Maxey earns All-Star starter status for 1st time  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey has risen to All-Star starter status.

The Sixers’ lead guard was named Monday as one of five starters from the Eastern Conference for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the other four East selections. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama made the cut in the Western Conference.

Starters were decided by a combination of fan voting (weighted at 50 percent), player voting (25 percent) and media panel voting (25 percent).

Maxey made his first All-Star Game in the 2023-24 season as a reserve. Though he averaged 26.3 points per game last year, his efficiency dipped and the Sixers slogged through a nightmare of a 24-58 season. 

Both Maxey and the 22-18 Sixers have been much better through the first half of the 2025-26 season. As of Monday afternoon, the 25-year-old ranked first in the NBA in minutes per game (39.4), third in scoring average (30.3 points), fourth in made three-pointers per game (3.7) and fourth in steals per game (1.9). 

“I must say I definitely missed him,” backcourt mate VJ Edgecombe said after Maxey missed two mid-December games with an illness. “He helps take some of the load off of everyone on the court. … I feel like we can be really scary, especially at the level Tyrese is playing at this year.

“He’s now at superstar level in my eyes. Some people might have different opinions, but in my eyes he’s at that superstar level. Of course the game’s going to be different without him on the floor. He just requires so much gravity.” 

The 2026 All-Star Game will be on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome and played with a new USA vs. World format. Reserves will be chosen by the league’s head coaches and announced at a later date. 

You can never deny Adam Silver’s ambition to try new things, even when his effort proves futile.

This year, he’s outdone himself by introducing yet another wrinkle to the All-Star game, as the 24 players will now be split into three teams: two filled with Americans and the other comprised of international names. Befuddlingly, the teams are now positionless, and yet, the players selected must still include 12 from each conference, even though the competition is based on nationalities.

With the West having a significant talent advantage as usual, there are many more snubs here when compared to the East. Ultimately, I went with six international players from the West and two from the East, given that there’s no requirement to have an equal number of non-Americans selected from each.

Sorry, you’re still confused? So is everyone else, but we persevere due to the love of the game.

Here are my Western Conference All-Star selections, with the East coming tomorrow.

Starters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexandar: The reigning MVP, Shai has somehow levelled up again this year. He’s averaging 31.6 points on the highest true shooting percentage of his career (66.5) and could lead OKC to a 70-win season. Even with arguably the deepest supporting cast in the league, Shai is the main reason why the Thunder are title favorites: OKC’s offense drops from a 123.5 rating (94th percentile) to a measly 111.7 (22nd) when he sits. Shai is the rightful MVP front-runner and will go down as an all-time great. 

Luka Doncic: Luka is putting up video game numbers as usual, averaging 33.6/7.7/8.7 and leading the Lakers to a surprising 24-15 record. Even so, something seems off with him and the team: maybe it’s LA’s negative net rating, or the fact that Luka’s whining more than ever and is leading the league in free throws per game (11.7) by a wide margin (Deni is second at “just” 9.9). Still, the Slovenian Wunderkind remains one of the league’s four best players and should be in line for another First Team All-NBA appearance.

Stephen Curry: Even at 37, Steph remains arguably the game’s greatest spectacle. His 28.1 points per game is the fourth highest of his career, and the Warriors still need his brilliance more than ever. Golden State goes from having an elite 120.5 offensive rating (85th percentile) to just 111.1 (20th) when he sits, and Wardell is once again on track to lead the league in both threes made (4.6) and attempts (11.8).

Victor Wembanyama: The numbers might not seem too different compared to last year, but make no mistake: Wemby has levelled up and is now firmly entrenched as the fifth-best player in the league. Prioritizing inside scoring with his added physicality has made the Alien unstoppable, even though there are still times when he should impose more of his will. Only health can prevent Wemby from winning DPOY and being named to First Team All-NBA, and he’s already good enough to be the best player on a championship team. 

