Category: NBA

The San Antonio Spurs travel to the Metroplex to take on the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA Southwest Division battle.

Naji Marshall is one of the more consistent Mavs that haven’t been traded, and my Spurs vs. Mavericks predictions expect Marshall to stuff the stat sheet tonight. 

Read on for my NBA picks for Thursday, February 5. 

Spurs vs Mavericks prediction

Spurs vs Mavericks best bet: Naji Marshall Over 9.5 rebounds + assists (+102)

Naji Marshall might see an uptick in his typical 30+ minutes. 

With the Dallas Mavericks trading away key rotation pieces like Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell, Marshall is in a good spot to flourish. 

Marshall has cleared 9.5 rebounds + assists in seven of his last eight games, averaging just over 11 in that stretch. 

At better than plus-money, Marshall’s heavy minutes and rebounding floor make this a strong play against a San Antonio Spurs group playing on no rest. 

Spurs vs Mavericks same-game parlay

Marshall should still put up numbers, but San Antonio is in a good spot to win this game. Dallas is short-handed, and the Spurs should be able to take advantage, adding to their strong 15-10 road record against a depleted Mavericks lineup.

The Spurs are 9-15 to the Under on the road, and their elite defense is well-suited to slow down a Mavericks team that’s gone 21-29 to the Under this season while dealing with multiple absences.

Spurs vs Mavericks SGP

• Naji Marshall Over 9.5 rebounds + assists
• Spurs moneyline
• Under 228

Our "from downtown" SGP: Johnson drains some threes

Keldon Johnson snapped a brutal shooting slump last night, going 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. 

At this price, backing a 39% 3-point shooter to make at least two triples makes sense, especially against a Dallas defense that’s allowed nearly 40% shooting from deep over its last five games.

Spurs vs Mavericks SGP

• Naji Marshall Over 9.5 rebounds + assists
• Spurs moneyline
• Under 228
• Keldon Johnson Over 1.5 made threes

Spurs vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Spurs -6 (-110) Mavericks +6 (-110)
• Moneyline: Spurs -240 | Mavericks +200
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Spurs vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Spurs have hit the Moneyline in 17 of their last 30 away games (+19.35 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Spurs vs Mavericks

Spurs vs Mavericks latest injuries

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

The Brooklyn Nets are in Florida tonight as they take on the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. 

Paolo Banchero has been struggling lately, but my Nets vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks are focusing on his ability to break out against a poor Brooklyn squad. 

Nets vs Magic prediction

Nets vs Magic best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points (-130)

Paolo Banchero is having a respectable campaign for the Orlando Magic, averaging 21.6 points per game. While that’s down substantially from his 25.9 ppg last season, there’s still a lot of time left in the campaign, and he’s actually stayed healthy the whole year. He didn’t in 2024-25. 

Although the Duke product has cashed the Under in three straight appearances, he did ball out for 30 points last month against the Nets in 42 minutes of action. He’s also hit the Over in points in two of his previous three games at home. 

The Brooklyn Nets are a very poor defensive team, and Banchero already showed he’s capable of taking advantage of that. He’ll bounce back and have a big game.

Nets vs Magic same-game parlay

Michael Porter Jr. has landed in Brooklyn and become a star with a top role. He’s averaging a career-high 25.5 points, and the sharpshooter is torching his opponents at the moment, cashing the Over in three of his last five and going off for 30+ points in each. 

Jalen Suggs is a solid playmaker for Orlando, averaging 5.0 dimes per night. While he’s not always consistent as a facilitator, the Gonzaga product is dropping dimes lately. He’s hit the Over in three straight. 

Nets vs Magic SGP

• Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
• Michael Porter Jr. Over 24.5 points
• Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Big day for Day'Ron!

Day’Ron Sharpe is dominating on the glass, cashing his rebound Over in five straight games. He has 25 boards across his last two appearances. 

Nets vs Magic SGP

• Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
• Michael Porter Jr. Over 24.5 points
• Jalen Suggs Over 5.5 assists
• Day'Ron Sharpe Over 6.5 rebounds

Nets vs Magic odds

• Spread: Nets +11.5 | Magic -11.5
• Moneyline: Nets +375 | Magic -450
• Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Nets vs Magic betting trend to know

The Magic have stayed below their team total in 21 of their last 30 games for +10.8 units and a 32% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Magic.

How to watch Nets vs Magic

Nets vs Magic latest injuries

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

MILAN (AP) — Lina Ljungblom scored two goals to lift Sweden to a 4-1 comeback win over Germany in the opening game of the Olympic women's hockey tournament Thursday.

Katarina Jobst-Smith's goal early in the first period gave Germany the lead before Ljungblom's two goals turned the game around and Mira Jungaker and Thea Johansson extended the Swedes' lead. Sweden outshot Germany 37-16 and Lisa Johansson and Jenna Raunio each had two assists.

Beating Germany is a big step in Sweden's push to win Group B, where the lower-ranked teams play, and secure a better seeding for the quarterfinals. All five teams in Group A and the top three in Group B make the playoffs.

Also Thursday, Vice President JD Vance plans to watch as the United States women's team begins its Olympic campaign against Czechia.

Canada's game against Finland was scheduled for Thursday night but postponed to Feb. 12. The Finns were affected by a stomach virus and had only eight skaters and two goaltenders at practice earlier Thursday.

Host team Italy takes on France in the first game at the main rink, the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which faced scrutiny over construction delays.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Two shorthanded Pacific Division teams clash tonight at Mortgage Matchup Center as the Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors.

Both teams will be without key players, but the Suns’ deeper roster gives them the advantage at home, and my Warriors vs Suns predictions expect Phoenix to cover the spread as the home favorite.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this divisional showdown on Thursday, February 5.

Warriors vs Suns prediction

Warriors vs Suns best bet: Suns -6.5 (-110)

The Golden State Warriors will be without Stephen Curry yet again, and the Warriors' roster is utterly gutted for tonight's matchup with the Phoenix Suns.

