Category: NBA

The Lakers are a flawed team.

That’s not even a hot take. After an early exit out of the playoffs last season, this team looks headed for a similar, perhaps even identical, path.

In theory, the trade deadline should offer a perfect solution to their problems. However, the Lakers do not sound like a team particularly close to a deal based on the reporting so far this week.

While the move is largely due to the lack of assets the Lakers have and how few solutions to their weaknesses exist on the market, it could also signal the front office’s hesitance toward making a deal.

In a vacuum, there is logic to the idea. This is a transition year, the Lakers are not one move away from contending for a title and they will have more cap space and draft picks this summer to build a team around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

But we’re not operating in a vacuum, and the history of this front office — and specifically President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka — kicking the can down the road from transaction cycle to transaction cycle is at the forefront of fans’ minds. Obviously, the best answer is threading the needle by finding someone who can help now and in the future, like a Herb Jones.

However, this is where the Lakers run into the issue of not having enough assets to make a big swing. The Pelicans remain intent on multiple first round picks for Jones, something the Lakers can’t even offer.

What the Lakers can afford is spending a first round pick on a player like Naji Marshall, who the Mavs are holding out for a first round pick for. He would address a big need as a wing defender, but he comes at a steep price and would cost the team future flexibility this summer. He also has the same flaw so many other current Lakers do in an ability to knock down perimeter shots.

And therein lies the problem with so many players available. There is no perfect solution to the Lakers’ problems and no one they can afford that will push them over the hump.

The Lakers do have a handful of expiring contracts they could move in trades. But expiring contracts only have value in deals with long-term money, something the Lakers are still hesitant to take back.

Again, the argument can be that they should be interested in those deals, but they clearly aren’t. Restrictions placed on them by both the league as to what draft picks they can trade and by themselves as to what contracts they want back place them in a weird spot where they likely stand pat, yet again, at the deadline.

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

On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun take a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 137-128 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade landscape, and much more:

— The Timberwolves four-game winning streak came to an end Monday night in another disappointing defensive performance. It was another example of the Wolves playing at a different level depending on who they are facing that night.

— The Timberwolves have enough talent and injury luck with that talent to finish as a top-three team in the Western Conference, but inconsistent play might prevent them from reaching their ceiling as a team.

— Julius Ranlde struggled to score efficiently as he put up 19 points on 5-14 shooting with Jaren Jackson Jr. providing the defensive resistance. Anthony Edwards scored 39 points, but like most of the Wolves’ roster, did not defend well enough for much of the game.

— On Thursday, the Wolves took down the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this season, leading the game from start to finish. The Wolves’ defense played with the right amount of physicality, while the offense rained down 3-pointers.

— Jaden McDaniels has been sensational for the Wolves of late inluding 29 points on 11-14 shooting in Monday’s loss to the Grizzlies. Naz Reid has also had an outstanding week, providing exactly what the Timberwolves needed off the bench.

— With Thursday’s trade deadline looming, all eyes turn to Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks. It is still to be seen if the Bucks decide to trade Giannis now or wait until the offseason, but the rumblings have been that the Wolves have been one of the most active in pursuit of the two-time MVP.

We are just a little over 48 hours from the trade deadline on Thursday at 3 PM EST, and the Hawks are rumored to be active in the market.

Already, the Hawks have turned Trae Young and Vit Krejci into CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, Duop Reath, and two second rounders. But clearly, the decision-makers see an opportunity to try to set the franchise up for more success either in the short term or the long term (or ideally both).

The latest rumor is a somewhat shocking one — James Harden has begun working with the Los Angeles Clippers to find a new home. Even more unexpected is that there is some link with the Atlanta Hawks of all teams. Intel from Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer of the Stein Line substack:

Sources say that Harden, through various stretches of this season, has also eyed Minnesota and Atlanta as teams that appeal to him as potential landing spots, but neither the Timberwolves nor the Hawks are expected to pursue such a deal. The Wolves have been focused intently on their pursuit of Antetokounmpo as the deadline draws near. The Hawks, meanwhile, only ever seemed to be a plausible trade partner when they had Trae Young on the roster. Young, of course, was dealt to Washington on Jan. 9 and the Clippers, for that matter, did not show interest in a Harden-for-Young exchange. Sources say Atlanta, for its part, has largely abandoned searching for aggressive moves in the wake of shipping Young to the Wizards … such as the Hawks’ well-chronicled pursuit earlier this season of Dallas’ Anthony Davis.

It’s possible that Harden no longer sees Atlanta as a possible destination like he reportedly did “through various stretches this season,” but with the Hawks not expected to pursue a trade here (and for reasons I outlined this morning), this sounds like much ado over nothing.

