Category: NBA

Jose Alvarado is no Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Jose Alvarado is a New York Knick.

Alvarado might have been the most rumored target not named Giannis for the Knicks all season long, and unlike their attempt at prying Antetokounmpo, the Knicks had enough to trade for Alvarado, finally pulling the trigger hours before the trade deadline.

The Knicks are sending Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash to the Pelicans for Alvarado, sources said. https://t.co/Dqb6As7uAI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Shams Charania of ESPN reported that New York acquired the Brooklyn native for Dalen Terry, who the Knicks acquired for Guerschon Yabusele last night, two second-round picks, and cash.

Alvarado, who is averaging 7.9PPG, 3.1APG, 2.8RPG, and 0.9SPG this season, brings a level of toughness and physicality the Knicks have missed at times this year. And while plugging in a 6-foot point guard into a rotation that already includes the undersized Jalen Brunson and Deuce McBride may seem both redundant and unnecessary, this is still a short-term upgrade considering the Knicks brought in a proven rotation player for Yabusele, who had been unproductive in his limited minutes thus far.

Alvarado also gives the Knicks more flexibility in the kinds of lineups they can field. If head coach Mike Brown chooses to do so, he can now play McBride next to Brunson much more, without worrying about back-up point guard minutes. His ball-handling abilities will be a breath of fresh air for a team that lacks playmaking and creativity. That should allow him to thrive both next to Brunson, as well as the other starters, and more specifically, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has looked and performed better next to Tyler Kolek, a more traditional point guard. Additionally, Alvarado also gives them an additional point-of-attack defender, something they’ve badly needed.

His counting stats may not stick out, and his splits of 41.8%/36.3%/83.3% aren’t going to wow anyone either. But his contagious energy, combined with having his hometown crowd behind him, should lead to some fun and memorable moments.

To reiterate, Jose Alvarado is truly appealing to me on the condition that he opts in to his deal and extends six months after a trade. That would help the Knicks enter the upcoming offseason below the second apron, setting them up to finally go above it for the 2027-28 season

— Jeremy Cohen (@TheCohencidence) January 8, 2026

Ultimately, this move will be judged on two things, though.

One, obviously, will be how he plays. Seeing as Yabusele spent most of the season looking like one of the worst free-agent signings this decade, that likely won’t be a very high hurdle.

And two, Alvarado also gives them an additional point-of-attack defender, something they’ve badly needed. The 27-year-old has a $4.5 million player option for next year, and as Jeremy Cohen cleverly pointed out, if he can opt in, it would give the Knicks some much-needed flexibility, as it would help them enter the offseason below the second apron.

Welcome to New York, Jose!

After gauging offers for several days for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping their two-time MVP through today’s trade deadline. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news today, with several others following up to confirm the story.

This has been the prevailing sentiment over the past couple of days. Jamal Collier of ESPN put out an article today that backs up much of the other reporting, saying the Bucks felt no pressure to deal Giannis at today’s deadline:

“The Bucks don’t feel the pressure to move Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday, team sources told ESPN hours ahead of the deadline. Rival executives have grown dubious in the past 24 hours about whether the Bucks would actually move their franchise star after more than 12 seasons together.“

Jake Fischer later spoke to a team executive who said the Bucks were “never serious” about trading Giannis at the deadline.

The Bucks got right to work adding new pieces to the squad after the news, with Shams reporting that the Bucks are sending Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for center Nick Richards and wing Nigel Hayes-Davis. This deal fits right in line with what Collier said the Bucks would do from this morning:

“Milwaukee has still scoured the market for a potential upgrade to its roster, sources told ESPN, hoping to benefit from a team looking to offload salary in the future.”

Bucks fans likely no longer have to sit in dread by their phone, waiting for a potential Giannis deal to go down. After months of ESPN’s prognosticators saying the best offer was from Golden State, or that it was 60/40 he would head down to South Beach, the silence will be bliss. This isn’t a full-fledged guarantee that they won’t revisit a potential deal in the offseason, but at least Giannis should be in green and white for the rest of the 2025–26 season.