Nikola Jokic: Jokic is unquestionably the best player on the planet, and in my eyes, he’s in a tier of his own. Before his injury, the three-time MVP was having his best season ever, and maybe the best of all time — something we seem to repeat every year. Don’t believe me? Jokic was scoring 29.6 points per game while leading the league in rebounds (12.2), assists (11.0), AND true shooting percentage (71.3%). It honestly does not make sense how someone can be this good at basketball, and I’ve got no doubt that we’re watching a top 10 player ever at the peak of his powers. 

Reserves

Anthony Edwards: For the first time in his career, Ant is having an efficient season from every area on the court. The 24-year-old is shooting 56.3% from two while maintaining elite volume from deep as well (40.9% on 8.2 attempts a game). The addition of a post-game has turned Ant into a high-level scorer from all three levels, and his 72% finishing around the rim is also among the league’s best (89th percentile). The Wolves are flying under the radar once again, and another run to the Conference Finals isn’t out of the question.

Jamal Murray: Contrary to popular discourse, Murray has never actually deserved an All-Star appearance — until now. The Blue Arrow is having his best regular season by far: his 25.8 scoring average is four points more than his previous career high, and he’s doing it on a career-best 61.6% true shooting too. More importantly, he’s led the Nuggets to a 7-3 record without Jokic, which is somehow a higher win percentage than the one they have with the Joker playing. What in MJ’s name is going on??

Kevin Durant: It’s 2026, and KD is still putting up 26.3 a night on 51.6/40.4/88.7 shooting. The promise of a lighter load in Houston hasn’t materialized, as the Slim Reaper’s minutes (36.5) and field goal attempts (18.0) are still in line with his career norms. Simply put, KD remains one of the league’s most efficient bucket-getters while being the go-to option on a good team, and he’s unquestionably still one of the best players on the planet.

Chet Holmgren: The second-best player on a historically dominant team, Chet is averaging 17.9 points on a ridiculous 66.6% true shooting. His self-creation is still lacking, but there’s no question that Chet has become one of the most efficient play finishers in the league, and that doesn’t even account for his DPOY-level defense. OKC also has a +7.1 net rating with Chet playing without Shai, so he’s not just riding the coattails of the MVP frontrunner, either.

Deni Avdija: Even after last year’s jump, no one expected Deni to average 26.1/7.1/6.9 this season. He’s become a legitimate top 25 player in the league and is the only reason why Portland is in the play-in race. The Blazers are a net-neutral team with a good offense (118.1 rating, 71st percentile) when Deni plays, and they become a bottom-feeder when he sits (-11.1 net rating, 102.6 offensive rating).

Kawhi Leonard: Tree Board Man is quietly having one of the best seasons in the league: Kawhi is averaging 28.2/6.3/3.5 on 49.7/39.9/94.1 shooting. Yes, you read that right. He’s scoring almost 30 points a game while shooting basically 50/40/90, and the Clippers are 12-2 in their last 14 games after a disastrous start. Kawhi is playing at a borderline top-5 level again, and this basketball robot is showing no signs of rust at age 34.

Final spot & honorable mentions

Final spot: Devin Booker

Honorable mentions: Alperen Sengun, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert

I went back and forth between Booker, Sengun, Randle, and Gobert for the last spot, but ultimately went with the former. And yes, you read that right: I name-dropped the Stifle Tower in an All-Star column in the big 2026. As ridiculous as that sounds, Gobert should be the frontrunner for DPOY if Wemby doesn’t hit the 65-game requirement. He’s been the second most important Timberwolf this year, as Minnesota is somehow a +7.2 in the minutes Gobert plays without both Ant and Randle, sheerly due to an absurd 94.2 DRTG. More importantly, the Wolves are barely positive in the minutes when Ant and/or Randle play without Gobert, as their defense drops to near league-worst levels. Minnesota only becomes elite on both ends whenever the Frenchman shares the court with one or both of those two scorers.

Randle, meanwhile, is having his most efficient scoring season (60.6% TS) since becoming a go-to option, and the Wolves are sporting an all-time 125.3 offensive rating when he plays without Ant. It’s a similar story with Sengun, whose numbers are up from his All-Star campaign a year ago and have helped the Rockets thrive even in the non-KD minutes: Houston still has a +5.3 net rating while being good on both sides of the ball in the Sengun-only lineups.

