Oct 22, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It was a strong first half of the season for the Phoenix Suns. With many prediction outlets and pundits projecting them to be at the bottom of the standings, they won 32 games and sit in 7th in the Western Conference standings, and just three games out of third place. With the team having a surprising year, Suns Owner Mat Ishbia is making sure to call out people and organizations that had low expectations for the team heading into the season.
32 wins for the Suns and all before the All-Star break… think that puts us above your season prediction/bet of under 31.5 wins @BillSimmons! 👀 You guys usually have great content and good stuff… thanks for all you do. But also keep your eye on the Suns, like I told you… we…
Always fun to see what the so-called “experts” thought about the Suns before the season. Proud of what we’re building here in Phoenix and we are just getting started! https://t.co/K5vjjuEl56
With the eighth hardest strength of schedule remaining, the Suns could have their hands full the rest of the regular season. They play every team ahead of them in the West at least once, and their last game of the season is against the team with the most wins in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have beaten the Suns three out of four times this year already.
The Suns play the Los Angeles Lakers twice down the stretch, two important matchups with a team so close in both conference and divisional standings. The Suns are currently 2-1 in the series this year and need one more win to secure the season victory.
With seeds 3-7 separated by just three games, having the season series win over a divisional opponent could prove to be the difference between being in or out of the Play-In Tournament. For a team like the Lakers that are heavily relying on a 41-year-old LeBron James, those five to six days of rest that come with not being in the play-in could be the difference between going home early or late in the playoffs, on top of the risk of being eliminated in the play-in tournament.
If the Suns are going to avoid the play-in tournament, they’re going to have to play better on the road to finish out the season. While they’re over .500 in their 27 games away from the Mortgage Matchup Center, they have the least amount of wins of any Western Conference team in the top-seven on the road. A major bulk of their road games will come next month, when the Suns have their second six-game road trip of the season. Phoenix has 14 games away and 13 games at home the rest of the way.
One benefit for the Suns is that they are almost the healthiest they’ve been all-year. Dillon Brooks will be out against the San Antonio Spurs coming out of the break due to a suspension for getting his 16th technical foul, but the rest of the team is healthy outside of Grayson Allen, who injured his knee before the All-Star Break. There should be a health update on his injury status soon.
With a tough schedule, a mostly healthy roster and a nearly even split in home and road games the rest of the way, where do you think the Suns will finish in the standings?
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Rashaun Agee had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Zach Clemence and Marcus Hill scored 14 points apiece, and Texas A&M erased a 13-point second-half deficit Wednesday night to beat Mississippi 80-77 and snap a four-game skid.
Ole Miss (11-15, 3-10 SEC), which had lost four in a row by double figures, has now lost eight straight.
Ruben Dominguez had 13 points and five assists for Texas A&M (18-8, 8-5).
AJ Storr scored 16 of his 21 in the second half and Malik Dia — who left the game due to an apparent ankle injury with almost three minutes remaining — had 20 points on 10 of 14 shooting for the Rebels. Ilias Kamardine added 12 points and Patton Pinkins had 11.
Ole Miss took its biggest lead of the game at 63-50 when Dia threw down a dunk with 11:46 left in the game. He followed with another dunk son after to make it a 10-point lead with 7:06 left. Texas A&M closed the game on a 19-6 run and held the Rebels scoreless for the final 3 1/2 minutes. Dominguez sparked the spurt with a 3-pointer, added three free throws and hit another 3. Clemence had six points before Agee scored the last four of the game.
Texas A&M shot 61% (19 of 31) in the second half.
Agee made a driving layup that capped a 10-2 run and gave the Aggies a 78-77 lead — their first since 18-17 — with 1:58 left.
The Rebels had a season-high 23 fast break points and scored 20 points off 13 Texas A&M turnovers.
OG Anunoby’s toenail is still missing, but he’ll be back in the starting lineup.
Jeremy Sochan arrived and, according to coach Mike Brown, “will get an opportunity.”
So who is the odd man out?
New Knicks Jeremy Sochan will get an opportunity to be in the Knicks’ lineup rotation, according to head coach Mike Brown. Getty Images
It sounds like rookie Mohamed Diawara.
“I’ll play young guys, and I have played young guys in front of vets before,” the Knicks coach said. “But I’m going to give Jeremy an opportunity.”
Diawara, 20, has been a pleasant surprise this season while filling in for injured teammates, flashing two-way potential with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and averaging 20 minutes in the past five games.
He’s shooting 41.3 percent on 3s and coming off a strong performance in a victory over the 76ers, the last game before the Knicks signed Sochan, a 6-foot-8 defensive specialist who plays the same power forward position as Diawara.
