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Booker scores in final second as Suns beat Thunder

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball past Cason Wallace
The Suns had lost their previous eight games against the Thunder [Getty Images]

Devin Booker scored with 0.7 seconds remaining as the Phoenix Suns beat defending NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-105.

The Thunder led 100-94 with four minutes left, but Booker, who finished with 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds, ended their four-game unbeaten run with his only three-pointer.

Jordan Goodwin recorded career highs of 26 points and eight three-pointers, while Suns team-mate Dillon Brooks scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points, Jalen Williams contributed 23 and Chet Holmgren recorded 18 and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who still have the best record in the Western Conference with 30 wins and six defeats.

The Suns, who are seventh in the West, were thumped 138-89 by the Thunder in the quarter-finals of the NBA Cup in December.

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Fantasy Basketball Week 12 Schedule Guide: Smart Starts & Streams

Smart roster management can be the difference between winning and losing in fantasy basketball, and it all starts with understanding the weekly schedule. In this article, we break down the upcoming Week 12 slate to help you fly up the fantasy basketball rankings by identifying ideal streaming days and prioritizing the teams worth targeting. We'll highlight light-schedule dates to exploit, squads with heavy workloads to lean into and the best matchups to attack based on defensive trends. Whether you're chasing counting stats, planning short-term adds or setting weekly lineups, this guide will help you squeeze every possible edge out of the week ahead.

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Thursday, January 8 - IND at CHA, CLE at MIN, MIA at CHI, DAL at UTA

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Hawks, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, Suns, Trail Blazers, Spurs, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards

Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

N/A

Top teams to target based on favorable matchups

Rockets vs. Suns, at Trail Blazers, at Trail Blazers, at Kings 

The Rockets are 5-5 in their last 10 games but have a good chance to build momentum in Week 11. They begin with a matchup against the Suns, a team they defeated by almost 20 points in early-December. The Suns give up the league's seventh-most offensive rebounds and sixth-most turnovers per game, which likely means that guys like Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith will pad their stats on both ends of the floor. Up next, the Rockets clash with the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's eighth-most points and fourth-most free throws per game. They also give up the league's most turnovers per game, leaving plenty of opportunity for score-first players like Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard to help take control. Finally, the Rockets close their week against the struggling Kings, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points and sixth-most free throws per game, providing an opportunity for Josh Okogie and Dorian Finney-Smith to possibly benefit from some extra playing time. 

Pelicans vs. Lakers, at Hawks, at Wizards, at Magic

The Pelicans sit last place in the West and have dropped seven straight games. However, this week provides a good opportunity to make up ground, as they are lined up against a few of the league's most troubled defenses. They start the week against the Lakers, whogive up the league's third-highest field-goal percentage, including the second-highest three-point shooting percentage, along with the league's fifth-most turnovers per game. Trey Murphy, who thrives as a long-range shooter and is averaging 1.6 steals per game, is the ideal candidate to take control. Up next, the Pelicans encounter the Hawks, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game, including the eighth-most points in the paint, which should allow room for Derik Queen and Zion Williamson to pick up steam. They then look ahead to a meeting with the Wizards, who are giving up the league's second-most points and fifth-most three-pointers per game, while their last game of the week features the Magic, an opponent that is giving up the league's eighth-highest field-goal percentage, along with the league's fourth-most points per game to opposing point guards. Both of the final two matchups provide an environment where Jeremiah Fears can shine, as the rookie has already hit the 20-point mark eight times this season. 

Thunder vs. Hornets, vs. Jazz, at Grizzlies, vs. Heat, 

The Thunder sit first in the West and are likely to build on their position in Week 11. They open against the Hornets, who give up the league's third-highest shooting percentage, followed by a meeting with the Jazz, who give up the league's most points, most made threes and third-most turnovers per game. These should be relatively easy for the squad that is averaging 121.9 points per game, led by 32.1 points, including 2.1 made three-pointers and 1.5 steals per game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Up next, they clash with the Grizzlies, who give up the league's sixth-most three-pointers per game, which should allow Ajay Mitchell, who averages 1.1 made threes per game, and Aaron Wiggins, who averages 1.8 made threes per game, to keep it up from deep. The Thunder finish the week against the Heat, who give up the league's fourth-most rebounds, including the fourth-most offensive rebounds per game, a matchup where Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will have to take charge. 