As for Anthony Davis, that link remains there — although his most recent hand injury complicates things. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype brought us info in this regard last week, as well as the Indiana Pacers’ possible pursuit of Onyeka Okongwu:

While trade talk surrounding Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis and the Atlanta Hawks has subsided following his hand injury, there’s other trade news surrounding Atlanta to discuss. 

Despite interest from the Indiana Pacers and other teams who’ve checked in on Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks have been resistant to moving their 25-year-old center, league sources told HoopsHype. Meanwhile, Atlanta has been open to adding frontcourt depth if the right fit presents itself. 

Okongwu has shown improved confidence in his 3-point shot and is one of only four centers who’ve made over two 3-pointers per game, along with Nikola Jokic (2.1), Myles Turner (2.2), and Naz Reid (2.4). As a starter, Okongwu has shown a growing all-around game, averaging 16.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks. 

Conversely, Kristaps Porzingis ($30.73 million) and Luke Kennard ($11 million) are considered potential trade candidates due to their expiring contracts leading up to the trade deadline, as discussed previously on HoopsHype. 

The Hawks also have nearly $7 million in room under the luxury tax and have signalled a willingness to help other teams duck the tax for second-round pick draft compensation, HoopsHype has learned. 

It’s worth noting that Atlanta still has a $13.1 million traded player exception from the Bogdan Bogdanovic trade, which can be utilized. In addition, Atlanta center N’Faly Dante suffered a season-ending torn ACL and has a non-guaranteed contract for next season, which makes him a potential cut candidate if Atlanta needs another roster spot at the trade deadline to complete a trade.

Should the Hawks chase James Harden? Could Okongwu be on the block? Please let us know in the comments.

Recall that, despite all the off-court noise, actual professional basketball is still being played (you can debate the quality, but the fact is they’re still being paid!) by the Milwaukee Bucks, who return home tonight to face the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks are actually up 2-0 in the season series, taking them down pretty convincingly in early November and late December (Giannis’ first game back from his initial calf injury). Of course, Milwaukee had Giannis suited up in both contests and will not tonight.

Where We’re At

You know what everyone is talking about regarding the Bucks, and it’s not exactly their current on-court product, which remains bad. They’ve lost eight of their last nine and enter the day on a five-game losing streak—three of those Ls have occurred since Giannis’ second calf injury. Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins have looked good at times after assuming command of the sinking ship, but the only things that will stop Milwaukee from taking on water start with a healthy Giannis and a Doc Rivers firing. Neither seems likely to happen in the coming weeks, and if the Bucks want a high lottery pick, maybe that’s not a bad thing in the short term.

Chicago is still doing their thing: toiling around just under .500 and at the back of the play-in race. It’s what the Bulls do. They’re coming off an odd scheduling quirk that had them face the Heat for three consecutive games, thanks to a rescheduling necessitated by damp court conditions at the United Center on January 8; Miami took two of the three, including a 43-point blowout on Sunday. The Bulls have see-sawed recently: a four-game win streak crested them above .500 for the first time since Thanksgiving, but dropping four of their ensuing five has them essentially right back where they started. The Miami “series” came without leading scorer Josh Giddey, who the Bucks won’t see tonight either.

Injury Report

Milwaukee remains without Giannis (calf strain) and Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique strain), both out indefinitely. Taurean Prince is still out, perhaps for the season, after neck surgery. They’re joined by Gary Harris, who will sit with a hamstring strain.

Chicago has a laundry list of injuries. The following Bulls are out: Zach Collins (toe sprain), Noah Essengue (shoulder surgery), Josh Giddey (hamstring strain), Tre Jones (ditto), and recently-acquired Dario Saric (hasn’t gotten in yet). Kevin Huerter (back spasms), Julian Phillips (wrist sprain), and Jalen Smith (calf injury management) are questionable.

Player To Watch

After a mid-January swoon, Ryan Rollins is back to normal with 66 points in his last three, to go with a beautiful .565/.615/.667 (just 6/9, though) shooting line. He’s also racked up 19 assists to just four turnovers in that span, with five steals. He had 20 in each of his other outings against Chicago this season, hitting some big shots and making a few key plays late to secure that December victory. Maybe he likes playing the Bulls? Watching him play is one of our few joys this year.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

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The road trip continues, as the Jazz are welcomed by our fellow bottom-of-the-league dwellers in Indiana. Viewers have been warned: This game will contain a substantial amount of unethical tanking. Utah is slowly sinking into what they were always meant to become, currently sitting 13th in the West with a 15-35 record. Whilst our fellow tank connosiours in Indiana are slightly ahead (or behind?) with a 13-37 record, dead last in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz won the first meeting between the two teams back in November, previously covered by our gorgeous, handsome staff writer Kato Parina.

