The Mavericks were 1-1 this past week and remain locked into 12th place in the West. They played both games at home, beating Golden State (123-115) and losing to the Los Angeles Lakers (116-110). Dallas was supposed to fly to Milwaukee for a game on Sunday, but due to inclement weather, the game was postponed. Naji Marshall led the team in scoring with 25.5 points per game. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) remain out.
Grade: C+
The Mavericks had a good win against the Warriors. They survived an onslaught from Steph Curry, which, frankly, was breathtaking to witness. Curry had 38 points on 8-of-15 from deep, and each subsequent shot was more incredible than the last. Still, Dallas was able to mitigate the “other guys” and likely got saved from a massive night from Jonathan Kuminga when he exited with an injury after scoring 10 points in nine minutes. Naji Marshall, Max Christie, and Cooper Flagg were all really good, and had the fourth quarter of the Lakers game not happened, this might have been an A+ week.
But the Mavericks get a C+ instead. And yes, that fourth quarter was so bad, it cost them two grades. With 9:38 remaining in the game, the Lakers had put together one of the worst 14.5-minute stretches of basketball I have ever seen to begin the second half. They had scored 14 points until then, and Dallas held a 93-79 lead. From that point forward, Los Angeles outscored the Mavericks 37-17 in just over 9.5 minutes of game time. If you don’t want to do the math, that’s a pace of 187 points per 48 minutes the Mavericks allowed to close the game.
Their defense was putrid, they got stagnant on offense, and head coach Jason Kidd refused to shake things up. Brandon Williams had an excellent run to close the third and was a big reason why Dallas held that lead. But his magic ran out quickly in the final frame, and yet Kidd stuck with him until the clock hit zero. Cooper Flagg was passive and settled. P.J. Washington was in the game, but you could not tell. The lack of a point guard on this team was never more obvious than when Dallas could not get a good shot for what seemed like hours while the Lakers got bucket after bucket on the other end.
And, as horrible as the Lakers’ (and specifically Luka Doncic) defense was in the first three periods, they were just as lights out defensively in the fourth. It was the kind of loss that would have driven everyone mad if the Mavericks were playing for a playoff seeding. With three games in four days this week, they need to flush that collapse and build on the seven quarters they played at a very high level.
Straight A’s: Max Christie
I could have given Naji Marshall A’s this week, too, but Marshall is just doing what he has done all year. Christie, on the other hand, has added things to his game that he did not have last season, and maybe not even earlier this year. Everyone knows about the shooting: 45.5 percent from 3-point range on 5.8 attempts per game. But what I have been most impressed with is his two-point shot diet. He shot 50 percent on 12 twos this week and showed off some moves that were very mature. One stands out against the Lakers, where he caught the ball in transition, pushed, and used his body effectively on a slow euro-step to go into Jake LaRavia and draw a foul:
He has rapidly improved in his time in Dallas. Christie is just 22 and making under $9 million for the next two seasons. He may be playing well enough to bring in a serious return in trade, but I think it is in Dallas’s best interest to retain him as part of their young core. Much like how I felt about Quentin Grimes, it is important to actually keep some of the young, talented guards you have instead of trading them for cost control purposes. Christie certainly falls in that category and is an excellent complementary piece for a rebuild around Cooper Flagg.
Currently Failing: P.J. Washington
Washington has not been the same since injuring his ankle against Houston earlier this month. In the three games he has played since, he has scored just 24 points in 79 minutes while shooting 33 percent from the floor. His impact has been overwhelmingly negative, and he just looks off. His head is not there right now, and you can tell by the way he is moving on offense. Every dribble and push shot or floater looks a step slow, and you can see his brain over-analyzing what to do in real time. It’s not a matter of talent, because we all have seen what he can be. Washington just needs to refocus and stop thinking as much when he is out there. With all the trade talk surrounding Dallas, it is probably a good thing for Washington that he cannot be dealt this season. It is in his best interest to focus on playing for the rest of the year without distractions and finish strong.
Extra Credit: Luka Doncic
Before Saturday’s game against the Lakers, former Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic reached out to 22 online personalities to invite them to the game for a meet-and-greet, as well as a chance to sit in his suite for the action:
Dallas will always be special to Luka 🥹
Almost a year after the trade to LA, Luka surprised 22 fans who supported him on social media with a suite for Lakers–Mavs, a pregame meet & greet, and gift bags with Luka Lakers jerseys and his signature shoe. pic.twitter.com/hdznSXx5bv
This group included our very own editor-in-chief, Kirk Henderson, who brought his son with him for an experience they will both remember for the rest of their lives. It was an awesome gesture by Doncic, and one that he absolutely did not have to do. In talking with people who were invited, everyone agreed that he could not have been nicer.
Doncic will always be loved in Dallas. He will never look normal in purple and gold. We don’t know if he has had thoughts about returning to play for the Mavericks one day, but it is clear that he still thinks about the city and the fans regularly.
The 2026 NBA Draft is a source of hope for teams desperately seeking a savior. This was always going to be a great class with three potential No. 1 overall talents sitting at the top in Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer, but it looks even better now as more freshman studs have continued to emerge.
For this update, I simulated the lottery drawing via Tankathon, and one lucky team moved way up to land a top prospect. The selections in this mock don’t really factor team fit into consideration, and more mirror my evaluations of the players in this class. Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft.
1. Indiana Pacers – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
You don’t draft for fit with the No. 1 overall pick. Boozer is the best prospect in this year’s draft, and in my opinion one of the strongest NBA prospects of the last decade. If the fit is a little wonky with Pascal Siakam right now, who cares: Boozer was born in July 2007 and Siakam was born in April 1994, meaning they aren’t exactly on the same timeline. Boozer will probably be a full-time four eventually, but he’s versatile enough to play the three early in his career while Indiana figures out what it needs around him and Tyrese Haliburton long-term. His intersection of brains, brawn, and skill is so enticing that it eclipses any concerns about his athletic explosiveness or fluidity. Boozer is massively productive and he’s been driving winning at an elite level dating back to high school. He’s an excellent shooter, passer, and driver for his size, and he knows how to make plays defensively even without quick-twitch movement ability. With Boozer and Haliburton, the Pacers could run the East for a long, long time.
