INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It looks like Adam Silver wants to have his cake and eat it, too. Yesterday, I wrote about Tony Jones reporting that the NBA was sending its own doctors to verify the injury to Lauri Markkanen.
Today, Tony Jones apologized for getting something wrong. Apparently, they are just going to verify the MRIs, which is apparently standard practice, but not sending their own medical personnel to Utah.
Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies.
This is the second time the NBA has made a point of critiquing the reporting on what they are doing. If you don’t remember, they critiqued Rick Carlisle, saying they didn’t do what he said they did.
Reached out for comment on this:
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” a league spokesperson told @YahooSports. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General… https://t.co/2TX97UsawR
Obviously, Tony Jones was contacted by someone, which led to his apology today. It’s not clear what to think at this point, but given how the NBA has been going about things, I have a hard time believing anything they say. Or finding any fault with Jones at all.
Putting the he-said he-said behind us, it’s an absolute scabby mess that the NBA keeps picking at. It’s a bad look for the league and for Silver’s leadership to continue creating a PR disaster like this, all for some momentary gains with threats to Utah and Indiana. For what? games with their best players on the floor to manufacture some bogus competitiveness? What if they focused on the upcoming playoff race instead of two small-market teams that they never push anyway? It’s not like Utah or Indiana had any notable number of national games.
The best thing for Adam Silver and the NBA to do right now is to stop. That’s literally all they have to do. Let the Utah Jazz do the things that so many other teams have done for so many years. Do your job and cover the competitive games going on as we speak, rather than trying to harm the future of teams doing what’s best for them.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: Derrick White #9 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics share a laugh against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on December 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER — The Celtics finished their West Coast roadtrip with an impressive 3-1 record, tallying double-digit wins against the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns, before running out of steam in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Afterwards, Jaylen Brown noted that a 3-1 record on a four-game trip wasn’t “half-bad” while attributing most of the Celtics’ struggles in Denver to some uncharacteristic poor shooting (like Joe Mazzulla, I’ll give some credit to the Nuggets for playing a pretty superb game).
I’m on my flight home from Denver, and we have had lots of basketball coverage and reporting on the site throughout the trip, so I wanted to share a few more casual observations from my past week on the road!
Celtics fans are literally everywhere, in every city
Celtics fans made their presence known in all four cities of this West Coast trip — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Denver — which is pretty much par for the course.
I’ve been on the road for the past two seasons, and have been pretty underwhelmed with the home crowds at Chase Center (in SF) and Crypto.com Arena (in LA).
But, this trip, the road fans stood out to me more than ever before.
In LA, we saw Jaylen Brown egging on Celtics fans who were kicked out of the arena in the waning moments of the Celtics’ blowout.
Baylor Scheierman is from a small town in Nebraska!!!
Baylor Scheierman became the butt of a team-wide joke after candidly answering my question about what it was like to play against LeBron James and the Lakers. Scheierman reflected on the experience
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with LeBron James. LeBron James is guarding you.”
Asked Baylor Scheierman about going up against LeBron & the Lakers:
“It was a dream come true. Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with Lebron James.’” pic.twitter.com/IpL1IyEghT
I posted the clip on Twitter/X, and Hugo Gonzalez (who Scheierman is extremely close with) replied to it, poking fun of how often Scheierman brings up the fact that he’s from small-time Nebraska: “Could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????“
@playforhim3 could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????
Scheierman, meanwhile, was quick-witted in his response, taking a shot at the fact that Gonzalez was long-destined to be a pro while Scheierman had a more unlikely journey: “Little brother, we weren’t supposed to all be here.”
Hermanito, no se suponía que todos estuviéramos aquí.
As I got the Twitter notifications, I laughed at the exchange because I thoroughly enjoy the friendships that emerge on sports teams. They were my favorite part of being on a sports team, and they’ve been my favorite part of covering them over the past three years. I’ve also written extensively about Baylor and Hugo’s very close relationship, and I have enjoyed being in the locker room this year and hearing their constant banter.
Later that night, the Celtics blew out the Phoenix Suns, 97-81, and vibes were extremely high (I wrote about the play of the season here).
Then, Sam Hauser, who tallied 16 points in the win, began his media availability by noting he was “from a small town in Wisconsin” with Scheierman within earshot. Derrick White later noted he was “from a small town in Colorado.”