The Jazz are going to squeeze as much juice out of this Keyonte injury as they possibly can; he’s out yet again, along with Jusuf Nurkic and the rest of the regulars.

Jazz Injury Report:

OUT – Keyonte George (left ankle; sprain)

OUT – Elijah Harkless (G League – Two-Way)

OUT – Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)

OUT – Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)

OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (rest)

OUT – John Tonje (G…

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 2, 2026

It’s almost a certainty that the Jazz are severely held back without Keyonte on the floor, falling to 0-3 when he’s absent. Isaiah Collier will likely receive the starting role once again if nothing changes, and we need to start seeing an impact. Of course, he’s not the type to lead an offense or turn into a dangerous scorer, but it’s hard to be a serviceable NBA role player if you can’t shoot the ball, make smart decisions and play with confidence. Though he’s a valuable transition facilitator and an unselfish player. But at what point does a player become too unselfish? Tonight’s Pacers are near the bottom of the NBA (24th) in conceding assists in mid-range, where Collier facilitates the majority of his offense. If Collier can set up his teammates while limiting mistakes in his aggressive, downhill style, that’s a job well done for me.

Now don’t be fooled by the Pacers’ measly record in 2026 — they’re still capable of winning games, backed by their Finals supporting cast. The team has struggled to establish a consistent rotation, with more players often on the injury report than in the lineup. Beyond the obvious catastrophic injury to Tyrese Haliburton, injuries throughout the season, including Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Andrew Nembhard, have disrupted chemistry.

If you needed to look out for one player, you’re going to find it in recently named 2026 NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam; ignoring the Eastern selections is a hilariously worse talent range than the Western Conference. He remains a reliable self-creator that can score in isolations, post mismatches and attack closeouts. The Jazz key: Don’t give him downhill angles. Make him operate sideways. His efficiency spikes when defenses give him space to build momentum — that’s when the spins, euro-steps, and foul-drawing come out like we’re all familiar with. The Jazz cannot allow themselves to get out-hustled, which has accounted for historically awful rebounding performances as we’ve this season. Just over a week ago, they allowed Miami to corral 26 offensive rebounds, resulting in 22 second-chance points. Pacers rank 21st in offensive rebounds, sitting at 10.7 a game — meaning it shouldn’t be too gigantic an issue for the Jazz to cover, but it greatly weakens the effectiveness of Siakam from the floor.

Injury Report

Jazz:

OUT – Keyonte George (left ankle sprain), Jusuf Nurkic (rest), Georges Niang (left foot, fourth metatarsal stress reaction), Walker Kessler (left shoulder surgery)

Pacers:

OUT – Obi Toppin (right foot stress fracture), Tyrese Haliburton (torn achilles)

How to watch:

Who: Utah Jazz (15-35) at Indiana Pacers (13-37)

When: February 3rd, 5:00PM Mountain Time

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

Channel: Jazz+, KJZZ

Radio: 97.5/1280 The Zone

The Mavericks were 0-3 this past week but remain in 12th place in the West. They lost to Minnesota (118-105) and Charlotte (123-121) at home, then traveled to Houston, where they lost to the Rockets (111-107). Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with 33 points per game. P.J. Washington suffered a concussion in Houston and will miss tonight’s game against Boston. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) remain out.   

Grade: B-

An 0-3 week may not usually warrant a solid grade, but Dallas played hard and had two incredible performances from Cooper Flagg in their last two losses. They were perfect games for the current state of the Mavericks: lose without lying down and get something inspiring from their top pick. 

The battle between Flagg and his college roommate, Kon Knueppel, was a sight to behold. Flagg was just one point shy of a 50-point game, while Knueppel hit eight threes and the game-winning free throws. It was a display of two young players poised beyond their years, dueling it out until the final seconds. Truly, the highlights from this game are worth the 15-minute watch:

The Mavericks showed similar fight against Houston and nearly pulled off a 3-1 series win against them this year. But, as was their downfall against Charlotte, they could not execute in the last few possessions. The loss to Minnesota is not even worth discussing; it was one of the more boring games Dallas has played this season. They have an exciting week upcoming, however, where they play Boston in Dallas tonight on NBC and have a home-and-home with the Spurs this weekend. If they can play as they have over the last few days, there should be a lot of fun basketball to be had.

Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg

It is remarkable how much Flagg has improved in such a short period of time. In his first 15 games, he averaged 15.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting. He started the season at point guard and, because of that, had a steep learning curve before he got his feet under him. Since he adjusted (i.e., the last 30 games), he has put up 21.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting. The game has slowed down for him in real time, and this culminated in back-to-back masterpieces this week, where he had 49 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday and 34 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday. The kid has got serious game.

