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Knicks flattened in 121-90 blowout loss to Pistons

The Knicks got their teeth kicked in throughout a 121-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons to extend their losing streak to four games.

Here are the takeaways...

-- New York's lack of defense as of late persisted out of the gate against the top seed in the East, who entered the contest averaging 118.8 points per game, 11th-best in the league. Sure, Cade Cunningham made some shots (14 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the first half), but it wasn't just Cunningham as the rest of the Pistons got involved early and often as well, shooting 63 percent from the field and 55 percent from deep as a team in the first 24 minutes.

-- Detroit's bench, led by players like Jaden Ivey and Daniss Jenkins, scored 22 points in the first half as they were helped out by Cunningham's excellent court vision and passing ability, which gave him seven assists at halftime. By contrast, the Knicks as a team had just nine assists at the break.

-- Regardless, New York shot the ball well in the first, going 54 percent from the field and 57 percent from downtown. A lot of that production came from Jalen Brunson, who had 17 points on 8-of-13 from the floor. The point guard actually scored eight of his team's first 11 points, though the Knicks were down for the majority of that run.

Still, possessing the ball so often led to three turnovers before the break by Brunson, and he was a minus-6 on the court entering the second half.

-- Like the Pistons, though, the Knicks got some key contributions off their bench, most notably from Miles McBride, who had eight points, two rebounds and two assists in the first half while going 2-for-2 from three. The sharpshooter made three more threes in the second half to go 5-for-6 and finished with 17 points. He's been on fire from beyond the arc lately, making 46 of his last 84 three-point attempts (55 percent).

-- Going up against the best shot-blocking team in the league (6.3 blocks per game entering play), New York was blocked six times in the first half and after keeping it close in the first quarter (down 30-29), the Knicks slipped further and further behind in the second quarter and entered halftime down 64-54. 

-- New York's shooting plummeted out of the break, putting up just 15 points in the third quarter. Eight of those points came from Brunson, while the rest of the starters contributed next to nothing. Most disappointing was Karl-Anthony Towns, who needs to step up on both ends of the floor with Josh Hart still out with a sprained ankle. 

Instead, KAT finished with six points, one rebound and six turnovers. He took four shots and just two from inside the arc despite being the tallest player on the court. In fact, Detroit completely overmatched the Knicks on the glass, outrebounding them 44 to 30, even though no Piston had more than nine. Only Mitchell Robinson finished with double-digit rebounds, securing 10 boards in 25 minutes.

-- After such a disheartening third quarter by New York and no change in the fourth, head coach Mike Brown had seen enough and waved the white flag by emptying his bench with half a quarter left to play.

-- The Knicks led only once in this game, the first lead of the night after OG Anunoby made one of two free throws to give them a 1-0 lead. 13 seconds later, Duncan Robinson hit a three (and the free throw after getting fouled) and Detroit was off and running.

-- The Pistons finished with 11 blocks and 12 steals, turning over New York 20 times.

Game MVP: Cade Cunningham

Cunningham was clearly the best player on the court and finished with a double-double (game-high 29 points, 13 assists).

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks host the Los Angeles Clippers at MSG on Wednesday night with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Trae Young's agents working with Hawks to find trade for point guard

Here are some of the latest trade rumors from around the league, with most of the buzz being about an All-Star point guard in Atlanta.

Trae Young

The writing was on the wall when Atlanta didn't reach a contract extension with Trae Young last summer, but his exit from the ATL looks like it will come sooner rather than later.

Young's agents — Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown — are working with the Hawks to find a trade for the four-time All-Star before the Feb. 5 deadline, a deal that works for everyone, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

Young has missed the last four games with a quad contusion and, while nothing is set in stone (it usually takes time to put a trade together), it is possible we have seen the last of Young in a Hawks uniform.

Atlanta started testing the trade waters last summer but ramped up efforts when Young was injured this season and the team went 13-9 without him. They then dropped the next four games when he returned (they are 2-8 in the games Young has played this season). The team's play while he was out showed a road map to the next evolution of this team, one without Young dominating the ball.

The challenge is that there is not much of a market for the 27-year-old former All-Star, league sources told NBC Sports. Ask yourself this: What serious playoff team would be better making a big trade for Young? Good luck finding one.

While Young an offense unto himself — a season ago, when largely healthy (he played in 76 games), he averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists a game — his lack of defense, size (listed as 6'2" but that feels generous), injury concerns, the fact he's not popular with other players in general, and that he has a $49 million player option for next season all combine to give teams pause. Fair or not, Young's reputation is that he's good, but not someone a franchise can build a contender around, which means teams don't want to pay him big dollars.

What team is interested?

Wizards eyeing Trae Young

The Washington Wizards might be his landing spot, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Why would Washington do this? It's a short-term play for a franchise that is seeking some level of relevance (and, in CJ McCollum, they don't give up a player who is part of their future). Young paired with a young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and whoever they draft in June is at least interesting, should have a lot of firepower, and would give fans in Washington an entertaining product to watch. That kind of "let's prioritize making the postseason soon" thinking has long been rumored to come from Washington's ownership.

