Category: NBA

Boston Celtics (27-16) at Brooklyn Nets (12-30)
Friday, December 23, 2026
7:30 pm ET
Regular Season Game #44  Road Game #24
TV:  NBCSB, YES,  NBA-LP
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 101.9 FM, Sirius XM
Barclays Center

The Celtics head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at Barclays Center for the first of 2 consecutive games on the road. This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first meeting 113-99 in Brooklyn on November 18. They lost the second meeting 113-105 in Boston on November 21. They will meet for the final time on February 27 in Boston.

Brooklyn is the youngest team in the league this season, with an average age of 23.98. The Celtics won the series 4-0 last season. The Celtics are 146-75 overall all time against the Nets and they are 69-40 when playing on the road against Brooklyn. This is the first of back to back games for the Celtics. They will play at Chicago on Saturday. They are 3-3 in the first of back to back games this season.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 2nd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 3 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland and 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 20-10 against Eastern Conference opponents and 6-4 against the Atlantic Division. They are 14-9 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.

The Nets are 13th in the East, 7 games behind 10th place Atlanta,5.5 games behind 11th place Milwaukee, and 3 games behind 12th place Charlotte. They are 2 games ahead of 14th place Washington and 3.5 games ahead of 15th place Indiana. They are 9-18 against Eastern Conference opponents and 3-8 against the Atlantic Division. They are 6-16 at home and 2-8 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 3 games.

The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. After this game at Brooklyn, they will head to Chicago for their second straight game on the road. They will then have a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.

After this game at home, the Nets will go on a 5 game road trip through the LA Clippers, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, and Detroit. They will then play one game at home against the Los Angeles Lakers before one game on the road at Orlando. Then they will have a 3 game home stand where they will host Washington, Chicago and Indiana before the All Star break.

Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his 9th straight game with an ankle sprain. Derrick White has been added to the injury report and will miss this game for rest. I took a guess that Baylor Scheierman will once again get the start but with Joe, you never know. Neemias Queta was a late addition to the injury list due to illness. He will be a game time decision. I would guess that Luka Garza would get the start if he is unable to play. For the Nets, only Haywood Highsmith is out due to a knee injury.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Payton Pritchard vs Egor Demin

SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Drake Powell

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr

PF: Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney

C: Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton

Celtics Reserves
Anfernee Simons
Hugo Gonzalez
Xavier Tillman
Jordan Walsh
Luka Garza
Chris Boucher

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Josh Minott (ankle) out
Derrick White (rest) out
Neemias Queta (illness) questionable

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Nets Reserves
Tyrese Martin
Ben Seraf
Day’Ron Sharpe
Cam Thomas
Nolan Traore
Ziaire Williams
Jalen Wilson
Danny Wolf 

Two-Way Players
EJ Liddell
Tyson Etienne
Chaney Johnson

Injuries/Out
Haywood Highsmith  (knee) out

Head Coach
Jordi Fernandez

Key Matchups
Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr
Porter is clearly the Nets best player and is averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1 steal per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games gainst Boston this season, he averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 56.8% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must do a better job of slowing him down in this game.

Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton
Claxton is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.  He is shooting 58.3% from the field and 16.7% from three.  In the 2 games this season against the Celtics, he averaged 12.5 points, 11 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1 block while shooting 36.4% from the field with no threes.  In the Nets’ win over the Celtics, he put up his first career triple double.  The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and be aware of him on defense as he is a good rim protector. 

Honorable Mention
Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney
Clowney is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc.  In the 2 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 16 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal while shooting 47.8% from the field and 40% from 3. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game.  The Nets are 26th in the league with an offensive rating of 111.4 while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.3 (2nd). The Celtics are 13th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.7. The Nets are 26th with a defensive rating of 117.7. In the Nets win over the Celtics, they shot 52.4% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. The Nets shoot 40.8 three pointers per game (6th) and they make 14.2 per game (10th) so the Celtics need to especially defend them on the perimeter.  The Celtics have to play tough defense from the tip through the final buzzer in this one and not allow the Nets to get any offensive rhythm.

Rebound – Rebounding is also an important key to winning every game. The Celtics are 10th in the league, pulling down 45.1 rebounds per game. The Nets are 30th with 39.7 rebounds per game. It is important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to give themselves extra possessions and to prevent the Nets from getting the same along with 2nd chance points. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have got to put out more effort than the Nets to grab rebounds for all 4 quarters.

Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics need to stay focused and be aggressive from start to finish. The Nets have not been playing well, but they play hard and will always try to beat the Celtics.  The Celtics did underestimate them in their last meeting and ended up losing.  The Celtics can’t underestimate them because they have lost 8 of their last 10 games. The Celtics should have the talent to win easily, but if they underestimate the Nets and come out with less than 100% effort, they be surprised with another loss to them.   They also are coming off a 120-66 drubbing at the hands of the Knicks and so they may be looking to gain back a little self respect with another win over the Celtics.

Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are a much better team when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball.  They are 17-1 when they have 25 or more assists and they are 10-15 when they have fewer than 25 assists. Even though the Celtics usually take good care of the ball, they lose focus at times and turn the ball over too much. They need to make careful passes and keep the ball moving.

X-Factors
On the Road Again – The Celtics are playing on the road again after one game at home.   They will be playing in front of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go with travel and playing on the road.  The Celtics need to focus on the game and not on the distractions that come with playing on the road and in an unfamiliar arena.  They need to get some motivation from avenging their loss in the last game against the Nets.   

Officiating –  I know that I say this every game,  but the officiating always can be an x-factor in every game.  Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play.  Some refs favor the home team and some not so much.  We have already seen a game where one non call can change the outcome.  The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let the officiating take away from their focus. 

