Memphis Grizzlies (20-31, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (28-25, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State hosts Memphis looking to stop its three-game home skid.
The Warriors are 18-15 in Western Conference games. Golden State is 2-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Grizzlies are 16-19 in conference play. Memphis ranks eighth in the NBA with 45.5 rebounds per game. Santi Aldama paces the Grizzlies with 6.7.
The Warriors are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 115.3 points per game, 1.8 more than the 113.5 the Warriors give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Warriors won 131-118 in the last matchup on Oct. 28.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandin Podziemski is averaging 11.9 points and 3.5 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Walter Clayton is scoring 6.9 points per game and averaging 2.0 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 40.6 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 12.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 116.1 points, 42.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), LJ Cryer: out (hamstring), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back).
Grizzlies: Cam Spencer: out (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out (shoulder), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Cedric Coward: out (shoulder), Brandon Clarke: out (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) — Paulius Murauskas scored 20 points and Andrew McKeever and Joshua Dent posted double-doubles as Saint Mary's rolled to a 79-54 victory over San Francisco on Saturday night.
Murauskas made 9 of 18 shots with two 3-pointers, adding eight rebounds and four assists for the Gaels (20-4, 9-2 West Coast Conference). McKeever finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, while Dent contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mikey Lewis hit four 3-pointers and scored 15, while Dillan Shaw pitched in with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Junjie Wang had 14 points to lead the Dons (14-11, 6-6). David Fuchs totaled 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Mookie Cook added 10 points and five boards off the bench.
Lewis had 10 points and Murauskas scored nine to guide Saint Mary's to a 40-29 lead at halftime.
GUADALAJARA, México (AP) — Reliever Guadalupe Chavez threw a couple of wild pitches with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Jalisco Charros defeated the Culiacan Tomateros 12-11 on Saturday to win the Caribbean Series championship for the first time in their history.
The Charros, who lost last year's final against the Escogido Leones from the Dominican Republic, led 9-1 after four innings. But the Tomateros rallied and tied it at 10 to send the game into extra innings when they took a 11-10 lead. But Jalisco loaded the bases and Chavez's erratic throws gave them the win.
The Charros' victory gave Mexico its first Caribbean Series title since 2016, when the Mazatlan Venados won.
The Caribbean Series was set to be played in Venezuela, but political turmoil forced organizers to move it to Guadalajara.
Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico had decided not to attend the tournament in Venezuela due to tensions between that country and the United States.
Mexico played with two teams in the tournament after the Venezuelans declined to play this year.
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 7: Blake Hinson #42 of the Rip City Remix drives to the basket during the game against the South Bay Lakers on December 2, 2025 at at Chiles Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Suhela Hassan/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz have signed Blake Hinson to a two-way deal.
The Utah Jazz are signing forward Blake Hinson to a two-way NBA deal out of the G League's Rip City Remix, agent Paolo Zamorano of Gersh Sports tells ESPN. Hinson has averaged 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in the G League.
In the 2025-26 G-League season, Hinson is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 32.5% from three.
Probably the most interesting thing about this signing is Hinson’s size. He stands 6’8” with a 6’10.25” wingspan. Those are great numbers for a player who’s doing nice things in the G-League. These types of signings are smart because you never know when a player like this can work his way into your rotation. And it becomes more and more likely when you’re adding players with top-tier tools. We’ll see how Hinson does and whether he can earn a standard contract. It would be nice if Utah was able to find more talent in the G-League as they move towards contention next season.
It’s also a reminder that the Jazz are looking for players with size and length. The Jazz are looking huge with the Signing of Jaren Jackson Jr., and this type of signing seems to fit with the Jazz’s teambuilding philosophy.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by #42 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on February 07, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took over in the fourth quarter to win a thriller in Sacramento. Let’s see who won and lost the night.
WINNER – The Fourth Quarter
This one came down to the wire. That’s in part because of Sacramento’s lights-out shooting and Cleveland’s poor rebounding. But when push came to shove, the Cavs had two stars they could turn to.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 32 points in the fourth quarter, just when the team needed it most. It was devastating shot after devastating shot, as Mitchell got the ball rolling before Harden buried the Kings with his three-point shooting.
This wasn’t seamless. Mitchell and Harden took turns dicing up the Kings in a game where they might have led earlier if they had more synergy between each other. But hey, it’s their first game together. It took both Mitchell and Harden a few quarters to find each other’s groove. But with one prolific quarter, we saw how special this duo can be.