This doesn't have to be a long-term play by the Wizards, although you can be sure Young's agents are looking to get him to a team willing extend and pay him big money. We'll see if that's Washington or somewhere else.

In other trade news...

Lakers looking for two-way wing

That the Lakers are trying to reshape their roster to better fit around Luka Doncic, and that they need 3&D wings to do that, are not exactly state secrets.

Which is why the Lakers have been linked to every wing available at the trade deadline. As Marc Stein put it at The Stein Line: "The Lakers continue to scour the trade market in hopes of acquiring a two-way wing with size."

The problem is that 29 other teams are looking for players like that as well, and the supply of those players is limited. Ideally, the Lakers would like to get Herb Jones out of New Orleans (reportedly not available), Andrew Wiggins out of Miami, or even Dillon Brooks out of Phoenix (no way that last one is happening, Suns owner Matt Ishbia already shot it down).

Even if those players become available, the Lakers may not have enough to get a deal done. That means Los Angeles may end up trying to land Keon Ellis from Sacramento or Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago, good young players with potential to fill that role.

The Lakers know what they need to do, but actually doing it is not so easy.

Mavericks not liking return for Davis

If you've been a regular reader of our trade rumors updates, this is not news to you, but here is another source echoing the same idea:

The market for Anthony Davis is limited and teams are not willing to give up much — especially the picks and young players the Mavericks are seeking — in any trade. Here is what Mavericks writer Christian Clark wrote at The Athletic.

Dallas' predicament is that dealing Davis isn't likely to bring back a combination of expiring money, young talent and draft capital needed to reorient around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Davis' age (he turns 33 in March), injury history and desire for a lucrative contract extension this summer have teams wary about surrendering too much to get him, based on conversations The Athletic had with three different NBA executives.

Chatter about an Anthony Davis trade continues to focus on the Atlanta Hawks, which has the big salaries to match Davis' deal as well as picks that would entice the Mavs. However, if Atlanta is going to move on from Trae Young, is Davis a good fit (the Mavericks have made it clear they don't want Young)? Also, league sources told NBC Sports they doubted Atlanta would give up the kind of pick package that Dallas would seek.

For his part, Anthony Davis would like to remain in Dallas and sign an extension with the Mavericks, reports ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Of course, Davis would also have preferred to stay in Los Angeles playing next to LeBron James, but that's not the world we live in.

Don’t expect Adebayo trade

We live in a world where what was once thought impossible now happens with impunity. Combine that with the pressures of the NBA trade deadline and wild rumors start. In that vein…

No, the Miami Heat are not going to trade Bam Adebayo.

Don't even start, because Miami isn't. It would take something extraordinary for them to even consider it, and then they still likely would say no. Don't just take my word for it, here is what Zach Lowe of The Ringer said on his podcast.

"He is the standard-bearer, he is the culture-bearer. I don't think there's one part of them that wants to do it... Other teams I know have for sure asked about Bam and have been told 'Hell no' and the wild card you also have to consider as they sniff around at Giannis and other star players, all of those star players want to play with Bam."

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Observations after Sixers fall back to earth with OT loss to Nuggets

Observations after Sixers fall back to earth with OT loss to Nuggets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers fell back to earth Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

They had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 125-124 overtime loss to the Nuggets.

Joel Embiid goaltended a Bruce Brown layup with 5.3 seconds left in overtime. Tyrese Maxey missed a game-winning floater attempt just before the final buzzer. 

Embiid had 32 points and 10 rebounds. Maxey posted 28 points‚ 6 rebounds and 6 assists. 

The Nuggets were heavily shorthanded. Nikola Jokic‚ Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were among the many players out for Denver.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said he expects Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left knee adductor strain) to be cleared to return “any day now.” The two did full-court 3-on-3 scrimmaging after the Sixers’ morning shootaround.

The 19-15 Sixers will host the Wizards on Wednesday. Here are observations on their loss to the Nuggets:

Slow start in return to Philly 

The Sixers were not sharp out of the gates in their first game back home after a five-game road trip.

With three-pointers from Jalen Pickett and Spencer Jones‚ Denver went up 11-2. The Sixers’ offense was sloppy and the team missed its first six threes.

Embiid’s size was still a serious challenge for the Nuggets without their usual top centers. The Sixers had little trouble feeding him against Denver’s zone and he scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first quarter. 

A Maxey three late in the first gave the Sixers a 26-24 edge. The Maxey-Embiid pair had 19 of the Sixers’ 26 first-quarter points.

Edgecombe comes up empty in first half

Unlike Saturday in their win over the Knicks‚ the Sixers did not have a great start to the second quarter with Embiid and Maxey on the bench. 

Much of that stemmed from a steep drop-off scoring-wise for VJ Edgecombe‚ who began 0 for 5 from the floor and was scoreless until he knocked down a jumper with 6:52 left in the third quarter. Edgecombe missed a couple of driving layups through contact and was off on open three-point tries. 