I actually (jokingly) apologized to Scheierman for setting him up for the slander, because I do frequently ask players about the emotional / pinch me side of being in the NBA. Case in point: on Tuesday night, I also asked Neemias Queta about representing Portugal in the NBA, and what that experience has been like.
Asked Neemias Queta what it’s been like to represent Portugal this year:
“That's always something surreal for me to like, being from Portugal and living in the NBA world, and just being able to go out here and compete at the highest level every night.”
The Scheierman/small-town Nebraska stuff was all in good fun, and the ongoing bit highlighted to me the growing camaraderie on the team — so I thought I’d share it here!
Everyone is cheering on Ron Harper Jr.
Harper Jr. is on a two-way contract, but he’s not your average two-way. It’s obvious to anyone who steps foot in the Celtics locker room that he already gets along pretty well with many of the guys on the official roster, and that’s likely in part because he’s pretty deep-rooted with the Celtics.
He was on the 2024 Celtics Summer League team with Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta, and was at Celtics training camp in both 2024 and 2025.
Harper started in place of Jaylen Brown in Phoenix when Brown was sidelined with a right knee contusion. From the jump, I noticed that Brown was extremely animated whenever Harper did anything on the floor, and was coaching him up when he was on the bench.
I asked Jaylen about Ron on Wednesday night, and he shared his ongoing message to Ron: “Confidence — just let it fly.”
“At times, you can see he might be thinking about it a little bit,” Brown said. “Ron is one of the best shooters on our team, and teams are leaving him open. Tonight, they were choosing to leave him open, he just has to step in and knock it down, like he’s been doing his whole life.”
Asked Jaylen Brown what’s stood out about Ron Harper throughout this roadtrip:
“Ron’s one of the best shooters on our team.”
Said teams were leaving him open and that it’s all about instilling him with confidence pic.twitter.com/OFDNScJMLE
“He cares about the details,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Obviously, the offensive stuff — he can make shots, he can think, he can play. But defensively, just competing, understanding the details, executing the game plan, taking pride in defense… He just loves basketball.”
Those are just a few of my fun notes from this West Coast swing — I’ll try to do more of these journal entry-style posts when I’m on roadtrips moving forward!
Forward Taj Gibson, 40, has agreed to a deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies, his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Feb. 26.
It will be the 17th season for the USC product. He's played with seven different NBA teams during his professional career, including last season with the Charlotte Hornets. He started 11 of the 37 games he played in.
He can play as a power forward and center.
Gibson adds a veteran voice to a Grizzlies’ roster that was among the youngest in the league to start the season.
The Grizzlies and forward Kyle Anderson also reached a buyout agreement, according to Charania.
How old is Taj Gibson?
Gibson is 40 years old and will turn 41 on June 24.
If he plays for Memphis, he will become the 35th player in the league’s history to play in an NBA game after turning 40.
Taj Gibson stats
Gibson has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 1,002 games played.
DALLAS, TX - MAY 26: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Slo-Mo is back!
On Thursday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Kyle Anderson has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyle Anderson has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. Anderson spent two seasons with the Timberwolves (2022-24) and gets an opportunity to rejoin the West contender. pic.twitter.com/lzdq2lDayL
It is not the first time Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has signed the 12-year veteran as back in the summer of 2022, the Wolves signed Anderson to a two-year $18 million deal. Anderson fills the 15th and final roster spot for Minnesota and is eligible to be added to the playoff roster.
Slo-Mo had other potential opportunities to join a contending team, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, but decided to rejoin a Wolves organization that both believed in and treated him well in the past.
Anderson played a monumental role during the 2022-23 season in getting the Wolves to the playoffs in what ended up being a turbulent season following the trade for Rudy Gobert. Anderson that season averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while also providing leadership for a young Wolves roster both on the court and in the locker room.
Slo-Mo’s production dipped during the 2023-24 season, in which the Wolves made their first Western Conference Finals in 20 years. The most notable decline was his 3-point shot, which went from 41 percent the season prior to under 23 percent, a number that remains the outlier for his career.
The play that best represented what Slo-Mo brought to the Wolves during his two seasons in Minnesota came in Game 4 of the 2024 West Finals when Anderson called for Anthony Edwards to pass to an open Karl-Anthony Towns in the corner, simultaneously screening off the defender as the Wolves avoided a sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Anderson will likely see a somewhat limited role the rest of the season in Minnesota, but can provide extra defensive depth at both the wing and the center position, a role he played a lot during his first stint with the Wolves. Slo-Mo will surely also provide added leadership both on and off the court as he reconnects with former teammates Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley.