Magic at Wizards, at Nets, vs. 76ers, vs. Pelicans

The Magic begin the week against the Wizards, who give up the league's most rebounds and offensive rebounds, along with the fourth-most turnovers per game. Paolo Banchero, who averages 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, should be the one to lead the charge and get the week off to a good start. Up next, the Magic meet the Nets, who are giving up the league's ninth-most points in the paint, along with the fourth-most turnovers per game, making Wendell Carter and Goga Bitadze likely candidates to derive the most out of the matchup. Moving ahead, an encounter with the 76ers, who are playing well lately but are giving up the league's ninth-most rebounds per game, along with the league's eighth-most points to opposing centers, which means the three aforementioned Magic bigs will have to work hard to help build an advantage. The Magic close the week against the Pelicans, an opponent that gives up the league's third-most points, including the second-most made three-pointers per game, giving Desmond Bane and Anthony Black a prime chance to get hot. The Pelicans also give up the third-most points in the paint and third-most offensive rebounds per game. 

Warriors at Clippers, vs. Bucks, vs. Kings, vs. Hawks 

The Warriors have won six of their last 10 games and should be looking to make the most of a few winnable matchups in Week 11. They begin against the Clippers, who give up the league's fourth-highest three-point shooting percentage, which certainly favors Stephen Curry, but might also allow guys like Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard or Moses Moody to step up as an X-factor. Next, the Warriors clash with the Bucks, who give up the league's fifth-most free throws per game, an ideal chance for Jimmy Butler, who averages the league's eighth-most free throws per game, to prosper. Moving on, a meeting with the Kings, who give up the league's second-most points in the paint, along with the highest field-goal percentage and sixth-most rebounds per game. Then lastly, a tilt with the Hawks, who give up the league's fifth-most rebounds per game, including the sixth-most offensive rebounds. The final two matchups provide the opportunity for Warriors bigs, Draymond Green, Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, to pad their stats and help lead the way.

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Luka Doncic and LeBron James lead Lakers comeback to beat the Grizzlies again

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes a shot against Jock Landale #31 of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LeBron James contributed 26 points and 10 assists as the Lakers overcame a 16-point, second-quarter deficit to secure the win. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

They met two days prior to Sunday night’s encounter at Crypto.com Arena, a two-game set between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies reminiscent of a playoff series.

The Lakers won the first game Friday night here and knew the Grizzlies were going to bring more intensity and a stronger effort even with star guard Ja Morant (right calf contusion) not playing.

And that was the case, the Lakers falling behind by 16 points in the second quarter, the Grizzlies ramping it up in a big way. But with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Jake LaRavia leading the way, the Lakers pulled out a 120-114 win and improved to 12-0 in clutch games.

“They played exceptional basketball in the first half when we knew we were going to get their best shot, especially after the playoff-type of format,” said LeBron James, who had 26 points, 10 assists to go along with seven rebounds. “The team always make the adjustments coming to the next game, better prepared. So, I think it's just in the second half, we started to crack the code a little bit. Was able to get the lead down in the third. They kind of broke away a little bit again, but we just kept at it out there and was able to have a great fourth quarter.”

Doncic almost had a triple-double with 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. LaRavia, starting in the absence of Rui Hachimura, had 26 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was the second straight time LaRavia, who came in averaging 9.1 points, scored 20-plus. HIs defense also was on point again, another sign of LaRavia’s development and a role he has been able to fill for the Lakers.

“I just feel like I’m a player where when you tell me the things that you want me to do I’m going to just go out there and do them,” said LaRavia, who was nine-for-16 from the field and four-for-10 from three-point range. “I’ve had plenty of conversations with (Lakers coach) JJ (Redick), with (Lakers assistant) coach Beau (Levesque) and they tell me what they want me to do out there and I kind of just go out there and I try my best to do that every game. Shots aren’t going to fall every game, but I can control the effort that I bring to a game, crashing every time. I know they talk about offensive crash-rate. I’m just trying to do that every night and just bringing energy to this team.”

Back-and-forth the game went in the fourth quarter,, with the Lakers and Grizzlies taking turns delivering in tense moments. The Lakers finally took the lead for good at 100-99 on a basket by Doncic.

Read more:Plaschke: Thank you, L.A. sports teams, for saving me during the worst year

Then James scored on a three-point play and made one of two free throws for a 104-99 lead with 3 minutes 49 seconds left.

The Lakers (22-11) had an answer for every Grizzlies counter, the final stamp on the game being Doncic’s back-to-back three-pointers for a nine-point lead with 2:01 left.

So, the Lakers passed the test the NBA put in front of them by scheduling a game against the Grizzlies here Friday night and then at home again on Sunday night.

“I like it,” Redick said. “I do think it does replicate [the playoffs] in some ways. A playoff series, particularly when it's not a home-and-away situation, but more of you're playing a two-game series on somebody's home court for the day in between. Had a few of these last year. So, I like this for our team and it's a good growth opportunity. Coming off a win, knowing that there's a lot of stuff that we can be better at and where can we make improvements. That's the big challenge to me.”

For Redick, that meant what it always does for the Lakers — improving on defense.

They held the Grizzlies to 42% shooting and 24.4% from three-point range.