On the other end‚ the Nuggets’ offense was three-point-centric. Pickett sunk four in the first half (7 in the game) on his way to a career-high 29 points. Denver continued to pose real problems for the Sixers despite its major manpower disadvantage. Quentin Grimes’ corner jumper with 0.9 seconds left in the second quarter tied the game at 58-all.

Talent not everything

Even with his scoreless first half‚ Edgecombe still contributed in a bunch of areas‚ as he typically does. The rookie ended up with 17 points‚ 9 assists and 8 rebounds.

He helped the Sixers take a lead as large as nine points late in the third quarter. Maxey also had his foot on the gas and the talent disparity between the teams grew clearer. 

However‚ talent isn’t everything.

The Sixers had a poor start to the fourth quarter with Embiid out. Grimes fouled Hunter Tyson on a four-point play that put the Nuggets up 104-100.

The Sixers’ situation looked bleak when Adem Bona fouled Brown on a corner three attempt and Brown made it 120-115 at the foul line. They weren’t out of it yet‚ though. Edgecombe canned a clutch three and Maxey hit a game-tying layup.

OT was chaotic. Ultimately‚ the Sixers  couldn’t execute quite well enough and paid for their rough start.

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Warriors' biggest area of need is evident as ever after loss to Clippers

Warriors' biggest area of need is evident as ever after loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Losing by one point in a game where your coach was ejected after a blatant missed call that should have been two points for the Warriors off a goaltending call gives them every reason to be as incredulously irate as Steve Kerr was with the referees. 

Emotions aside, a much larger problem couldn’t be more obvious after the Warriors’ 103-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Intuit Dome. 

The Warriors finally flipped the script on their opponent and won the turnover battle seven to 20. They swiped a season-high 18 steals, which is their most in more than four years. They scored 27 points off turnovers while giving away just seven, and their seven turnovers also were a season best. 

A loss still followed them back to the visitor’s locker room and onto their short flight back home. Why? Because the team with the greatest shooter of all time can’t shoot. 

No team is going to win shooting 38 percent overall (35 of 92) with a 24.4 3-point percentage (10 of 41). 

Steph Curry, to his standards, didn’t have the best shooting game. He went 9 of 23 from the field (39.1 percent) and 4 of 15 from 3-point range (26.7 percent), also making all five of his free throws. But his 27 points led all scorers from both teams, and the only reason the Warriors had a chance at the end was because of Curry’s back-to-back threes in the final minute and a half to bring them within one point before he fouled out at the 42.7-second mark for the first time since Dec. 17, 2021. 

Even on an off night, Curry still was the only Warrior to make multiple threes. The Warriors lead the NBA in threes per game, but that’s because he’s responsible for 30 percent of them. Accuracy and shot making has been a serious problem for the Warriors this season and must be atop the priority list now that the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline is less than a month away. 

“I thought we played well. We couldn’t hit shots,” Draymond Green told reporters in LA. “We missed a lot of shots. Lot of shots that we normally make, or can make, we missed. But we took care of the ball. We defended without fouling. I thought we did a lot of good things. 

“We forced turnovers, we just didn’t capitalize enough. In a game where you force 20 turnovers and have seven turnovers, we should probably have 130, 140 [points]. It’s unfortunate.” 

Green responded admirably one game after his latest ejection. As he put his body on the line and kept staying in the game, Green tied his season-high of 12 assists and did so with just one turnover, helping make him a game-high plus-15 in 32 minutes. 

He also was one of many Warriors who couldn’t get the ball to go through the net. The Clippers were begging him to shoot, with the Warriors veteran accepting their invitations and leaving without any party favors. Green missed all six of his threes and converted two layups. That’s about how it went for any Warriors outside of Curry and Jimmy Butler. 

Those two combined for 51 points, exactly half of the team’s total. The rest of the starting five – Green, Moses Moody and Quinten Post – totaled 15 points on 17.6-percent shooting (5 of 17) and went 1 of 11 beyond the arc. Gary Payton II was the lone Warrior outside of Curry and Butler to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting, making three dunks, two layups and one floater. 

Ironically, the hottest shooter of the night was a rookie on a two-way contract the Warriors could have snagged in the second round of last June’s draft. Kobe Sanders scored a career-high 20 points and was more dynamic than any of the Warriors’ young players still trying to prove themselves. The San Diego native made nine of his 16 shot attempts as he showcased the skill that got him drafted in the first place.

Sanders worked out for the Warriors at Chase Center prior to the draft and would have been available for them if they didn’t trade back from 41 to take Alex Toohey two picks after the Clippers added Sanders at No. 50 overall. Toohey didn’t play a single game for the Warriors, or their G League affiliate this season and was waived by Golden State on Dec. 8. 

All five Clippers starters scored in double figures. The Warriors attempted 15 more shots than the Clippers but made two fewer than them, too. For more than eight minutes of a 13-point third quarter, the Warriors didn’t make a single shot.

They now rank 27th in field-goal percentage (45.2 percent), 15th in 3-point percentage (36 percent) and 20th in offensive rating (113.6). Starting Jan. 15, Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade eligible. The trade deadline is exactly three weeks later. 