It was said to be quiet for the Suns this trade season, as they were exceeding expectations and did not want to ruffle feathers in the rotation. That being known, though, it was always indicated that one move would happen for the team, one to duck the luxury tax. By doing that, they had to trade Nick Richards, and the Suns were active in making that move, finally finding a way to do so.

The Suns traded Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards to the Milwaukee Bucks for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

This deal was very beneficial for the Suns, as it helped them accomplish multiple goals. By doing this, the Suns save $ 2.5 million, allowing them to avoid the tax.

Not only that, but it allows them to move off two guys who were not in their rotation and have some flexibility. Richards was the third center (sometimes fourth), and Hayes-Davis was a fun offseason story but never panned out. Even if Coffey and Anthony are not standouts, either would give the Suns a new look.

All 4 players in the Milwaukee/Phoenix trade are on expiring contracts.

Phoenix is $2.2M below the tax and has room to sign a 15th player.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2026

Even with this move, Phoenix can still sign one more player to the roster. If they do not want to waive either Anthony or Coffey to see what they have, they can still sign either Jamaree Bouyea or Isaiah Livers.

This trade by the Suns will almost certainly create a spot for Jamaree Bouyea in the near future.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 5, 2026

Ultimately, this is a win-win for the Suns. They did not want to be the bad guys and waive Hayes-Davis or Richards, so they moved off them and still have the flexibility to do so. Luckily, as well, Phoenix did not have to add any draft capital to shed this money. Many teams over the past few days have had to (Cavs with Lonzo, Magic with Tyus), so for the Suns to do this, it is a huge win. Especially since they already have limited draft capital, I am happy they did not have to give any up.

Coffey and Anthony are some fun pieces to add to. Anthony, a former lottery pick, has been a streaky shooter, but could bring some fun to this team if kept. Coffey has also been a target for me in the past. He has slowed down a bit defensively compared to the Clippers, but he could be another body for depth, especially with the injuries to this team.

When you look at who they had to move to, it’s not that big of a deal. Mainly, this was a salary-making move to help duck some unnecessary spending this year and to set up the offseason. Now, there is $8 million more available for Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams, key free agents for this squad.

What do you guys think, though? Let us know your thoughts down below

The Lakers just moved to the front of the line for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

After a week of deliberations and trade discussions, the Bucks are reportedly holding onto Giannis Antetokounmpo through the deadline, which means things will carry over into the offseason…where the Lakers will be waiting.

The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Ahead of the trade deadline, the Lakers could not offer anything remotely competitive with only one first round pick available to deal. Once the draft rolls around in June, though, the Lakers will be able to trade three first round picks and a whole lot of cap space to play with.

As reporting this last week indicated, the Lakers were already a “team of interest” and were already seen as a “very viable threat” if the deal wasn’t done at the deadline.

One major appeal in the Lakers’ package will be the cap relief they can offer Milwaukee, which is in financial hell after waiving and stretching Damian Lillard. Pair that with a trio of first round picks and LA will be in the conversation.

Other teams will certainly be able to make competitive offers and likely even better packages. Does that mean Austin Reaves will be involved in a potential sign-and-trade? He’s certainly the best player the Bucks could get back, but it requires the Lakers to be willing to trade him and for Reaves to want to go to Milwaukee.

With him, the Lakers would have the best trade package. Without him, it becomes much more of a debate. There’s a good chance his involvement might be required for the Lakers to ensure they land him.

Depending on Milwaukee’s motivations, they could also look to do right by Giannis and send him somewhere he wants to be, which could be Los Angeles. As we’ve seen previous players do — namely Anthony Davis — if Giannis says he will only re-sign in Los Angeles, then other teams may balk at making serious offers, moving the Lakers up the list.

That, however, requires Giannis to be the bad guy and start making demands, something he has very much shied away from doing to this point. But, as a result, the Bucks have shied away from dealing him. If the two sides get serious, then perhaps a move can be made.