2. Dallas Mavericks – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
The Mavs jumped up from No. 8 in the lottery standings to the No. 2 pick in our sim, and if that happens Dallas fans are never allowed to complain about the Luka trade again. Peterson hasn’t been at his best this season as he’s dealt with a hamstring strain and constant cramping issues, but if his burst can return to form, he has everything teams want out of a lead guard. Peterson’s shot-making is a signature skill in this class, and he’s shown he has easy NBA range both off the dribble and off-the-catch. He’s a ball dominant star who demands high usage, but he also moves better without the ball than similarly heliocentric players. While his rim attacking and defensive playmaking haven’t looked as good as advertised as he’s battled his various ailments, I fully trust both areas to bounce-back once he’s healthy. Peterson and Cooper Flagg would have the chance to be an all-time NBA duo.
3. Sacramento Kings – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa is a monster scoring prospect as a huge 6’9 wing with rare athletic explosiveness, flexibility, and shot-making. He should punish switches at the next level with an overwhelming amount of length and power against smaller wings and guards, and too much speed for bigs. BYU has been an awesome system to showcase Dybantsa’s strengths with wide open driving lanes inside the arc, and I do wonder how he’ll adjust to the NBA if he needs to be more of a shooter. For now, Dybantsa is only hitting 30.2 percent of the 53 three-pointers he’s taken, which is a slight concern in terms of both volume and accuracy. I’m more worried about Dybantsa’s defense: he doesn’t just imprint his will on that end despite his phenomenal tools. Dybantsa feels more likely to go No. 1 than No. 3, but he has more holes in his game than Boozer and Peterson, and to me that makes him the clear third-best prospect in this class.
4. Washington Wizards – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson is an explosive 6’10 forward with a non-stop motor who makes some jaw-dropping plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. Wilson can be a clunky fit in a halfcourt offense as a total non-shooter right now (5-of-20 from three), but he still makes an impact with his transition scoring, offensive rebounding, and impressive passing. He has some real shot-making touch from mid-range, and shows some awesome pivot moves to score around the basket. The real signature skill for Wilson’s offense is his ability to dunk absolutely everything, with 60 dunks in his first 19 college games. He can do a little bit of everything defensively: switch onto the ball, provide secondary rim protection as a roamer, end possessions with a rebound, and get out into the passing lanes with his length. Wilson plays so hard on every possession and has such good physical tools that it’s hard to see him failing even if the jumper never comes around. He should be an excellent role player at minimum with the potential to be more.
5. Atlanta Hawks (via Pels) – Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Flemings has my vote for the best prospect in a loaded point guard class because he can play on or off-the-ball on offense while providing solid defense. His driving ability jumps off the screen with an explosive first-step, nasty change-of-direction moves, and the ability to stop on a dime. He can create an advantage with the ball in his hands, but he might be even better extending advantages by catching the ball on the move and attacking decisively. His pull-up mid-range game should be built for playoff moments, but it would be nice to see him shoot more threes or get to the foul line more often. Flemings’ playmaking is even better than his scoring, showing a sixth sense for finding teammates at the rim while avoiding turnovers. Defensively, Flemings has a strong chest, long arms, and quick hands that helps him rack up steals and blocks (5.8 percent stock rate) and quickly turn defense into offense. He’s not the biggest lead guard, but he’s still a natural facilitator with scoring punch and defensive ability. That sounds like a top-5 prospect to me.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
The Louisville freshman just made his return from a long absence due to a back injury, but he’s looked like a capable offensive engine with pull-up shooting, high-level playmaking, and the ability to attack off the bounce all part of the package. Brown has been cold as a shooter so far this year, but the high school and international tape shows a player who can create his own look from deep and knock it down. His playmaking has a case for best in class among this lot of point guards (I’d still give Flemings the edge there), and while I don’t think he’ll be a plus defensively early in his career, he has the height and flashes of takeaway production that at least gives him a chance on that end. Brown has dunk contest-worthy athleticism, three-point contest-worthy shooting, and awesome passing. If it all holds, he has enough other skills to be a high-level guard.
7. Utah Jazz – Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington
Steinbach’s offensive rebounding might be the single best skill in this class outside of the top-three prospects. He’s simply a monster on the glass who does a great job establishing position inside, reading the ball off the rim, and controlling it with his impossibly good hands. He’s a fluid athlete inside the arc who can catch the ball on the move and finish plays above the rim, and he’s showing good touch on awkward finishes as an interior scorer. Steinbach is not an outside shooter right now (9-of-27 from three), but his touch is good enough from the foul line (76 percent) that he should have some long-term upside there. Steinbach probably has to shoot it at least a little bit because he’s not really big enough to play center, and he’s not at all a defensive anchor. I see him fitting best in a two-big front court where he can help gain extra possessions on the offensive glass and his defensive shortcomings can be covered by a primary rim protector and rangier wing defenders. Utah feels like a good fit for that context long-term, and he could certainly improve a middling rebounding team from day one.
8. Charlotte Hornets – Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg might be older than fifth-year Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, but he’s also one of the most complete prospects in this class with rare tools that should translate to immediate success. Lendeborg has been developing at his own rate after not playing organized basketball until he was 15 years old, and now after junior college and mid-major stops he’s become one of the best players in the country. Lendeborg was mostly a center the last two years at UAB, but he’s made a successful transition to the wing at Michigan where he’s upped his three-point rate while continuing to have a big impact defensively. He has an ideal physical profile for an NBA front court player at 6’9, 240 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan, and he has a real chance to be a long-term shooter after hitting 33.3 percent of 8.5 three-point attempts per 100 possessions so far this season, as well as 88 percent of his free throws. The Hornets have looked good lately with a core of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller, and adding a massive front court player with shooting ability like Lendeborg could make them a playoff team in the East next season.
Quaintance tore his ACL in Feb. 2025, and he didn’t look like himself upon debuting in Dec. after transferring to Kentucky. He’s currently out of the lineup again with swelling in the same knee, and it’s possible he always returned too early. Before the injury, Quaintance looked like an elite paint defender as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State. His combination of length (7’5), strength, and quickness easily makes up for his lack of height as a 6’9 center, and allows him to have rare coverage versatility while cutting off the most valuable spots on the floor. Offensively, he showed some flashes of playmaking feel at ASU, and looked better as a driver in a small sample at Kentucky. The truth is that Quaintance’s offense is a major question as an undersized non-shooter with poor touch from the foul line thus far. With a lot of questions about the players in this range, I still like Quaintance for his mix of youth, physical tools, and defensive acumen at the five. I would not be at all surprised if he fell down the board to around the late lottery given the persistent offensive questions in what has been a lost season.
