MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz reacts against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on February 09, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since trading for Jaren Jackson Jr., the Utah Jazz have been an exciting team to watch. Since February 7th, when Jackson joined the team, the Jazz have had a top ten defense. Offensively, it’s not been as good, but that has not included having Keyonte George (who injured his ankle in Jackson’s debut) and Walker Kessler. The question is, how well can the Jazz play next season with their complete team?
In this edition of Utah Jazz Reacts, I wanted to see what Jazz fans thought. Do you think the Jazz will be a playoff team next season? Will they be able to find cohesion with Keyonte George and Walker Kessler? Or will it be a dissapointing season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 07: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs greets fans at the end of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center on January 7, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs have two games left before the All Star break, tonight against the Lakers, and tomorrow night against the Warriors, both late night games on the west coast. It’s the back-to-back series of games with a LA face and an Oakland booty. Another interesting fact is that both the Lakers and Warriors will be missing their best players on both nights. Out for the Lakers tonight will be LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart, and Ayton is listed as questionable. The Spurs have not been exactly dominant against teams that sit out a lot of their starting lineup, and the Spurs could be a bit distracted with several of their players taking part in All Star festivities this weekend. This will be an interesting test of Mitch Johnson’s coaching to see if he can get his team to play with intensity against a team whose best player is probably … Rui Hachimura? Don’t get me wrong, Rui is good, but he doesn’t have the ability to create trips to the free throw line from thin air like Luka. And LeBron is old, but still can take over a game in short stretches. Even with all those players missing, the Tinseltown torch bearers have a lot of players who can score. Dalton Knecht can hit shots, as can Rui and Luke Kennard. Jaxson Hayes is one of my least favorite NBA players, but he can dunk the ball well enough that he was invited to the dunk contest this year. If the Spurs allow the Lakers to stay in the game until the fourth quarter, it could be a tough night for the Silver and Black, when what they really want to do is save their energy for tomorrow night’s 9:00 PM game against the Curry-less Warriors in San Francisco (not actually Oakland any more).
The newly crowned Western Conference Player of the Week [Stephon Castle] will look to have a big night, and De’Aaron Fox should be able to get whatever shot he wants to, because the Laker defense is normally bad, but without Smart, it’s going to be terrible. Best case scenario, Victor Wembanyama puts this game away early and cheers on the Spurs garbage time crew from the bench for most of the fourth quarter. But the more likely outcome involves the starters having to play big minutes to put the Lakers away late. Ugh.
It’s a late night game, so you might want to check your coffee reserves before the game starts. GO SPURS GOO!!
Game Prediction:
Jordan McLaughlin puts on a show with 20 points in the fourth quarter as he repeatedly blows past Luke Kennard.
San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks February 10, 2026 | 9:30 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: NBATV/FanDuel Sports Southwest Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Malik Reneau scored 16 points, Ernest Udeh Jr. had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Miami never trailed while beating No. 11 North Carolina 75-66 on Tuesday night for the Hurricanes' first victory over a Top 25 opponent in two years.
Tre Donaldson finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Shelton Henderson added 12 points for the Hurricanes (19-5, 8-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Udeh made a free throw with 2:11 remaining, then rebounded his missed second attempt and scored on a layup to put Miami ahead 66-60.
After Donaldson’s layup with 1:20 left made it 69-62, Jarin Stevenson’s layup 5 seconds later got the Tar Heels (19-5, 7-4) within five. Despite finishing 14 of 23 from the foul line, Miami clinched the win with six free throws in the final minute.
As soon as the horn sounded, Hurricanes fans stormed the court, celebrating their first win over a Top 25 team since beating No. 16 Clemson 95-82 Jan. 3, 2024.
Stevenson scored 13 points, Caleb Wilson had 12 and Henri Veesar added 11 for the Tar Heels.
Wilson, the Tar Heels' leading scorer with 20 points per game, left briefly for the locker room midway through the second half and had his left hand wrapped when he returned with 8:47 remaining.
The loss snapped North Carolina’s five game-win streak.