And if that finally happens, the Lakers will be one of the first teams waiting.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

On the heels of a big trade that saw the Atlanta Hawks send Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors for Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga, they’re right back at it tonight at home against the Utah Jazz. 

Lauri Markkanen continues to play well, and my Jazz vs. Hawks predictions are targeting him to have a big evening in Georgia. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, February 5.

Jazz vs Hawks prediction

Jazz vs Hawks best bet: Lauri Markkanen Over 25.5 points (-110)

The Utah Jazz may be at the bottom of the Western Conference, but Lauri Markkanen is making his presence felt offensively. The veteran is averaging a career-high 27.4 points per game, which ranks ninth in the NBA. 

Markkanen has cashed the Over in back-to-back contests, dropping 27 points in each. He’s also hit the Over in five of his previous seven appearances. These last two games were both on the road, and Utah is at the Atlanta Hawks tonight. 

In one meeting with the Hawks this season, Markkanen went nuclear, balling out for a whopping 40 points in 36 minutes of action. Expect him to keep it rolling this evening.

Jazz vs Hawks same-game parlay

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is better known for his scoring, but he’s also a respectable playmaker. The Canadian guard is averaging exactly 3.5 assists per contest, and he’s hit the Over in two straight. 

During that span, he has 12 dimes. Alexander-Walker also happened to dish out five assists against Utah this season already.

Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic is Utah's best option on the glass. He's averaging 10.2 boards per game and has double-digit rebounds in seven of his last nine, clearing tonight's line in six of those.

Jazz vs Hawks SGP

• Lauri Markkanen Over 25.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 assists
• Jusuf Nurkic Over 10.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Risacher Pour Trois

Zaccharie Risacher is draining 2.1 triples per night at home for a 44% clip compared to 1.1 makes for a 28% clip on the road. He’s also cashed the Over in two of his last four. 

Jazz vs Hawks SGP

• Lauri Markkanen Over 25.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 assists
• Jusuf Nurkic Over 10.5 rebounds
• Zaccharie Risacher Over 1.5 made threes

Jazz vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Jazz +9.5 (-110) | Hawks 9.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Jazz +290 | Hawks -370
• Over/Under: Over 244 (-110) | Under 244 (-110)

Jazz vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 26 of their last 40 games (+10.60 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Hawks.

How to watch Jazz vs Hawks

Jazz vs Hawks latest injuries

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

After months of speculation, we now know where Giannis Antetokounmpo will be – at least through the end of the 2025-26 season.

According to ESPN, the Bucks have informed other teams that they are keeping Antetokounmpo on the roster beyond the NBA trading deadline, which is Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.

This doesn't rule out that Milwaukee could eventually trade Antetokounmpo during the offseason when potential suitors would have more draft capital and financial flexibility to sweeten their offers. But it also opens the path for the Bucks to try to make complementary moves to convince Antetokounmpo to commit to the franchise over the long term.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is signed through the end of next season and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season. In theory, the Bucks would want to secure Antetokounmpo's future with a multiyear extension, but if they get any indication that he's not committed to signing a deal, they eventually might consider a trade to recoup assets for a post-Giannis era.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, though he is currently sidelined with a right calf strain and is expected to miss several more weeks.

Antetokounmpo has had an eventful season with the Bucks.

Recently, he booed home fans at Fiserv Forum after they had booed the team’s performance. Earlier in the year, he scrubbed his social media of most mentions of the Bucks, leading to the rampant speculation that he was looking to be traded.

According to multiple reports, Antetokounmpo broached his future with Bucks management through his representatives, but he addressed the rumors and said "there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, 'I want a trade.'" In mid-December, however, he didn’t rule out that his agent might be having conversations about his future with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo has maintained that he wants to compete for a championship, but the Bucks (20-29) are languishing in the East.

"We’re not playing hard," Antetokounmpo told reporters Jan. 21 after a 20-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "We’re not doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own.