10. Memphis Grizzlies – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
I’m still having a hard time ranking Peat in this class despite the relatively uncomplicated evaluation of his game. Start here: After a killer high school career, Peat has immediately been one of the best and most productive players on arguably the best team in college basketball as a true freshman. The 6’7 wing has a super powerful frame that dishes out punishment to opponents on both ends of the floor. On offense, Peat sets hard screens, rolls to the basket with force, and finishes through contact inside the paint. He’s just a total non-shooter at this point, which is his biggest limitation as a player, and makes him a tricky fit to build around. He projects as a good defender who can hound bigger wings at the point of attack, and he also has some switchability with enough strength to keep bigs away from the paint and the quickness to hang at least a little bit with smaller guards. I love Peat’s motor and play-finishing, but could still see myself dropping him eventually given how hard it is for 6’7 non-shooters without spectacular defensive IQ to impact the game at the highest levels.
Mullins has a case as the best off-ball three-point shooter in the class, and he’s shown he has a chance to compete defensively, too. The 6’6 wing is making 36.5 percent of his threes on 8.8 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, and he’s taken advantage of the Huskies’ pristine spacing to also convert 64.4 percent of his two-point attempts even if it’s only at 3.5 per game. With a 3 percent steal and 2.3 percent block rate, Mullins doesn’t look like a defender who will have a target on his chest at the next level. He projects as a solid connective wing with high volume three-point shooting right now, and that’s something every team could use.
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler was the No. 150 recruit coming out of high school, but he’s made an instant impact since he’s arrived on campus at Illinois. The 6’6 freshman has moved into more of an on-ball role recently, and he’s shown flashes of high-level off-the-dribble shooting and good decision-making as a passer. Wagler wasn’t a highly regarded recruit because he’s simply not an explosive athlete, to the point where he hasn’t recorded a single dunk this year and hasn’t produced many blocks or steals. That’s usually an alarming sign for a 6’6 potential lottery pick, but if he keeps shooting the ball at this level, it might not matter. I worry about Wagler’s ability to do the dirty work early in his career if he’s not getting a lot of usage. He looks long (there’s no wingspan measurement on him but I’d guess 6’10) but he lacks strength and just doesn’t project as any kind of stopper or glass cleaner right now. Still, it’s impressive that Wagler has finished 65 percent at the rim with 89 percent being unassisted, and his slow-motion step-back threes when he gets a big on a switch can be a thing of beauty. If the Spurs are looking for a young wing with shooting upside around Victor Wembanyama, Wagler makes sense starting around this range. This is mostly a Best Player Available pick.
13. Chicago Bulls – Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
Cameron Boozer gets all the attention for Duke, but his front court partner Patrick Ngongba has also been quietly driving the Blue Devils’ success. The 6’11 sophomore center is one of the most efficient play-finishers in the country with 73.3 percent shooting on two-pointers, with many of those makes coming against crowded paints in the halfcourt. Ngongba is also an awesome passer who will zip the ball into cutters, and he’s shown some long-term shooting promise this year too. Ngongba’s defensive paint protection is good with long arms and a strong base, and the numbers back it up: Duke’s defense is 11.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. I do wish he was a little bit more of an ass kicker on the glass, and it doesn’t always seem like he plays with the best motor. Still, Ngongba is a solid two-way center with flashes of perimeter skill that gives him both a high floor and some sneaky upside. That’s a worthy swing for a Bulls team that desperately needs a big man in their young core.
Philon is a drive-and-kick master with a deadly floater game who has made a real leap as a three-point shooter this year. The Alabama guard felt like he could have been a first-rounder last year, but opted to return to school at the 11th hour for an NIL deal. It feels like he’s improved his stock this year as he’s taken on a primary ball handler role in the wake of Mark Sears’ graduation, but he was always going to face frame questions after weighing in at 175 pounds at the combine with a tiny 8’3 standing reach. Philon is really shifty off the dribble, and if he can maintain his 38 percent three-point stroke, he can be a spark-plug guard that generates paint touches and blends scoring and playmaking. The Blazers have Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson ready to go for next year, but Philon still fits the roster pretty well long-term if they think he’s the best player available.
15. Miami Heat – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
Swain followed Sean Miller from Xavier to Texas for his junior season, and he’s become one of the most complete wings in the country. Swain was always an athletic wing defender with a great frame (6’8, 225 pounds), and he’s continued to shine on the defensive end at Texas while taking a bigger offensive jump. Swain is a true slasher now who has made 70 percent of his shots at the rim with 83 percent of those looks coming unassisted. He’s shown an improved mid-range game off the dribble, and he’s still an 80 percent free throw shooter for his career. Swain just isn’t a good three-point shooter yet, but his driving and passing look better than ever, and he’s also impacted the game on the margins. This is way higher than where he’s usually at in mock drafts, but both his athletic and statistical profiles are so good that this doesn’t feel like a reach.
Vanderbilt lost three straight after their 16-0 start, but sophomore star Tyler Tanner is still driving their success. Tanner is about as small as an NBA prospect can be these days at 6-foot, 175 pounds, but he plays incredibly physically despite his lack of size. He’s started the year with 13 dunks in his first 19 games, and he’s putting up ridiculous steal and block rates defensively. He’s super fast with the ball in his hands, and he usually makes good decisions with it with a +4.4 assist to turnover ratio. Tanner is going to have to be a great shooter to be successful in the league at his size, and so far this year he’s making 39 percent of his threes and 87.6 percent of his free throws. The NBA really doesn’t like small guards right now, but Tanner’s statistical profile is so good that he’s worthy of a look.
17. Golden State Warriors – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson has become one of the best players in the country as a senior at Iowa State. At 6’9, 240 pounds, he’s a physical forward with rare passing ability for his size. Jefferson’s 28.7 percent assist rate is a massive number, and the fact that he’s improved to a 36 percent three-point shooter on his first 53 attempts this year shows even more comfort playing on the perimeter offensively. He’s a really good defensive rebounder who can provide some paint protection defensively, too. Jefferson potentially gives a team the benefits of a double big look without cramping their spacing if his shooting improvement holds, and the value he adds as a passer should be enough to lock him in as a first rounder.
18. Atlanta Hawks – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Mara is a massive center at 7’3, 255 pounds, with a reported 7’7 wingspan. He’s a bit of a plodding athlete, but his rim protection in drop coverage is an elite skill (12.6 percent block rate, No. 8 in the country) and he’s a ridiculous passer for his size. Mara will bomb outlet passes after grabbing a rebound, and his ability to hit cutters out of the high post is every bit as dazzling. He’s a terrible shooter at this point, and his 44 percent free throw mark will have to improve for serious looks in this range. Still, Mara’s size and smarts are an enticing combo.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder – Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Haugh fits the bill of a connective wing who can finish plays inside, space the floor, and hold his own defensively. Florida’s offense is 13 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor, and its defense is 7 points per 100 better with him on, too. I’m a bit worried about his ability to score inside the paint when he doesn’t have a dunk, but he has appeal as a low-usage offensive wing who doesn’t need to spend time on the ball to have an impact.
