Utah has been the talk of the league because its latest tanking strategy was both blatant and seemed to find a loophole in the league's system. Utah's two biggest stars — Lauri Markkanen and the just-acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. — qualify as stars under the league's Player Participation Policy. So, the Jazz made sure they participated — the stars played 25 minutes in the first three quarters of games against the Magic and Heat, and in both games the Jazz built up a lead. Then they benched the stars the entire fourth, no matter what happened (Utah blew the lead to Orlando, held on against Miami).
The NBA was not amused and on Thursday fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for "conduct detrimental to the league."
The NBA also fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for "violating the Player Participation Policy in connection with the team's game against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 3." Indiana sat star Pascal Siakam for that game, but the league determined he was healthy enough to play.
"Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct."
Jazz owner Ryan Smith disagreed.
agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense … https://t.co/sHQrggB2Xa
We won't exactly see this again because Utah’s Jackson is now out, likely for the rest of the season, following knee surgery.
With 10 teams — a full one-third of the league — actively trying to lose games for the rest of the season, heading into what is considered one of the best and deepest drafts of the last couple of decades, tanking has become THE story around the NBA. While Utah and Indiana were fined, plenty of other teams are tanking but can dodge the league's official ire because they don't have any players who meet the league's criteria for a "star player" (an All-Star or a league award winner in the past three years).
The NBA's problem is that there is no good answer. The fact of the matter is that landing the No. 1 pick (or a high pick) can completely change a franchise's fortunes (Cooper Flagg in Dallas, Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, Cade Cunningham in Detroit, Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, and those are just recent examples). Taking short-term losses to increase the odds of a better lottery pick and potentially landing a player like that is worth it.
Expect the league to take some small measures this offseason. The most likely option is to limit draft pick protections to only 1-4 or the lottery, because this season both Utah and Washington are incentivised to tank because they have top-eight protected picks.
But that doesn't get at the core problem of incentivising teams to lose because of the potential of what a top pick can mean (even if the NBA Draft Lottery odds are flattened). While there are suggestions that would completely remove those incentives (all lottery teams have the same odds, or a pre-set cycle of when and where teams draft, commonly referred to as "the wheel) that strips hope from the fan bases of struggling teams. The league and United States sports fans in general like the idea of parity and giving the worst teams a chance if they are well managed and coached, and these systems remove that.
For now, the Jazz and Pacers are paying out of pocket for getting caught at what a third of the league is doing.
Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA sent a forceful message on Thursday about tanking, hitting the Utah Jazz with a $500,000 fine and handing the Indiana Pacers a $100,000 fine for recent game management and roster decisions, the league announced.
Utah's fine was related to a Feb. 7 game against the Orlando Magic and Feb. 9 game against the Miami Heat.
"During those games, the Jazz removed two of the team's top players, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., before the beginning of the fourth quarter and did not return them to the game, even though these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt," the NBA said.
Utah entered the fourth quarter of its Feb. 7 game with a 94-87 lead but scored just 23 points in the final frame and lost 120-117. It won the game against Miami, 115-111, and won Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings to move to 18-37 on the season, third-worst in the West.
The Pacers, the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference at 15-40, were found to be in violation of the Player Participation Policy for a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz, per the league statement.
"Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that Pascal Siakam, a star player under the Policy, and two other Pacers starters, neither of whom participated in the game, could have played under the medical standard in the Policy, including by playing reduced minutes. Alternatively, the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy," the NBA said.
The league's statement on the fines was capped by a strong message directly from Silver.
"Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games," Silver said. "Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct."
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Yarden Garzon led with 19 points, four other Terrapins scored in double figures, and No. 20 Maryland took down Penn State 81-62 on Thursday night.
Oluchi Okananwa (15 points), Addi Mack (13), Saylor Poffenbarger (10), and Mir McLean (10) each chipped in for the Terrapins (20-6, 8-6 Big Ten), who won their third straight game.
Poffenbarger hauled in 11 rebounds and had five assists in her third double-double of the season, and Okananwa dished six assists and tied her career-high with six steals.
Maryland led 38-34 at the half, shooting 46% fro the field but just 17% from beyond the arc. An 11-0 run early in the third quarter put them up double figures, and the Terrapins opened the fourth with a 13-3 run that put the game out of reach.
Kiyomi McMiller racked up 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting for the Lady Lions (8-17, 1-13), her third straight game with 30 or more points.
Maryland joins No. 2 UCLA, No. 7 Michigan, No. 8 Ohio State, and No. 13 Michigan State as 20-win teams in the Big Ten.
Up next
Penn State hosts Northwestern on Sunday.