Miami outscored North Carolina 46-28 in the paint. Udeh made seven of eight shots, including five on dunks. After shooting 7-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half, the Tar Heels were 1 of 14 from behind the arc in the second half.
The Hurricanes opened a 10-point lead on Reneau’s three-point play seven minutes into the first half that made it 22-12.
North Carolina chipped away and stayed within striking distance the remainder of the half. Kyan Evans’ 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining got the Tar Heels to 41-40 before Timo Malovec’s two free throws with 27 seconds left gave the Hurricanes a 3-point lead at halftime.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Kia Center on February 07, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“What the Utah Jazz are doing is messing around with the integrity of the game.”
Bobby Marks took to national television to reiterate the discourse that has been poisoning recent NBA discussion — the Utah Jazz are dismantling the sanctity of competition. They’re shredding the fabric of competition; defiling the tapestry of professional basketball. How are they doing this? By losing basketball games
The Utah Jazz have been at the forefront of NBA debate for the past few months, taking digital body blows from outraged observers and tanking scrutinizers.
Assuming you haven’t kept a tight watch on the bottom of the NBA standings, you’d understandably assume that a team sparking so much controversy would be far and away the ugliest example of their strategy. Surely, considering the growing wave of scrutiny, the Utah Jazz must have the worst record in the league, right?
Nope.
Bottom three?
Wrong again.
Utah sits with a 17-37 record, which is currently sixth-worst in the NBA and 5.5 games ahead of the last-place Kings. So what’s the rub?
I have a theory, but let me warn you that I’m about to get biblical.
On the Day of Atonement, the ancient Israelites would ritualistically place the burden of their nation’s sin upon a goat. This animal’s role removed all guilt of wrongdoing from its community as it carried the nation’s burden into the wilderness. Distancing themselves from all of their shortcomings and wrongdoings
The Utah Jazz are not the villains of the NBA; they’re the scapegoats. The poster boy for the tankathon. They’re the tanking franchise bearing the weight of the basketball world’s sins.
The Utah Jazz are not the villains of the NBA; they’re the scapegoats.
The fans paid for tickets to watch the Utah Jazz, and that is exactly what they got: Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and the newly-acquired Jaren Jackson Jr each appeared in this game to Utah’s advantage, pushing the visiting Jazz ahead by as many as 17 points before the game turned to the fourth quarter and those starters reclined on the bench. Fingers laced behind their heads, legs outstretched with ankles crossed, Utah’s stars would not re-enter the game even as the Magic whittled their lead down to single-digits, then one possession, until eventually claiming the lead and victory away from the tanking Jazz.
Coach Will Hardy employed a similar strategy in the next game, pulling his starters in the fourth quarter and watching as the second unit beat Miami outright, thanks in part to a clutch three-pointer courtesy of third-year player and former first-round pick, Brice Sensabaugh.
Will Hardy has every right to employ the lineups of his choice — that’s what it means to be a head coach — and the NBA won’t punish him or the Jazz for the players he opted to play in crunch time. The moment Adam Silver steps in to declare who can and cannot play in the fourth quarter of a basketball game, that is when the integrity of competition will be compromised, not when a subpar team gives playing time to its bench.
Since integrity has become the word of the day regarding the @utahjazz.
I’ll share this from a conversation I had with Will Hardy about how he views the Jazz’s approach. pic.twitter.com/fP2HansY74
Possibly the loudest whistle-blowers regarding Utah’s sins are the Dallas Mavericks. Yes, that’s right, the very same team that traded away Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in a ‘win-now’ move to push themselves closer to championship contention. That team was rewarded with a shocking jump to the number-one pick and Cooper Flagg. Just one year prior, the Mavs were hit with a $750,000 fine for tanking, the largest such fine in league history.
Yet it’s Dallas, the team with the seventh-worst record, just behind the Utah Jazz, who choose to virtue signal, casting the finger of shame toward the unethical Utah Jazz all across social media. They started the movement, and the NBA community is running with it.