Brown explained that Sochan, who is just 22 but in his fourth NBA season, gets the edge because of his experience and since there are just two months to determine his value for the postseason.
Rookie Mohamed Diawara, who has played well recently, will be out of the Knicks’ rotation for the time being. NBAE via Getty Images
Both Diawara and Sochan are free agents in the summer.
“[Sochan] knows the league. The league knows him. He knows the officials and vice versa. So he’s going to get an opportunity,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to play who I think is best for us. Right now Jeremy is new. He hasn’t played for us. So I have to see rather quickly what we have in him before going to the playoffs.”
Still, there are no guarantees of even a short-term sizable role for even Sochan.
With Anunoby returning from a four-game absence for Thursday’s big showdown against the Pistons, the Knicks are fully healthy in the frontcourt.
That means Sochan’s minutes will be squeezed in among those of Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
Brown will put the puzzle together with an eye on getting the newcomer on the court.
“I’m not sure how many minutes I’m going to play him, but I plan on trying to use him,” Brown said. “And hopefully we get to a point where he’s versatile enough to play one through five for us.”
Brown’s conversations with Sochan helped push the power forward to sign with the Knicks despite other suitors.
“When you look at Jeremy, you like his size right off the bat,” the coach said. “Especially for a power forward. OG is of that size. But nobody else really is of that size. And you look at the versatility, over the years he’s been able to guard [every position]. So to have that versatility on that end of the floor — it’s huge. Especially if OG is out. We’re a lot smaller if a guy like OG or Josh are both out. And then [Sochan’s] energy, his physicality — all those things that don’t necessarily show up in a stat sheet, in my opinion — would be welcomed by any team, and we were lucky to get him.”
Brown had already removed point guard Tyler Kolek, a 2024 second-round pick, from the rotation to accommodate the arrival of Jose Alvarado.
Sochan’s role seemed less certain after he was cast aside in San Antonio amid shooting struggles and the emergence of a replacement, rookie Carter Bryant.
In New York, Sochan will get a chance to win a role back and a rookie will take a step back.
“We’ve talked a lot and it’s just seizing whatever opportunity I can get,” Sochan said. “And I think one of the reasons I picked New York is it’s a really deep roster, a lot of really talented players. I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity to watch and grow from that too. I think I’m still young, too. So just being around players who have established themselves and have done a lot of stuff in this league is a crazy opportunity for me. … I do believe in myself and I do believe I can do well on the court, too. But I do look at it in the bigger picture. And what’s happening here, I think I can be a part of it.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nate Ament matched a career high with 29 points to lead Tennessee to an 89-66 victory over Oklahoma on Wednesday night.
Tennessee (19-7, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) never trailed and held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. The Volunteers have won three straight and seven of their last eight.
Ament shot 9 of 17 from the floor, 8 of 8 from the free-throw line and made three of the Volunteers' five 3-pointers. Felix Okpara made five dunks and finished with 18 points for Tennessee. Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 16 points and DeWayne Brown II chipped in with 13 points off the bench.
The Volunteers shot 52% (33 of 63) overall and scored 31 points from 15 Oklahoma turnovers.
Nijel Pack made four 3s and scored 20 points to lead Oklahoma (13-13, 3-10), which ended its two-game win streak. Tae Davis added 12 points and Derrion Reid scored 10.
Ament scored 12 points and Gillespie added nine to help Tennessee build a 45-36 halftime lead. Pack and Davis scored eight points apiece in the first half for the Sooners, who shot 52% from the floor and hit 5 of 12 from long range.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Reserve Snudda Collins scored 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting and 20th-ranked Texas Tech waylaid No. 15 Baylor 87-56 on Wednesday night.
Bailey Maupin scored 22 points with the help of 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and Gemma Nunez and Sarengbe Sanogo scored 10 apiece for the Lady Raiders (24-4, 11-4 Big 12).
The Lady Raiders shot 56% (34 of 61) overall.
Taliah Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs each scored 13 for Baylor (22-6, 11-4), which shot 36% (20 of 55).
Texas Tech built a 12-6 lead by the midway point of the first quarter and never trailed. Collins made a 3-pointer and followed with a layup to give Texas Tech a 22-12 lead. Scott ended the quarter with a 3 for Baylor.
A 10-2 run highlighted by a pair of Maupin 3s to start the second quarter pushed the advantage to 32-17 with 7:54 left before halftime. Texas Tech went to the half up 48-28.
Despite missing their first five shots to start the third, Texas Tech ended it converting 5 of 6 and led 67-44 at the end of three.