No. 20 Maryland visits No. 8 Ohio State on Sunday.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Olivia Miles poured in career highs with 40 points and 10 3-pointers to lead No. 17 TCU 83-67 over No. 12 Baylor on Thursday.
Miles scored 10 points in the first half before an outrageous, 23-point third quarter in which she went 7 of 9 from behind the arc, and accounted for all but two of the Horned Frogs' 25 points.
She turned a four-point halftime lead into a 13-point advantage by the end of the third, scoring the most points in a single quarter by any Division-I player since Caitlin Clark on Feb. 15, 2024.
Miles is also the first Division-I player in the last 25 years to make 10 3-pointers on the road against a ranked opponent, per ESPN.
She hit her 10th 3-pointer with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter. It's her second-straight game with 31 or more, in a season in which she's never scored fewer than 12 points in a game.
Marta Suarez also added 27 points to go with six rebounds for the Horned Frogs (22-4, 10-3 Big 12).
Taliah Scott led the Bears (21-5, 10-3) with 22 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and crossed the 1,000-point threshold for her career. Jana Van Gytenbeek had 14 points to go with six assists. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs scored 14 to go with five rebounds and two blocks.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Asia Boone and Tonie Morgan each scored 19 points and Clara Strack posted a double-double as No. 18 Kentucky breezed past Texas A&M 75-55 on Thursday night.
Boone was 5-of-11 shooting, with four made 3-pointers, and Morgan added eight assists. Strack had 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Wildcats (19-7, 6-6 Southeastern Conference).
Strack continued her double-double average at 16 points and 10.5 rebounds per game heading into the contest. She has 13 double-doubles on the year after entering tied for the 14th-most double-doubles in the country.
The Wildcats opened the game on a 16-0 run to build a commanding 27-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. Boone had eight points in the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers during the opening run.
It was 38-18 at the half, and the Aggies never got closer than a 17-point deficit after that.
The Aggies (10-10, 2-9) have lost four consecutive games on the road.
They were led by Ny’Ceara Pryor, who had 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Janae Kent added 13 points, and Fatmata Janneh added 10 and eight rebounds.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Janiah Barker scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Talaysia Cooper added 17 points and four steals, and No. 22 Tennessee rolled past Missouri 98-53 on Thursday night.
Barker shot 9 of 16 from the field and 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Lady Vols (16-6, 8-2 Southeastern Conference), who had lost three of their last four games.
Alyssa Latham added 15 points (7-for-10 shooting), Nya Robertson scored 14, and Deniya Prawl notched her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols took a double-digit lead just under eight minutes into the contest and stretched their advantage to 30 with a 9-0 run in the second quarter. They held a 53-22 lead at the half. Barker scored 16 points and shot 6 for 9 in the first half, and Latham added 10 points. Tennessee shot 55% as a team in the opening half and held Mizzou to 27%.
The Tigers (16-11, 4-8) were paced by Grace Slaughter's 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Shannon Dowell added 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Mizzou dropped their second straight contest after a three-game win streak.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Lanie Grant scored 15 points, Indya Nivar added 14 and No. 21 North Carolina routed SMU 94-42 on Thursday night for its eighth straight victory.
Courtney Banghart secured her 400th career win to become one of 48 active coaches in Division I women’s basketball to reach the mark.
North Carolina jumped out to a 28-9 lead by the end of the first quarter after making 6 of 8 3-pointers, while SMU went 3-for-14 overall. Five different Tar Heel players made a 3-pointer in the first quarter, with Laila Hull going 2 for 2.
Then the Tar Heels went on a 14-0 run, with 3-pointers by Nyla Brooks and Taliyah Henderson, early in the second quarter for a 31-point lead. Hull made North Carolina's ninth 3-pointer of the first half — on just 12 attempts — for a 49-18 lead at the break.
North Carolina's lead did not drop below 31 points in the second half.
Henderson finished with 13 points and Hull had 11 for North Carolina (21-5, 10-3 ACC).
Zahra King led SMU (8-17, 1-12) with 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting. The Mustangs have lost six straight games.
The Tar Heels finished 12 of 26 from 3-point range, while SMU went 12 of 52 overall (23%).
Up next
SMU: Begins a three-game homestand on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
UNC: Goes down the road to play at No. 11 Duke on Sunday.
UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 2: Nate Williams #19 of the Long Island Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Grand Rapids Gold on February 2, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 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 Marcus Stevens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Education Day is always an adventure. Whether it be on Long Island or elsewhere in the league. So far this season, every home team has won during Education Day, and the Delaware Blue Coats hoped to follow suit. Long Island had other plans as birthday boy Nate Williams scored 30 points, and E.J. Liddell had a massive double-double, which was able to lift the Nets past the Blue Coats, 123-107.