However, I ultimately decided to go with Booker because he’s the #1 option on a surprising 24-17 Phoenix team with no other stars (sorry, Dillon Brooks). Yes, Booker’s shooting splits are some of the worst of his career (45.2% field goal, 30.1% from 3), but he’s still hovering around league average in efficiency, and the Suns are a +5.4 with him and -1.5 without him.

All three of the other names have compelling arguments for this last spot, but I’m going with the lone star who’s leading the team that’s overachieved the most this season.

The Milwaukee Bucks will try to forget one of the worst two-game stretches (based on point differential) and end a three-game losing streak against the Atlanta Hawks on the road for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is the first time these two Eastern Conference foes have met this season, though the Hawks took the season series 3-2 last year. The last time they played was on March 30, 2025, when the Hawks blew out the Bucks 145-124 in Milwaukee.

Where We’re At

It’s been a rough go for the Bucks over the last several games, after they won four of their previous five games before last Sunday against the Nuggets. That hasn’t happened, as after losing to Denver by four without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, they lost by 33 at home to the Timberwolves without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. Then they lost to the Spurs on Thursday by 18, but the final score doesn’t reflect how bad the game was for the Bucks, who trailed by 39 at one point and were blown out 40-16 in the third quarter. This game is crucial to re-enter the play-in race, as the Hawks are currently 10th with a 1.5-game lead over the 11th-seeded Bucks.

The Hawks are in a similar boat to the Bucks, post-Trae Young trade. They have a record of 2-3 in five games since the trade, but have lost their last three in blowout fashion. First losing by 25 to the Lakers on Tuesday, then to the Trail Blazers by 16 on Thursday, and in their return to Atlanta on Saturday, by 26 to the Celtics. C.J. McCollum has played four of five since Atlanta acquired him, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 39.4% from the floor and 13% from three-point range, for an effective field goal percentage of 41.7%.

Injury Report

There is only one Bucks player on the injury report, with Taurean Prince (neck) still out indefinitely.

The Hawks will be without Kristaps Porzingis again, as he deals with some left Achilles tendinitis, plus N’Faly Dante (torn ACL). The reigning Most Improved Player of the Year, Dyson Daniels, is questionable with a right ankle sprain. Zaccharie Risacher was a later addition to the injury report, and he’ll miss out on this one with a bone contusion in his left knee.

Player To Watch

This will be the fourth time this season the Bucks have played against McCollum. With the Wizards before the aforementioned Young deal, he hasn’t been that good during his time in the ATL, but he’s been a bit of a thorn in the Bucks’ side. In their last meeting, McCollum scored four points in the final 30 seconds to give the Wizards a one-point win at Fiserv Forum on New Year’s Eve. Maybe against a team he’s had success against, McCollum will come out of his funk and give the Bucks some trouble again.

How To Watch

Peacock at noon CST.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Rocket Arena this afternoon for a 2:30 p.m. ET tip-off with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to play like the reigning MVP that he is, and my Thunder vs Cavs predictions are eyeing him to ball out here. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, January 19. 

Thunder vs Cavaliers prediction

Thunder vs Cavaliers best bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 points (-112)

The Oklahoma City Thunder look unstoppable once again in 2025-26, and their superstar is leading the way. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is second in the Association with 31.8 PPG.

SGA is averaging 30.5 points per night in January, and he’s cashed the Over in points in three of his previous five games. Last time out, Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 39 points in a rare loss to the Heat. 

Last Tuesday, he also poured in 34 in a victory over the Spurs. SGA is averaging 31.7 PPG on the road, and he averaged 35.5 across two meetings with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Plus, Darius Garland is out, weakening Cleveland’s backcourt defense. 

Lock this pick in with confidence as the best version of SGA shows up today. 

Thunder vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

With Garland sidelined, playmaking duties fall on Donovan Mitchell's shoulders. Yes, he’s still expected to score at a high level, but the Cavs will also be relying on him to facilitate more than usual. 

