Category: NBA

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: In November, Ryan Dunn averaged 24.4 minutes per game. In January, his MPGs dropped to 16.4 and to 14.9 in the last 10 games. Both his field goal and 3-point (FG – 47.0, 44.8, 39.0, 3-pt – 42.3, 32.4, 31.6) percentages have dropped over time. What’s your opinion of Dunn’s recent struggles and whether he will be able to improve his shooting?

Ashton: Well at this point, he was not traded. I thought he may be part of a trade package.

I am going to hold the line that nobody should be moved if it upsets team chemistry. Let Dunn get out of his shooting slump and develop under proper coaching. The coach and the Suns are good at it.

OldAz: A lot of opinions are floating around about Dunn, and in typical Suns fans’ fashion, some are even calling for him to be first on the trade block. To just get rid of him. As usual, this is reactionary and shortsighted. Yes, he has slipped down the depth chart and is not playing as many minutes, but the same could’ve been said earlier in the season about Oso, who is now a key cog in their success. Another factor in his reduced playing time is the fact that he is not in any way, shape, or form a power forward. With the glut of guards on the team and the style of play, there is just no room for a wing that is less effective.

Interestingly, I think Dunn‘s problems actually stem from his struggles on the defensive end. He was an above-average one-on-one defender last year on a team of parking cones. This year, he is continuing to try to lock down his man when, in reality, the Suns are a much better team defensively, and he has not made the transition. He is often still stuck to his man when he should be switching or playing the passing lanes. This is a different mindset, and he needs to spend time watching someone like Jordan Goodwin (who also plays aggressive 1:1 but knows how to fit the team’s defensive concepts better) and adjust his style accordingly. Once Dunn does this and gets more comfortable on the defensive end within the team system, I think his offense will come around. His form and technique still look good on that end, so I have to believe he’s simply thinking too much.

Rod: For the most part, Dunn’s recent play has gotten me to the point where cold chills go down my spine whenever he touches the ball, and I hold my breath every time he attempts a shot. Whenever there’s a closeup of his face on TV, I see the look of a guy who seems to have lost his confidence.

As John suggested a few days ago, perhaps some time assigned to the Valley Suns in the G League might be good for him. He would get lots of reps there with the opportunity to get a confidence boost too. Seeing he court time and reps continue to dwindle with the Suns isn’t going to do anything to solve the problem so why not give it a shot?

We’ve seen him play better so there’s no doubt that he can do it again, and even improve, so calling for him to be traded as a few fans have done just seems like jumping the gun to me.

Q2: What are your thoughts on the Suns/Bucks/Bulls deadline trade?

Ashton: So, again, team chemistry. If Green is the biggest cheerleader in street clothes on the bench, then you keep him. And he was kept. Do the fans really know his injury status? Not in the slightest.

But this question has multiple parts. How exactly are the Suns going to fund Mark Williams, Goody, and Collin Gillespie extensions? The Suns are under the repeater tax for now, and I am fine with it. The numbers are beyond me, and I am not going back to school on this CBA and the complicated format it provides. Unless Rod starts an online class.

I thought the “backup” guards stunk it up against the Clippers and wondered if Green could have been a factor for a win. And then Portland happens, and the backup guards are not that bad. Then GSW happens, and the backup guards suck again. Green is still out. Should the Suns have made a trade for an injured Green?

But in the end, the team avoided the luxury tax. And if they do it for a second year (2027), the clock resets on the repeater tax.

Also, Phoenix will now have a 2026 second-round pick, a selection that will be the second-most favorable between Dallas (19-31), Philadelphia (29-21), and Oklahoma City (40-12). It is currently the 49th overall pick. (Arizona Sports). I love picks.

So, it was a good trade. The Suns are off the tax and needed to move Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to do it. But what they got back is not that impressive. Two guards, and if you squint enough, maybe one that one can play small-ball at SF?

Waive them both (Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey) and fill up the roster spots with the two-ways.

Old Az: My first take is about the entire league and how amazing it is that almost every team made some type of move at this deadline. As for the Suns, they did exactly what people have been saying they were going to do for four weeks. They made a small move on the margins to get under the luxury tax. This is far more important than many people recognize because of the Draconian penalties in the current CBA.

I don’t know much about the two players being brought in (at this point in their careers) but they traded away two players that weren’t playing, and even if the two players brought in give them nothing it created space to sign one or both of Bouyea and or Livers to a full contract. Both of those players have shown to be valuable this year. They also don’t have to be in a hurry to do anything as, for the first time in a while, they can be full participants in the buyout market and snag a player that really could contribute this season.

For the first time in a long time, we can actually see the Sun‘s front office with a plan that does not include making trades for the sake of trades or selling low after buying high. That is a nice change, and my biggest takeaway from the Suns’ moves at the deadline.

Rod: It was a small move that has a bigger impact than you would assume at first glance. The biggest plus from it was not only getting the Suns below the luxury tax line but also getting them far enough below it to possibly be able to eventually convert both Bouyea’s and Liver’s two-way contracts to standard NBA contracts if they eventually waive either Anthony (likely) or Coffey (unlikely) to create enough roster spots for both of them.

And there’s also the upcoming buy-out market to consider. Under the tax aprons, the Suns can now sign anyone who gets bought out, no matter what their previous salary was. I can hardly wait to see who is available. There may be no one there that fits the Suns’ needs but, if there is, they can at least make a play for them now.

Q3: Two-way player Koby Brea has not played exceptionally well in the G League. While he’s averaged 16.6 ppg, his FG and 3-point percentages are 38.9% and 32.5% (10.2 3-point attempts per game), respectively. If he continues to struggle in the G League, should the Suns let him go this summer or sign him to another two-way contract?

Ashton: Suns have a fan base problem. We like our young developmental talent, and Brea is at the top of the list. Eventually, I think there is going to be a culling. And Brea may be on the list.

My knee-jerk reaction is to give him to another two-way. The Suns may have a generational three-point shooter that I would hate to see develop on another team.

But this is a good problem to have. Youth in development in the G league is not a bad thing (even though the Valley Suns keep losing games). But based on some of the previous questions, there are players who may need to be sent there.

OldAz: Professional sports are a performance game, and there’s not much room for a shooter who can’t shoot. Admittedly, I have not watched any of Koby play this year because I don’t watch much G League. However, the Suns’ front office has shown an excellent ability to maximize the two-way contracts this year. Unless they see something in Brea that is bubbling below the surface, then I expect they will move on and look for the next Gillespie, Livers, or Bouyea.