"At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work – we’ve just got to keep on chipping away, possession by possession."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis staying put as Bucks end rumors before NBA trade deadline

After weeks, scratch that, months, of reporters updating fans on the ongoing Giannis Antetokounmpo story, we all get to take a collective exhale of both annoyance and relief as the sweepstakes for the Greek superstar will be put on a temporary hold.

While the Warriors, Heat, Timberwolves, and the Knicks were all linked to the big man to varying degrees over the last several weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks have “indicated to teams” that they intend to hang on to the former MVP.

The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

According to NBA correspondent Marc Stein, Milwaukee also reportedly believes that if they can get lucky in the lottery, they could convince Antetokounmpo to extend his relationship with the Bucks for a bit longer.

The Bucks have informed the Warriors that they will NOT be accepting their offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @BrettSiegelNBApic.twitter.com/WDdvJ0WegS

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 5, 2026

For the Knicks fans who want to see Antetokounmpo donning a Knicks jersey, though, this is good news. With other teams gaining traction as more likely landing spots for the big man in recent weeks, this decision gives them some time. Time that they can use to not assess their current roster for the rest of the season, while also trying to acquire more assets in a last-ditch attempt if they deem necessary.

This could also prove to be somewhat significant in that league insiders believe that the Bucks will shut Antetokounmpo down for the remainder of the season if a trade cannot be finalized. If that does end up being the case, it would confirm his absence for the Bucks’ February 28th game against the Knicks.

The Charlotte Hornets will look to extend their winning streak to eight in a row when they visit the Houston Rockets tonight. 

Charlotte is flying up the Eastern Conference standings, and my Hornets vs. Rockets predictions are taking them to grab another road win.

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of tonight's action in my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 5.

Hornets vs Rockets prediction

Hornets vs Rockets best bet: Hornets moneyline (+136)

Don't look now, but the Charlotte Hornets have won seven in a row and are one game out of a play-in seed.

There are underlying numbers that make this surge seem sustainable. The Hornets sport a +1.8 point differential on the season, better than the next three teams ahead of them in the standings.

There's talent here as well, with Brandon Miller (20.6 ppg) and LaMelo Ball (19.1 ppg) being supplemented by rookie Kon Knueppel (18.7 ppg), who has proven to be deadly from 3-point range. Charlotte has also strengthened its depth by picking up Coby White from the Chicago Bulls.

While the Houston Rockets still look like one of the better teams in the Western Conference, they’ve been getting by rather than dominating of late. Houston has lost two of its last five games, covered just once in its last six, and been held below 100 points in two of those contests.

All of this suggests the Hornets should be competitive tonight, and the fact that Houston is also playing on the second night of a tough back-to-back gives Charlotte the edge.

I’m taking the Hornets to win outright.

Hornets vs Rockets same-game parlay

Both Charlotte and Houston have been trending toward the Under of late, and they rank among the slower-paced teams in the NBA.

I’ll also take Miller to eclipse 20.5 points, a mark he’s cleared in nine of his last 11 games.

Hornets vs Rockets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• Under 216.5
• Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: All Ball

Ball continues to produce in a variety of ways for the Hornets and has recorded at least 31 PRA in each of his last three games.

Hornets vs Rockets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• Under 216.5
• Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points
• LaMelo Ball Over 30.5 points + rebounds + assists

Hornets vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Hornets +3.5 (-110) | Rockets -3.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hornets +140 | Rockets -165
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)

Hornets vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Hornets are 7-0 straight up in their last seven games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Rockets.

How to watch Hornets vs Rockets

Hornets vs Rockets latest injuries

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

With the trade deadline just hours away, the Lakers made a deal, sending Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard.

The move gives LA another elite shooter, but it cost them their lone remaining second round pick. With only a first round pick left to trade — and one that would complicate their ability to trade other first round picks in the summer — it looks like the Lakers are likely done making deals before the deadline, as reported by Broderick Turner of the LA Times.