Several areas of need stick out. The Warriors still are too small, and an extra ball-handler wouldn’t hurt. Consistently and confidently knowing somebody else outside of Curry and Butler will put points on the scoreboard and be a threat from 3-point distance somehow remains the biggest problem at the start of 2026.

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Referee admits incorrect goaltending call that led to fiery Steve Kerr ejection

Referee admits incorrect goaltending call that led to fiery Steve Kerr ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr unleashed on officials early in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 103-102 loss to the Clippers on Monday at Intuit Dome, when the referees missed a goaltending call on Los Angeles.

Kerr received double technical fouls during the tirade and was ejected, but after the game, crew chief Brian Forte admitted referees did indeed miss the call in an interview with Pool Reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.

Forte detailed what led to Kerr’s ejection and why the uncalled goaltending wasn’t reviewed by officials.

AZARLY: What did Steve Kerr say to warrant the first and then the second technical fouls that led to his ejection?

FORTE: For the first technical foul, Coach Kerr aggressively approached the official while shouting profanities. After the first technical was called, he continued shouting profanities while being held back by his assistant coach. And led to the second technical foul.

AZARLY: It appeared as though an uncalled goaltending is what led to Kerr’s frustrations. Was that correctly uncalled and could that play have been whistled in order to trigger a review?

FORTE: The shot by [Gary]Payton hit the backboard prior to being touched by Collins. It should have been ruled a goaltending violation. The only way it could have been reviewed was if it was called on the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, because it did not occur in the last two minutes of the game.

AZARLY: Only in the last two minutes is where you can trigger the automatic review?

FORTE: That is correct.

Forte also explained why Steph Curry not given continuation on his made floater a few plays before the goaltending in the fourth quarter.

“Curry was grabbed around the hip by [John] Collins prior to the gather,” Forte told Azarly. “And this was correctly ruled a non-shooting foul.”

The officiating proved consequential in a game that came down to the final seconds, with the Warriors losing by just one point.

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Terry Stotts comically saves Warriors coach Steve Kerr from fine after ejection

Terry Stotts comically saves Warriors coach Steve Kerr from fine after ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Marshawn Lynch used to show up for press conferences so he wouldn’t get fined, and Warriors assistant Terry Stotts handled Monday’s postgame media availability to save coach Steve Kerr from a potential fine.

Stotts took the podium after a livid Kerr was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 103-102 loss to the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome.

“I’m up here because I’m saving Steve some money,” Stotts told reporters after the game. “So, that’s the only reason I’m here.”

Kerr was tossed from Monday’s game just over four minutes into the fourth quarter after arguing a missed goaltending call by the officiating crew.

Gary Payton II’s shot clearly hit the backboard before John Collins swatted it away, but the refs missed it, costing the Warriors two points, which proved to be pivotal in the outcome of the game.

But before the missed goaltending call, the Warriors were upset when a Steph Curry bucket was waved off because continuation wasn’t awarded following a Collins foul.

So, the blood was boiling for Kerr and the Warriors.

“What particularly?” Stotts said when asked what set Kerr off. “I think it’s that goaltending call that was missed. Well, there’s probably some other things, but that was the last straw, probably. I don’t want to speak for Steve.”

In real time, the Warriors were convinced the refs missed the call.

“I didn’t see a replay, but it sure seemed obvious at the time that it was a goaltend,” Stotts said.

Stotts said the Warriors didn’t receive an explanation from the officiating crew on what happened on the missed goaltending call.

But crew chief Brian Forte spoke to ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly for the Pool Report and explained why Kerr was ejected.

“For the first technical foul, Coach Kerr aggressively approached the official while shouting profanities,” Forte said. “After the first technical was called, he continued shouting profanities while being held back by his assistant coach. And led to the second technical foul.”

While teams usually have to wait until the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report is released the next day for the league to own up to missed calls, Forte admitted his crew got Monday’s call wrong.

“The shot by [Gary] Payton hit the backboard prior to being touched by Collins,” Forte said. “It should have been ruled a goaltending violation. The only way it could have been reviewed was if it was called on the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, because it did not occur in the last two minutes of the game.”

Despite the Warriors appearing to lose their cool in the fourth quarter, they made a late push and almost pulled out a remarkable win. Jimmy Butler’s fadeaway in the final seconds fell short, dropping Golden State to 19-18.

“There’s always going to be some frustration in a close game,” Stotts said. “The game, there’s going to be an ebb and flow of the game, but I thought for the most part, we kept our composure. You look at the stat sheet, we did a lot of good things. You look at how many turnovers we forced, we played our asses off. So I don’t know if frustration is the right word. When you’re not making some shots … I don’t think any frustration affected our game, let’s put it that way.”

Kerr, ejected for the first time this season, has earned four technical fouls in 37 games this year. It was the fifth disqualification of his coaching career.

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What we learned as Warriors' late rally falls short in close loss to Clippers

What we learned as Warriors' late rally falls short in close loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors spent most of Monday evening chasing the Los Angeles Clippers up and down the Intuit Dome floor, almost catching up despite coach Steve Kerr being ejected, Stephen Curry fouling out and a missed call by the officiating crew.