20. Toronto Raptors – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz might be the best pick-and-roll ball handler in the class with his ability to blend three-level scoring with good playmaking vision off a live dribble. He’s making 68 percent of his rim attempts (67 percent self-created), 47 percent of his mid-range shots, and 36.8 percent of his threes (60 percent unassisted) so far this year. Stirtz could struggle to contain the ball defensively, but he’s pretty good at getting into the passing lanes and scoring in transition. Iowa plays at such a slow pace that it’s hard to evaluate how he’ll adapt to the higher octane NBA game, but there’s a lot to like about both his skill set and production.
21. New York Knicks – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Drafting a John Calipari guard is always a safe bet, and Acuff is next in line after a massively productive start for Arkansas. At 6’3, Acuff always has had grown man strength, and uses it on battering ram drives to the rim. His shot-making from deep (41 percent on 9.1 threes per 100 possessions) has exceeded all expectations, and he’s also shown the ability to hit tough mid-range pull-ups. He’s also proven to be one of the best pure playmakers in this class, and he’s especially good throwing lob passes for alley-oops. Acuff’s rim finishing against NBA length is a bit of a question, but his biggest concerns come on the defensive end. He just doesn’t do much off the ball defensively, and has the worst rebounding numbers of any first-round guard. Acuff could easily go 10 spots higher than this on draft night, but this feels like the right range to me.
Ament entered the year tracking as a possible top-5 pick, but he struggled almost immediately against top competition. The idea of Ament is a 6’10 wing with a dribble, pass, shoot skill set, but evaluators have rarely seen it this year as he’s struggled to adjust to the physicality of the game on a cramped floor with Tennessee. His finishing has been poor (57 percent at the rim), he has more turnovers than assists so far, and his shot (28 percent from three on 8.2 attempts per 100 possessions) needs a lot more work. Tennessee was always going to be a tough offensive context for him, and there’s still a talented player in here somewhere with the right strength training program and shooting development. He had a breakout game against Alabama recently with 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting, and could be starting to earn back his reputation as a top prospect. This is probably his draft floor.
23. Los Angeles Lakers – Morez Johnson, F, Michigan
Johnson transferred from Illinois to Michigan over the offseason, and has proven he isn’t just a paint scorer this year. The sophomore has an outstanding physical profile at 6’9, 250 pounds with long arms, and he’s been beating up opponents all year in the best front court in college basketball. Johnson is one of the best defenders in this year’s class. He also kicks ass on the glass, finishes efficiently inside, and has shown significantly improved touch from the foul line (62 percent as a freshman to 78 percent as a sophomore). He’s still mostly a non-shooter from deep at this point (he’s 4-of-10 from three on the year), but if teams think he can shoot it eventually, his ability to defend all over the floor and bully people inside makes him a sure-fire first-rounder.
24. Charlotte Hornets – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez has been on the NBA’s radar for years as a strong 6’8 forward with loads of scoring upside. Born and raised in Mexico, Lopez has been spending his pre-draft year in the Australian-based NBL, where he’s showcased his ability to finish through contact, grab-and-go off the defensive glass, and provide some secondary shot-blocking. Lopez is a shaky outside shooter right now (30 percent on 69 attempts), and he’s not yet a good passer or decision-maker with the ball in his hands. His ability to defend will also be a bit of a question. Where he’s really good is attacking as a face-up scorer off the bounce at his size.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
A 6’5 wing with a reported 7’2 wingspan, Carr is a great outside shooter who has hit 43.3 percent of his first 97 attempts from deep. With 60 percent shooting from two point range, Carr is posting ridiculous 65.4 percent true shooting that makes him one of the most efficient scorers in this class. He has explosive leaping ability with the clear path to the basket, and has already thrown down 29 dunks this year. Carr is also 21 years old and still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame, improve his decision-making, and clean up his defensive technique. He might end up going much higher than this, because that combination of length and shooting will be appealing.
26. Boston Celtics – Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky
Moreno is a mobile freshman center with great hands who impacts the game in a lot of areas outside of scoring. He’ll crash the glass, block shots, and keep the offense moving with his passing ability. Moreno isn’t super long (reportedly a 7’1 wingspan), doesn’t shoot threes yet, and has been an underwhelming finisher so far. He may not be quite big enough to anchor a defense without shooting ability, but his all-around impact is still impressive.
27. Denver Nuggets – Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor
Yessoufou is a 6’5 wing with a jacked frame who can hound the ball defensively, crash the offensive glass, and space the floor. He can’t do much off the dribble, so he’ll have to be a better shooter eventually than his current 30 percent mark from three.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
Cenac is a 6’11 freshman big man who has the tools to eventually control the paint, and he’s also a very good outside shooter for his size. He’s hitting 38.5 percent of his threes on 39 attempts so far this year, and he’s also posting an excellent 27 percent defensive rebound rate. Cenac just plays kind of soft right now on the offensive end, and his feel for rotations isn’t great defensively yet. It’s hard to find a true stretch five, and maybe Cenac can turn into one one day if his feel and physicality improve.
29. Detroit Pistons – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Anderson is small for a modern NBA game, but he’s a deadly shooter off the bounce and a good facilitator for his teammates. He’s hitting 44 percent of his threes on 157 attempts so far, and he’s also been really efficient scoring from mid-range and at the rim. His finishing volume isn’t very high and scouts will question whether he can finish over NBA length inside. He’s naturally going to get picked on defensively because of his lack of size, but Anderson has some hope on that end because he’s a high-IQ player with quick hands.
30. Washington Wizards – Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Krivas is a massive 7’2, 260 pound big man who has been quietly driving Arizona’s undefeated season. He’s been a super efficient scorer (69 percent true shooting) who cleans the glass on both ends, protects the rim, and makes his free throws (81 percent from the line). The Lithuanian isn’t much of a passer or shooter yet, but he’s really good at doing all the traditional big man stuff.
Last Thursday, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger gave a press conference in a “State of Monumental Basketball” address.
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to break this down in depth last Thursday. Like most of you, I had to prepare for last weekend’s winter storm. If you missed it, the whole conference is below. A h/t to malsman for posting in “The Feed” about it.
The Wizards are finished “deconstructing.” The Mystics are still in it.
Over the last three years, the Wizards have experienced their worst stretch in franchise history. However, Winger, in his opening remarks, was explicit that the Wizards are finished with deconstructing after three seasons.