Although Spida dropped just 13 points on Friday against the 76ers, he also finished with 12 assists. Mitchell is averaging just 5.7 dimes per night, but he’s hit the Over in four of his last five outings. 

Chet Holmgren is a beast on the boards, especially lately. Overall, he’s averaging 8.5 rebounds, and he’s cashed the Over four of his last five, finishing with at least 10 boards in each of those games. 

Thunder vs Cavaliers SGP

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Over 6.5 assists
• Chet Homgren Over 9.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Joe Cool Gets Hot From Deep

Isaiah Joe has drained Over 1.5 triples in four consecutive appearances.

Thunder vs Cavaliers SGP

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Over 6.5 assists
• Chet Homgren Over 9.5 rebounds
• Isaiah Joe Over 1.5 threes

Thunder vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Thunder -6 (-110) | Cavaliers +6 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder -245 | Cavaliers +200
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Oklahoma City Thunder have hit the Team Total Under in 13 of their last 16 games (+9.65 Units / 53% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Thunder vs Cavaliers

Thunder vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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

Hopefully three days of rest will have done the Sixers some good. They’re coming off a tough two-game mini series against the Cavaliers, losing two straight capped off by Friday’s narrow 117-115 defeat as they squandered a 10-point lead in the fourth. Cleveland has now passed Philly in the Eastern Conference standings, overtaking them into sixth place.

The Sixers had won six of their previous eight before facing the Cavs, though, and should have a good chance to get back to those winnings ways against Monday’s opponent: the 10-32 Pacers.

Monday’s matchup begins a back-to-back, finishing with an outing against the Suns on Tuesday. And with this in mind, a couple of names are unsurprisingly on the injury report. Joel Embiid and Paul George are both questionable with left knee injury management, while Jared McCain is doubtful on G League assignment. Both Embiid and George have played in nine of the Sixers’ last 10 games, and with the Suns being the harder matchup of this back-to-back, we could see them rest up against Indiana instead if they aren’t going to appear in both games.

The Pacers will remain shorthanded. Apart from Tyrese Haliburton staying out for the season with his achilles tear, Obi Toppin (right foot stress fracture) and Bennedict Mathurin (right thumb sprain) are also out.

It’s been a brutal season for the Pacers without Haliburton. Their defense has just about been passable, ranking 18th, but with the league’s worst offensive rating, their dynamic up-tempo identity that they had with Haliburton orchestrating the team has all but disappeared.

Sure, there have been some positives for the Pacers. Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard are both having career years as they’ve taken on more ball-handling responsibilities (particularly new starting point guard Nembhard) in Haliburton’s absence, all while maintaining solid efficiency. Losing Mathurin on Monday hurts their already stuck offense, though, so the pressure is on in the backcourt for Nembhard to try and spark something against the explosiveness of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Then there’s Pascal Siakam, the team’s top scorer at 23.6 points per game, who’ll be the top assignment for Dominick Barlow and, if he’s in, George. Without Mathurin too, there’ll likely be even more Siakam drives for the Sixers’ defense to crash around.

Embiid continuing to look like his usual imposing self clearly bodes well if he does suit up on Monday. Over his last 13 games, he’s now averaged 27.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 blocks with a 61.6 true shooting percentage. With him back to parading his way to free throw line (making 85.8 percent of his 9.2 attempts per game in this stretch), bullying opponents with his face-up game and finding his signature mid-range rhythm again, the Sixers’ offense is looking more well-rounded alongside the Tyrese Maxey show.

If Embiid does sit this one, it’ll be interesting to see how Adem Bona fares. He’s continued to have some impressive moments lately himself…

As good as Jay Huff has been at center for the Pacers since Myles Turner’s departure — providing a little floor spacing, mobility, and 2.1 blocks in only 20.1 minutes per game — Indiana doesn’t have anyone to slow down an improving Embiid. Jo had 39 points in his last game against the Pacers, when the Sixers grabbed a 115-105 win, and they should have more than enough to get a similar result this time around.