Out of high school, he was a defensive prospect. Now, it’s his offense that wows crowds and gives fans a reason to dream about what he can be. He has lived up to the hype on the defensive end as well. The Mavericks, as bad as they have been, still hold a top-10 spot in defensive rating, and Flagg is the anchor of that. He is an awesome, fun rookie, but he is also a unicorn of an asset. Having a player this good on a rookie deal (which lasts four seasons) speeds up the timeline quite a bit and makes it imperative that they build a solid core around him as quickly as they can.

Currently Failing: Trade Value

The trade deadline is this Thursday, February 5. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Dallas’ phone lines are “wide open”. This reeks of desperation from the Mavericks, which is disappointing but not surprising. Dallas’ main trade pieces (Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson) have all had lackluster to mediocre seasons at best, and their best trade asset, Naji Marshall, seems to have a market value lower than the Mavericks’ asking price of a first-round pick. 

It is not a good situation to be in. Dallas is a non-contender and a second apron team, an impossible combination of death sentences. As previously stated, with how good Flagg is already, increasing financial flexibility as soon as they can manage it is paramount. This starts with trading away their older players for expiring contracts and/or draft capital. If Dallas is unable to do this by Thursday’s deadline, it will be the second consecutive February of incompetence by the organization and could set them back more than they already are.

Extra Credit: Jason Kidd

Coach Kidd is not known for his demonstrative nature. In fact, he is notorious for his lack of emotion during games and in post-game press conferences. That’s why the internet went berserk when he lashed out after being asked about national criticism for playing Cooper Flagg at point guard:

Jason Kidd fined $35K for public criticism of officiating and using profane language during a media interview.pic.twitter.com/rR2e0xuHUa

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) February 2, 2026

This was refreshing to watch. I want my coach to stand up for himself and the players. I want Kidd to yell at referees. I want him to show that he cares. To this point, we have gotten virtually nothing of the sort. Whether you agree with fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer Brent Brooks and think Kidd has nothing to lose, or you have your tin foil hat on about the timing of the incident, this is a net good. I do not want the version of Kidd that says he’s “watching just like the rest” of us. I want this version who is passionate and fiery and defends his decisions, rather than leaving them up for interpretation. Plus, “I know what the f*** I’m doing” is great on a quote card.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a chance to notch their first five-game win streak of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday night when they face the Golden State Warriors.

The Sixers opened this back-to-back last night, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers (sans James Harden) thanks in no small part to a career-night from Dominick Barlow. The hero of the evening posted a career-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting along with 16 rebounds and two steals. Alright then, Dom.

🚨 new career-high for @Dominickbarlow_ 🚨

(he also proceeded to hit a 3 right after this so he's at 2️⃣6️⃣ points and counting !) pic.twitter.com/QdAyUnlc5s

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 3, 2026

The Sixers have now strung together four victories in a row for the first time since starting the season 4-0. Yes, tonight is unfortunately another 10 p.m. ET tipoff. It’s also another back-to-back for Philadelphia, their 10th of the season. For what it’s worth, the Sixers are 6-3 so far this year on zero days rest.

This game is going to offer a golden (pun intended) opportunity to keep momentum in Philadelphia’s favor, too, with the Warriors coming into Tuesday’s contest without their biggest stars. Steph Curry, who really needs no introduction at this point in his career, leads Golden State averaging 27.2 points (shooting 39.1% from long range on a 11.5 attempt per game clip in 39 games this season) but will be sidelined for this one due to knee soreness. Jimmy Butler, the team’s second-highest scorer posting 20.0 points per contest across 38 games, is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL back in mid-January.

Jonathan Kuminga, Seth Curry and LJ Cryer are also all out for the Warriors. Moses Moody is probable with left knee soreness.

This being the second leg of a back-to-back and a West Coast time zone game, the official injury report for Philadelphia will not be available until later today. The Sixers’ only absence on Monday was Paul George, out for another 23 games after being suspended for violating the league’s drug policy. Joel Embiid did play last night against the Clippers, posting 24 points. Embiid has not played a game on zero days rest all season, so one would expect him to be unavailable for Tuesday night’s contest.

We will bring you official availability information when it’s released.

Regardless, this is the perfect chance for the Sixers to keep momentum on their side, even on a West Coast road trip, a situation that can sometimes just be a matter of survival until you can get back home. The Warriors without Steph Curry are simply not the Warriors. The squad’s offensive rating goes from 119.3 with Steph down to 104.9 with him sidelined. He is responsible for 21.4% percent of the team’s total made triples the entire season despite having only played in 39 of 50 possible games. Curry has sunk 175 threes this campaign, with the next highest Warrior being Moses Moody with 112.

And, to be fair, even with Curry the Warriors have been a bit shaky this season to say the least. They currently sit in eighth in the Western Conference at 27-23 and have lost four of their last six games.