‘Ethical tanking’ is a myth. It’s baffling to suggest that one team’s intentional losing is commendable while another’s is vile. It’s hypocrisy. It’s selective outrage. Yet this perspective has leaked into the mainstream, as evidenced by Mark’s ESPN spot.
‘Ethical tanking’ is a myth.
Where is the outcry toward Washington, a team resting its two All-Star acquisitions, as Davis was announced out for the season, and Young still awaits his debut? Where is the hatred for Sacramento as they sit their core on the way to a league-worst standing? The Indiana Pacers, last year’s NBA Finals runners-up who are clinging to a top-four protected pick, announced that their newest center, Ivica Zubac, won’t be making his debut any time soon.
But the Utah Jazz are ridiculed for running their best players for three quarters and cratering in the fourth? Those outraged at the Jazz’s tanking methods are misguided. Tanking is tanking is tanking. Regardless of execution, plenty more NBA teams are losing deliberately — they just have far less press coverage.
Internet sleuths have their magnifying glass hovering directly over the Jazz; there’s no escaping their dutiful watch now. But the Jazz didn’t invent tanking, nor are they the only one of the NBA’s 30 teams to employ tanking strategies this season or any of the last decade-plus since Philadelphia installed “The Process”.
The system is flawed, and smart teams (especially those who historically struggle to lure in top free agents) are taking advantage. Don’t hate the player, hate the game, because the Utah Jazz are just one cog in the tanking machine.
So what can we do about tanking?
Seemingly, everyone has an idea about how to solve tanking in the NBA. Ideas span from flattening draft odds, employing lottery bans for teams that received a top pick, and even eliminating the lottery altogether, opting for a 30-team rotation that shifts one spot every season.
I won’t pretend to know the solution for the NBA’s tanking problem — and yes, it is a problem that teams don’t want to win — but I’d suggest that all proposals are taken to Occam’s Razor. In other words, the best solution is often the simplest solution. I don’t subscribe to the idea that small-market teams should be barred from building through the draft in subsequent years. A one-and-done type of draft would be both complicated and unusual.
Basketball is a simple game at its core; complication isn’t the cure for its shortcomings.
Flattening the odds accomplished its original purpose: being detrimental to the worst records in the league and minimizing the reward for hunting that bottom spot in the standings. Since flattening lottery odds, the number-one odds have never been actualized into the number one pick.
Few understand this better than Utah (a franchise that has never had the pleasure of drafting first overall), which finished with the top lottery odds and a 52.1% chance of landing in the top four before sliding to five and picking up Rutgers’ Ace Bailey with their pick. Bailey is the symbol of Utah’s punishment for playing the game the ‘right way’ in 2025. He’s evidence that being the very worst guarantees nothing in the draft lottery, and the physical manifestation of his team’s shortcomings.
The idea behind dissuading tanking was sound, but more teams than ever are still hunting lottery odds. Utah is no exception, nor are they a red stain on the flawless reputation of the NBA. There are at least seven Utah Jazz equivalents in 2025-26, and it’s time we stop singling out the Jazz for their part in the movement.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
DALLAS (AP) — Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 22 points, Boopie Miller added 20 and SMU pulled away midway through the second half and cruised past Notre Dame 89-81 on Tuesday night.
Notre Dame cut the deficit to 83-77 with 1:12 left, but Pierre answered with a layup and B.J. Edwards made two free throws to push the lead to 87-77 with 22 seconds to go.
Corey Washington added 14 points, and Samet Yigitoglu chipped in with 11 points and 10 rebounds for SMU (17-7, 6-5 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Mustangs shot 52.5% (32 of 61) from the floor. Pierre, Miller and Washington combined for 10 of their 19 3-pointers.
Jalen Haralson scored 23 points to lead Notre Dame (11-14, 2-10). Cole Certa and Braeden Shrewsberry each added 16 points. The Fighting Irish have lost five straight and 10 of their last 11 games.
SMU opened on a 21-11 run before Notre Dame tied it 34-all with about three minutes to play in the first half. Miller scored the last six points to give the Mustangs 43-37 lead at the break.
