Category: NBA

In one of their most impressive wins of the season, which is saying a lot, the Spurs went into the den of the top team in the NBA and slayed the Detroit Pistons. After a quick start, it took some time for Victor Wembanyama to adjust to the physical play, but his teammates were able to use his gravity to score in all manners, and a great defensive game from the entire team held the Pistons in check for the gutsy 114-103 win.

All five Spurs starters scored in double figures, with Devin Vassell leading the way with 28 points on 7-11 from three, and Wemby had 21 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks (I swear he had more; I especially feel one or two were missed in the first quarter). Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and the Spurs held All-Star Cade Cunningham in check with just 16 points on 5-26 shooting.

Observations

• Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that games can be streamed on Peacock but not televised on NBC? I’m fortunate enough to already have all the random streaming services the NBA is using this season, along with cable and League Pass, but I completely understand the frustration of those who don’t. KENS 5 if you don’t have cable in SA or LP outside of SA? No luck. NBA TV so LP is blacked out and you don’t have an advanced cable package? Out of luck. This is crazy.
• One of the keys to this game was for the Spurs to hit their threes, and Vassell did just that early, hitting his first three to get the Spurs up 9-2, and Wemby one after Cunningham shoved him to the floor to get out to a 14-2 lead. Unfortunately, they were shooting airballs the rest of the first quarter until a Julian Champagnie three before the buzzer.
• On the other hand the key to the game for the Pistons was the same tried-and-true method that has been successful for other teams: get physical with Wemby to make him uncomfortable, and they finally did that after the initial Spurs surge by grabbing and holding him, with the idea being that the refs can’t call everything. News flash, they didn’t. Soon, the refs stopped blowing their whistles, and just like that the Pistons were up 18-16 and 27-24 at the end of the quarter.
• Luke Kornet came in for one minute in the first quarter before Wemby came right back in for him, and the Spurs started the second quarter with a center-less lineup with Kornet nowhere to be seen. Reports said he got kneed in the leg and the Spurs were hopeful the swelling would go down by the second half. He did return, albeit with a knee cover for protection.
• The refs were letting a lot of contact go in the first half, especially for Detroit. That made it all the more annoying when they called three quick phantom fouls on Carter Bryant early in the second quarter. Even more annoying was how much the announcers were saying they liked no-calls when the Pistons got away with blatant fouls, but they had nothing to say about calls on the Spurs that truly should have been no-calls.
• Wemby looked a little overwhelmed on offense for much of the first half, but it was how he responded to it that dictated how the Spurs offense went. When he tried to do everything himself, he struggled, with just 7 points on 2-9 shooting, poor shot selection and misses at the rim. When he used his gravity to draw the defense in without forcing shots, his teammates benefited. Champagnie and Vassell combined for 30 points on 9-12 from three in the first half, and Stephon Castle found driving lanes. Somehow, despite it feeling like they were getting owned for long stretches (maybe it just feels that way when it’s Wemby), the Spurs were up 57-55 at the half.
• Cunningham had two dumb fouls in the first half, one for shoving Wemby to floor to make a statement early, and the and another late for a two-handed shove of Castle over nothing. As a result, he was playing with four fouls by early in the third quarter and five by early in the fourth, so he had to be more passive on defense. The Spurs took advantage, with the guards continuing to attack him to get to the rim, gradually building their lead to as much as 11 and leading by 8 after a very long, drawn out third quarter. (It took 52 minutes, BTW.)
• Wemby finally seemed to have his role in this game figured out by the fourth quarter, which was dominate on defense while being a facilitator on offense. A flurry of blocks helped the Spurs start on a 7-0 run to get the lead to 15, and then they weathered one more Pistons storm with timely threes from Vassell, Champagnie and Keldon Johnson. It was a gutsy, impressive win that showed huge growth and an ability to adjust the game plan when Wemby is taken out of it offensively. The win gives the Spurs their first nine-game winning streak since March of 2019.

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Next up: at Toronto, 6:30 PM CT on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

As Lebron James walked out of the Lakers locker room and down the tunnel at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night, he ran into a familiar face, but not one from the world of basketball. 

Jayden Daniels — the Washington Commanders’ electric young quarterback and 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year — stood waiting to meetup with the King outside of the locker room. The Southern California native, Cajon High’s finest export, looked like he had met with his idol before and the two friends were saying hello again after a long layover. 