The only other meeting the Sixers have had with the Warriors this season, back on Dec. 4, 2025, ended in dramatic fashion with rookie VJ Edgecombe hitting the go-ahead shot down one end and Tyrese Maxey coming up with a huge block on De’Anthony Melton down the other end as time expired. The Sixers won 99-98. Curry was absent for that contest as well.

VJ EDGECOMBE. THE ROOKIE. A HERO. pic.twitter.com/6qWZ4Gfk0E

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 5, 2025

Back to tonight. Even if it is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Sixers, anything other than a victory on Tuesday night would mean a wasted opportunity.

The Sixers and Warriors tip off at 10 p.m. ET (sorry).

Game Details

When: Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

The Mavericks are trying to scrape together some rhythm amid a four-game slide, hosting a Celtics team that’s found theirs. Boston enters 26–11 over their last 37 games with a plus-nine net rating, even while navigating their own key absences. What they haven’t lost is identity — relentless three-point volume, layers of guard play, and enough length inside to clean up misses. Dallas, meanwhile, is working with a skeleton crew in the paint and leaning more on Cooper Flagg every week. Can he carry the Mavs to a win or cover?

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

🏀 Fixture:
Boston Celtics (31–18, 14–10 Away)
@ Dallas Mavericks (19–30, 11–12 Home)
📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
🕢 7:00 PM CST, February 3
📺 NBC Sports, Peacock, KFAA

💰 DraftKings Odds (as of 6:35 AM CST):
Spread: BOS −7.5 (−105) | DAL +7.5 (−115)
Total: 221.5 (O −115 / U −105)
Moneyline: BOS −270 | DAL +220

🎲 Game Side Pick: Celtics −7.5

The Mavericks will need to win the math battle with rim pressure, transition, and a few hot hands from midrange. The problem? Boston shoots over 42 threes a game, ranks third in percentage, and won’t stop shooting even if they start cold.

Jaylen Brown has been cooking (29.4 PPG), but it’s the middle of Boston’s rotation — Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta—that keeps their machine rolling. If Dallas can’t generate turnovers or limit second chances, the game starts tilting early on and may not recover.

It’s enough for a lean.

📊 Player Prop: Cooper Flagg over 20.5 points (−122)

Flagg’s recent line against Charlotte wasn’t just 49 points — it was a message: he knows it’s his team now. Even more impressive? His 34 on the road in Houston against their defensive talent. Flagg will deploy a mix of post-ups, cuts, and self-created looks that Boston can’t fully erase, even with their elite wing defense.

With usage stable and minutes north of 36 in close games, Flagg has room to hit this without needing to shoot the lights out. Role meets rhythm—not flashy, but solid.

📊 Player Prop: Neemias Queta over 8.5 rebounds (−131)

Queta’s quietly become a reliable rebounder in extended minutes. The Celtics’ barrage from three-point range creates long rebound opportunities, and Dallas isn’t fielding much resistance on the interior right now.

He pulled 8 in 31 minutes vs. Milwaukee, and 15 the game before that vs the Kings. If he stays on the floor, he clears. It’s a volume spot, and the matchup says go.

The Los Angeles Lakers aim to end an eight-game road trip on a high note, but the Brooklyn Nets, and more specifically, Michael Porter Jr., stand in their way.

Brooklyn’s standout forward is the lone threat on this roster, averaging almost 26 points in his first season in NYC. 

My Lakers vs. Nets predictions call for L.A. to put the clamps on MPJ and force the rest of Brooklyn’s role players to step up.

Here are my best NBA picks for Tuesday, February 3.

Lakers vs Nets prediction

Lakers vs Nets best bet: Michael Porter Jr. Under 24.5 Points (-110)

Michael Porter Jr. closed out January with a red-hot run, scoring 30 or more points in three of his past four appearances. 

However, the versatile forward was forced to leave the team due to a death in the family, missing the past two games. Porter hasn’t played since facing the Nuggets on January 29, when he dropped 38 points on his former team. 

Porter has battled inconsistency throughout his career, as showcased by an up-and-down January. He’s followed big offensive efforts with poor shooting displays in the next game, and he’ll quickly need to shift gears after being off the court for five days.

The Brooklyn Nets struggle to score without him in the lineup (missing 12.3 points per 100 possessions), so expect the Los Angeles Lakers defense to focus on frustrating MPJ. 

The Lakers have some longer athletic forwards to throw at him on the perimeter and are among the best teams in the NBA at defending screens, which is a vital play set for Porter’s success. Los Angeles also does a solid job keeping foes from the offensive glass, where MPJ does damage, and limits second-chance looks at the hoop.