Slo-Mo could join the team as soon as Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, according to Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune. The Wolves’ next game at home takes place Tuesday against the Grizzlies, where Anderson is likely to see a sizeable ovation from the Target Center faithful.
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 23: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 23, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA - November 03: Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Mark Walter during a celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers back to back World Championship at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Can the way a baseball team operates be successfully imitated in basketball? Lakers fans are about to find out.
Not only is their new majority owner Mark Walter in charge of the Dodgers, but he’s also bringing some of those talents to the Lakers. Lon Rosen is now the President of Business Operations for the Lakers after spending the last decade-plus with the Dodgers.
The plan, according to Pelinka and sources, is for the Lakers to expand its front office around the president of basketball operations by reforming its college scouting staff, building a modern pro scouting department and adding to its existing analytics department. The goal is to mirror the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful front office, which has mastered player identification and development, in addition to working with a seemingly unlimited payroll.
While baseball fans complain about the Dodgers’ wealth, a lot of their success stems from their ability to identify and develop players. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger won back-to-back National League Rookie of the Year Awards in 2016 and ‘17.
The Dodgers continue to develop young prospects like Josue De Paula, who will likely impact the team’s success in the future. This is why the Dodgers are considered by many baseball experts to be one of the best organizations at developing homegrown talent.
There are also players like Chris Taylor and Max Muncy, who were miscast or misused with other franchises but landed with the Dodgers and became key pieces to winning teams. In a sport with a salary cap like the NBA, being able to identify those types of players is even more valuable than in baseball.
The Lakers have found plenty of quality players in the draft before, from top picks like Lonzo Ball to undrafted players like Austin Reaves. Recently, though, they missed on their first round selections, such as Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Dalton Kencht is out of the rotation and viewed as a negative asset by NBA scouts.
Given that the Lakers let go of the Buss brothers, who were integral to the scouting department, bringing in new people is a top priority. Tony Bennett has recently been brought on as an NBA Draft advisor, the first publicly announced hire for the team’s scouting department.
The idea of copying the Dodgers’ dynasty and applying it to the Lakers is exciting, but basketball is an entirely different sport.
The Lakers can’t spend on players like the Dodgers under the NBA’s CBA. They can, however, spare no expense on all other hires. Being aggressive in providing the franchise with as many top resources as possible will give them the best chance of success.
Things might be changing all around the Lakers front office, but at the top, it will remain the same.
The Lakers will need people who understand NBA basketball and its politics at the highest level for this to work anywhere near as well as it has for the Walter’s baseball team. Perhaps that’s the role Pelinka can thrive in.
Hopefully, the number of new people like Bennett and the workers Walter trusts, like Rosen, can blend to make something special in downtown Los Angeles. And soon, the baby Lakers will be a sign that the front office is winning in the margins while its star players rack up victories on the floor.
MILWAUKEE — A substantial tumble since New Year’s Eve hasn’t diminished Mike Brown’s belief in a Knicks championship.
But the coach understands there are factors beyond talent that will help hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
“I truly believe it [that we are championship team],” Brown said Thursday. “Now, having said that, there are things that have to go right. You got to be playing your best basketball. You have to be connected. The things that I talk about. You got to sacrifice. If you got guys on your team that aren’t sacrificing, you could be in trouble. Because it’ll mess with your connectivity. Which is huge. You got to have a competitive spirit. You got to want to compete every night. And you got to believe. You got to keep believing. Even when things are going bad. Even when you go through stretches of 2-7 or 2-9. You got to believe not just in the process — because it is a process — but you got to believe in each other. And then at the end of the day, in anything you do, starting with me, everybody has to be held accountable.”
Mike Brown of the New York Knicks reacts one the baseline during the first half when the New York Knicks played the Houston Rockets Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Knicks (37-22) haven’t looked the part of a title contender over most of the past two months, amassing a pedestrian 14-13 record starting Dec. 31. Heading into Thursday, it was tied for the NBA’s 18th-best winning percentage during that stretch — and it included bouts of ugly defense, disjointed vibes and blowout defeats against the East’s top dogs. The No. 1 Pistons (48-13) have created space in the standings that feels insurmountable, while the Celtics (38-20) surpassed the Knicks for No. 2.
