With eight games on the NBA schedule, there is no shortage of options in the player prop market.

I’ve dug through the league's odds and found my three favorites for today, which include a bounce back for LaMelo Ball and a solid shooting night for Stephon Castle.

Check out those and more NBA picks for Thursday, January 22 below.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
LaMelo Ball	Over 16.5 points	<<-125>>
Jabari Smith Jr.	Over 6.5 rebounds	<<+102>>
Stephon Castle	Over 1.5 threes	<<+160>>

Prop #1: LaMelo Ball Over 16.5 points

-125 at bet365

LaMelo Ball is in a bit of a slump, but that’s creating some value in tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic.

Ball has scored just 27 points over his last three games, including just two in a 1-of-15 shooting night last time out against the Cavaliers. 

That is resulting in a low 16.5-point total tonight. Ball is still averaging 19.4 points and went over 16.5 points in 10 of his previous 13 games, including putting up 22 vs. this same Magic team on Dec. 26.

Orlando’s best perimeter defender, Jalen Suggs, is also banged up and is questionable to play.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SE-Charlotte, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida

Prop #2: Jabari Smith Jr. Over 6.5 rebounds

+102 at bet365

The Houston Rockets are a team built with great length and athleticism, and it’s why they are arguably the best rebounding team in the NBA. 

They lead the NBA in rebounding late while allowing the fewest opponent rebounds per game.

That could spell trouble for the Philadelphia 76ers. Philly is one of the least efficient shooting teams in the NBA, with the third-worst eFG%.

Mix in ranking 18th in rebounding rate, and I’m looking at Jabari Smith Jr. to have a big night on the boards.

Smith has topped 6.5 rebounds in 10 of his last 14 games.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SCHN, NBCSP

Prop #3: Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes

+160 at bet365

Stephon Castle has been shooting the ball well lately, and he’ll look to stay hot when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Utah Jazz.

Castle is shooting 39.1% from three-point range over the last five games, and now he faces the team with the worst perimeter defense in the NBA.

The Jazz enter this matchup, surrendering the most three-point attempts per game while allowing opponents to shoot the third-highest percentage from downtown (37.6%).

Castle has hit two or more threes in three of his last five games, and at this price, I love backing him to drain a couple more here.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-SW, KJZZ

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

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

Add another uncomfortable moment for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The star forward who has expressed his frustrations over Milwaukee’s play multiple times this season once again questioned his team’s performance, this time saying that some of his teammates were being “selfish.”

Antetokounmpo has taken just 48 shots over his last four games, including 11 Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a 20-point loss against the Thunder.

"We’re not playing hard," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. "We’re not doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own.

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

Thursday marks yet another reunion between the Splash Bros, as Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are in town to face off against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks. This is the second matchup of the season between these two teams, with Golden State winning by ten on Christmas Day to start the season series.

The Mavericks have won four out of five games since suffering a four-game losing streak. Granted, three of those wins were against the Jazz and Nets, so it’s not exactly something to write home about. However, a 17-point beatdown of the reeling New York Knicks on Monday was fun to watch.

Golden State comes in under a cloud of their unfortunate new reality, as Jimmy Butler has officially torn his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season. It’s a shame for the Dubs, as they were playing by far their best basketball of the season before he went down. In their first game without Butler on Tuesday, the Toronto Raptors blew the doors off the Warriors, winning 145-127. Golden State trailed by as many as 30 points in the second half.

Can Golden State get off the mat in this contest? Or will Cooper Flagg and the Mavs prove to be too much? Let’s get into the cap.

Game intangibles

Golden State Warriors (25-20) vs Dallas Mavericks (18-26)

Tipoff: Early tip alert! The ball will be in the air shortly after 6:30p CT from the American Airlines Center.

How to watch: Prime Video has the national telecast of this one.

Game odds as of 10:30a CT

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!

Spread: Golden State -5.5

Over/Under: 234.5 points

Moneyline: Dallas is +176 to pull the upset tonight

Prop bets of the night

• Naji Marshall over 16.5 points (+100)
• Klay Thompson, Max Christie and Steph Curry to combine for 10+ made threes (-130)

Come on, we can’t have a reunion of the Splash Bros without them having a great night, right? Beyond that, we get to add the scorching hot Max Christie to complete our trio. Sign us up for that one. As far as Marshall goes, the Knife has been playing unbelievably well as of late. Expect that run to continue here.

Game pick

• Mavericks moneyline (+176)

At the opener of Warriors -3, we would’ve considered Golden State strongly. However, now on the precipice of being over two possessions, we’ll take the home dog Mavericks outright.

As a reminder, Dallas is 10-3 against the spread (seven outright upsets) as a home underdog this year, covering by an average of nearly six points per game. Golden State, for their part, is one of the worst road favorites in the NBA. The road Warriors are just 4-9 against the number in this situation, having allowed eight outright upsets in those nine games.

We are approximately two weeks away from this season’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. The Sixers have been hovering around the middle of the Eastern Conference’s playoff seeds for most of the season’s first half. They appear good enough to make the postseason, and perhaps avoid the play-in tournament. But they’re certainly not the favorite to win the East either.