The win marks Texas Tech's first season sweep over Baylor since the 2003-04 season.
Texas Tech beat Baylor 61-60 in the conference opener for both team on Dec. 21. It ended the Bears' 31-game win streak over the Lady Raiders going back to 2011. That was Tech’s first win in Waco since Feb. 8, 2004.
Wednesday's win was Texas Tech's first in Lubbock over Baylor since Jan. 15, 2006.
When Jeremy Sochan was selected ninth overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2022 NBA Draft, he couldn't have expected that the team that believed so highly in him would go on to waive him after three seasons of solid production before that.
But that's where Sochan found himself a week ago after the Spurs failed to find a trade partner and move him before the NBA trade deadline.
The lack of interest around the league in the former lottery pick wasn't Sochan's fault as San Antonio drastically cut his playing time and limited his contributions to the team this year than in years past.
After playing in 184 games and making 149 starts between the 2022-23 and the 2024-25 seasons, and averaging 27.0 minutes per game during that stretch, Sochan saw the court just 28 times this season with no starts while averaging 12.8 minutes per game. The role restriction resulted in the 22-year-old putting up pedestrian numbers (4.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game) compared to averaging 11.3 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game over the last three seasons.
More than just his offensive numbers, though, Sochan also provided tough defense, bursts of energy, a willingness to learn and seemed to be a fan-favorite while rocking unique looks with his hair color and style.
So, after getting signed by the Knicks shortly after clearing waivers, you can imagine Sochan's excitement to get a fresh start. With at least one full practice under his belt with his new team, the 22-year-old is excited for the opportunities he's given to prove his value once again.
"It’s just seizing whatever opportunity I get," Sochan said. "And I think one of the reasons why I picked New York is it’s a very deep roster, a lot of really talented players and I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity just watching and to grow from that too.
"I still think I’m young, so just being around players that have established themselves and have done a lot of stuff in this league, I think is a crazy opportunity for me."
The power forward will have a chance right away as head coach Mike Brown plans to insert Sochan ahead of Mohamed Diawara in the pecking order, much like he did with Jose Alvarado over Tyler Kolek when Alvarado joined New York.
In 45 games, the rookie Diawara is averaging 2.7 points in 7.1 minutes per game.
"I’m versatile," Sochan said. "I can do a little bit of everything, so whatever coach wants me to do, you know, whatever gets me on the court, I’m gonna do it and I’m gonna do it 100 percent."
Having said in the past that he admires Draymond Green and his tenacity and toughness on defense, Sochan plans on bringing a similar style to his game with the Knicks. And although he's still learning from the greats in this league, Sochan wants to carve out something that's his own as well.
"At the end of the day, I wanna be Jeremy. I wanna be myself," he said. "... I bring versatility, defense, energy, a little bit of tenacity, so I can’t wait."
As for why he ended up choosing New York, Sochan said the Knicks were "always at the top" of his list of potential teams and that he had "refreshing conversations" throughout the entire organization.
Now that he's here and practicing with the team, he said it was "very natural."
"I think I embody what Mike Brown is asking from his players," Sochan said. "I’m a quick learner, so I think I’ve been doing pretty well... The way I view everything is team-first. I’m always gonna be there for my teammates on and off the court.
"I’m bringing energy, positive vibes and I think that’s the most important thing – consistency. Whether that’s on the court, off the court, I’m gonna be myself every time."
When Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL in his right knee Jan. 19, everything changed for the Warriors.
Before Butler’s injury, they had won 9 of 12 games and had seemingly found their rhythm after a bumpy start to the season. But after he was sidelined, the Warriors have lost 7 of 11.
The Warriors tried to take a big swing for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Bucks decided not to trade their superstar. So, the Warriors pivoted and acquired Kristaps Porzingis, who is expected to make his Warriors debut Thursday.
The Warriors are in eighth place in the Western Conference at 29-26. Here are their three biggest storylines as they approach the stretch run of the season:
Warriors new acquisition Kristaps Porzingis. NBAE via Getty ImagesKristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors posing for a portrait. NBAE via Getty Images
1. Will Kristaps Porzingis remain healthy?
If Porzingis is healthy, the Warriors could be competitive. Porzingis, who helped the Celtics win a championship in 2024, is a three-level scorer who will space the floor for Steph Curry with his 3-point shooting and his low-post skills. The problem is the 7-foot-2 center has only played in 17 games this season because of issues with his left Achilles tendon as well as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy expressed confidence that Porzingis’ health won’t be an issue.