Lately, New York, just a half-game above Cleveland for No. 3 in the conference, has been more pretender than contender.
Before New Year’s Eve, though, the Knicks were 23-9 and NBA Cup champs. They carried the look of an NBA Finals team, after nearly reaching that point last year. So the talent has shown it’s capable, and there’s a public mandate from owner James Dolan to at least win the East.
But Brown, who was on the coaching staff of four NBA championship squads in San Antonio and Golden State, said the Knicks need to quickly find the other stuff first — sacrifice, accountability, competitiveness.
“Those things, which are our standard, are huge for us,” Brown said. “Those things are not necessarily what the outside world can see. The outside world sees the shots, the points, the defense and all that. If you want to win a championship, you gotta have a team that’s talented. We have that. Can we make sure we maximize and embrace our standard every time we step on the floor? And if we can, that’s what’s going to get us over the hump.”
All those opponents are top six in their respective conferences.
It’ll be a good test of Brown’s “standard.”
“Everything is geared toward being your best toward the end of the season and going into the playoffs and hopefully throughout that run,” Brown said. “I’ve never been a guy who puts stock in everything and it’s the end of the world if it doesn’t happen in this particular game. That’s not life in general. Things are going to average out to however they need to at the right time. And hopefully after 70 games, or whatever it is, you feel pretty good where you are going into that postseason.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 6: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings hug after the game on January 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-36) are home for the first time in a month and on Thursday night they host the Sacramento Kings (13-47). Dallas is staring at their least welcomed winstreak in years, defeating the Pacers then the Brookly Nets. The Kings actually beat the Grizzlies this week, which was their first win since one over the Washington Wizards in mid-January. The Kings are bad bad bad bad, but we knew that already
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings
WHAT: The new Dallas Mavericks finally get to play in front of the home crowd
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
Oh boy what an injury report we have today. On the Dallas end, Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Ryan Nembhard are all out with various maladies. Khris Middleton is going to suit up after hurting his shoulder the other night. Moussa Cisse and Miles Kelly should both see some action tonight as they’re both listed as available.
Unlike the Nets, the Kings have taken to just shutting down guys for the year. Domanta Sabonis and Zach LaVine are out. Russell Westbrook was ruled out for tonight’s game. DeAndre Hunter and Dyland Cardwell are missing the game with various injuries. Keegan Murray has been out with a bad ankle sprain. It’s bleak over there for an already bad team.
I see no way Dallas loses. They have NBA players. The Kings have DeMar DeRozan. It’s gonna be a sad evening of basketball for the hardcore fans out there.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Dennis Schroder #8 during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unfortunately for the Cavs, things haven’t gone well since that day. The team announced that James Harden broke his thumb in the win, Donovan Mitchell was added to the injury report with a groin strain, and the Cavs lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday due to poor perimeter defense.
A loss in the standings wasn’t the only thing the Cavs suffered that day. Three new rotation players have been added to the injury report. Keon Ellis has broken his left index finger, Dean Wade has a right ankle sprain, and Dennis Schroder also has a right ankle sprain.
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The severity of any of the new injuries isn’t known at this time.
The most concerning part of the injury report is Mitchell missing his second game in a row with a groin strain. It seems like Mitchell has battled some kind of injury in late February/early March for the past few seasons. This groin strain is the latest one.
The Cavs need Mitchell at his best if they’re going to meet playoff expectations. Shutting him down for several games, if needed, would be in their long-term best interest. We’ll likely find out more information about his injury on Friday evening when head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks with the media.
The three new names on the injury report of Ellis, Wade, and Schroder are concerning. Each fills a vital role for this team that isn’t easily replaced.
We’ll see which of the questionable players are available to play. At the very least, it’s disappointing that the Cavs will be without their best player and could be missing several key contributors in Friday’s matchup with Detroit.
Bruce Froemming, a major league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86.
Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, and was taken to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, according to Froemming's son, Steven.
He had brain bleeding that medical personnel could not stop because Froemming was on blood thinners, leading to his death.
Froemming was a semipro baseball player and started his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at age 18. He worked his way up and joined the National League staff in 1971. He shifted to the unified major league staff in 2000 and retired in 2007 having worked 5,163 games, second at the time to Bill Klem's 5,373. They were both surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before retiring in 2021.