Now, you might say, before last season’s disaster, Philly was a staple in the Eastern Conference postseason and rarely was the oddsmakers’ choice to get to the NBA Finals and that didn’t deter the Sixers from adding to their roster. You’d be correct. Whether it was a big swing like the Ben Simmons-James Harden trade or a smaller acquisition like the countless backup centers Philadelphia tried to put behind Joel Embiid for a few months before the postseason began, the Sixers have always tried to supplement their playoff rosters adequately in the regular season.

But eventually all of that trading and roster reshuffling catches up to you. By now, I think most fans know that Philadelphia owes its first-round pick this year to Oklahoma City after retaining the first rounder in last year’s draft lottery. Technically the pick is top-four protected this year, but the Thunder will almost certainly be getting the Sixers’ 2026 first-rounder. That will finally wrap up the debt owed to Oklahoma City when the Thunder took Al Horford’s contract in December 2020. Remember that Simmons-Harden trade at the 2022 trade deadline?  That trade won’t finally be completed until Philadelphia sends Brooklyn one final first-rounder in 2028 that is top-eight protected.

Naturally when you are a deadline buyer, it’s nice to be able to control your first-round picks. Philly does not have that luxury in two of the next three drafts which could certainly limit Daryl Morey’s options these next couple weeks. There is one high-valued asset that Morey could put on the table in trade talks and that’s the 2028 unprotected Los Angeles Clippers first-round pick that he got in the trade of Harden to the Clippers. Given the current state of the Clippers, that’s certainly looking like it could be a very high draft pick in two years. Is now the time to dangle that kind of a pick in trade talks? You’d have to feel really good about the team’s chances of making a deep playoff run. While the team isn’t bad, I’m not sure it makes the most sense with where the organization is at.

Entering the season, there were plenty of concerns about what the team might get from Embiid and Paul George as both players were a year older, injured a bunch last season and making boatloads of money for multiple seasons ahead. Embiid has given them some solid games on some nights while George continues to look like a bad investment. But the Sixers’ success this season has mostly been rooted in Tyrese Maxey taking the next step towards superstardom, VJ Edgecombe looking like a Rookie of the Year candidate, and some good ancillary acquisitions from Morey in the frontcourt behind Embiid. It has felt like a welcomed change to a newer and younger era of Sixers basketball. Therefore, is an “all-in” move which trading the team’s lone high-valued draft asset in the next three drafts would be, really the smartest decision right now?

Unlike previous trade deadlines, when Philadelphia was more clearly defined as a “win-now” team, the Sixers should not be looking for the veteran types like Harden and the countless backup big men they’ve acquired over the years behind Embiid. As we mentioned, they’re starting to turn the page and get younger, and that’s a goal that needs to be furthered at this year’s trade deadline and beyond. Players in their early 20s like Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona and Jabari Walker have been regulars in the rotation and have helped the team win games this season. If Morey can acquire another younger player like that who is also able to come right into the rotation and contribute for the remainder of 2025-26, he absolutely should.

But how many of those players are available at trade deadlines? Often times, sellers are looking to offload veterans and expiring contracts and hold on to their own younger players. That’s why the Sixers are in a tough spot these next few weeks. It makes sense to add, but they need to add strategically and often times younger players with club control are more expensive in trades and we already detailed the shortage of first-round picks that Philly currently has to offer.

So, where does that leave Morey and his staff as they work the phones these next few weeks? It means they will probably have to shop in the clearance aisle. That’s an aisle they can afford to shop in as they do have some second-round picks in future drafts that would allow them to have some conservations about some bench players on other teams or players that need a change of scenery. There are also the expiring contracts of Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. that could be attractive to other teams as well. In other words, they’re not out of options, but they’re also not picking from a menu at an expensive steakhouse either. If Morey can successfully thread the needle, we might be in for a fun second half and enter the offseason with optimism about the future of the franchise. 

Of course, the Knicks broke the skid.

It was the Nets on the other end, what did you expect?

Here’s a bunch of quotes from the protagonists following a historic trouncing inflicted on New Jersey/Brooklyn.

Mike Brown

On Wednesday’s historic win over the Nets:

“I didn’t know about the record until it was mentioned. But just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing again, I don’t know what the score will be every night we get out on the floor. Our guys are more than capable of going out there and putting it together for 48 minutes, and that was a lot of fun.”

On the Knicks standing despite struggles:

“We know it’s not an aberration. We are sitting in either third or fourth place. We haven’t played well. We are still in a pretty good position to win a lot of games now. Obviously, we’ve had some struggles and it may not be the last time. But what it does continue to show is if we play the right way, it doesn’t matter who is in front of us. We will find ways to get a win.”

On the recent adversity and accountability:

“The reality of it is, when you go through adversity it starts with an individual looking in the mirror, starting with me. I have to see how I can help. We all do. We know we’re better on both sides of the ball, we know we’re better than our record.”

On the challenge of fitting Jordan Clarkson into rotation:

“Yeah, it could be tough to get him in the rotation. Obviously Deuce played well during his time, Mitch played well, Landry played at a pretty high level before he got hurt. So trying to find minutes for those guys as well as for our starting group is tough. I can’t even hit the minute threshold for all those guys that I’m looking for. It can be tough from time to time.”