Considering that Washington recently acquired Trae Young, a multi-time All-Star point guard in his prime, that’s a sign that the losing stretches are coming to an end.
The Wizards will have to make decisions about which players stay and which ones go.
There has been a lot posted about the fact that Washington has a very young lineup. And last Saturday against the Hornets, they started the youngest lineup ever in NBA history.
The Wizards started the youngest lineup in NBA history today against the Hornets.
Part of that is by design. But it also means that some younger players may or may not be part of the Wizards’ future. Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly are among those who figure to be with the Wizards for their sophomore contracts. However, the Wizards’ two-way players including Tristan Vukcevic, Jamir Watkins and Sharife Cooper as well as other additions like Cam Whitmore and Will Riley, may not have the minutes to play on a rebuilding Wizards team — when it doesn’t appear that the Wizards will be rebuilding next year.
David Aldridge of The Athletic asked Winger some pointed questions about whether Young’s addition could mean that the Wizards have playoff expectations next year. Winger responded doing that he isn’t going to have set expectations. However, with Young, the current core and presumably a high 2026 draft pick.
Joshua Robbins of The Athletic also asked a question about whether the Wizards trading Deni Avdjia to the Portland Trail Blazers was a mistake. Coincidentally, the Wizards will play the Blazers tonight. Winger said no, in part because his trajectory and age was ahead of the Wizards’ current younger core of players. This could also be — in part — why Corey Kispert was traded to Atlanta along with with CJ McCollum for Young.
The Mystics are Sonia Citron’s and Kiki Irifaen’s franchise — at least by default.
Winger explained that the Mystics are in year one of their rebuild under his direct control. And by default, he acknowledged that every veteran in the WNBA is on an expiring contract given free agency this year will be hectic.
As I have noted many times over the past couple of years, this effectively means that EVERY WNBA team is deconstructing in 2026. We have no idea who will be on any of the 15 teams until opening day, except All-Star players on rookie contracts. Citron and Iriafen certainly qualify there. Same with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever or Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, among others.
No Mystics reporter asked any questions about playoff expectations in 2026. It’s quite frankly premature because of the pending free agency. But it is clear that at a minimum, Winger is looking forward to seeing how Washington’s 2026 draft picks mesh with Citron and Irifaen.
Winger did acknowledge a question by Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post about the Mystics’ arena size at CareFirst Arena and shared practice facility with the Wizards and whether that is a disadvantage for them. While he did toe the company line saying that CareFirst Arena does provide an intimate atmosphere for fans, Winger said that the Mystics will also be playing the majority of their games at Capital One Arena when current renovations are done. He also reiterated that the shared practice facility and the collegial atmosphere of Monumental Basketball (the Mystics, Wizards and the Capital Go-Go) are assets not hindrances.
Let us know what other things stood out from Winger’s conference in the comments below.
On Jan. 27, 2025, the Boston Celtics owned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 32-15 record.
Exactly one year later, the Celtics own the No. 2 seed in the East with a 29-17 record.
How has Boston not missed a beat despite playing without its All-NBA First Team superstar (Jayson Tatum) and losing four key rotation players (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet) to trades and free agency?
If you ask Holiday, it starts with the mindset of the Celtics’ other All-Star, Jaylen Brown.
“Knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally,” the Portland Trail Blazers guard told reporters Monday after his first game back at TD Garden since being traded. “He doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
While the Celtics have gotten encouraging contributions from young players like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez, Brown has been the head of the snake. He’s averaging career highs in points (29.6), rebounds (6.8) and assists (4.9) per game and recently was named an NBA All-Star starter for the first time in his career.
Brown has benefited from a higher usage rate with Tatum sidelined; his 22.5 shot attempts per game lead the NBA. But as Holiday suggested, the 10-year veteran also is playing with a massive chip on his shoulder, fueled by the preseason narrative that Boston would take a step back without Tatum running the show.
“I felt like I’ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team,” Brown told reporters after the Celtics’ win over Portland. “And I think now, we’re getting to see that a little bit: what exactly I was capable of, and what I was sacrificing.
“I think, before, maybe it wasn’t so obvious. I think now, being able to be at the helm of things, and us being the second seed in the East, versus last year (when) we finished second seed in the East. It’s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players (who) are essentially gone.
“The work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has been great. And I just try to make myself available every single night.”
There are a couple ways to interpret Brown’s comments. The first — and one that will surely make the rounds on Boston sports talk radio — is that Brown has enjoyed being the Celtics’ bona fide No. 1 with Tatum sidelined, and that there potentially could be some friction whenever Tatum returns to the lineup. Is there a scenario where Brown isn’t exactly eager to revert to his “1B” role and let Tatum re-take the reins?
The other interpretation: Brown clearly thrives on being motivated by his critics, and this is just the latest example. This isn’t the first time Brown has mentioned sacrificing personal stats for the good of the team. In fact, he brought it up routinely over the past two seasons. The result? Tatum and Brown co-led the Celtics to an NBA title in 2024, with Brown winning NBA Finals MVP.
There very well could be an adjustment period for the Celtics when Tatum returns to action, especially as he learns to play with newcomers like Gonzalez, Luka Garza and Anfernee Simons. But given Boston’s extensive track record of success over nearly a decade with Tatum and Brown on the court, Celtics fans needn’t worry about any real or imagined power dynamics impacting the team’s success.
The San Antonio Spurs have three players on the 2026 NBA Rising Stars roster.
Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle will represent the NBA Sophomores. He’ll play alongside Matas Buzelis (Bulls), Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers), Kyshawn George (Wizards), Ajay Mitchell (Thunder), Alex Sarr (Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Rockets), Cam Spencer (Grizzlies), Jaylon Tyson (Cavaliers), Kel’el Ware (Heat), and Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies).
Ajay Mitchell, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer are all second round picks who have elevated their game over the last season and a half.
Spurs guard Dylan Harper has been named to the NBA Rookies with Cedric Coward (Grizzlies), Egor Demin (Nets), Tre Johnson (Wizards), VJ Edgecombe (76ers), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans), Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors), Cooper Flagg (Mavericks), and Derik Queen (Pelicans). All players were lottery picks in the last draft.
Finally, Spurs two-way guard David Jones Garcia will represent the NBA G-League. He’ll be joined by Dylan’s brother Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics), Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars), Alijah Martin (Raptors 905), Tristan Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (San Diego Clippers).
This marks the first time in franchise history that the Spurs have multiple Rising Stars selections in the same season.
The Rising Star game will be played on February 13th at 9PM EST on Peacock.