LeBron James shoots against Christian Koloko of the Grizzlies in the first quarter Sunday.
LeBron James shoots against Christian Koloko of the Grizzlies in the first quarter Sunday. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)

The Lakers also wanted to jump-start center Deandre Ayton from a five-game slumber.

Ayton had just four points on two-for-four shooting against the Grizzlies on Friday night and hadn’t scored more than 12 points in that span.

So, the Lakers went to Ayton at the outset, trying to ignite his game. It worked to a degree, Ayton scoring 15 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots.

“I trust my teammates so well and they are generational players so I really try not to clog their brain up with just me or try to focus on me,” said Ayton, who was six-for-eight from the field. “It’s more like me wanting to crash the boards early and get going. But I just appreciate them finding me in spots where I got the advantage and that’s all I can really worry about. It’s really me not getting frustrated. It’s more like this where I dominate. I don’t really care about a play for me or touches. It's the rhythm of the basketball game that keeps me in the flow and keeps me going.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Clippers' wing Derrick Jones Jr. suffers Grade 2 MCL sprain, to be re-evaluated in six weeks

In November, the Celtics' Jaylen Brown collided with Derrick Jones Jr. and left the Clippers wing with a Grade 2 sprain of his right MCL, which ended up costing him 17 games.

Saturday night, four games after Jones' return, the Celtics' Payton Pritchard collided with Jones' same right knee going for a loose ball, causing an injury that forced Jones to leave the game. Jones has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain on the same knee and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, the Clippers announced. He likely returns just after the All-Star Game.

While that's not good news, it's also not the worst-case scenario.

Jones has been part of why things have been working for the Clippers of late. He is averaging a career-best 10.4 points a game while shooting 40% from 3-point range.

Jones joins other Clippers wings Bradley Beal and Bogdan Bogdanovic as out when the Clippers host the Warriors as part of Peacock NBA Monday this week.

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Michael Porter Jr. leads Nets to impressive 127-115 win over Nuggets

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. had 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in his first game against his former team, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Denver Nuggets 127-115 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Nuggets got Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back from lengthy injury absences and a huge game from Jamal Murray, but fell to 1-2 since Nikola Jokic was lost for perhaps a month with a hyperextended left knee.

Murray finished with 27 points, a career-high 16 assists and six rebounds. Gordon had 20 points off the bench after missing 19 games with a strained right hamstring, while Braun started and scored four points after he sat out 23 games with a sprained left ankle.

Noah Clowney added 22 points for the Nets, while Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe each had 17. Sharpe started at center with Nic Claxton out for personal reasons.

Porter played six seasons for the Nuggets after being taken with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 draft and was a starter on their 2023 NBA championship team. He was traded to Brooklyn in the offseason for Cam Johnson and came in averaging a career-high 25.8 points.

He scored nine points in the second quarter and Brooklyn led 59-52 at halftime after Murray’s jumper with 0.2 seconds to play.

The Nets quickly opened it up again in the third quarter. Brooklyn was 7 for 9 from three-point range in the period, scoring 41 points and taking a 100-84 advantage to the fourth.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had two three-pointers to open the fourth and cut it to 10, but Thomas had the last seven points of a 12-0 spurt that blew it open at 112-90.

Hardaway scored 26 but Denver fell to 1-4 on its seven-game East Coast trip. Johnson sat out with a knee injury.

Up next

Nuggets: Visit Philadelphia on Monday.

Nets: Host Orlando on Tuesday.

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Keegan Murray's future status uncertain after ankle injury in Kings vs. Bucks

Keegan Murray's future status uncertain after ankle injury in Kings vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Keegan Murray’s injury status remains unknown after the Kings’ tough 115-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night at Golden 1 Center.

The 25-year-old was ruled out with a left ankle sprain in the third quarter and was helped to the locker room after an awkward landing due to mid-air contact with Bucks center Myles Turner. 

Sacramento coach Doug Christie couldn’t share much about Murray’s status with reporters postgame.

“I don’t know yet,” Christie said. “So, it’s not even for me to speculate. Obviously, we’ll get everything, and you guys will know as soon as we do.”

Murray had just recovered from a two-game absence due to a calf injury and returned to the Kings’ starting lineup in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Clippers.

He was off to a strong start against the Bucks, posting 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting with two blocks, one steal and three rebounds over 27 minutes.

Murray’s mobility particularly was on display, as he made a pair of coast-to-coast highlights in the first quarter after intercepting a Giannis Antetokounmpo pass and later stuffing Bobby Portis Jr.

The last thing Sacramento needed after its record worsened to 8-28 following the loss to Milwaukee was another injury to deal with.

But after Zach LaVine returned to action on Sunday upon recovering from a left ankle injury that had sidelined him for nine games, Christie now has to wait and see — and work with — a potentially hobbled or sidelined Murray.