On Mohamed Diawara’s development:

“Mo’s played well. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. He’s got great size. He’s got really good instinct for a young guy. A part of that instinct is a feel on the offensive floor of how to move the basketball which makes the game easier for everybody. He’s working really hard on the shot and his decision-making. He’s a pretty good rebounder and a pretty good defender for a young guy.”

Josh Hart

On the truth behind the reported players-only meeting:

“We didn’t have a players-only meeting. Y’all dragging it. We didn’t have a players-only meeting. I don’t know who said it, who did all that, but we didn’t have a players-only meeting.”

On discussions being overblown:

“We talked, but it wasn’t like some big thing. So that got dragged. We didn’t have a players-only meeting. We know what we have to do. We cleared stuff up yesterday in film and practice and today in walkthroughs. We know we haven’t been playing up to our capabilities, but we’re gonna continue to play off this win.”

On the need for accountability:

“We all need to do some soul-searching. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal. We’ve been terrible defensively all year.”

Jalen Brunson

On refocusing after the recent struggles:

“Just sticking together, talking it through, having each other’s back, worrying about the little things on the court. Not just the stats, but the stuff that doesn’t make the stat sheet. The stuff that actually makes a difference in close games that can break teams. So that’s what we’ve gotta continue to focus on.”

On building momentum following the win vs. Brooklyn:

“We just had to be focused and get back to who we are. This is a good start for us but we’ve gotta continue to press the issue.”

On the offensive pace and execution on Wednesday:

“It starts with pace. Obviously getting stops and running helps, but our pace offensively was great. We got in the paint, made plays, and just made a lot of good reads tonight. I think us focusing on the things that matter, like the little stuff that allows us to kind of play free on offense, it’s big time for us.”

On having an ever-improving mindset:

“We just had to refocus and get back to who we are. This is a good step for us but we have to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day. It was just sticking together and talking it through and having each other’s backs.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the importance of breaking the losing streak:

“A win—it’s the most important thing. Find a way to break the ice and put one in the left column. Good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of. Consistency is what makes champions. We’ve got to find that consistency of bringing this kind of intensity, energy and execution every single night.”

On building off Wednesday’s performance:

“Try to get two wins in a row. Execute plays with this aggression and have this kind of determination every single night.”

On urgency following team discussions:

“I think losing four in a row better get everyone on the same page. Glad tonight that everyone looked like they saw what was going on and what we needed to stop the bleeding. Consistency is what’s going to make us great. And it’s going to make this season a successful season. We just go to build off of this.”

Jordan Clarkson

On adjusting to his new, reduced role:

“I read the room, I see what it is. I’m just a vet, coming here, doing my work, staying ready. When I’m playing those minutes with the young guys, I ain’t taking nothing away from them. Being a pro, talking to them, trying to get them in their spots.”

On staying professional amid the loss of minutes:

“Still play but I’m not gonna go in there and f–k the game up. I’m just gonna try to keep continuing to play the right way, help these guys grow and continue to get better. That’s all I can do.”

On staying confident in his talents:

“I can help any team in the league. I help winning. You saw it early on in the year. I know I got a lot left in my tank. I can impact winning wherever. I’ll impact winning here. Just gotta stay prepared and control what I can control.”

Lakers star Luka Doncic’s fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, left him out of a message about “ups and downs” that she shared in a post recapping the last decade.

Goltes, who is a model and influencer, shared dozens of Instagram photos showing her modeling, pregnant and spending time with the couple’s two young daughters — but Doncic was not pictured.

“2016–2026. A decade of good times, hard lessons, and everything in between,” Goltes, 27, wrote.

View this post on Instagram

“Plenty of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a single moment .”

The six-time NBA All-Star and Goltes welcomed their second daughter on Dec. 4.

Doncic and Goltes are fairly private about their relationship.

The Jordan Brand athlete missed multiple Lakers games to be with Goltes in Slovenia for the birth of their second child last month.

Doncic notched a triple-double L.A.’s 115-107 win over the Nuggets in Denver on Tuesday. He finished with 38 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Lakers play the Clippers in Inglewood on Thursday night.

As of Monday, Doncic was leading fan voting for this year’s NBA All-Stars in the Western Conference.

Doncic and Goltes got engaged in Slovenia in July 2023 — five months after they announced the birth of their first child, Gabriela, in an Instagram post on Dec. 1, 2022.

Goltes — who was on the cover of Cosmopolitan Slovenija in October 2019 — previously shared in an Instagram Q&A that she met Doncic “when we were 12 years old at the seaside in Croatia.”

Doncic previously explained that Goltes “doesn’t like basketball, but she goes to every game” to support him.

“I met her in Croatia in the same camp I go to now. I met her when we were 11 — I don’t know, something like that,” Doncic said during a 2023 appearance on “Headliners with Rachel Nichols” on Showtime. “So, I’m really happy to have her. It’s been great and she helps me a lot.

“It’s a lot of pressure outside. When I get home, it’s no basketball talk. She don’t like basketball, but she goes to every game. I mean, she likes it now, but she didn’t like it, which is good for me. I really like that.”

