Category: NBA

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz thinks he might get a small kangaroo tattooed on one leg.

It would be a lasting memento of his win over Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open men's final Sunday which made him the youngest male player at 22 to complete a career Grand Slam.

“I already know it’s going to be a kangaroo. I just don’t know the place,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just thinking about the leg but I don’t know which calf, whether it will be the right or left one.”

Alcaraz posed for photographers Monday with the ornate Australian Open trophy, looking casually stylish in black, in loafers and no socks. The photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in central Melbourne.

The women's singles winner Elena Rybakina was photographed with her trophy Saturday on the banks of the Yarra River, which runs through Melbourne.

According to Australian media reports, Alcaraz spent the night after his victory with his family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne.

In a social media post to fans during the photo shoot, Alcaraz said “I still can't believe that I just made it.

“A dream come true for me, a career Grand Slam. I'm enjoying this amazing moment. I can't forget the support and the love I've received.”

After completing a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 over Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, Alcaraz admitted “I hate to lose.”

He explained his mindset at the moment of victory.

“Before the last point ... a lot of things came to my mind, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I was really nervous, I was shaking almost. So once I saw the ball go out, I was like ‘alright, I made it.’

“It was a great feeling, thinking about my family and my team as well.”

Chasing completion

He has now set his sights of winning every major prize in tennis: three Masters 1000 titles that have eluded him, a season-ending championship and a Davis Cup with Spain. He has won six of the nine Masters 1000 crowns but has yet to win the Canadian Open, Shanghai and the Paris Masters.

“I hate to lose, so that’s my motivation. Trying to lose as less as I can,” Alcaraz said. “Yeah, there are some tournaments that I really wanted to win at least once. A few Masters 1000 I just really wanted to complete all the Masters 1000, trying to win each one at least once.

“Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set up some other goals for the season and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.”

Joining the greats

Alcaraz joined Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic as only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slams. He was younger than Budge by 91 days and considerably younger than Nadal who was 24 and three months, Federer almost 28 and Djokovic 29.

“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful but the bad part of tennis is we have tournaments week after week after week and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately,” he said. “Because once you finish a tournament, you’ve got to be prepared and your mind is about going to the next tournament.

“What I’ve learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting losses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.”

While Alcaraz has acknowledged the 38-year-old Djokovic as an inspiration, he's not sure he will be as durable.

“You know, let’s see how long I will be playing. Hopefully being in such a great shape at 38, competing and challenging the young players, and playing finals of grand slams.”

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The day began with uncertainty, stretched into frustration and ended, finally, with resolve.

After winter weather and travel complications pushed tipoff more than five hours past its scheduled start, the San Antonio Spurs shook off the chaos and delivered a 112–103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at the Frost Bank Center — a win that reflected not just talent, but resilience.

When the ball finally went up, the Spurs played as if eager to reclaim control of a day that had refused to cooperate. San Antonio burst out of the gate, scoring 37 points in the first quarter, fueled by crisp ball movement and an aggressive defensive effort. Victor Wembanyama immediately imposed his will on both ends of the floor, blocking shots, finishing in traffic and energizing a crowd that had waited all evening to see their beloved Spurs.

For a moment, it appeared the long day would fade quietly into a comfortable win, but Orlando had other plans.

The Magic flipped the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 40-23 and exposing the fatigue that inevitably crept in. San Antonio’s shots stopped falling, turnovers piled up, and the early lead vanished as Orlando seized momentum before halftime. What once looked routine had turned into a test.

It was in that moment — after the delays, after the lost rhythm — that the Spurs steadied themselves and took control for good.

“Heck of a response by those guys and they’ve proven that quite a bit this year,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I am very pleased with the effort and the response. The defense in the second half was nails.”

San Antonio opened the third quarter with renewed purpose, stringing together stops and launching a 10-2 run that reclaimed control. The pace slowed, the defense tightened and the Spurs began to impose their will inside, winning the rebounding battle and repeatedly earning trips to the free-throw line.

“I think it was more challenge and yelling,” Johnson said of his team’s defense in the second half. “We saw what happened in Charlotte where one quarter cost us the game. So I was pleased with the response in the second half.”

De’Aaron Fox guided the offense with patience, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists, while Dylan Harper provided 15 points off the bench to keep Orlando from gaining traction. And hovering over it all was Wembanyama, whose 25 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals told only part of the story. His presence altered possessions, changed decisions and anchored San Antonio when the game hung in the balance.

The Magic made their final push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit and briefly threatening to turn the night on its head. Each time, the Spurs answered — a stop here, a free throw there — refusing to let the game slip back into chaos.

When the final horn sounded, the frustrating issues of the day no longer mattered.

“It was a great day,” Harper said with a smile. “This is what comes with the game, but if we’re going to play — we’re going to play hard. We are here for the fans and we poured our energy into it.”

What remained was a victory earned the hard way, one shaped by patience and grit. On a night delayed by travel issues and defined by uncertainty, the Spurs found clarity where it mattered most — on the scoreboard.