Golden State’s 38-percent shooting from the field, including a season-low 24.4 percent from beyond the arc, was the primary factor in a 103-102 loss to a Clippers squad playing without star guard James Harden.

The Warriors had 15 more field-goal attempts than LA, but only three players scored in double figures, led by 27 points from Stephen Curry. Jimmy Butler III finished with 24 and Gary Payton II delivered 14 off the bench.

The Warriors trailed by as much as 14 before pulling within one with 32.6 seconds remaining. Butler’s fadeaway over Nic Batum missed everything and the buzzer sounded.

This was Golden State’s eighth consecutive loss to the Clippers in LA, dating back to Nov. 28, 2021, when the game was at Crypto.com Arena.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s last road game until Jan. 22 at Dallas:

Stingy rims in Inglewood

When the Warriors boarded their flight Sunday afternoon, they evidently packed so lightly that upon arrival their baggage was devoid of their shooting touch.

The Warriors in the first quarter shot 28 percent from the field, including 16.7 percent from distance. It didn’t get much better over the next 36 minutes.

The starting lineup was 20 of 54 from the field, including 6 of 30 from deep. Curry was 9 of 23 from the field, including 4 of 15 from deep, before fouling out with 42.7 seconds left. Draymond Green was 1 of 7, 0 of 6. Moses Moody was 1 of 5, 0 of 3. Al Horford was 1 of 8, 1 of 5.

Golden State’s errant shooting bottomed out in the third quarter, with 13 points on 3-of-24 shooting, including 0 of 9 beyond the arc.

A Butler layup pulled the Warriors within four with 8:05 remaining in the third, but they failed the get a field goal for the rest of the quarter. That allowed LA to take a 12-point lead (76-64) into the fourth quarter.

Kerr ejected over missed call

One game after Green lost his temper after a missed call and was ejected, Kerr followed the same script. The coach was tossed with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter after officials missed an obvious goaltending call that went against the Warriors.

Payton drove in for a layup that was blocked byClippers forward John Collins after it caromed off the backboard. Any shot that’s tampered with after hitting the backboard is automatic goaltending.

Not a whistle was blown, so Kerr blew his top. He bounced off the bench yelling and gesturing at officials and was assessed with one technical foul and then another by crew chief Brian Forte. There was barely enough time to blink between the two calls. As Collins made two free throws, Curry and Payton made a futile appeal to Forte.
Though the team’s response to Green’s ejection was to rally to victory, there was no such comeback on this occasion.

The Warriors could do no more than lament the two points lost on the missed call.

The rare joy of turnovers

In most of Golden State’s games this season, the word “turnovers” has been printed across the foreheads of the entire roster. Giveaways have cost the Warriors several games and have become the most consistent bane of their collective existence.

In the first half against LA, the Warriors wiped off the ink and rubbed it onto the faces of the Clippers.

Outshot by an appreciable margin and outrebounded by a substantial margin, the Warriors went into intermission trailing by only four (55-51) because of their ability to force turnovers and LA’s inability to take care of the basketball.

More than one-third of the 51 points Golden State scored in the first 24 minutes came off turnovers, as the Clippers donated 18 points off 12 turnovers.

The final tally was Golden State committing only seven turnovers and posting a seldom seen decisive advantage (27-7) in points off the giveaways.

It was enough to keep the Warriors in position to win a game they otherwise they might have been blown out.

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Irate Steve Kerr ejected after refs miss goaltending call in Warriors-Clippers

Irate Steve Kerr ejected after refs miss goaltending call in Warriors-Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It takes a lot for Steve Kerr to lose his cool with an officiating crew, and on Monday night, the Warriors coach was set off by a missed goaltending call early in the fourth quarter.

Just over four minutes into the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome, Gary Payton II’s layup attempt clearly hit the backboard before John Collins swatted it away.

The refs blew the call and a livid Kerr jumped up and down on the sideline as the Clippers moved the ball down the court. When a foul was called on the Warriors, Kerr went ballistic on the refs.

Kerr earned two quick technical fouls and was ejected with the Warriors trailing 81-74.

Assistant Terry Stotts took over as the Warriors’ coach with Kerr in the locker room.

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How to watch Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers: TV/live stream info for tonight's game

Don't miss tonight's Peacock NBA Monday tripleheader. The action begins at 7:00 PM ET when the New York Knicks take on the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM, the Denver Nuggets go head-to-head with the Philadelphia 76ers. At 10:00 PM, the action heats up on the West Coast with a Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers showdown.

RELATED:NBA power rankings: Pistons take over top spot

See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 123-114 on Saturday. Stephen Curry scored 31 points, including six three-pointers. The two-time MVP is averaging 30.2 points per game over his last 10 games played.

Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post each finished with 15 points in Saturday's victory.

RELATED:Watch Warriors Draymond Green get ejected (again) for arguing call

LA Clippers:

The Clippers fell 146-115 to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, ending their six-game win streak. The loss marked the most points allowed by the Clippers (146) and the worst margin of defeat (31) this season.