This game also marked the final game before the All-Star break for both teams. Both teams now have one week off, with two players from Delaware being selected for All-Star festivities in Los Angeles this weekend, and zero from Long Island. Could the All-Star break see players finally move around within the Brooklyn organization? The parent club has an opening caused by some imbalance in their deadline day moves. The Nets dumped three players while adding two, leaving them with an opening on the big club’s roster.
So far, no movement on filling that gap, nor even confirmation that the missing piece could be found in the Nets G League roster. It’s very plausible that Liddell gets lifted to a standard deal, opening a two-way spot for a player like Williams or Grant Nelson. It’s all fungible.
Long Island was once again with all three of the Brooklyn two-way players, but had no players on assignment as the rookies stayed in Brooklyn. The only player who didn’t play in this one for the Nets was Dre Davis, which was a coach’s decision.
Long Island got off to a hot start and never looked back. After taking a 10-point lead into the second quarter, Long Island extended it to a nearly 20-point lead as halftime rolled around. The Nets never looked back in the second half either, as Williams, Liddell, and Grant Nelson went off in this one to secure the 16-point victory.
Nate Williams entered this one knowing he wanted to show up and show out on his 27th birthday which, spoiler alert, he did. Oftentimes, we may see a lot of changes in All-Star week which this year is in Los Angeles. This may players being called up, whether to a standard deal or a two-way deal, or players being sent down, or assigned to a hybrid status: playing for Long Island but on a regular G League contract, not a two way. For Williams, his play has cemented one thing: that he deserves a call-up, whether it be in Brooklyn or elsewhere.
Birthday Buckets🎂 Nate Williams leads all scorers with 30 points on his 27th birthday 🎊 pic.twitter.com/2MT6N9ttF8
The 6’6” wing is the player with the most NBA experience on the team, a total of 47 games over parts of three NBA seasons. So, while he’s a bit older than 23-year-old Grant Nelson or the slightly younger Chaney Johnson who’s on a two-way, Williams is the most experienced. The New York native (Rocheseter) separated himself head and shoulders from everyone else. Williams finished the game connecting on 12 of his 23 shots, for better than 50%, and went 3-of-9 from deep for a huge 30-point game.
Williams impressive day didn’t stop there. He hauled in seven rebounds, as well as picking up two assists.This was very much a statement game for Williams, as he is hoping to secure his spot back in the NBA.
E.J. Liddell, had another massive game. While his shooting output was small, eight shots taken, Liddell finished the game with 13 points. While this was far from Liddell’s biggest games, he played one of his most complete games vs. Delaware, the 76ers’ affiliate.
Liddell was a huge difference-maker under the basket, hauling in 12 rebounds. To cap off his impressive game, Liddell tallied two assists and one steal. Liddell has told ND that he strives to be the best regardless of where he’s playing. But one has to wonder if he was thinking of that coveted standard spot with Brooklyn.
From a player who had a double-double to one who very nearly had one, Grant Nelson looked unstoppable at times. While Nelson was very clearly still on a minutes restriction as he entered the All-Star break, his time on the court has been slowly creeping back up. The North Dakota native and Alabama product played the most minutes since being injured in this one, finishing Thursday’s game with 25.
Nelson is showing teams what he’s capable despite the restriction. He tallied 18 points, connecting on six of his 13 tries. He also hauled in a whopping nine rebounds. Nelson also had an assist and a steal to his credit. Nelson has been rumored as a two-way candidate since June when he passed on being taken in the second round of the draft in hopes of being signed by the Nets to a $600,000 deal. His injury slowed down that thinking, but as recently as last week he told ND that remained his goa.
Malachi Smith tallied 19 points in this one, which was good enough for second on the team. Smith continued to be Long Island’s most complete player, as he hauled in eight rebounds and tallied seven assists. He also had one steal to his credit and after two straight games of five turnovers shrunk that number to two on Thursday. The 6’4” combo guard could be a dark-horse candidate for any team’s two-way opening.
Tyson Etienne had a very uncharacteristic game putting one of his worst shooting performances yet, connecting on one of his 11 shots, including going one-for-10 from deep. Etienne finished with eight points, scoring six of them from the foul stripe. He also had four rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
The third and final Brooklyn two-way player, Chaney Johnson, came off the bench. Johnson looked electric as he tallied 15 points, connecting on five of his six shots. He also had four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks for another very complete game. Lately, Johnson has been living up to his two-way hDelype.
Hunter Cattoor also contributed 12 points off the bench. Cattoor shot the ball well, connecting on three of his seven tries, all from outside the arc. While Terry Roberts had a goose egg in the scoring category, he hauled in eight rebounds and distributed three assists. Roberts also etched his name in the history books, becoming the third player in franchise history with 300 assists.