The injury bug truly is decimating the Kings.

“It’s hard, man,” Christie said. “You feel for your kids, first and foremost … It’s just difficult … yeah.”

Sacramento has lost five games in a row.

Next up, the Kings have an 8 p.m. matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center, and it’s to be determined if Murray will be available.

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Denver could see Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun return to court Sunday in Brooklyn

Aaron Gordon has missed 19 games with a right hamstring strain. Christian Braun has missed 23 games due to a sprained ankle.

Both have been upgraded to questionable and could return to the court on Sunday in Brooklyn.

Denver could use the help with four starters out. Nikola Jokic remains out for weeks after a knee hyperextension, the same injury that has sidelined Cam Johnson. The return of Gordon and Braun would bring needed depth back to the rotation.

Gordon was in the middle of a strong season, averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds a game prior to his injury. Braun averaged 11.4 points in 11 games but struggled with his jumper.

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Jimmy Butler gets ‘brutally honest' with heartfelt Buddy Hield description

Jimmy Butler gets ‘brutally honest' with heartfelt Buddy Hield description originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One thing you always can count on is Jimmy Butler keeping it real — no matter the cost.

The always honest Warriors star was asked how Buddy Hield continues to bring good vibes to the team despite not playing consistent minutes on the floor.

“It matters,” Butler told reporters after Golden State’s win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday at Chase Center. ” But Buddy is just goofy anyway, whether he’s playing or not, he’s goofy. And I think that’s the consistency that we love. Buddy’s going to be Buddy, and we hope everybody is like that — good, bad or indifferent. You have good days, more good ones than bad ones. But I think Buddy is the most consistent.

“He’s smiling, joking no matter what, his spirit’s always high and we follow suit in that.”

Butler, in his 15th NBA season, has seen and been around all types of different players.

He also is an avid world traveler and enjoys experiencing things outside of basketball, which also has allowed him to be around different types of people and personalities. So while Hield’s spirit is unique to the NBA circumstance, Butler acknowledged that he might know where it comes from.

“Man, you know what?” Butler said. “Personally, because I know so many people from the Caribbean, I know so many people that are from Africa, they’re some of the most humble and grateful people to be where they are and to have what they have. That’s Buddy’s background. That’s who Buddy is. I don’t like Buddy, but I really respect Buddy. I do. I really respect Buddy for what he brings every day, as far as smiling, being a great teammate, you know, doing whatever you need him to do.

“And then if you need anything from him off the court or just to hang and just to talk, he actually is a good guy to vent to.”

There it is! Butler almost gave Hield a complete compliment without teasing him.

Almost.

The Warriors (19-17) will continue to need Hield’s contagiously positive vibes as the second half of the 2025-26 NBA season quickly approaches.

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Knicks must solve defensive issues to be true championship contenders

The Knicks had another abysmal defensive performance on Saturday. 

They allowed the Sixers to hit 47 percent of their three-point shots (36 three-point FGAs). They put up little resistance against Philadelphia’s starters. The trio of VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid combined for 88 points on 62 percent shooting (53 FGAs). 

It was another game in a growing stretch where the Knicks struggled to get stops. 

How does it get fixed?

Maybe it’s as simple as getting Josh Hart and Landry Shamet back in the lineup? 

New York is 2-3 without Hart, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.  

They have fared well in Shamet’s absence but they look like a team that can use his on-ball defense. 

New York’s point of attack defense has been bad over the past two games. 

If you go back a bit further, they are giving up 122 points per 100 possessions over the past five games. That’s the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA. And it’s not a coincidence that the five-game stretch coincides with Hart’s absence. 

The Knicks had Hart in the starting lineup for about a month prior to his injury. In that month, they had the 11th best defense in the league (113 points allowed per 100 possessions). 

When will Hart be back from his ankle injury? The Knicks said that he will be re-evaluated next Friday. As noted on Honda Sports Night, Hart is expected to return shortly after that re-evaluation, if not sooner. Shamet – out since Nov. 22 with a shoulder sprain – also should be back on the court in the next week. So barring any setbacks, the Knicks should be close to whole again very soon. 

Will Hart and Shamet help straighten them out on defense? Can Mike Brown and defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor make adjustments that yield better results? 

The answer to those two questions will tell you a lot about this Knicks season. If the Knicks can be serviceable on defense, they have enough depth and talent to play into late May/June. 

If they can’t sort through those defensive issues, the Knicks may fall well short of their goals this spring. 

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Jimmy Butler shares sound advice to Jonathan Kuminga as trade deadline looms

Jimmy Butler shares sound advice to Jonathan Kuminga as trade deadline looms originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler continues to be a mentor for Jonathan Kuminga both on and off the court.