Porter’s projections vary, with some calling for 27 points. But most models top out below his scoring prop, with my number just flirting with 23 points. That should have the Under 24.5 priced around -150.

Lakers vs Nets same-game parlay

The Lakers can’t seem to get over the hump against good teams, so they need to win big against bums like Brooklyn.

Porter has been away for five days, and projections call for around 22 points tonight.

LeBron James has dished out six assists in each of his past two games and averages 6.6 dimes on the season.

Lakers vs Nets SGP

• Los Angeles Lakers -8.5
• Michael Porter Jr. Under 24.5 points
• LeBron James Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: End of the Road

The last thing the Lakers want for this road trip finale is for this to turn into a track meet. Brooklyn plays one of the slower paces in the NBA, which will limit Luka Doncic's output, with projections for him landing south of his scoring prop.

Lakers vs Nets SGP

• Los Angeles Lakers -8.5
• Michael Porter Jr. Under 24.5 points
• LeBron James Over 5.5 assists
• Luka Doncic Under 32.5 points

Lakers vs Nets odds

• Spread: Lakers -8.5 | Nets +8.5
• Moneyline: Lakers -360 | Nets +280
• Over/Under: Over 223 | Under 223

Lakers vs Nets betting trend to know

The Nets are 4-15 SU and 8-10-1 ATS versus Western Conference competition, including 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS in non-conference home games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Nets.

How to watch Lakers vs Nets

Lakers vs Nets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Atlanta Hawks take a trip down to South Beach tonight for a matchup with the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to thrive, and my Hawks vs. Heat predictions and NBA picks will focus on his ability to score the rock. 

Hawks vs Heat prediction

Hawks vs Heat best bet: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points (-110)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a career year for the Atlanta Hawks. The guard is averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting 38% from downtown. To put his numbers into perspective, the Canadian averaged just 9.4 ppg for the Timberwolves last season. 

A bigger role as a starter has allowed NAW to flourish. He’s cashed the Over in points in three of his last four games, scoring 21 points in each. Two of those contests were on the road, and as previously mentioned, the Hawks visit Miami this evening. 

In fact, Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.9 ppg on the road compared to 19.6 at home. The Virginia Tech product is playing with boatloads of confidence, and he’ll make his presence felt once again tonight.

Hawks vs Heat same-game parlay

Andrew Wiggins is averaging 15.6 ppg this season. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last three home games. He scored 18 against the Hawks earlier this season, and he’s averaging 16.1 ppg at home compared to 15.1 on the road. 

Jalen Johnson is having a monster year for Atlanta, and he’s doing it all. While he’s not a high-volume shooter, Johnson is averaging 1.7 makes on 4.7 attempts for a 36% clip. Very respectable. 

He's cashed the Over in five of his last seven appearances, and he’s drained three triples in back-to-back contests. Johnson is also shooting it even better on the road, averaging 1.8 makes for a 39.2% clip from deep. 

Hawks vs Heat SGP

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
• Andrew Wiggins Over 15.5 points
• Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dimes for Dyson!

Dyson Daniels is on fire as a facilitator, cashing his assist Over in four straight games. 

Hawks vs Heat SGP

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
• Andrew Wiggins Over 15.5 points
• Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 threes
• Dyson Daniels Over 6.5 assists

Hawks vs Heat odds

• Spread: Hawks +3 | Heat -3
• Moneyline: Hawks +135 | Heat -155
• Over/Under: Over 240.5 | Under 240.5

Hawks vs Heat betting trend to know

The Hawks have covered the spread in 28 of their last 45 road games for +9.3 units and a 19% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Heat.

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LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Get ready for another celebration — a big one — if U.S. snowboarder Red Gerard wins another gold medal.

After missing the last go-round, Gerard’s family will return to the Winter Olympics to cheer him on. This year, he will have around 40 people on hand at the snow park in Livigno, doubling the number who traveled to PyeongChang and triggered an epic celebration when he took the gold in slopestyle eight years ago.

Gerard, 25, is making his third Olympic appearance. He is part of a close-knit family that includes sister, Tieghan, a food blogger who is hosting a big, family dinner in Milan halfway through the Games. Gerard will compete in big air, starting Thursday, then return to the mountains for slopestyle on Feb. 18.

Gerard’s family missed the 2022 Games in China due to COVID restrictions. Gerard finished fourth that year.

“They were bummed to miss Beijing,” Gerard said Monday during a news conference with the American snowboarders.

His teammates joked that you are more likely to see a Gerard than a local, given the number of family members coming.

Gerard said he doesn’t expect as rowdy party as in 2018. His brothers have had kids and mellowed out, he explained.

“Everyone’s kind of tamed out a little bit,” Gerard said. “Maybe a mellower crew but you kind of never know what you are getting with them.”