Final score: Long Island Nets 123, Delaware Blue Coats 107.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (13-9) now get to enjoy a week off before they return to the court on Thursday, February 19th, for a showdown with the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans affiliate. The game tips off at 12:00 p.m. for a matinee showing and can be watched on the NBA G League site, as well as on the NBA app.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr., #20 of the Utah Jazz boxes out Doug McDermott #7 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of their game at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Chris Haynes, Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to have surgery on his left knee.
BREAKING: Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left knee to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/pHeJT8NphE
Haynes mentions that he is having the surgery to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade.
So what’s a PVNS growth? It sounds like it’s a benign tumor that can grow over time and can cause problems if not taken care of at some point. Here’s a lot of information about it.
🚨Jaren Jackson Jr.
Diagnosed with PVNS in knee!
*Teaching Point*
PVNS stands for Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee
Now it is often referred to as Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor – TGCT)
The other point of interest: did the Jazz know about this? Apparently, this popped up in the physical after the trade? Tony Jones provided more context with that.
The Jazz knew about JJJ’s knee previously. They were going to shut him down. Jaren was adamant that he wanted to play once at home before the surgery. They set his restriction at 25 minutes. That’s one reason he didn’t play in the previous fourth quarters, per sources
Now, this is something you could quibble with. Was Markkanen and Nurkic injured when they rested during those fourth quarters too?
Regardless, it’s nice that Jazz fans got a chance to get a flavor of what this could be because it looked really good. Markkanen and Jackson look and play huge together and have a chance to be a dominant force starting next season.
Obviously, the internet jumped on the story and what seemed like a clear tanking move by the Jazz, but that feels disingenuous. Do we really think a player would go through a literal surgery for a tank to happen? Does it coincide nicely with what is best for the Jazz long-term? Absolutely, and no doubt the Jazz were likely happy to let him make a decision for surgery that he might not have had the right opportunity to make it happen. This is a great opportunity to do an optional surgery, and it will help him stay healthier long-term
On Zach Lowe’s podcast, he mentioned that the door isn’t shut on him returning, but it’s very possible this is the last we’ll see of Jaren Jackson Jr. this season.
The hardwood at the Kia Forum won’t just echo with sneakers on Friday night—it will hum like a red carpet rolled out for a Hollywood premiere. The 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game tips off at 7 p.m. ET in Inglewood, broadcast nationally on ESPN, and for one evening Los Angeles becomes the center of a different basketball universe, where celebrities will lace them up to try and do what the pros do.
This is what All-Star Weekend in L.A. does best. It blurs the line between sport and spectacle until you can’t tell where the crossover dribble ends and the crossover appeal begins.
The roster reads like a group chat that should never work—and yet somehow does.
Giannis Antetokounmpo holding a basketball on the court. Getty Images
Let’s start with the red team coached by two-time NBA MVP and champion Giannis Antetokounmpo. His coaching staff are his brothers—veteran forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo and rising pro Alex Antetokounmpo—turning the bench into a family affair. They will also be joined by four-time World Series champion and former MVP Mookie Betts, the Dodgers’ superstar whose athleticism seems transferable to anything involving timing and torque.
The rest of the roster is a who’s who of actors, athletes, influencers, and stars.
Keegan-Michael Key, the Emmy-winning actor, writer and producer known for his razor-sharp sketch comedy, brings timing that has made him a Hollywood staple.
Reigning MVP Rome Flynn, an Emmy-winning actor and musician, returns to defend his crown with the quiet confidence of a man who’s already stolen the show once.
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Chinese superstar Dylan Wang, an actor and singer with a massive global following, makes his third appearance and carries international flair with him.
ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, the league’s newsbreaker-in-chief, trades breaking news bombs for jump shots in one of the weekend’s most ironic plot twists.
Jenna Bandy, a social media basketball personality known for viral trick shots and gym runs with NBA players, arrives ready to test internet legend against real hardwood.
Hornets Co-Chairman and Governor Rick Schnall steps out of the boardroom and onto the floor, representing ownership with a jersey instead of a blazer.
Basketball referee Chris Reid looks up at player Tacko Fall. Getty Images
At 7-foot-6, former NBA center Tacko Fall remains the tallest person in any gym he enters.
NBA legend Jeremy Lin smiling and clapping in the stands at the Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets game. Getty Images
Former NBA champion and global icon Jeremy Lin returns to an All-Star stage that once felt like destiny during Linsanity.
GloRilla performing onstage, wearing a blue, black, and yellow striped shirt, a yellow baseball cap, and holding a microphone. Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Memphis-born rapper GloRilla, whose rise to multi-platinum status mirrors the rhythm of the streets, adds edge and energy. Oh, and she’ s engaged to All-Star Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors.