WINNER – James Harden’s Pick-and-Roll
There’s a new maestro in town, and he has a big fuzzy beard.
Harden is one of the best playmakers in the NBA. That’s something you probably already knew. But until you see him in a Cavs uniform dishing the ball to some of your favorite players — you don’t really understand just how great he is.
This wasn’t anything incredible. Harden finished with 23 points and 8 assists. But he consistently delivered the ball to his teammates in the pick-and-roll. Harden was finding them on their way to the rim, whether it be Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, or Craig Porter.
Harden’s instincts as a 6’5” dimer give this offense a new wrinkle. He shredded Sacramento’s attempts at trapping him, showing supreme poise in accepting the pressure and then getting the ball out at precisely the right time. He’s a basketball savant who is now surrounded by connective passers and competent play finishers.
The Cavaliers have always, in my opinion, been at their best when the offense is leading the charge. Sure, they’ve had the backbone of a defensive team for years, but it’s their offensive explosions that took them from good to great last season.
Getting back to that level hasn’t been easy. Injuries and poor shooting held them back early in the season. But now? They have a brand new engine that’s ready to get them burning rubber again.
LOSER – Three-Point Defense
I’ll cut the Cavs a little bit of slack. You can’t always control when the other team has an outlier night shooting the ball. For example, Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford are shooting below 35% from deep this season, yet they combined for 9-13 shooting in the first three quarters.
No one else on the Kings had more than one three-pointer entering the fourth quarter. That’s tough.
Westbrook and Clifford’s outlier nights almost single-handedly kept the Kings in this one. But I can’t completely dismiss this as poor shooting luck for the Cavs. After all, it’s their job to contest and limit shots. Especially once an opponent is in a rhythym.
Cleveland’s rotations were a step slow tonight. Their defensive rebounding was also an issue, as the Kings had 15 offensive rebounds. Tighter rotations and a better effort on the glass would have cleaned up a handful of the open three-point attempts Sacramento generated.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen
Speaking of Harden’s passing in the pick-and-roll, let’s talk about the player who will benefit the most from the Beard’s arrival.
Allen is going to be living in paradise for the foreseeable future. It felt like he received a paint touch on every screen he set for Harden, often catching the ball with enough space to go straight up for a layup. That’s a testament to Harden’s threat as a scorer, as the Kings spent more time worrying about him than covering Allen’s roll.
But I don’t want to give Harden all of the credit.
We’ve seen that Allen can be a crafty and creative finisher around the rim. Getting the ball to him in the short roll is one part of the equation. From there, we saw Allen score using his post-hook, drop-step, and up-and-under move.
Allen finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and didn’t miss on his first 11 shot attempts.
The Cavs have leaned on Allen heavily with Evan Mobley on the sidelines. He’s taken more offensive responsibility in stride and deserves all the credit in the world for holding down the fort.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trent Perry scored 23 points, Donovan Dent had 17 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals, and UCLA beat Washington 77-73 on Saturday night.
Tyler Bilodeau added 19 points in 23 foul-plagued minutes for UCLA (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten) and Eric Dailey Jr. finished with 14 points.
Washington trimmed its deficit to a point midway through the second half and a layup by Wesley Yates III made it a two-point game with 5:50 left, but Bilodeau answered with a three-point play, Dailey hit a jumper and Dent made a layup that gave the Huskies a 67-58 lead with 1:37 to go. UCLA made 10 of 12 from the free-throw line the rest of the way to seal it.
Yates led Washington (12-12, 4-9) with 21 points, Hannes Steinbach scored 13 and Quimari Peterson had 12 points and a season-high seven assists.
Skyy Clark (hamstring) did not play for UCLA.
The Bruins have won four straight against Washington and lead the series 112-44, 71-8 in Los Angeles.
The Huskies used an 8-2 spurt to open an eight-point lead — their biggest of the game — but UCLA scored 13 of the next 16 points to take its first lead of the game when Perry hit a 3-pointer that made it 25-23 with 6:15 left in the first half.
Up next
Washington: The Huskies host Penn State on Wednesday.
UCLA: The Bruins play next Saturday at No. 2 Michigan.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Donovan Clingan had 20 points and 19 rebounds, Jerami Grant had 29 points, and the Trail Blazers erased an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-115 on Saturday night and split a two-game series in Portland.
