How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to Peacock for tonight's thrilling Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Memphis Grizzlies take on the San Antonio Spurs. Then, at 11:00 PM, the Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:30 PM. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Memphis Grizzlies:

The Grizzlies have lost eight of their last nine games, including the last four straight matchups. Saturday's 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered an additional blow as Ja Morant left early in the first quarter with a right calf strain. The team announced later on Monday that he is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

Zach Edey's return was one bright spot for the Grizzlies. The second-year center had 13 points and 7 rebounds in his season debut, after undergoing ankle surgery in June.
However, the team is still struggling without its key players.

The Grizzlies announced on Nov. 11 that Brandon Clarke is expected to return from his right knee injury in 6 to 9 weeks. Ty Jerome has yet to play this season since sustaining a right calf injury in the preseason.

San Antonio Spurs:

The Spurs, currently 9-4, are off to their best start since the 2016-2017 season, after defeating the Sacramento Kings 123-110 on Sunday. De'Aron Fox led the team with 28 points and 11 assists. The 2023 All-Star is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, despite missing the first eight games with a right hamstring injury.

Victor Wembanyama did not play on Sunday and is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks after suffering a left calf strain in Friday's loss against Golden State.

Second-year guard Stephon Castle will also be out tonight after sustaining a left hip injury in Sunday's win.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down the NBA’s MVP race as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands firm at No. 1.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Peacock ScoreCard: Grizzlies vs Spurs

Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

The Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader on Peacock. This is the first of three matchups between the two teams this season. Tip-off is at 11:00 PM ET.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Phoenix Suns:

The Suns' five-game win streak came to an end after falling 124-122 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Phoenix led by as many as 22 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game before the Hawks bounced back on a 43-19 run. Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 34 points in the loss, and Devin Booker added 27 with 7 assists and 2 rebounds.

The four-time All-Star guard leads the Suns in points and is on pace for a career-high year in scoring (28.4 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.5%).

Phoenix has won seven of its last nine matchups.

Portland Trail Blazers:

The Trail Blazers have dropped their last two straight matchups, most recently falling 138-133 to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in overtime. Shaedon Sharpe led the way for Portland with 36 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Deni Avdija — who leads the team in scoring this season — added 29 points with 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Portland is led by Tiago Splitter, who took over as interim head coach after Chauncey Billups’ arrest on October 23. This is Splitter's first head coaching role in the NBA. He spent last season as the head coach of the Paris Basketball Club.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down the NBA’s MVP race as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands firm at No. 1.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Peacock ScoreCard: Suns vs Trail Blazers

Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Warriors' Draymond Green had NSFW diss for Victor Wembanyama before viral dunk

Warriors' Draymond Green had NSFW diss for Victor Wembanyama before viral dunk originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green is not one to back down from a fight.

Even when his opponent has just about every physical advantage possible over him.

The Warriors forward discussed on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama’s viral poster dunk on him in Golden State’s 109-108 win over San Antonio on Friday and what he said to the 7-foot-4 big man on the possession before.

“I must tell you, right before the dunk I blocked his shot,” Green said. “When I blocked his shot, I looked at him like, I gave him a crazy look like ‘Yeah, motherf–ker …’ and he was like ‘What? Huh? You too small.’ So I walked up to him like ‘You little, motherf–ker, you’re too little.’ He’s like, ‘I’m too little? Alright.’ “

Yes, Green called Wembanyama, of all people, “little.”

Wembanyama responded with a vicious lob dunk over Green on the following possession, which did not count because Green was called for a foul on the play.

The 6-foot-6 Green really stood no chance against Wembanyama on the play, and as it unfolded, time seemed to move in slow motion for the veteran forward as the Spurs star came crashing down over him.