The surging Detroit Pistons are sitting atop the East and are the last opponent the Houston Rockets would want to face on the second night of a back-to-back.

Houston is coming off a taxing overtime loss in Philly, and my Rockets vs. Pistons predictions lean on Jalen Duren’s nonstop motor to cause problems for the visitors tonight.

Check out my NBA picks and betting tips for Friday, January 23.

Rockets vs Pistons prediction

Rockets vs Pistons best bet: Jalen Duren to record a double-double (-115)

The Detroit Pistons have a strong case as the best defense in the Eastern Conference, and Jalen Duren is a huge part of that. An All-Star candidate and one of the NBA’s best rebounders, his presence around the rim at both ends makes this a must-have prop.

It all starts on the boards. He ranks fifth in the league with 10.9 rebounds per game, and that jumps to 12.1 RPG on the road. The Houston Rockets will be without Steven Adams here, and the Kevin Durant-Alperen Sengun frontcourt logged big minutes last night.

That makes them vulnerable to the hosts’ bruising style.

The offensive glass — where Duren is hauling in four boards per game — is also often his path to scoring. He’s finished with a double-digit points tally in 12 straight contests, and he’s shooting 63% from the field this year, fueled by a steady diet of dunks.

That part of this pick feels like more of a formality.

Detroit may need Duren’s all-around hustle more than ever tonight, with Cade Cunningham, Caris LeVert, and Ron Holland II dealing with illnesses (though only LeVert is expected to sit out).

In what figures to be a defensive struggle at Little Caesars Arena, look for Duren to own the paint.

Rockets vs Pistons same-game parlay

Both of these teams have peppered the Under lately. It’s 9-1 in the Pistons’ last 10 contests, and 8-2 for the Rockets in that same span.

It’s also been a winning ticket in the past four meetings between these teams, and I see that trend continuing with both teams ranking in the Top 5 in points per game allowed.

I’m laying the points, too, with Cade trending towards playing.

Detroit is 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 outings, while Houston drags an ugly road record into this matchup.

The Rockets are 11-13 SU on their travels this season, and they’ve dropped five in a row away from Toyota Center.

Rockets vs Pistons SGP

• Jalen Duren to record a double-double
• Under 218.5
• Pistons -4.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dishing Durant!

Houston is asking a lot of Kevin Durant, who’s averaging 38.7 minutes per game this month and doing the heavy lifting in late-clock situations. 

KD has dished 5+ assists in three of his last four games, and Detroit will gladly force the ball out of his hands here.

Rockets vs Pistons SGP

• Jalen Duren to record a double-double
• Under 218.5
• Pistons -4.5
• Kevin Durant Over 4.5 assists

Rockets vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Rockets +3 (-110) | Pistons -3 (-110)
• Moneyline: Rockets +135 | Pistons -160
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)

Rockets vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Pistons.

How to watch Rockets vs Pistons

Rockets vs Pistons latest injuries

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

My family and I spent some 17 hours of our Australian summer holidays road-tripping, nothing but the open road and the music blaring through the car speakers to stimulate our senses. It was during this—somewhere in-between my country shuffle and the kids’ umpteenth play of“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters—that the idea spawned: when you think of the Bucks’ season so far, what song(s) come to mind? And so it was born—Brew Hoop’s midseason mixtape.

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Finn: “man at the garden” by Kendrick Lamar

Defining lyric:“Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, m*****f*****.”

Connection: On “man at the garden,” Kendrick powerfully asserts his merit for, as he repeats time and time again, “it all.” The superstar rapper cites the work he’s put in (“wakin’ up at 6 a.m./six miles a day, conditionin’ my wind”) and the commendable morals and approaches he’s moved through life with (“I see you as a human first/even when you didn’t understand your worth”), delivering his bars in a way that’s borderline cockily braggadocios, but also just unabashedly honest, as the premise of the song is a man explaining why he deserves to enter a biblical paradise. Kendrick’s attitude on this track feels like a strong match for Giannis this season, especially after the events from the Timberwolves blowout. “I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me what or how I should act on the basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years and I’m basically the all-time leader in everything,” Antetokounmpo said when asked about his booing exchange with Milwaukee fans. That’s not the humility we’re used to seeing from the MVP and it’s understandable—frustration has followed the big fella wherever he’s gone this year. He’s in a position where he wants “it all” and he’s earned “it all,” as well as the right to let the world know. Now, it’s up to the Bucks to prove why they deserve their greatest of all time.

Zac: “Heads You Win” by Charley Crockett

Defining lyric:“I should’ve seen it coming/But fools like me never do/Heads, you win/Tails, I lose.”

Connection: I had a long look at Crockett’s “Welcome to Hard Times” before deciding on this one. “Heads You Win” documents a cowboy’s longing for a lost love, one that stays with him like a “living apparition.” Substitute the lost lover for the Bucks of recent years—heck, even the Bucks that have appeared at certain times this season—and the song works just as well. In this reading, we—Bucks fans—are the narrator, coming to the realisation that, despite all the optimism of the off-season, we really “should’ve seen [this season’s struggles] coming”. Yet, just like the cowboy, “fools like [us] never do.” It also reframes the pain of fandom, acknowledging that “if [we] are being honest/It really ain’t [the Bucks’] fault.” And while we’ve been stuck on a “corner/Spilling memories” of recent glory, Jon Horst has kept flipping coins, only for luck to land the wrong way (injuries, perfect fits on paper not materialising etc.). In the end, “you”—other NBA teams, opposing fans, media—invariably win whether it’s heads or tails, as the Bucks just can’t get it together on a consistent basis and we are left with hearts that “can hardly stand it” and minds that are “unglued,” stuck with a team not good enough to contend and without the assets to make a rebuild attractive.