Curry and Jimmy Butler are sidelined. Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga were traded to Atlanta, and Trayce Jackson-Davis was dealt to Toronto.

The Suns sport the NBA’s best home against-the-spread record at 17-7, and they’ve covered in nine of 14 as the home favorite. The Warriors are 10-15 ATS as the road team and 5-5 as the road dog. Golden State is just 2-5 ATS across its last seven.

The Suns will be missing Devin Booker and potentially Jalen Green, but Phoenix's roster is far deeper, and it has home-court advantage. Strong performances from role players will provide the winning formula for Phoenix. Give me the Suns and the points.

Warriors vs Suns same-game parlay

The Suns have hit the Under at home more than any other team in the Association, doing so in 17 of 24 games. The Warriors have hit the Under in six of 10 as the road underdog, and Golden State will have a tough time putting up points with a depleted roster.

Even if Green is available, he'll be playing at less than 100%, and Collin Gillespie should see plenty of run as he fills in for Booker. 

Over his last 10, Gillespie has averaged 24.7 PRA, and I expect him to ride the momentum from his career-high 30-point performance.

Warriors vs Suns SGP

• Suns -6.5
• Under 216.5
• Collin Gillespie Over 24.5 points+rebounds+assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Melton Steps Up

Someone's got to score for the Warriors, and I'm taking a swing on De'Anthony Melton being that guy. Over his last 12, Melton has averaged 15.3 points and gone for 16+ six times.

Warriors vs Suns SGP

• Suns -6.5
• Under 216.5
• Collin Gillespie Over 24.5 points+rebounds+assists
• De'Anthony Melton Over 16.5 points

Warriors vs Suns odds

• Spread: Warriors +6.5 (-110) | Suns -6.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +210 | Suns -260
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 (-110) | Under 233.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Suns betting trend to know

The Phoenix Suns have covered the Spread in 31 of their last 45 games (+15.60 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Suns.

How to watch Warriors vs Suns

Warriors vs Suns latest injuries

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

Note: I’m writing this preview before the Houston Rockets take on the Boston Celtics. I’m also writing this well ahead of the NBA trade deadline, which is Thursday at 2pm CT. So if you’re wondering why I’m not talking about how the Rockets have traded for prime Hakeem Olajuwon or whatever, you have your answer.

The Charlotte Hornets have won seven straight games and are looking for their first 8-game winning streak since 2000. They are the only team in American sports (non-football category) to not own a winning streak of 8 games or more this millenium.

Tonight, they’ll have a great shot at it since the Rockets will be on a back-to-back (and therefore be without Tari Eason and/or Dorian Finney-Smith) while Charlotte comes in well-rested having not played since Monday.

Charlotte has Brandon Miller starting to make “The Leap,” an underrated point guard in LaMelo Ball (how can a guy be underrated when he’s on a max deal?), rookie contributors Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner, and savvy veteran Grant Williams. Moussa Diabate patrols the middle, but the Hornets like the gang rebound like Houston. In their most recent game against the Pelicans, six players grabbed at least seven rebounds. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like that before.

Tip-off

7pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Tari Eason: OUT

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Hornets

Coby White: GTD

Mike Conley Jr.: GTD

KJ Simpson: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Saturday afternoon in Oklahoma City against the Thunder

The NBA trade deadline is the last chance for teams to make a meaningful move toward accomplishing their goals for the 2025-26 season. The league’s best want to compete for a championship, and suddenly the title picture feels wide open with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent stumbles and the Denver Nuggets’ nagging injuries. Some teams are happy just making the playoffs and showing improvement before a bolder move in the offseason. Others are gunning for ping-pong balls to find a new franchise savior in the NBA Draft lottery.

There have already been some stars traded ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline. Read our analysis of how Jaren Jackson Jr. fits the Utah Jazz, and if he’s worth the huge haul of future draft picks they gave up for him. With several big names still on the trade blockincluding Giannis Antetokounmpo, the deals should go down to the 3 p.m.ET buzzer.

We are tracking every deal as they happen in this post. All of these trades were first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania unless otherwise noted. Refresh it often.

Every 2026 NBA trade before the deadline

• Timberwolves acquire Ayo Dosunmu from Bulls, per Shams
• Knicks acquire Dalen Terry from Bulls for Guerschon Yabusele
• The Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield (Grades)
• Hornets acquire Tyus Jones from Magic for cash
• Hawks acquire Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash considerations
• Jazz acquire Lonzo Ball for Cavs for two second-round picks. Ball will be waived
• Nets acquire Ochai Agbaji, a 2032 Raptors second-rounder from Toronto for tax relief
• Hornets acquire Coby White, Mike Conley Jr. from Bulls for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, three second-round picks (Grades)
• Thunder acquire Jared McCain from 76ers for first-round pick (originally owned by Houston) and three second-round picks (Grades)
• Wizards acquire Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum from the Mavericks for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders (Grades)
• Cavs acquire James Harden from Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick (Grades)
• Celtics acquire Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick from Bulls for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick
• Bulls acquire Jaden Ivey from Pistons for Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric. Pistons acquire first-round pick swap from Timberwolves (Grades)
• Jazz acquire Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. from Grizzlies for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks (Grades)
• Trail Blazers acquire Vit Krejci from Atlanta Hawks for Duop Reath and two second-round picks
• Kings acquire De’Andre Hunter from Cavs for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, sources tell ESPN. Bulls pick up two future second-round picks in the deal (Grades)
• Wizards acquire Trae Young from Hawks for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert (Grades)

Today is the day. Trade deadline day. The one we circle on the calendar and quietly count toward from the moment the season tips off.

What makes the NBA different is how much movement lives around this moment. And this year, it feels louder. It’s more alive than it has been in a while. Almost like teams finally cracked the code on the apron rules and the cap math, with front offices working overtime to build scenarios that actually function within the margins.

