I truly believe that this will only hurt the status quo rather than make it better if it continues to be in a way that it has been presented."
There are other stumbling blocks and logistical issues to work out, such as scheduling, ticket pricing, format and travel.
Should the league go ahead under current proposals, teams from potential franchises in London and Manchester travel could travel as far as Turkey and Greece for matches.
"It's a good idea. It's a matter now of travel. Can you logistically do it and how would you logistically set it up?" Isiah Thomas, a 12-time NBA all-star, told BBC Sport.
"Twenty or 30 years ago, you didn't have the type of logistics that we have now in terms of moving around the countries and moving around different places worldwide.
"Logistically, now you can easily set up tournaments, and there's enough talent and in different countries where you can really have a pool of resources that you can continually pull from because the game is being taught at a very early young age."
Silver said an NBA European league will measure success in its infancy by the overall growth of the sport in Europe, rather than commercially.
NBA Europe may have to play matches in smaller arenas early on while larger ones are constructed.
Early suggestions are that ticket prices would be in line with pricing for European sporting events.
What next?
NBA legend Tony Parker (left) attended Sunday's game in London alongside former Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry [Getty Images]
Following Sunday's match in London, the NBA hosted an invite-only presentation about NBA Europe to potential stakeholders, investors and sponsors.
Representatives from Manchester City, Real, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan were in attendance, as were basketball clubs Olimpia Milano and Alba Berlin.
Private equity firms also attended, including JP Morgan, KKR and Raine.
NBA legends Pau Gasol and Tony Parker featured at the meeting, as did former Sweden and Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"I'm a believer that if NBA comes with a business case and a business model and can combine it with the European fans, it will be a perfect match," said Ibrahimovic.
"That's why we are here - to make it successful and to make it magic, because we believe in it."
It is understood that investors wanting to enter a team in the league will be charged an entrance fee of between 500m euros (£434m) and 1bn euros (£868), decided on a case-by-case basis.
The NBA remains open to potential majority investment from sovereign wealth funds for NBA Europe franchises. At present, they can only invest up to 20% in an NBA franchise.
By the time Manchester hosts a double-header with Paris in 12 months, there will be a much clearer picture of the future of the NBA Europe plans and whether a 2027-28 season launch is realistic.
"It would be fantastic to grow the game and hopefully elevate it to new heights in Europe," said two-time MVP Steve Nash, whose family originates from London.
"(There is a) huge upside in London because it's not traditionally a basketball city or country in the UK.
"To build a fanbase, to build a club, to bring new fans into the game would be incredible for Europe, basketball and the NBA.
"The players coming into the league are more and more international; the fans are growing throughout the world. London would be a fantastic place to bring the game."
TheRockets won their matchup against the Pelicans on Sunday pretty easily, with the return of Dr. Jaswishy, and Kevin Durant eclipsing Dirk Nowitzki’s career scoring mark. Dirk had recorded a nice congratulatory video for Kevin Durant, which was played in Toyota center upon points 31,362 being scored. That is, truly, a lot of basketball points.
Tonight’s matchup is with the Spurs, and will mark the 5th and final game of Houston’s much needed home stand. But don’t worry, they’ll be off to Philadelphia and Detroit later this week, lest their home/road games played split become too normal. The Rockets can finish this stretch 4-1 with a win, but in the Spirit of AK I can only suggest that a dismal, dispiriting loss will occur. It’s better not to hope, as the Texans demonstrate in Divisional Round year after year.
Anyhow this should be a good one, as it will be on NBA/Peacock, after their big day of mostly not great MLK day games (Detroit v Boston was very good).
Looking ahead because we don’t have to take it day by day – the Pretty Decent 76ers on Thursday.
Tip Off
7:00PM CT
How To Watch Peacock/NBA
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Fred VanVleet: Out (Acl), Tari Eason: Day-To-Day, One Day At A Time, Play It By Ear, (Ankle)