Ten days ago, I threw a challenge into the void. I went to The Feed and asked, in full Stephen Crowder fashion, for someone to change my mind on the idea that the Suns should stand pat as the trade deadline approaches.

And I am still right where I was then. I like this team as it is built. I like the depth. I like the balance. Power forward remains an area of opportunity, sure, but I do not see anything out there that feels both attainable and worth disrupting what they have going.

Before we dive in, I want to say this sincerely. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to think through it, to type it out, and to engage with the exercise. I know how much work that is, because I live in a keyboard most days. You all brought thoughtful ideas and real effort.

So now let’s get into it. Let’s walk through what the community had to say, and I will explain where I agree, where I disagree, and whether anything actually moved the needle for me. Let’s explore.

jrm2020: Lauri Markannen

Several of us have been advocating for acquiring Lauri Markenen from Utah for the past several weeks. To repeat some of the rationale presented: fills the Suns biggest position of need with size, experience, proven scoring and rebounding (currently averaging more PPG than anyone on the Suns), and is around the same age as core vets like Booker, Brooks, and Allen. It would be a serious all-in win now move that would immediately raise the team’s ceiling to what I believe would be the level of a true contender. Also, the Jazz have a serious incentive to tank enough to guarantee a top 8 pick so to avoid it being conveyed to OKC. Would definitely requiring sacrificing something of real value to get him, and the Suns probably don’t have enough of the draft capitol that Utah probably primarily wants, but maybe by involving a third team something could be cobbled together to satisfy them. I’m not aware of the Jazz’s position on moving him now, but he’s certainly been rumored as being a target for other teams, so why not us?

I am not anti-Lauri Markkanen. I like him as a player, and I understand the appeal. On paper, his addition feels like a clean next step in properly building around Devin Booker. He grades out as a highly productive player on both ends per B-Ball Index, and from a pure roster construction standpoint, the fit makes sense. At least on the surface.

Where it falls apart is the cost. That is the real hang-up. And jrm2020 nailed the key issue. The Suns probably do not have the draft capital Utah would want. That is correct. But it goes deeper than picks.

Markkanen is making $46.4 million this season. Even with a third team involved, you are talking about moving real money and real depth to make the math work. I am not there yet. Not with how this team feels right now.

This is the type of move you revisit in the offseason. Especially once you have clarity on Jalen Green. He is the kind of financial piece that could eventually help grease the wheels on a deal like this. But right now, the timing is off. The Suns do not have the draft assets to realistically land Markkanen, even with creative accounting and extra teams involved. Neither player is on an expiring deal either. Green would still have two years left after this season. Markkanen has three, with his contract climbing to $53.5 million by 2028-29.

The idea makes sense. The reality does not.

Making this move now would be a full pivot. One that strips depth to chase a single outcome. Utah would want picks. Phoenix does not have enough. Other teams can beat that offer easily. Exploring it right now feels like an exercise in futility.

I would rather let this season breathe. Evaluate Jalen Green. Ride the momentum. Cashing in every chip for a move like this, right now, feels premature.

Mind changed? Interesting theory, but I’m standing pat.

Jtasher: Bobby Portis

The one person I am interested in is Bobby Portis. Good size PF who is tough, can shoot the three and has that mad dawg personality that will fit with the rest of the team. Also someone who has nba experience in the playoffs. But I do not think green should be traded for him and I do not think either o Neal or Allen are enough to get him (without expending draft capital). For the bucks, I think he is available to maybe convince Giannis to stay (if they get an upgrade) or if they blow every thing up. If so a third party may be needed to give them the return on what they want or us to get him.

Bobby Portis is a really interesting name, because he checks a lot of the boxes for what this team could use at the power forward spot. He’s 6’10”, at 30 he fits the timeline, and brings the toughness and edge this team clearly values. He plays with aggression, rebounds with intent, and can stretch the floor. The shooting is the eye catcher. He is hitting a league-best 47.4% from three right now, which is absurd.

He is making $13.4 million this season with two years left, the final year being a player option. From a math standpoint, you can build a deal that works. What does that look like?

It is not complicated. Milwaukee gets some financial relief and a first-round pick, even if that pick has been passed around so much it barely feels real anymore. Maybe you sweeten it with another asset and call it a day.

This is the type of move I can at least talk myself into. But there are roadblocks. The first is that what the Suns have at that position has actually been working. Portis would fit, but disrupting what is clicking always gives me pause.

The bigger issue is Milwaukee. They are struggling at 18-24, but they are in the East. With Giannis Antetokounmpo, a run is always on the table. I am not sure they want to rock the boat that hard.

And then there is the draft reality. The Bucks have fewer picks than the Suns after years of pushing chips in for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. If Portis ever truly hits the market, Phoenix should absolutely knock. The problem is other teams will likely have more ammunition to force that door open.

Mind changed? My skepticism is wavering.

Headz77: Jeremy Sochan

O’Neal for Sochan. I think it works straight up, and makes sense for both teams. Might even get the Suns out of the luxury tax?