The movement has been constant. Anthony Davis ends up in Washington alongside Trae Young. Jonathan Kuminga finally finds a new home in Atlanta. Chicago, a franchise that usually plays this time of year conservatively, has gone full chaos mode, spinning off moves that leave you squinting at the transaction wire trying to figure out the why. James Harden is now in Cleveland. Dario Saric has been traded twice. Jock Landale too.

Here is the contrast. This kind of activity usually waits for the final hours. The panic. The scramble. The last-minute leverage plays. Instead, teams got out in front of it. They moved early. They acted decisively. And it has turned deadline week into something more than a countdown.

It has turned it into an entertaining spectacle.

But there is one team that has stayed quiet. One team with very little smoke, very few whispers, and almost no real traction in the rumor mill. That team is the Phoenix Suns.

I think everyone knows where I land on this. I do not need a big shake-up. Frankly, I am tired of them. A midseason reset is not something I believe this team needs, and it feels like the organization sees it the same way. What the Suns have right now is rare. It’s chemistry. It’s buy in. It’s defensive intensity and relentless effort. Around the league, teams are trying to manufacture that. Phoenix already has it.

That is the contrast. When you have something that is hard to replicate, you do not tip the boat. You do not make a trade simply for the sake of making a trade. Especially when you are still developing young players who need runway, not disruption. The Suns have given them that. And it shows.

Could they trim some payroll? Sure. Nick Richards moving makes logical sense on paper, even if it risks thinning the center depth and possibly biting them later. That is the kind of move that fits.

Today tells us what this team is going to look like for the rest of the season. Yes, the buyout market is coming. It always does. But rarely does it move needles in any meaningful way. It is conversation fuel, not an earthquake.

So now we wait. We watch. Notifications on. Refresh buttons working overtime. Waiting to see if any madness breaks through the calm.

Welcome to trade deadline day, my friends. One of the best days on the NBA calendar.

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a franchise-altering trade on Wednesday, officially moving on from another franchise-altering trade that took place just over a year ago. Gone is Anthony Davis, and with him the last remnants of Nico Harrison’s ill-fated vision.

Davis and the cap relief his departure affords the Mavericks is rightfully the headline, however there are also four new faces headed to Dallas. On the surface, their value is in said cap relief, as three of the four are expiring contracts after this season. That said, the Mavericks front office may have plans for some or all of these players beyond this offseason. We’ll take a look at who is coming to Dallas, their season stats, contract status and how they may fit long-term.

Khris Middleton

Stats Summary: 10.3 Points, 3.9 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists per game – 34 games played

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season

The number 39 pick in the 2012 Draft spent most of his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won the 2021 NBA Championship. Middleton was a big part of the Bucks’ success, playing the role of Robin to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Batman. He also has an Olympic Gold Medal to his name.

At age 34 and playing Cooper Flagg’s most ideal position, Middleton is unlikely to be a long-term Maverick. One has to figure a chance to sign on with a contender this offseason is appealing to him, plus he does not fit the Mavs’ rebuild timeline. With Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington alongside Flagg, he is not first in line for the forward positions either. Still, even if he lasts only half of a season in Dallas, he could still bring valuable mentorship to Flagg and a veteran presence in general.

Malaki Branham

4.6 Points, 1.6 Rebounds, 0.8 Assists per game – 28 games played

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season

The number 20 pick in the 2022 Draft is a lesser known quantity. He logged decent minutes in his first two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, then saw a drop-off in year three before joining the Washington Wizards this year. He hits the three ball at a solid 37.8% clip and his draft profile suggested he was a capable three-level scorer coming into the league.

Branham gives the Mavs plenty of flexibility. He certainly fits the Flagg timeline at just 22-years old and it will cost Dallas nothing to give him some burn. He has proven capable of at least dropping 10 points per game given the chance, and is essentially a zero-risk player for Dallas. They can see how he pans out and either walk away or commit to him, likely for cheap, if they like what they see.   

A.J. Johnson

2.8 Points, 1.2 Rebounds, 0.9 Assists per game – 25 games played

Contract Status: Under contract through 2026-27 season; team option for 2027-28 season

The number 23 pick in the 2024 Draft just turned 21-years old at the start of December. His road to the NBA was unique in that he committed to the University of Texas, then instead opted to go to the NBL before the Bucks drafted him. Standing 6’5” he has the length to defend on the perimeter but will need to fill out his 160-pound frame to endure the rigors of NBA life.

Like Branham, Johnson is a low-risk player who is certainly on the Flagg timeline. He averaged 9.1 points per game last season, but is raw any way you look at it with less-than-ideal shooting efficiency (36.8% overall; 27% from deep). Being under contract should give the Mavs some time to figure out what they have, with minimal financial impact on their bigger plans.

Marvin Bagley III

10.1 Points, 5.7 Rebounds, 1.5 Assists per game – 38 games played

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season

The number 2 pick in the 2018 Draft is the most intriguing acquisition of the four. Bagley came into the league with plenty of hype but did not live up to the expectations of his draft status. His NBA career has spanned the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, none of whom were particularly good for any consistent stretch during his respective tenures, so it will be interesting to see how he may fit with a rebuilding Dallas team.

Bagley will turn 27-years old in March, so he doesn’t have the youth of Branham and Johnson, but it’s difficult to categorize him as “too old.” He may not be in his prime when Flagg is, but it’s unreasonable to expect the team to surround Flagg with 20-year olds and hope for the best. Bagley could easily be a longer-term fit in Dallas and the Mavs are in a good position to see where they can go with him. If Daniel Gafford ends up being traded in the next few hours, Bagley could be a built-in replacement (they have similar numbers, but Bagley is happy to put up the occasional shot from downtown). If Gafford sticks around and Dereck Lively’s injury history proves dubious, Dallas won’t be totally strapped. If Gafford and Lively are the answer going forward, Bagley can play some power forward as part of a deep group of bigs, or he can simply walk or be part of a sign-and-trade. Like the others, Bagley affords the Mavs a lot of flexibility they didn’t have on Wednesday morning.  