Jack: “Thought It Was” by Iann Dior feat. Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker

Defining lyric:“I lost my mind/Chasing a feeling in the hills at night/City of Angels, but it hurts sometimes/ Finally made it, but it don’t feel right/Don’t feel like I thought it would.”

Connection: OK, I cheated a bit since I couldn’t think of a song that accurately conveyed my feelings about this season. However, I did find the above song, whose chorus could apply to the last five seasons since Milwaukee won the title in 2021. Put simply, the Bucks have been “losing their mind” by “chasing the feeling” of winning a title. They “finally made” the trade that they believed would get them back there (Lillard), but it “didn’t feel right.” It “didn’t feel like they thought it would.”

Morgan: “We Beseech Thee” by the New Broadway Cast of Godspell (feat. Nick Blaemire)

Defining lyric:“Father, hear thy children’s call/Humbly at thy feet we fall/Prodigals confessing all/We beseech thee, hear us!”

Connection: I’ve been playing this album on repeat after the sibling gifted it to me this Christmas. What does a Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame) musical about the gospels have to do with the 2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks, you ask? This instant ear worm is essentially a repeated chorus ending with, “We beseech thee, hear us!”

Van: “Keep The Customer Satisfied” by Simon & Garfunkel

Defining lyric:“And I’m one step ahead of the shoeshine/Two steps away from the county line/Just trying to keep my customers satisfied/Satisfied!”

Connection: While the title and that lyric might sound a bit on the nose, and not all the lyrics are corollary, this deeper cut by one of my all-time faves immediately popped into my head when thinking about these Bucks. From the iconic duo’s last album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, this was a Paul Simon composition that may allude to his songwriting exhaustion under high expectations and undue criticism. That informed his writing on The Boxer, the album’s lead single, so it probably did here too. Now, this team is certainly facing a lot of just criticism, but the Prohibition-era references feel particularly apt: they’re barely managing to stay above poverty (shining shoes for richer folks/teams) but not quite as close to relative safety (evading mobsters/vultures who want Giannis across the county line/.500 line). They’re in between, trying to keep fans (and Giannis) satisfied. But unlike Simon’s fans, they’re not currently succeeding.

Zac: “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers

Defining lyric: “To put it plain, I just don’t like you/Not a thing about the way you is/And if there ever come a time I got rabies/You’re high on my bitin’ list.”

Connection: I’ll preface this by saying that my connection is solely to the season itself and not any of the Bucks players. You might find it particularly fitting for some though—or even coaching or front office staff. I won’t judge. Promise. A good ol’ sing-along, “Bitin’ List” is one for those of us who need to purge after the frustrations of this season: blowouts to bottom feeders, losing streaks, underwhelming play from our preseason second and third ranked players. So, yeah, if I indeed did have rabies—and the first half of the 2025-26 season was something, you know, tangible—you can bet your bottom dollar that I’d be finding a way to bite it. But only after I’d sharpened my teeth.

Matthew: “Waiting in Vain” by Bob Marley

Defining lyric:“I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.”

Connection: The defining lyric could apply to many things for Giannis this season. Specifically, I thought of it first as Giannis not wanting to wait around for this team to be a contender, because he wants to play meaningful basketball now—not to mention the feeling of waiting to come back from injury and waiting to decide if he will be on the team or not. Other lyrics, like “Don’t treat me like a puppet on a strong/Cuz I know how to do my thing,” also help to reinforce the feeling of how this trade process has been stringing us and him along.

Zac: “Sorrow” by The National

Defining lyric:“Don’t leave my hyper heart alone on the water/Cover me in rag and bone sympathy/‘Cause I don’t wanna get over you/I don’t wanna get over you.”

Connection: One of my favourite songs of all time, “Sorrow” is a portrait of all-consuming lows. Regarding the Bucks’ season, the lyrics stay true but find new meaning, with the opening line—“Sorrow found me when I was young”—a fitting reminder of the losses that found the Bucks following the season’s opening week and a half. And, like the sorrow that finds itself in the speaker’s “honey” and “milk,” sorrow has tainted the pleasures of the Bucks’ season too (see KPJ going down on opening night; the blowout loss to the Nets following what felt like a momentum-building win against the Celtics etc.). But it’s the song’s chorus that’s most poignant: our hearts are still “hyper” and, despite the losses and the injuries and the trade rumours—the season’s sorrows—we “don’t wanna get over” it, and so we keep coming back for more.

Matthew: “Make It Better” by Anderson .Paak

Defining lyric:“Make it better.”

Connection: For a more positive spin, this entire song works as a metaphor for how Giannis and the Bucks have fallen on hard times with their love, but are trying to mend it and make it work. We have to acknowledge the difficulties of the season, but this option is hopeful!

Bonus: Here’s a whole Giannis playlist!

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There you have it, from hip hop to country, gospel to reggae, this Bucks season has reverberated across the musical spectrum. It shouldn’t be surprising; after all, basketball is music—the bounce of the ball, the flick of the net, the thumping systole and diastole that comes whether you’re catching a body or watching it happen from the stands. And while the first half of 2025-26 might have mustered mostly melancholy, a key trade or coaching change could easily see the second half turn euphonious.

As always, share your thoughts on our selections in the comments—and don’t forget to queue a track or two of your own!