Froemming started his umpiring career at a minor league game in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”
He concluded that being a good umpire required “probably being patient with yourself. ... You’re going to make mistakes early on.”
Among the most famous of the no-hitters he worked was on Sept. 2, 1972. Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs retired his first 26 batters and went to a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Larry Stahl before walking him. Pappas then retired Garry Jestadt on a popup.
Froemming was behind the plate for three other no-hitters, by Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999). He worked five World Series.
When he retired, Froemming became a special assistant to MLB's vice president on umpiring,
He is survived by his wife, the former Rosemarie Loch, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 27: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for the ball against Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on October 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to pick up their second win this week against a team in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Cleveland has split its previous two games against the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, but its current team looks a lot different from the one that faced them in October and January. We’ll see how this version stacks up against one of the most consistent teams in the league.
The Pistons have been the best team in the conference by every statistical measure. They have the best record, best defense, and have been playing at a high level all season. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has gotten the most out of this group. Whether or not that translates to the playoffs remains to be seen.
Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), James Harden – QUESTIONABLE (thumb), Dennis Schroder – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Keon Ellis QUESTIONABLE (left index finger fracture), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruma – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)
Pistons injury report: Isaiah Stewart – OUT (suspension), Bobbi Klintman – OUT (G League), Chaz Lanier – OUT (G League), Wendell Moore Jr. – OUT (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Minnesota Timberwolves' guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing the game ball "with force" into the stands during halftime of Minnesota's 124-121 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at the end of the second quarter, when Edwards snagged a rebound off a Portland miss, then faked a heave to end the half. After the buzzer had already sounded, Edwards launched the ball toward the basket and struck someone standing nearby.
Edwards did not throw the ball out of anger or frustration, but the ball did clearly hurt the bystander.
WATCH: The heave that cost Edwards $25K
You can watch the full video of the incident here, on nba.com.
He's certainly no stranger to fines. Last year, Edwards was fined $420,000 across eight transgressions, mostly for foul language used in interviews with the press following games.
Has anyone else been fined for similar actions?
Funny enough, Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was also fined $25K for throwing a ball into the stands "with force" during the team's Tuesday night win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bane's incident occurred at the end of the game.
The NBA is sending a message: After a buzzer, don't take the ball and throw it toward the opposite basket (not as a shot, more of a celebration... or just because).
That message is going to cost the Timberwolves Anthony Edwards and the Magic's $25,000 each as both were fined by the league on Thursday "for throwing the game ball with force into the spectator stands."
What does that look like? Here's what Edwards did at halftime in Portland to earn his fine:
Welcome to Atlanta, where the players play and the gentlemen's clubs have the best wings in town.
The Atlanta Hawks are leaning into the city's famed hip-hop culture and history, featuring what the team is calling an "iconic cultural institution" that's definitely NSFW in an upcoming promotional night.
The team announced Wednesday it will collaborate with prominent Atlanta strip club Magic City for a one-night only, in-game celebration of hip-hop called "Magic City Monday" against the Orlando Magic on March 16.
“From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience,” Hawks Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor said in a news release.
Magic City Kitchen will serve two versions of their "world famous" lemon pepper wings, Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ, named after Atlanta-native and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner Lou Williams.
The Hawks' celebration of "Magic City Monday" doesn't stop at wings. Atlanta rapper and entrepreneur T.I. is expected to perform at halftime.
Being that Tip is back home in Atlanta, at the State Farm Arena, it'll be interesting to see if he'll perform any recent cuts including diss tracks toward rapper and entrepreneur Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.
Keeping it so ATL, the organization tabbed native DJ Esco to provide the pregame tunes.
Before the game, ticketed fans will have a chance to view a recording of the Hawks AF Podcast featuring a conversation with Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I., hosted by comedian D.C. Young Fly, another Atlanta native.
“We doin’ this one for the city ... Magic City,” T.I. said in a news release.
Why is Magic City famous?
Magic City has become influential not only in Atlanta but as a tourist stop for those who visit the city. Ask NBA players who have a road game against the Hawks about the lore of Magic City wings.
Williams famously couldn't help but visit the spot for its wings in 2020 when he was excused from the NBA Bubble in Orlando to attend a funeral, while everyone was social distancing due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The moment went viral after a photo he snapped with rapper Jack Harlow during the visit that was posted to social media.