Jrue Holiday had 21 points and Caleb Love scored 17 points, 10 in the second half, off the bench.
Olivier Maxence-Prosper (25 points) and Javon Small (22 points) each had career nights for Memphis in the loss.
Portland’s All-Star forward Deni Avdija missed his fourth straight game with a lower back strain. Scoot Henderson also missed Saturday’s game after making his return from a torn hamstring on Friday.
Jahmai Mayshack’s 3-pointer pushed the Memphis advantage to 104-97 before Portland made its final push.
Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara and Love each hit a 3-pointer before Love stole the ball and made a layup to give Portland a 108-107 lead with 5:59 left in the game.
Javon Small’s 3-pointer cut Portland's lead to a point about three minutes later but Holiday answered with a layup before Grant made back-to-back 3s to give the Trail Blazers a 120-113 lead with 1:51 left.
There were eight ties and 18 lead changes in the game.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied back for a win on the road against the Sacramento Kings. They can thank their new backcourt for this one.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell took a backseat in the first half as his new co-star took his turn learning the offense. But in the second half, Don understood it was his time to be aggressive. He began windmilling and bombarding the Kings from all areas of the floor.
Mitchell had 6 points at the half, then scored 12 points in the third quarter, and 17 points in the fourth to finish with a game-high 35 points.
Grade: A
James Harden
23 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds
It’s tough to join a team midseason and immediately find your groove. This started as a feel-out game if I’ve ever seen one. Harden did an excellent job running Cleveland’s pick-and-roll, but it took some time for him to be start scoring the rock.
Travis Scott crashed James Harden and Donovan Mitchell's postgame interview after the Cavs win 😭
Harden officially welcomed himself to the Cavaliers by pouring in 15 points in the fourth quarter. He and Mitchell combined for a whopping 32 points in the final frame, escaping Sacramento with a win (and delivering a Travis Scott endorsement with him).
Grade: A
Support us and rep Evan Mobley with Homage!
We’ve partnered with Homage to help provide Cavs fans with the best gear. Anything bought from the links below helps support Fear the Sword while also allowing you to rep the Cavs. You can also shop all Homage Cavs gear HERE.
Props to Allen. He’s not only carried additional weight with Evan Mobley on the sidelines, but he’s found a new pick-and-roll partner in Harden who can get him more involved than ever before. This was an awesome glimpse at a two-man game that I can’t wait to watch develop. Allen shot 11-12 tonight, starting the game 11-11.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
10 points, 0 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers
A lot was going on in this game. Tyson never found his role in it all. He finished with a minus-27 in nearly 30 minutes. That’s tough to do in a game you won.
I would have liked more Ellis in this game. His defensive playmaking and three-point shooting are skills that fit any lineup. Kenny Atkinson eventually decided he agreed, closing this game with Ellis.
Grade: A-
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Tomlin is still getting ignored by opposing defenses. That led to some clunky spacing in his minutes. But, as is the story of the season, his energy and activity keep Tomlin as one of the team’s highest plus/minus players. He finished as a plus 16 tonight.
Grade: C+
Dennis Schroder
7 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Schroder’s scrappy style is going to fit right in with Cleveland’s bench. He had a few instances of tunnel vision (3-9 shooting) tonight. Other than that, Schroder was a serviceable backup guard.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
Merrill has done a lot to earn some benefit of the doubt when he has a poor shooting night. He’s usually able to be effective even when his shots aren’t falling. But I don’t think anything was working for Sam tonight. He finished 0-6 from the floor.
Grade: F
Craig Porter Jr.
4 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
This wasn’t a great game for Porter. His lack of shooting can be crippling on the offense when his defense isn’t making up for it. He contributed as a playmaker and even swiped a few steals, but Porter was overall too out of place for me to feel good about his performance.
Grade: D+
Thomas Bryant
10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Bryant nailed back-to-back three-pointers in the first half. After that, his mobility became a serious liability for the Cavaliers’ defense. It is what it is. We knew this was a limitation for TB.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — James Harden scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut and Donovan Mitchell had 35, including a free throw that sealed the win with 35 seconds remaining, in Cleveland's 132-126 victory over Sacramento on Saturday night that sent the Kings to their 12th straight loss.
Harden was acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. He shot 7 for 13, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and had eight assists.
Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won for the eighth time in nine games.