LeBron didn’t hesitate when he saw him. He beelined for Daniels and wrapped him in a hug that felt genuine, not staged.

The California Post captured the moment on video. It’s everywhere now.

LeBron James greets Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels after their loss to the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/rHJXytqV3z

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) February 23, 2026

After the embrace, Daniels asked if LeBron would snap a photo with his friend. “Whose phone?” the friend asked nervously.

“Whoever got the best phone,” LeBron shot back with a grin.

As they posed, Daniels’ friend shouted, “Take 20!” — a line every iPhone user understands on a spiritual level.

The internet, of course, did what it does. Some fans jokingly speculated the impending free agent might take his talents to Washington to reunite with Anthony Davis now that the Wizards could be building a contender after also trading for Trae Young. 

This showed me everything I need to know. Welcome to DC Bron pic.twitter.com/lVCixIZH2O

— Bo (@bgodthetruth) February 24, 2026

https://t.co/CBcvCFnJeppic.twitter.com/3lO5ulFABr

— kemba (@DeetoDC) February 23, 2026

Bron is coming to DC next year man https://t.co/uqmxpGdGJc

— (@Charmin_harmon1) February 24, 2026

jayden recruiting LBJ DC https://t.co/dZrNnIv2SQ

— Locked On Wizards (@lockedonwizards) February 23, 2026

One Wizards fan even imagined what the staring five would look like next season.

Trae
DP
LBJ
Sarr
AD

— Sink Or Swim feat. Rick Ross Out Now!! (@thelifeoflewcid) February 23, 2026

Others, protective of Daniels after an injury-marred 2025 season, were less charitable. “Get him away from Jayden!” one wrote. 

Get him away from Jayden! Don’t want Jayden ruined!

— Robert Woods (@rawoods24) February 23, 2026

Another called LeBron the “world’s greatest flop artist.” 

Why does Jayden associate himself with the world’s greatest flop artist.
LeBron has ZERO integrity and his constant embellishment and faking injuries have tainted the NBA forever.

— PhillyCraft (@Philly_Craft) February 23, 2026

One simply declared: “Aura almost blew my phone out of my hands.”

Aura almost blew my phone out my hands https://t.co/Xgaqr0uDtS

— David (@CoachDavid_) February 23, 2026

But mostly users loved the meetup and acknowledged it was two great players saying hello.

Two goats https://t.co/w2X0knW5bm

— brady (@burgermanders) February 23, 2026

And that’s the biggest takeaway from this video. That greatness recognizes greatness. A 41-year-old icon meeting a 24-year-old rising star. No tampering. No conspiracy. Just respect between two athletes playing at the highest level.

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The Wisconsin Herd weighs in as one of the worst teams in the G League. They boast a 7-16 record, good for second-worst in the Eastern Conference. They have no exciting rookie prospects, have virtually no chance of a playoff push, and sent no players to All-Star weekend. This weekly column will keep Bucks fans informed of their G League franchise’s recent results, the progress of their two-way players, and any news on the Herd that may impact the Bucks’ second-half season push.

This Week’s Games

After coming back from All-Star Weekend, the Herd dropped both of their games in a home back-to-back series against the Greensboro Swarm. The two losses dropped the Herd to 7-16 while extending their losing streak to seven games.

Greensboro Swarm 116, Wisconsin Herd 105

Pete Nance: DNP

Alex Antetokounmpo: 19 minutes, 3 points, 3 assists, 1/3 FG, -16

Cormac Ryan: 30 minutes, 17 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 6/14 FG, 3/8 3FG, 2 turnovers

The Herd reached six straight losses in a back-and-forth Friday loss to the 15-6 Greensboro Swarm. Although the Herd frequently looked outmatched, both physically and tactically, they put up a good fight, stringing together several scoring runs before the Swarm pulled away at the start of the fourth quarter. The home loss to the Swarm dropped the Herd to 7-15 on the season.

Nance missed the Herd’s back-to-back games to play in the Bucks’ Saturday win over the Pelicans. His future with the Herd is cloudy. Nance has found a comfortable spot in the Bucks’ rotation, and there are rumors that the Bucks could upgrade Nance to a standard NBA contract due to his consistent play. However, the Bucks front office would have to cut a player to make room for Nance’s new deal, and breakout wing Ousmane Dieng has eaten into Nance’s bench minutes. 

Friday offered a glimpse of Alex Antetokounmpo’s viability as a rotation player with the Bucks: namely, that there is none. The Bucks’ signing of The Greek Freak’s younger brother to a two-way deal is a way for the Bucks to deepen ties with their franchise player. Alex Antetokounmpo hasn’t shown any signs of making a difference. Antetokounmpo has struggled to find a foothold with the Herd. He averages 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and one assist per game coming off the bench, while posting .291/.226/.600 shooting splits. Friday was more of the same. Antetokounmpo struggled to adapt to the game’s tempo despite his lengthy build and size, and sulked to the bench in the game’s dying moments. Although the 25-year-old offers some untapped potential with the Herd, don’t expect Antetokounmpo to make any tangible impact on the Bucks’ second-half push.

Greensboro Swarm 129, Wisconsin Herd 104

Pete Nance: DNP

Alex Antetokounmpo: 20 minutes, 8 points, 2/6 FG, 2/5 3FG, -15

Johnny Davis: 27 minutes, 23 points, 4 rebounds,7/12 FG, 4/6 3FG, -5

The Herd was blown out against the Swarm on Saturday. They struggled against the Swarm’s bruising offensive style and couldn’t connect the dots on offense. The Swarm jumped out to an early first-quarter lead, and although the Herd defended well towards the end of the first half, the game ballooned out of reach in the second half. With Nance on duty for the Bucks’ Sunday loss to the Raptors, the Herd extended their losing streak to seven, putting them five games behind a playoff spot.

Alex Antetokounmpo got a little more burn in the Herd’s second game against the Swarm and played relatively well. He showed signs of becoming a threat from range, and his lengthy build helped him. He’s gritty, willing to make an extra pass, and like both of his brothers, exudes passion for the game. However, his instinct for the game and finesse remain lacking.

Cormac Ryan made his case to be the Bucks’ third two-way player as the deadline to sign players to two-way contracts (March 4th) looms. Ryan averaged 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, and three assists per game across the Herd’s two recent back-to-backs. Aside from Nance, who has only played six games for the Herd, Ryan leads the team in scoring and three-pointers made per game. Ryan offers consistent shooting, viable perimeter defense, and rotational flexibility that Milwaukee might want in its second-half playoff push.

Three Notes

Herd trades two-time All-Star Oladipo

The Herd traded two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to the Cleveland Charge in exchange for the returning player rights for Drake Jeffries and Jacob Gilyard, as well as 2026 G League second-round and international draft picks. Oladipo averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on .389/.329/.778 shooting splits in the regular season. For Oladipo, the Herd gain the rights of Jeffries, who most recently played with the Sheffield Sharks in the United Kingdom, and Gilyard, who averages over 12 points per game in France. The move is unlikely to shake up the Herd’s depth chart.

Bucks could soon decide on Nance’s standard contract

The Bucks have yet to convert Nance’s two-way deal into a standard NBA contract. Nance, who averages 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in the league, has steadily clawed out a rotational role with Milwaukee. He’s served as a steadying force off the bench that can both shoot well and hammer out paint points. Of the 50 available active games allotted to a two-way player, Nance has only 16 left, with 27 left in the season.

If the Bucks were to make room for Nance, it would be by cutting Andre Jackson Jr., who has struggled for playing time. They must consider the Bucks’ abundance of wing and frontcourt depth, including the brilliant performances of newcomer Ousmane Dieng. The Pete Nance question is one to watch as early March nears.

Clock is ticking on Buck’s third two-way spot

The Bucks still need to decide what to do with their final two-way spot. Milwaukee could draw on several prospects who are leading the Herd. Mark Sears, previously waived by the Bucks, is averaging 15 points and 5.3 assists per game as the starting point guard. Ryan could bring more frontcourt depth in times of injury. Former Wisconsin Badgers phenom Johnny Davis is starting to find his shooting groove with the Herd and could very well be called upon soon. Their open two-way contract is an asset the Bucks front office should use to balance the roster.

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances.

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.

“The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the WBC, but I’m just making one start and then I’ll stick around for a few games," Skubal told reporters Monday in Florida. "I haven’t determined what games I’m going to watch. If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys. But yeah, I’m just making one start and getting back on track and getting back to here.”

Skubal made his first Grapefruit League start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit's 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston.

After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.

“It’s kind of the best of both worlds. That was the communication I had with those guys,” Skubal said. “There’s some risk obviously, and I’m trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA, but also I understand I need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season. I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect, and I’m grateful they took me in that capacity.”

Skubal, who can become a free agent in the fall, is scheduled to start Detroit's season opener March 26 in San Diego. The 29-year-old left-hander won his salary arbitration hearing with the Tigers this month and will be paid $32 million this season instead of the team’s $19 million offer.

The WBC runs from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be played for the second straight time.

“The whole point of me doing the WBC was to make sure that I could stay on a normal workload of a spring training regimen and be able to make a start for Team USA and then come back here and continue my normal routine to get ready for opening day,” Skubal said. “I think everything’s going to stay the same. I’m not ramping up earlier than I need to. I don’t want that narrative out there. I’m treating this as I’m going to Team USA, making a start, coming back to Lakeland and getting ready to go for opening day.”

Skubal, a two-time All-Star, has won the past two AL Cy Young Awards and ERA titles. He was 13-6 with a career-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last season, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Dani Carnegie had 17 points, Rylie Theuerkauf and Mia Woolfolk both scored 16 and No. 23 Georgia rolled to a 74-52 victory over Auburn on Monday night.

Carnegie added four rebounds and four steals for the Lady Bulldogs (21-7, 7-7 Southeastern Conference). Theuerkauf shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range and Woolfolk made 5 of 8 shots and 6 of 7 free throws.

Khady Leye had 16 points for the Tigers (14-14, 3-11). Ja'Mia Harris scored 13 and Kaitlyn Duhon added 11.

Harris made two free throws, then grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Duhon for a 3-pointer as Auburn jumped in front 9-3 in the first 4:33. Miyah Verse scored before coming up with a steal that led to Carnegie's 3-pointer as Georgia closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run and led 13-9.

Woofolk kept the run going with the first three baskets of the second period, Trinity Turner scored in the paint and the Lady Bulldogs upped their advantage to 21-9. Duhon hit a jumper to end the Bulldogs' 18-point run and the Tigers' scoring drought at 8:57.

Harris hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 7-0 spurt in the final 1:11 and Auburn to cut it to 30-23 at halftime.

Leye made it a two-possession game when she grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to begin the third quarter for the Tigers, but they would get no closer.

Georgia led 48-38 before starting the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to pull away.

Up next

Georgia: At No. 4 Texas on Thursday before hosting Florida in a regular-season finale on Sunday.

Auburn: Hosts No. 16 Kentucky on Thursday before ending the regular season at Arkansas on Sunday.

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WACO, Texas (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 20 points and made five 3-pointers, Bella Fontleroy added 16 points and four makes from distance, and No. 18 Baylor beat Kansas State 80-54 on Monday night in its final home game of the regular season.

The Bears pulled away by starting the third quarter on a 13-2 run, highlighted by three 3-pointers by Fontleroy, for a 48-28 lead. Fontleroy scored 12 points in the third on 4-of-5 shooting.

Baylor finished 13 of 26 (50%) from 3-point range, while Kansas State shot 34% overall from the floor with 14 turnovers.

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 10 points and 11 rebounds to help Baylor (24-6, 13-4 Big 12) outrebound Kansas State 43-29. Jana Van Gytenbeek added eight assists to go with five points. Scott reached 20 points for the 19th time this season and Littlepage-Buggs recorded her 12th double-double.

Jordan Speiser and Tess Heal each scored 12 points for Kansas State (15-15, 8-9). Brandie Harrod added 10 points. Taryn Sides, averaging a team-high 12.7 points per game, did not score in 12 minutes.

Baylor led 35-26 at halftime after holding the Wildcats to 35% shooting, including 2 of 13 from distance.

Up next

Kansas State: Returns home to finish the regular season on Sunday against Iowa State.

Baylor: Plays at No. 11 TCU in a regular-season finale on Sunday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Former NBA player Patrick Beverley will not face charges following an arrest on Nov. 14 in Fort Bend County, Texas.

Rusty Hardin and Letitia Quinones-Hollins, attorneys for Patrick Beverley, released a statement Monday, Feb. 23: "Several months ago, we said that when all the information was in – when a grand jury could hear all the facts of this case – Patrick Beverley would be cleared of all charges. That is what happened today, when a grand jury sitting in Fort Bend County no-billed Patrick, effectively ending the case.

"Patrick wants everyone to know that he would never do anything to harm his sister and that he is very grateful that the grand jury has recognized that with their no-bill. He is thankful for all who prayed for him and supported him during this time. He is glad that the process was allowed to work as it did and his hope is that with these charges behind him now, his name and reputation will be restored."

Beverley had been accused of assaulting his teenage sister and faced a third-degree felony assault charge for the alleged incident. The arrest circumstances were detailed in a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

According to that affidavit, deputies were dispatched to the home of Beverley's mother, Lisa, in Rosharon, Texas, a Houston suburb, in the early morning hours of Nov. 14. The mother had called Beverley to confront his teenage sister and her 18-year-old boyfriend, both of whom were in the residence. Upon arriving at the home, Beverley then confronted his sister, who is 15 years old.

The affidavit stated that the sister had snuck out to meet her boyfriend, identified as being 18 years old.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patrick Beverley cleared in felony assault case

Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz

February 23, 2026

Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX

TV: Peacock, Space City Home Network

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App, SCHN+

Time: 8:30pm pm CST

Later Start For TV Purposes

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Jass: Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Filipowski

HOUSTON (AP) — Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic will undergo nose surgery this week and miss the remainder of the season.

Jazz coach Will Hardy said before Monday’s game against Houston that Nurkic has needed the procedure for a while.

“He has had a really bad deviated septum in his nose,” Hardy said. “He has gotten hit in the face four or five times this year. His recent sickness has pushed that forward. It’s something that he’s needed to get done for a while now, so he’s going to get it taken care of.”

The 31-year-old Nurkic averaged 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in 41 games in his first season with the Jazz. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the season.

“Nurk has been a big part of what we’ve done this year, and he helps our team in a bunch of ways,” Hardy said.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Jazz lost another big man in their rotation for the rest of the season. 

Jusuf Nurkić will undergo season-ending surgery on his nose Wednesday, according to multiple reports. 

Nurkić has been experiencing complications with his breathing and sleeping since he fractured his nose several years ago, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported. 

The season-ending procedure comes at a time when Nurkić had been seeing an uptick in his production, averaging 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds a game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field this season. 

Additionally, Nurkić has averaged 4.8 assists per game this year. 

The 2025-26 season has been Nurkić’s first with the Jazz after playing for the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Suns and Hornets. 

Nurkić will be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason and is near the end of a four-year, $70 million contract that he originally signed with the Trail Blazers in 2022. 

He now joins a growing list of Jazz players who have had their seasons cut short due to injury. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. recently underwent knee surgery to deal with a non-cancerous growth, and Walker Kessler had his season end prematurely in early November after suffering a torn labrum. 

The organization had also been caught up in the ongoing conversation around the NBA regarding tanking. 

The NBA fined the Jazz $500,000 for a violation of the league’s player participation policy.

The fine stemmed from instances on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 where the NBA said the Jazz took out Lauri Markkanen and Jackson Jr. before the start of the fourth quarter and did not have them play the rest of the night.

“These players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt,” the league said in a statement at the time.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: February 24th, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM CST
Location: Moda Center
Television Coverage: Peacock
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

The Timberwolves had a golden opportunity Sunday night. Denver lost. The Lakers lost. Houston stumbled. The Western Conference standings basically opened the door, rolled out a red carpet and said, “Hey Minnesota, would you like to be tied for the 3-seed?”

Instead, the Wolves got absolutely shellacked by the Philadelphia 76ers on their own floor. 135 points worth of shellacked, to be exact.

And yes, context matters. Rudy Gobert was suspended after the Marvin Bagley flagrant. Naz Reid was out with shoulder soreness. Julius Randle was apparently under the weather, though he gave it a go. When you remove Gobert and Naz from the equation, you’re not just losing size. You’re losing the defensive backbone and a key offensive release valve. That’s real. But even with that caveat, Sunday was ugly.

Because yes, Minnesota was undersized. Yes, they were missing their Defensive Player of the Year center. But the bulk of the damage didn’t come from post dominance or paint bullying.

It came from the three-point line. Philadelphia shot 57 percent from deep. Twenty-one made threes on 37 attempts. That’s not “Gobert is suspended” stuff. That’s perimeter breakdown stuff. That’s effort and communication stuff. That’s point-of-attack defense stuff.

Meanwhile, Minnesota went just 10-for-33 from beyond the arc. Do the math. That’s a 33-point differential from three alone. In a 27-point loss. That’s not bad luck. That’s a defensive collapse.

The Familiar Wolves Problem

This has been the maddening paradox of the 2025-26 Wolves. Even when Gobert is available, the defense has been suspect at times. But when he’s out, the floor drops out completely.

Against Philly, the Wolves looked like a team that assumed the Sixers would roll over. Philadelphia was on the second night of a back-to-back. If anything, Minnesota should have had the fresher legs and the hungrier mindset. Instead, it looked like only one team bothered to show up.

Tyrese Maxey and company got comfortable early. Minnesota’s closeouts were late. Rotations were sluggish. Shooters were wide open. The Sixers weren’t just making tough shots, they were getting clean looks in rhythm. When the Wolves fall into that trap, when they start trading baskets instead of defending, things spiral. They don’t have the offensive consistency to win 135-130 track meets every night. That’s not who they are, and that’s not how they’re built.

This loss stung even more because of the standings math. Denver dropped to Golden State. The Lakers fell to Boston. Houston stumbled against New York on Saturday. If Minnesota handles its business, they’re neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for the 3-seed.

Instead? They’re staring at the 6-seed again. Play-in territory hovering in the background like an unwelcome sequel nobody asked for.

The Good News (Yes, There Is Some)

The West is still jam-packed. The margin is razor thin. One good road trip flips everything. And here’s what’s ahead: Portland, then the Clippers in L.A., then a final showdown with Denver on March 1.

If the Wolves string together three wins on this trip, they’re right back in the mix and will have likely leapfrogged Denver. The three seed is sitting there. Waiting.

But this team doesn’t get credit for theoretical standings jumps. They get credit for showing up. So now we pivot to Portland…

Keys to the Game

1. Don’t Walk In Like It’s Wrapped Up

Minnesota just beat Portland before the All-Star break. And that’s the danger. Because if you rewind a bit further to opening night, it took fourth-quarter heroics from Anthony Edwards to avoid losing to this same Blazers team.

They’re young. They’re scrappy. They don’t know they’re supposed to lose. If Minnesota strolls in assuming this is a get-right game, they’ll find themselves in another fourth-quarter coin flip on the road. That’s not the recipe.

Show up. Focused. Determined. Play like a team that understands the stakes.

2. Protect the Perimeter — For Real This Time

Sunday was a clinic in what not to do defensively. Maxey and the Sixers got comfortable because the Wolves failed at the point of attack. No resistance. Lazy closeouts. Slow rotations. That can’t happen again.

When Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Jaylen Clark are locked in, they can be suffocating on the perimeter. We’ve seen it. We saw it against OKC earlier this season. We’ve seen them swarm and choke teams out. They have to bring that version. Keep Portland’s guards from living in the paint. Contest shooters with purpose. Rotate like it matters.

Because it does.

3. Reclaim the Paint

Gobert is back. Randle should hopefully be recovered from his illness. Naz Reid remains questionable, but even if he’s limited, Minnesota has a size advantage. The Wolves looked lost without their interior presence against Philly. That shouldn’t happen again.

Run the floor. Crash the glass. Establish physicality early. Feed Gobert on lobs. Let Randle bully his way into high-percentage looks. Clean up misses with putbacks. Portland should not win the rebounding battle. Period.

4. Reestablish Defensive Identity

This is bigger than Portland. Bigger than one night.

If Minnesota wants to be taken seriously in April and May, giving up 120-130 points can’t be the norm. Two years ago, this team routinely held opponents under 100. That edge, that pride, has flickered this season. When they get bored, when they assume their offense will carry them, they bleed points.

On the road, you cannot let a young team build momentum. You can’t turn it into a fourth-quarter scramble. Assert control. Make Portland earn every bucket.

Time to Get Real.

After the Dallas win, Edwards said he wanted to go 25-0 down the stretch. That every game matters now.

That sounded great.

Sunday didn’t back it up.

There are 24 games left. The 3-seed is within reach. It doesn’t take a miracle run, just professionalism and consistency. The Wolves don’t need to be perfect. They just need to stop stepping on rakes.

Portland is overmatched on paper. But so was Memphis. So was New Orleans. We’ve seen how that story goes when Minnesota assumes it’s entitled to the result.

This road trip could define the season. Three wins and they’re talking about home-court advantage and avoiding OKC’s side of the bracket. Another slip-up and they’re flirting with the play-in.

Anthony Edwards can say all the right things, but talk is cheap and it’s time to get real. The only thing standing in this team’s way is effort, focus, and whether they decide this matters. We’ll find out Tuesday night in Portland whether 24-0 is a mission statement… or just another sound bite.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Basketball center Charles Bediako is asking the Alabama Supreme Court to let him play the rest of the season for the Crimson Tide.

The recent NBA G-League player on Monday filed an appeal of Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet’s recent decision that ended Bediako's temporary playing status with the University of Alabama. While Bediako appeals the decision to the state Supreme Court, his lawyers asked Pruet to grant interim relief and allow him to return to play.

Bediako spent two seasons (2021-23) at Alabama, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and helped the Crimson Tide make the NCAA Tournament both years. He wasn’t selected in the 2023 NBA draft, but he played for the Motor City Cruise in the G League as recently as mid-January.

He returned to Alabama this season and filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied Alabama’s request to allow him to return to collegiate competition. His lawyers argued that Bediako remains within his five-year college eligibility window. NCAA President Charlie Baker and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey have opposed Bediako’s reinstatement.

A judge, who later recused himself from the case, issued a temporary restraining order that allowed Bediako to play while the case moved forward. But Pruet on Feb. 9 ruled against Bediako, writing that the player “failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks.”

On Monday, Bediako’s lawyers asked the judge to issue an interim order while the appeal is pending requiring the NCAA to reinstate Bediako as a student-athlete immediately eligible to compete in NCAA competition. They noted that the end of the season and collegiate tournaments are rapidly approaching, and it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will rule on the appeal before the season concludes.

“Without interim injunctive relief, the whole purpose for Plaintiff’s appeal — the ability to play basketball for the University of Alabama for the remainder of play in 2026 — will be null,” lawyer David W. Holt wrote.

Alabama’s regular season ends on March 7. The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament takes place in mid-March, and the NCAA Tournament will be held from March 17 through April 6.

When you’re run off the floor by your rival, there aren’t many positives that can be taken away. Particularly with the way things played out in the fourth quarter, there was definitely a very sour taste in the mouths of fans walking away from that contest.

However, when looking at the box score, it wasn’t a total disaster for the Lakers. In fact, all things considered, it was one of the better defensive showings against a top team this year, even if every Payton Pritchard three felt like a dagger to the soul.

The problem for the Lakers came on the other end of the floor where they had arguably their worst offensive showing of the season.

“I think going against this team and their offense,” Redick said, “[when I] made the subs at 3:22 in the fourth quarter, they’ve got 105 points and they’re 12-for-32 from three and they’re shooting 47%. We did a good job limiting their fast break points [and] did a good job limiting their points in the paint under 50. So, we did enough defensively. We were just awful offensively tonight.“

Technically, the Lakers have had one game with fewer points this year, that coming in a mid-December loss to the Clippers. However, in that contest, Austin Reaves didn’t play and Luka Dončić left midway through the contest and didn’t return.

On Sunday, all three were healthy and the team laid a huge egg. While it’s fair to call the Big 3 a work in progress, there was no excuse for that performance against the Celtics.

For Reaves, while part of it came down to missing open looks, the process also wasn’t good, specifically in the first half, either.

“We missed some good looks,” Reaves said. “I think we could have done a better job in the first half playing with the pass [and] trying to create better looks in that first half. I thought [in] the second half, we did a good job of that. We missed some good looks and they capitalized on that.

“You’re going to have games where you don’t shoot it well or offensively play well. You got to find other ways to keep yourself in the game.”

The Lakers aren’t going to have the necessary time to figure things out. All of this is going to be rushed. But there is still a level of expectations that the team, and the Big 3 in particular, need to meet.

Sunday needs to be an aberration, though, based on how the season has played out, that might not end up being the case.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The seemingly bad conditions were perfect for Jaylen Brown.

The Celtics were left for dead after Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles last postseason. Then they lost Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford from the 2024 championship team. They were expected to have a gap year. No one thought they’d be competitive.

But what was overlooked in all of this is Brown’s superpower: The more he’s discounted, the more he thrives. 

Brown has led a team that was supposed to tank to second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 37-19. The Celtics are one of the NBA’s biggest surprises of the season. And Brown is one of the most notable success stories. 

Only one person saw this coming. 

“I always knew I was one of the best players in the world,” Brown told the California Post in an exclusive interview after the Celtics beat the Lakers on Sunday, 111-89. “I always felt like that. And on top of that, the opportunity presented itself because we got guys that got traded and injured. So, I’m just grateful to be able to have great teammates that allow me to lead them.”

Brown loves proving people wrong. It’s how he has made a name for himself in the league.

When Celtics fans booed him after the franchise selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, he transformed himself into a star. When pundits questioned whether he deserved the then-richest contract in NBA history in July 2023 (a supermax worth up to $304 million over five years), he responded by carrying Boston to a championship in 2024 and winning Finals MVP. 

And when everyone crossed off the Celtics, he circled them, transforming his game to a new level. 

This season, he’s averaging career-highs in points (29.2), rebounds (7) and assists (4.9). Heading into the All-Star break, he led the Celtics to have the same seeding (second) and net rating (third) that they had last year at that time. 

When asked directly if he should win the MVP Award this season, Brown didn’t hesitate. 

“Me?” he questioned. “I’m the best two-way player in the world.”

Brown is currently sixth on the NBA’s MVP ladder, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama. 

It has left some people perplexed, including LeBron James, who advocated for Brown to be included in the MVP conversation on Sunday. It was a notable endorsement considering James also pointed out in the same media availability that he remembers cameras catching Brown saying his son, Bronny, wasn’t a pro at summer league in 2024. 

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” James said. “Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”

As for Brown, when asked if he’s surprised he’s not getting more recognition, he didn’t hesitate. 

“No. I don’t know what the criteria is,” Brown said. “But I don’t always follow the rules, so that comes with consequences. So, I get it. But I’m just going to keep doing what I do. And we’ll see what happens.”

This isn’t the first time Brown has felt as though he were snubbed. 

Brown believes he was excluded from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris because he was critical of Nike, a key sponsor of Team USA. Most notably, after Nike co-founder Phil Knight said Kyrie Irving “stepped over the line” by sharing a link to an antisemitic film in 2022, Brown posted on X, “Since when did Nike care about ethics?” 

Recently, Brown has made headlines for standing up against the city of Beverly Hills after police shut down his event over All-Star weekend. The city later issued an apology to Brown, saying police had cited inaccurate information. Brown responded by thanking the city in a post on X, but added that it “embarrassed me and my brand” and asked “what about resources / partners lost?”  

Despite all of the drama, Brown hasn’t lost focus on what he’s doing on the court.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t surprised by Brown’s growth. In fact, he believes regardless of Tatum’s injury and the team’s offseason moves, the 29-year-old would’ve made leaps this season. 

“I would expect to see something like this, just the evolution of Jaylen, regardless of the environment around him,” Mazzulla said. ” I think he’s the type of guy who relishes in getting one percent better in whatever that looks like. And he just cares about winning.”

Payton Pritchard echoed that, pointing out that what Brown has been doing in the shadows has come into the light this season.

“He’s always been a great leader,” Pritchard said. “But it’s showing more this year because we’ve had such a veteran team. Now it’s a young group of guys thinking it’s going to be a gap year and stuff like that. And he’s leading us and doing a hell of a job.”

While everyone assumed the Celtics would let go of the rope, Brown held tight and pulled with all his might. It’s what he has done his entire career when the cards seemed stacked against him. 

Not good enough? Overrated? Second fiddle to Tatum?

He has systematically erased those narratives, as well as the most recent one about the Celtics not being contenders.

“I know everybody was counting us out,” Brown said. “But I knew it would make for a perfect story if we were able to figure it out. So, my mentality was being aggressive, play with a chip on my shoulder. But also lead my group through adversity, through the tough times to make sure we could come together at the right moments.”