Kawhi Leonard finished with 22 points. The two-time NBA Champion and Finals MVP is averaging 36.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks over the last seven games.

RELATED:Clippers wing Derrick Jones Jr. suffers Grade 2 MCL sprain, to be re-evaluated in six weeks

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, January 5
  • Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
  • Time: 10:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Tyrese Maxey jumps into the top five
Fantasy managers expected big things from Maxey, and he has delivered thus far.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

NBA: New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs
Fantasy Basketball Week 12 Schedule Primer: Will Victor Wembanyama be able to play?
With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the Week 12 NBA schedule is more evenly spread out.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Mavericks, Rockets to head to Macao, China, for two preseason games next fall

The NBA is sending the next generation of stars — Cooper Flagg and Amen Thompson among them — to help win over fans in China next fall.

The NBA China Games 2026 will feature the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets in two preseason games (Oct. 9 and 11) at The Venetian Arena in Macao, the league announced Monday. In addition to the games, the league will host interactive fan events, including NBA House and NBA Fan Day, as well as youth basketball clinics.

The NBA returned to China before the start of this season after a five-year absence in the wake of Daryl Morey tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong (and the feeling in China was that the league did not come down on him hard enough for that).

"The games in Macao earlier this season showed how much passion and enthusiasm there is for the NBA among fans in China and across Asia," NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said in a released statement. "We look forward to welcoming the Mavericks and Rockets to Macao and to once again engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community through the games and surrounding events."

These teams were chosen for a few reasons. One is that both teams are up-and-coming in the league and feature the next generation of stars, a trend the league is increasingly promoting (even if it feels like it was late to that game). Additionally, the Rockets have long had strong ties to China, dating back to Yao Ming's time with the team. In the case of the Mavericks, their owners — the Adelson family — also own Sands China, which owns and operates the Venetian hotel/casino where the game is being played.

"The success of The NBA China Games 2025 demonstrated the strength of the NBA in creating fan engagement and exciting experiences around the globe," said Patrick Dumont, the governor of the Dallas Mavericks as well as CEO of the Las Vegas Sands. "The NBA China Games 2026 will be another great opportunity to showcase the league, its world-class athletes and the excitement it brings."

This matchup brings significant star power to China, including Kevin Durant of the Rockets and international star Alperen Sengun. Dallas currently has Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis on the roster, but league sources expect some changes before next season as the team pivots to building around Flagg.

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How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers: TV/live stream info for tonight's game

Don't miss tonight's Peacock NBA Monday tripleheader. The action begins at 7:00 PM ET when the New York Knicks take on the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM, the Denver Nuggets go head-to-head with the Philadelphia 76ers. At 10:00 PM, the action heats up on the West Coast with a Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers showdown.

See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Denver Nuggets:

The Nuggets have lost four of their last five games, most recently dropping back-to-back contests against the Cleveland Cavaliers (Jan. 2) and the Brooklyn Nets (Jan. 4). Both games were played without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is out for at least four weeks after hyperextending his left knee in the team's loss against the Heat on December 29.

Jokic is the only player in the league averaging a triple-double. He is currently sixth in the NBA in scoring with 29.6 points per game.

Philadelphia 76ers:

The 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 130-119 on Saturday, earning their third straight win. Tyrese Maxey scored 36 points, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe both scored 26 points, and Paul George finished with 15.

“The biggest difference is we just feel better as a unit. We trust in the process of this team," said George after the win. "It’s safe to say everybody in this locker room is starting to enjoy the game. We’re starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. And I think we’re just jelling.”

RELATED:NBA power rankings: Pistons take over top spot

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, January 5
  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
  • Time: 8:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
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How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Pistons take over top spot, with Thunder sliding to third

We took a week off in these power rankings for a little family holiday vacation, but we are back — and with a new No. 1 for the first time this season after the Thunder have started to look human.

1. Detroit Pistons

(26-9, last week No. 3)
Detroit may be a team on top of these rankings and on top of the East, but it also is a team with a lot of eyes on it headed toward the trade deadline. This is an elite team, but in playoff basketball, where opposing defenses will load up on Cade Cunningham and make his life difficult, who is the secondary shot creator they can trust? Will they look to add someone such as Michael Porter Jr. at the trade deadline to fill that role? The Pistons need more shooting as well if they are going to defeat the Knicks and other top teams in a seven-game series. That shooting will get tested Monday night when the Pistons face the Knicks on Peacock NBA Monday.

2. San Antonio Spurs

(25-10, last week No. 7)
San Antonio is getting up for the big games — beating the Thunder three times, defeating the Knicks — but is letting their guard down against teams like Portland and Utah and racking up losses. That's part of maturing for this team (the Duncan/Popovich era Spurs were the best at pummeling the bottom half of the league). Victor Wembanyama remains day-to-day after hyper-extending his knee, but that is about as lucky as one could hope for with that injury. San Antonio has four of its next five on the road, including a brutal back-to-back next weekend in Boston and then Minnesota the next night.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

(30-6, last week No. 1)
The Thunder may have looked human going 5-4 in their last nine games, but they have a +8 net rating in those games (second in the league in that stretch), they have just been a bit unlucky (and the Spurs are a matchup issue). Don't sleep on how great this team has been. Oklahoma City became the sixth team in NBA history — and the third franchise — to start a season 30-5. Only the Jordan-era Bulls (twice) and the peak Curry-era Warriors (three times) started a season that fast, and five of those six teams won the title (the one that didn't, the 2015-16 Warriors, had a 3-1 lead in the Finals).