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AP Winter Olympics coverage https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Right after I wrote my previous Giannis piece predicting that this saga will drag out into the summer, Shams reported that the Bucks are now listening to offers on their franchise player. I’m still not convinced that he’ll be moved before the deadline, but this might just be the jinx that’ll result in a trade.

So far, the Warriors, Wolves, Knicks, and Heat have been the teams most aggressively pursuing Giannis. Importantly, every team in the league can offer most assets in the summer given that more picks will be eligible to be dealt, which is why Milwaukee should be in no hurry to deal their star. That includes the Bucks themselves, who only have one tradable first (2026) currently but will have three to offer in the offseason. If Milwaukee attempts a last-second hail mary to entice Giannis to stay, they could deal their two future firsts for a star while adding a lottery talent with their pick this year, which could end up as high as the #2 selection. That might be the unlikeliest scenario given where we stand today, but it’s worth noting given that Milwaukee has never signaled any desire to deal their star and Giannis himself has never turned down a max contract offer either.

Speaking of an extension, the timing of a potential trade would affect when the Greek Freak can sign his next contract too. If he’s dealt before the deadline, his new team could present a max offer in October (which is also when Milwaukee can), but if he’s traded in the summer, they would need to wait another six months before being able to extend him. I doubt this could affect the max contract coming his way, but Giannis would naturally feel a lot more comfortable putting pen to paper as soon as possible, especially considering his recent injury history. He has enough power in the organization to demand a trade before the deadline, although it’s unlikely given how non-commital he’s been throughout this saga — stranger things have happened in the NBA, though (see: one year ago).

Enough preamble, let’s get to the fun part: trades! We’ll go through the teams that have already shown interest and dark horse candidates lurking to make a surprise offer out of nowhere.

Golden State Warriors

Tradable firsts: 4

Intriguing players: Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski

Golden State has the most firsts they can offer out of the quintet of teams who’ve shown the most interest in Giannis and can put together the most enticing package without having to make additional moves. They don’t have a blue-chip young player, but the Warriors will be forced to use one of Jimmy or Draymond to salary match — both of whom could be flipped for even more picks. Crucially, those firsts also extend to the latter part of this decade and into the 2030s, when Steph will likely be retired and Giannis will either be past his prime or on another team entirely. If there’s one team whose picks could become lottery tickets, it would be Golden State’s.

Miami Heat

Tradable firsts: 2

Intriguing players: Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The Heat don’t have as firsts as Golden State but the players they can offer are much more intriguing. Tyler Herro was an All-Star as recently as last season and can be used to salary match, and Kel’el Ware is one of the best prospects who could realistically be included in any package for Giannis. Interestingly, the Hornets have Miami’s 2027 protected first that could convey to a 2028 unprotected pick, and due to the Stepian rule, this prevents the Heat from dealing any of their 2027, 2028, or 2029 firsts. However, if they add a sweetener to Charlotte and convince them to change that pick to just a 2028 unprotected first, that would give Miami a third pick to throw in a Giannis deal. Given the Heat’s infrastructure, those picks won’t be as juicy as Golden State’s, but their young players are much more intriguing.

The X-Factor: Portland Trailblazers

Tradable firsts: Milwaukee’s own unprotected 2029 first, and unprotected swaps in 2028 and 2030

Intriguing players: Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson

Before diving into the Wolves’ and Knicks’ potential offers, we need to discuss the Blazers first, and that’s because Portland owns Milwaukee’s unprotected 2028 and 2030 swaps, and an unprotected first in 2029. I doubt the Blazers would want to trade for Giannis outright, but they could act as a crucial broker between Milwaukee and another team who would send assets to Portland in exchange for them sending Milwaukee their picks back. This would be especially likely if the Wolves and Knicks want to enter the bidding war, and it’s worth noting that Giannis is rumored to want to play with Jrue again.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Tradable firsts: 0(only one swap in 2028)

Intriguing players: Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo

The Wolves will need to involve a third team in order to make a Giannis trade work due to the lack of draft compensation they can offer. Randle and Gobert are both having All-Star-level seasons, but McDaniels should have the most value out of the three: he’s averaging 14.9 points on 51.2/44.5/84.9 splits, and I could see him breaking out with a bigger role like what Mikal Bridges did in Brooklyn. The likeliest path to Minnesota getting in on Giannis would be trading one or both of Randle/Gobert for a boatload of picks to re-route to Milwaukee, along with McDaniels. Portland would be the most obvious third team to facilitate such a deal since they could give back the Bucks’ own picks, but they’d likely only be interested in McDaniels too. This is why three-team trades are so difficult to execute, and the Wolves will need to make a number of side deals to even get into Milwaukee’s attention.