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Spurs have one more home game in San Antonio before they head into the All-Star Weekend followed by their annual Rodeo Roadtrip.

The Silver & Black have kept busy off the court with a series of community events.

On Tuesday, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, alongside San Antonio Sports, Behind the Whistle, and local school districts, hosted the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Leadership Summit at Frost Bank Center.

700 female high school athletes from across Bexar County participated in a panel discussion.

The crowd received a visit from Spurs shooting guard Stanley Umude, a Warren High School alum.

Later that afternoon, Spurs rookie Carter Bryant hosted the fourth annual “Spurs Math Hoops Live” program, presented by Whataburger. Fourth and fifth grade students from Essence Preparatory Public School, Eloise Japhet Elementary School, and Herman Hirsch Elementary School participated in Spurs Math Hoops, a comprehensive community program, featuring a basketball board game, mobile app and curriculum that teaches students fundamental math skills through the game of basketball.

The Spurs Math Hoops program was featured on a global scale with local San Antonio participant Camila Ramirez competing in an international championship in Paris as part of The 2025 NBA Paris Games.

Spurs are in Dallas this evening before heading home to host the Mavs on Saturday. They don’t play in the Frost Bank Center again until March 5th when they host Eastern Conference top seeded Detroit Pistons.

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BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Skiers from host Italy still trying to secure starting spots led the second downhill training session at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday and Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger crashed.

Mattia Casse posted the fastest time but missed a gate midway down. Teammates Florian Schieder and Giovanni Franzoni were second and third, respectively.

Franzoni, the breakout star of the Italian team who recently won the downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria, already has a starting spot, along with Dominik Paris, who holds the Bormio record with seven World Cup victories. Casse, Schieder and Christof Innerhofer — who was seventh — are vying for the last two spots.

Favorites like Marco Odermatt and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the American who led the opening session Wednesday, tested only portions of the Stelvio course and otherwise stood up out of their tuck positions.

Hemetsberger lost control midway down, got spun around and crashed through a gate — causing his helmet to pop off. He then hit the safety nets at high speed. He quickly got back up but was holding his face and nose area.

A third and final training session is scheduled for Friday before the downhill race on Saturday awards the first Alpine skiing medal of the Games.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

We have a trade!

Leon Rose might not have had the midseason blockbuster up his sleeve (OG Anunoby) or added an impact bench player (Derrick Rose, Josh Hart), but he almost always makes a move. In his six seasons now as Knicks president of basketball operations, he has made a midseason move in all six:

2020-21: Traded Dennis Smith Jr. and 2021 2nd for Derrick Rose
2021-22: Traded Kevin Knox and a conditional CHA 1st for Cam Reddish
2022-23: Traded Cam Reddish (and more) for Josh Hart
2023-24: Traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett for OG Anunoby
2024-25: Traded Jericho Sims for Delon Wright

Yes, some of these are bigger than others, but the Knicks made a move, nevertheless.

Per Shams Charania, the Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in a straight-up, 1-for-1 deal for fourth-year wing Dalen Terry. There are no draft picks involved.

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

The move ends a frustrating Knicks tenure for Yabusele, who went from a celebrated offseason acquisition following his career revival for the horrid 76ers last season to a pariah. He showed up in camp overweight and visibly played slower than he did in Philly or even in Eurobasket. In 41 games, he averaged just 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds on 39.3% from the field and 29.4% from three. His best game as a Knick? When he scored 11 against the Jazz in a 34-point blowout.

Revenge game Yabu??
pic.twitter.com/tp0PrY5ZME

— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) December 20, 2025

Yabusele’s contract had been a holdup as the Knicks attempted to swing deals for a number of bench players like Jose Alvarado, Yves Missi, and Jeremy Sochan. Yabusele has a player option for 2026-27 worth $5.7 million, making him a negative asset. It’s gotten so bad crumbs are being left on social media, and he’s flirting with overseas opportunities in Greece and Israel.

But now, he’s off the books. It was widely assumed that the Knicks would need to part with some of the little draft capital they have left to move Yabusele in any fashion, but that does not seem to be the case. This opens up extra salary for the 2026 offseason, giving the Knicks a better chance to retain Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson in free agency. The Knicks are now projected to have $21.3 million in space under the second apron in the offseason, albeit with six roster spots to fill.

Terry was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Bulls, and the Arizona product has struggled to break through in Chicago, despite the hopeless mediocrity the team has been in. He’s started just seven games and has averaged just 11.1 minutes a night for his career, but has taken a big step forward in one aspect: three-point shooting.

The 23-year-old has never been known for his shooting, but he’s at 41.3% in a small sample size this season. He had seen an improved role as of late due to injuries and has taken advantage, averaging 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 48% from the field and 55% from deep in his last four games.

Terry stands at 6’6” and is not a big, lanky wing, but he is taller than several rotation options and could get some minutes in a Josh Hart role, similar to what two-way wing Kevin McCullar Jr. has been getting when Hart is in street clothes. There’s a chance he could play a role, but he currently exists as emergency depth.

THROW IT DOWN, DALEN TERRY. @NBCSChicago | @DalenTerrypic.twitter.com/JmK9SW3E6d

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 13, 2024

While fans will wake up Thursday morning assuming that this is the one and only move, there is a chance that Terry is redirected elsewhere. While the CBA normally restricts immediately flipping players, it is possible if the player’s salary is not aggregated. If the Knicks are still interested in Alvarado, for example, they can do a 1-for-1 trade while adding second-rounders as sweeteners.

This trade does, however, restrict the Knicks from acquiring another player making more than his $5.4 million salary. For that reason, Pacome Dadiet and other low-salary players can likely breathe a sigh of relief.