By Noah Rubin, Rotoworld.com

In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

Fourteen teams play twice this weekend, including the Celtics, Nets, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Pelicans, Thunder, Suns, Kings and Raptors. Prioritize those teams if you’re looking to maximize your games played.

That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.

Absolute must-start: Mavericks F Naji Marshall

Marshall has consistently been one of the best streaming options in fantasy basketball over the last few seasons when he gets the chance to start. As a starter over the past two weeks, Marshall has averaged 21.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 3-pointer per game while shooting 57.3% from the floor.

This weekend, he’ll be matched up against the Lakers and Bucks on a back-to-back. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating and rebounding percentage over their last five games. Marshall’s recent production, combined with two favorable matchups this weekend, is a recipe for him to have another monster weekend.

Guards

Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant has been ruled out with an elbow sprain for Friday’s game and could remain out on Sunday. Anytime Morant is out, Spencer should be streamed in confidently. Spencer is averaging 11.4 points and 9.3 assists per game in 10 starts this season, and they get to take on the Pelicans and Nuggets this weekend. Both teams have struggled on defense in recent weeks.

Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks

Rollins has been at his best this season when Kevin Porter Jr. isn’t in the lineup. KPJ is expected to miss an extended period of time with an oblique injury, so Rollins should be in for a productive weekend. He’s averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.5 triples per game this year when KPJ doesn’t play, and Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets is favorable, even if Sunday’s game against the Mavericks will be tougher.

Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks

Christie has been on fire lately, and he is set up this weekend with two favorable matchups. He is averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 5.3 triples over his last three games and gets to take on the Lakers and Bucks in a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. Over their last 10 games, the Lakers are 24th in defensive rating, while the Bucks are 27th. Look for Christie to stay hot this weekend.

Forwards

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Tell me if you’ve heard this story before: Tyson is stepping up for the Cavs while other perimeter players are injured. Over the past week, he has averaged 23.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.3 triples per game. Friday’s matchup with the Kings should be easier for him than Saturday’s against the Magic, but that’s enough for him to be worth starting this weekend.

Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics

Hauser’s value is tied to his shooting from deep, and he has been unreal as of late. This is definitely a scenario to ride the hot hand. He’s been starting lately, and over the past two weeks, he has averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 3s per game while shooting 56.1% from the floor. Brooklyn is the Friday matchup, and they have struggled on defense recently. Saturday’s game against the Bulls isn’t quite as favorable, but Chicago hasn’t fielded an elite defense by any means.

Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies

Coward has been solid all year, but he gets to take on two struggling defenses this weekend, which should lead to some big production. As mentioned previously, both the Nuggets and Pelicans have poor defensive ratings over their last 10 games. Coward hasn’t popped recently, but he has been consistently productive and has the upside to go off.

Centers

Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors

The status of Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) is what prevents Mamu from being the absolute must-start of the week. CMB could play, and Mamu should still be productive if he does. However, if CMB remains out, the sky will be the limit for Mamu. Over his last four games, Mamu has averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 triples per game. They’ll take on the Thunder on Sunday, and OKC has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league for most of the season.

Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns

Williams’ up-and-down minutes allocation has been frustrating at times, but this weekend is set up for him to thrive. They’ll take on the Hawks and Heat, and they rank 23rd and 26th in rebounding percentage over their last 10 games. Miami has also struggled to defend the paint recently, and both teams play at a fast pace, which means extra possessions for Williams to produce.

Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics

Queta is currently questionable with an illness, so if he doesn’t suit up, this spot would turn to Luka Garza or Xavier Tillman. Queta hasn’t missed a game since November, and Tillman started in his place for that one. They’ll take on the Nets and Bulls this weekend, and Brooklyn has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league recently. Queta has been awesome all season and should feast on the Nets down low.

At Mavs Moneyball we operate out of an instance of Slack, that’s how we do business, chat, watch games, etc. It’s one of those things I wish we could open to the public (a Discord?) but I don’t have time to manage one more thing. So sometime I’ll come back to a given Slack channel and see enough for an article. The Draft channel is easily the one where things get the most intense. So we’re going to do a weekly post: what is your hottest draft take from this last week of games or watching tape?

Tyler: Christian Anderson Jr. should have more consideration as a potential lottery guy in this class. Anderson was a standout at the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, earning all-tournament honors. The other two guys to earn those honors? AJ Dybantsa and Mikel Brown Jr., who both should go top 10 in this draft.

On the season, Anderson Jr. is averaging over 20 points and seven assists per contest, while shooting 49% from the floor and over 45% from three. He also plays basically every minute of every game. Anderson Jr. has played 37+ minutes in 17 straight games, going the full 40 in six of them. He’s a workhorse guard who is playing with elite efficiency and orchestrating the entire offense.

Even with the known concerns about his size (just 178 pounds) and athleticism, the Texas Tech product deserves to be in that same tier as your other mid-to-late lottery guards. He’s that good.

Joe: My Hottest take right now is that Dailyn Swain could go as high as late lottery. Not saying he will go that high, but I see the vision. Swain is one of the more intriguing long-term wing bets in this class. He is a 21-year-old two-way connector with size, athleticism, and a game that translates better to the NBA than to a cramped college floor. This season, he is averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting an efficient 56 percent from the field.

The jumper is the clear swing skill at 27 percent from three and 65 percent from the line, but he has improved his production and efficiency every year, keeping his developmental arrow pointing up. Swain impacts games without requiring high usage. He is a good cutter who relocates well, runs the floor hard, and finishes downhill with either hand. In transition, he can handle, pass, and create advantages without forcing shots. As a passer, he plays with feel, even if he occasionally tries to make a difficult read instead of taking the simple one.