I am not worried about his shot as much as I am wondering if he is showing other abilities to stay on the floor by being part of the defense or offensive system. If he is showing any other positive qualities, then maybe he gets another year, and with some extra minutes, maybe he gets his shot back. Again, however, it’s tough to keep a roster spot for a shooter who can’t shoot.

Rod: When the Suns drafted him, he was promoted as already having one NBA-ready skill…shooting threes. So far, he hasn’t been able to do that consistently in the G League, let alone in an NBA game. I haven’t watched enough of the Valley Suns games to get a good idea as to why his percentages are so low, but whatever problems he’s having in the G League are likely only going to be amplified at the NBA level. I’d say that his sticking with the Suns next season, even on another two-way contract, is going to depend on him making some progress/improvement before this season ends.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Quotes of the Week

“You can do it (pick-and-roll) so many different ways, so many different locations, so many guys can be involved, and our offense is just going to be heavy in concepts. We’re gonna have to read and react a ton. … This is gonna be a constant evolution of our team, but specifically our offense over time.” – Jordan Ott

“I think he (Oso Ighodaro) is taking a gigantic step defensively with his activity. He’s one of those guys that are elite athletes in this league, just a little undersized for his position.” – Jordan Ott

“Goodie (Jordan Goodwin) does so much good stuff for us, rebounding, guarding, picking up full every possession. He brings a spark to the game that we need each and every night.” – Oso Ighodaro

“I am just trying to make it difficult for them, trying to get the shot clock down. Just get extra possessions for our team but I do take on a lot of assignments, and it’s not just me. I got the bigs behind me, guys giving me good shifts and stuff like that, so it’s really a team effort. I’m just trying to make it difficult.” – Jordan Goodwin

“I think he (Collin Gillespie) has caught a lot of people by surprise, but nobody in this locker room. He does everything out there. He’s a warrior for us. He’s been consistent since he got here, and I’m happy he’s on our side.” – Devin Booker

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Suns Trivia/History

On February 6, 2008, the 34-14 Suns traded Marcus Banks and four-time All-Star Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal, who had been sidelined with a hip injury before the trade, was inactive for his first 5 games as a Sun but would start for the Suns, averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds, in 28 of their final 29 games of the season, in which they were 17-11. The Suns would finish the season as the 6th seed in the West with a 55-27 record and bow out of the playoffs quickly, losing their 1st round series with the San Antonio Spurs 4-1.

On February 7, 2018, the Suns tied the team record (set earlier that season on Oct. 18, 2017, against the Portland Trail Blazers) for the worst loss in team history as the San Antonio Spurs defeated them 129-81 (a 48-point margin). The Suns scored only 9 points in the 1st quarter, shot 9.4% (3 of 32) from three, and 34.0% from the field. The Suns’ starting lineup for that game was Tyler Ulis, Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss. This record would stand until earlier this season when the Suns were trounced by OKC (138-89) on Dec. 10, 2025, to set a new record with a 49-point loss.

On February 9, 1986, the NBA All-Star game was played with no Phoenix Suns player on the roster for the West. It was the first time in team history that no Suns player was selected for the All-Star game. The Suns struggled through the 1985-86 season to a 32-50 final record.

On February 11, 1979, the Suns defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-101 in a game where 8 of the 10 Suns that played scored in double figures. The Suns were led by new acquisition Truck Robinson’s 24-point, 15-rebound double-double. The Suns also made more free throws (36) than the Cavaliers attempted (25) and out-rebounded them 65 to 45.

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This Week’s Game Schedule

Saturday, Feb 7 – Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 pm)
Tuesday, Feb 10 – Suns vs Dallas Mavericks (7:00 pm)
Wednesday, Feb 11 – Suns vs OKC Thunder (7:00 pm)

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This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule

Tuesday, Feb 10 – Valley Suns vs Winchester Knicks (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Thursday, Feb 12 – Valley Suns vs Salt Lake City Stars (12:00 pm)

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Important Future Dates

Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA
March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends
March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin

Per a Spurs press release:

The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Black Heritage Night game, presented by Spectrum, taking place on Saturday, Feb. 7 as the Spurs host the Dallas Mavericks, tipping off at 5 p.m. This theme night is part of the Spurs month-long celebration of Black History Month, presented by Spectrum, with the organization’s 2026 theme being “Built by Black History, Elevated by Black Voices,” and will feature a $40,000 donation and in-game Leaders and Legacies spotlight, special jersey ticket package and more. Additionally, throughout the month, Spurs player Harrison Barnes and his family will support multiple local nonprofit organizations in the San Antonio community.

Activations include:

• Leaders and Legacies Grants: The Spurs will distribute $40,000 in grants to four local organizations whose work strengthens health, education, culture and opportunity across San Antonio. In partnership with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the organizations will also be honored during in-game Leaders & Legacies tributes:
  • Gardopia Gardens will receive a $10,000 grant in honor of founder and CEO Stephen Lucke, recognizing the organization’s leadership in community wellness, and garden-based education.
  • Ella Austin Community Center will receive a $10,000 grant in honor of Beverly Watts Davis, supporting one of San Antonio’s longest-standing East Side institutions serving children, families and seniors.
  • San Antonio Area African American Community Fund will receive a $10,000 grant in honor of Bobby Blount, advancing support for Black-led nonprofits and philanthropic initiatives.
  • Juneteenth Freedom Coalition of San Antonio will receive a $10,000 grant in honor of Oscar L. Vicks, supporting the city’s annual Juneteenth parade and celebration of African American history and culture.
• Exclusive Black Heritage Night Ticket Package: Fans can celebrate with a one-of-a-kind Spurs Black Heritage jersey and Coyote bobble head included exclusively as part of the ticket package. Jerseys and bobbleheads are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A portion of the proceeds from the ticket package will go toward investing and supporting the local community, including Black owned businesses, nonprofits and programs through Spurs Give.
• Pregame Check Presentation: Prior to tipoff, the Spurs will present a $4,000 donation to the San Antonio Zulu Association (SAZA) in recognition of the organization’s longstanding commitment to cultural celebration, civic engagement and philanthropy in San Antonio.
• Halftime Performance: The Mu Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from Texas State University will perform a step routine during halftime.

In addition to the Spurs donations, Harrison Barnes and his wife Brittany are donating $150,000 to 10 local nonprofit organizations.