It was Notre Dame's first game at Moody Coliseum since 1990.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Bailey Maupin scored 23 points, Snudda Collins added 17 off the bench and No. 16 Texas Tech beat Kansas 70-65 on Tuesday night for coach Krista Gerlich's 100th win with the Lady Raiders.
Maupin made a steal and then sank two free throws with 24.2 seconds left to give Texas Tech a 65-60 lead.
Brittany Harshaw sank a long 3-pointer to pull Kansas within 65-63 and Maupin went 1 of 2 from the free-throw line for a three-point lead at 19.7.
Kansas was called for an illegal screen at the 3-point line with 11.7 seconds left and Maupin made two free throws for a five-point lead.
Maupin was 6 of 15 from the field and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line to secure her fifth 20-point game of the season for Texas Tech (23-3, 10-3 Big 12).
S’Mya Nichols led Kansas (15-11, 5-9) with 15 points and Jaliya Davis scored 12 of her 14 in the first half. Elle Evans added 11 points and Regan Williams scored 10.
Texas Tech held a 28-25 lead at halftime despite making just 2 of its last 14 shots. The Lady Raiders did not make a field goal over the final four minutes of the first half.
Up next
Kansas: Returns home to play Houston on Saturday.
Texas Tech: Goes on the road to play Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Dybantsa also ran the offense effectively, notching seven assists for BYU. He was efficient from the field and nearly impossible to guard, going 14-for-20 shooting from the field. He was 7-for-8 from the free throw line. While things got dicey down the stretch for BYU, they were ultimately able to hold off the Bears to move to 18-6 (6-5 Big 12) on the season. His teammate Robert Wright III, who transferred from Baylor and endured chants of traitor from Bears fans, also had his first 30-point game in college in the effort.
BYU is now 4-1 when Dybantsa scores 30-plus this season, the lone loss coming in a 36-point effort against Oklahoma State that ended in a 99-92 loss and saw the Stillwater fans storm the court after. Dybantsa has shot over 60% from the field in all of his 30-plus point games.
AJ Dybantsa stats vs Baylor
Dybantsa scored 36 points on 14-of-20 (70%) shooting, and was 7-for-8 from the line. He had seven assists and five rebounds in the effort as well, along with a steal and a turnover.
BYU came back from a 12-point first half deficit to snap a four-game losing streak, giving the Cougars a big win after falling to .500 in the Big 12 following a loss to Houston on Feb. 7.
The Sacramento Kings have had an utterly disappointing season and could use a new identity. Drafting a player like BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa would given them that. The young star recently became the youngest player in NCAA history with a 30-point triple-double against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, then he had 43 dominant points against in-state rival Utah on Jan. 24.
Cameron Boozer of Duke also figures to be a top pick. Dybantsa's competition this year is stiff, but he has shown time and time again he has the talent to contribute early at the next level. Feb. 10 was just the latest example of that. BYU's next opponent is Colorado on Feb. 14.
There has been so much discourse this season about the Knicks needing more from Karl-Anthony Towns.
But what if they actually need less of him?
This Knicks surge, in which they entered Tuesday’s game against the Pacers at Madison Square Garden having won nine of their past 10 games to save their season from spiraling away from them, has come with noticeably less usage from Towns.
And during that stretch, the Knicks were elite on both ends of the floor.
Pascal Siakam drives past Kark-Anthony Towns during the Knicks-Pacers game on Feb. 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Towns has gone from the clear No. 2 Knicks option behind Jalen Brunson to a rebounder and perimeter scorer, often on the bench late in games due to his defensive shortcomings.
He missed one game in that stretch — they went 9-0 in the nine games he played.
In those nine games, Towns averaged just 27.2 minutes and 14.2 points per game, way down from his season averages of 31.4 minutes and 19.7 points.
His rebounding was up, though, to 13.0 per game, an increase from his already Eastern Conference-high 11.9 for the season.