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All three are injured, and all three will be sidelined well beyond the Feb. 5 deadline. This complicates the overall market.
Each player is expected to make an eventual full return to health, though each – to varying degrees – has his own complicated injury history. The problem arises in the risk potential suitors may be feeling to trade for players who have combined to miss 63 games this season, as well as the real assets required to pry those stars away from their teams.
This all points to a potential drag in the trading market, possibly making this a sleepy deadline – especially when compared to last season’s that saw stars like Luka Dončić, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox and Brandon Ingram each shipped to new teams.
Complicating this further is that the entire market is in somewhat of a holding pattern, awaiting to see what happens with Antetokounmpo, the two-time Most Valuable Player and biggest chip on the board.
The Bucks are 18-26 and 10th in the Eastern Conference. This is quickly becoming a lost season, and the latest Antetokounmpo injury likely precludes them from being buyers ahead of the deadline. So the Bucks may reluctantly understand that a fresh start is best for everyone, particularly because Antetokounmpo has one more year on his deal with a player option for 2027-28 that he can decline.
Essentially, if Milwaukee senses that Antetokounmpo is considering walking during the 2027 offseason, the Bucks may want to at least recoup some assets for a rebuild. In that case, a trade makes perfect sense.
Yet, potential suitors will have far more financial flexibility and draft capital to deploy in an Antetokounmpo trade over the offseason, so the Bucks are probably best served to exercise patience.
Either way, we’re nearly 50 games into the season, Antetokounmpo is dealing with an injury that has nagged him, and he’s expected to be reevaluated in a month – at the earliest. That puts potential contenders who would be interested in him in a tricky spot.
Adding Antetokounmpo is a franchise-altering move that also impacts the day-to-day operation of a team. Regardless of who the suitors may be, a player like Antetokounmpo completely alters the way offenses are run, so there would be an adjustment period.
Not only are the mechanics of trading a player like Antetokounmpo during the season complicated (with a third team possibly needing to be involved), it also means these suitors would need to undergo a massive pivot, which is a risk this late in the year.
So, as the rest of the league awaits for resolution with Antetokounmpo, this could create a further lag in the trading market.
The Mavericks have also indicated they’re not necessarily in a rush to move Davis, who was the headliner returned in the infamous Dončić deal. Davis turns 33 in mid-March and is a constant injury concern, though he can be effective when he’s on the floor.
Dallas, though, is hanging around the play-in picture in the West and is also without Kyrie Irving. Eventually, the Mavericks may feel that they can make a late push for the playoffs.
And the Grizzlies have to contend with a depressed market as Morant’s value is as low as it has been throughout his career.
Granted, this could all change very quickly. If the Bucks decide they want to prioritize a head start on a rebuild, they could look to move Antetokounmpo sooner. If the Mavericks feel they can get good value for Davis, maybe they scoop up younger players more aligned with their timeline. Maybe the Grizzlies decide their relationship with Morant has run its course.
This trading deadline will certainly be active with role players like Jonathan Kuminga, Michael Porter Jr., Coby White and Domantas Sabonis likely to find new teams.
Don’t be surprised, however, if all this smoke about Antetokounmpo, Davis and Morant turns out to be just that.
As March Madness inches ever closer, we offer our latest attempt to project the men's basketball NCAA tournament field. While four different conferences are still represented on the No.-1 seed line, the upper quadrant of the bracket skews heavily toward the Big Ten.
For now the top regional seeds are unchanged from our previous installment of bracketology. Arizona has the strongest case for the top overall seed, with Michigan, Connecticut and Duke still projected to lead the regionals. The Wolverines head a group of five Big Ten squads among our projected top 12, despite preseason league favorite Purdue slipping to a No. 3 seed. Red-hot Illinois has moved up to a No. 2 along with still undefeated Nebraska, and perennial tournament contender Michigan State is also on the third line.
It might be a case of quantity over quality for the SEC, which is still well represented with 10 teams in the field but none seeded higher than Florida and Vanderbilt at No. 4 for the moment. The league’s automatic qualifier based on the current standings would be Texas A&M, though the Aggies likely will need to improve their profile should they require at-large consideration.
Seton Hall has toppled out of the field for now, leaving the Big East with just three tournament squads. The Mountain West also has three spots, though a couple of them are dangerously close to the bubble.
Bracketology: NCAA tournament field projection
March Madness Last four in
TCU, UCLA, New Mexico, Miami (Fla.).
March Madness First four out
Virginia Tech, Indiana, Missouri, Seton Hall.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (10), SEC (10), Big 12 (8), ACC (8) Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (2).
With college football season over and the Super Bowl only two weeks away, many of the country’s sports fans will adopt what has become a familiar routine over the years — digging into men’s college basketball and counting down the days to the start of the NCAA tournament.
At least some of the excitement and joy from the madness of March comes from outside the sport’s biggest conferences, where smaller schools pull off the kinds of upsets that thrill fans and destroy brackets. It’s part of the beauty of NCAA tournament folk heroes, with previously little-known players, coaches, programs and schools become national darlings in an instant.
Those teams, though, can be enjoyed well before they become household names.
As March inches closer, USA TODAY Sports will do weekly rankings of the 10 best teams from outside of the five Power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and SEC), so while programs like Gonzaga or San Diego State — both of which have made the national title game in the past five years — are nobody’s idea of a mid-major, they fall into this category for the sake of this exercise.
Where do teams from outside the biggest conferences stand as February approaches?
College basketball mid-major power rankings
1. Gonzaga (21-1)
Mark Few has made the Bulldogs a model of consistent success for any program at any level of the sport and this season has been no exception. Since a loss to No. 2 Michigan in the Players Era Festival on Nov. 26, the Zags have rattled off 14 consecutive wins, a run that has included victories over Kentucky (by 35), UCLA, Oregon and Santa Clara. Graham Ike and Braden Huff form one of the best frontcourts in the country, with the forwards averaging a combined 35.9 points per game.
2. Saint Louis (19-1)
If it weren’t for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in a 78-77 loss to Stanford on Nov. 28, the Billikens would be among the small handful of undefeated teams remaining in the sport. In its second season under coach Josh Schertz, Saint Louis has emerged as the class of the Atlantic 10, with a 7-0 conference record and only two of those games decided by single digits. College basketball folk hero Robbie Avila, who previously played for Schertz at Indiana State, is averaging a team-high 12.7 points and four assists per game.