So as Kuminga continues to maneuver what’s likely to be his impending Warriors divorce, Butler will remain by his side regardless of the outcome. Butler told reporters after the Warriors’ win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday that their relationship hasn’t changed at all despite Kuminga being out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation lately.

“Same. He better come to my house tonight and eat dinner, play some dominoes,” Butler said (h/t ESPN’s Anthony Slater). “That is my brother, so I care less if you’re out of the rotation. We hang out. That’s my friend, That’s my brother. That’s not going to change.

“Basketball is basketball. I love him like a brother and I wish him the best. And I still see him in here getting his work in, so his mind’s right.”

Kuminga has been benched or played limited minutes over the past few weeks as the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches. Now more than ever, his future with Golden State is uncertain.

The 23-year-old wing can’t be dealt until Jan. 15, and several reports indicate that a move is in the works.

Regardless, that doesn’t change anything for Butler and his relationship with Kuminga.

“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Butler said. “I’m still going to call and check on him. I’m still going to go visit him, still go to his house, eat his food and play with his kids. His future, though, that’s between him and whoever else. But the bond and the brotherhood that we’ve built, ain’t no future going to change that.”

Kuminga started the first 12 games of the 2025-26 NBA season, but has played only six times since. He’s averaging 11.3 points on 43.1-percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range. He hasn’t played in 10 of the past 11 games.

Butler was asked about whether he sees the uncertainty of Kuminga’s future weighing on him.

“Nope. Not at all,” Butler said. “I told JK, you come in here and be a pro of all pros. Come here and get your work done. You smile. You have a good time because you’re still an NBA player. You’re one of the best people in the world and I’m not even talking about basketball. So you keep smiling, you keep being the great human being that you are.”

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Sixers ‘see how good we can be,' look like they might have fun road ahead

Sixers ‘see how good we can be,' look like they might have fun road ahead  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe surely spoke for just about everyone in the cramped visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden when he paused during the middle of his media scrum with an admission.

“I don’t even know what today is,” Edgecombe said.

Whatever the day — Saturday, it turns out — Edgecombe’s first long NBA road trip ended in fun fashion. No one minded thinking about the Sixers’ road ahead, too.

The 19-14 Sixers concluded their five-game trip with three straight wins. There was minimal daydreaming required for those inclined to picture a best-case playoff scenario where the Sixers’ stars are healthy, their backcourt a youthful, joyful powerhouse, their role players ready and able to do valuable, unglamorous jobs. 

It’s no coincidence that only Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) have been sidelined lately. 

“I think for three games in a row, we’ve had the same lineup,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said postgame. “You’d have to check your notes, that might be a record for us. … I really don’t remember that happening for a long time. So we’ll take that, and we can hopefully get to four on Monday (vs. the Nuggets).” 

Both Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey made many special plays on both ends of the floor in Saturday’s victory over the Knicks. They also appeared tireless and sometimes even immune to misses. The pair totaled 62 points on 24-for-38 shooting. Joel Embiid joined them in the highly efficient department with 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting. 

“I think the main thing is we see how good we can be when we’re gelling,” Edgecombe said, “when everybody’s touching the rock, when everybody’s playing hard, when everybody’s bought into their role. I think we see how good we can be.”

Embiid was in a tongue-in-cheek mood after the game. The seven-time All-Star’s final make was his first dunk all season, an unguarded flush with 24.9 seconds left. He raised his arms, grinned and ran down the floor with one finger in the air. 

“Feels good,” Embiid said. “Easy one. I wish it would’ve been one off the backboard. That’s the next step.”

In his career, Embiid has a 17-4 regular-season record against the Knicks. He’s heard plenty of boos over the years in New York. 

“It’s always good to be here and talk back to the fans,” he said. “They were quiet today, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re losing the whole game. But I always have fun going back and forth with them. Sometimes it’s good to be liked, sometimes it’s good to be hated.”

As Embiid himself would acknowledge, nothing is ever set in stone for him and the Sixers. He’s played very well during the team’s three-game streak — 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists per contest — but sustained health has been elusive since Embiid suffered a left knee lateral meniscus tear in late January of 2024. Going back much further, he knows all about strange, sad plot twists that have derailed promising seasons. 

That doesn’t mean the Sixers are foolish to like how they’re playing and believe they can keep improving.

After enduring a nightmare of a season, they’re on track to win far more than 24 games.

“It’s super rewarding, given the season we had last year and everything we had to deal with — the injuries, new players, just gaining rhythm with one another,” Paul George said. “This year we’ve still been battling injuries and have still had some unfortunate luck on that side, but I think the biggest difference is we just feel better as a group. We trust in the process of this team. … You just naturally gain camaraderie and I think it’s carrying over.