“We feel good about it,” Dunleavy said Feb. 7. “We looked into it pretty in depth. We believe in our medical staff. There’s no guarantees, there’s no certainty, but kind of where he’s at right now, where he’s been, we feel good about it.”
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Dunleavy said acquiring Porzingis for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield was a smart gamble for the Warriors. The relationship between Kuminga and the franchise that selected him as the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft had become fractured, and Kuminga had only played in three games for the Warriors since Dec. 6.
“We’re sending out a player in a similar boat that struggled to stay on the floor,” Dunleavy said. “I think from our standpoint, we recognize the risk medically (with Porzingis), but it’s a risk we’re willing to take.”
Meanwhile, Porzingis, who averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots a game this season for the Hawks, called joining the Warriors a great opportunity. When asked if he’s confident he can remain on the floor despite his health issues, he didn’t hesitate.
“I’m confident that I will,” he said. “I will do everything right, and I believe I will.”
NBA star Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha Curry watching the US Open Women’s Final. Jason Szenes for New York PostNBA star Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha Curry at the US Open. Jason Szenes for New York Post
2. How long is Steph Curry’s championship window?
When it became clear that Butler would miss the rest of the season, Curry’s chances of competing for his fifth ring were considered gone, a devastating realization for a superstar who led the Warriors to four championships in eight years from 2015-2022.
The 37-year-old Curry is averaging 27.2 points on 46.8% shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game this season. He became the oldest point guard to be voted as a starter in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.
He’s still at the top of his game. But the question is: For how long?
A team with a healthy Curry, Butler, Porzingis and Draymond Green could undoubtedly make noise in the playoffs. But without Butler and with Porzingis’ health a question mark, will this be a wasted season for Curry, who’s widely considered the greatest shooter of all time?
Curry, who turns 38 next month and has missed the team’s last five games because of right knee issues, is nearing the sunset of his career and for him not to have a real shot at contending while he’s playing at this level is unfortunate. He will not play against the Celtics on Thursday, coach Steve Kerr said.
Curry, however, said if the Warriors can make the playoffs, they shouldn’t be counted out.
“We feel like we’re still a dangerous team,” Curry said Saturday ahead of the All-Star Game. “All you want is the opportunity when those seven-game series start to have a chance.”
Warriors star Draymond Green. APTy Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies strips the ball away from Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
3. Could Warriors make big splash this offseason?
The Warriors don’t have high expectations this season. But they have a treasure chest of first-round picks at their disposal. And they made it clear earlier this month during the Antetokounmpo chase that they’re not afraid to go all in on trying to build a championship team around Curry.
“Our chips are all in on winning,” Dunleavy said.
That sets up the Warriors to try to make a big splash this summer.
So, more than anything, the next two months will be a trial period of sorts for Porzingis, who’s on an expiring $30.7 million contract. If he plays well, the Warriors could keep him. If not, they’ll have enough cap space and first-round picks to retool the team.
So, even though the Warriors didn’t make a trade earlier this month that will make them immediate contenders, they improved their roster without making any long-term commitments and retained their most-prized draft capital, which could set them up to give Curry another shot at a championship next season.
“We’ve got the goods to make deals,” Dunleavy said. “I think the only way we wouldn’t be in the mix is if we gave up assets, young players. All the things you would need to get a great player, we still have all that. I think that’s one of the reasons the KP trade is really good for us, similar to Jimmy last year. We don’t feel like we gave up a ton. And so we still have kind of the firepower to move forward and do more deals, and that’s what we like about that.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the flood relief event on September 10, 2025 at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the rumors of a potential trade before the deadline, Jeremy Sochan’s time in San Antonio ended with even less fanfare than expected. Sochan was bought out and joined the Knicks, and the Spurs used their open roster spot to sign Mason Plumlee to bolster their center depth. It was a banal ending to what once was an exciting partnership.
Sochan was the first lottery pick of the tank era, which started with the Derrick White trade. He was a charismatic, flawed, intriguing first piece, and fans understandably latched on to his development while looking for hope in those early days. The attachment to Sochan continued even as his minutes dwindled and his importance to the rebuild declined, so it’s sad to see him go.
The question is, what went wrong? Sochan thinks it was a lack of opportunities from a coach with whom he didn’t see eye to eye. It was clear since Mitch Johnson took over that he wasn’t as high on Sochan as Gregg Popovich. But what happened before that is as important to understanding why a former lottery pick ended up waived before his rookie contract expired, and why it wasn’t that big of a surprise.