Game Notes

• With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Denver Nuggets, Coach Johnson has been named a head coach for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Johnson and his staff will coach one of the three All-Star teams in the new U.S. vs. World format.
• Despite the win, the three-point woes continue to be an issue for the Spurs. San Antonio shot just 8-for-29 (27%) from beyond the arc. The good news? Orlando wasn’t much better, shooting just 33% from distance.
• With Stephon Castle out with abductor tightness, Harrison Barnes made his return to the starting unit and finished with seven points. What will be interesting to see if Coach Johnson puts HB back on the bench once Castle returns from injury.
• I’m not sure why Desmond Bane was so angry at Wembanyama and Carter Bryant, but he clearly had some issues after fouling both players hard in the second half. Maybe he needs a Snickers.

Luka Dončić had a parting gift for Jalen Brunson before the pair of former Mavericks teammates walked off the Garden court Sunday night.

As Knicks and Lakers players embraced following the Knicks’ 112-100 victory, Dončić flashed his middle finger after the star point guard finished another postgame exchange and walked over.

Dončić appeared to be joking with the gesture, as Brunson appeared to crack a smile as he got closer.

Luka Doncic shows Jalen Brunson the middle finger at the end of the Knicks-Lakers game pic.twitter.com/7JDMB1QYuW

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) February 2, 2026

Brunson and Dončić’s paths intersected back in 2018, when the former was selected at No. 33 overall in the second round and the latter was taken No. 3 overall by the Hawks — before getting shipped to Dallas in a trade that night.

They then overlapped for four seasons before the Mavericks allowed Brunson to walk in free agency and sign with the Knicks, where he has since become their captain and one of the league’s best players.

That left Dončić as the cornerstone in Dallas for the next two-plus seasons, until the Mavericks stunningly sent him to the Lakers last season — a deal that has since backfired for them and led to general manager Nico Harrison being fired.

“Definitely weird,” Brunson told reporters postgame when asked about seeing Dončić in a Lakers jersey. “I think we all expected him to be in Dallas for the longest time. But yeah now he’s a Laker and he’s playing great and still doing the things he does.”

Brunson and Dončić both played integral roles in the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference finals in 2022, where they were eliminated by the Warriors in five games before Brunson’s pivotal decision in free agency followed.

When they overlapped at the Garden on Sunday, Dončić, who’s averaging 33.7 points per game and could win the MVP award if he maintains that production pace, poured in 30 points for Los Angeles, while Brunson struggled by going 4-for-15 from the field — though he managed to dish out 13 assists, allowing the Knicks’ role players to flourish.

The victory extended the Knicks’ winning streak to six games, and the Lakers have dropped two of their last three entering Tuesday’s match against the tanking Nets.

The Indiana Pacers have won three straight games at five of their last six at home. That includes wins over the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and New Orleans Pelicans (a team Houston has struggled with this season). Oh, and in the midst of all that they went into Oklahoma City and beat the Thunder.

We’re at the point of the year where teams are outright tanking. Even the teams that know that it’s in their best interest to be bad are trying to learn what they have while remaining competitive. As the better teams look to the All-Star break as an opportunity to rest and recover, teams at the bottom of the standings see wounded contenders ready to be taken down. Then, after the All-Star break, they can have conversations with their veterans that go along the lines of “Do you really want us to play you 30 minutes a night, or would you rather save your legs and extend your career by another season?” Right now, the Pacers are trying to show proof of concept to their fans and the league. Next season, armed with a lottery pick and a returning Tyrese Haliburton, they’ll look to make a run at the Eastern Conference title once again.

And in case you’d forgotten, there are some good players still playing in Indiana. Pascal Siakam is one of the most well-rounded players in the league. Jarace Walker, the former Cougar, always has something extra for Houston. Aaron Nesmith showed last season that he’s a bona fide 3-and-D guy. Jay Huff loves to reverse dunk. Benedict Mathurin is a microwave scorer off the bench. T.J. McConnell is their version of “the guy you hate unless he’s on your team,” except McConnell is actually fun to watch. And of course I’ll save Andrew Nembhard for last. He just dropped 26p/10a/6r against the Hawks in anticipation of Gonzaga’s big with over St. Mary’s on Saturday. He’s a starting-caliber point guard and it’s going to be interesting if they see the duo of him and Haliburton being able to play together long term or if they look to move Nembhard in an attempt to replace some of what they lost in Myles Turner.

Tip-off

6pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Pacers

Obi Toppin: OUT

Tyrese Haliburton: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Wednesday night at home against the Boston Celtics

Michael Porter Jr. got snubbed.

The Nets forward had called making his first All-Star Game a dream, and he had a great case amid a career year.

But he was one of the most glaring omissions on Sunday, not included among the seven Eastern Conference reserves.

Porter — who sat out the Nets game at Detroit on Sunday — is averaging 25.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game along with 3.8 3-pointers, all career highs.

He joined Lakers star Luka Doncic as the only players in the NBA averaging 25 points, seven boards and three 3s, but that didn’t get him an invitation to the Feb. 15 All-Star Game in L.A.

“It definitely would be a dream come true,” Porter had said in December. “It was in my mind as a kid to make the NBA, but not only be in the NBA but be one of the best players in the NBA. And an All-Star selection shows that progress.”

That progress is undeniable, even if Porter has been spurned — for now. It’s possible he’ll be named later as an injury replacement.

“He’s playing at an All-Star level. If you like watching basketball, I’m pretty sure you’ll like watching Michael play,” said Jordi Fernandez.

The East nods went to Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren and Pascal Siakam.

The latter plays for an Indiana team that was just 13-36, a game worse than tanking Brooklyn’s 13-34 mark entering Sunday.