Nique Clifford scored 30 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn’t won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. Russell Westbrook added 21 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have lost six straight at home.
The Cavaliers went into halftime leading 57-55, but the Kings took the lead in the third quarter at 96-93. Mitchell scored 29 points of his points in the second half for the Cavaliers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Kobe Bufkin #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers moved quickly after the trade deadline to sign their 15th and final player.
On Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers were signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal with the second year being a player option.
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal, with a team option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin has starred for L.A.'s South Bay affiliate and now rejoins the Lakers in his third NBA season to fill their 15th roster spot. pic.twitter.com/Z1m3M4KvTM
Bufkin had a brief 10-day stint with the Lakers, playing rotation minutes in two games. His best outing came against the Blazers where he had nine points in 22 minutes. In the previous game, he played 17 minutes against the Hornets and went scoreless.
However, as has been the case throughout the year, Bufkin has been putting on a show in the G League recently. His last three games have seen him score 36, 41 and 29 points. Across those contests, he shot 18-31 from the 3-point line. In 21 games with South Bay, he’s averaged 26.7 points, shooting 51.3% from the field and 43.1% from the 3-point line.
For a Lakers team that has struggled to shoot the ball this year, adding Bufkin, as well as Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, gives them some options for shooters off the bench. Bufkin is also still 22 years old, so there is plenty of room for him to grow and develop.
Since the second year is a team option, the Lakers could decline it this summer if things don’t go well for the rest of this season or if they need to clear some cap space.
This does mean the Lakers are out of the running for any buyout players. Considering most of the buyout market is guards, the Lakers opted to keep one they already had in-house over a Cam Thomas or Haywood Highsmith.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 7: Joel Embiid #21 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers high five after the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings: Tyrese Maxey – 19 Joel Embiid – 8 VJ Edgecombe – 7 Paul George – 6 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 Jared McCain :’( – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers are back in the win column after a 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the desert.
VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid all sported matching headbands for the contest, a rare occurrence, especially for the All-Star guard.
It was a very slow start to this one, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. The Sixers began to pick their offense up in the second quarter, going on a huge run to garner a respectable lead heading into the halftime break.
Once again, they ran into the third quarter wall and the Suns began to pull closer. In the fourth, the Suns would pull to within five, but not enough to withstand the strong performances we saw from our Bell Ringer nominees.
His work in the first half took place mainly on the right baseline, finding different angles to drain midrange and fadeaway jumpers. The broadcast revealed his parents were courtside in seats near that baseline, as he pointed to them after the buckets. His speed and decision making were on full display, while mixing in effective ball-handling to open up easy drive opportunities.
Maxey with the slick finish and the Sixers take an 81-71 lead into the final frame pic.twitter.com/oOtkA7eWrC
His playmaking continues to be a plus during a tough shooting stretch from deep. He had multiple outlet passes against the Suns that led to very easy buckets in transition.
In the fourth he hit a huge step back three, his second of the game, to bury the Suns and force them to resort to fouling.
Embiid was a dominant force from the midrange. The Suns decided to not double team him, and lived with the consequences of either a made shot or foul committed. His persistence in his approach got into the Suns heads quickly, leading to a chatter-filled second half.
As long as the Suns kept manning him up, he kept cooking and shooting over whoever was guarding him. He would also add a flurry of threes into his offensive attack, including a big one in the fourth quarter to help extend the Sixers lead back into double digits.
Oubre Jr. was a much needed third option offensively as VJ Edgecombe had gotten into foul trouble early. He kicked off scoring with a three and helped pick the Sixers scoring up in the second with this highlight dunk:
His defensive presence kept the Sixers in phase with the riled up Suns, still finding composure when they needed it most. After a Suns run in the third, Oubre finished a silky lefty layup to help stem the tide. His play today can make fans feel more comfortable during Paul George’s suspension — though he did have a couple silly fouls late.
Watford, along with Oubre, played the glue-guy positions to a tee. Where Oubre was focused on shooting, Watford’s impact was his playmaking. He found multiple shooters after drives, and had a creative possession after setting a screen for Embiid on the elbow. Worth a watch if you missed the game, as more offense like this could be on the horizon.
His energy in the fourth quarter was crucial in keeping the Sixers ahead through relentless defense from the Suns, making multiple plays in a row with the ball in his hand.
CHENNAI, India (AP) — New Zealand avenged its loss to Afghanistan two years ago with a thumping five-wicket win at the T20 World Cup on Sunday.
In what is expected to shape up as the toughest group in the tournament with 2024 finalist South Africa also in Group D, New Zealand cruised to 183-5 – its highest ever chase at the T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare.
Gulbadin Naib, batting at No. 3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked out the Black Caps from the race to the semis with an 84-run win at Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls as Afghanistan posted 182-6 after winning the toss.
But opening batter Tim Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.
Mujeeb clean bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced leg-spinner.
Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips exposed his stumps against Rashid’s full-pitched ball and dragged it back onto his stumps. Then Rashid couldn’t hold onto a sharp return catch from Seifert before the opener had reached his half-century.
Seifert completed his fifty in style by smacking off-spinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary before he was caught at deep square leg.
Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get Black Caps home in the team's first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).
Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).
Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with its fifth bowler. James Neesham conceded 33 off his three overs while part-time spinners Phillips and Ravindra gave away 26 off their two overs.
Later on Sunday
England won the toss and elected to bat in its opening Group C match against Nepal at Mumbai while later Sunday co-host Sri Lanka is scheduled to meet Ireland in a Group B game at Colombo.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Cleveland Cavaliers executed well enough down the stretch to win James Harden’s debut with the team. They defeated the hapless Sacramento Kings 132-126.
The Cavaliers’ starting lineup was understandably disjointed at the start of the game. Their four-guard unit featuring Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Jarrett Allen struggled to clear the defensive glass or stay in front of their man on that end. Sacramento took advantage by getting off to a hot start offensively.
On the other end, Mitchell and Harden seemed unsure of who should be in control on offense. Both seemed like they didn’t want to step on the other’s toes, which led to a somewhat stagnant offensive attack.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.
Sacramento pushed its lead to double figures in the middle of the first quarter, before the Cavs got back into the game with bench lineups featuring one of either Mitchell or Harden on the court.
The Cavs took a narrow two-point lead into the break, but then gave it all away at the start of the third quarter, leading to the Kings regaining their double-digit advantage.
Mitchell took over from there. His 12 third-quarter points helped keep the Cavs within reach heading into the fourth.
It seemed like things were getting away from the Cavs again after a back-and-forth start to the fourth. The Kings grabbed a seven-point lead with just under four minutes left in the game, before the Cavs roared back.
Two points from Allen and back-to-back threes from Harden gave the Cavs a one-point lead with just over two minutes left.
The Kings didn’t go away. DeMar DeRozan hit a big three to tie the game with just over 42 seconds left.
Mitchell then forced a foul on the following possession and hit both free throws to give the Cavs the lead again. The Kings missed their final three shots, allowing the Cavs to come away with the victory.
For as awkward as the Mitchell and Harden fit was in the first three quarters, they looked good together down the stretch. The duo combined for 32 of the team’s 39 points in the final frame to pull out the victory.
It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest debut for Harden, despite the solid box score numbers. It took him a while to get going offensively, and he seemed lost at times with the defensive rotations.
That said, you could see how Harden can help this team, particularly down the stretch. His ability to get Allen easy looks and the gravity he possesses offensively are going to be incredibly useful. Harden played his best in the fourth quarter, pouring in 15 points, with the game on the line.
On the night, Harden provided 23 points on 7-13 shooting, which included going 5-8 from three, to go along with eight assists and two rebounds.
Mitchell carried the Cavs to the finish line. He scored 17 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and was the best player on the court.
Allen also had a strong showing. He provided 29 points on 11-12 shooting with 10 rebounds.
The Kings were led by 30 points on 12-19 shooting from Nique Clifford. Westbrook supplied 21 points and nine assists.
The Cavaliers have now won three-straight games and eight of their last nine. This includes going 3-1 so far on their Western Conference road trip.
The Cavs will take on the Denver Nuggets on Monday for their last game of this road trip. Tip-off is at 9 PM.
Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke Saturday for the first time since the NBA trade deadline, when the franchise tried to go all-in on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Milwaukee Bucks pulled the plug on dealing their superstar.
Dunleavy denied that the team’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo prevented them from making other deals, adding that he was excited about the Warriors’ pivot to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.
Porzingis has only played in 17 games this season after being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), as well as recently suffering left Achilles tendinitis. But Porzingis is expected to make his Warriors’ debut after the All-Star break and Dunleavy is optimistic that he can stay healthy.
In his first media session since the NBA trade deadline, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. trade talks with Milwaukee. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
“We feel good about it,” Dunleavy said. “We looked into it pretty in depth. We believe in our medical staff. There’s no guarantees, there’s no certainty. But with where he’s at right now, where he’s been, we feel good about it.”
He added that taking a gamble on Porzingis was worth it.
“On the other end of it, in terms of what we’re sending out, we’re sending out a player in a similar boat who struggled to stay on the floor,” he said, referring to Kuminga. “From our standpoint, we recognize the risk medically, but it’s a risk we’re willing to take.”
In addition to the Warriors not getting Antetokounmpo, whom they were hoping could extend Steph Curry’s championship window, the biggest fallout of the trade deadline was Draymond Green being involved in trade talks for the Bucks’ superstar.
Dunleavy staunchly denied Green was on the trading block.
Dunleavy said picking up Kristaps Prozingis is worth the risk, even with the star’s injury history. NBAE via Getty Images
“His name was not in conversations, other than the ones where teams called me and asked about him, which they do every year,” he said. “So, nothing’s new there. The idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated. It was never a possibility of him not being here or remotely close, to be honest. I’ve conveyed that to him. I think he knows that. But when stuff comes up in the media, it feels different for the players. And I think that’s the first time it happened for Draymond, so he’s dealing with it in a certain way.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
“But the reality is nothing was close. And nothing was considered. Draymond was not being shopped or talked about in deals, so it’s a little misleading and we’re kinda picking up the pieces here. But I think he’s in a great spot and so are we moving forward.”
Green, however, made it clear on his podcast Saturday morning that he had a different understanding of the situation. Green said that when he and Dunleavy chatted ahead of the deadline, Dunleavy told him, “Obviously, if we were going to do a deal with Giannis you or Jimmy would have to be traded just to make it work.”
Golden State had been engaged in talks with the Bucks for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. NBAE via Getty Images
“What it said to me in that moment was there’s a chance I may get traded for Giannis because he didn’t rule it out,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “He didn’t say we’re not putting you in the deal. So, I took that as, all right, it’ll probably be me.”
As for Dunleavy, when asked if Green wasn’t involved in a potential deal if that meant they were aiming to trade Butler, he balked. “No, no, no we’re not doing that,” he said. “I’m not going down the roster talking about who’s in trades and who’s not.”
The Warriors are now looking toward the summer to make a splashy move.
“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it’s young players, first-round picks,” Dunleavy said. “We always have been, we always will be, as long as we’re in this win-now window.
When asked what the expectations are for the Warriors this season, considering Butler is out after suffering a torn ACL on Jan. 19 and Porzingis’ health is a bit of a wild card, Dunleavy acknowledged he was unsure.
“I’m interested to see how it goes,” he said. “I think this addition for us could be really good, similar to the addition of Jimmy, how he gave us a boost. I think this is similar. Maybe not to that level, we certainly took off. I’m not sure on our expectations just because we have to get healthy.”
The Warriors are still aiming to be in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes over the summer, joining a long list of teams that are hoping to add him to their roster.
Either way, looking forward, Dunleavy made it clear that the Warriors are willing to take a big swing to give Curry a chance to win a fifth ring, if the right trade comes along.
CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic got another game ball from his Denver Nuggets teammates after yet another triple-double. This one, though, was a bit more special than the others.
It made some NBA history.
Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for No. 2 on the league's career list with his 182nd regular-season triple-doubles, leading the Nuggets to a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
“He is a legendary player,” Jokic said of Robertson, who was the first player to average a triple-double in a full season in 1961-62. “Any player who steps into this league knows he’s a global legend.”
The three-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star is making his own mark on the game, too. The triple-double was Jokic's 19th this season and second in as many games. He trails only Russell Westbrook, who has 207, on the career list. Westbrook (four), Jokic (two) and Robertson (one) are the only NBA players to average triple-doubles in a season.
Nuggets coach David Adelman, who had been with the organization since Jokic's third season in 2017, said he still catches himself being amazed by the 6-foot-11 Serbian center.
“When your center gets 17 assists in a game — that just doesn’t happen,” Adelman said. “Unless it’s him.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable what he’s done.”
Teammate Jamal Murray said he expects even more from Jokic, who’ll turn 31 on Feb. 19.
“He’s got a lot of that left,” he said. “It’s going to be a Usain Bolt record when he sets it. He’s going to have that for a long time.”