Defensively, his versatility drives his value. He can already guard positions one through three and has the frame and mobility to eventually take on some fours in switching schemes. His length, instincts, and movement give him real lineup flexibility at the next level.

The shooting will decide how far he goes. His mechanics and confidence from deep need work, but his efficiency inside the arc, cutting, and transition play already give him ways to score. In an NBA environment with more spacing, his downhill game and defensive impact should pop. If the jumper comes around, Swain profiles as the kind of high-level rotation wing every good team needs.

Kirk: I don’t really contribute much to draft content, I don’t have the bandwidth. But I saw Nathan Grubel appear on Locked on Mavs and how he talked about Cameron Boozer and I felt compelled to dig deeper. And I just don’t get it. The top of the NBA Draft is about selecting someone who can change your franchise. Numbers are numbers but when I’ve watched Boozer I haven’t felt the impact. Maybe I am crazy but pairing him with Flagg seems like a tremendous waste of a pick and fixes none of the current Maverick problems. Of course that would be a nice problem to have, drafting that high I mean, but that whole take from Nathan. doesn’t pass my casual eye test.

Bryan: Darryn Peterson at 21.6p/4.6r/1.9a on 49/42/82 shooting splits is number one with a bullet in this class and the ongoing debate about Cam Boozer or AJ Dybantsa possibly being drafted first instead still confounds me a bit. Peterson is the most complete prospect in this class and will enter the draft process as the best guard prospect since John Wall in 2010. He’s dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him off the court for a long while and affected his ability to move and drive for a while after his return, but he is usually an explosive athlete both vertically and laterally. Darryn’s an outstanding finisher who can do it with craft, finesse, and explosive leaping ability paired with being a fluid ballhandler with an array of moves, counters, fakes and mid-range step-backs. 

His most criticized skill after what some believed to be an outlier senior year of shooting has proven to be elite indeed as he’s now a knockdown three point shooter off the bounce (both in iso and PNR) and off the catch (both standstill and as a movement shooter flying around screens). He has yet to turn the ball over this season as a pick-and-roll ballhandler and has flatly been the best scorer on or off ball in the class. Oh, and he’s also the best defensive prospect in the class not named Jaden Quaintance or Caleb Wilson and has been since high school.

This guy is inevitable and frankly the only reason debate rages on about who should be first overall this coming June is because he’s missed time due to the hamstring (an injury that can linger if not fully healed and very easily be tweaked again) and a need for content to fill the draft news cycle (stone, glass house, yadda yadda). If the Mavericks miraculously land the number one pick again, I know who I’m taking. 

David S.: My hot take is Keaton Wagler is a lottery pick and I don’t mean at 14th. Stop me when hear something that doesn’t make an NBA scout drool.. Wagler is an 18 year old jumbo secondary initiator with a tight handle that can shoot the three, has great passing skills, and a high IQ player. He is more crafty than athletic, but his height, ability change speeds, shoot, and distribute the basketball make him an elite offensive weapon on and off the ball. Wagler is averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists with only 1.4 turnovers. Wagler is shooting around 40% from behind the arch and 82% from the free throw line.

Defensively Wagler’s length and IQ make him a promising defender in the NBA. On tape he has a long wing span, but we likely won’t know how long til the NBA combine. Physically Wagler will need to add more muscle to his wiry frame be a solid wing defender at the next level.

While I don’t see Wagler as a number one option in the NBA. If he becomes an average defender, he has the tools to help spread the floor for a teams number one option. The  6’6 combo guard will benefit greatly from an Illini deep run in the March Tournament. 

MIAMI (AP) — A former Miami Heat security officer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution for stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia while working for the team.

Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was sentenced earlier this month, according to court records. He pleaded guilty last August to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.

The 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.

“This defendant was a former police officer who betrayed the public trust and exploited his access to our beloved hometown team for personal gain,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones said in a statement. “The Miami Heat represent excellence built through hard work and discipline in South Florida — and this conduct was the opposite."

According to federal prosecutors and the FBI, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold items through various online marketplaces. He had access because he worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center. He was one of a few employees with access to a secured equipment room that stored memorabilia the Heat organization planned to display in a future team museum.

Over a three-year period, authorities say Perez sold more than 100 stolen items for approximately $1.9 million and shipped them across state lines, often at bargain prices. They say he sold a Miami Heat jersey LeBron James wore during the NBA Finals for approximately $100,000. That same jersey later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s home last April and recovered nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, officials said. The Miami Heat confirmed the items had been stolen from their facility.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Clippers were in control for the majority of the game against the Lakers on Thursday night.

They jumped out to a double-digit lead early and had everything going their way. By halftime, the trio of Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden were all in double figures.

Kobe Sanders was also dominating, shooting a perfect 3-3 from the bench. Each of his shots was a 3-pointer, and the other LA team led by 17 points after two quarters.

Sure, the Lakers came back and the contest went down to the wire, but they still lost to the Clippers.

Considering how well they played in the second half, it’s clear that their poor defensive play in the opening quarters cost them the game.

During his postgame media availability, Luka Dončić acknowledged this.

“We just got to be better in the first half,” Luka said. “The last three games, I think our defense was excellent in the second half. We just have to translate that to the first half.”

Luka is right about the poor starts in recent losses. In two of their last three games, they’ve been down by 13 or more points entering the third quarter. That’s not a recipe for success.

While Luka mentioned a poor first half defense as an issue to address, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned the team needed to pass the ball more and trust each other offensively.

Had the Lakers done more of that against the Clippers, they likely wouldn’t have had such a big hole to dig out of in the second half.