As for the buyout market, if no other move is made, this does nothing. The team will save approximately $38,000 from this move and will be able to sign a 15th player… three days earlier, on March 30. That basically does nothing.

This is a very small move, but one that Leon Rose has thrived with on the margins to keep flexibility. This move was undoubtedly made with offseason flexibility in mind, but don’t rule out one more deal involving Terry before the deadline at 3 PM.

The Cleveland Cavaliers mortgaged part of their future for a better chance at winning a title now when they sent out a 26-year-old former All-Star in Darius Garland for 36-year-old James Harden. And even though Harden has his playoff warts, he’s an upgrade over Garland and will address multiple weaknesses with the roster.

Let’s take a look at how exactly he’ll help the Cavs.

Ability to drive to the basket

One of the Cavs’ biggest problems at the beginning of the season was a lack of drives. They didn’t have a guard who could consistently get to and score at the basket. This led to a lot of side-to-side actions and pull-up threes. As a result, Cleveland is 16th in attempts at the rim.

Harden’s presence will solve a lot of those issues.

He is ninth in the league in drives per game this season with 14.8 per game. Harden’s ability to get past his defender and either draw a shooting foul, get all the way to the basket, or find an open teammate is still elite regardless of his age.

Harden has the rare combination of strength, touch around the basket, and straight-line speed. This is coupled with an uncanny ability to stop and start on a whim to create angles for attack. The skills that have made him one of the best offensive combo guards of all time are still there.

Harden’s rim attempts have gone down as he’s aged. The in-between runner has become much more a part of his game than it was during his peak years with the Houston Rockets. Still, he’s in the 60th percentile in shots at the rim for a point guard and in the 71st percentile for finishing at the rim (66%).

Pick-and-roll master

The Cavs aren’t a heavy pick-and-roll team. That will undoubtedly change with Harden in the fold. And the Cavaliers have two good bigs that Harden can play off.

The pick-and-roll works so well for Harden because of his ability to read the floor and create advantages. If you try not to switch the pick-and-roll, Harden is good enough to keep his defender on his hip and get the easy layup.

If you don’t switch and have the big drop, Harden is going to take the open three or mid-range jumper.

The jump shot hasn’t been as deadly this season. His 34.7% three-point shooting clip is the lowest since 2021-22. This includes hitting 34.4% of his pull-up threes. That number isn’t too much lower than Donovan Mitchell’s (35.9%), but not the level you’d want it to be considering Harden takes the second-most pull-up threes per game.

More than his scoring, the ability to playmake off on-ball screens is what makes Harden so dangerous. Seeing passes and making passes are two different skills. He does both at an elite level. That doesn’t always show up in impressive, otherworldly passes. The greats are often that way because they routinely do the little things right.

If the defense helps from the corner, Harden is going to pass out to where the help comes. If the defense is going to give the roller any space, he’s not afraid to make the simple bounce pass.

Basketball doesn’t always have to be complicated when you’re consistently executing at a high level.

Post entry passes

People don’t necessarily think of Harden as a basketball savant, but when you watch the reads that he’s consistently making, it’s clear that he processes the game incredibly well.

Harden’s entire offensive game is based on creating and exploiting advantages. He uses that mostly as a scorer, but if he sees a mismatch elsewhere on the court, he will make sure the ball gets there as soon as possible.

One of the most difficult things about exploiting mismatches is that by the time the offensive player sees it, the defense is also reacting and trying to help if they can. One of the ways the offense can keep that advantage is to throw an entry pass that keeps the offensive player away from the trouble.

Proficiency at handling double teams

The Cavs have historically struggled when teams would blitz their guards. Part of that is due to both of their primary offensive engines being 6’2” or under.

Harden will help in this area. It’s risky to double-team Mitchell if Harden is on the court because of his skill as an offensive player. And if you were to double Harden, he’s more often than not going to make you pay.

Being 6’5” with good strength helps Harden not get bullied when teams blitz him. This allows him to patiently accept the double, survey where the open man is, and get the ball out.

Also, you need to be careful when you do double to make sure he doesn’t split both defenders and score himself.

Rebounding

The Cavs have had trouble with rebounding, particularly from their guards. Harden fixes some of those issues.

Currently, Harden is in the 83rd percentile for defensive rebounding percentage, which translates to 4.2 defensive rebounds per game. While that isn’t earth-shattering, it is helpful.

Harden also does a good job of holding his own when he’s forced to guard small and power forwards. His strength makes him difficult to bully in the post and on the glass. This can be useful in situations where he gets a big switched onto him or if you’re in a matchup where you’d be better served with hiding Harden on an offensively weaker forward so that Evan Mobley or Dean Wade could cover an opposing guard.

Free throw merchant

Harden gets a bad wrap, partially because no one likes the way he continually gets to the free-throw line. He’s the poster child of inventing new ways to initiate contact and bend the rules to his advantage. And while that’s annoying when he’s playing against your favorite team, there is an undeniable skill and craft that allows him to do this.

Getting to the line is something that the Cavs have struggled with for the past several years. They’re 20th in free-throw rate and haven’t been above league average the past three seasons.

Harden’s presence alone is going to help immensely. He’s in the 90th percentile in drawing shooting fouls. This translates over to a team context. This season, the Clippers were in the 95th percentile in free-throw rate when Harden was on the floor. Over his 17-year career, his team has been in the 75th percentile for free-throw rate or better when he’s playing.

The Cavs’ offense under head coach Kenny Atkinson has been powered primarily by their shooting from the field. That will change some with the boost that Harden will provide here.

One man offense

The Cavs have gone as Mitchell has this season. When he’s on the floor, they’ve been great (+6.6 net rating) and without him, they’ve been awful (-3.3 net rating). This includes somehow being worse when Garland was on the court without Mitchell (-9.5 net rating).

Harden will help drastically in the minutes without Mitchell. He’s been a one-man offense over his entire career.