Brazilian soccer legend Cafu, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, brings world-class footwork to a sport that prefers hands.
Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions running with the football. Getty Images
Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, an L.A. native with route-running precision, will test whether NFL hands translate to alley-oops.
The blue team is coached by Emmy-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, comedian and actor, Donald Faison, and Lethal Shooter, aka Chris Matthews, a shooting coach who’s helped train NBA stars and other celebrities on the hardwood for years. He’s a former Washington State men’s basketball player who spent time playing professionally overseas.
The rest of the blue team roster is sure to shine as well.
Simu Liu, a Canadian actor who’s best known for his portrayal of Shang-Chi in the Marvel flick, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” He’ll reprise the role in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” blockbuster. He previously participated in the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
Social media influencer Cody Jones, who helped create the ultra-popular YouTube channel Dude Perfect. He’s 6 feet 6, and is known as “Tall Guy” by Dude Perfect’s millions of fans.
Badshah performs at the opening ceremony of the DP World ILT20 2023. Getty Images
Hip-hop artist Badshah, whose hits “Genda Phool” and “Paagal” have garnered hundreds of millions of listeners online. His appearance in Friday’s game will mark the first time an Indian rapper has ever taken part in the All-Star event.
Andre De Grasse is a 31-year-old Canadian sprinter who’s won seven Olympic medals in his illustrious track career. His last medal came in 2024, when he earned gold in the 4x100m relay in Paris. Friday will be a homecoming of sorts for De Grasse, who spent some of his collegiate career at USC.
Taylor Frankie Paul smiling at the Los Angeles premiere and FYC event of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 2. Getty Images
Reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” fame gained national notoriety in 2022 after she revealed on social media intimate details about her, her husband and their Mormon friends’ sex lives.
World-renowned businessman and majority owner of the Phoenix Suns, Matt Ishbia, will also participate. He purchased the team, along with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, for $4 billion in 2023. Before his professional career took off, he was a walk-on point guard at Michigan State.
NBA fans will remember Jason “White Chocolate” Williams. A 6-foot-1 guard, played in the NBA for 12 seasons after being taken with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 draft. He logged 10.5 points and 5.9 assists per game in his career, and was a fan favorite for his flashy style of play.
Nicolas Vansteenberghe attends Glamour Women of the Year. Getty Images for Glamour
Nicolas Vansteenberghe is a model who amassed millions of followers on social media after he had a successful run on the reality TV show “Love Island.”
Multi-platinum producer Mustard, is one of the most famous record producers on the planet. He has mega hits with artists like YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Tyga and, of course, Kendrick Lamar.
Adrien Nunez pointing at the camera. Getty Images
Adrien Nunez played college basketball at Michigan and built up quite the social media following while suiting up for the Wolverines, but he’s now most known for his singing voice. The country musician’s songs, including “LOW ROAD,” have garnered millions of streams.
And finally, there’s Chargers legend Keenan Allen. Allen needs no introduction — he’s one of the best receivers to ever suit up for the Chargers. He’s made the Pro Bowl six times and has logged over 11,000 receiving yards in his 11 seasons with the Bolts.
The broadcast will have its own firepower. Mark Jones handles play-by-play with Richard Jefferson on analysis and Monica McNutt roaming the floor.
Before tipoff, “Hoop Streams” streams live at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN’s YouTube and Facebook platforms, hosted by Vanessa Richardson alongside NBA champion Iman Shumpert, setting the digital stage for what’s to come.
Then there’s halftime act, where K-pop group CORTIS—newly minted members of the NBA’s “Friends of the NBA” program—become the first K-pop act to headline the Celebrity Game break.
The Ruffles Celebrity Game has always been playful, but in Los Angeles it feels intentional. This city understands performance. It understands legacy. It understands that sometimes the purest joy in sports comes when ego takes a backseat to laughter and competition shares space with charisma.
On Friday night at the Kia Forum, the game will matter just enough to feel real and just little enough to feel free. And in a weekend built around the best basketball players on the planet, the celebrities will remind us that the sport’s greatest trick isn’t perfection. It’s connection.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 13: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions on October 13, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Terrence Shannon Jr. is about to return to the Timberwolves and team up with another Illini.
A foot injury has sidelined TSJ since Christmas, but he finally returned this week for the Iowa Wolves in the G League to ramp back up before rejoining the T-Wolves in the NBA.
In his first game on Tuesday, he scored 11 points.
On Wednesday, he lit it up, going for 36 points on 10-of-15 shooting in just 21 minutes.