He took fewer shots, down to 11.0 per game during that stretch compared to 14.0 for the season. But it wasn’t like that led to Towns being more efficient.
He shot 44.4 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from 3-point range compared to 46.3 percent and 35.3 percent for the season.
And it’s not like he became more of a playmaker or distributor either, averaging 2.4 assists per game compared to 2.9 for the season.
There has simply been… less involvement on the offensive end of the floor.
He has become more passive, funneling his energy toward the glass.
“There are a lot of ways he can impact the game,” coach Mike Brown said before Tuesday’s game. “The way he moved in Boston was probably his best game, just moving. He doesn’t have the gravity that Landry [Shamet] has, but for a big guy, he has pretty good gravity because he can score. And they pay so much attention to him. That’s one of the focal points. That’s why they’re putting the four on him and trying to double-team with the five and all the other stuff.
“When he moves the way he did on both ends — because he was really good defensively, too — he’s highly impactful.”
Karl-Anthony Towns goes up for a layup during the Knicks-Pacers game at the Garden. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Towns became the fourth-leading Knicks scorer during that period — behind Brunson (23.6 ppg), OG Anunoby (19.6) and Mikal Bridges (14.9).
And it’s hard to argue with the overall results.
The Knicks had an offensive rating of 117.5 during that stretch — sixth best in the NBA — and defensive rating of 110.8, best in the league.
Some of the change in minutes is a result of foul trouble Towns constantly finds himself in on a nightly basis. But there’s been a clear shift in both his approach on offense and in how Brown is using him, particularly late in games.
Often, Brown has preferred Robinson and his defensive prowess in crunch time.
Towns was notably benched for the last 6:51 of the Knicks’ win over the Kings during that stretch.
In the eight games Robinson played during that stretch, he averaged 21.3 minutes per game, up from 19.8 for the season.
Right now, less Towns involvement is working. But whether that will work in the playoffs, or if the Knicks will need a more aggressive Towns, is another story.
And Towns’ acceptance of that role will be a story to continue monitoring.
NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram will replace injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.
Curry, who was voted a starter, is out with knee pain. Commissioner Adam Silver chose Tuesday to have Ingram fill Curry's spot on Team Stripes.
It's Ingram's second All-Star selection. He is averaging 22.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season and has helped Toronto post a 32-22 record, good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Ingram's Raptors teammate, Scottie Barnes, is on the USA Stars. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic will coach the World team.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on February 20, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!
The 2026 NBA trade deadline was, in a word, bizarre. The one big move that had gained steam — a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade — not only failed to materialize, but turned into smoke and mirrors before our very eyes.
And yet, while that move floundered, one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, James Harden, was shockingly traded. Another Hall of Famer, Anthony Davis, was shipped across the country. And former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. was … traded to a team that’s openly tanking? Am I reading that correctly?
The Golden State Warriors, for their part, hung around in the middle. They didn’t acquire Antetokounmpo, or make a franchise-altering move like last year, when they traded for Jimmy Butler III. But they did acquire an All-Star in Kristaps Porziņģis, while ending their saga with Jonathan Kuminga and clearing future money off the books by getting rid of Buddy Hield.
Unlike last year, when the Los Angeles Lakers shockingly nabbed Luka Dončić near the deadline, there’s no clear winner this February. But there are a lot of teams that made good moves — both postseason contenders who bolstered their roster, and rebuilding squads who strengthened their future.
Who, in your eyes, made the best moves at the deadline?
For me it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers. Harden may have his fair share of both foibles and detractors, but I love the move for the championship-contending Cavs. It gives Donovan Mitchell a co-star to shoulder the scoring burden, while allowing them to keep their dynamic defense centered around their two bigs, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. And with Harden likely to opt into his player option for next season, it makes Cleveland the clear Eastern Conference favorites next year if LeBron James decides to return home for a final season, as has been rumored lately.
My runner-up is the Memphis Grizzlies, who got a trio of first-round picks for Jackson, as they started their rebuild right on time, rather than waiting too long.
What team do you think did the best at the deadline?