“By the way, just so we’re clear, that whole conversation happened walking from one block to the other block and then we start fighting for position,” Green added. “And from there, everything else just happened in slow motion. I’m fighting for the position; he’s fighting for the position. I don’t want to pick up a foul — because the whistle was … a whole other issue — I go fight for the position, he goes and fights for the position and he does this spin, and when he spins, he’s still in place.

“He took one step and he’s in front of the rim catching a lob with the left. I thought I could get the lob when I saw it go up, I had no chance of getting it. I thought Jimmy [Butler] could get the lob from the backside; he had no chance of getting it. The only person who had a chance to get the lob was the guy who caught the lob, Wemby.”

Green admitted that he was happy the refs called a foul on him, because had the dunk counted and Wembanyama screamed in his face, as he did, he believes Golden State might not have been able to overcome San Antonio’s momentum at that point in the game.

“So that was a fun ass moment, I love to see guys respond and not back down,” Green added.

“Respect earned. I think the young fella, obviously we all know how special he is, but I think the thing I’m most impressed about is his work ethic and I know his work ethic is insane because I know how much better he’s gotten.”

There is no doubt that Green has the utmost respect for the young star, despite their heated moments on the court, and even believes Wembanyama could sweep all three major NBA awards this season.

However, on Wednesday and Friday, Green and the Warriors got the better of Wembanyama and the Spurs in back-to-back games.

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Keegan Murray reportedly could make season debut during Kings' current road trip

Keegan Murray reportedly could make season debut during Kings' current road trip originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Keegan Murray could make his 2025-26 NBA season debut soon.

The young Kings forward was assigned to the Stockton Kings on Monday and cleared for 5-on-5 contact basketball. Murray plans to join Sacramento in Oklahoma City amid its current five-game road trip, per The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson, and “there is hope” he will play before the Kings return home.

Murray tore the UCL in his left thumb during a preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers in October and underwent surgery a few days later.

The former No. 4 overall pick signed a five-year, $140 million extension with the Kings before the start of the season. Murray has averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 233 regular-season games for Sacramento.

Sacramento surely misses the two-way wing’s services, as the team has been off to a widely underwhelming start to the season.

The Kings are 3-11 on the season (14th in the Western Conference) and trying to snap out of a current six-game losing streak. Still ahead, the Kings will face the Thunder in Oklahoma City, Grizzlies in Memphis and Nuggets in Denver before returning to Sacramento on Nov. 24.

Murray’s return, whenever that might be, should help with that goal of turning things around.

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Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.

After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”

“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”

James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.

Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”

Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.

“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”

Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.

After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”

“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”

James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.

Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”

Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.

“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”

Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.

Steve Kerr reveals whether Moses Moody has solidified role as Warriors starter

Steve Kerr reveals whether Moses Moody has solidified role as Warriors starter originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have been rolling since Moses Moody was reinserted into the starting lineup, an adjustment that likely won’t change anytime soon.

Since suffering a blowout road loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder last week that resulted in several team meetings, Warriors coach Steve Kerr changed some things around and plugged Moody into the first five, alongside Steph Curry, Will Richard, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Since then, the Warriors have won three games in a row, and Moody is averaging 18.3 points on 48.6-percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 30 minutes.

On 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Monday, Kerr was asked if he believes Moody has solidified a spot in his starting lineup going forward.

“Well, he started the last 30 games last year. One of the reasons we liked him in that role is because we had lost [Andrew Wiggins] in the trade for Jimmy and Moses was the best-suited guy to guard the ball,” Kerr explained. “He’s doing a great job of that. So he’s a really good fit next to Steph, Jimmy and Dray. He guards the ball and he’s very efficient offensively. He doesn’t turn it over and knocks down shots.

“I never want to say for sure that everything is set in stone because things happen and combinations change and all that stuff, but I don’t foresee Moses coming out of the lineup, I would say that.”

Moody is coming off a career game in which he erupted for 32 points with seven 3s in the first quarter of Golden State’s 124-106 win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

The 23-year-old underwent right thumb surgery to repair a torn UCL that affected him during the NBA playoffs last season.

That offseason surgery — combined with inspiration from former teammate Klay Thompson — led Moody to make a slight tweak with his shot. So far, that adjustment has made all the difference as Moody is shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc on 6.6 attempts per game this season.

Now that the Warriors have figured out a lineup that’s proven to work thus far, Moody’s role appears to be solidified at least for now.

Why fix something that isn’t broken, right?

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NBA issues warning to Warriors' Draymond Green after viral encounter with fan: Report

NBA issues warning to Warriors' Draymond Green after viral encounter with fan: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Draymond Green received a slap on the wrist for his encounter with a fan in the Golden State Warriors’ 124-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Smoothie King Center.

With 2:02 remaining in the second quarter, Green was seen interacting with a fan sitting courtside, who the Warriors forward later revealed was taunting him by repeatedly referring to him as Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese after he failed to tip in a missed layup several times, among other things.

Well, the NBA did not approve of Green’s heated interaction with the fan, and issued him a warning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday, citing a source.

The fan was not ejected from Sunday’s game, but similarly to Green, was issued a warning by arena security.

In the end, both sides were warned, and it’s safe to assume that when Golden State returns to New Orleans on Feb. 24, everyone will be on their best behavior.

Right?

Steve Kerr reveals De'Anthony Melton is ‘not very close' to Warriors return

Steve Kerr reveals De'Anthony Melton is ‘not very close' to Warriors return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors continue to take a cautious approach with De’Anthony Melton’s ACL injury recovery.

Steve Kerr recently revealed the veteran guard still has a way to go before returning to the court for Golden State and making his season debut.

“Melton is with us on the trip and really putting in the work, starting to scrimmage and that kind of stuff,” Kerr said Tuesday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “But he’s not very close because, as you know, he missed all of last year pretty much. So he needs to really do a lot of on-court scrimmaging and rhythm work.

“The good news is he’s getting healthier and stronger every day, and he’s definitely going to play a part of the season coming up. We just don’t have an exact date yet.”

Melton signed with Golden State during the 2024 offseason and suffered a season-ending ACL injury just six games into the 2024-25 season. He later was traded to the Brooklyn Nets before returning to the Warriors this past offseason.

In six games (two starts), Melton averaged 10.3 points on 40.7-percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes.

In the two contests Melton started, he dramatically helped elevate the offense alongside Curry, averaging 16.5 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from distance, with 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 26.5 minutes.

The Warriors were 4-2 with Melton in their lineup.

Golden State has had an up-and-down start to the early portion of the 2025-26 season and sits in seventh place in the Western Conference with a 9-6 record.

While the Warriors are eager to get Melton back into the mix, it’s clear they’ll be as patient as possible with his return.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.

After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”

“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”

James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.

Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”

Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.

“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”

Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

The Luka Era begins: inside the transformation powering the post-LeBron Lakers

Luka Dončić is the LA Lakers’ franchise player-in-waiting.Photograph: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

It’s been nine and a half months since the trade that rocked the sports world was broken via a Shams Charania tweet. It was such a shock that the majority of his followers assumed he’d been hacked. Fresh off of a trip to the NBA finals, the young Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić was shipped off in the middle of the night to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, and the NBA as we know it was changed for ever. The fallout from one of the most shocking trades in sports history is still evolving: disgraced Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who spearheaded the transaction, was let go by the team last week, in a move Mavericks fans have been loudly clamoring for since news broke that their homegrown franchise player was being abruptly cast out to sea. But on the other side of the coin was a mixed blessing and a new beginning: Dončić, who had imagined spending his entire career in Dallas like his mentor Dirk Nowitzki, suddenly found himself recast as the face of the NBA’s most famous franchise under the bright lights of Hollywood. And, as it turns out, the future is now.

While Dončić’s breakup with the Mavericks was both very public and very messy (the Mavs were not shy about vocalizing their reasoning for the move, and painting the 26-year-old in an unflattering light in the process), the silver linings showed themselves quickly. Dončić might not have considered himself suited for the Los Angeles spotlight, but with his flair for the dramatic and a feel for the sport’s theater, playing for such a high-profile franchise has proved an unexpectedly good fit. And it couldn’t have worked out better for the Lakers: the team had been staring at an uncertain future, with the retirement of 40-year-old LeBron James looming, and Davis’s injury history creating a cloud of doubt around his ability to be the No 1 option in the eventual aftermath. Enter Luka stage right: a ticket to franchise salvation, equipped with the newfound motivation that can only be borne from being publicly and mercilessly dragged through the mud.

Of course, James’s retirement has been far less imminent than anyone anticipated; his unprecedented longevity and level of play continue to shatter records and defy logic. So instead of a passing of the torch, the months after Dončić’s arrival looked more like a torch collaboration. But James’s bout with sciatica this summer, which has sidelined him for the first month of the season and caused him to miss the first opening night of his 23-year career, brought about a dress rehearsal for the post-LeBron Lakers era. The roster remains a bit clunky, but Dončić is beginning to lean into his newfound leadership role – and those around him are convinced he’s the man for the job. And not only because his 34.4 points per game lead the NBA by a wide margin. The Lakers are 10–4, fourth in the Western Conference behind only Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston, and the prospect of life after LeBron suddenly looks, well, not so scary after all.

Dončić has always been special, and the brightest minds in the NBA have recognized it from the start. When the Miami Heat visited Los Angeles in early November, I asked Erik Spoelstra what he believes sets Dončić apart. “Just an incredible competitive spirit,” he told me. “I remember the first time I saw him play – I’ll never forget it. I went to watch Goran Dragić at EuroBasket, so I stopped by their training camp. Luka was 18, and everyone in the gym was stunned by how cerebral his game already was. He could make all the rotations, all the reads, just pick you apart. His fundamentals, his footwork, his skill level – all elite. But more than anything, even then, he could rise to the level of competition. That’s what all the great ones do: competition brings out something most players can’t reach.”

“Quiet” was the word Lakers guard Marcus Smart used to describe Dončić’s leadership style in the early days of the season, shortly after the former Defensive Player of the Year had logged his first few games with his new team. “He leads by example,” Smart said. But something is starting to shift for Dončić, whose career-long approach to leadership has largely been, as Smart suggests, to be brilliant without saying much.

There’s a newfound maturity and commitment in Dončić’s approach this year, even if he still shows more youthful exuberance than almost anyone in the league. It became apparent as early as the summer, when rumblings spread that he’d undertaken a drastic overhaul of his diet – followed soon after by a striking Men’s Health feature revealing a noticeably leaner, more sculpted Dončić. The transformation (and the PR push around it) was almost certainly fueled by the Mavericks’ smear campaign in the wake of Dončić’s exit, which sought to question everything from his work ethic to his relationship with alcohol.

Off the court, Dončić is soft-spoken and even-keeled, happiest laying low with his wife, his baby daughter and his video games. On the court he’s a demon: one of the league’s fiercest competitors, a player who seems to take genuine delight in tormenting opponents. For all his gifts, that almost manic competitiveness may be his defining trait. And seeing it up close makes something obvious: there was never a version of reality in which being cast off the way he was in February led to anything other than this, the moment he turned into the Terminator.

Dončić acknowledges that his approach has shifted. He’s been noticeably more vocal this season, and when asked whether that’s intentional, he doesn’t hesitate. “Definitely [more vocal], just trying to help the guys,” he says. But he credits the change partly to improved chemistry, stressing that he still wants leadership to feel shared. “I think leadership shouldn’t be just one player – it should be more players, and I think we have that. Everyone talks a lot. It feels like everyone is on the same page.”

Those around him have noticed the growth. Lakers head coach JJ Redick says he’s seen a real shift from last season: “I think he’s letting his teammates in right now,” he says. Austin Reaves – the Lakers guard who has developed an easy, teasing rapport with Dončić in the months since his arrival – sees it too, and isn’t surprised it took some time. “It’s human nature when things like last year happen. Nobody ever thought that was gonna happen … I’m sure he was in a state of shock,” Reaves says. “Having to move, move his family – it was tough. But now I think he’s just getting comfortable, having a good time.”

When James returns to make his season debut, which could happen as soon as Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, the soft opening of the Lakers’ Luka Era will come to a temporary close. But the forward momentum won’t halt: the progress Dončić has made with the keys to the franchise in hand are palpable, and likely here to stay. He knows the future is his, and he seems more comfortable with that fact than ever.

NBA reportedly issues Warriors' Draymond Green warning after viral fan encounter

NBA reportedly issues Warriors' Draymond Green warning after viral fan encounter originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green received a slap on the wrist for his encounter with a fan in the Golden State Warriors’ 124-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Smoothie King Center.

With 2:02 remaining in the second quarter, Green was seen interacting with a fan sitting courtside, who the Warriors forward later revealed was taunting him by repeatedly referring to him as Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese after he failed to tip in a missed layup several times, among other things.

Well, the NBA did not approve of Green’s heated interaction with the fan, and issued him a warning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday, citing a source.

The fan was not ejected from Sunday’s game, but similarly to Green, was issued a warning by arena security.

In the end, both sides were warned, and it’s safe to assume that when Golden State returns to New Orleans on Feb. 24, everyone will be on their best behavior.

Right?

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Knicks still searching for first road win following 115-113 loss to Heat

The Knicks lost to the Miami Heat, 115-113, on Monday night despite an exciting comeback late in the fourth quarter and are still in search of their first road win this season.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- Without starters OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, New York went with a starting five of Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. That unit struggled to get things going offensively from the jump as the Knicks managed to score just 20 points in the opening quarter. 

In fact, only McBride, Bridges and Josh Hart were able to hit a shot in the first 12 minutes in which New York shot 3-for-9 from deep and 7-for-21 overall. But thanks to an equally poor offensive showing from Miami (25 points on 9-for-25 from the field), the Knicks trailed the Heat by only five points heading to the second quarter.

-- New York changed its tune in the first few minutes of the second quarter and took the lead on a 7-0 run with Jordan Clarkson and Shamet getting in on the action. Things went back and forth from there as both teams exchanged buckets which lead to multiple ties and lead changes. 

The Knicks' last lead in the quarter came on Hart's two-pointer with 2:33 left in the half that gave his team a 46-44 advantage. From there, the Heat went on an 11-5 run, including Davion Mitchell's 25-foot three-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining, to enter halftime with a four-point lead.

-- Out of the break, Towns took over offensively for New York, which needed someone to step up without two of its starters. Towns scored eight of the team's first 10 points of the second half, making his presence felt underneath the rim. Along with Towns were Robinson, Bridges and Hart, who all scored their points inside the paint.

-- Amazingly, the Knicks scored 31 points in the third quarter without making a single three-pointer after they finished the quarter 0-for-5 from deep. As for Miami, it went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, but the team missed multiple mid-range shots to allow New York to climb back with its patient but effective offensive approach.

-- Down one headed to the fourth quarter, the Knicks took multiple leads in the first few minutes. They even hit a three-pointer when McBride drilled a deep one to untie the game with 10:44 left in the game. It would be the only triple made by either team for nearly eight minutes as both offenses leaned on attacking the rim.

-- During that time, the Heat went on a 14-3 run to take the lead and separate themselves by 10 points with 3:10 to play. However, McBride would hit two threes to cut Miami's lead to four points and after Towns drilled two free throws with 1:10 left the Knicks were down by just two points. 