4. Houston Rockets

(21-11, last week No. 6)
The peak Curry-era Warriors could play loose and fast, turn the ball over too much, and get away with it because of Curry/Thompson/Durant. It's less certain the Rockets can do the same. They have the second-best net rating in the league this season, but also turn the ball over on 16.2% of their possessions, the second-highest percentage in the league. They miss the ball security of Fred VanVleet out top, but that is not an easy fix at the trade deadline. Houston just has to take better care of the ball (and keep up the historic offensive rebounding pace it is on). Interesting test against a hot Phoenix team Monday night.

5. Boston Celtics

(22-12, last week No. 8)
Get Jaylen Brown into another Salsa dancing class. The Celtics star was sixth in the first round of 2026 NBA All-Star Game fan voting, just outside the starting five — what are we doing people? Brown should start without question, and he needs to be in the MVP conversation. His dropping 50 on the Clippers last week — and crediting taking a Salsa dancing class — was just the latest and greatest sign of how he has played all season. Give the man his flowers.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

(23-13, last week No. 5)
Minnesota has been relatively lucky on the health front this season — they have had just four different starting lineups, the fewest in the league (by a fair amount, Boston and San Antonio are next at seven). The bellwether for this team is turnovers: in their wins they cough the ball up an average of 13.4 times, but in their losses that jumps to 15.7 — they are 7-10 in games with 15+ turnovers this season.

7. New York Knicks

(23-12, last week No. 2)
Jalen Brunson isn't just getting a shoutout from hoops fans — he is third in the East in the first round of fan voting and would be an All-Star starter — but also from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who did Brunson's signature 3-point celebration (putting his hand in front of his face) during his inauguration speech. "We expect greatness… from those who stride out onto our Broadway stages and from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in government." The Knicks are 5-5 since winning the NBA Cup, with a tough couple of weeks coming up, starting with the Pistons as the first game of a Peacock NBA Monday triple-header.

8. Phoenix Suns

(21-14, last week No. 15)
There is no hotter team in the league right now — the Suns are 6-1 in their last seven with a +9.3 net rating, and on Sunday pulled off an 18-point comeback against the Thunder, capped off by Devin Booker draining the game-winning 3-pointer over Alex Caruso. Booker is shooting just 29.5% from beyond the arc this season on the whole and 27.6% in his last five games. He's never been an elite 3-point shooter, but if that game-winner can get Booker's jumper back on track and closer to his 35.1% career average, Phoenix looks that much more dangerous.

9. Denver Nuggets

(23-12, last week No. 4)
There is actually, finally, some good injury news in Denver: Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returned to the court Sunday. The Nuggets went 11-8 with both of them out of the lineup, and with Nikola Jokic out for a few more weeks, their return could not have come at a better time. Denver is 1-2 without Jokic so far. Jamal Murray being 14th in the fan vote so far for Western Conference All-Star is a crime, the man is having the best season of his career and is a lock to be an All-Star (Jokic will get in on the fan vote, whether he will be able to play is another issue).

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

(20-17, last week No. 14)
Have the Cavaliers started to find their footing? The team went 3-1 through a rough gauntlet of games with wins against the Spurs, Suns and Nuggets (the lone loss was to the Pistons). Cleveland did it with their defense — second-best in the NBA over their last five games, and Evan Mobley's return should help that — but the offense continues to stumble. Cleveland's season will be based on their postseason success, not the first 82 games, but they need to get out of the play-in — the Cavaliers sit eighth in the East, just half a game out of the top six and avoiding the play-in. That has to be the goal. Two games against Minnesota this week continue the run of tests for this team.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

(22-11, last week No. 9)
There have been a lot of questions and criticism of the Lakers' defense of late (with good reason), but this team is doing a lot of things right. Luka Doncic is averaging 53.9 points scored or assisted a game, second in the league (to the injured Nikola Jokic). Behind Luka and LeBron James, the Lakers are 11-0 in clutch games. And, when the Lakers get a lead, they hold on to it: the Lakers are 13-0 when leading at the half, and 17-0 when leading after three quarters. When the Lakers lose, they tend to get blown out (they are 4-11 when entering the fourth quarter behind), but they are good frontrunners.

12. Toronto Raptors

(21-15, last week No. 12)
Scottie Barnes has had two triple-doubles in his last four games and is playing his best basketball of the season. In his last five games, he has averaged 18 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists a game. A strong push now makes him more likely to be an All-Star reserve, he is on the bubble after the first round of fan voting where he finished outside the top 20 (Brandon Ingram was 12th).