3. Miami-Ohio (20-0)
The RedHawks are one of just three undefeated teams at the Division I level, with a 20-0 mark on the heels of a 25-win season in 2024-25. It marks the first time a Mid-American Conference team has ever won its first 20 games. Their nonconference schedule was the fourth-easiest among Division I squads, according to KenPom, but coach Travis Steele’s team has shown its mettle in pressurized situations, with overtime wins against Buffalo and Kent State, as well as a three-point victory over reigning MAC champion Akron.
4. Utah State (16-3)
The Aggies have become a launching pad for promising coaches to bigger, higher-paying jobs, with four coaches in the past six years. Through it all, though, they keep winning, with Vanderbilt transfer MJ Collins Jr. pacing this season’s team with 19.3 points per game on 42.4% shooting from 3. They’ve cooled off a bit lately, losing two of their past three after a 15-1 start, but they still look like the Mountain West favorite.
5. Saint Mary’s (19-3)
Like West Coast Conference rival Gonzaga, the Gaels win year after year and have continued it this season, with 10 wins in their past 11 games. Among the areas in which they’ve excelled? At the free-throw line, where they’re burying a Division I-best 81% of their attempts.
Under veteran coach Herb Sendek, the Broncos are on pace for their most wins in a season in a decade while collecting several impressive victories along the way — beating, among others, Saint Mary’s, Xavier, Minnesota, Nevada and McNeese.
7. San Diego State (14-5)
The Aztecs have found their footing after a 3-3 start, winning 11 of their past 13 games (with one of those losses coming to No. 1 Arizona). As always, they’ve been fierce on the defensive end, ranking 26th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
8. New Mexico (16-4)
After winning 30 games last season at UC San Diego, coach Eric Olen has kept things rolling in his first season with the Lobos, who are 13-2 since Nov. 21 and have picked up wins against Santa Clara, VCU, Mississippi State and Nevada.
9. George Mason (18-2)
Tony Skinn helped lead the Patriots to the 2006 Final Four as a player and has excelled since returning to the school as a coach, winning at least 20 games in his first two seasons. This squad might be his best yet. Like Miami (Ohio), George Mason feasted on a weak nonconference schedule, but it still has quality wins over VCU and George Washington.
10. Akron (16-4)
Three of the Zips’ four losses this season have come by five points or fewer, with only No. 12 Purdue beating them by a larger margin. Senior guard Tavari Johnson is one of the most dynamic scorers in the country, averaging 20.3 points per game and shooting 38.7% from 3.
BOSTON — Late in the fourth quarter of the Celtics 102-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Payton Pritchard crouched down in pain on the TD Garden parquet and clutched his left hand. Moments later, the Celtics guard headed into the locker room, his injury status seemingly up in the air.
But, much to the relief of the Celtics fans who braved the winter storm to watch Jrue Holiday and Rob Williams make their triumphant returns, Pritchard returned just a few minutes later and closed out the final 42 seconds of the ball game. The Celtics put away the Blazers, and improved to 29-17 on the season — the Eastern Conference’s second-best record.
Afterwards, Pritchard revealed that the injury was nothing too concerning; he simply re-injured a pinky finger that’s been bothering him for the past month.
Pritchard looked like he aggravated a left pinky/hand injury that he already had wrapped. Left the game with just under 3 minutes remaining. pic.twitter.com/asMuxx7cj4
“I’ve been dealing with it, jamming it back and forth, and then he just kind of hit it,” Pritchard said, explaining his finger turned sideways.
Pritchard said he thinks he first hurt his finger when the Celtics faced the Trail Blazers on December 28th. But it’s not something that’s put him on the injury report; he’s only missed one game in January, and that was due to listed ankle soreness.
“When you play basketball, you deal with finger injuries,” Pritchard said.
Payton Pritchard put together another strong showing vs the Blazers
On Monday, Pritchard beat both the end-of-first-quarter and halftime buzzers, while tallying 23 points on 8-16 FG, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The finger injury doesn’t appear to have slowed down his production. This year, Pritchard is averaging 16.8 points while shooting 45.1% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range.
In January, his counting stats have slightly decreased, but his efficiency has improved; he’s averaging 15.9 points and shooting 46.6% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range. All season long, Pritchard has had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA; he’s averaging 5.3 assists and 1.1 turnovers per game.
After the win over the Blazers, Pritchard said the discussions around the Celtics taking a step back this season were motivating.
“People have been doubting me my whole life,” he said. “For me, it’s like show up, go to work, figure out how to win games — and prove people wrong. So, nothing changed for me in my mindset.”
Good morning, it’s Tuesday, January 27th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 28-20 and beat the Orlando Magic yesterday.
They host the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow. We hear a certain someone will be in town. You won’t want to miss it.
Today’s Game of the Day
Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets – 9 PM FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
Still no Nikola Jokic, but the Nuggets (31-15) are still a team worth watching. That is, if Jamal Murray doesn’t miss this game as well. Murray is currently listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
Nevertheless, this is a chance for Cavs fans to keep an eye on the Pistons (33-11). Detroit probably won’t relinquish control of the Eastern Conference’s top seed, but you can scout the best team in the East and get a sense for how the Cavs might stack up against them.
The Rest of the NBA Slate
Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards – 7 PM
Sacramento Kings at New York Knicks – 7:30 PM
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers – 8 PM
New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 PM
Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix Suns – 9 PM
LA Clippers at Utah Jazz – 10 PM
Honorable mention to the Clippers and Jazz game. I don’t know why, but I feel like that could end up being an entertaining one.
BOSTON — Jrue Holiday ran into Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Celtics staffers and Jordan Walsh while doing mobility drills in the hallway on Monday afternoon. Walsh and Holiday, who mentored the rookie during his first NBA season, talked about shoes. Walsh inquired if Holiday had anything for him. Holiday quipped Walsh doesn’t wear his shoe size.
“Different on the other side now, but it feels good,” Holiday told reporters moments before Celtics-Blazers. “Glad to be back, see a lot of familiar faces and excited to play.”
Holiday again discussed the Celtics’ front office being upfront that he would likely be traded last offseason due to second apron penalties, and appreciated the heads-up Stevens gave before Boston executed a trade to send him to Portland. Holiday briefly landed with the Blazers in 2023 in the Damian Lillard trade before Portland flipped him to Boston in a trade that involved Robert Williams III. Williams III also made his first on-court return to the TD Garden since that trade on Monday after two injury-riddled seasons away from Boston.
Those relationships from that brief crossover helped Holiday land more softly with the Blazers this time around, who he’s led through their continued rebuild, Chauncey Billups’ arrest in October, Lillard’s recovery from Achilles surgery in his return to the Blazers and Tiago Splitter’s ascension to interim head coach. Holiday missed 27 games with a hamstring injury, sitting out the Blazers’ win over the Celtics in Portland late last month before returning to average 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 46.2% shooting through his first six games back. He hasn’t been surprised with the Celtics’ success since losing him and several contributors to the 2024 championship.