A team can’t win a game during the opening quarters, but it can certainly lose one.

Being down by so much means not only do you have to go on multiple runs to win, but all the breaks have to go your way. The opposing team has to go cold, no major calls can go against you and clutch time execution has to be perfection.

That’s a lot to ask a team to do expecially on the road.

The Lakers accomplished this in their victory over the Nuggets, but again, that’s not how a good team consistenlty wins games.

Playing a full 48 at a high standard is how you create a winnning culture and dominate in a very comeptitve Western Conference.

This loss against the Clippers is a reminder that the Lakers have work to do to become the team they want to be come playoff time.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The San Antonio Spurs have exceeded expectations this season and fans are clamoring to get in on the action. On Sunday, February 1st the Spurs are hosting the Orlando Magic. For one night only, they are offering a Sesame Street Fan Experience.

PTR Offer Includes:

Your game ticket comes with a limited edition Sesame Street Spurs shirt (while supplies last) and the Courtside Experience.

Join the Sesame Street Pre-Game Party at 1:00 p.m. Then at 2:00 p.m., head into the Frost Bank Center’s lower bowl for the Courtside Experience. Get up close and personal with members of the Spurs as the warm up.

Activties include:

• Kid DJ: The AM Project, a local nonprofit, teaches kids how to DJ.
• Butcher Paper Coloring Activity.
• Sesame Street X NBA coloring books.
• Bubble artists Fiesta Magic and more brings family-friendly activities to the party.
• Photo area with a Sesame Street backdrop and character standees.
• Games, face painting, and baloons

Click HERE to get your tickets.

If you can’t make it on the 1st (or even if you can), there is a second PTR night in February. On February 4th, the Spurs play the Oklahoma City Thuder for the fifth time this season. The Spurs have all ready clinched the regular season series, but beating the champs a fourth time could be the icing on the cake.

If you get your ticket HERE, you’ll receive a food voucher (Chicken Fingers/Fries or Hot Dog or Nachos and  Fries). Additionally, you’ll get to step down to the court and take a post game free throw. Don’t miss this chance to see the Spurts live.

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Charles Barkley said he’s “complained” to ESPN over scheduling of “Inside the NBA.”

During a Wednesday appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Barkley didn’t mince words while discussing his move from TNT to the Worldwide Leader — after both companies agreed to distribute “Inside the NBA” exclusively on ESPN and ABC for 11 years, starting with the 2025-26 season.

“We’ve complained, we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months,” Barkley said referring to co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. “I don’t like that at all.

“What I was talking about working all the time, because I love watching basketball – I’m not going to do all these damn shows … I’m not gonna be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not gonna be doing all that. But I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season.”

Barkley added that “Inside the NBA” is scheduled to air this Saturday (Jan. 24), next Wednesday (Jan. 28) and Saturday (Jan. 31).

“So they’re gonna start making up some of the days,” Barkley said. “But we only worked one day in December, that was Christmas Day… I wish we had worked more. The guys at ESPN have been great but we will know more when we get schedule heavy the last half of the season.”

Barkley also joked that ESPN will have to pay him for the seven years left on his contract if they fire him for calling his coworkers “idiots, punks, fools and jackasses.”

“I’m 100 percent retired, but if I can do something just a little bit stupid so they have to fire me, they’ll have to pay me for the whole seven years,” he said.

“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals and NBA playoffs.

TNT Sports will continue to independently produce “Inside the NBA” from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement.

Scoring ability in the NBA is most often discussed by looking at who is among the league leaders in points per game.

The assumption that players who score the most must be the best scorers makes sense on the surface, but that method of evaluation does nothing to discriminate between efficient scorers and those who simply have a high-usage role. Looking at raw points per game is also an improper way to compare scoring ability across eras.

Put another way – players who score a lot simply because they shoot a lot aren’t the most effective scorers in the league.

Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, we can identify underrated scorers and potential breakout stars by looking at Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation.

Explaining Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation

FGOE measures how much better or worse a player’s field goal percentage is compared to league expectation after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defensive contest on the field goal attempt.

In more digestible language, FGOE isolates pure shot-making skill by accounting for more than simply whether or not the ball went in the basket.

Unlike field goal% or true shooting%, FGOE:

• Adjusts for shot difficulty
• Removes free throws from the equation
• Accounts for the quality of the defense on the shot attempt

A player who has a high FGOE is making a higher rate of similar shot types than his peers.

Removing Volume Privilege

Not all high-volume scorers have their numbers inflated simply based on opportunity. Nikola Jokić (+12.6% FGOE), Kevin Durant (+8.9%) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+8.1%) are widely regarded as some of the league’s best scorers, and for good reason. Their teams trust them to take a lot of shots, in large part, because of how skilled they are at making them.

Yet, they are not the only players who deserve to be held in high regard for their shot-making ability.

NBA StatsHub has a filter function that allows us to look exclusively at players in smaller roles, who are quietly delivering impressive results over expectation for their respective teams.

Lower Shot Volume (FGA) + High Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation (FGOE)

DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

During the 2021-2022 campaign, DeMar DeRozan ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. Since that point, his per-game scoring has taken a major hit – all the way down to 19.0 per game this season — but he’s still making the most of his opportunities.

DeRozan is averaging 6.7 fewer field goal attempts per game than he did in 2021-2022, but he would likely still be putting up big numbers if he was on a team that allowed him to shoot more frequently.

Among 73 players averaging between 10-15 FGA per game this year, nobody has a higher FGOE than DeRozan (+7.0%).