New York Knicks

Tradable firsts: 1

Intriguing players: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Deuce McBride

Similar to Minnesota, New York is devoid of draft capital currently, but will have three firsts to offer in the summer. If we focus on the present, though, the only way the Knicks could get Giannis is by trading at least one of KAT/Bridges/OG for picks and offering those to Milwaukee along with McBride, their only intriguing young player. If they choose to involve Portland, the Blazers would likely have interest in one of New York’s wings, but I’m not sure if they’re worth giving up Milwaukee’s picks for. Again, an almost impossible deal to execute, and the Knicks will have a much higher chance of landing Giannis if he either demands to go to NY, or this drags into the summer.

Dark horse teams

Orlando Magic: The Magic have had a turbulent season, with Paolo being a significant reason for that. Would they ever consider putting their so-called franchise cornerstone on the table for Giannis? Such a trade would need to happen in the offseason given that Paolo is poison-pilled currently, but if it happens, the Bucks would be hard-pressed to find a more intriguing young player to acquire.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The exact same can be said for the Cavs if you swap Mobley in for Paolo. A DPOY winner and All-NBA player as recently as last season, Mobley hasn’t taken the offensive jump many envisioned, and the Cavs could be in for some big changes if they flame out in the playoffs again. Another wrinkle in this is Donovan Mitchell’s future, with 2026-27 being the last guaranteed year remaining in his deal. With that in mind, would Cleveland be more hesitant to go all-in, or would they go in the opposite direction and trade everything for potentially their last hurrah next season?

San Antonio Spurs: Let’s make one thing clear: San Antonio has given no indications that they’re interested in Giannis and has always said that they’re building on Wemby’s timeline.  I’m listing them here purely because they have the exact package Milwaukee is after: blue chip prospects like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and a boatload of firsts to offer (4+). Given the amount of draft capital they have, there’s a better chance that the Spurs would use their picks as a facilitator for another team to acquire Giannis, with San Antonio getting a young player who fits with their core in return.

Houston Rockets: Like San Antonio, Houston hasn’t expressed any interest in Giannis but has young players like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun to include in a theoretical package, along with a plethora of picks. However, they said the same before trading for KD last summer, and given that he’ll turn 38 in September, the Rockets might be more inclined to make an all-in move in the summer if they flame out in the playoffs. 

Other players and teams to monitor before the deadline

Michael Podcast Jr.: Possibly the hottest name on the market outside of Giannis, no one is sure if MPJ will even get moved, but his trade value will never be higher. The Nets could feasibly fetch two firsts for him if they drum up a bidding war, which essentially means that they’d have fetched 3 firsts from the original Cam Johnson trade. Given MPJ’s seamless fit into any team and his all-star level production this year, he may very well swing the title race — if he’s moved. 

Ayo Dosunmu & Coby White: The Bulls will likely keep one, if not both of White and Dosunmu to aid their quest for the 100th consecutive 39-43 season, but any semi-competent franchise would have put them on the market already — especially given how cheap Reinsdorf is. Both guards will become UFAs this summer and are due for big raises, but it wouldn’t be shocking if they fetched first-rounders each. White is an offensive dynamo who can bomb from deep while Dosunmu provides more two-way value, and they’re capable of being a 4th/5th starter or an elite sixth man on any contender.

Boston Celtics: No one predicted that Boston would be on pace for over 50 wins without Jayson Tatum, whose potential return is still in question. Given their success, would management be willing to buy at the deadline, even if it means going deeper into the luxury tax and potentially back into the second apron? With the Celtics only $12 million above the tax line, they could even go the opposite direction and shed salary by trading depth pieces like Simons ($27.7 million) and Hauser ($10 million) for cheaper but comparable players. It all depends on how far the organization believes they can go this year, and whether or not Tatum will actually return.

Cleveland Cavaliers and… James Harden(???): The Cavs’ trade with Chicago and Sacramento wasn’t just to dump a struggling DeAndre Hunter for two useful players — they also saved roughly $40 million in luxury tax simply by making this deal. That’s a crucial thing to keep in mind when looking at other deals they could make, which might include… James Harden??? Late Monday night, Shams reported that the Beard is looking for a new home, and shortly after, Chris Mannix followed up by saying that the Clippers and Cavs have engaged in talks surrounding a Garland/Harden swap.

Excuse me??

Yes, Harden is a decade older than Garland, but he’s also been much better this year and has a partially guaranteed deal next season, whereas Garland is signed through the 27-28 campaign. Given that Cleveland has already shed salary in the Hunter deal, a potential Garland/Harden swap is further proof that they’d like to clear up their books for this summer and next season. Could that be related to a Giannis trade? Only time will tell, but there’s no doubt that the Cavs have suddenly become arguably the most interesting team to monitor at the deadline.