Lakers forward LeBron James will miss tonight's game against the Spurs, making him ineligible for NBA postseason awards. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
LeBron James will not play tonight against the San Antonio Spurs, making the Lakers star ineligible for postseason awards and ending his run making the All-NBA team at 21.
Under the current NBA rules, players must appear in 65 games to be eligible for awards. James can now play in a maximum of 64 games if he does not sit out another.
The previous record for making All-NBA teams was 15, which was held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
The Lakers will also be holding out NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) for the third straight game, along with Austin Reaves (left calf injury management) and Marcus Smart (right ankle).
James is playing in his unprecedented 23rd season. He missed the first 14 games because of sciatica after not participating in training camp. He has played in back-to-back games at times since getting healthy, but the Lakers have monitored his health closely in hopes of keeping him fresh for the stretch run.
James is averaging 21.7 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds over 34 games this season. The Lakers (32-20) are in the thick of the West playoff race despite having James, Doncic and Reaves all in the same lineup for just 10 games so far this season.
Associated Press and nba.com contributed to this report.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Jordan Walsh #27 and Xavier Tillman #26 of the Boston Celtics arrive to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Six of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — Xavier Tillman arrived in Boston in the middle of Jordan Walsh’s rookie season. Walsh was 19 at the time, the youngest member of the squad, and Tillman almost immediately took him under his wing.
So, when Walsh rarely played throughout his first two seasons, Tillman was often in his ear. That same mentorship continued into this season, when Walsh began playing meaningful minutes for the very first time, ultimately starting 20 straight games for Boston.
But, as of Thursday, Tillman is no longer on the Celtics roster. The veteran big man was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in the final hours of the NBA’s midseason trade deadline, and Walsh is not sure who to lean on when it comes to dealing with the ups and downs of the season.
“It used to be X — X is my guy,” Walsh said. “Now I’m trying to figure out who that is. Me and JB [Jaylen Brown] are really close, so it might just end up being him, but he just wants to put me in a headlock.”
Walsh’s and Tillman’s friendship was on display throughout the year.
Earlier this season, for example, when Walsh was just beginning to break into the rotation, Tillman excitedly crashed his postgame interview. The Celtics had just defeated the Orlando Magic, and Walsh hit a big three-pointer down the stretch to help secure the victory.
“He’s the king of the lockdown,” Tillman said, grinning. “He can guard anybody. The bigs, the littles, the wings, they don’t matter. Call Jordan, he’s your guy.”
OMG Xavier Tillman just crashed Jordan Walsh's postgame interview as he was talking about his dagger three pic.twitter.com/8FNAdNNMyC
Tillman’s leadership extended throughout the locker room.
“He’s almost become, quickly, a vet for us,” Joe Mazzulla said earlier in the season. “I’ve been very appreciative of how he’s handled just the trajectory of his role here.”
Tillman isn’t the only teammate that Walsh, and the rest of the Celtics, lost
The Celtics traded Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls, Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, and Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets.
All of the losses hurt.
“[All] those guys, I got close to while they were here,” Walsh said.
After the deadline, Mazzulla said his focus was on the players’ general well-being: “It’s the time of year where you spend time worrying about the person more than the player.”
For Walsh, there is an inevitable adjustment period after having lost such a close teammate.
“It’s tough. That first game back…. me and X were like this,” Walsh said, crossing his fingers. “And so that first game back, I’m always looking for somebody to talk to, for inspo, points, or whatever it may be, and he just wasn’t there. And I was like, dang it just feels different. Everything feels different.“
Walsh is excited to reunite with one former teammate on Wednesday, when the Celtics host the Bulls for their last game ahead of the All-Star break.
Anfernee Simons, who is averaging 20 points in three games for Chicago, will return to Boston just a week after his trade.
“Fortunately, I’ll see Ant [tomorrow],” Walsh said. “We’ll have to destroy him, though. But, it’ll be good to see him again, have him back in the Garden. But missing those guys, having them gone, it definitely leaves a void in the arena.”