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Coming into the season, the script was supposed to be simple. Kentucky Basketball knew Jayden Quaintance was likely a one-and-done talent. Even with his injury struggles, the NBA scouts have been tracking him for years.

But while everyone was watching Quaintance, another Wildcat has quietly, or maybe not so quietly anymore, snuck his way up the draft boards.

MalachiMoreno is playing his way into the first round, and Kentucky fans might need to start preparing for the reality that they could lose two 7-footers to the league this summer.

The scouts are taking notice of Malachi Moreno

Moreno wasn’t necessarily projected as a “one-and-done” lottery pick when he arrived on campus, but his efficiency has forced the issue. Major outlets are now consistently ranking him as a top-30 prospect.

• FanSided ranks him at No. 20, noting: “Despite a fluctuating role, Malachi Moreno looks the part of an NBA contributor… He has ready-made size and strength for the next level, on top of impressive agility in space, which allows Moreno to fully weaponize his reported 7-foot-2 wingspan.”
• SB Nationlists him as the 23rd-best prospect in the entire class.
• Sports Illustratedhas him going No. 28 to the Denver Nuggets in their latest mock draft.

Why Moreno is rising

It is easy to see why the league is intrigued. In just 22 minutes per game, Moreno is putting up extremely productive numbers: 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He is shooting 58.6% from the field, proving he knows his role and doesn’t force bad shots.

“We recruited (Moreno) because we thought he could be a terrific passing big,” Pope said. 

But what separates him from a standard “rim runner” is his feel for the game. Moreno is averaging 1.7 assists per game, showing a passing ability that NBA teams crave in modern bigs. He can anchor a defense with his shot-blocking, but he is agile enough to hedge on screens and recover, a prerequisite for surviving on an NBA court.

The one weakness

The only thing holding him back from being a lottery lock is the modern NBA’s obsession with spacing. Moreno has not made a 3 in college, shooting just 2 so far.

In a league where “stretch fives” are king, he is a throwback. Could his versatility outweigh his shooting? Yeah, probably. You can’t find a lot of very mobile 7-footers.

Kentucky fans were bracing to lose Quaintance. They probably weren’t bracing to lose Moreno this fast. But when you are 7-feet tall, can protect the rim, and pass, the NBA comes calling quickly. It is beginning to look like Mark Pope might have to replace more than just 1 center.

Drew Holbrook has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion

1. Incredible Second Half Comeback

The Celtics scored 38 points in the first half and were down by as many as 22 points. It looked like it was going to be a blowout, but something lit a fire under this team at halftime because Boston came out and scored 36 points in the third quarter alone t0 tie the game going into the fourth. In a back and forth final quarter where both teams were doing everything they could to win, the Celtics were able to come out on top with a Derrick White three at the 1:31 mark to give Boston a 98-96 win.

Overall, they shot 14-47 (30%) from the field in the first half and 21-37 (57%) in the second half. This 22-point comeback was the biggest comeback win of the season for Boston and it showed the resiliency that this team has. The lineup of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, and Nikola Vucevic came together and went on a heater to bring the Celtics kicking and screaming back into this game.

Really brought the HEAT in the second half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oQ3R9hEthZ

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 7, 2026

2. Three point turn around

Boston shot 1-20 (5%) from three in the first half of this game and it was the worst three point shooting first half in the Joe Mazzulla era. The last time the Celtics made only one triple in a first half before tonight was on January 11th, 2024 against the Milwaukee Bucks when they shot 1-16. There was a chance that Boston was going to continue this slow shooting stretch, but they caught fire in the third quarter. The Celtics shot 5-7 from three in the third quarter and 9-16 from three in the second half as a whole. The three-point shot has been the common denominator in a lot of the Celtics close games this season and it once again showed tonight. Once Boston was started knocking down their threes, everything fell into place after that.

3. Nikola Vucevic Debut

Nikola Vucevic played his first game of the season as a member of the Celtics since the trade deadline and he made a huge first impression for his debut. Vucevic finished with a double-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on 4-8 shooting.

He scored his first points of the night after Pritchard missed a shot and Bam Adebayo fumbled the rebound. Vucevic just grabbed it and flipped it up for an easy floater and his first points as a member of the Boston Celtics.

Vucevic then started to turn it on in the third quarter when the Celtics were making their run. He scored three times in the paint on Miami, just abusing their interior defense. He started by rolling out of a pick and roll with Derrick White. Two Heat defenders went to White so he fired a pass to Vucevic for a layup. The second basket came when he was backing down Dru Smith in the post. Pritchard found him and Vucevic missed his first attempt but was able to finish on a tap back on his second try. The final basket came when he had great positioning on Jamie Jaquez Jr. and White found him again for another layup.

Another thing that really surprised me from Vucevic’s debut was how great of a passer he was. All of his assists looked like fastballs coming 100 miles per hour and all of them were right on target. The first one came after he tapped an offensive rebound to himself and threw a crosscourt pass to Baylor Scheierman for a long two. The next came when he found Hugo Gonzalez cutting to the basket and threw a strike right to his hands for a dunk. The third came in the second quarter when he got the ball in the post and two Heat defenders went after him. Vucevic calmly found Derrick White who was cutting to the basket from the top of the three-point line and he finished with an easy dunk. Finally, on the game winning basket, Vucevic put the ball on the floor and found White for a wide-open corner three to give Boston the lead with under two minutes to go. Overall, this was a great showing out of Vucevic and the Celtics did a great job of incorporating him into the offense.

4. Jaylen Brown Kept Boston in the Game

Jaylen Brown finished with 29 points and 7 rebounds on 11-25 shooting and didn’t have his best game of the season. However, when the Celtics were down big at the half, without Brown turning it on the second quarter, they would have been down by a lot more. Brown had 15 of the Celtics 23 points in the second quarter, shooting 6-10 and doing everything in his power to keep Boston in striking distance.

Brown started his scoring barrage with a layup after sealing of Andrew Wiggins on the drive to the basket. Next came on a thunderous slam where he blew by Wiggins and attacked the rim. The third bucket came when he had Bam Adebayo one-on-one. He drove and threw up a floater that went in plus the foul for an And-1. The next one came where he took it coast-to-coast for an easy layup over Simone Fontecchio. The fifth came where he overpowered Davion Mitchell and finished another easy layup. Finally, he got the ball at the perimeter, blew by Mitchell, and threw down another dunk.