Even if Embiid is sidelined, Maxey alone should be able to have his way on Monday. Ideally throw in some respectable three-point shooting, reasonable defensive effort, and a solid night from Edgecombe (despite coming off a couple of quieter games against Cleveland, he’s still averaging 15.1 points and 5.2 assists with 45.9/40.4/86.7 shooting splits in January so far), and the Sixers should be just fine against this Pacers team.

The Sixers’ schedule gets a harder for their next few games after Monday, with games against the Suns, Rockets then Knicks. This matchup against the lowly Pacers has to be one they capitalize on.

Game Details

When: Monday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

The Lakers can exhale. Briefly.

After finishing a grueling five-game stretch in seven days with a 110-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, they embark on their longest road trip of the season, an eight-game marathon beginning Tuesday in Denver.

The Lakers (25-16) are clinging to a top-six playoff spot at the midpoint of the season despite playing 19 different starting lineups in the first 41 games. With guard Luka Doncic and centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes back in the lineup after they were sidelined against Portland on Saturday, the Lakers notched their first win over a team with a winning record since Dec. 14.

“We’re staying together,” Ayton said. “There’s times where we’ve had some slump moments, but guys in here, we’re cool, we’re tight. … It’s a process and I feel like tonight is another step in the right direction.”

Here are three takeaways from the win:

Ayton in rare air

With 25 points on 10-for-10 shooting with 13 rebounds, Ayton became the first player this season to record at least 20 points on perfect shooting with at least 10 field goal attempts. After marveling at the Lakers’ championship tradition when he signed as a free agent this summer, the former No. 1 pick made his mark in the franchise record book as just the third Laker to shoot perfectly from the field on 10 or more attempts with at least 10 rebounds. The others are Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 20, 1981).

“That’s a thing I never even thought I would be a part of,” said Ayton, who also had zero turnovers. “I’m definitely honored and appreciative, but I love this game, so hopefully I get more of those.”

The center was returning from a one-game absence because of knee soreness. His impact on recent games has fluctuated as his energy dipped. During a particularly quiet stretch, coach JJ Redick said the center was frustrated that he wasn’t getting the ball more, which may have contributed to him averaging only 5.8 rebounds over five games and not finishing the fourth quarter on the court during two close games.

Redick encouraged his playmakers to make sure Ayton got touches early in games. The center now has double-doubles in three of his last four games.

“He's a very important guy for us,” said Doncic, who led the team with 25 points and seven assists. “Very important. … So got to look for him a lot. We got to look for him more. And if he plays like this, it gives us a way better chance to go [far].”

Hachimura finding his rhythm 

Rui Hachimura hit one of the biggest shots of the season when he drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer in Toronto in a dramatic victory that will be remembered for ending LeBron James’ streak of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points.

The two three-pointers Hachimura hit in the final two minutes of the third quarter Sunday will not be played on highlight reels, but they still were significant. They contributed to an 11-3 run that put the Lakers up by seven entering the fourth quarter and could be a sign of Hachimura's progress after returning from injury.

“Those were big shots for us,” Redick said. “They're a top-three defense. In a game like this, where it's hard to score, and it's a low possession game, and it can be a little muddy, those shots were huge for us.”

The two three-pointers were a much-needed sight for Hachimura, who finished with 10 points on four-for-10 shooting with two threes in six attempts. The forward said he still is finding his rhythm after a calf injury kept him out for six games.

Read more:LeBron James' record scoring streak ends, but Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura deliver win

Hachimura combined for 10 points in his first two appearances since the injury, shooting four for 11 from the field and two for seven from three-point range. He still is playing on a minutes restriction that keeps him on the bench to start games. But with 11 points against Portland on Saturday, Hachimura appears to be rediscovering his form, Redick said.

Hachimura played 21 minutes 46 seconds Sunday, the most since he returned from the calf injury. He still had a few more minutes available, Redick said.

In the zone

Finishing a grueling stretch of five games in seven days, the Lakers were “a little bit exhausted,” Hachimura acknowledged. Redick had a secret weapon to perk them up.