First off, why can nobody spell Royce O’Neale’s last name correctly? Seriously. It is not only the community. Our own writers battle with it regularly, and I swear I have spent an unreasonable portion of my life editing those letters back into the proper order.

Now, Jeremy Sochan. He has never really done it for me. Yes, he plays hard. Yes, he brings toughness. If you are a team starving for edge and effort, I get the appeal. The Suns are not that team. They already have that. Other teams need Jeremy Sochan. Phoenix does not.

He is shooting 25.7% from three this season and sits at 28.7% for his career. In this hypothetical, you are giving up an elite three-point shooter for someone who hustles, rebounds a bit, and brings energy. That has value. It does not have value here. He would not start. He would come off the bench. At 6’8”, without a three-point shot, living on effort and physicality.

And that is where I get stuck. Do we not already have that guy? His name is Ryan Dunn.

Mind changed? If anything, the needle just moved the other way.

sdhx19: Jalen Smith/Grant Williams

I have 2 names in addition to Portis, who might be the best case. One is our own Jalen Smith, who is in top 50 in rebounds per 36, can protect the rim, shoot the 3 and is somewhat buried in Chicago. The big Q is is he quick enough to defend consistently on the perimeter but either way I think he can be very useful here. 2y ~9m per year.

The other is just returning from injury, Grant Williams from CHA. He is tough, can reb and shoot the 3, not the quickest feet but will provide if healthy. As we know we do business with CHA regularly. he has 2y ~13m per year so he is obtainable.

You really did get a two-for-one here.

Time is a flat circle, right? The guy drafted instead of Tyrese Haliburton and Devin Vassell. The guy who actually fit what the Suns needed at the time, then never got a consistent runway. Jalen Smith. He is making $9 million this season, which makes acquiring him incredibly easy from a math standpoint.

On a middling Bulls team, he has played 36 games, started 6, and is putting up 9.4 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting a respectable 34.7% from three.

When it comes to Stix, I keep coming back to the same question. Why? Is it because we think we need a bigger body? If that is the case, I would rather funnel those minutes into Oso Ighodaro or Ryan Dunn, both cheaper, both already here, both still in the development phase. I want to see what they actually are instead of bringing back a retread because we talk ourselves into needing size.

The only way I can sell this to Chicago is as a financial reset. You pitch it as expiring contracts. Nick Richards expires. Nigel Hayes Davis expires. You frame it as freeing up money instead of paying Smith $9.4 million next year for a player you are not fully invested in anymore.

And here is the real problem. Chicago does not do things like this. They never have. They never seem interested in getting better or cleaner financially. It is honestly impressive in its own way. Every year it is the same cycle. Hover around the Pla-In. Lose. Run it back. No aggressive trades. No draft maneuvering. Unless Sacramento is calling, the phone stays quiet. They are not rebuilding. They are not contending. They simply exist.

Mind changed? Status quo: preserved.

Now Grant Williams. Is the goal here to become the most hated team in the league? Because if that is the mission, we are halfway there already with Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks. Should we complete the villain arc and bring Grant Williams into the mix, too? And while we are at it, is Charlotte the only team we are allowed to trade with anymore?

I have zero interest in Grant Williams. Start with the ACL. That stuff lingers, and it usually takes a full season after the return before a player looks like himself again. Then add the rest of the résumé. Undersized. Loud. Has rubbed locker rooms the wrong way everywhere he has been. Boston moved on. Dallas moved on. Now he is parked in Charlotte, drifting.

Would he fit the culture? Maybe. But I do not want to give up anything this team currently has to make room for Grant Williams wandering around the rotation. And can you imagine him and Dillon Brooks sharing the floor? That is not defense. That is a complimentary free-throw package for the other team. Fouls. Technicals. Whistles nonstop. Candy on Halloween. Hard pass.

Mind changed? That logic doesn’t live in my neighborhood.

That was a fun exercise, and I landed in the same place I started. Bobby Portis is the one name that genuinely makes me pause and think. Outside of that, nothing I have seen feels strong enough to change how I view this team or what it is becoming.

This roster is built to compete right now, and I did not expect to be saying that at this point of the season. I am thankful that I am. But I do not believe in making moves for the sake of making moves. This team has depth. It has flexibility. Yes, power forward remains an area where size could help, but depth matters, and any addition risks disrupting that balance.

The Suns are not hunting the way the Sixers are for perimeter shooting. They are not scrambling the way the Lakers are to prop up an expensive top end with duct tape depth. This team is balanced. It knows who it is. I have no appetite to upset that right now.

They can compete. They can disrupt. They can make noise in the playoffs without touching a single button. And being in that position, unexpectedly, is a really good place to be.

Adding value: Crunching the numbers on Sam Hauser's recent surge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

We’re struggling to remember the last time a Sam Hauser 3-pointer touched anything but the net. It certainly didn’t happen on Wednesday night against Indiana, with all five of Hauser’s triples finding nothing but twine.

Hauser nearly matched the Celtics’ single-game record for 3-pointers last Saturday in Atlanta before hilariously getting snagged on 10 makes, and misfiring on six energy-drained attempts before coach Joe Mazzulla mercifully ended his night in a lopsided win.