“I knew that they’d do well, knowing the type of determination that this coaching staff and organization has,” Holiday said. “Being with this team for a couple of years now and knowing the type of players that they are and how they prepare, I figured that they’d be good and obviously knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally, so he doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
Holiday said Jaylen Brown took the postseason loss to the Knicks in May personally, and credited Joe Mazzulla’s communication and coaching methods for their success as well. He also mentioned Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Queta and the coaching staff’s defiance to being proven out as drivers of success this season.
Mazzulla, who usually doesn’t comment on opposing players, even family members and returning Celtics, made an exception for Holiday. He praised Holiday’s off-court contributions as much as what he brought to Boston on the court, which included an XChange business incubator program across several cities including Boston, that Holiday remains invested in alongside Brown.
“The biggest thing that stands out is who he is as a person,” Mazzulla said. “When you take a look at a guy who’s a champion and an All-Star and comes in and accepts a completely different role, and does it with a smile on his face and does it with a level of respect and professionalism and is willing to do what it takes to win every night … the love he had for his wife, taking a year off and being there for his family and his kids and the relationship that he and his wife have, all that stuff sticks out more than the basketball, so it was great having him for the time that we did and I love him to death.”
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — England captain Harry Brook won his first toss of the series and elected to bat in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Brook criticized the track in the second ODI as the “worst pitch” he’s ever played on despite the visitors winning the game by five wickets and levelling the series 1-1.
England retained the same spin-heavy XI that troubled Sri Lanka in the second game. Zak Crawley couldn’t recover from his knee injury, which means Rehan Ahmed will once again open the batting with Ben Duckett.
Sri Lanka, which hasn’t lost a bilateral home series over the last five years, brought in ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in place of fast bowler Pramod Madushan as the wicket is expected to help slow bowlers.
Hasaranga was rested for the first two games with the T20 World Cup starting on Feb. 7.
England: Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Luka Doncic had 17 points and eight assists in the first half of Monday's game [Getty Images]
Luka Doncic put on another scoring masterclass with 46 points as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 129-118 victory at the Chicago Bulls.
The Slovenia guard's haul included eight three-pointers, and he also registered seven rebounds and 12 assists at the United Center to end the Bulls' four-game unbeaten run.
Doncic becomes the quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points - achieving the feat in his 65th game since he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks last February.
It was the fourth match in a row that the 26-year-old has finished with more than 30 points and he tops the NBA scoring charts with an average of 33.8 points per game.
He joins Kobe Bryant as the only players in Lakers history with at least 45 points, 10 assists and five three-pointers in a single game.
LeBron James added 24 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Lakers with Rui Hachimura hitting 23 points off the bench.
Despite Doncic's achievements, Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted after the game that the superstar still gives him some anxious moments on the sidelines.
"He's an engine that's fully on and he likes to create out there and that's part of what makes him a great player," he said.
"Because I played with him, I have a pretty good understanding of that - not to say it doesn't test your patience at times.
"You have to be willing to live with some of the stuff he tries because more often than not you will get a great result."
Friday afternoon, a massive "ICE Out" rally in downtown Minneapolis ended at the Target Center, a gathering so large that more than half the people attending the march could not get in the door of the arena. Then Saturday saw more protests and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer, which in turn sparked even larger protests and an outpouring of grief and anger in the city and around the nation. The NBA wisely postponed the Timberwolves game at the Target Center that night.
Sunday, that game was played, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr described it as one of the "most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of." The Timberwolves' hearts were clearly not in it, they scored just 85 points (their first time under 100 this season) and the Warriors picked up an easy win.
Monday, life and the NBA kept moving on. The Warriors and Timberwolves played again, and people at the Target Center Monday night said things were still "quiet," the vibe was a bit somber and "weird."
However, maybe things looked and felt slightly better by the time the game ended. The Timberwolves looked distracted again at the start, but got a spark off the bench from Bones Hyland that seemed to turn things around. Minnespota went on to pick up a win against a shorthanded Golden State squad behind 17 from Hyland and 18 from Julius Randle. It snapped the Timberwolves' five-game losing streak— right now, Minnesota will take all the wins it can get. On and off the court.
"It's a lot, a lot…" Rudy Gobert said after the win during an interview on Peacock. "We are here doing what we love, give people joy and distract them from the bad things that are happening. That's all we can do. Stay safe, send love to the people that are affected, and keep doing what we do. Try to lead by example. People need some joy in these times."
This is still a city and a state reeling from the killing of Pretti over the weekend, and Renee Good a couple of weeks before. Protests still fill the streets in Minneapolis, and that vibe certainly was still in the air at the Target Center — there were "f*** Ice" chants during the game (including at the end of a moment of silence for Pretti. Even the Timberwolves trampoline dunk team was wearing "ICE Out" shirts Sunday.
Monday, during one break in play, as the cameras panned the crowd and showed fans on the jumbotron, a couple of fans held up “ICE Out Now!” signs, and a huge cheer rose from the crowd.
It wasn't just inside the Target Center where players were making their voices heard. There was former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, for one.
What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness. These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on…
There were other players around the league making comments or voicing their opinions.
"There's a lot of change that needs to happen, and when you're here, you feel it..." Stephen Curry said after the Warriors win Sunday. "It was amazing to watch the turnout and the peaceful protests and the unified voice that was there. You feel that would kind of turn the tide into a more positive direction … and then you wake up and see what happened."
"Knowing what my values are and what I stand for really all day yesterday I was disgusted," Brianna Stewart said after an Unrivaled game in Miami. "Everything you see on IG and in the news, we're so fueled by hate right now instead of love. I wanted to have a simple message of 'abolish ICE,' which means to uplift families and communities, having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence. When human lives are at stake, it's bigger than anything else."
Breanna Stewart with an important message ahead of today’s matchup with Vinyl BC: pic.twitter.com/aetUQv1OAH
"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said pregame Sunday. "As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch, and we just want to extend our thoughts, prayers, and concern for Mr. Pretti's family, all the loved ones, and everyone involved in such a unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are by nature, peaceful, and prideful…
"I'm more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I've been embraced from day one. People have been amazing. It's sad to watch what is happening. On the human level, certainly as somebody who takes great pride in being here, I know a lot of our players feel the same. They all love being here, and it's just hard to watch what we're going through."
Maybe Monday night's win was a small step toward bringing some joy and starting to help a community heal.