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Is it possible that Kon Knueppel is part of the NBA’s next class of superstars? The fourth overall selection in this past summer’s draft is having a superb rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 19.0 points. Even more impressive, he’s doing so on only 13.6 field goal attempts per game.

Only seven players are averaging more points per game than Knueppel on fewer than 15 shot attempts this season. All seven of those players are established veterans who are well beyond their rookie contracts.

Miles McBride, New York Knicks

Miles McBride is a fan favorite in The Big Apple, and for good reason. Since entering the league, McBride has seen his playing time increase in each subsequent season – all the way up to a career-high 28.3 minutes per game this year.

He’s making the most of his opportunities for the Knicks, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 43.1% from beyond-the-arc. In fact, McBride has the highest FGOE of any New York player so far this season.

Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only high-quality player stuck on a bad Milwaukee team. Bobby Portis doesn’t have the athletic upside of Antetokounmpo, but his shot-making ability is up there with the best role players in the league.

Portis is shooting a career-best 47.4% from 3-point territory this season, averaging 13.1 points on only 10.6 field goal attempts per game. If the Bucks choose to be sellers ahead of the league’s trade deadline, there will surely be a number of active suitors hoping to add Portis for their team’s playoff run.

Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers

Nikola Jokić isn’t the only big man in the NBA who makes tough shots look easy. Among centers averaging at least 10 field goal attempts per game this season, Ivica Zubac ranks second in FGOE.

Through 37 games this year, Zubac is averaging 14.8 points on 60.5% shooting – his fifth consecutive season scoring in double figures while shooting north of 60% from the floor. Since 2000, Zubac is one of only seven players to have at least seasons meeting such criteria.

The Takeaway

Through the conclusion of play Tuesday, there are 20 players in the NBA this season averaging at least 25 points per game. On this date a decade ago, only five players were averaging better than 25 points per game.

Suffice it to say, we can no longer simply look at points per game to determine who is a skilled scorer. We need metrics like FGOE to help us determine who is truly performing better than their peers.

Early on, against the Clippers, the Lakers’ offense was humming.

This was largely due to Luka Dončić. He was aggressive, like he typically is at the start of games, which helped LA jump out to a four-point lead midway through the opening quarter.

However, LA’s offense quickly stalled. While Luka’s shot diet consisted of double-digit attempts, no other Laker took more than four shots in the opening quarter.

With the Lakers struggling to stop Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the court, and scoring becoming a challenge, the Clippers took control of the game before the second quarter even began.

The Clippers led by as many as 26 points, but the Lakers didn’t go away quietly. They went on multiple runs in the second half and got to within two points of their rival.

However, the rally failed, and they lost to the Clippers 112-104.

After the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick broke down why his team couldn’t complete the comeback.

“Just a poor job of just defensive coverage execution and then just didn’t trust each other on the offensive end,” Redick said. “Not enough passing. That was a lot of the game, not enough passing. I think that’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well. We don’t pass to each other and we don’t execute defensively.”

Not a lot of passing from the Lakers? That sounds like something the team’s point guard, Luka, would be responsible for.

While it’s true that Dončić is the best player on the Lakers and is averaging the most points in the league, as the primary ball handler, he has to help keep the ball moving.

“There’s got to be a trust factor with all our guys just to trust the pass,” Redick said. “That starts with Luka. He’s going to have the ball the most of everyone. He’s got to trust the pass. He gets two on him and he’s playing in a crowd, he’s got to pass the ball. I think as much as we can talk about being connected on defense, you got to be connected on offense.”

It’s great to hear Redick calling out Luka needing to trust the pass and making the right play. This is almost certainly something he has told him privately, and making it public only hammers home the fact that this is a top priority.

Luka can do it all, but he can’t do it alone. He needs the role players to do their job, and that happens when they get looks at the basket and knock them down.

Also, when players don’t get the ball for long stretches, then when they do they might get a bit ansy and feel they have to take a shot even if it’s not a good look.

Afterall, it’s been a while since they’ve gotten the ball, who knows when they’ll get it again.

This isn’t a new problem for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura discussed this after a loss against the Suns back in December.

“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything,” Redick said. “Guys are worried about their futures and that’s what happens when you have a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there. You can get in your head a little bit. ‘I played five minutes. I haven’t got a shot yet.’ That’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”

The Lakers are in a unique situation where the majority of their team is not under contract for next year.

So, things can go sideways for them if players start getting frustrated with a lack of ball distribution, start thinking about their numbers and begin looking out for themselves more than the team.

This is where LA benefits from Redick being a former player. He understands this situation and is sensitive to it. He should be able to navigate these potential issues and work through them.

More than anything, though, the ball needs to move. No one can move faster than the ball. If Luka and the Lakers focus on getting the best shot possible, that should lead to a faster pace, a better offense, more points and ultimately more wins.

Now that it’s been called out, it’s up to Luka to step up as the leader, trust his teammates and make that extra pass.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Who: Phoenix Suns (27-17) @ Atlanta Hawks (21-25)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: State Farm Arena — Atlanta, Georgia

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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The Suns are staring down the final stop of a six-game road trip, and after face-planting out of the gate with two losses, they have steadied themselves and ripped off three straight wins. That alone makes this a good trip. Beat Atlanta, and it turns into a great one. 4-2 on the East Coast is nothing to sneeze at. Gesundheit

The problem is history. The last time Phoenix won a game in Atlanta was March 24, 2014. A different era. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were cooking, the vibes were sneaky good, and that team felt fun in the same unexpected way this one does now. Since then, Georgia has been a house of horrors. Why Georgia? Why?!

Atlanta is different now, too. The post Trae Young Hawks are scrappy, annoying, and hanging around the Play-In picture. Jalen Johnson is turning into an All-Star in real time. Dyson Daniels is a full-blown menace. And the scars are fresh. Phoenix blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead against this team earlier this season.

So this is not a scheduled win. This is an exorcism. A chance to close the trip strong and bury a few demons while they are at it. Grab your sword. This one is going to be a fight.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)

Hawks

• N’Faly Dante — OUT (Right ACL)
• Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Left Achilles)
• Zaccharie Risacher — OUT (Left Knee)

What to Watch For

We will start on the Suns’ side of the ball, because that is where the intrigue lives. The big thing to watch is the continued integration of Jalen Green and how those minutes shake out. Ryan Dunn was the one who took the hit against Philadelphia, but Atlanta is longer and more athletic across the board. That opens up a different question. Is it Collin Gillespie? Is it Jordan Goodwin? Somebody is going to feel the squeeze as Green works his way back in.

As for Atlanta, do not let the 21-25 record lull you to sleep. This team is frisky. They are eighth in the league in three-point percentage on the ninth-most attempts. Even without Trae Young, they continue to move the ball as well as anyone, leading the league in assists. They play fast, second in pace, and they hunt passing lanes, ranking fourth in steals per game.

That puts a big red circle around one thing for Phoenix tonight. Ball security. If the Suns are loose with it, this game can get sideways in a hurry.

Key to a Suns Win

Stay focused. This is a tough one, not only because Atlanta can throw real problems at you, but because this is the final stop of a six-game road trip. From a human standpoint, you can feel it. Guys are ready to go home. Ready to get on a plane. Ready to land back in Phoenix and settle into a five-game home stand. That temptation is real.

But there is work left to do.

The Hawks are not going to roll over. They scratch. They claw. They hang around. They are fifth in the league in points off turnovers at 20.2 a night, and the Suns sit sixth-most in points allowed off turnovers at 19.7. That is not a coincidence waiting to happen. That is a warning sign.

If Phoenix gets loose with the ball, this game will turn fast. Ball security has to be the headline. Handle that, and the flight home feels a lot better. Ignore it, and Atlanta will make you pay.

Prediction

I want the good vibes to keep rolling. Coming into this trip, 3-3 felt like the reasonable outcome. Respectable. You take it and move on. But now there is an opening for 4-2, and that changes the conversation. That turns a solid trip into a great one.

So go finish it the right way. Lock in. Handle the ball. Do not let the end of the road trip creep into your head. Devin Booker pours in 28. Jalen Green gives you 20 off the bench and bends the game with his speed. Phoenix closes the book, boards the plane, and flies home with momentum humming.

Suns 108, Hawks 100

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The FBI has opened an investigation into the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, team officials confirmed Friday.

When Irsay died in May, the team issued a statement saying he died “peacefully in his sleep.” But in late August, The Washington Post reported Irsay continued to battle a longtime addiction to painkillers and that he had overdosed three times in the five years preceding his death.

“We are aware of the investigation, but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or been served with any subpoenas,” the Colts said in Friday’s statement.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league would not comment on the report.

The Post reported Thursday that a federal grand jury subpoena it reviewed indicated the FBI is seeking records and information relating to Irsay’s death, his “substance (illegal and prescription) use,” and his “relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian,” an addiction specialist based in California. The subpoena was reportedly issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this month.

The Associated Press left a message Friday seeking comment from Haroutunian, whom the Post reported had prescribed pain pills and ketamine to Irsay in the months before his May 2025 death.

In August, the Post reported Irsay was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died. The Post's earlier report said Haroutunian, was staying at the hotel and overseeing Irsay’s treatment and that Haroutunian signed the death certificate.

The Post wrote that Irsay's official cause of death was listed as “cardiac arrest due to pneumonia and heart issues” but no autopsy was performed, and Beverly Hills police closed their investigation into the death days later.

When the first Post story was published in August, Irsay's three daughters who now run the Colts — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — issued a statement saying their father “never claimed to be perfect” and acknowledging he used his voice “to reduce the stigma” of addiction and mental health issues to advocate for those who fought similar battles.

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

The battle for basketball supremacy in Los Angeles on Thursday night brought out plenty of big-name celebrities.

Chris Pratt and Jason Bateman were two of the many A-listers who pulled up to Intuit Dome to catch LeBron James and the Lakers take on Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers.

Jane Fonda was in attendance, as was Zooey Deschanel, who came to the big event with her boyfriend, “Property Brothers” star Jonathan Scott.

Singer Jhené Aiko had courtside seats for the tilt, and at one point during the game, Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor swung by to snap a picture with her.

Comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman and, of course, Clippers billionaire owner Steve Ballmer all also sat near the hardwood to catch the action.

The celebs got to watch a pretty good game, though if they were there to back the Lakers, they went home disappointed, as the Clippers won, 112-104.

Luka Doncic led all scorers with 32 points. He added 11 rebounds and eight assists. James, meanwhile, poured in 23 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Leonard was the Clips’ top scorer with 24, though Ivica Zubac was the star of the night for the home team with 18 points and 19 rebounds.

The drama off the floor might have been just as intriguing to fans, as the night was the first time James had been seen in public since an explosive report surrounding his relationship with his boss, Jeanie Buss, was published.

James, though, threw cold water on the speculation of a rift with Buss during a conversation with reporters after the loss.

“Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles,” he said. “I really don’t. I don’t care about stories. They don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody [feels] about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all [that] matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.”

Lakers play next in Dallas on Saturday, while the Clippers get the Nets at home on Sunday.