“I think it’s safe to say everyone in this locker room is starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. We’re just gelling. … Everything that we’ve been trying to connect, it’s translating on the court.”

Does Nurse find the recent success satisfying after a year full of hardship exception signings and undermanned, outmatched nights?

“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “I told you at the start of the season that we were in a big hole we had to dig out of. We’re still digging. Still, conditioning, rhythm, health can get a little better. I think we just build on that.”

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Fantasy Basketball Week 12 Schedule Primer: Will Victor Wembanyama be able to play?

With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the NBA slate has a more familiar look in Week 12. There are three days, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with double-digit games, with Thursday being the light game day. Unfortunately, fantasy managers have a lot of injuries to navigate, including Denver's Nikola Jokić and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama. As is always the case, availability and scheduling will affect how managers craft their rosters for what they hope will be a successful week. Let's look at the Week 12 schedule and some of its key storylines.

Week 12 Games Played

4 Games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, DEN, GSW, HOU, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIN, NOR, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHX, POR, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS

3 Games: BKN, CLE, DAL, DET, IND, LAL, MIL, SAC

Week 12 Back-to-backs

Sunday (Week 11)-Monday: DEN, DET, OKC, PHX

Monday-Tuesday: None

Tuesday-Wednesday: LAL, MEM, NOR, ORL, SAS, WAS

Wednesday-Thursday: CHA, CHI, UTA

Thursday-Friday: None

Friday-Saturday: BOS, LAC

Saturday-Sunday: MIA, MIN, SAS

Sunday-Monday (Week 13): BKN, PHI, SAC, TOR

nbc_nba_enjoybb_jokicv2_251230.jpg
NBA Minutes Report: Injuries to Nikola Jokic, Austin Reaves, more have changed landscape
We dig into shifting rotations, uncovering which players deserve more attention or are falling out of favor.

Week 12 Storylines of Note

- Thursday is the light game day of Week 12.

Thursday is the only game with fewer than six games on the schedule, with it being a four-game night. Three of the eight teams in action, Charlotte, Chicago and Utah, will be dealing with a back-to-back. All three have some availability concerns. The Hornets have been hit hard by injuries in the frontcourt, with Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabaté and Mason Plumlee all missing the team's final game of Week 11. Plumlee underwent surgery and is looking at a long-term absence, but fantasy managers will be more concerned about Kalkbrenner and Diabaté anyway. PJ Hall has made a few starts, and he may have value in deep leagues given the injuries and the Hornets' four-game Week 12 schedule.

As for Chicago, their most significant injuries have occurred on the perimeter, with Josh Giddey and Coby White sidelined. Giddey will be re-evaluated in two weeks after straining his left hamstring, while White's right calf injury will keep him out for at least one week. With those two off the board, Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter will all have increased fantasy value in Week 12, and the Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back should not be an issue for any of them, provided they get through Chicago's first two games of Week 12 unscathed.

Lastly, there's Utah, which has not needed the excuse of a back-to-back to sit key players in the past. Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkić have been sidelined on multiple occasions, and Keyonte George missed the team's New Year's Day loss to the Clippers. It isn't the "silly season" yet, but players like Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier stand to take on added importance during Week 12.

- Be ready to move on from fringe Lakers at the end of games on Friday.

Not only do the Lakers play just three games in Week 12, but they won't be active on either Saturday or Sunday. While the absences of Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura may complicate things for some fantasy managers, others are likely to conclude that they're better off scouring the waiver wire for value during the final two days of Week 12 than holding onto Marcus Smart or Jake LaRavia. The Lakers' three games are against New Orleans, San Antonio and Milwaukee, beginning with a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back.

- Miami, Minnesota and San Antonio end Week 12 with Saturday/Sunday back-to-backs.

These three teams may prove most valuable to fantasy managers at the end of the week since they'll be active on Saturday and Sunday. While a player like Minnesota's Mike Conley won't be great to have, since he hasn't been playing both games of back-to-backs, some intriguing options should be available in most leagues. Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović, and San Antonio's Julian Champagnie are three who may have added value toward the end of Week 12, due to both their production and injuries to other rotation players.

- How long will the Spurs be without Victor Wembanyama?

Regarding the Spurs, will Wembanyama be available at all during Week 12? And if so, how many games will he play? While San Antonio is scheduled to play four games, it has two back-to-backs, which may limit the 7-foot-4 phenom to two games at most if he can play to begin the week. After escaping severe damage to his left knee during Wednesday's win over the Knicks, Wembanyama is considered day-to-day and will travel with the team to Tuesday's game in Memphis.

That's followed by games against the Lakers (Wednesday), Celtics (Saturday) and Timberwolves (Sunday) to conclude Week 12. Luke Kornet was outstanding in Saturday's loss to the Trail Blazers and will be a starter as long as Wemby is out. How much he plays when allowed to start depends on how well he and Kelly Olynyk play. Olynyk was better on Friday against the Pacers, so he played more, and the roles reversed the following night against Portland.