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at American Airlines Center on November 12, 2025 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (19-33) stay on the road Tuesday night to match up against the Phoenix Suns (31-22). Dallas has now lost seven in a row, most recently to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Phoenix has now lost two in a row, most recently to the Philadelphia 76ers, and is looking for a get-right game. Phoenix won the first match-up of the season way back in November.
Here’s the main things you need to know before tipoff.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns
WHAT: Road trippin’
WHERE: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
WHEN: 8:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report is a little confusing at first glance for the Dallas Mavericks. All three two-way guys are listed as doubtful, so no Ryan Nembhard and no Moussa Cisse (Miles Kelly doesn’t get much burn anyway). Klay Thompson is listed as questionable with “rest” but we know he was at Meg Thee Stallion’s birthday, so I bet it’s a matter of if he gets to Arizona in time and if he feels good to play. The only Sun of note that’s out is Grayson Allen with a knee issue.
I am not sure what to expect out of this matchup, or any matchup from here on out, if we’re honest. Dallas isn’t favored, but they don’t have bad players. Tanking organizationally may be in the cards but game by game, Dallas is trying to win. They simply haven’t been able to.
Keeping Devin Booker in check is the surest path to a Dallas victory, but that’s not going to be an easy task. I’m curious who will get the defensive assignment early on, particularly if PJ Washington comes off the bench. Keep an eye on Cooper Flagg’s three-point shooting, which has been very good on low volume since the 20-game mark. I’d put money on this being a clutch game again.
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!
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 12: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket as Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense during the game on December 12, 2025 at Capital One Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards head to Ohio on Wednesday to take on a streaking Cleveland Cavaliers team at Rocket Arena.
Game info
When: Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (back), Anthony Gill (hamstring), and Bilal Coulibaly (heel) are questionable, while Trae Young (knee, quad), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (uncertain future) are out.
For the Cavaliers, Dean Wade (ankle), Evan Mobley (calf), and Max Strus (foot) are out.
What to watch for
The two East teams that drastically revamped their rosters at the NBA trade deadline are set to face off on Wednesday night. While the Wizards’ newest acquisitions, Anthony Davis and Trae Young, are not playing anytime soon, the Cavaliers have hit the ground running with James Harden.
The Cavs scored big wins in each of Harden’s first two contests with his new squad, improving the team’s record to 9-1 over their last 10 games. The Wizards, meanwhile, have leaned even further into the youth movement.
Will Riley, Jamir Watkins, Sharife Cooper, and Tristan Vukcevic have all received extended run over Washington’s last three games. There’s no reason to expect that to change against the Cavs with the Wiz still looking to secure more draft lottery combinations.
The rosters have been set, and the game’s biggest stars will congregate in Los Angeles for the 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game.
The league opted to use a “U.S. vs. World” format in a round-robin tournament that will feature three teams, one of which will be composed of international players.
The game, however, will be missing some key players because of injury, most notably last season’s Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:
When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
The game will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET.
Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
Los Angeles will serve as host of All-Star weekend and all of its events, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the Slam Dunk Contest and the 3-Point Contest. Events will take place at the Intuit Dome, the home venue of the Los Angeles Clippers.
How to watch 2026 NBA All-Star Game
The game will be broadcast on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock. The first game in the round-robin tournament will tip off at 5 p.m. ET. This is the first time in 24 years that the event is broadcast on a network other than TNT.
Who is participating in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?
The NBA is introducing an entirely new format in the All-Star Game: U.S. vs. The World.
Two teams of U.S. players and a team of international players will compete in a round-robin tournament in four 12-minute games, all to be held on the final day of All-Star Weekend — Sunday, Feb. 15 — the NBA announced Tuesday, Nov. 11.
All round-robin games will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, and here’s how the tournament works:
Team A will play Team B in Game 1.
The winning team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 2.
The losing team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 3.
After Game 3, the top two teams by record will play each other in the championship game. But, if all three teams have a 1-1 record after Game 3, the point differential in each team’s two round-robin games will serve as the tiebreaker.