Hauser has made 25 3-pointers in his last five games. Consider this: There are 279 players in the NBA who haven’t made 25 3-pointers all season. Yes, Hauser has more 3-pointers in a week than half the league has made in half of the season. 

Still, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Hauser in 2025-26. He came into the new campaign as a starter on a robust $10 million per year extension, but got shuffled to the bench after three games due in large part to Boston’s rebounding woes. Hauser’s shot was off at times to start the season, and his minutes dipped below even his average on Boston’s recent talent-surplus teams.

Even in those moments, Hauser was a positive for the Celtics when he was on the court. But now his shot is falling, and he’s given an already-potent offense another jolt while shuffling back to the starting role. 

Let’s crunch the numbers on all the ways that Hauser is helping Boston thrive when he’s on the court: 

The turnaround

Let’s get the shooting discussion out the way. After some woes to start the season — at least by his lofty, above-40 percent-on-3-pointers standards — Hauser has found his groove over the last 16 games. Just look at the spikes in his scoring and shooting efficiencies: 

Most notable: Hauser was shooting 32.1 percent on all pull-up 3-pointers through the first 26 games. He’s up to a sizzling 52.4 percent over his last 16 games.

Catch and shoot will always be Hauser’s bread and butter — and even that percentage jumped 12.8 percent to 47.2 percent in his last 16 games — but he’s creating all sorts of quality attempts lately, including some sneaky moments where he puts the ball on the floor and ventures inside the arc. 

Nothing but net for starters

The Celtics’ starting five featuring Hauser is outscoring opponents by a whopping 19.2 points per 100 possessions over 149 minutes of floor time this season. 

Among the 40 five-man lineups in the league with at least 100 minutes played this season, Boston’s starters rank fourth in net rating behind only lineups from Oklahoma City, Denver, and — surprisingly — Charlotte.

Narrow that down to the 25 lineups with 120+ minutes this season, and Boston’s starting five vaults to second in net rating, trailing only the Denver starters when Nikola Jokic was healthy. 

The Celtics rank second in the NBA in offensive rating this season at 121.3, trailing only the Nuggets (121.5). 

Quick decisions, good ball security

Hauser is a perfect fit for the starting group in part because his presence forces defenders to stay attached and creates space for teammates. What’s more, he makes quick decisions and takes care of the basketball.

The stat crunchers at BBall Index note that Hauser ranks 74th out of 513 NBA players this season in quick-decision pass percentage, with 86 percent of his touches lasting 0.5 seconds or less. Hauser ranks 57th out of 513 players while committing 1.75 turnovers per 100 touches.

His bad-pass turnovers have crept up a bit this season, but he’s routinely valued the ball throughout his career and is a willing ball-mover when he doesn’t have a quality look.

Defending without fouling

It’s still comical to watch players trip all over themselves trying to go at Hauser in isolation. Hauser routinely competes in those situations, all while avoiding fouls by keeping his hands up. In fact, the numbers suggest he’s been the best isolation defender on the team this season.

Opponents are averaging 0.68 points per play in isolation against Hauser this season, the best mark of the 10 Boston players who have defended enough possessions to qualify. Opponents are shooting 28 percent in those instances and turn the ball over on 11.8 percent of those possessions. Hauser ranks in the 89th percentile among all isolation defenders.

Overall, the NBA’s tracking data suggests that opponents are shooting 0.7 percent below expected output when Hauser is the nearest defender. That’s another solid number considering the variety of players Hauser defends.

On Wednesday night against Indiana, Hauser spent multiple turns on Pascal Siakam. He had one excellent isolation stop early in the game, then got beat off the dribble later in the game and committed a tough and-one foul. 

Still, Hauser commits fouls on just 2.3 percent of his team’s plays, which is an elite number for a player routinely tasked with defending an array of wings and bigs. What’s more, he commits shooting fouls on a mere 7.4 percent of his contested shots, which ranks in the 89th percentile for his position.

Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Cleaning the glass

Hauser also quietly does a nice job on the glass. His defensive rebound percentage is up to 14.6 this season, which would be the best full-season mark of his career.

Boston grabs 69.8 percent of available defensive rebounds with Hausers on the court this season, the third-best mark on the team behind only centers Luka Garza (72.0) and Neemias Queta (70.2). 

Final thoughts

While Hauser’s reputation hinges heavily on his shotmaking abilities, he continues to find ways to positively impact the Celtics beyond scoring.

In a league where shooters with other skills are some of the most valuable commodities, Hauser is a true luxury, particularly while accounting just for 6.5 percent of the cap this season, even as his extension kicks in.

With the NBA trade deadline lingering, and the Celtics having only a limited amount of tradable contracts, Hauser’s name will invariably be floated at times. The last few weeks have been a firm reminder of how valuable he is to this team and its quest to return to title contender status.