Under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs tried extremely hard to make things work with Sochan, but failed
Any discussion about Sochan has to start with the inconsistency in roles and positions he faced. Most people, myself included, hated the Point Sochan experiment for good reason: the skills to make it work just weren’t there, at least then. Sochan was a solid ball handler and passer for his position, but he wasn’t suited to be an on-ball creator, especially with the supporting cast he had around him. It seemed like they were setting him up to fail. As it was happening, it made no sense.
Looking back, it was probably done to find a way to keep Sochan on the floor even after his rookie year convinced the decision-makers that he wouldn’t be able to excel as a regular power forward. The most likely explanation for the seemingly nonsensical experiment is that it was an attempt to hide him on offense at one of the few positions/roles in which a consistent three-pointer is not a must: primary ball handler. (It’s also the likely reason why the Spurs are running their offense through Stephon Castle now, despite having De’Aaron Fox around.) The explanation that it was done to help develop his floor game is debunked by the way they used him next.
After their failed primary ball handler experiment, the Spurs moved Sochan to the only other role in which a complementary guy can survive without having to shoot: rim-running center. The fit was better with Sochan as an off-ball finisher. He set good screens and dived, roamed the baseline for dumpoffs, and crashed the offensive glass when the help defender overcommitted. As Victor Wembanyama developed as a shooter, he was able to space the floor for Sochan, and they switched positions on defense, with Victor patrolling the paint and Sochan hounding ball handlers. It worked for Sochan on offense, and it allowed the coaching staff to have their best perimeter defender on the floor.
The problem is that it makes no sense to build a team around Sochan. He’s simply not a star, and his skills weren’t unique enough. When there were no better options, the coaching staff made the pieces fit as well as they could, but when Stephon Castle replaced the perimeter defense he provided, and Keldon Johnson and Luke Kornet supplied the energy and offensive rebounding he used to deliver, Sochan’s minutes dwindled. Yes, Mitch Johnson could have made some room for Sochan next to Wemby and next to Kelly Olynyk, something he tried a few times, but with a potential replacement in place with similar defensive upside and no broken shot in Carter Bryant (coincidentally starting his rookie contract as Sochan’s ended), the coaching staff focused on the future.
The Spurs could have tried to just let Sochan succeed or fail by playing him exclusively at power forward. But they correctly realized that without a shot, the latter was the most likely outcome. There’s a reason very few players who approximate Sochan’s skill set get consistent minutes on good teams.
Maybe Sochan will make the Spurs look silly in a few years, but it doesn’t feel likely
Does that mean Sochan has no place in the NBA? Of course not, as the Spurs themselves proved. There’s a simple recipe that makes him useful: slot him at center on offense next to a perimeter-oriented big man, have him guard perimeter scorers on the other end, and enjoy his intensity and edge. You don’t build a team around Sochan or bend over backwards to find him minutes when you have better options, but if you already have a roster in which his skill set makes sense, he can contribute. The Knicks are such a team. Karl-Anthony Towns got Jarred Vanderbilt, one of the players most similar to Sochan, an extension when the two were in Minnesota, and he could do the same now.
There is a chance Sochan is in the league for 10 more years, even if the shot never develops much, but his other skills do. Derrick Jones Jr. and Toumani Camara, to name a few, have gotten just good enough at shooting that they can leverage their athleticism and defense into playing time and eight-figure deals. Sochan is only 22, so the shot might eventually become viable, and his career prospects would improve massively if that happens. Reaching the PJ Washington/Santi Aldama tier is not out of the question for him. There is a reason most teams don’t end up waving young players they drafted in the lottery, and it’s not just them falling for the sunk cost fallacy.
So maybe the Spurs will miss out on a solid role player, but after three and a half seasons, it doesn’t feel like they are missing out on the next Aaron Gordon or Draymond Green. They seem convinced that he’s simply not special on the court, which at this point is a safe bet. It might seem harsh to say this, but he’s no longer necessary, not because he’s replaceable, but because he has already been replaced.
It’s always hard to say goodbye to homegrown talent that represented hope during dark times. Sochan’s personality, feistiness, and commitment to doing whatever was asked of him to improve make moving on even more difficult. Those who were fans of his and think he was wronged will be hurt and need their time to mourn. But hopefully, they will eventually find solace in the fact that even without Sochan, the Spurs seem on their way to reaching the goal they set for themselves the year they drafted him.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Stephen Curry #30 of Team USA Stripes poses for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After hopes that Steph Curry will be rested and ready in time for the Golden State Warriors’ first post-All-Star-break game against the Boston Celtics, those hopes were quickly dashed.