The fourth quarter was the next time Brown came up big, starting with a play that got broken up by the Heat defense. Brown was able to get it back and take the contact from Adebayo to finish a floater that should have been an And-1. The other big bucket came at the 2:16 mark where he scored the second to last basket of the game for the Celtics, driving into Norman Powell and finishing a tough shot.

5. Payton Pritchard Huge Second Half

At the end of the first half, Payton Pritchard had 5 points on 1-6 shooting and was being really passive. As a 6MOTY winner, scoring was going to have to be his top priority in the second half and he did not disappoint. Pritchard finished with 19 points in the second half on 7-9 shooting from the field and 4-4 from three.

Pritchard started his second half scoring a step back three over Myron Gardner who was a step slow on the contest. The next one came on another step back three, this time over Simone Fontecchio who had no chance of guarding him. He finished the third quarter with a driving layup and forced an And-1 on Kel’el Ware who hit him on the arm.

Starting the fourth quarter, Pritchard picked up right where he left off, starting with crossing up Nikola Jovic one-on-one for a midrange jumper. The next bucket came off of a missed shot by Brown but Sam Hauser got the offensive rebound and found Pritchard wide open for three. The next one came on another three, this time right in the face of Norman Powell. Finally, on maybe his best play of the night, Pritchard backed down Davion Mitchell, hit a spin move into an up and under move for a layup.

6. Derrick White Clutch 4th Quarter

Similar to Pritchard, White had a slow first half in this game but turned it on when the Celtics needed him most. He finished with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 blocks on the night and the biggest came in the fourth quarter.

Before the fourth quarter, as time was running down in the third quarter, Baylor Scheierman found White for a wide open corner three out of an inbounds pass. White made the shot as he was falling away and tied the game for Boston, completing their 22-point comeback.

As the Celtics were rolling, White hit his first shot of the fourth quarter coming off a pass from Pritchard. White caught the ball in front of Erik Spoelstra, hit the three, and held the follow through for a little bit. To quote Wesley Snipes from White Men Can’t Jump, “It’s pretty, it’s so pretty.”

His other basket of the quarter came with 1:31 left in the game. Brown attracted two Heat defenders on the pick and roll and found Vucevic wide open at the three point line. Vucevic caught the pass, made one dribble, and found White wide open in the corner from three. This would be the game winning basket for the Celtics as neither team scored again.

The reason why nobody scored again can also be attributed to Derrick White. With 34 seconds to go, Davion Mitchell drove on Derrick White. He must have forgotten that White is the best shot blocking guard in the NBA because he sent it back and Baylor Scheierman grabbed the rebound.

7. Hugo Gonzalez has no fear

Hugo Gonzalez’s birthday was on February 5th, 2026, the same day as the trade deadline and the day before this game. He graduated from no longer being 19 anymore, although he still might be in the eyes of Celtics fans for while. But since he is now 20 years old, Hugo decided he wanted celebrate his birthday by doing the thing he does best, creating chaos on the basketball court.

Gonzalez’s first highlight play of the night came in the first quarter when he started streaking from the corner. Vucevic found him on a nice pass Hugo’s beautiful cut led to a wide open dunk.

The next impressive play of the night came in the second quarter. Hugo was the only defender trying to guard two Heat players on the three point line. But when Pelle Larsson tried to make a bounce pass to the corner, Gonzalez picked it off and started the fast break. On it, he found Jaylen Brown on an incredible bounce pass that led to Brown being fouled and shooting free throws.

Finally, Hugo showed that he will back down to no man when it comes to fighting for the basketball. When Norman Powell grabbed a rebound in the fourth quarter, Gonzalez was also trying to grab the ball as well. He was trying to force a jump ball and when the ref blew the whistle, Powell and Gonzalez went up to each other face-to-face. Gonzalez didn’t back down to the all-star and the fight was broken up before anything got started.

Postgame, Joe Mazzulla smiled when he was about the confrontation, saying, “That was fun.” He dove deeper into it, saying “…anything that can create chaos and conflict, but not cost you points, we should be all about that.”

Joe Mazzulla on Hugo Gonzalez standing toe-to-toe with Norman Powell:

“That was fun.”

“So anything that can create chaos and conflict, but not cost you points — we should be all about that.” pic.twitter.com/bQznD8Va2z

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 7, 2026

8. Double-Big Experiment

In the Celtics win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Joe Mazzulla ran out a double-big starting lineup with Luka Garza and Neemias Queta. It worked well as they were able to upset Houston so Mazzulla tried that lineup again to start this matchup against the Heat. Results were not working the same to start this game as the Heat went on a 9-2 run before Joe pulled the plug. Mazzulla took out both Garza and Queta at the 8:58 mark of the first quarter and didn’t use a double big lineup for the rest of the night. Although the double big lineup didn’t work with Garza and Queta, I don’t think Mazzulla should be swayed to never use it again. I would like to see what a lineup of Vucevic and Queta look like for a game and although it might yield similar results to tonight, you never know.

Before tonight I thought the Celtics could potentially run three bigs in their rotation similarly to how they would use Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. After tonight I am a lot less confident in my belief of that. I think Luka Garza will be a great third center coming off the bench for Boston but I think most of the minutes should be switched off between Queta and Vucevic. If or when Jayson Tatum comes back, the power forward spot will be filled but for now I wouldn’t mind them starting a guy like Baylor Scheierman or Hugo Gonzalez. This allows Pritchard and Vucevic to come in off the bench at the same time and be able to build continuity.

9. Playoff Atmosphere

This season is my first season covering the beat for CelticsBlog live from TD Garden during games and as a media member I have been to 3 or 4 Celtics games so far but as a fan I have been to a lot more. I have been to a lot of both regular season and playoff games over the years but I think the crowd in tonight was the loudest I have ever heard it.

During the Celtics comeback in the third quarter, every time Boston made a basket or a stop on defense the crowd was erupting like it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. I don’t know if it was because it was a Friday night or because it was against the Miami Heat, but either way sitting up in the press box, you could feel the stadium shaking with every basket. The loudest it got was in the fourth quarter when Derrick White hit what was the game winning three for Boston. My phone recording doesn’t do it justice because I could feel the stadium vibrating underneath my feet.

HUGE THREE FOR DERRICK WHITE GIVES THE CELTICS THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/KWswf82wFT

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) February 7, 2026

This was an all time TD Garden crowd tonight and when Joe Mazzulla was asked about it after the game he said, “We have the phrase up there, “different here”, and it’s the truth… I thought that the crowd could have easily given up on us, deservedly so and I thought they stuck with us and helped us, especially third quarter.”