After a Norman Powell two-pointer upped the Heat's lead back to four, Towns buried one from deep to make it a one-point game with 22.4 seconds left. New York immediately fouled on Miami's next possession and had a chance to tie or take the lead on its next possession after Mitchell made one of two free throws. 

-- It appeared as though the Knicks did tie it after Kel'el Ware was called for goaltending on Towns' two-point shot with 13.2 seconds remaining, but after a ref-initiated review the goaltending call was overturned. New York had another chance to tie it or win the game, but McBride missed a shot from four feet out and the game was over.

-- McBride finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-for-23 shooting (5-for-12 from deep), but came up short on the biggest shot of the night.

-- The Knicks are now 0-4 away from MSG this season.

Game MVP: Kel'el Ware

Not only did his controversial block (one of three on the night) at the end serve as the game-winning play, he also had a double-double (16 points, 14 rebounds).

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks continue their road trip with a bout against the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m.

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves Monday's game with groin injury, won't return

Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his groin just three minutes before halftime in the Milwaukee Bucks' game on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The nine-time All-Star appeared to tweak something earlier in the game but had played through it. Then, with 3:16 left in the second half, he attempted a layup through contact and missed. As soon as he landed, he winced in pain but was able to get down the court to commit a foul on defense. He immediately walked off the court and into the locker room and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.

It's too early to have any firm timeline on how long Antetokounmpo could be out, but the way that he was unable to run and the quickness with which he left the court and headed to the locker room are not positive signs. Even groin injuries that don't appear significant at first, like the one suffered by Magic forward Paolo Banchero last week, can lead to at least a week's absence. Teams also tend to be more cautious with stars like Antetokounmpo, especially this early in the season, as we saw with the Spurs deciding to hold Victor Wembanyama out for 2-3 weeks with a calf strain.

Antetokounmpo was in the middle of another solid performance on Monday, posting 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 13 minutes on 6-10 shooting from the field. On the season, the 30-year-old is 2nd in the NBA in points per game with 32.6, while also averaging 11.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks for the Bucks.

Milwaukee started the second half with Jericho Sims in the lineup for Antetokounmpo. That was the first time Sims had entered the game on Monday, and the 27-year-old came into the game averaging 1.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 6.8 minutes per game on the season. If Antetokounmpo were to miss an extended period of time, it remains to be seen how Milwaukee would try to plug the hole in their lineup, but his loss would be close to an insurmountable one.

Victor Wembanyama out with left calf strain, reportedly will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks

Victor Wembanyama missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to a sore calf, a condition the Spurs had been playing down (he was wearing a sleeve over his calf postgame, but no walking boot), and the team went out and earned a win over Sacramento without him. San Antonio will need more of that in the next couple of weeks.

An MRI determined that Wembanyama has a strained left calf and the team has listed him as out. Multiple reports have said he is expected to be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks.

Wembanyama has been a force this season on both ends of the court, playing at a level that gets him mentioned in the early MVP conversation. Wembanyama is averaging 26.2 points a game while shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc (but he has lowered his number of attempted 3s and is getting closer to the basket), plus grabbing 12.9 rebounds and dishing out four assists a night. His 3.6 blocked shots a night leads the league.

When Wembanyama is off the court, the Spurs' defense is 10.8 points per 100 possessions worse. Still, thanks to strong guard play, the Spurs still outscore teams by 1.5 per 100 without him.

Expect just returned De'Aaron Fox to have a couple of big weeks carrying the San Antonio offense, he had 28 points and 11 assists on Sunday. Luke Kornet will move into the starting center slot (he had a solid game against the Kings Sunday with 13 points and 11 boards), and veteran big man Kelly Olynyk also should see more run off the bench.

Wembanyama joins No. 2 pick Dylan Harper in street clothes for the Spurs due to a calf strain. In the wake of what happened with Tyrese Haliburton in the Finals last season — when he tried to play through a sore calf and tore his Achilles — and similar injuries, teams are being far more cautious this season with calf strains.