Still bothered by what was diagnosed as “patellofemoral pain syndrome,” or commonly known as “runner’s knee,” Curry will miss tomorrow night’s game against the Celtics, his sixth consecutive missed game.
Steph Curry is OUT tomorrow night against the Celtics @NBCSWarriors
Steve Kerr calls it "unfortunate." Curry did not feel right yet and did not practice today. He's meeting with the training staff tonight
Furthermore, it will be the 17th game of the season that Curry will miss. Any more will automatically disqualify him for regular-season awards.
Curry and the team’s training staff held Curry back from team activities and workouts, reportedly because Curry felt that his knee wasn’t ready.
Steve Kerr said Warriors' training staff and Steph Curry opted against the full workout tonight when he reported not feeling it ready. Called the "runner's knee" issue Curry is dealing with nebulous.
Furthermore, per Steve Kerr, there is a chance that Curry will undergo another MRI on his injured knee.
Kerr says there's a chance Steph may get another MRI. He said Steph knew something in the knee still wasn't feeling right and knew he wasn't ready for a full workout.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was involved in a car accident Wednesday afternoon in Uptown Charlotte in which his custom 2022 Hummer struck a gray Kia sedan, reports and online video of the incident appears to show.
According to WSOC, the collision happened when Ball's vehicle — driving west on Trade Street — attempted to make a left turn onto Tryon Street and crashed into the gray Kia, which was going east on Trade.
One person had minor injuries, and witnesses reportedly saw Ball hop out of the Hummer and into a Lamborghini.
Footage and photos of the incident can be seen below:
BREAKING: LaMelo Ball involved in crash in Uptown Charlotte.
Photos provided to me show LaMelo getting out of the driver's seat. But CMPD hasn't said who was driving and how this crash happened. Another car was involved. Medic says one person has minor injuries. We don't know… pic.twitter.com/oTLSqTwE9B
The Clippers dramatically changed course earlier in February by trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac in an attempt to get younger and clear salary cap space in hopes of landing a top free agent in 2027.
Kawhi Leonard is now the last-standing star on the team after Paul George left in free agency in the summer of 2024 and Harden wanted out so he could join the contending Cavaliers.
It’s a whiplash-inducing change for a Clippers team that had gone on a recent 17-5 run, becoming the NBA’s hottest team before the trade deadline.
The Clippers are in 10th place in the Western Conference at 26-28. Here are the three biggest storylines for them in their final 28 games of the regular season:
Kawhi Leonard is now the last-standing star on the team after Paul George left in free agency. Sergio Estrada-Imagn ImagesIt’s a whiplash-inducing change for a Clippers team that had gone on a recent 17-5 run, the NBA’s hottest team. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
1. What does this all mean for Kawhi Leonard?
Leonard is finally healthy and playing at an elite level. Entering this season, he had missed 226 regular-season games since he joined the Clippers in free agency in 2019, as well as multiple playoff series.
But recently, Kawhi looked like Kawhi again.
He’s averaging a career-high 27.9 points a game and is leading the league in steals (2.1). During one of the All-Star Games on Sunday, he had 31 points in 12 minutes on 11-for-13 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc, including making a game-winning stepback 3-pointer with four seconds left.
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Heading into the final stretch of the season, Leonard thought he’d be pouring himself into helping the streaking Clippers claw their way up the Western Conference standings after their 6-21 start. But after the Clippers dramatically swerved a few weeks ago, everything has changed for the star.
“It’s a complete turnaround from what I thought we could potentially do,” Leonard said. “Not saying we were contenders. But we thought we could make some noise or mess somebody’s season up.”
Now, all eyes are going to be on Leonard. The Clippers reportedly shot down multiple inquiries about trading him ahead of the deadline. And it remains to be seen whether he’s going to be a part of their rebuild going forward — or if he or the team will change directions.
For Leonard, everything just became much murkier.
But recently, Kawhi looked like Kawhi again. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
2. Can Darius Garland make impact?
The Clippers flipped the 36-year-old Harden for Garland, who’s 26 and a two-time All-Star. He has a lot of potential upside. And Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he hopes to use him in a similar fashion to a young Kyrie Irving.
Harden is unquestionably the better player now. But Garland could grow into a star for the Clippers, and he definitely makes them faster and changes their pacing.
The biggest question around him is his health.
Garland is still recovering from his surgically repaired toe on his left foot. This season, he has only played 26 games, averaging 18 points on 45% shooting, 6.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds. He was hoping to make his Clippers debut Thursday, but, according to The Athletic, his return will likely be pushed to March.