- Brooklyn won't play its first game of Week 12 until Wednesday.

While the Lakers are the team to avoid at the end of Week 12, the Nets won't offer much value at the beginning of the week. Brooklyn won't play its first game until Wednesday, the first of three games on the team's slate. And the last, Sunday in Memphis, is the first of a back-to-back with Brooklyn visiting Dallas the following night. The back-to-back could loom large for Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton (who's currently away from the team for personal reasons), Cam Thomas and Terance Mann. The "silly season" isn't here yet, but players like Egor Dëmin and Danny Wolf may have added fantasy value at the end of Week 12. As for its beginning, that won't be the case.

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Watch Warriors Draymond Green get ejected for arguing call

For the second time in the last four games he played in the Chase Center, Draymond Green was ejected.

With a couple of minutes left in the first half, Green was frustrated that there was no call (3 seconds or travel) on Utah's Kyle Filipowski — and he let the baseline official know it. That led to the first technical, but Green could not let it go (as has happened before). Eventually, he was handed a second technical and an ejection.

With this latest ejection, Green has nine technicals this season (in just 29 games), putting him more than halfway to the total of 16 and an automatic one-game suspension.

The Warriors won the game 123-114, behind 31 points from Stephen Curry. Green had eight points and three rebounds prior to his ejection.

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Knicks unable to dig out of second-half hole for second straight night in 130-119 loss to 76ers

The Knicks chipped away at a big second-half deficit for the second consecutive game, but ultimately fell to the 76ers at the Garden, 130-119.

New York has now lost three straight games and two straight at home. The 76ers have now defeated the Knicks in both of their games this season, both at MSG. 

After not playing in the Knicks' disappointing loss to the Hawks on Friday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup, but the size wasn't enough as the combination of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 62 points.

The last time Maxey was at the Garden (Dec. 19), the point guard posted 30 points with nine assists in the 76ers' win. Maxey one-upped himself on Saturday, scoring 36 points on 14 of 22 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. He also had a steal and two blocks. 

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10 of 21 shooting, four rebounds and four assists.

Here are the takeaways...

-It was a physical game early, with the refs swallowing their whistles for both teams -- to the chagrin of the players and coaches. The Knicks took advantage of the physicality, especially Brunson, who scored 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. 

However, the 76ers shot 61 percent from the field thanks to their paint points. They only took three three-pointers in the quarter (1-for-3), with Joel Embiid (7 points), Edgecombe (7) and Maxey (6) giving Philadelphia the early 31-30 lead after one.

-Brunson was on the bench to start the second, and the combination of KAT, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride was careless with the ball. The 76ers forced turnovers and frustrated Towns with their physicality, so much so that the big man picked up a technical foul with about eight minutes to go in the quarter. With Brunson on the bench, Towns forced it whenever he touched the ball, leading to turnovers and poor possessions. 

The three ball would help the Knicks cut into Philly's lead, but the 76ers used the three themselves to push their lead to double digits. A late flurry from the Knicks helped them cut their deficit to 66-58 at the half.

Brunson scored 21 points at halftime, while the only other Knick to score in double figures was Anunoby (12). Towns had just two points on 1 of 6 shooting. Philadelphia, after shooting just three threes in the first quarter, was 7 of 14 in the second and the Knicks could not adjust. Edgecombe had a team-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting (4 of 6 from three) in the first half. 

-The Knicks' defense continued to be porous in the third as the 76ers got whatever shot they want, building a game-high 17-point lead midway through the frame. The second group off the bench helped cut a 19-point deficit to 12 with a minute to go in the third, but Maxey's whip-around pass to former Knick Quentin Grimes for a three stopped New York's momentum. McBride made all three free throws when he was fouled taking a three as the Knicks went into the final quarter down 99-87.

-Towns' offensive game finally woke up to start the fourth as the big man went at Embiid down low to help the second unit cut the deficit to nine points. With 9:04, however, the Knicks had a chance to cut into the Philly lead even more, but Edgecombe blocked a Bridges three that led to a fastbreak, and the rookie guard finished it with a dunk to force a Mike Brown timeout. 

The Knicks tried to claw back, but Maxey wouldn't allow it. With four minutes to go, Maxey launched a deep three on a broken play in front of the Knicks bench to keep the 76ers lead in double figures. But a pair of McBride threes and some timely defense helped the Knicks cut the lead to seven with two minutes remaining.

A big offensive rebound by Paul George and a steal by Edgecombe in the final minutes sealed the game for Philadelphia.

-Embiid, who missed the last meeting, had 26 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. 