The Cavs now have two of the most productive (on a per-minute basis) offensive engines this season https://t.co/cMcX58Q5Y2pic.twitter.com/nHTH61p0kF

— ALL NBA Podcast (@ALLCITY_NBA) February 4, 2026

One of the most consistent things in the NBA over the past decade and a half is that your offense will be good if Harden is on the court. This season, the Clippers had a 120.3 offensive rating with Harden on the floor (87th percentile). That plummets to a 109.6 offensive rating (12th percentile) without him. And if your offense is that bad, you’re going to lose those minutes.

It’s fair to wonder whether Mitchell and Harden can mesh their games when they share the floor. The Cavs aren’t going to win a championship if their new core-four players don’t play well together. If they are going to play well together, Harden will likely have to adjust his game to play at Atkinson’s pace.

Those concerns aside, you can almost certainly guarantee that the Cavs will still have a great offensive attack when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell.

The Cavs are sacrificing future stability to increase their chances of winning now. Despite his age, Harden raises the floor and ceiling of this team. He will help their offense tremendously, especially when compared to this season’s version of Garland. Whether or not that will translate over to the playoffs remains to be seen and will ultimately determine if this was a worthwhile gamble.

The numbers say the Houston Rockets are a top five offense. The eye test says something very different. The Rockets shot 41 percent against the Boston Celtics, and on top of that, they were dominated on the boards by the Celtics, leading to an ugly 114-93 defeat.

The Rockets were outrebounded 57-38 in reversal of their typical fortune, and with no one on offense playing well, including Kevin Durant, the Rockets were blown out of the water.

KD did lead the way with 15 points, but he shot just 4-for-11 from the field and 0-for-4 from deep. Alperen Sengun had 13 points and 9 boards, but he was just 5-for-12 from the floor. Same with Jabari Smith Jr. — 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Amen Thompson pitched in 11 and Tari Eason added 10.

Reed Sheppard continues in a bit of a slump shooting, finishing just 3-for-12, as Aaron Holiday was the only bench player with a little mojo, hitting 4-for-6 from the field.

It should be painfully obvious that this is not last year’s team. They’ve lost a big part of their identity and have been outplayed, outhustled and out-shot too many times this season. And help is likely not on the way. It’s also painfully obvious that Ime Udoka needs an offensive coordinator. He’s been outcoached too many times this year as well.

As for the Celtics, they were led by Derrick White, who had 28 points and 8 assists, and Payton Pritchard, who finished with 27 points.

The Rockets now stand at 31-18, and despite currently sitting in fourth place, are just one game out of falling to the Play-In.

The Rockets return to action tonight against the Charlotte Hornets and will be looking to get right against a team that’s currently on a seven-game win streak and while the Rockets themselves are on the second night of a back-to-back. We’ll see what Houston has in the guts department tonight.

1. Incredible Defensive Effort

In a game where both Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser were out on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hospital Celtics stepped up big time and handed the Houston Rockets their largest margin of defeat this season, winning 114-93. Boston held Houston to to their second lowest scoring game of the season as well, making them shoot 34-82 (42%) and 11-30 (37%) from three. They forced the Rockets into 9 turnovers, 6 steals, and 5 blocks, just dominating them on the defensive side of the ball. Houston got so tired of the Celtics defense that both Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun got ejected in the second half.

This is the fourth win in a row for the Celtics and all of them came by double digits. They have held their opponents to an average of 91.2 points per game in this winning streak. In these games their opponents had their 3rd, 1st, 6th, and 2nd lowest points in a game this season. What a performance by Boston.

The Celtics have won 4 in a row, all by double digits (including 2 by 20+).

Their opponent's scoring totals over that stretch:

SAC – 93
MIL – 79
DAL – 100
HOU – 93

91.2 points per game

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) February 5, 2026

2. Third Quarter Explosion

At the half, the Celtics were leading the Rockets 49-42. They started the game rough shooting in the first quarter, only scoring 18 points but bounced back in the second quarter scoring 31. In my mind the second half was going to continue being a defensive slug fest but Boston had a different idea. In the first 8 minutes of the second half, the Celtics exploded for a 28-6 run on the Rockets and opened up a 26 point lead. They had one sequence midway through their run where they hit four straight three pointers and really took the life out of Houston. Durant tried to make a little bit of a push with 9 straight points after this but there was no stopping Boston.

The Celtics shot 12-27 (44%) from the field and 7-14 (50%) from three in the quarter while the Rockets shot 11 less shots than them, going 7-16 (44%) from the field and 2-5 (40%) from three. This third quarter was a big reason why Boston was able to win this game by 21 points and they got contributions from every player up and down the lineup.

3. Domination on the Boards

Coming into this game the Houston Rockets were the number one rebounding team in the NBA, grabbing 49.4 boards a game. In this game against the Celtics however, they were held to only 38. Boston on the other hand averaged 45.1 rebounds a game and grabbed 57 on the night. That is an insane number for the Celtics and gets crazier when you notice 20 of them were offensive rebounds. Boston did everything they could to destroy Houston on the glass in this game and it worked to perfection.

4. Derrick White Big Night

For the first time since January 10th, Derrick White scored 20+ points in a game, finishing with 28 points and 8 assists on 10-25 shooting from the field and 6-14 from three. White really looked like he broke out out of his shooting slump in this game and at the perfect time too. Shorthanded, he was given the keys as the number one scoring option and didn’t let up.

White really started to come alive in this game in the second quarter where he scored 9 points on 3-6 shooting. His first shot came after pump faking a three to get Amen Thompson to bite, then driving to the basket and finishing a floater. The second came on a turnaround three where Thompson was right in his face for the contest. Finally, the third came when being guarded by former Celtic JD Davison. White drove to the basket, pump faked a couple of times to get Davison in the air, and finished with a nice bank shot off the top of the backboard.