There has been a shadow hanging over the Clippers’ season after the NBA hired a law firm to investigate allegations that the team circumvented the salary cap. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
3. What’s happening with NBA’s investigation into Clippers allegations?
There has been a shadow hanging over the Clippers’ season after the NBA hired a law firm to investigate allegations that the team circumvented the salary cap by using the company Aspiration to give Leonard a $28 million endorsement deal.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and Leonard have all denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the investigations.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday the issue remains ongoing.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and Leonard have all denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the investigations. Getty Images
“I haven’t come to any decisions whatsoever yet on the Clippers’ matter,” Silver said, adding that it’s “enormously complex.”
“You have a company in bankruptcy,” he said. “You have thousands of documents, multiple witnesses that have been needed to be interviewed.”
Silver said that from what he knows, the Clippers have been fully cooperative with the investigation. He added that he’s fully committed to acting upon the findings, whatever they may be.
“I am completely beholden to the constitution and the CBA,” he said. “I believe in the rule of law.”
Dec 14, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Washington Wizards forward Tristan Vukcevic (00) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards open their post-All-Star campaign with the first of a back-to-back set against the Indiana Pacers.
Game info
When: Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Trae Young (knee, quad), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Alex Sarr (hamstring), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Pacers, Aaron Nesmith (lumbar), Micah Potter (ankle), TJ McConnell (hamstring), Quenton Jackson (G League) are questionable, while Ivica Zubac (ankle), Pascal Siakam (personal), Obi Toppin (foot), Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), and Johnny Furphy (knee) are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards and Pacers begin a back-to-back set Thursday that bears massive implications in the battle to the bottom. The 15-40 Pacers have one win more than the 14-39 Wizards, who entered the All-Star break with the second-worst record in the NBA.
While a split of the two games appears likely, Washington could potentially cement their place in the bottom four with a pair of losses against Indiana. Inversely, the Pacers would fall below the Wizards if the latter takes both ends of the back-to-back.
The Pacers are coming off back-to-back wins over the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, while the Wiz Kids have lost their last three contests against the Nets, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten scored 22 points and No. 18 Michigan State cruised past Northwestern 104-68 on Wednesday.
Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten) took control early and broke the game open with a 32-14 second quarter to build a 55-28 halftime lead. The Spartans shot 53% overall from the field and made 13 of 26 (50%) from 3-point range while extending the margin beyond 25 early in the second half.
Northwestern (8-18, 2-13) showed some offensive life after the break behind Grace Sullivan, but Michigan State answered each push. A 3-pointer by Sara Sambolic and consecutive baskets from Jalyn Brown and VanSlooten helped stretch the lead to 94-60 midway through the fourth quarter, and late 3-pointers pushed the Spartans past the 100-point mark.
Kennedy Blair added 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals for Michigan State, and Brown finished with 15 points and five assists. Marah Dykstra provided 14 points off the bench, including three 3-pointers, and Sambolic scored 13 points with six assists. Michigan State recorded 29 assists on 39 made field goals.
Sullivan led Northwestern with 23 points on 11-of-20 shooting. Casey Harter added 14 points and six rebounds, and Caroline Lau contributed 10 assists, nine points and seven rebounds.
Up next
Northwestern: faces Illinois on Sunday.
Michigan State: travels to No. 23 Minnesota on Sunday.
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. (AP) — Tariq Francis had 22 points and seven assists, and Rutgers led the entire game in an 85-72 victory over Penn State on Wednesday, the Scarlet Knights' first road win of the season.
Francis scored 15 points to help the Scarlet Knights take a 39-20 halftime lead, its largest on the road in conference play since coach Steve Pikiell took over in 2016. Penn State did not make its first field goal until nearly seven minutes into the game, and finished with 10 first-half turnovers that Rutgers (11-15, 4-11 Big Ten) converted into 19 points. The Nittany Lions’ had their lowest-scoring first half of the season.
The Scarlet Knights pushed the advantage to 20 points early in the second half, but Penn State (11-16, 2-14) gradually chipped away. A 12-4 stretch helped the Nittany Lions cut the deficit to 67-56, and Josh Reed’s 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining pulled them within eight.
Francis responded with a 25-foot 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper on Rutgers’ next two possessions to halt the rally and restore a double-digit cushion.
Dylan Grant added 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting for Rutgers, and Harun Zrno scored 13 with three 3-pointers. Lino Mark provided 12 points off the bench as Rutgers shot 57% from the field and went 20 of 23 at the free-throw line.
Reed led Penn State with 22 points, while Kayden Mingo had 16 points and six assists. The Nittany Lions shot 55% from the field, but made 3 of 17 (18%) from beyond the arc.