The Lakers rolled out a zone defense to begin the second quarter. The sheer size of a lineup with the 7-foot Ayton, 6-8 Jarred Vanderbilt, 6-9 James and 6-10 Drew Timme with 6-3 Marcus Smart at point guard was jarring to see in person, Redick acknowledged. But the zone defense was critical to helping slow the pace for a team trying to survive its fifth game in seven days.

The Lakers started the second quarter on a 9-0 run that quickly erased the Raptors’ seven-point lead.

Timme earned a place in the rotation for the second consecutive night after he scored a career-high 21 points against Portland on Saturday. He hit one three-pointer Sunday and had three rebounds with two assists.

The former Gonzaga star signed a two-way contract Nov. 25 after starring with the G League affiliate South Bay Lakers. He averaged a team-high 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and four assists in the first six G League games and has been able to translate that work to the NBA level, even if his opportunities are limited.

“[South Bay Lakers have] challenged me to add that to my game and be more of a playmaker on the perimeter and decision-maker on the perimeter,” said Timme, who has played 63 minutes in eight games. “And I've been down there for a decent amount, and then they hold me accountable and they push me and then they keep me sharp for moments when I am called upon. And you just gotta be ready whenever your number's called.”

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It’s an ugly time in Knickerbocker Town.

Not here at P&T where we’re always smiling and laughing, right?

Here’s a bunch of words before Monday’s Junior Varsity Game, because…

Mike Brown

On lack of defensive urgency:
“When you fall down, you got to get up. You got to sprint down the floor, and even if you’re the last guy down the floor, you got to get down there, just in case there’s a long rebound. But there was no urgency. Now, that wasn’t the only play. There were a handful of plays where we did that, but there was no sense urgency on that particular play to get back. And it was a five-point swing.”

On defensive breakdown after a turnover:
“He drove, he fell down. When you fall down, you got to get up and got to sprint down the floor. And even when you’re the last guy down the floor, you got to get down there just in case there’s a long rebound. But there was no urgency. That wasn’t the only play. There were a handful of plays that we did that. But there was no sense of urgency on that particular play to get back. And it was a five-point swing. If he at least gets down the floor, long rebound, he’s going to get it because he’s trailing the play. We watched the play at halftime and he didn’t even cross halfcourt. That sums up what our night was.”

On concern level during losing stretch:
“You don’t want to lose games at all, but especially going 2-8 in the last 10. There’s concern there, but not to the point to where we’re going to overhaul everything. We got to work. We got to look in the mirror and see how we can individually help the group, starting with me. And then we got to get in the gym, we got to work as much as we can. We got to keep trying to fight like we did tonight, and if we do, we’re going to give ourselves a chance.”

On failure to execute game plan:
“We didn’t respond. We didn’t respond at all. I got to give the Kings credit because they took it to us. And we didn’t respond in any way, shape or form. But even before Jalen got hurt, we weren’t following the game plan. And I’m not sure why. But we were kind of just out there just going through the motions. And if you go through the motions in this league, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to get your behind kicked. And we got our behind kicked.”

On halftime adjustment with Towns:
“We said, ‘Hey, when you catch down there, they’re coming. So you may have to spray, quickly.’ And I think he tried a couple times.”

On turnovers despite preparation:
“They got their hands on the ball and we ended up turning it over. But we knew they were coming. And I thought our spacing was good. We just didn’t get the ball out to the right guys in a timely manner.”

On foul trouble impact:
“That’s how he plays. I didn’t think it impacted us. What I did feel was KAT picking up his fifth foul and us having to sit him down. That hurt us because we were playing relatively good at the time.”

On fouling as a team issue:
“All of our guys — not just KAT — all of our guys have to lead with their chest and show their hands. The officials allow you out on the floor to hand-check now a little bit, so that’s the time. It’s not just KAT. It’s all of us. It wasn’t just one guy — a whole team. So we gotta do a better job in that area, just in general.”

On reacting to boos at MSG:
“You don’t ever want to have boos, but at the end of the day, the fans here are passionate and you respect and embrace their passion. But it hurts. It hurts the staff, it hurts the players.”