The reserves are picked by the coaches, who usually favor team success; but with Siakam getting the nod over Porter, win-loss record wasn’t the whole story.

On a rebuilding Nets team with five rookies, Porter has had to play a different role and face different challenges in this career-best year.

“Now I’m the leader on the team, and I’m helping to lead young guys, 19-, 20-, 21-year-olds and teach them about winning, winning habits, winning culture, a lot that I learned from my time in Denver,” Porter said Thursday. “Now I’m going to be able to share that with young guys, young talented players who will be in the NBA longer than I will. So that’s pretty cool, I think.”

Porter could conceivably still be named to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was voted in as a starter.

“Just look at what we look like when he’s on the court vs. when he’s not on the court,” Nic Claxton added recently. “He does so much: He creates so many opportunities for himself, for teammates. His averages are off the charts. So he definitely should be an All-Star.”

Porter missed his second straight game Sunday in Detroit, but unlike Antetokounmpo, he wasn’t hurt.

He was out for personal reasons.

But with Porter having his name bandied about in various trade rumors — and the trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. — this did not signify his exit.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND NETS STATS

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His grandmother recently passed away, and after playing Thursday against the Nuggets, Porter missed the games Friday in Utah and Sunday in Detroit.

Porter — who’d been dealing with a sore knee — bounced back from a season-low nine points on 3-for-11 shooting in the Jan. 25 loss at the Clippers to start this five-game road trek with his two best performances as a Net.

The veteran forward had 36 points last Tuesday in Phoenix on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range.

Then Porter followed up with 38 points — one shy of his career high — on 7-for-15 from deep in Thursday’s return to Denver.

It remains to be seen if Porter rejoins the Nets for Tuesday night’s game against the visiting Lakers at Barclays Center.

It’s also unclear if he’ll be an injury replacement for Antetokounmpo on Feb. 15, or if he’ll even be in Brooklyn past Thursday.

But more and more, league executives expect Porter to be a Net.

Now, will the league see fit to make him an All-Star?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the win column. They knocked down the Portland Trail Blazers behind a monster game from Jarrett Allen.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

14 points, 9 assists, 0 rebounds, 2 steals

You rarely see a game flow away from the team’s best player. But Portland clearly didn’t want Mitchell to break free—and Mitchell had no interest in pressing the issue. He drew a crowd and let his teammates do the rest all night.

Grade: B+

Jarrett Allen

40 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks

This was the best game of Allen’s career. Even before he set a new career-high with 40 points, Allen was doing everything you could dream of. Rolling hard to the rim, catching and pirouetting for layups. Dream shaking his defenders out of their shoes. And all the while, cleaning the glass and blocking shots.

This is the type of performance that gets you a pass for the foreseeable future. Allen has to play a few stinkers before anyone can say anything bad about him again.

Oh, by the way, did I mention this stat line has never been recorded in under 30 minutes before?

Grade: A+++

Jaylon Tyson

18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists

It would have been easy to miss Tyson tonight. A few of his teammates stole the show. But even though it was quiet, 18 points on 4-4 three-point shooting is the type of stuff I don’t want to take for granted.

Grade: A+

Sam Merrill

22 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds

Merrill did his thing. His barrage of three-pointers gave Cleveland its biggest lead of the night, and he was great at using the space created by Mitchell to punish Portland’s defense.

Grade: A+

Thomas Bryant

10 points, 1 rebound

Another solid showing from Cleveland’s third-string big. Nothing crazy, but a reliable presence.

Grade: B-

Dean Wade

6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

Wade was a team-high plus-32 tonight. Being a good defender who can hit a pair of triples goes a long way.

Grade: A-

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal

I appreciate that Tomlin has never backed away from a scuffle. Sometimes we can overstate the value of mental toughness. At the same time, being fearless is part of the job. It’s something you can’t fake. Tomlin has this in spades.

Grade: B–

Lonzo Ball

3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Ball hit a three-pointer tonight. He was also a minus-10 in a game the Cavs won by 19 points.

So, yeah.

Grade: D+

Craig Porter Jr.

3 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks

Porter might record a 5×5 one day. That’s crazy for an undrafted 6’1” guard.

That said, he probably won’t get many opportunities once Darius Garland, Max Strus, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis are available. So let’s give Craig his flowers now.

I’ve really enjoyed watching Porter dish the ball this season. He has serious limitations as a non-shooter, but man, can he get downhill and sling the rock.

Grade: A+

The final game of a five-game homestand for the Suns results in a 117–93 win for the Clippers. It was a clear-cut loss for the Suns, who were outplayed in every key area of the game. Despite a solid start and coherent defense on Kawhi Leonard, Phoenix never managed to contain Los Angeles’ interior dominance. Ivica Zubac ruled the paint with a massive double-double (14 points, 20 rebounds), and the Clippers scored 64 points in that zone, compared to just 18 for the Suns.

The Suns’ game plan held up for a while: pace, outside shooting (41% from three on 46 attempts), some steals, and a real intent to disrupt the Clippers’ offense. But too many fouls (26 fouls and 34 free throws conceded), too few rebounds (82 to 41 for L.A.), and a painful lack of offensive variety (9% on short midrange, 22% on long midrange) ended up sealing their fate.