When the TD Garden crowd is rocking, there is no other place in the NBA that I think gets louder. I would say the crowd tonight was a factor and it got into the heads of a young Miami Heat team.

Joe Mazzulla on the fans impact tonight

“We have the phrase up there, “different here”, and it's the truth… I thought that the crowd could have easily given up on us, deservedly so and I thought they stuck with us and helped us, especially third quarter.” pic.twitter.com/ChR1xiAhyW

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) February 7, 2026

10. Epic Miami Collapse

To say this was a collapse of epic proportions for the Miami Heat would be an understatement. After being the only team in the Eastern Conference not to make a move at the trade deadline, Miami opened up a huge lead on the road in Boston. Celtics fans were surly getting PTSD from the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals and going into halftime, all they had to do was just keep their foot on the gas.

That did not happen for them to the benefit of the Celtics, and their poor third quarter was really their downfall. They shot 5-19 (26%) from the field and 2-12 from three in the quarter. This along with the Celtics hot shooting, got the fans in TD Garden into a frenzy and Miami lost all momentum from there. Boston has now won 13 of their last 15 matchups against the Miami Heat and 10 of those wins in a row. In the dead of winter, its always nice to Beat the Heat.

The Bucks put the Warriors through the washing machine. 

By dangling Giannis Antetokounmpo as a carrot ahead of the NBA trade deadline, they made the league’s modern-day dynasty believe it had another shot at the mountaintop. They made Steph Curry believe he had a chance to compete for his fifth ring. And they made Draymond Green face the harsh reality that anyone is disposable if a shiny enough object comes along. 

The Warriors went all in on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. They were considered front-runners. They were willing to mortgage their future with four unprotected first-round picks. They shifted their focus from pursuing other trades, including Jaren Jackson Jr., before pivoting at the buzzer and landing Kristaps Porzingis.

There was a lot of fallout from the Bucks’ 6-foot-11, 240-pound pump fake.

But none was more revealing than the way Green handled hearing that his name was involved in trade talks for the first time in his 14-season career, something that would’ve been off the table for pretty much anyone not named Antetokounmpo.

Green took it on the chin. 

Two days before the trade deadline, when he was asked about being included in a potential deal, he was markedly understanding. “I think a lot of people want to know how I feel about it, like am I upset about it,” Green said Tuesday. “I’m not at all. If that’s what’s best for this organization, that’s what’s best for the organization.”

That wasn’t an act. One thing Green isn’t is disingenuous. Rather, those were the words of a man who knew he did everything he could for the Warriors. They were the words of someone who poured every ounce of himself into a franchise, helping it become a dynasty that won four championships in eight years. They were the words of someone at peace. 

The 35-year-old Green is known for being fiery. He’s a guy who transformed himself from an undersized No. 35 pick in the 2012 draft into one of the greatest defenders in NBA history. He’s grit personified. For the Warriors, none of this would’ve happened without him. 

He was considered untradable — or at least as untradable as someone can be in a league in which Luka Doncic can be dealt. He had earned that. But when that changed, he didn’t express surprise over the whiplash of it all. He didn’t express disappointment over the shift in loyalty. 

Rather, he leaned into gratitude. 

“I don’t know that it ends at 13 1/2, but if it does, what a f***ing run it’s been,” Green said. “I’ll take the fine for (cursing). What a f***ing run it’s been.”

The thing is the relationship between Green and the Warriors has always been symbiotic. 

His ability to guard 1 through 5 made the Warriors one of the greatest franchises ever. In turn, they supported him through the turbulence that goes hand-in-hand with a player whose oxygen is intensity. 

After Green got into it with Kevin Durant in November 2018, Curry drove to Green’s Oakland home and talked with him in his backyard for two hours. And after Green was suspended indefinitely for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face in December 2023, Warriors coach Steve Kerr went to Green’s Los Angeles home, sat in his backyard and helped recenter him. 

The Warriors have had Green’s back. And he’s had theirs. 

For Green, if a trade had happened, there wouldn’t have been any bitterness. Any resentment. Any betrayal. While Green can be reactionary, this clearly showed his other side. He’s contemplative. He’s likable. 

You don’t remain on a team for 13 1/2 years if you’re not. A few years ago, Green likened himself, Curry and Klay Thompson to being the co-founders of a start-up. Over their six Finals runs, they played an extra 127 games, or the equivalent of an extra season and a half. 

They became brothers, spending more time together than with their actual families. They wanted to retire together. Thompson left in free agency in July 2024 because he wanted out amid frustrations over contract negotiations and his decreased role. 

If Green had been traded, that would’ve felt different. 

Kerr has called Green the “heart and soul” of the team. His unbridled intensity served as a defibrillator in locker rooms and huddles, shocking his teammates into meeting him at the feverish pitch at which he existed. 

Without Green, the Warriors’ path could’ve been dramatically altered. 

Curry might not have been able to become the best shooter of all time without fully trusting that the other end of the court was patrolled. Kerr might not have been so effective without having a human form of fireworks echoing his words.

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Green is the Warriors’ glue guy, who selflessly facilitated on offense, while also pouring himself into the less glamorous side of the court. He is the person who does the things other players don’t want to do. He’s a blue-collar worker who turned himself into a four-time All-Star and future first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

And when his name surprisingly came into trade conversations, he didn’t hem and haw. He didn’t take veiled shots at the organization. Rather, he understood. 

The Warriors needed to do everything possible to acquire Antetokounmpo. Green knew that. He respected it. Even if it came at a big cost to him. 

Over the last decade, he helped the Warriors become one of the NBA’s most dominant teams. And in turn, they enabled him to become the best version of himself. 

And when his future was hanging in the balance, it was clear he overwhelmingly felt one emotion: appreciation. 

“What do I have to be upset about?” he asked. “I’ve been here for 13 1/2 years. That’s longer than probably 98% of NBA players have been in one place. And this guy from Saginaw has been in a place for 13 1/2 years.”

DETROIT — The Knicks were already banged up before Josh Hart limped off the court with another ankle problem.

It’s unclear how Hart, who has been dealing with soreness in his right ankle since spraining it on Christmas, was injured.

He grabbed a rebound about midway through the third quarter, started dribbling, and grabbed his ankle area in pain.

Hart went to the locker room and never returned, with the Knicks saying it was a right ankle issue and there was no further update.