For the third time in four games, the Milwaukee Bucks were blown out by a Western Conference team, losing 122-102 to the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Things have tumbled quickly for the Bucks; after winning five of their last seven games, they’ve now dropped four of five. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

31 minutes, 19 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 8/11 FG, 3/6 FT, -11

Despite missing several big-time defensive pieces in Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder still made it incredibly difficult for Giannis to get going. To his credit, though, GA was still very efficient, picking up another double-double and having seven assists.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins

29 minutes, 10 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 4/11 FG, 2/5 3P, -9

The ball pressure from OKC’s defense really made it a hard day for Rollins as well. He found his spots at times, but between Cason Wallace and Lu Dort, it was tough for him to get consistent opportunities.

Grade: C-

AJ Green

32 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4/9 3P, -14

Green has really found his stroke in January. He’s been shooting 40.7% so far, and added a 44% performance last night. The Bucks have needed these types of performances from him, even in ugly losses.

Grade: B

Kyle Kuzma

28 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3/11 FG, 0/5 3P, -20

Things keep trending downward for Kuzma as the season progresses. He wasn’t able to do much on defence guarding SGA (to be fair, few can), and according to Doc Rivers, he wasn’t in the right spots offensively. According to Rivers, he was supposed to be a screener and roller in the middle, but ended up just spacing and hoisting up five three-pointers.

Grade: D+

Bobby Portis

37 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 6/14 FG, 2/7 3P, +0

Bobby continues to be a consistent offensive player off the bench for the Bucks. He added another 15 points and even distributed the ball a little bit, doling out nine assists.

Grade: B-

Pete Nance

30 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3/5 3P, +3

What a revelation Nance has been over the last two games. Last night, he played double the minutes he did on Monday and looked pretty solid on both ends. Of the players who played more than 10 minutes, he was the only Buck to be a positive in the plus/minus.

Grade: B+

Cole Anthony

29 minutes, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 7/9 FG, 3/4 3P, -2

With Kevin Porter Jr. out, Doc Rivers tapped Cole Anthony to return to the rotation and fill in as the backup point guard. He did well and was Bucks’ leading scorer at halftime. While he had his moments of good play, the bad with Anthony reared its ugly head again with some bone-headed turnovers.

Grade: B

Doc Rivers

If any team has perfected the right approach to NBA basketball in the 2020s, it’s been the Thunder. The difference between them and how Doc runs the Bucks couldn’t be more stark. The way OKC runs offense and stays locked into their principles is impressive to watch. Meanwhile, the Bucks are apparently focused on the more basic elements of basketball, like moving the ball with pace. It’s the clearest example of how the modern NBA has passed Rivers by.

Grade: D-

Limited Minutes: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr, Gary Trent Jr.

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims

Inactive: Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Giannis wore an All-Star patch on his jersey, commemorating his selection as a starter from the Eastern Conference. With his 10th straight selection, Giannis became the first Bucks player in franchise history to have 10 All-Star appearances with the team.
• Before the game, Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) and KPJ (oblique strain) were both ruled out. Rivers said that Turner is just day-to-day, but Porter could be out for some time, with no clear timetable for his return.
• The Bucks are now 10-20 since starting the season 8-5.
• This is the fourth straight game that Giannis has shot the ball 13 times or less. Giannis was asked postgame how the team could get him more shots:

“I’m not the guy who will yell and cuss a teammate out and demand the ball. I’ve never done that in my career. I feel like I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can cause for our team, how I can create for my teammates or for myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe it’s because we’re not playing well, maybe guys think it’s their turn. They want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around, but I don’t get it. It’s not like I’m not trying to be aggressive.”

• I asked Bobby Portis how he handles these types of loses, especially when they come this close together:

“It’s the NBA, man, in about six or seven games, I’m about to play my 700th NBA game, which is crazy to say. So, I’ve played in a lot of different games, a lot of different moments, can’t get too high or too low. Obviously, you want to have that sense of urgency on a nightly basis; that’s something you have to have, especially where we are in the season. We’re not where we want to be, you’ve just got to have that sense of urgency every night so you can give yourself the best chance to win.”

• In previous interviews, Giannis has stated that there are times when he feels some of the younger players are trying to do too much. So, I asked Giannis about what type of learning curve it takes for a young player to break out of that and progress:

“Time and experience. I was like 20, 21. I think it was my third year in the league, but then in my fourth year, it (got) better. I had great vets that taught me how to play the game, how to play unselfish basketball, play winning basketball. I felt like I was always on go mode, and they were able to tell me to find my teammates and set the tone, move the ball. There are going to be times during the game it’s going to be your turn to take over the game. I learned to read the plays, I learned to read momentum, I learned to read runs. I remember back in the day when the team went on a run, there would never be a case where I didn’t touch the ball. If you can find a clip of the team going on a run and didn’t throw me the ball in the post, to go to the free throw line, get a wide-open shot, and create this gravity. When I was younger, I didn’t know what I was doing, but they understood for me.”

Up Next

Milwaukee will have another late tip-off at home this week, welcoming the Nuggets to Fiserv Forum to finish their two-game season series. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m. Central time, with the game available to stream on Prime Video. On cable, it can still be watched on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

We are officially just 2 weeks away from the trade deadline! After weeks and weeks of rumors, speculation, and plenty of CelticsBlog articles, we’re getting close to the end. At this point, the agents have played their hands, the teams have signaled their intentions (or not), and the posturing has reached its apex. I’ve never worked for a front office, but it seems like this is the time when they pull up all the options they’ve been working on for months and really decide on what to prioritize, what hard line they are going to hold to, and what they can give up. From the outside looking in, we have no idea what those internal conclusions are.