The third quarter was where White really started to take over with his scoring, finishing with 14 points and 4 threes. White started his third quarter scoring with a three coming off of an offensive rebound tipped by Neemias Queta to Baylor Scheierman. His second came on a step-back three over Tari Eason. The third bucket was the only non-three he scored, sprinting to the basket and finishing a nice finger roll over Sengun. The fourth came on a three pointer where White stopped on a dime and had Josh Okogie on skates. Finally, he finished his night with a step-back in the face of Kevin Durant.

5. Payton Pritchard Bench Scoring

After transitioning to the bench in the Celtics last game against the Mavericks and having a great performance, Payton Pritchard continued his great play as Boston’s 6th Man, finishing with 27 points and 7 assists on 9-20 shooting from the field and 5-10 from three. I have been loving what Pritchard has done in these last two games because he just looks so much more comfortable as a scorer when he doesn’t have to worry about being the main point guard on the team.

Pritchard’s biggest impact on this game came in the fourth quarter where he scored 11 of his 27 points. These points were important because Durant was coming off of a nice scoring run to finish off the third quarter. Pritchard started his fourth quarter with a three coming off a nice handoff by Neemias Queta. The second bucket saw him take Jabari Smith Jr all over the court before splashing a midrange jumper in his face. The third started with a missed three by White but a good offensive rebound by Ron Harper Jr. allowed him to tap it back to Pritchard for a wide open three. To finish off his night, he thought it would be fun to navigate another great Queta screen to splash a wide open three.

6. Neemias Queta Defense

Neemias Queta was dominating the Rockets in this game, finishing with a double-double of 10 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Alperen Sengun is one of the best big men in the NBA and Queta basically made him a non-factor for Houston. I really wanted to highlight his 5 blocks in this game because Queta was a big reason why the Rockets had a hard time scoring.

The first block came in the second quarter when Aaron Holiday threw up a prayer after Pritchard played some great defense on him. Since it was a poor attempt, Queta was able to just swat it out of the air with no problem. The other one that came in the second quarter was when Durant had Harper Jr one-on-one. Queta decided to reach in as KD went up for the shot and got the deflection.

The rest of Queta’s blocks came in the fourth quarter but two of them came in one sequence. It started with Queta hustling back for a chase down block on Tari Eason where he fell into the stands. When he came out of the stands, the Celtics turned the ball over and Reed Sheppard was going for a dunk attempt before Queta swatted it away. It was recovered by Eason who scored but the effort on that play was amazing.

Finally, his fifth block came when him and Garza double teamed Sengun under neath the basket. Queta knocked the ball out of Sengun’s hands and it must have hit off of him before it went out of bounds because the ref called it Celtics ball. Sengun was not happy with the call ended up getting ejected from the game over it.

7. Ron Harper Jr. Career Night

When Ron Harper Jr. signed with the Celtics on a two-way contract, I don’t think anyone really expected much from him. But after putting up some great stats for the Maine Celtics this year in the G-League, Joe Mazzulla decided to call his number tonight for his first NBA start. He took the opportunity and ran with it, finishing with 11 points and 9 rebounds on 4-8 shooting while locking up Kevin Durant on defense.

Harper had three possessions in the third quarter where he was the primary defender on KD and he played great defense. The first came at the 10:21 mark where Harper Jr. fought around a screen to contest a Durant three. The other two came on back-to-back possessions around the 7 minute mark. Durant was being hounded around the perimeter and once he went for a midrange pull-up, Harper Jr. was right there for a great contest. The second came when KD decided to shoot a pull-up three around a Sengun screen, but Harper Jr. got around quick enough to once again contest the shot.

When it comes to the offensive side, Harper Jr. did his job by hitting the wide open shots that came to him. His first three baskets all came on catch and shoot threes. The first came on a pass from Derrick White where Harper Jr. pump faked Kevin Durant, relocated, and splashed the three. The second came on a nice pass by Luka Garza for a wide open corner three. The last three came off of a great contest of Durant on defense and Baylor Scheierman rewarded Harper Jr. with a wide open fast break corner three.

His last basket of the game was electric. After a great offensive rebound by Hugo Gonzalez and a missed three by Derrick White, Harper Jr. came flying in out of nowhere and through down a nasty dunk. I loved what I saw out of Ron Harper Jr. in this game and I think I want to see more of him moving forward.

8. Baylor Scheierman Steps Up

Baylor Scheierman was the second Celtics player to record a double-double in this game, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 5-10 shooting. Baylor was balling all night long and did a great job when it came to being a secondary option for the Celtics at times. His scoring came up huge for Boston in this game and I think it is important to talk about it.

Baylor started his scoring in the second quarter when he received a bounce pass from Pritchard. Scheierman then threw his shoulder into Tari Eason and finished a crazy, one-legged floater over him.

In the third quarter, Scheierman made two threes, the first one coming on a catch-and-shoot opportunity from White. The second was a bit of a chaotic play that started with Queta making a steal and diving on the floor to get the ball. Queta found White who started the fast break and found Scheierman wide open in the corner for three.

In the fourth quarter, Scheierman continued his great night with his last two baskets of the game. He started by getting a pass from Pritchard and driving to the basket for a running bank shot layup over a late contest from Reed Sheppard. The second was a catch-and-shoot three that came off a nice bounce pass by Pritchard who was getting double teamed.

9. Luka Garza Battling

One thing you can never knock Luka Garza for this season is his hustle. He leaves it all out on the court every single night and in this game it looked like he was going to war. Garza was put into the starting lineup tonight, finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds on 7-13 shooting and just like Queta, he did an incredible job when it came to guarding Sengun. Sengun was attacking Garza on the block all night long and although he got beat a couple of times, Luka held his own and was able to make some nice contests.