Hart was listed as questionable before the game with a left ankle injury, which he twisted Tuesday.

“He’s a gamer,” Jalen Brunson said. “He’s going to do whatever he can to help his team win, regardless of how he feels or whatever. It’s just who he is.”

Two other starters didn’t suit up in the 118-80 loss to the Pistons. OG Anunoby (toe soreness) was a late scratch.

Karl-Anthony Towns sat with an eye laceration, which the center sustained in Wednesday’s double-OT win over the Nuggets.

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Jose Alvarado, who was acquired in a trade Thursday, was completing his physical and is expected to debut Sunday in Boston.

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Coach Mike Brown explained why the Knicks acquired Alvarado.

“He just brings a level of toughness to the team, his energy is unmatched,” Brown said. “What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the frontcourt on the ball especially on pick-and-rolls and stuff like that, is at a pretty high level.

“He shoots it better than most people think. We want to play fast and we believe he’s a guy who will come in and push the pace. Get us into our offense and all that other stuff. Because he is quick, he’s got a low center of gravity. Been around for a while, he’ll touch the paint and make others better. We’re a big spray team and he should be good in that area, too. So, excited to have him.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo is "close" to returning from injury, says Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who described the "relief" in the camp after speculation that the two-time MVP might be traded.

The 31-year-old forward remained at the club after Thursday's trade deadline, and Rivers said the other players were "skipping around the gym" after it was confirmed he would be staying put.

Antetokounmpo has been limited to 30 games this season because of injury and has not played since suffering a calf strain on 23 January.

"He's going to play when he's healthy - he's getting close," said Rivers.

"He's working out. He looks good. So I would say hopefully sooner than later."

The Bucks claimed their third consecutive win on Friday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 105-99, but remain 12th in the NBA's Eastern Conference, three wins behind the Charlotte Hornets in the final play-off spot.

The Bucks have a 6-14 losing record when playing without Antetokounmpo, but have won 15 of their 30 games when he has been in the team.

Antetokounmpo averages 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and a 65% shooting success this season, earning him a place in the NBA All-Star game.

He has completed a workout on court before the past three Bucks games and posted a clip on social media from the film The Wolf of Wall Street after Thursday's trade deadline passed, along with a message: "Legends don't chase. They attract."

"It was a relief," Rivers said. "I thought Giannis' tweet was like a unifying thing for all the players."

• Davis joins Washington from Dallas in eight-player trade
• Harden to join Cavaliers in pursuit of first title

The Dallas Mavericks have spent two weeks in free fall, during which their coach, Jason Kidd, has lost his cool with the press. They can point to injuries sinking their season, yet they also run a starting lineup without a traditional point guard, and have lacked a spare penetrator to combine with top pick Cooper Flagg. 

It’s game two of the miniseries, and the San Antonio Spurs have beat them twice this year. Despite some warts here and there, the Spurs are playing well and must continue to do so because the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first seed is vulnerable. Keep in mind that the Mavericks are on par with the league’s worst offensive rating on the road.

San Antonio Spurs (35-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-32)

February 7, 2026 | 5:00 PM CT

Watch: Amazon Prime, FanDuel Sports | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs injuries: De’Aaron Fox — questionable (back); Luke Kornet — questionable (adductor, ankle); Jeremy Sochan — questionable (quad); Lindy Waters III — out (knee)

Mavericks injuries: Kyrie Irving — out (knee); Derrick Lively II — out (foot); Khris Middleton — doubtful (trade pending); Brandon Williams — probable (leg)

What to watch for

• The Mavericks spend nearly as much time in transition as the Spurs, yet are slightly more efficient, scoring 1.2 points per possession. They notably kept up the pace in Thursday’s game even when the Spurs were scoring efficiently, which is not easy to do because checking in the ball takes away precious seconds. The Spurs will need to get back promptly, and avoid being torched by a trailing shooter.
• Coach Mitch Johnson said on Thursday that Stephon Castle’s normal role is starting, but he dominated in 22 bench minutes in the win over the Wild Horses. Castle will play well regardless of when his minutes begin, but using him as a reserve gives the Spurs an advantage because second-string players are easier for him to take apart. Still, expect to see him get most of the defensive minutes on Flagg.
• The next best thing three years ago versus the next best thing now. It makes it much sweeter that both play in Texas, and divisional matchups usually carry extra intensity. Don’t expect Wembanyama to guard him much because he’s only spent 83 seconds doing that this season, although it would be nice to see him take an unorthodox assignment. Giannis Antetokounmpo neutralized Jimmy Butler in the 2021 first round when guarding him, and maybe Wemby could do something similar. 
• League tracking data says the Mavericks are the 11th-best defense in the league, but it’s suspect, and their defensive numbers are better thanks to misses they didn’t cause. Opponents aren’t taking advantage of the Mavericks’ poor outside defense, only making 35.7 percent of the 18.7 wide-open attempts Dallas allows. A wide-open shot is defined as being open by six feet or more.

Los Angeles Clippers (24-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-21, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference action Sunday.

The Timberwolves are 18-16 in Western Conference games. Minnesota scores 119.5 points and has outscored opponents by 4.7 points per game.

The Clippers are 14-15 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 3-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers average 112.3 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 114.8 the Timberwolves give up to opponents.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 7 the Timberwolves won 109-106 led by 27 points from Jaden McDaniels, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points for the Clippers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.3 points over the last 10 games.

Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 20.4 points and 4.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 46.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.

Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (quadriceps).

Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (not injury related), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: day to day (illness), Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (not injury related).

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

New York Knicks (33-19, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-18, second in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Celtics take on New York.

The Celtics are 23-12 against conference opponents. Boston has a 5-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks are 22-12 in Eastern Conference play. New York averages 117.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.2 points per game.

The Celtics score 115.6 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 112.3 the Knicks allow. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Celtics won 123-117 in the last matchup on Dec. 3. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 42 points, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 35 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 20 points and five assists over the last 10 games.

Jalen Brunson is scoring 27.1 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 110.9 points, 47.5 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.

Knicks: 8-2, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).

Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Jose Alvarado: day to day (not injury related), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

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

Indiana Pacers (13-39, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (31-22, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Toronto after losing three in a row.

The Raptors are 23-14 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is the league leader with 19.2 fast break points per game led by RJ Barrett averaging 3.8.

The Pacers are 9-25 against conference opponents. Indiana gives up 118.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 7.7 points per game.