So I went to our own team and asked for their inputs for the latest staff roundtable.

What would you like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline?

Jack Anderson

I want the Celtics to add a center. It doesn’t need to be a big swing like Nic Claxton or Ivica Zubac but they need depth. I just worry about Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and small ball as the options in a playoff series. Marvin Bagley is on a minimum salary and could be an option to give Joe another option at center because he won’t put Tillman or Boucher out there.

Ian Inangelo

I want the Celtics to add another big. I think Tatum will be a great addition when he gets back but they need another guy at the center position. Ivica Zubac or Jaren Jackson Jr would be the best case scenarios in my mind but fine with a guy like Day’Ron Sharpe or Isaiah Jackson. Just another body to have at the big man position that can provide more depth.

Mark Aboyoun

I agree with Jack that a big man is the priority for me. I’m not necessarily in the camp of bringing back Robert Williams (although I am still a fan of his). We can use a front court player who can give us minutes either in front of Queta/Garza if we go for a big name center like Ivica Zubac, but need someone who can be that third big man with the rotation with Queta and Garza.

Bobby Manning

It’s a boring answer but I feel like the Celtics standing pat will be a win. It would keep the possibility alive of Anfernee Simons staying long-term, show new ownership’s willingness to pay luxury tax even in a borderline contending season and the cliché of Jayson Tatum being the deadline addition could hold true. The Celtics haven’t thrived with the marginal upgrade by using second round picks, and they shouldn’t utilize draft capital to offload salary either. So if neither of those things happen, there’s always the chance to take a buyout swing like they did with Torrey Craig last year. And they’re now eligible to sign the ones who make higher salaries now. Their current winning situation should attract a veteran.

Mike Dynon

Assuming Jayson Tatum will be activated before long, a couple of small moves could make the Celtics very dangerous for the postseason. First, as others have said, acquire a center who can join the Queta-Garza rotation. He won’t need to be a top-level talent, but rather (as the saying goes) a serviceable big man. Not sure who that should be, but am happy to let Brad surprise us (as usual). Perhaps Chris Boucher could be part of the deal and thus be freed from Joe Mazzulla’s purgatory.

Second, don’t trade Anfernee Simons – unless it’s for another significant difference-maker. The Anferno’s recent outburst probably enhanced what dealing him could bring in return. On the other hand, it also demonstrated what a weapon he is. It’s understood that his defense isn’t the best, and his contract is expiring and he might leave for nothing after this season. But if the Celtics add Tatum and another big, and feel they have a legit chance to reach the Finals, hanging onto Simons’ firepower could help win some playoff games. Give us a successful postseason, even if he walks later.

Nik Land

I would like to see the Celtics add another low-cost big man, similar to their previous acquisitions of Mike Muscala and Xavier Tillman. While a major addition such as Ivica Zubac would undoubtedly elevate the team, I don’t believe such a move is absolutely necessary for Boston to be highly competitive. If the Celtics were able to acquire a younger option like Day’Ron Sharpe (Nets), Karlo Matković (Pelicans), Yves Missi (Pelicans), or another big who fits a similar profile, I would be happy. All of these players are on affordable contracts that would keep the Celtics below the second apron, and each comes with team options that provide Boston with additional roster flexibility and control. That said, I think it is more likely the team ultimately stands pat.

Bill Sy

I only want one thing.

Nirav Barman

My trade priorities depend on how likely the Celtics are to retain Anfernee Simons in the offseason. Seeing how well the team is doing right now without JT is very exciting, but I think making a push solely for this year would be short-sighted. With the exception maybe of Tillman and Boucher, everyone on this team is a contributor. Outside of those two and Simons, they’re also all under contract, and should be back the following year with a healthy JT. If Brad thinks he can retain Anfernee at a reasonable price, stay pat. If not, he absolutely has to take advantage of the trade value, preferably to find a backup big, and maybe some cheap extra firepower off the bench.

Jeff Clark

My opinion on this has shifted 2 or 3 times over the last few months. I imagine that Brad Stevens is much more measured, thoughtful, and deliberate about how he approaches his job. Things can develop over time to change his mind, but I have a feeling that he’s had a plan (or several versions of plans) all along. So I’ll submit that Brad knew very well how good Simons could perform and fit into our system and he knew the drawbacks to his game and long term fit (both on the court and financially). If he decides that the right value is out there to make an upgrade to this team now and for the future, I’ll probably trust him.

All that aside, at this moment I also want to keep Simons and see if we can sign him to a more reasonable deal in the offseason. Sometimes you just need a guy that can go out and get buckets. Like everyone else, I think the Celtics need more reliable depth at the center position and hope that they can address that in a smaller move. Maybe that means that the guy we get will not play all that much in the playoffs when benches get short and (knock on wood) Tatum will be back. But we need more depth at that position and giving Joe Mazzulla more options is always a good idea.

Your Turn!

Tell us in the comments what you’d like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline.