CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Tre Donaldson scored Miami's last 15 points and finished with 32 to lead the Hurricanes to a 67-66 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night.
Donaldson made a pair of free throws to pull Miami within 57-54 with 7:36 remaining, and his 3-pointer with 6:50 left sparked a 7-0 personal surge to give the Hurricanes a 61-59 lead with 4:40 left. The Hokies scored six straight points capped by Tobi Lawal’s dunk for a 65-61 advantage.
Donaldson hit a jumper and tied it 66-all with a 3-pointer with 1:18 left. He then made the first of two free-throw attempts with 12 seconds to go before Ben Hammond missed a jumper at the buzzer.
Donaldson shot 13 of 24 and made three of the Hurricanes' four 3s. Dante Allen scored 10 points for Miami (21-5, 10-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has won four straight and six of its last seven games.
Amani Hansberry scored 16 to lead Virginia Tech (17-10, 6-8). Jailen Bedford scored 12 points and Hammond 10. The Hokies have lost four of their last five games.
Virginia Tech shot 50% in each half and were 8 of 20 (40%) from long range but just 2 of 3 from the line. Miami was 9-of-13 shooting from the line.
Virginia Tech made 5 of 11 from 3 for a 34-31 halftime lead.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is just getting started in her professional basketball career, but if there's one thing that might make her consider giving it all up is saying no baked goods.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James revealed during an episode on his podcast, "Mind the Game," that he gave up eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking wine in the first two months of the season as he returned from a sciatic nerve injury.
This is not Ben Middlebrooks | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Game Summary:
Having witnessed the Carolina magic too many times, when Tre Holloman sprained his ankle in the first minute, and then Darrion Williams left blood on the floor – I was beginning to expect the worst.
But I kept feeling better every time the Heels missed one of their 28 MISSED 3PT shots.
Quadir Copeland decided this was his game, and played what has to be one of the best games of his career with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and NO TURNOVERS. He’s going to make some NBA team very happy.
TWO GAME LOSING STREAK ENDED
TWO GAME LOSING STREAK TO UNC ENDED
24 points – UNC’S LARGEST DEFICIT OF THE SEASON
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY SINCE 1962– Everett Case over Dean Smith
Teams
eFG%
TO%
OR%
FTR
Wolfpack
55.5%
6.4%
34.3%
25.0%
UNC
35.8%
18.9%
39.5%
35.0%
Overall Takeaways:
The Pack held UNC to 15% from 3PT
Excepting Jordan Snell’s 2 late 3PT misses, the Wolfpack was 9-18 (50%) from 3PT
Only 4 turnovers
Only lost rebounding total by 2, won defensive rebounds 26-23
NC State had 7 steals, UNC had none
Coach Wade Post Game Comments
Individual Highlights
Darrion Williams came back and gave the Pack 13 / 1 / 1 after taking a bad fall and getting stitched up
Jordan Snell picked up what has to be his only technical foul ever – career high
Quadir Copeland led scoring with 20, assists with 7, steals with 4
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 30: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January...
It appears Deandre Ayton ran into trouble on his way back to Los Angeles.
According to a report by TMZ, the Lakers big man was temporarily detained at the Lyden Pindling International Airport as authorities searched his bag for marijuana.
Deandre Ayton shoots a free throw during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
The Central Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force said Ayton was allegedly spotted smoking weed on the premises, giving authorities the right to search his bag.
In a stunning twist, the search came up empty and Ayton was released.
However, Ayton’s attorney, Devard Francis, has a different account of what went down.
He told TMZ that his client, Ayton, was briefly help by authorities as they searched his bag for weed. When nothing was found, Ayton was released and no chargers were filed.
Ayton is currently on his way back to Los Angeles as the Lakers will begin practicing this week before returning to action Friday night against the Clippers.
Ayton, a native of the Bahamas, suited up for the Bahamian National team during Olympic qualifying in 2024. He averaged a double-double of 19.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, teaming up with current NBA players Buddy Hield, VJ Edgecombe Jr. and former NBA player Eric Gordon.
A former No. 1 pick, Ayton has been up-and-down for the Lakers this season by averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game.
The Knicks have an immediate chance coming out of the All-Star break to set a strong tone for the second half of their season — in either direction.
They’ve already been punked by the Pistons, who are six games above them in first place in the Eastern Conference, this season.
The point differentials of 31 and 38 represent the two largest losses for the Knicks this season.
Their scoring totals in those games — 90 and 80 points — are their lowest of the season.
But both those games were in Detroit.
On Thursday, the Knicks finally get to host the Pistons at Madison Square Garden, in what will be the last regular-season matchup between the two teams this year.
It wasn’t just that the Knicks were blown out previously, it was the manner in which it happened.
They were bullied physically, with the Pistons’ aggressive defense throwing them entirely out of rhythm.
Ausar Thompson, who largely guarded Jalen Brunson during their first-round matchup last postseason, has emerged as one of the few defenders who has bothered Brunson, particularly in that second matchup.
“It’s pretty simple. They just physically kicked our ass,” coach Mike Brown said after the first matchup. “There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it.”
That was thematic, and did not change at all in the second meeting. In fact, it worsened.
Pistons Ausur Thompson (right) has been a tough defender for Jalen Brunson this season. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“They kicked our behind, starting with me,” Brown said after the second matchup.
Over the first half of the season, the Pistons established themselves as a runaway leader atop the East.
That role was supposed to be there for the Knicks’ taking entering the season, with the Celtics and Pacers weakened without Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively, due to torn Achilles tendons.
Instead, a roller-coaster first half of the season has the Knicks coming out of the break in third, behind the Pistons and Celtics.
Last year proved that regular-season outcomes don’t always predict playoff results, though.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will be seeking their first win of the season over the Pistons on Thursday night. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Knicks went 1-3 against the Pistons and 0-4 against the Celtics in the regular season last year, then eliminated them in the first and second rounds, respectively.
“I don’t look at regular-season games as a barometer because, come playoffs, it’s a different basketball game,” Brunson said previously. “Especially when you talk about a seven-game series. I’ve been with different teams that went to the Finals or played deep in the playoffs that lost the season series to teams and still won in the playoffs.”
Other than the Pistons, there are reasons to believe the Celtics — sitting a half-game above the Knicks — and the Cavaliers — one game below — can make a jump and rise to another level in the second half of the season.
The Celtics could be getting Tatum back for the playoffs.
He recently began some on-court work and did not rule out a return this year.
And the Cavaliers acquired James Harden from the Clippers just ahead of the deadline, providing Donovan Mitchell with the best co-star he’s had.
“He’s a very dangerous player in our league,” Brunson said of Tatum. “Seeing him go down last year, it sucks to see. You never want to see that from anyone in any sport. The fact that he’s worked so hard to get to where he is and preparing to come back is a testament to who he is. Basketball fans around the world definitely are excited to see his comeback.”
The power dynamic in the East is a bit different than the Knicks likely expected entering the season.
Coming out of the break, though, they have an immediate chance to send a message.
The Rams handed No. 19 Saint Louis its first Atlantic 10 Conference loss of the season with an 81-76 win at Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, Feb. 17. As the clock hit double zeros, fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset victory.
The loss dropped Saint Louis to 24-2 on the season and 12-1 in Atlantic 10 play, while Rhode Island improved to 15-11 (6-7). While the loss likely will not be enough to keep the Billikens out of the NCAA Tournament, it is a tough loss to take.
Saint Louis had won 18 straight games since a 78-77 loss to Stanford on Nov. 28. Robbie Avila led the Billikens with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss.
Jonah Hinton hit nine 3-pointers en route to a 29-point performance on 10-of-17 shooting from the field in the win for the Rams. Myles Corey added 15 points and five rebounds, while Tyler Cochran added 11 points for Rhode Island.
Tanking, in a nutshell, is strategically and effectively losing games through playing or not playing players that can help win. In the long run, the hope is to position oneself in the draft and in free agency to improve the team long term.
One of the latest sports figures to partake in the conversation was Dallas Mavericks minority owner and basketball advisor Mark Cuban, who took to social media to express his take.
Cuban posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that "tanking isn't the issue" and went on to explain "why the NBA should embrace tanking," even providing his own experience as a previous majority owner of the Mavericks for more than two decades.
"The NBA has [quite] been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way," Cuban wrote. "When I got into the NBA, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t."
"They are in the business of creating experiences for fans. Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to. They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special."
Cuban, the Mavericks' majority owner for 23 years and now minority owner, said that fans understand when their team isn't good. What fans prioritize more is hope, he implied.
"Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring," Cuban wrote. "The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3, when you tank."
Tanking happens often in the NBA and it has for a better part of the last two decades. At least Cuban said so on X.
He also added that fans "appreciated it" whenever they would willfully lose games.
"We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Doncic] and improve our team," Cuban wrote on X.
Cuban and the Mavericks acquired Doncic via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Doncic with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, for Trae Young, who Dallas chose at the fifth pick, and a protected future first-round pick.
Positioning themselves for that pick, they finished the previous season with a 24–58 record, which included a 3-15 start through their first 18 games, and finished the season winning just two of 14 games.
During the 2024-25 season, the Mavericks sent Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade in return for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick.
Dallas finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record, losing in a postseason play-in qualification game to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavericks became the second straight team, after the Hawks, to qualify for postseason play and to receive the first overall pick despite only having a 1.8% chance to win the NBA draft lottery.
The bottom NBA standings in the 2025-26 season
The Sacramento Kings have the worst record in the league at 12-44, just above them are the Washington Wizards at 14-39. Here are the bottom ten teams in the NBA standings through the All-Star break in the 2025-26 season.
Tank-a-thon predicts 2026 NBA Draft through All-Star break
The following order in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Tankathon.com, predicts the Kings with the No. 1 pick and the Wizards at No. 2.
The Pelicans would have the No. 3 pick but it goes to the Hawks after a they acquired an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from New Orleans during the 2025 NBA Draft as part of a deal for the 13th pick, which was Derik Queen. The Hawks secured the right to the most favorable 2026 first-round pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks.
Here's the hypothetical order of the 2026 NBA Draft as of Feb. 17, according to Tankathon.com:
No. 1: Sacramento Kings
No. 2: Washington Wizards
No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Hawks)
No. 4: Indiana Pacers
No. 5: Brooklyn Nets
No. 6: Utah Jazz
No. 7: Dallas Mavericks
No. 8: Memphis Grizzlies
No. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
No. 10: Chicago Bulls
Cuban: Bigger issue in NBA than tanking
Cuban stands by that tanking is one of least of the NBA's concerns, or should be. Rather he insisted that the NBA should focus on game attendance.
"The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking," Cuban wrote on X. "It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their three kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their [favorite] player. Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."
The average cost for a family of four to attend an NBA game during the 2025-26 season is $277.65 for the cheapest available tickets, a parking spot, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs, according to Bookies.com.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Burks scored 16 of his 23 points before halftime and Themus Fulks scored 14 points and UCF ended a pair of streaks on Tuesday night by beating TCU 82-71.
UCF (18-7, 7-6 Big 12) stopped its three-game losing streak while ending TCU's (16-10, 6-7) three-game winning streak.
Reserve George Beale Jr. added 11 points for UCF.
The Knights built a 9-2 lead and never trailed en route to a 58%-shooting effort (15 of 26) before the break. UCF shot 49% (28 of 57) overall.
Micah Robinson scored 20 points, David Punch 14, Xavier Edmonds 12 and Jayden Pierre and reserve Tanner Toolson 10 each for the Horned Frogs.
Toolson's 3-pointer with 14:37 left before halftime brought TCU within 11-10. Burks countered with his own 3 and Punch followed with a shot in the lane and TCU would never get closer.
UCF went on a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 24-14 with 10:27 before halftime and stayed ahead by double digits with the exception of two seconds late in the second half.
TCU went on a 9-0 run cutting the Knights' 19-point lead to 10, but a Fulks floater pushed the lead to 67-55 with 6:04 left. TCU used a 14-3 run to draw within 78-69 with 59 seconds left before Fulks made two free throws with 57 seconds to go.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Cotie McMahon scored a career-high 39 points to surpass 2,000 for her career and No. 17 Mississippi beat No. 21 Tennessee 94-81 on Tuesday night.
Ole Miss (21-6, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) never trailed and held a double-digit lead for the entire second half. McMahon's jumper gave the Rebels a 25-point lead with 1:51 left in the third quarter.
McMahon has 2,038 career points, is the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 and the first since Angel Baker (2022-23).
Latasha Lattimore recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and sixth this season, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rebels. Christeen Iwuala chipped in with 16 points and Tianna Thompson scored 12.
Talaysia Cooper scored a season-best 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting to lead Tennessee (16-8, 8-4). Lauren Hurst added 16 points off the bench.
McMahon had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the first half to help Ole Miss build a 44-33 halftime advantage. Iwuala scored 12 first-half points for the Rebels. Cooper scored nine points to pace the Lady Vols.
The matchup was rescheduled from Jan. 26 due to winter weather. The Lady Vols entered having won nine of the last 10 games in the series.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 22: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Mason Plumlee #22 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on December 22, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs are adding some depth to their front court. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Spurs signed veteran center Mason Plumlee to a 10-day contract.
The 35-year-old center will join the team after the Spurs opened up a roster spot by waiving Jeremy Sochan last week. Plumlee started the season with the Charlotte Hornets, but played in only 14 games, averaging 1.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. He last appeared in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 22. The 13-year veteran has averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds over his career. This will be Plumlee’s eighth NBA team, but he is most known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets.
Plumlee adds some needed depth and a veteran presence to San Antonio’s locker room. The move closely mirrors what the Spurs did last season by signing Bismack Biyombo, although with less desperation. A healthy Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet likely leave Plumlee out of the rotation, but he’s another break-in-case-of-emergency option to go alongside Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk.
Plumlee is best known for his passing and IQ from the center position. He’s averaged 2.4 assists for his career, making quick reads off handoffs and in the short roll. He’s a solid pick-and-roll player due to his strength and IQ. In his prime, he was a good athlete who could contest shots and run the rim for dunks. He doesn’t thrive as a shooter or finisher inside and isn’t well-regarded as a rim protector. More than anything, he’s another big body on a cheap deal who can step in and play spot minutes if the Spurs are shorthanded.
It remains to be seen if Plumlee sticks around for the Spurs’ end-of-the-season run for the playoffs. San Antonio can sign him to a full deal once his 10-day contract is up.
Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry hears the chatter wondering how long he'll continue his NBA career.
However, the 37-year-old 3-point specialist isn't feeding into that type of talk and says he hasn't given any thought about it in his 17th season.
Curry told People Magazine that he's "not really putting too much pressure on that."
"Thinking about the end robs you of the now,” Curry said. “I’m enjoying the journey of competing and all the work that goes into it. Hopefully that carries me a long way.”
He has shown zero signs of slowing down. Curry has averaged 27.2 points on 46.8/39.1/93.1 shooting splits in 39 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
However, he's faced minor setbacks this season. Curry just recently missed the All-Star Game and the two previous games for the Warriors as he nurses soreness in his right knee.
The Warriors remain eighth in the Western Conference standings at 29-26. If the postseason began today, they would have a play-in game for the No. 7 playoff spot against the Phoenix Suns.
With the Warriors still hanging in contention and Curry as competitive as they come, there is no retirement in the near future.
"I’ll declare itself, whenever the time comes to call it quits, which I don’t think is anytime soon,” Curry told People.
Curry was drafted by the Warriors with the seventh pick of the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He since has become a 12-time All-star, four-time NBA champion. two-time league MVP, a Finals MVP and an Olympic gold medalist.
He is arguably the greatest NBA 3-point shooter ever and was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
One thing's for sure: He's playing next season.
Curry signed a one-year, $62.59 million veteran contract extension with Golden State through the 2026-27 season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives past Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game at Footprint Center on November 30, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 113-105. 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 Chris Coduto/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 Golden State Warriors entered the NBA All-Star break with a record of 29-26, which is good for eighth place in the Western Conference standings. And the advanced stats agree with that assessment: the Warriors’ garbage-time adjusted net rating of +1.9 is seventh in the conference.
That, of course, doesn’t tell the whole story. The seven teams ahead of Golden State — and most of the teams behind them — return from the break with their top pieces intact. The same can’t be said for the Dubs. Jimmy Butler III will not suit up for the Warriors again this season, and the team is just 6-11 when he doesn’t play, compared to 23-15 when he does.
On the brighter side, Steph Curry is expected to return from injury when the Warriors get back in action on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, and the team is hoping to debut Kristaps Porziņģis as well. But, in returning to the glass-half-empty side, Curry has been dealing with a few lingering ailments this year, while Porziņģis has dealt with injuries every year of his career — counting this season, he’s averaged just 47.1 games played over his 11 seasons in the NBA (which includes missing an entire year due to injury).
The Warriors will spend the rest of the year jockeying for position, though they seem unlikely to move much in the standings. It’s almost guaranteed that they won’t fall out of the playoff race: currently they stand a whopping eight games ahead of the first team out, and that team (the Memphis Grizzlies) just hit the reset and rebuild buttons at the deadline. They could fall down a spot or two to one of the lesser play-in positions — they’re just 2.5 games ahead of both the Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers.
Moving up seems less likely, but it’s possible, too, if the Dubs get hot or one of the teams ahead of them craters for one reason or another. The first play-in team, the Phoenix Suns, is three games ahead of Golden State. The final teams in the guaranteed playoff spots, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, are 4.5 games ahead of the Dubs.
So how high can the Warriors rise, and how far can they fall? For me, the answer is boring: I think they’re stuck in the play-in tournament. I could see them rising one spot to have the top seed in the tourney, or falling to the last spot.
What range of outcomes do you see for the Warriors?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, Alex Steen had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Florida State rallied in the second half to beat Boston College 80-72 on Tuesday night.
Florida State trailed by 14 points, 59-45, with 11 minutes remaining before making 11 of its final 14 shots.
Lajae Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in with 2:33 remaining in the second half to give Florida State its first lead, 70-68, since it was 8-5. Then Chauncey Wiggins added a 3-pointer and McCray made a driving layup to make it 75-70 with 50 seconds left.
It was Florida State's largest comeback victory since a 16-point reversal against Wake Forest on Feb. 12, 2025.
Wiggins finished with 11 points and Jones added 10 for Florida State (13-13, 6-7 ACC), which was coming off a 92-point performance against Virginia Tech.
Fred Payne scored 22 points for Boston College (9-17, 2-11) which was looking for its first ACC road win in over two years. Luka Toews and Chase Forte each scored 14 points and Aidan Shaw had 10 points.
Payne and Forte combined to go 6 of 7 from 3-point range, with three makes apiece, in the first half to help Boston College take a 42-32 lead at the break. Toews added two makes from distance as the Eagles went 8 of 12 by halftime.
Boston College finished 11 of 24 from 3-point range.
Up next
Boston College: Continues the road trip at SMU on Saturday.
FSU: Goes on the road to play Clemson on Saturday.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr., #20 of the Utah Jazz talks with assistant coach Scott Morrison during warmups before their game against the Sacramento Kings at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A letter written by the hand of General William Culvahouse Hardy, dated Wednesday, February 18, 2026, C.E.
This war is not what it used to be. The times have changed faster than anyone could have predicted, and suddenly, nothing feels familiar. I now hardly remember the taste of defeat. The comfort of pre-emptively waving the white flag. The release of screaming into the face of Private George. I gaze upon a stranger’s face in the reflection of the pools as I bathe and stiffen my lip; none wish to see a grown man cry, and certainly fewer wish to see tears on the face of their leader. The war has changed us all, and I can’t say all has been for the better.
The newest batch of recruits has changed everything. Such potent might may allow us to win battle after battle, but at the cost of the war. In response, our war room has employed many a strategem, some of which may have our nation under investigation for war crimes when this is all said and done. May God have mercy, whatever the end.
A letter written by the hand of Private Walker Ross Kessler, dated Wednesday, February 3, 2026, C.E.