“The Lakers are not expected to make any more moves today — the NBA deadline for deals is noon PST — and instead look to make a big splash this summer when they have a lot more resources available.”

While the Lakers have expiring contracts on the books, an unwillingness to take back long-term contracts negates their value in a trade. Paired with a lack of draft capital to add as sweeteners in a trade and you get a situation where LA isn’t likely to make a deal.

Instead, the Lakers can focus on potential buyout candidates. The trade for Kennard freed up an extra $500,000 in cap space, giving them more wiggle room to sign a player to their last roster spot.

On top of that, they’ll have plenty of cap space to make a big deal this summer. Rumors indicate that the Lakers would be a “very viable threat” to land Giannis Antetokounmpo if he’s not dealt at the deadline. And by the sounds of it, that appears to be the likely outcome.

In the summer, the Lakers can also pursue restricted free agents like Peyton Watson to help bolster their roster.

LA has a healthy roster and just added one of the best shooters in the NBA to their lineup, so that’ll have to be enough until they can wheel and deal and go after the big stars in the summer.

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

The Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards made big splashes that changed their future outlook. Those pieces won’t be available tonight, but both franchises are trending up.

Though there’s been progress on the Wizards’ side, there’s still a ginormous gap between them and the Pistons currently. The Wizards have one of the worst offenses and defenses in the association, while the Pistons have performed like the best team in the conference.

Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris are questionable due to Cade’s wrist and Harris’ hip, but the Pistons have shown they can win with their leaders off the floor. Daniss Jenkins, who would take most of the ball-handling duties, is out too. It will be interesting to see how the Pistons divvy up the playmaking in this one.

Game Vitals

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

How: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons -14.5

Analysis

The Pistons odds to win these games, provided by FanDuel, still crack me up sometimes. Detroit has been so dominant, and these spreads reflect that. The Wizards are the Wizards, but Detroit hasn’t been an underdog in one of my previews in quite some time. This is good hoops.

They’re coming off a crunch-time win over the Denver Nuggets. Denver crept back after Detroit had a sizeable lead, but the Pistons continued to power through.

Washington doesn’t provide the same challenges as Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić. Rookie microwave scorer Tre Johnson is out tonight. He’s a natural bucket-getter who can do some of the same stuff Murray can do with range shooting. Alex Sarr is a promising second-year player who is probably more of a four than a five.

The fact that they could buy low on Anthony Davis, paired with putting him at the five next to Sarr, is the main reason they pursued Davis, if you ask me. Those two plus Kyshawn George in the frontcourt is intriguing.

Trae Young’s defensive woes are well-documented; those two bigs can cover for him as much as anyone could, and Young will make their lives easier in PnR possessions.

The Pistons big swing came in the form of spacing. Duncan Robinson, who torched Denver with six made 3s, is the only shooter on the roster that coaches designate as can’t leave. Teams are fine allowing Detroit off-ball players to let it fly, whether they’ve made a couple or not.

Kevin Huerter isn’t shooting the leather off the ball, but teams still respect him as a dead-eye shooter. Once you get that “there’s the shooter” reputation, it really never goes away. Jaden Ivey has shot it better than Huerter over the last few years, but he’ll probably never bend defenders the way Huerter does.

I’m hopeful that playing next to an elite playmaker like Cade can unlock Huerter again. Even if he doesn’t return to 40 percent form, he’ll still provide space for Cade and Jalen Duren to operate.

Huerter is listed as day-to-day tonight, but if Cade doesn’t play, it’s another opportunity for the young core to show their chops. We’ll probably see more Point Ausar and a more scoring-aggressive Ron Holland. He hasn’t put up double-digit shot attempts since January 10th. Caris LeVert is not a part of the young core but will get plenty of on-ball reps.

In two games without Cade, Duren has averaged 25.5 points and 15.0 rebounds. Comical stuff. Even in 186 minutes with Duren on the floor and Cade off, Detroit has a 120 offensive rating.