Grayson Allen (23 points, 8 assists) and Dillon Brooks (22 points) tried to keep Phoenix afloat, but Ty Lue’s adjustments and the Clippers’ physical density made the difference. A game that exposes Phoenix’s structural flaws: a paint presence that’s too soft, a free-throw battle that never tilts in their favor, and an inability to flip the momentum when the initial plan falls short.

Game Flow

First Half

The Suns start the game with control: Kawhi is well contained, passing lanes to Zubac are cut off, and on the other end, Phoenix sticks to its identity, firing from deep (3/7). The game is simple, efficient, but still imperfect. Ott calls the first timeout after six minutes.

Ten minutes in, the plan is still working: Kawhi is held to 33% on contested shots, and Zubac barely touches the ball. The Clippers’ main duo is neutralized, but that focus leaves too much room for the supporting cast. Collins and Sanders take advantage, already combining for 11 points with two minutes left in the quarter.

The Zubac–Lopez duo hurts Phoenix in the final possessions: Dunn, Bouyea, and Oso all crash into the two giants, while the Clippers execute a clean interior play on the other end. After 12 minutes, L.A. leads 24–20 in a game that’s enjoyable to watch.

The Suns’ defense keeps bothering the Clippers, already 7 turnovers forced. Yet Phoenix trails, mostly due to poor shooting (27%). Nothing alarming, the looks are good, but the finishing needs to be cleaner.

Meanwhile, the Clippers keep attacking the paint, and Phoenix doesn’t like it: 4/5 in that zone, free throws drawn (classic Kawhi tax), and a 15–2 run in four minutes that forces Ott to stop the bleeding.

Phoenix responds by bringing more presence in the paint and intensity on the boards to limit the Clippers’ game plan. They cut the lead to four, but fouls remain a heavy burden: Kawhi has already taken 9 free throws in the first half, 13 for the team overall.

Two minutes before halftime, the Suns finally tied the game thanks to threes and steals. Since they’re giving up free throws, they try to create extra possessions in transition and score higher-value baskets. Basketball is just math, after all.

Phoenix finishes the half well but still trails (49–43). They’ve closed the paint and improved their shooting, but two major issues remain: too many fouls and a rebounding gap heavily favoring the Clippers (40 to 22). A stat that perfectly reflects Phoenix’s struggles in the paint — 36 of L.A.’s 49 points came from that zone.

Second Half

In continuity with the first half, the Clippers keep dominating the paint, and the Suns still can’t slow them down. L.A. even adds some variety with outside shooting, keeping the lead at 68–61 with six minutes left in the quarter.

A rare sight this season: Phoenix is more efficient from three than from two, compared to league averages. The Suns shoot 43% from deep, but only 55% in the paint and a miserable 12% from midrange. A statistical anomaly that sums up their struggles in the short game.

Heading into the fourth, the Clippers still hold a nine-point cushion (78–69). Zubac already has a monster double-double (11 points, 16 rebounds), Kawhi rolls with 21 points despite decent defense, but too many fouls. The role players are locked in too, and Ty Lue’s adjustments sting: the lead grows logically to +14 (85–71).

Like a summary of the game, the final quarter starts…at the free throw line. The Clippers are already at their 27th and 28th attempts, while Phoenix has only earned 12. No complaints about the refs. The fouls are real, and they hurt.

As the minutes tick by, things look worse and worse for the Suns. The deficit balloons to 21, and Sundays start to feel like déjà vu. At this point, it’s hard not to believe in a Sunday curse.

Mark Williams gets ejected for six fouls with six minutes left, a perfect symbol of his team’s night: too much contact, too much delay, too much frustration. And that’s exactly what kills any chance of a comeback.

Garbage time lets rookies Maluach and Fleming get some run, but the game is long gone. The Suns lost for the second straight Sunday, 117–93. A tough but fair defeat: too many fouls, too little resistance in the paint, and too much waste in the short game. A night where Phoenix’s structural weaknesses were laid bare.

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Up Next

After this frustrating home loss, the Suns will try to bounce back against the Blazers in two days. It’s not a panic moment, but this one could’ve helped solidify their case for the 6th seed in the West.

The Spurs wrestled away the lead from Orlando from the first seconds of the second half and its highly regarded veterans received great support from their young guards in triumph this evening. San Antonio rode an assertiveness advantage on the boards (48-34) and the free throw line (31-15) to prevent any late Magic comeback from happening.

An energized San Antonio squad shot well from the field (67%) and mauled the visiting Magic (16-5 rebounds) and from the stripe (7-0) early on to secure a first quarter lead. Orlando flipped the early game script with a 40-23 second quarter to surprisingly take a lead going into the half, but was unable to hold onto it as the Spurs methodically executed better on both ends after the break.

San Antonio’s DeAaron Fox (14 points and 10 assists) and Dylan Harper (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) more than capably made up for Castle’s absence, while Victor Wembanyama (25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 steals) had the closest thing to a ‘ho-hum’ superstar statline. Keldon Johnson (14 points and 19 rebounds) had another solid effort to bolster his 6th Man of the Year campaign.

Off-season acquisition Desmond Bane (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Paolo Banchero (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) carried Orlando over the final three periods. The Magic bench that was crucial in their first half comeback – including Mo Wagner (8 points) , Jonathan Isaac’s (7 points), and Tristan DeSilva (7 points) – were not heard from after halftime.