Terrence Shannon Jr was sent down to Iowa for a rehab game last night where he scored 36 points in 21 minutes, on 10/15 shooting.
Obviously the Illini legend is way too good for the G League, and he’ll get his chance to team up with Ayo Dosunmu for the first time after the All-Star Break next week.
PITTSBORO, Miss. (AP) — In saying “the NCAA ignored its own rules,” a Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction Thursday against college athletics' governing body, allowing him to receive an extra year of eligibility so he can play next season.
Judge Robert Whitwell took about 90 minutes to explain his decision that he agreed with Chambliss' argument that the player's medical history was not properly considered by the NCAA. The 23-year-old Chambliss has been in college for five years, but was healthy enough to play just three years.
Chambliss began his college career at Ferris State in 2021, redshirted his first season and did not play in 2022 because of medical reasons.
He played two more seasons at the Division II school in Michigan, leading the Bulldogs to a national championship before transferring to Ole Miss before the start of this past season.
Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes (66.1%) for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions for Ole Miss (13-2), which set a school record for wins, including two after making the College Football Playoff for the first time. He ran for 527 yards and eight more TDs.
The Rebels lost 31-27 to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 8.
As the sports and entertainment world turns its attention to Hollywood, LeBron James will be front and center.
By far the biggest NBA storyline at the All-Star break, and after, will be James — and what his future holds.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. APLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 10, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
While he has yet to publicly state what his future will hold, many analysts and reporters around the league believe the 41-year-old James will return for his 24th NBA season — which would extend his NBA record.
The storyline concerning many isn’t so much about whether he will return next year, but rather, which uniform he will be wearing?
NBA Insider Jake Fischer said during a livestream a few weeks that, “the Lakers are ready to move on from LeBron James and I think LeBron James is ready to move on from the Lakers as well.”
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst added fuel to the fire when he stated on Wednesday’s The Rich Eisen Show that James would reportedly be interested in four teams if he and the Lakers parted ways: Warriors, Cavaliers, two undisclosed teams.
When broached with the subject of teaming up with James, Warriors star Draymond Green was candid in his response.
“I’ve always wanted to [play with him]” Green said in an exclusive interview withTheCalifornia Post. “Saying I wanted to go to his team, that’s not the case. I’m very comfortable in my situation with 30 [Steph Curry] and what we’ve built and what we have. But I think him and Steph shared the want to take the court together, and they got the opportunity to do that in the Olympics in Paris. I’ve always wanted the opportunity. Just to experience it, to see how he thinks, to see, all right, what I could do to help him and his thinking. Or what can I learn and pick up about what he’s thinking.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after making a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) APLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James watches from the sideline as guard Bronny James (9) walks up the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. AP
While his desire is to play with James, Green said, “I don’t see a path to it.”
The idea of teaming up with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green could be enticing to James, but that situation only works if James is willing to take a paycut around the veteran minimum.
Playing in Cleveland was considered a long shot until the Cavs made a deal at the trade deadline where they sent Darius Garland to the Clippers and brought back James Harden. Harden has a player option for $42.3 million next season, which makes his future and the Cavaliers cap space unknown for next year.
Similarly to Golden State, James ending up in either place would require him to take a pay cut.
As for the other two teams, that’s anyone’s guess.
James has kept his future close to the vest and when he’s ready, he’ll reveal it for all to know.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 11, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Can you just let me have this?”
We were fifteen minutes from the California border, and the trees in Oregon were getting taller and taller. Having flown into Medford, we were now two hours into the drive to Cresent City and seven hours into a journey that had started at 5am, and the anticipation had reached its peak.
Both Taylor and I had dreamed of seeing the Redwoods since we were children, and now we were approaching them rapidly as the road receded before us. Not rapidly enough for Taylor, though, who could barely sit still, pointing out every large tree on the horizon, oohing and aahing at the unquestionably beautiful southern wilds of The Beaver State.
And then she saw it, stretching well above the canopy, some 200 or so feet of a monster Douglas Fir, towering over the other pines.
“That’s it! That’s it! My first Redwood!”
Her eyes welled with the emotion of a fulfilled dream as she looked over at me meaningfully, the orchestral folk of Noah Kahan swelling in the background.
“Isn’t is amazing?”
Wordlessly I looked slowly from my girlfriend to the tree, and back again.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s not a Redwood.”
“What? Are you messing with me?”
“No, it’s just that the bark looks wrong, and so do the branches. I think it’s just a really tall pine tree.”
“Oh my God, can you just let me have this?”
As it turned out, no, I could not. And thus began one of those incredibly productive conversations that usually start with a seemingly innocuous question, and end in a mutually agreed-upon silence.
In Taylor’s defense, she was sleep-deprived from all the packing and planning and coordination, and we had been packed together in very close quarters for most of the day. She also does not love flying, and I may have playfully ribbed her a bit while we were experiencing turbulence. She was not completely out of pocket to have questioned whether I was messing with her or not.
It’s also an easy mistake to make when you’ve not spent a lot of time in the proximity of forests. She has spent most of her life on the fringes of San Antonio. I, on the other hand, spent most of my childhood summers in the confines of the Piney Woods of East Texas.
I had never seen a Sequoia, but I knew my pine trees. And I was not about to let my first Redwood be a pine tree.
It’s the same way I feel about some of the expectations and enthusiasm surrounding the Spurs this season. I hate to break it to some of y’all, but I’m pretty sure this is not a championship team.
I know this, because, like you, I’ve seen them before. I know what a championship roster looks like. I know what they play like. I’ve seen how they carry themselves.
And in spite of (or rather, because of) last night’s win, I can tell you that they’re just not quite there yet.
Facing the snake-bitten and limping Warriors, they came out sluggish in the first quarter and gave up 38 points to a roughly .500 team without the scoring prowess of Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and the still-lethal Steph Curry.
But the Warriors execute. They still retain some of the focus, organization, and aura of a champion. They have a seasoned all-time coach who knows how to press each and every advantage that comes to light. They have championship vets who know how to push their teammates and frustrate their opponents.
These are things you have to earn, and you can only earn them by going through the fire together. Free agency can only aid you so much (especially in the current CBA era), and drafting accumulates talent, not experience.
And these Spurs are talented, to be sure. With the 3rd best record in the league, they tower over most of their peers, not unlike their prodigiously gifted leader. But there’s still some sloppiness they must curtail. Turnovers they can ill afford in the postseason. Concentration that fluctuates with seemingly every quarter. Vulnerabilities at positions like Power Forward, and functional big man depth that must be addressed.
There’s little reason that the Spurs should have entered the 3rd quarter down to the Warriors after the destruction they visited on the similarly vulnerable Los Angeles Lakers the night before. Yes, it was the second night of a back-to-back, but the Spurs are so very young, and the Warriors and Lakers are so very old.
And yet, there’s no question that they’re beautiful to watch when they’re locked in.
Victor Wembanyama is more efficient than ever and is becoming more and more capable of taking on thuggish play from the Draymond Greens of the world. De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper orchestrated the offense to near-perfection in the 2nd half, relegating the errors of the 1st half to distant memories.
Stephon Castle squeezed the opposing guards like an ill-fed python let loose in a barn full of rats, and Keldon Johnson ran wild and unimpeded like a bull in Pamplona, tossing the frames of the very foolish and the very brave aside in equal measure.
Thinking that this will be their year is an understandable error of enthusiasm after long years in the NBA cellar, and therefore an expression of hope, which is no great sin. It’s an error each and every one of us has been guilty of at one time or another.
And yet…
After 20 minutes or so of relative silence, the highway diverged into a wood more lushly green than yellow, and we saw it. Spanning what must have been 300+ feet, it dwarfed the previous pine of contention; the base so wide, that it blocked the view of the other tree trunks around it. There could be no question that it was a real Redwood.
For a moment, we stared at each other, neither one saying a word.
“Wow.”
“Look! There’s another one!”
“Oh yeah, look at that one!”
“They just keep coming!”
“Oh my God.”
After ten or so minutes of this, Taylor leaned over the center console onto my shoulder, and we watched the colossal trees pass by in silent awe, as the 199 carved and curved its way though the vastness of the ancient forest on the way to the 101, and eventually, the Pacific Coast Highway.
“So, it really wasn’t a Redwood after all.”
“No, but I really wanted it to be one. For you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Takeaways
It’s going to be interesting seeing what MATFO decide to do with Harrison Barnes in the off-season. On the one hand, he’s reliably no drama, still defends and shoots well enough to play with both the starters and bench as needed, and is active in the community. On the other hand, it’s feels like some slippage is finally starting to occur, especially when it comes to his ability to handle to faster, younger players, and getting open off ball. Defenses are beginning to key on Julian Champagnie on the occasion that they share the court, because Barnes is just no longer the cutting threat that he once was, and daring Barnes to punish them for leaving him open. And while Barnes seems to have broken out of his slump (43% from 3 over the last 10 games), he’s shooting just 35% on open threes where the defender is 4-6 feet away. I’m not sure what Barnes will be worth on the open market, but financials are going to start getting tricky for the Spurs soon, and rooting for him to slump for a lower contract isn’t going to help the Spurs. If, on the other hand, he gets molten-lava hot again, a hopeful contender will be likely to give him a look. I’m hoping the Spurs will be able to sign him for something reasonable, as they definitely need to retain shooting, but I’m guessing it will all depend on what role he’s willing to accept for an equally no-drama franchise that find itself on the cusp of contention. Here’s hoping Carter Bryant continues his ascent!