Some of my favorite moments offensively from Garza included his first three of the night in the second quarter. He couldn’t get the hand-off to Pritchard, so he just turned around and hit a wide open jumper. The second basked I liked came in the third quarter where he played the pick and roll to perfection with Ron Harper Jr. As he rolled to the basket, Harper Jr. found him with a nice bounce pass and Garza hit a deceleration step on Jabari Smith Jr to get the And-1. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Garza faked like he was going to set a screen for White but instead ran under the basket. He had the defense out of position and finished with a rare dunk.

10. Joe Mazzulla Coach of the Year

If you don’t think Joe Mazzulla is the Coach of the Year in the NBA this season, I really just think you don’t watch basketball. What Mazzulla and his staff have been able to accomplish when it comes to getting the best out of every player on the Celtics roster is something no other coach in the league is doing. He started Ron Harper Jr. tonight for his first NBA start against one of the best teams in the Western Conference on a back-to-back and it worked. He implemented a game plan for lineups that have probably never seen the floor together and it worked. He had Payton Pritchard, who was the Celtics starting point guard all season long, come off of the bench and it worked.

Mazzulla should have been in the running before tonight just because of what he has done without Jayson Tatum this season but tonight cemented his case for me. No other coach in the NBA can do what Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics development staff can do when it comes to finding ways to win basketball games and he needs more respect. Granted if Joe did win the award I’m sure he would respond with “who cares?” and go on a diatribe on Shaolin monks or something but its the thought that counts and he should win the award.

During a season where nothing’s guaranteed and rotations are a revolving door, Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta found a way to strengthen his bid at remaining in the team’s starting lineup.

“Neemy was the best version of himself,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Even though he was only 3-for-4, you felt his presence.”

Queta assumed his usual starting spot for the 47th time this season. But this time, he played a critical role in a double-big lineup that also gave Luka Garza his second start of the season. With Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Anfernee Simons — who remains unofficially traded in the Nikola Vučević swap with the Chicago Bulls — out, the Celtics were in a tough spot. On the other end, a healthier Houston Rockets team awaited, one that had last beaten Boston by 27 points on Nov. 1 and had won five of its last six games.

Short-staffed and on the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics had little going in their favor. Rookie Ron Harper Jr. was thrown into the fire, making his first career NBA start and immediately tasked with guarding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. Payton Pritchard remained in the sixth man’s role to balance the second unit, and on a night that seemed destined for defeat, Queta used Boston’s circumstances to his advantage.

Queta recorded his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points with 19 rebounds — including a career-high 12 defensive boards — and five blocks in Boston’s 114-93 win over Houston.

“It’s mostly positioning — getting there early, wedging guys under the rim, and going to get rebounds with two hands,” Queta told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think I did a pretty good job with that tonight. That’s an emphasis for me. I’m trying to go get it with two hands at the highest speed, and you have to be fortunate enough to get a couple of those. But mostly, it’s positioning — you’ve got to go get it with two hands.”

Currently, it’s unclear what Vučević’s pending arrival will mean for Queta’s role. Vučević, a 15-year veteran and two-time NBA All-Star, obviously brings a level of experience Queta doesn’t yet match. Still, Queta’s case isn’t fragile. Since being tossed into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, he’s handled the role better than the Celtics could have expected after parting ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet in the offseason. He hasn’t performed like a downgrade and is developing rapidly, keeping pace with Boston’s rise from underdog to a bona fide contender in the Eastern Conference.

Queta has been more than a serviceable rim-protecting, lob-target center, adapting seamlessly to what Mazzulla has architected this season’s Celtics to be. Unlike Porziņģis, Horford, and Vučević, Queta is a purely traditional big. He’s not going to keep defenses on their toes on the perimeter, as he isn’t a 3-point threat. Instead, Queta’s movement around the elbow and his off-ball screens help the Celtics establish a fluid offensive flow that gets everyone involved, even when he doesn’t touch the ball.

It’s a scheme that won’t always produce eye-popping box score figures, but it keeps Queta effective.

Sometimes Queta will finish in the 10–15 rebound range; other nights, it’s a modest eight points and eight rebounds on a high-efficiency shooting percentage. But it’s never about the numbers. It’s always about staying impactful towards winning.

In the fourth quarter Wednesday night, Queta found himself in the middle of his most adventurous sequence, colliding with Houston’s Tari Eason and tumbling several rows into the stands — only to scramble back on defense seconds later to guard a quick Rockets transition.

“Eason and I got tangled up, and I lost my balance, which threw me all the way up to like the 14th (row),” Queta told reporters. “I champed it up with a fan on the way. On the way down, I was looking at the bench, then they got the ball, and my momentum was taking me the other way. I just tried to stay patient and poised, and I got the block, fortunately. But at the end of the day, it would’ve been a highlight if they didn’t score, so that wasn’t that great.”

Queta’s retelling matched the play’s real-time confusion and drew laughter in the locker room after the game.

“That was hilarious,” Derrick White told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Yeah, Neemy is hilarious. I was just watching him keep going up and up, and I’m like, ‘Just stop.’ But that was hilarious.

White continued: “He was big-time for us tonight — protecting the paint, rebounding. He did a lot of great things for us.”

If anything, Queta’s statement performance in Houston didn’t just reinforce his case to keep his role — it showed how effective he can be within a double-big rotation. Vučević, meanwhile, is better suited to last season’s version of the Celtics, entering this year as a career 35.1% shooter from beyond the arc while attempting 4.5 threes through 48 games in Chicago. He’s also an aging center at 35, further clouding how Boston will manage the five spot moving forward.

Regardless, Queta isn’t overly concerned if Boston needs to resort to a double-big lineup.

“I don’t think it’s that big of an adjustment,” Queta told reporters. “A lot of the guys who’ve been here the last couple of years — that’s what we’ve been running. So it’s more about getting used to it, figuring out how to maximize each of the new players, and that chemistry. We started pretty well and rebounded the ball well, too. That’s stuff we can still get better at, but I don’t think it was that big of an adjustment for us tonight.”