The Spurs took advantage of the five hour delay in tipoff with a 7-for-8 start, including two quick buckets apiece from Wembanyama, Vassell, and Fox. The only noticeable misses were two Harrison Barnes free throws as San Antonio put up 21 points over the first half of the stanza. Orlando could not put up much resistance outside of threes from Bane and Wagner. Wembanyama (8), Fox (10), and Johnson (6) outscored the Magic (21) in an opening frame ended with Spurs up 16.

The Magic ratcheted up their intensity on both ends and erased that comfortable Spurs lead in only two minutes to start the second, with their bench diong the bulk of the damage, including a Tristan DaSilva three ending an 11-0 run. The teams stayed within one possession of each other, with Harper being the primary offense in a rough San Antonio patch. Banchero, emboldened by his teammates’ production, got into double digits scoring and the Magic went to the break up 61-60.

The Spurs pieced together a 10-2 run coming out of the break. They, more importantly, forced two visible turnovers and rattled the Magic execution in general. Unlike the powerhouse production of the first two quarters, the teams put up a combined 21 points in 7+ minutes of action. Banchero and Bane provided the bulk of the production throughout the third, while San Antonio spread out its points more evenly. When it looked like San Antonio might pull away again, the Magic bench helped keep things close for the visitors. Bane’s and-1 brought Orlando to within five. The Spurs leveraged their decided free throw advantage to leave the third up 86-79.

Observations

• Late in the first quarter, Carter Bryant hounded Anthony Black from the endline and forced a turnover on the Magic guard. Those close misses right at the rim are so tantalizing….His catch-and-shoot three in the fourth helped push the Spurs lead to ten.
• Rookie Sequence of the Game: Partway through the fourth, Harper had an iso for much of the shot clock, drew two Magic defenders to him on the right baseline, and fed Carter, filling the empty space in the paint, threw down a monstrous dunk.
• Banchero doesn’t seem to have that ‘it’ factor right now despite the big stats.
• It’s encouraging to see Harper get deeper into the paint on his drives. It seemed like he was stopping a few steps short in recent gamers.
• Having just one all-star will get the younger Spurs a good number of days off during the upcoming break. (fingers crossed)
• The referees must have confused Wembanyama with Giannis, as they whistled him for a 10-second violation on his second free throw attempt in the waning moments.
• As another Harrison Barnes jumper doinked off the rim, former Magic forward Jeff Turner quipped “he’s missed from both sides.”
• Banchero’s late first-half miss became a behind-the-backboard wedgie (I don’t know what you call this when the ball gets stuck in that part between the backboard and the shot clock).
• Pinstripe unis need to make a comeback.
• Sequence of the Game #1: As part of an opening 10-2 Spurs run in the the third, Fox came off a curl and gifted Wembanyama a lob dunk. At the other end, Wembaynama swatted away a Jalen Suggs floater.
• Sequence of the Game #2:. On a delayed fastbreak late in the third, Harper ran out of real estate deep on the right baseline and still managed to convert a reverse lay-up around two Orlando bigs.

Game Rundown

San Antonio connected on its first four attempts – including two Wembanyama gimmes from point-blank range – and the team seemed no worse for the wear from their travel adventures. Vassell’s second straight make put the Spurs up 16-7 and capped a 7-for-8 start. Julian Champagnie’s second field goal put San Antonio up 12. Wagner’s two triples prevented an immediate blowout, but Johnson’s rim attacks pushed the Magic deficit out to 15. The Spurs left a well-played first quarter up 37-21.

Orlando steadied itself with a stunning 13-0 run to start the second. DaSilva paired a three with a floater to help the Magic shave that big deficit to two. After Wembanyama blocked his fast break attempt, Black hit a corner three to tie things at 43. Black’s next three put the Magic ahead. Harper salvaged what could have been an even more disastrous quarter for San Antonio with an excellent shotmaking display. Champagnie’s catch-and-shoot three put the Spurs back out front, but an out-of-bounds call on Banchero was challenged and overturned and the forward hit both freebies. After some frenetic back-and-forth scoring sequences, one point separated them at halftime.

The Spurs forced a turnover on Orlando’s first possession and Champagnie’s free throws put them back up. The teams had trouble hitting shots from distance before Vassell’s baseline fadeaway. Moments later, San Antonio forced a shotclock violation – DE-FENSE! Bane’s consecutive scores brought the Magic within three. Upon Harper’s re-insertion he found Vassell in the left corner for a three-point swish. Banchero’s and-1 made it a one-possession game again. Bane was whistled for a Flagrant 1 foul for an elbow to Wembanyama’s torso. San Antonio did just enough of the right things to leave the quarter up seven.

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For the Magic fan’s perspective, please visit Orlando Magic Daily

San Antonio has its final regular season matchup with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night at 8:30 PM CDT on ESPN.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Portland Trail Blazers behind the best game of Jarrett Allen’s career.

WINNER – Jarrett Allen

Last game, I gave Allen a WINNER for his dominant first half—a first half that never translated to anything in the second as the Cavs let the Suns pull away from them. I’m glad to say I can give him a proper WINNER for a complete performance this time.

Allen was dominant start to finish. Portland had no reprieve as he ran the floor and finished every opportunity in sight. He was too fast for Donovan Clingan—and too big for anyone else on the court. Allen had 25 points and 10 rebounds at halftime and felt little resistance for the rest of the game.