My darling, I fear I may never see the sun rise upon your beautiful face once again. I became horribly injured on the battlefield, yet my commanding officer refuses to approve my leave. I wouldn’t approve your cowardice, even if you had Miss America waiting for you back home, he told me once. The irony is lost on him.
I see my closest friends placed on the front lines of our wars, even as the strongest and savviest fall back prematurely. Such tactics will have our nation under tremendous scrutiny, I have no doubt.
The Great Tank Race of 2026 was one of scandal. One of turmoil. And most importantly, one where the powers of the NBA enacted unthinkable legislation to punish the participants employing unforeseen, and incredibly drastic measures. They say all is fair in love and war, but when the former is lost, what is one to make of the latter?
In the camp of the Utah Jazz, wartime placed a considerable financial burden on the already weak economy of their relatively minuscule nation. A $500,000 fine for war crimes was punishment enough, but losing the respect of one’s neighbors was another. In those days, Utah had become synonymous with an oft-employed, but deeply disagreeable practice known as tanking. Though their execution was extreme, there was no doubt that the nation of Jazz was far from the only guilty party in this national struggle.
Friendless and desperate to find a stable foothold, Utah held its ground in the face of opposition.
NBA Tanking Standings: Post All-Star Weekend
1- (+2) Sacramento Kings (12-44)
Kings.
2- (+2) Washington Wizards (14-39) -3.5 GB
We have an entirely new hierarchy in the Tank Race, and the Washington Wizards have officially returned to their rightful place as equal statistical partners for the number one pick. It’s all about ping pong balls, and in the race for plastic, the Wizards now have a 14.0% chance of picking first overall. Trading for and immediately deactivating Anthony Davis was a brilliant move for a team that feels no pressure to compete for a spot in the Play-In. The same can be said about Trae Young, who is still “being evaluated”. Something tells me the next evaluation won’t be good news for those itching to see Young take the floor for the first time as a Wizard.
It’s worth noting that Washington finished last season in this exact position, just behind the league-worst (but tank-best!) Utah Jazz, and still managed to tumble all the way down to the sixth pick. As good as Tre Johnson is, he is not Cooper Flagg, and the same could be said about the disparity between picks 1-4 and picks 5-10 this season.
3- (-1) New Orleans Pelicans (15-41) -3.0 GB
Nobody is a bigger fan of the New Orleans Pelicans than the Atlanta Hawks this season. Sure, trading to grab Derik Queen in the late lottery was a stroke of genius in the short term, but this team is still 14.0% stakeh0lders in odds for the number one pick, and they don’t have the rights to their own draft pick.
Look, I love me a Baby Jokic (Jokic lite? Diet Joke?) as much as the next guy, but if I’m Atlanta, I am far more excited about the prospects of drafting a player in the top three with a draft class as loaded at the top as this one. There are three legitimate number-one caliber players this season, and for Hawks fans in attendance, I don’t mean another Zaccharie Risacher.
For a while there, it seemed as if Indiana would run away with the tanking crown. They had won just six games at our second check-in and sat comfortably at the head of the tank.
Yet, they stumbled. In slow motion and with an agonizing amount of time to marinate in one’s own demise, the Pacers shunned the perfect strategy for installing complementary talent around the injured Tyrese Haliburton, and have begun to fall down the stairs to the tanking pantheon. They have a record of 9-9 since the previous volume of The Great Tank Race, and that could prove fatal on lottery night. Our tank commanders have been stripped of their valor, and I can hardly look.
Then again, the lottery is probably staged anyway, so who knows if they’ll find their way back to the number one pick in one way or another.
5- (+0) Brooklyn Nets (15-38) -4.5 GB
So, the Brooklyn Nets managed to pick five first-rounders last season, betting on playmaking and positional versatility, and that somehow managed to pan out in a remarkably satisfying way for Nets fans. Egor Demin is freaking awesome, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell are quickly becoming icons, Nolan Traore has been electric since Thomas parted ways with the team, and Ben Saraf is… eh. They drafted five rookies in the first round. They can’t all be winners.