On resisting drastic changes:
“There’s concern there, but not to the point where we’re gonna overhaul everything. We gotta work. We gotta look in the mirror, see how we can individually help the group, starting with me.”

On Josh Hart’s ankle soreness:
“He’s just a little sore. So we’re just going to be cautious, especially this time of year.”

On alumni night significance:
“Good night to be at the Garden, it’s alumni night. To honor the guys that were before us is a good night because they laid the foundation helping this building become iconic and the Knicks being what they are today. Good night for those guys to be in the house.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On his frustration level:
“A lot, a lot of frustration. That’s all I got.”

On concern after losing streak:
“I don’t like losing any games, so of course for me, the concern is winning the next one. Just staying focused on the task at hand, winning games, and giving our fans something to cheer for.”

On repeated fouls called against him:
“You thought they were all fouls? That’s what I thought. That’s what I think.”

On frustration during ongoing skid:
“A lot. I don’t like losing any games, so of course, for me, the concern is winning the next one. Just staying focused on the task at hand, winning games and giving our fans something to cheer for.”

OG Anunoby

On areas needing improvement:
“I think everything. You can always get better at everything. Even if we were winning games, we would still be trying to improve everything.”

On handling season ups and downs:
“It’s a long season. Anyone who’s been in the NBA a long time knows it goes like this. Especially an 82-game season, there’s gonna be ups and downs. You just continue pushing.”

Josh Hart

On Towns’ foul discipline:
“I don’t know. That’s more of something that you have to figure out individually. Me telling him to not foul seems a little redundant. He has to be smarter in terms of defensively showing his hands, just being more solid. And at times, laying off the officials.”

Not everyone watches every Suns game every night. That is reserved for us sickos. If you do not, it is easy to fall into the falacies of box score watching and box score analysis. I see it all the time in my group chats.

When Devin Booker went down last week after twisting his ankle, someone sarcastically chimed in that the team was really going to miss his 5-of-17 shooting. That comment told me everything. They were not watching the game. Booker was not efficient in that moment, but that was not the point. The intensity he brought on the defensive end mattered far more. The effort. The engagement. The tone he set. That is the stuff that never shows up in a box score, but it shows up loud when you are actually watching.

That is part of what makes this Devin Booker season so interesting. If you only scan the numbers, you might come away underwhelmed. He is averaging 25.3 points, his lowest mark since the 2017-18 season. He is shooting 45.2% from the field, 30.1% from deep, and his effective field goal percentage sits at 49.7%, the first time it has dipped below 50% since the 2016-17 season.

On the surface, that opens the door to the lazy question. Is he worth a $53.1 million max contract? If you live only in the spreadsheet, the numbers do not scream, “yes”.

This is where I push back hard. He is absolutely worth it. This may not be the most efficient version of Devin Booker we have ever seen, and that is fine. He is operating within the structure of this system and doing it with a level of toughness and leadership that has been demanded of him for years.

That Heat game is the perfect example. In past seasons, I am not convinced he comes back after that ankle twist. He probably heads to the locker room, changes into street clothes, and tells us he will be good next time.

This time, he stayed in it. He fought through it. This group has pulled something different out of him, and it has been impressive to watch.

And if you want to keep it in the numbers, there is plenty to appreciate with Devin Booker this season. The efficiency dip is real, but the context matters. He is playing 34.2 minutes a night, his fewest since the 2020-21 season. I doubt many people had that on their bingo card entering a season in which the thought he was going to have to carry this team to 30 wins. He is taking 18.2 shots per game, the lowest mark of his career if you remove his rookie year. That tells you everything about the offense. This is not a Booker carry job. This is a ball movement team, and I love that it does not live or die on his shot diet.

The three-point percentage is down, but so is the volume. He is taking 5.4 threes a game, the third fewest of his career. Meanwhile, the free throws are up. Way up. He is attempting 8.3 per game, the highest of his career, topping the 7.3 he averaged in 2019 20. That is not random. He is attacking the rim. He is initiating contact. He is leaning into the identity of this team.

Yes, the turnovers were an issue early. Then something clicked. Through his first 22 games, his assist-to-turnover ratio sat at 1.84. Over his last 16 games, it has jumped to 2.20. The shots may not be falling at his usual clip, but the playmaking is tightening up, and the pressure he applies never fades. The efficiency might be down, but the impact is still loud.

In a perfect world, you get a hyper-efficient Devin Booker and the wins follow. This season, he has not been that version every night, and it has not mattered. He is still impacting winning, and honestly, I prefer this version of him to what we have seen in recent years. There is a difference between a player who goes out and gets his numbers and one who bends the game toward winning by how he plays.

Look at Detroit last week. Booker did not play, still dealing with the ankle from the Miami game, and the Suns lost by three on the road. What that tells you is there is an effective system in place. One that does not live or die on Devin Booker carrying the load. They are better when he plays, no question. But they can function without him, and that is new.

So you can stare at the box score if you want. It will never tell the full story. When you actually watch Booker this season, you see the leadership, the physicality, the way he shapes winning night after night. That part does not always show up in neat columns, but it shows up where it counts. The win column.

Jabari Smith Jr. had been slumping, no doubt. Badly enough that his poor peformances had been directly related to at least a few losses, and some fans had been growing impatient with the 22-year-old’s development. He answered some of those critics in the win over New Orleans.

Smith went off for 32 points, a career-high 7 three-pointers, 8 rebounds and a block to lead the Houston Rockets to a 119-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

In addition, the Rockets also got 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and a block from Alperen Sengun, and 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block from Amen Thompson to help out Smith. Thompson, in particular, was 10-for-14 shooting from the field.

KD actually had some real help in this one, and it was needed, as the Houston’s leading scorer only put in 18 points on 5-for-18 from the field. He did also add 6 rebounds and 8 assists, as well as passed his idol Dirk Nowitzki for sixth in the all-time scoring leaderboards. KD was just a +3 in this one, the lowest mark of any of the Rockets starters.

The Rockets didn’t come out of this one unscathed, however, as center Steven Adams, who started in this game and finished with 5 points and 10 boards, took a nasty fall that could have resulted in major injury. Thankfully, Ime Udoka said after the game that it was a sprained ankle. However, Adams is dealing with some bad swelling and is going to miss some time.

As for the Pels, they were led by Trey Murphy with 21 points, and Zion Williamson put in 20 to help lead their team in scoring. The Pels shot 50 percent from the field, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Smith’s hot shooting from deep.

The Rockets have now won two in a row and move to 25-15 on the season. They currently stand in the fifth seed, just three games back of the second seed, but also just a game ahead of the Play-In group. They return to action on Tuesday, versus the San Antonio Spurs.

Have you ever wondered how to measure Victor Wembanyama’s height in Oreo cookies, how birth order affects NBA performance, or which zodiac sign is the best at basketball?

Chances are you haven’t. But for those questions and others you didn’t even know you had, the NBA Research & Development Department has an answer.

The popular Instagram account with the handle @nbaresdev launched surreptitiously on June 11, 2025 – the same day as Game 3 of the NBA Finals – by posting the aforementioned Wembanyama video. Since then, NBA R&D has posted 58 videos that approach fun, quirky basketball questions with serious data analysis.

The account’s bio proclaims it's, “The official unofficial testing lab of the NBA,” and it’s not entirely unsanctioned.

NBA R&D is the brainchild of NBA Take-Two Media, a collaboration between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the NBA 2K video game series. The new entertainment company, shorthanded as NBAT2, formed last summer and produces competitive gaming, social-first content, original programming and live events.

Basketball, yes. But fashion, baddies, and astrocartography, too

NBAT2 CEO Andrew Perlmutter said the partnership taps into basketball’s broader appeal.

“Basketball, as a force, isn’t just a sport and it doesn’t just reflect culture. It shapes culture,” Perlmutter said. “And it is wired into so many other facets of culture that we all love, whether it’s gaming or fashion or music or color theory or astrocartography.”