While I don’t always understand what Mitch Johnson is trying to accomplish with his rotations (an inexplicably point-guard-less lineup continues to baffle me), he again made a game-saving adjustment in recognizing that Castle was off offensively, and playing Fox and Harper together for an extended stretch. When Castle is on, he’s just about as good a facilitator as you could hope for, but when he’s off…whew boy, it is not pretty. Recognizing that Curry’s absence meant he could pick his spots with Castle was incredibly savvy of the younger coach in the match-up, and once he figured it out Steve Kerr really didn’t have an answer. There’s no question that Johnson’s still figuring things out, but a move like that could be the difference in winning and losing a series, and I’m feeling more and more confident that he’s capable of pulling that sort of thing off.
According to Win Shares, Keldon Johnson has been worth five wins for the Spurs this season, but by my count, it’s closer to double that, as he has consistently come in clutch in tight games for San Antonio. The Spurs have 19 clutch-time wins, and the bench is 5th in the league in net rating, and Keldon has been a big, big part of that as the unquestioned leader of the bench mob. At the very least, there’s an argument to be made that the Spurs wouldn’t have even made it clutch time so often without the bench keeping them in the game until the starters figured it out. Still carrying career highs in almost every shooting category, Keldon is 3rd on the team in scoring efficiency and 2nd in shooting efficiency. Someone get this guy a 6th man of the year award, stat!
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 23: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after not drawing a foul against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on January 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is a fine line Dillon Brooks has been walking all season, and it is not an easy one for him to stay on. He is an emotional player. He feeds off that edge as it pushes him into a zone. It is how he impacts games. It is also how he has stayed in the league for nine years.
But emotion cuts both ways. Actions carry consequences, and eventually, the bill comes due.
Wednesday night against Oklahoma City, the Suns were already in a hole. Down 19 in the second quarter, fighting uphill, searching for any kind of rhythm. Then the whistle came from official James Williams. Technical foul on Dillon Brooks.
You knew it. I knew it. He definitely knew it. That was technical foul number 16 on the season, and with it came the inevitable result. A suspension was no longer a possibility. It was a certainty.
This is the cost of living on that edge. Sometimes it fuels you. Sometimes it burns you. And on Wednesday night, the line finally snapped. The 16th tech on Brooks is the most in the league, three ahead of Luka Doncic and double teammate Devin Booker, who has 8, which is sixth most in the NBA.
In reality, it has been even louder than that. This was the 19th time Dillon Brooks has been hit with a technical foul this season. Three of those were rescinded, but the damage still counts. 19 free throws were handed to the other team because emotion spilled over the line.
Now do the math. Brooks has played 49 games. That puts him at roughly one technical every 2.5 games. That is not an edge anymore, that is a pattern. For reference, the honor for the most technical fouls in one season goes to Rasheed Wallace in 2000-01. He had 41 technical fouls, playing in 79 games (clearly the suspension rules weren’t in place back then) for an average of one tech every 1.9 games.
And today, it became official. This one is not getting wiped away. There will be no quiet reversal. This one sticks.
Which means the bill is real. And it is finally due.
Brooks spoke about the situation after the game last night.
“The ref said I play the victim, so I’m not talking no more about that. Said I’m playing the victim all of the time, and when I don’t play victim, I’m a bad guy.”
“We haven’t won a game with Gucci reffing,” he added, referencing James Williams, who strikingly resembles rapper Gucci Mane, “that should be on notice…we’ve had him 4-5 times already.”
"Said I'm playing victim all the time. & when I'm not, I'm a bad guy."
"If you're going to be bad, be bad the whole game."
"We haven't won a game with Gucci reffing… that should be on notice… we've had him 4-5 times already."
It’s unfortunate because the suspension will come right out of the All-Star break. First up for the Suns on February 19? The San Antonio Spurs against Victor Wembanyama. Brooks is a vital cog in what the Suns want to do defensively, especially against a player like Wembanyama. And now he will not be there. Not because of injury. Not because of rest. Because of accumulation.
With 27 games left, the margin gets razor-thin. Every two technicals now equal another suspension. He can pick up number 17 and keep playing. Number 18 means he sits. Number 20 means he sits again. Number 22, same deal.
So the challenge for the final third of the season is not only the level of competition on the schedule. It is availability. It is whether a player who rides emotion like a wave can avoid crashing headfirst into the reef. Because the Suns need Dillon Brooks on the floor. And right now, keeping him there is becoming just as difficult as stopping anyone they are about to face.