Cam Thomas, the Wicked Witch of the Nets, is officially out of the picture and down the barrel of Giannis’ longing gaze, and the young and free Nets are free to frolic as they please.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looks at Cam Thomas like a scrumptious snack after he hits the dagger 38-footer
The acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr has made the Utah Jazz too good to tank, and everybody knows it. They have a winning record with JJJ on their roster, and not even locking him out of the fourth quarter could keep the wave of good vibes from washing up W’s.
Not to be insensitive, but finding a tumor in JJJ’s knee may have been the best-case scenario for the Jazz, who desperately don’t want to win their way lower than the ninth pick, conveying their first-round pick to (you guessed it) Oklahoma City, and striking out on one of the most apparently stacked draft classes ever. The tumor is benign, but Jackson will be on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
This team will be dangerous and competitive in 2026-27, but the top priority is retaining this year’s pick. Now the question becomes, how does Utah keep Lauri Markkanen from wringing more wins out of the surging Jazz?
7- (+2) Dallas Mavericks (19-35) -8.0 GB
Here comes Dallas, barreling down the tanking trail. The Mavs have won zero games in their last nine attempts, and have clearly shifted gears after winning four straight prior to that nine-game skid. Cooper Flagg is everything that Dallas could have hoped he’d become (but then again, so was Luka Doncic), yet the Mavericks are staying on target, determined not to fall out of contention.
And they’re doing a scary good job.
8- (N/A) Memphis Grizzlies (20-33)
The scenes in the Memphis front office must have been very reminiscent of Michael Scott sharing the news that their branch would soon be downsized. It’s over, they declared in unison. We are screwed.
Clearly, having hit their ceiling with Morant, JJJ, and Bane, Memphis had nowhere to go. Burning the remains of a lost civilization was all Memphis could do, so that’s exactly what they’ve done. They’re holding a fire sale, and everything must go.
We’ll wish the departed Jazzmen luck in their professional careers — specifically Clayton and Hendricks, whom we hope pan out into great players. In the meantime, Memphis is going to be very bad before they can become any good.
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.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Stephon Castle #5 of Team Melo dribbles the ball during the game against Team Austin during the Rising Stars Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All-Star Weekend has wrapped up, and the basketball world is still talking about the San Antonio Spurs. Much of the narrative around the All-Star Game was that Victor Wembanyama set the tone from an intensity standpoint, improving the game for the better.
But he wasn’t the only Spur to star at All-Star Weekend. De’Aaron Fox hit a game-winning three-pointer in the All-Star Game, Dylan Harper hit a game-winner over his brother in the Rising Stars Challenge, and Carter Bryant soared to a runner-up finish in the Dunk Contest.
Before the weekend, we polled readers on who would put on the best performance, and unsurprisingly, they nailed it. Wembanyama may have won the ASG MVP if Team World performed better. Mitch Johnson won’t get a lot of flowers for coaching Team Stripes, which lost in the championship game, but who knows if Kawhi Leonard goes on that 31-point tear if Johnson hadn’t been there to keep him in the game. It makes you think! Either way, the most successful event of the weekend had three Spurs involved in big moments.
Harper and Castle had their moments in the Rising Stars challenge, but it felt like Harper came away as a real winner from the weekend. His highlight against Ron Harper Jr. was hilarious. Ron Harper Sr. missing a layup in the Shooting Stars Challenge was funny, too. And all of the behind-the-scenes footage of Harper made it seem like he got to chum it up with some of the league’s best.
San Antonio could have had even more representation at the event, according to readers. 77% of respondents said that Castle was snubbed for the All-Star game. Castle is averaging 16.5 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds while shooting 46.4% from the field and 28.8% from three. Those aren’t quite All-Star stats, but once you figure in his defensive impact and the role he plays on a 38-16 team, it’s hard to deny that he has been one of the most important players in the NBA.
Castle’s time is coming. He’s improved in just about every statistical category since his rookie season. He’s developing into a legitimate two-way force who can make plays for others and get to the basket at will. We’re still waiting on the 2024 NBA Draft class’s first all-star. Castle could reach that height before the rest of the draftees.
The Spurs now head into the stretch run of the season as the playoffs rapidly approach. They not only have a shot at home court advantage in the first two rounds, but could even secure the one-seed if they go on a hot streak to end the season.