JD has elite impact and was named an All-Star for a reason. The sky is the limit. I don’t know if he’ll ever average those ’03 Ben Wallace 15 boards for a full season, but 25ish points per game isn’t that crazy. His improvement this year makes me believe anything is possible with him — still only 22 years old.

These squads are built backwards. Detroit’s young core includes the best player on the roster. Washington’s young core (Sarr, Johnson, George, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington?) is solid, but their best players are now Young and Davis. They’re mixing timelines, while the Pistons will grow and possibly peak together.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (37-12)

Cade Cunningham (questionable), Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris (questionable), Jalen Duren

Washington Wizards (13-36)

Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Justin Champagnie, Alex Sarr

Question of the day

Did the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for James Harden move you? How would a series go between the Cavs and Pistons?

It’s NBA Trade Deadline Day, which means there’s betting value all over the player prop markets.

I’ve found my three favorites, which include Jalen Suggs bringing the magic back to the Orlando offense, and Quentin Grimes lighting up the scoreboard in La La Land.

Those and more NBA picks for Thursday, February 5, are below.

Best NBA player props today

Prop #1: Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists

+110 at bet365

Jalen Suggs has been a cash machine with his assists prop since he returned to the lineup, and I love him to keep dishing out the dimes against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Orlando Magic point guard is averaging 6.3 assists in six games, and now faces a Nets team that struggles to stop everything.

The Nets rank 26th in defensive rating and are next to last in opponent assists per possession.

Suggs has topped 5.5 assists five times during this stretch, so getting the Over at plus money is too good to pass up.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: YES, FDSN Florida

Prop #2: Mark Williams Over 11.5 points

-115 at bet365

The Golden State Warriors are missing an interior presence, and trading for Kristaps Porzingis doesn’t do much to change that.

Besides, he’s still a few games out from playing. In recent games, the Dubs have allowed 12 points to Andre Drummond, 21 to Jalen Duren, and 15 to Rudy Gobert.

So, containing Mark Williams will be a tough task. The Phoenix Suns center is averaging 12.3 points per game and is coming off an impressive 24-point performance against the Trail Blazers.

I’m betting Williams has another big night against the overmatched and undersized Warriors.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: Quentin Grimes Over 1.5 threes

+115 at bet365

Quentin Grimes looks ready to step up in Paul George's absence and has started this road trip on the right foot.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ shooting guard has put up 14 and 10 points in wins over the Clippers and Warriors, going 4-for-11 from 3-point range.

Tonight, the Sixers head back down the coast to take on the Los Angeles Lakers, who continue to struggle defending the perimeter, ranking 24th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.

Grimes will take advantage of this added opportunity and cash this plus-money bet.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSP+, SPECSN

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

The Hawks remained busy on deadline day. After getting a strong last month from their offseason guard acquisition, Luke Kennard is now on the move to the Western Conference. This from Shams Charania of ESPN:

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Kennard is shooting a league-leading 49.7% from three after taking criticism for his passivity to begin his stint with the Hawks this season. In comes Gabe Vincent, a forgotten man in Los Angeles who broke out with the Miami Heat during their most recent run to the NBA Finals.

Vincent makes $500,000 more than Kennard ($11 million) in salary, but both player’s deals are up after this season. This move seems primarily motivated by picking up the Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick.

Additionally, the Hawks have announced the Jock Landale deal while also waiving Duop Reath to open up a roster spot.

We have requested waivers on center Duop Reath

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 5, 2026

Welcome to the 🅰️, Jock! pic.twitter.com/2hFWVIszfv

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 5, 2026

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks requested waivers on injured center Duop Reath on Thursday, four days after he was acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Hawks sent forward Vit Krejci to Portland on Sunday in exchange for Reath and second-round draft picks in 2027 and 2030.

Reath hasn’t played since Jan. 18. He underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot last week and is expected to miss the rest of the season after averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds.

The Hawks made another move on Wednesday when they acquired center Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash considerations. Landale was traded to Atlanta one day after being traded from Memphis to Utah as part of an eight-player trade.