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver address the media prior to the 2025 Emirate NBA Cup Championship on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s a plague passing through the National Basketball Association, and it’s not tanking.
Sure, the act of deliberately putting your team at a disadvantage in the hopes of improving draft odds is detrimental to the spirit of competition — when one of the teams doesn’t care to win, why should the fans? But the NBA isn’t anxious because ratings are low for Sacramento vs Washington.
What really makes Adam Silver sweat is the influence of hundreds of billions of dollars of market share owned by sports betting companies across the nation. Gambling and professional sports are becoming synonymous for an increasing number of viewers. Revenue drives the industry, and few companies can promise higher ad spend than a sportsbook these days. When money becomes the top priority, the suppliers wrestle control from the recipients, and we’re reaching a tipping point.
When money becomes the top priority, the suppliers wrestle control from the recipients, and we’re reaching a tipping point.
Tim Donaghy, a disgraced former referee whose involvement in gambling influenced the way that he officiated games, manipulated the results of his assignments to satiate sports betters. His scandal rocked the NBA, tainting history and calling into question the results of games he called in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
That was the wake-up call. When gambling and sports mingle, they mix. And the NBA understood this threat over 20 years ago.
“Sports gambling jeopardizes the integrity of the game,” Stern said in support of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. “As well as the loyalty of the fans.”
“Jeopardizes the integrity of the game”? That sounds familiar.
Bobby Marks:
"I think what Utah is doing right now is messing around with the integrity of the NBA" pic.twitter.com/7KBRrt2Auq
David Stern changed his tune in 2016 with the rising popularity of daily fantasy sports.
“Whatever barrier perhaps existed is gone,” Stern shared with ESPN, completing a remarkable 180-degree kickflip. “So, to me, if they’re going to be doing daily fantasy, you might as well legalize gambling.”
He continued sharing his vision for its gradual implementation, hoping its implementation would be universal in the next five to 10 years. Here we are, just shy of one decade later.
Per the Sports Business Journal, gambling companies spent $52.1 million on NBA advertising during the 2024-25 season, a 28.96% increase from the previous season.
Sports betting advertisements caught 1.93 billion household impressions through the ‘24-’25 season. Can you remember the last time you watched an NBA basketball game (or a U.S. professional sporting event at all) where your ad breaks weren’t bombarded with Kevin Hart sharing all the wonders of sports books? Where some Joe Schmoe’s life not radically improved thanks to the wonders of betting? Where a voiceover didn’t promise you free money when you sign up to Prize Picks, Draft Kings, FanDuel, MGM Bet, bet365, Caesar’s Sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, Kalshi, etc.?
A recent report from Ben Golliver shared that gambling companies played a notable part in Adam Silver’s decision to punish the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for tanking.
“Over-unders are at stake […] player props are at stake.” Golliver shared on his podcast. “If coaches are just willy-nilly not playing guys the entire game, and they’re not letting people know in advance that they plan to do that, you’re going to have a lot of angry gamblers and a lot of angry gambling companies as well.”
With its spreading legalization, the public opinion of sports gambling and daily fantasy apps has become increasingly positive. We’re normalizing sports gambling in the United States. It’s no wonder that their will controls the NBA.
In a way, the NBA Draft Lottery is essentially gambling when you think about it. By tanking, teams buy up as many lottery tickets as they can get their hands on — hoping, praying that their number will be called and all their dreams will come true. They’ll have the best, shiniest young star and watch as their revenue skyrockets in the following season. AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson in Utah? It’ll be standing room only in the Delta Center. Pay no mind to the Scrooge McDuck indoor pool in the arena’s updated renovation plans.
Tanking should not be a part of the game, I’ll grant you that. But perhaps the order of operations shouldn’t begin with Lauri Markkanen’s playing time.
But when the act of tanking works against the interests of the gambling companies funding the NBA, Silver’s action indicated that his loyalties (and by extension, the NBA’s priorities) lie with the sportsbooks, not with the teams.
Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to manipulating gambling over/unders with his play. Terry Rozier has been arrested for similar accusations.
Chauncey Billups, the former head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested for his involvement in illegal mafia-tied gambling.
Just after the Bucks flirted with the NBA trade deadline in their annual will-they-or-won’t-they-trade-Giannis sweepstakes, Antetokounmpo announced a partnership with Kalshi, the app where you can bet on anything.
Yet it’s the Utah Jazz who receive the finger of blame for the hideous state of professional basketball today. Tanking should not be a part of the game, I’ll grant you that. But perhaps the order of operations shouldn’t begin with Lauri Markkanen’s playing time.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