"We had our masks on, I thought we did it how we were supposed to do it," Williams said, explaining the incident during a June 2025 episode of Gil's Arena, a podcast hosted by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas with Nick Young, Kenyon Martin, Rashad McCants and Josiah Johnson.
He continued: "I want to put this to bed. I didn't sneak out the bubble to go to Magic City. They excused me from the bubble to go to a funeral. ...The funeral home was a block away from Magic [City]. I've been staying in a hotel [in the NBA bubble in Orlando] eating hotel room service food. Magic got good food, this is my hometown and if you know ATL, we eat in our strip clubs. That's where you can find the best food."
Williams received a 10-day quarantine for violating safety protocols but maintains that the league's focus was on him going to a strip club rather than his real reason for going – the food.
The incident did two things: birthed the nickname "Lemon Pepper Lou" and also cemented Magic City's kitchen's place as the stuff of NBA and Atlanta legend.
But long before Williams's visit, the site was a landmark for Atlanta and its visitors, which is the focus of the documentary "Magic City: An American Fantasy" that discusses the impact of the club on Atlanta music, sports and culture through interviews with Atlanta rappers Big Boi, Killer Mike and T.I., along with other celebrities and artists who they discuss its role in hip-hop and Black culture.
Oct 26, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) reacts to a call during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Deandre Ayton has gained a reputation for being something of an enigma during his relatively brief time in the NBA. The latest feature story on him is going to do nothing to change any of that.
On Thursday, a story by Dave McMenamin of ESPN profiling Ayton with the Lakers this season had some of the most insane anecdotes imaginable. While we’ll dive into those shortly, the most notable on-court takeaway from the article was Ayton’s reaction to his role with the Lakers.
When he was finished speaking to the group, Ayton made his way back toward the showers and said what he really felt — loud enough for anyone still in the locker room to hear.
“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, referring to the Houston Rockets’ now backup center, who a decade ago made his impact as a lob-catching, rim-running big on a team that made it to two conference finals.
“I’m not no Clint Capela!”
Well, Deandre, therein lies the problem.
Luka needs a lob-catching partner at center. He went to the NBA Finals with two of them on the Mavs. Everyone knew the Lakers were searching for one this summer.
Ayton hasn’t ever been that player, even in his college days. No one expected him to become Clint Capela this season. But, like, you understand why they’d want him to be more like that, right?
No only is it beneficial to Luka to have a lob-catching center, but the centers get paid, too! Ask Derrick Lively II and Daniel Gafford about their stats, success and payday playing with Luka.
On one hand, it’s great awareness from Ayton that he sees the Lakers trying to turn him into Capela. On the other hand, it’s incredible awareness to understand why they would do that.
The wild stories of Deandre Ayton
Now, for the real meat and potatoes of this article: the anecdotes about Ayton.
The Lakers have stoked that ego, too: Rob Pelinka, team president of basketball operations and general manager, commissioned a black T-shirt with a gold screen print depicting half of a lion’s face and half of Ayton’s face that he presented to the 27-year-old. Members of the training staff wrap Ayton’s water bottle in athletic tape and write “DA’s Crunk Juice — Drink this to unleash the beast” in black marker on it before games.
DA’s Crunk Juice.
10/10. No notes. I’ve been covering the Lakers for a long time and this ranks near the very top of stories in that time period.
Is this more or less powerful than Michael’s Secret Stuff from Space Jam? The fact the most immediate comparison for this story is an animated movie is really just a perfect summary of the situation.
But on the topic of cartoonish moments…
There was less than an hour before tipoff against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 13 when Ayton entered the Lakers’ locker room.
Just inside the door, Ayton’s breezy walk slowed down and his gait suddenly stiffened for a few awkward steps before the big man hurtled toward the floor.
What would have been one of the more bizarre pregame injuries in NBA history morphed into something else completely: Ayton caught his fall by placing both hands over his head and gracefully executed a cartwheel, followed by a somersault, to land safely on two feet.
Yeah, what needs to happen for us to see Ayton recreate that on the court. Is he saving that for a potential game-winner? A playoff series win? The Lakers aren’t winning a title this year, so it can’t be saved for that. But I absolutely need to see Ayton go full Willy Wonka.