The Raptors average 114.0 points per game, 4.4 fewer points than the 118.4 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Raptors give up.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 15 the Raptors won 115-101 led by 30 points from Brandon Ingram, while Pascal Siakam scored 26 points for the Pacers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ingram is averaging 23.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and four assists over the last 10 games.

Siakam is averaging 23.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 42.3 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.

Pacers: 3-7, averaging 109.6 points, 42.5 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.7 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (back), RJ Barrett: day to day (injury management).

Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ivica Zubac: day to day (personal), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Kobe Brown: day to day (not injury related ).

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

Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-41, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cavaliers -12; over/under is 233.5

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento plays Cleveland looking to stop its five-game home skid.

The Kings are 9-18 in home games. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in one-possession games.

The Cavaliers are 14-10 on the road. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.4 points per game and is shooting 47.4%.

The Kings average 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers give up (13.9). The Cavaliers average 119.4 points per game, 1.0 fewer than the 120.4 the Kings give up to opponents.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Cavaliers won 123-118 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Donovan Mitchell is scoring 28.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson is averaging 18.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 53.8% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.9 points, 43.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.

Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 116.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: day to day (back), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: day to day (eye).

Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Evan Mobley: out (calf), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), James Harden: day to day (personal).

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

NEW YORK — To no one's surprise, Round One between UConn and St. John's men's basketball lived up to all the expectations on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

But it was the No. 22-ranked Red Storm that emerged as the victor rather than the No. 3-ranked team in the Big East heavyweight matchup.

The Red Storm did so by doing something the Huskies excelled at heading into the game, something that makes them a national championship contender once again: by getting defensive stops down the stretch.

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs. St. John’s basketball score, highlights of top 25 game

"I thought The Garden was as good as I've seen it," St. John's coach Rick Pitino said after the Red Storm's 81-72 win over the Huskies.

It was an entertaining contest that showed St. John's can go a full 40 minutes and grind out a win against a top-tier team like UConn. It also showed the Huskies are legit contenders once again, seeking a third national title in four years — even if their offense is still a work in progress.

"As hard a game as we've had to play all year," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.

For St. John's, it's the highest-ranked win since 2021 against Villanova, and the highest-ranked win at The Garden for the Red Storm since they took down No. 3 Duke on Jan. 30, 2011. It's also the first three-game winning streak against UConn since the 1999-2000 season, when St. John's swept the regular season series and won the Big East championship game.

3 straight wins over UConn for the Johnnies 👀@StJohnsBBallpic.twitter.com/J8Fso7KY1H

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 7, 2026

The Red Storm's statement win, which puts them within a half-game of first place in the Big East standings, ended an 18-game win streak for the Huskies. It's the first loss for UConn since it fell 71-67 to then-No. 4 Arizona on Nov. 19, and it's just the second overall loss of the year for the Huskies.

"We work too hard to play like that and just lose," UConn forward Alex Karaban said. "We invested too much time to lose, and it's a hard feeling. It's not an easy feeling to sit with right now."

The Red Storm had to fight for their fourth Quad 1 win of the season after an even first half.

That fight began with a 16-6 run to begin the second half to claim a 10-point lead after Bryce Hopkins drilled a 3-pointer at the 13:03 mark. The Huskies allowed the Red Storm to stay in the game — and then grow a double-digit lead — with self-inflicted wounds (like four turnovers in more than six minutes) and by falling into foul trouble.

B HOP TRIPLE

10-0 run for the Johnnies‼️ pic.twitter.com/xYYiPiSwYP

— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 7, 2026

St. John's turned 15 UConn turnovers, nine of which came from Huskies point guard Silas Demary Jr., into 20 points. The nine turnovers were a season high for Demary, who has otherwise been a home run find out of the transfer portal for the Huskies this season.

"You've got to be in great shape to do what they do," Hurley said of the St. John's defense and the disruption it created for the Huskies' offense. "It disrupts your ability to get into what you want to do offensively.

"I don't think that we turned it over because of their pressure. We turned it over because we lost our (expletive) mind a little bit and they have great defense. That's a top 20 defense, easy. They're hard to beat."

That fight then continued with the St. John's response to UConn's 16-9 run midway through the second half, where it saw its 11-point lead sliced to a single point after Demary hit a 3-pointer from the corner of the Huskies' bench.

A second-chance, tipped-in jumper from Dillon Mitchell off a missed 3-pointer and a 3-pointer from Dylan Darling turned the energy in The Garden back the Johnnies' way, and they closed on a 12-7 run. St. John's physicality around the rim led to 16 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds.

🔔🔔 pic.twitter.com/Txz2eUQj7Y

— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 7, 2026

"We made a lot of big plays tonight, a lot of big plays," Pitino said. "I'm proud of our guys for not panicking one bit at any point in the game."

Zuby Ejiofer was also a difference maker for St. John's across his 34 minutes of action, as he stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals.

"You know you’re going to make me retire because I’m not living life without you," Pitino said of the preseason Big East Player of the Year.

It's the fourth game this season in which Ejiofor finished with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 21 points were a key driver of the 50 points the Red Storm received from their frontcourt, (Mitchell had 15 points and Hopkins 14).

"They’re grown-ass men," Hurley said of the St. John's frontcourt. "... They are built for Big East games."

St. John's physicality also helped it earn its first top-25 win of the season. The Red Storm outscored the Huskies 42-22 inside the paint, and got to the line 31 times compared to UConn's 12 free-throw attempts.

Those reasons, and growing guard play, could make Pitino's squad a real tough out in the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm entered the night on the 5-seed line in projections, but after Friday's win, they should see a bump to a 4-seed.

For UConn, the Huskies miss out on adding a second Quad 1 win in Big East play on the season. Hurley's squad shouldn't see a drop in their projections, as a combined 13-3 Quad 1 and Quad 2 record, which features a win over Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, is a fine resume to keep them at the 1-seed line.

But for now, St. John's shifts its focus to Xavier at The Garden on Monday night with Round Two against the Huskies not that far in the distance on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. It will likely be a fight for the No. 1 seed in next month's Big East tournament back at The Garden.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. John's basketball makes statement with upset of UConn

DALLAS — WNBA star Caitlin Clark didn’t seem thrilled when former NBA star Reggie Miller declared her NBA comparison was Payton Pritchard on an NBC pregame broadcast last week. The clip of her seemingly disappointed reaction immediately blew up on the internet, with fans claiming that she appeared offended when Miller compared her to the Celtics guard.

But, when asked about the moment earlier this week, Pritchard shrugged it off.

“I don’t really look into that kind of stuff. I don’t really got a comment,” Pritchard said. “She’s a tremendous player, though.”

Caitlin Clark’s face reaction when Reggie Miller compared her game to Payton Pritchard is just 😂😂😂.

🎥 @TWDTV1pic.twitter.com/K1bm22sIAX

— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) February 2, 2026

The reality is that being compared to Payton Pritchard is no slight. Perhaps Clark was expecting to be compared to a more decorated star, like Steph Curry or Luka Doncic. But it’s not Curry, nor Doncic, who is the NBA’s most efficient isolation player.

That honor goes to the 6’1 Celtics guard.

Pritchard is the NBA’s most efficient isolation player, shooting 63.5% from the field on 1.8 iso attempts per game, per NBA.com.

He wasn’t the least bit surprised when he stumbled upon that efficiency statistic, which made its rounds on social media late last month.

“I feel like it just goes to the work, and it makes me believe that I’m on the right path,” Pritchard said. “And, every year, I get a little bit better and better. And, as long as that’s happening. I don’t want to say that I’ve had drastic jumps year-to-year to go [like[ from 10 to 20 points, but if I’m chipping away, going [up] 3 points, more assists, I’m getting a little bit better, then I’m on the right path. I feel like it’s just another sign that I’m doing what I’m supposed to.”

And, since the viral Caitlin Clark clip, the former Sixth Man of the Year has been especially productive.

In the last three games, he’s averaging 25.7 points on 52.7% shooting, while shooting 45.8% from three. While he’s technically come off the bench for all three of those games, is averaging more minutes in that span (34.5) than he has this season (32.7).

Coming off the bench hasn’t impacted his approach.

“The mindset don’t really change,” he said. “It’s just come out and do what I do — hoop and help the team win.”

Inside Payton Pritchard’s ridiculous isolation efficiency

If you watch Pritchard play, one of the most remarkable parts of his offensive prowess is how much space he’s able to create against players. He attributes that to three converging elements of his game.

“I think it’s the ability to stop on a dime, [being] strong enough to bump them off, and the handles to be able to create that separation too,” he said. “So it’s all three — setting them up with the handle, a little nudge, and the ability to stop.”

On Tuesday night, Pritchard came off the bench for the first time all season and dropped 26 points on 12-20 FG, including hitting 10 of 12 of his two-point attempts.

Just moments after checking into the game, he drove past Cooper Flagg for a reverse layup. His litany of shots included a fadeaway over Caleb Martin, a floater over Ryan Nembhard, and multiple jumpers over Flagg.

No two shots looked the same because, depending on who was guarding him and at what angle, Pritchard pulled out a different move.

“I’d still shoot it over Wemby — like I had a shot against Wemby, an isolation on top, and I shot, like, an underhand floater,” Pritchard said, recalling a move he made in the Celtics’ game against the San Antonio Spurs last month.

After all, the Oregon star famously spends the entire offseason inviting different elite players from around the world to guard him, so that he can perfect the right counter against each type of defender.

“I’m not really worried about who it is,” he said. “Now, [Wemby] might change the trajectory of my shot. I might shoot a different shot. But that’s why, in the summertime, I’m playing against many different heights and different types of players, because [if I’m going up against] somebody quicker, or somebody stronger, or taller, you’re gonna have to get to a different spot, a different type of shot to get it off.”

Most efficient Isolation scorer in the league this season? Payton Pritchard pic.twitter.com/9PdrpFgIG2

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) January 21, 2026

In Friday’s 21-point comeback win against the Miami Heat, Pritchard was particularly instrumental. The Celtics guard struggled in the first half (5 points on 1-6 FG), but went crazy in the second, exploding for 19 points on 7-9 shooting.

Afterwards, Jaylen Brown credited him for turning the game around.

“Payton has just developed different aspects of his game,” Brown said. “Offensively, he’s always been able to be a three-point threat. He established that, but now I feel like he’s learning to use his body, get to the midrange, get his shot off, and be effective and efficient, which has helped take him another step, finding ways to get to the basket. He looks great.”

From regular DNPs to one of the NBA’s elite scorers

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka has long known that Pritchard had this in him. He recalled having three different 1-on-1 meetings with Pritchard through the 2021-2022 season, in which Pritchard fell out of the rotation in favor of Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson.

Udoka explained to the then-23-year-old that his time was coming, but remembers Pritchard’s eagerness to lace up: “He is always who he’s been — confident, aggressive, but also itching to get that opportunity.”

So, nothing he’s seen since 2022 has surprised him — not the Sixth Man of the Year award last Spring, nor his ascendance this season as the Celtics’ third-leading scorer.

“He’s always been who he is,” Udoka said. “It was opportunity more than anything.”

The Celtics traded Schroder, Richardson, and Romeo Langford at the midseason trade deadline in 2022, paving a pathway for Pritchard to get his much-desired, more consistent minutes.

“Ever since then, he’s taken off,” Udoka said. “You knew he was going to be ready for it.”

Nowadays, the Celtics guard is the NBA’s assist-to-turnover ratio leader, among players who average at least 3 assists per game.

In 2026, he was the Celtics’ second-leading scorer in 2026, averaging 17.8 points per game. In that span, he’s shooting 49.1% from the field and 42.1% from three, an early-season shooting slump in the rearview mirror.

Sometimes, regardless of what the defense throws at him, he just about looks unguardable.

Friday night against the Heat was one of those nights.

“I have a lot of tools in the toolbox,” Pritchard said, matter-of-factly. “So, I pull them out.”

The Hornets had a big trade deadline — but one of their moves was tweaked thanks to an injury.

Coby White will still be a Hornet, but the team will now send the Bulls two second-round picks instead of three. The reason for the alteration is that White has a calf strain that will sideline him for at least some amount of time.

In the amended deal, the Hornets are sending 2031 second-rounders owned by the Knicks and Nuggets to the Bulls, according to The Athletic.

White is making $12.9 million in the final year of his deal and is heading toward free agency this offseason.

White, in Charlotte, is expected to come off the bench for the red-hot Hornets, who have the league’s longest winning streak at eight straight victories.

The North Carolina alum enters a guard rotation highlighted by former All-Star LaMelo Ball and Rookie of the Year contender Kon Knueppel.

White is averaging 18.6 points with 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game this season.

The 6-foot-4 combo guard is shooting 44 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from 3.