It wasn’t just transition dunks or dump-off layups. Allen put on a show with his spin moves and crafty finishes. He even unleashed a textbook dream shake in the third quarter

It was so nasty https://t.co/84h8fnKUJVpic.twitter.com/Tr0xae9ZMA

— Dylan🔮🎆 (@dillybar2145__) February 2, 2026

Allen finished with a career-high 40 points to go with 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. That’s a statline that’s never been done before in under 30 minutes.

Jarrett Allen with 40 points, 16 boards, 5 assists and 4 blocks. And he's the ONLY GUY IN NBA HISTORY to do it in less than 30 minutes.

Log off the trade machine. I'm placing you all on a 24-hour embargo.

— Fear the 'Fro: A Cleveland Cavs Podcast (@FeartheFroPod) February 2, 2026

WINNER – Jarrett Allen (again)

Yeah, that’s right. We’re making history with the first-ever double WINNER.

While Allen’s performance tonight was special, I wanted to take an extra second to appreciate what goes into a game like this. Because the Cavs roster construction isn’t built in a way that benefits someone like Allen. At least, not traditionally.

NBA teams typically build around one rim-running big, not two. Being paired with Mobley could have been a deal breaker for Allen. Or a major hindrance to his production. But it hasn’t been. Allen has consistently shown up to do his job (save for a playoff series in 2023) and has always stepped up when Mobley is out. Tonight is another example of this.

For as much as we talk about Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, it remains great that the Cavs have an option like Allen, who can deliver performances like this throughout the season.

Most teams aren’t able to lean on their fourth-best player in the way Cleveland can. And, most players of Allen’s caliber aren’t willing to be the fourth rung on the ladder. Yet he’s never once complained, made excuses, or succumbed to the rampant online criticism. Allen has always been unapologetically himself, and that’s worthy of my respect.

WINNER – Craig Porter Jr. and Sam Merrill

Let’s just lump these two together.

Porter dished out 12 assists in 27 minutes tonight. He’s provided a huge boost of playmaking off the bench with Darius Garland on the sidelines. He’ll never be a volume scorer, but Porter has found a way to stuff the stat sheet and flirt with a 5×5 multiple times this season. He had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks to go with his 12 assists. Truly a unique player in today’s NBA.

As for Merrill, this is the type of game that has become familiar. Merrill hit on 6-of-8 three-point attempts, pouring in 22 points in 29 minutes. He was Cleveland’s second leading scorer and helped blow this game open in the third quarter.

The Cavs need players to step up during this road trip. Big-time performances from Craig and Sam go a long way to stacking wins.

The Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a poor showing against the Phoenix Suns on Friday by taking it to the Portland Trail Blazers with a 130-111 victory. Jarrett Allen’s 40-point performance led the way.

Allen was simply the best player on the court in what was the most impressive game of his entire career. Portland had absolutely no hope of stopping him inside, as he continually found creative ways to get to the basket. Poor Donovan Clingan didn’t have a chance of slowing Allen. He put up as much resistance as possible, which honestly wasn’t much at the end of the day.

This all led to a career-high 40 points on 16-23 shooting to go along with five assists.

Allen wasn’t just the best offensive player, he was also the best on the other end as well. Allen controlled the paint defensively as he came down with 17 rebounds, registered four blocks, and even threw in two steals for good measure.

It was a completely dominant performance from Allen.

Aside from Allen’s impressive showing, it was an overall weird game. The Cavs were without Evan Mobley (calf) and Darius Garland (foot) while the Blazers had to play without Deni Avdija (back), Scoot Henderson (hamstring), and Jrue Holiday (personal). Combine that with the fact that both teams just made trades and are in a position to make more, and it’s easy to see how you could get an odd showing.

This led to a somewhat disjointed first half for both teams, with the Cavs taking a nine-point advantage into the break thanks to Allen’s 25 first-half points.

The Cavs then broke things open in the third quarter. They won that frame 41-30 largely due to going 6-11 from three. Sam Merrill contributed two of those triples on a night he had it going from the outside.

The Trail Blazers fought back from what was a 24-point fourth-quarter deficit at one point. They cut the lead down to 10, forcing Cleveland to keep their starters in for most of the evening, but weren’t able to really make things interesting down the stretch.

Merrill seemingly couldn’t miss from beyond the arc. He went 6-8 from three en route to a 22-point performance.

Jaylon Tyson had another solid showing, despite the four turnovers. He went 7-12 from the field with 18 points on 4-4 shooting from deep to go along with six assists.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t have it going as a scorer, but he did a good job of setting up his teammates. He provided nine assists. Mitchell finished with 14 points on 6-15 shooting.

Craig Porter Jr. supplied a game-high 12 assists in the victory.

The Blazers were led by 21 points from Caleb Love. Shaedon Sharpe provided 20 points in the loss.

The Cavs have now won six of their last seven, nine of their last 12, and 13 of their last 18 games.

Cleveland’s Western Conference road trip will continue as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Tip-off is at 10:30 PM.

The Lakers’ third-quarter struggles have returned. During the early parts of the season, they were getting dominated by opponents after halftime, and that’s been an ongoing trend during LA’s current road trip.

The Cavs outscored the Lakers by 20 in the third en route to a dominant win over the purple and gold, and on Sunday, LA went from a four-point lead to an eight-point deficit thanks to another bad second half start.

So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

35 minutes, 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 9-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-6 FT, -17

If this was LeBron’s last game in Madison Square Garden, it was a bit of a letdown. He had a nice dunk and shot a respectable 9-15 from the field, but his defense was poor and hurt LA during their attempt at a late rally.

Grade: C+

Jake LaRavia

23 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 2-7 FG, 1-6 3PT, -19

There was once a case for LaRavia to be LA’s fifth starter, but I just don’t see it now. He is far too inconsistent a scorer.

Grade: D

Deandre Ayton

32 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 fouls, 6-6 FG, 1-1 FT, -12

Ayton had an okay game. He took advantage of his scoring opportunities, but ideally, he would’ve grabbed some more rebounds, especially considering that LA lost the rebounding battle by 10.

Grade: C

Marcus Smart

30 minutes, 7 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-9 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, -19

Smart had some nice defensive plays, diving for loose balls and forcing shot clock violations, but he also called his own number on offense far too many times.

Overall, it’s what you’ve come to expect from the Smart experience in Los Angeles.

Grade: B

Luka Dončić

37 minutes, 30 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 10-23 FG, 5-14 3PT, 5-6 FT, -13

Whether it was talking smack to Spike Lee, making free throws, or grabbing boards, Luka was his All-Star self in New York.

That also includes being a defensive liability and getting picked on by the Knicks, especially during the second half. Luka didn’t get destroyed in those moments, but he didn’t necessarily shine either.

Grade: B-

Gabe Vincent

18 minutes, 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-5 FG, 2-4 3PT, +7

Vincent was fine in this game. He played for a couple of shifts, knocked down some shots and ended the night as a positive scorer off the bench.

Grade: B

Jaxson Hayes

12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 1-2 FG, +2

With as many fouls as he had points, Hayes had little impact on the outcome of this game.

Grade: C-

Rui Hachimura

29 minutes, 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 5-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, -1

Hachimura missed many good looks from deep against the Knicks. Making a few of those could’ve been the difference in this one.

Grade: C

Jarred Vanderbilt

20 minutes, 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, +8

The best play Vando had was drawing a foul call on Karl-Anthony Towns when he was trying to grab a rebound. His defense wasn’t noteworthy and his offense was bad.

Grade: C

Drew Timme, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr.

This quartet only played during the final minute of the game, so they will not be graded.

JJ Redick

Redick shrank his bench and went with a nine-man rotation. It went fine, but yet again, the second half adjustments didn’t work.

The Lakers’ zone was getting sliced up and when they just switched, the results weren’t much better. It’s hard to judge how much of their faults are coaching over roster construction, but Redick does have to take some blame for LA often losing to top teams in the NBA.

Grade: C-

Sunday’s inactives: Austin Reaves, Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon, Bronny James

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The NBA trading deadline is upon us.

It was a quiet leadup to the final days before the Thursday, Feb. 5 deadline at 3 p.m. ET, with only one trade in the months of October, November, December and January. Compare that to last season, when there were five over that span.

Much of the league is watching the developments in Milwaukee concerning Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks, though action has started to pick up in recent days.

Keep track of every single trade executed during 2025-26 season below:

2025-26 NBA trade tracker

Hawks move on from Vít Krejčí (Feb. 1)

Portland Trail Blazers receive

• Vít Krejčí

Atlanta Hawks receive

• Duop Reath
• 2027 second-round pick (via Hawks)
• 2030 second-round pick (via Knicks)

Cavaliers move on from De’Andre Hunter (Feb. 1)

Sacramento Kings receive

• De’Andre Hunter (from Cavaliers)

Cleveland Cavaliers receive

• Keon Ellis (from Kings)
• Dennis Schröder (from Kings)
• Emanuel Miller (from Bulls)

Chicago Bulls receive

• Dario Šarić (from Kings)
• 2027 second-round pick (via Nuggets)
• 2029 second-round pick (via Kings)

➤ Trade details

Hawks move on from Trae Young (Jan. 9)

Washington Wizards receive

• Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks receive

• CJ McCollum
• Corey Kispert

➤ Trade details | Winners and losers

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade deadline: Tracking every deal during 2025-26 season

BOSTON — In the team’s final home game before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, Celtics guard Anfernee Simons helped emphasize his case to remain with the Celtics.

The biggest question surrounding Boston, and Simons in particular, is straightforward: Will he stay? That uncertainty has hovered over his head ever since the Celtics acquired him in the Jrue Holiday-Trail Blazers offseason trade. Simons joined the stripped-down version of the team’s championship-aspiring roster, unaware of what the season would hold. Would the Celtics contend or tank? Would Simons start or come off the bench? Would Simons make it past the deadline still a member of the team?

So far, two of those questions have been answered. Boston’s 107-79 win over Milwaukee improved the team’s record to 31-18, putting them ½ a game ahead of the Knicks for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Simons has logged all 48 of his Celtics appearances off the bench, leaving the final question unanswered.

In the first quarter against the Bucks, Simons got ahead in leaving his imprint in what otherwise would be his last game in Boston with the Celtics. He provided an immediate offensive spark, scoring 11 points, knocking down four of his first six shots to help set the tone in what amounted to a blowout victory to conclude a four-game homestand.

“That’s kind of been his role, and he’s done a great job buying into it, really on both ends of the floor,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Just to have another guy that could take pressure off the others, and score seamlessly, whether it’s catch-and-shoot shots, whether it’s off the dribble, whether it’s driving to the basket, he’s played his role for us tremendously, and he’s just another guy that makes us better.”

Simons used his speed to create separation from Milwaukee’s defenders, giving him enough room to launch his trademark step-back threes. In the final offensive possession of the first quarter, Simons resorted to the move with Amir Coffey defending and drained a buzzer-beating 28-footer to close out the frame.

“That was big for us,” Mazzulla mentioned.

The ability to provide starter-level production while coming off the bench has made Simons a vital component of the team. He accepted the role that awaited him in Boston and didn’t waver. In the six months since being traded from Portland, Simons hasn’t once allowed trade speculation to consume him. He’s been a consummate professional throughout — accepting his role, giving the team what it needs when it needs it, and even adjusting during stretches when the team would prefer he rein it in.

“They get pissed off at me when I shoot the ball sometimes, but I like to feel the game out,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like it’s the right shot. It might not be the right shot other times. They’re just trying to give me the ultimate confidence to be myself — to go out there and play.”

Simons finished with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding three rebounds and an assist. He drilled six 3-pointers and drew an ovation from the Boston crowd as he checked out in the fourth quarter — an acknowledgment that Simons might not return with the team after its upcoming two-game road trip.

“It’s cool to go out there and see what the game needs and also impact the win in that way,” Simons said.

Offensively, he’s been everything the Celtics have needed.

Simons ranks third on the team at 2.6 made 3-pointers per game, narrowly trailing leader Derrick White (2.8). He has emerged as one of the league’s most elite bench scorers, ranking third in bench points behind only Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez Jr., making him a sneaky Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Just as important, Simons has shown tangible defensive growth, quieting the long-standing questions that followed him from Portland about his commitment on that end of the floor.

But as great as Simons has been, nothing is ever concrete in the NBA — and that includes his future in Boston.

Knowing this, Mazzulla has taken a proactive approach to maintaining constant communication with his players — giving them space to feel heard, gauging where their heads are at, and offering whatever support he can to ease the mental strain that the approaching trade deadline creates for anyone caught up in rumors.

“I talk to them every day,” Mazzulla said pregame. “Depending on where guys are at, what that conversation looks like. I try to communicate with the guys every day, and whatever needs to be said or had or listened to is what we need to do at that particular time.”

In Simons’ mind, the Boston experience has given him everything he could have envisioned, no matter how it ends.

“Yeah, for sure,” Simons said. “Just an opportunity to go out there and showcase what I can do.”

The Utah Jazz lost 107-100 in Toronto, it was competitive all night, but Utah just couldn’t catch a rhythm from deep and had too many sloppy possessions that the Raptors turned into easy points. The Jazz stayed within striking distance all night and had their chances late, but never quite found enough consistent offense to pull it out. Lauri Markkanen and Isaiah Collier carried a lot of the scoring, but the rest of the team didn’t provide enough to pull it out.

Lauri Markkanen — A

Lauri was really good tonight. 27 points, 7 rebounds. The shot wasn’t particularly efficient, but he kept us in it and stayed aggressive. When he plays he keeps us competitive. He also had a sweet block that led to a sick self lob off the glass dunk, don’t see that everyday.

Isaiah Collier — A-

Really liked what I saw from him tonight. Played under control, attacked the paint, and set guys up for easy buckets. 19 points, 7 assists, 8 of 10 from the line. This was a great bounce back game for him, he’s really been struggling as of late. Good to see some life out of him.

Jusuf Nurkic — C+

Solid night with 11 points, 13 rebounds. Great on the boards, but a few costly turnovers and missed layups kept this from being a standout game. Just a solid Nurk night.

Cody Williams — B+

Very nice night for Cody. 10 points and played strong defense. I thought he played the best defense on Brandon Ingram tonight and at times shut him down. Cody continues to get better and is becoming a really nice rotation player for the Jazz.

Ace Bailey — C-

Ace struggled with his shot tonight going 1 of 10 shootingfor 4 points. The bright spot for him to night was his 10 rebounds and the effort he puts on defense. Even though he didn’t shoot well he continued to affect the games in other areas and be affective that way.

Svi Mykhailiuk — B-

Hit some timely shots and helped spread the floor. 8 points and hit 2 threes. Had a couple bad turnovers, but besides that just a normal night from Svi.

Walter Clayton Jr. — C

Made some plays in his minutes but continues to struggle with on ball pressure and shooting from three. When he was able to break the pressure he played with pace and had some nice passes. I would like him to seek his own shot out more and shoot it with confidence. He end with 7 points and 2 assists.

Brice Sensabaugh — C

Quiet night for Brice. His handle continues to struggle with long on ball defenders, cause him to turn the ball over. When he can’t get to his spots and catch a rhythm he’s not very effective. Just 4 points for him tonight.

Kevin Love — C+

Solid vet presence. Struggled from three but made some smart passes and helps organize the young guys. 4 points, 5 boards.

Kyle Filipowpski — B-

Really solid in his limited minutes tonight. Showed physicality and effort. Only played 9 minutes, but 6 points, 6 rebounds. Surprised he didn’t get more time.

Overall Takeaway:

The Jazz battled hard and kept this game competitive, which is all you can ask for this season. Sloppy possessions late cost them the game. Up next on this long road trip, Utah will play the Indiana PacersonTuesday, Feb. 3 at 5:00 PM MST.