-Towns finished 23 points and 14 rebounds while Anunoby (19), Bridges (12) and McBride (20) rounded out the double-digit scoring for New York.

Game MVP: Tyrese Maxey

The young guard willed the 76ers to a win. Whenever the Knicks made their run, Maxey had an answer. 

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks hit the road after an off day on Sunday. They'll travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seed Pistons. Tip is set for Monday at 7 p.m.

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Steph Curry, Warriors respond again with win after another early Draymond exit

Steph Curry, Warriors respond again with win after another early Draymond exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – There’s a trend surrounding the Warriors that’s starting to become more noticeable than their fondness for turnovers.

With two minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first half and the Warriors struggling in a frustrating second quarter, Draymond Green received two quick technical fouls for an automatic ejection.

Green was loud with his voice and his hands towards umpire Simone Jelks as Kyle Filipowski, whom Green was defending, clearly camped in the paint beyond the allowed three seconds. That resulted in his first tech. 

As Green turned his attention to Jelks, Lauri Markkanen went right past him for a dunk. 

Then came the second tech as Green turned his attention towards referee Kevin Cutler, who nearly instantly felt a verbal line was crossed, sending the 35-year-old back to the Warriors’ locker room for the rest of the game. The Warriors’ response on the court was just as immediate. 

Markkanen made both free throws from Green’s two techs, giving the Jazz a four-point swing and a 12-0 run. They led 60-48 after the two free throws. But whether it was a fire lit inside them or something else, the Warriors outscored the Jazz 10-5 to end the half and by 21 points the rest of the game for a 123-114 win.

Collectively, the Warriors didn’t agree with Green being tossed so quickly. And they won’t lean into the notion that the team is better without him. 

“Nah, hell nah. That ain’t the formula,” Jimmy Butler said. “No, no, no, no, no. We need Two-Three out there. When you’re a man down, you got to pick up everything. It’s generally hard to cover up what he does on both sides of the floor. …It’s so hard to do what he does. But it’s a collective effort when he’s not out there.” 

“I can tell you this: You look at Draymond’s career and he’s on the plus side in a massive way over and over again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr added.

Nobody can take away Green’s accomplishments in a Golden State jersey. He’s a four-time champion, a future Hall of Famer, one of the most unique players in NBA history and only a handful of guys historically can be mentioned in the same breath as him defensively. 

The numbers, especially over the last month, also unveil a different picture of the current version of Green and the Warriors as a whole. 

Kerr used 11 players Saturday night, and only three had a negative plus/minus. De’Anthony Melton was a minus-3 in 25 minutes off the bench, but he stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, three 3-pointers, two assists and two steals. Rookie Will Richard was a minus-1 over 18 minutes in reserve. Both were in the positive in the second half sans Green. 

In 12 minutes before his ejection, Green was a minus-15. Since Dec. 1, he has produced a positive plus/minus twice in 11 games – once against the 12-win Charlotte Hornets, and once against the 10-win Brooklyn Nets. Overall, he now is a minus-65 in that month-long span. 

Green, in his last seven games, has been ejected twice and left the bench early in another. He hasn’t finished three of his last four home games at Chase Center. The Warriors responded to his ejection against the Phoenix Suns and were a plus-16 without him. They then outscored the Orlando Magic by 28 points after his incident with Kerr on the bench. 

Wins for the Warriors followed both times, as well as Saturday night against the Jazz. 

The saving grace one night after a 37-point trouncing from the Oklahoma City Thunder was Steph Curry’s 20-point third quarter, which also was without his running mate of the last 14 years. Curry went into the half with nine points on 2-of-7 shooting and then reeled off his latest vintage third-quarter flurry to the tune of 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 4 of 6 on threes and was a plus-11 in 11-plus minutes to give the Warriors a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter. 

Fans were in for a treat during that stretch. Curry pulled off both his signature look-away 3-pointer with the ball in the air in the third quarter, as well as yet another triple nearly from the logo. 

Trying to get him to pick between the two was like asking him to choose a favorite of his four children. 

“They’re both great,” Curry said, before repeating the same answer behind a smile. “They’re both great.” 

Still serving a show on a nightly basis, Curry’s longtime coach knows where the credit belongs. 

No plays need to be drawn up. Advice would be a laughing matter. Watch him let it fly and reap the rewards. 

“It wasn’t me, it wasn’t my play calls or anything. It was just Steph,” Kerr said. “That’s how good he is. 

“But again, everything felt right in the second half. The spirit, the energy, the level of competitive fight. You’re much more likely to make shots when you have that approach.”

The same spirit, energy, level of competitive fight and approach must be in conjunction with Green on the floor for the Warriors to ride the momentum they believe they’re building right now. It’s the only way to fight the narrative that matches the numbers, enjoying a win without this trend blossoming into something bigger.

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