Landale, 30, averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 45 games, including 25 starts, for Memphis.

On Wednesday night, Atlanta traded center Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State in exchange for forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield.

___

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

The Lakers finally made a move at the trade deadline on Thursday morning, joining the madness that began earlier in the week.

A host of big name free agents have been moved, all in fairly surprising deals, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still on the board. As we count down the final hours until the deadline, here’s a place for everyone to react to the news around the league while we keep you updated on the other deals across the NBA.

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The Mavs get a real point guard just in time to tank

After spending most the year trying to win and not having a point guard, the Mavs traded away AD, are trying to tank and have a point guard now.

The Charlotte Hornets are trading Tyus Jones to the Dallas Mavericks for Malaki Branham, sources tell ESPN. Mavericks have had interest in Jones this season and get him today. Hornets open up a $7 million trade exception.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Zubac heads to Indy

A former baby Laker is on his way to the East as the Clippers continue their teardown. Surely, the deal will be for nothing more than Mike Muscala. I will never forgive you, Magic.

Also, the protections on the 2026 first round pick are wild.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eu6KtWgA9j

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

If the Pacers first-rounder this year falls outside of that 1-4/10-30 range, it converts to the Pacers 2031 unprotected first. https://t.co/o9lMFSAdNf

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Philly gets under the luxury tax

No matter how bad things get for the Lakers, just know you’re not Philly, who spends each trade deadline shedding salaries and picks to get under the luxury tax.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trading Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources tell ESPN. This gives the 76ers the flexibility to complete conversion of two-way Dominick Barlow.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Everyone is dumping contracts on the Nets

As one of the only teams with cap space, teams are just dumping deals on Brooklyn to get under the luxury tax.

The Boston Celtics are trading Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Nuggets clear roster spot

Looking to open up roster space to sign their two-way standout, the Nuggets dumped Hunter Tyson and a pick to the Nets for a future second.

The Denver Nuggets are trading Hunter Tyson and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for the lesser favorable of a Clippers/Hawks 2026 second, sources tell ESPN. Denver creates an open roster spot for the buyout market and gets out of the luxury tax.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Denver Nuggets will convert swingman Spencer Jones from a two-way contract to a standard contract, league sources tell me. The rookie has had a standout campaign. pic.twitter.com/MGTan23xZq

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2026

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Knicks bring Jose Alvarado home

The Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the Knicks, giving the Knicks some guard depth. For New Orleans, they will have some extra cash, draft picks and Dalen Terry.

The Knicks are sending Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash to the Pelicans for Alvarado, sources said. https://t.co/Dqb6As7uAI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Giannis Antetokounmpo to remain a Buck

After a ton of rumors and hoopla, Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be traded. He will remain in Milwaukee, and we’ll see what happens with him in the summer.

The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Lakers land Luke Kennard

After sitting on the sidelines for much of the week, the Lakers finally jumped in the pool with a deal to land a sharpshooter.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Wolves finally get a guard

Minnesota has been in search of a guard for most of the season and eventually found one in Chicago — where they were hoarding them — in Ayo Dosunmu.

Minnesota traded Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to Chicago for Dosunmu and Julian Phillips, sources said. https://t.co/bVhLA9Sb3f

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Knicks move on from Yabusele

After a breakout Olympics and strong season with the Sixers last year, Yabusele was a bit of a flop in New York, leading to the Knicks trading him to Chicago.

The New York Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Jackson-Davis dealt to Toronto

Former Jalen Hood-Schifino teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis went from promising rookie season to out of the rotation before being moved to the Raptors on Wednesday.

The Golden State Warriors have traded center Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a 2026 second-round pick via the Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6T94OzpLhQ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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Kuminga FINALLY is traded

The long national nightmare finally ended on Wednesday evening with the Warriors packaging Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis, an interesting move for Golden State if the big man is healthy.

BREAKING: The Golden State Warriors are trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eqNWwCupEZ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.