13. Philadelphia 76ers

(19-14, last week No. 10)
VJ Edgecombe may not win Rookie of the Year (Cooper Flagg and Kon Knuppel are your frontrunners), but he has been the most clutch rookie this season — including a game-winner against Memphis last week. Memphis doubled Tyrese Maxey to get the ball out of his hands and he found Edgecombe open for the 3. "The moment's never too big for me," Edgecombe said postgame. “It's never too big. I was ready, to be honest." Edgecombe is doing well in the non-clutch minutes, too (15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and four assists a game, shooting 37.4% from 3-point range). Philly's win over the Knicks this weekend was a reminder of why, when fully healthy, this team is a playoff threat in the wide-open East.

14. Miami Heat

(20-16, last week No. 13)
The most unexpected thing in Miami this season: Kel'el Ware, 3-point marksman. He's not exactly a high-volume shooter from deep, 2.8 attempts a game, but he's hitting 47.3% of those this season, which is a higher percentage than Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and other bigs. Teams have to at least respect Ware from deep. Miami just keeps on running — they still start 17.8% of their possessions in transition (second highest in the league) and have the fastest pace in the league.

15. Golden State Warriors

(19-17, last week No. 16)
Throw out the loss to OKC, where Golden State sat all its stars, and this team has won 6-of-7 (and the one loss was in OT). It's a good sign entering 2026. The key to keeping this run going may be getting a little more from Draymond Green — first, keeping him on the court (he's been ejected in two of the last four games he's played at the Chase Center), then getting a little more scoring. Stat of the day: Green has more personal fouls (94) than made baskets (90) this season.

16. Orlando Magic

(20-16, last week No. 11)
Anthony Black was always a high-level defender, but in recent weeks he has made a huge leap offensively. In his last 10 games, Black is averaging 20.6 points a night, shooting 43.3% from 3-point range (on 5.5 attempts a game) and dishing out 4.5 assists. Orlando has been looking for a point guard, maybe Black is ready for that job. Fun random stat: Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has been correct on 82.6% of his coach's challenges this season, the highest percentage in the league.

17. Milwaukee Bucks

(16-20, last week No. 22)
The Bucks are 4-1 since Giannis Antetokounmpo re-entered the lineup, and we're just going to ignore that it came against a soft part of the schedule because Milwaukee needs the good news. The key to keeping that going is two-fold: 1) Keeping Antetokounmpo on the court (the most consecutive games he has played this season is six); 2) Getting some wins on the road against good teams. That can start this week at the Warriors, at the Lakers and at the shorthanded Nuggets.

18. Chicago Bulls

(17-18, last week No. 18)
If you're looking for a silver lining to a disappointing season in the Windy City, the team has a league-leading 10 wins coming back from 10+ down. Chicago has gone a respectable 2-1 with Josh Giddey and Coby White missing time with injuries (White could return later this week, but Giddey is going to miss more time). Giddey finished 14th in the first round of East All-Star fan voting, but he stands a chance of making it as a coaches' selection as a reserve; he is on the bubble.

19. Los Angeles Clippers

(12-22, last week No. 27)
While Boston ended the Clippers' six-game win streak, the run was still impressive — every win by double-digits with an average spread of 20.3 points a game. They were blowing teams out. That run was thanks to one of the best regular-season stretches of Kawhi Leonard's career, including dropping 45 on the Jazz. The streak was bound to end, the Clippers had been unsustainably hot from 3-point range (41.2% from beyond the arc on increased volume in the six wins, while their opponents have gone cold from deep in that same stretch). Ivica Zubac is back, but rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser stepped up with him out and earned minutes even with Zubac back. You can see what the Clippers are doing right on Peacock NBA Monday when they take onthe Golden State Warriors.

20. Atlanta Hawks

(17-20, last week No. 19)
For all the focus on how the team is 2-8 in games when Trae Young plays, and they are more than 9 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the court, that ignores the other big factor for the Hawks this season: Kristaps Porzingis. He returned in a win against Minnesota and had 16 points off the bench, and it was a reminder of how the construction of this team was based around him — the Hawks have a +5.5 net rating when he is on the court this season. His availability is an issue, which is why the Hawks are looking into a trade for Anthony Davis (he has his own injury/availability issues). The Hawks have been one of the most active teams as we move toward the trade deadline, and the headline is they are willing — maybe even eager — to get out of the Trae Young business, according to multiple reports. The problem is that there is not much of a market for his services, league sources have told NBC Sports. Look for Young to be traded in the offseason and for a lot of people to say, “That's all the Hawks got for him?"

21. Memphis Grizzlies

(15-20, last week No. 17)
Memphis has dropped four in a row, all clutch losses at that. The Grizzies have played the sixth-most clutch games (within five points in the final five minutes) in the league this season and are 8-13 in those games, with a -7.9 net rating in clutch minutes. Make that games within three points in the final three minutes and the Grizzlies have a -11.2 net rating. Things are not going to get easier as Memphis has a brutal January schedule, and this week that includes the Spurs, red-hot Suns, and Thunder (but all at the FedEx Forum, at least).

22. Portland Trail Blazers

(16-20, last week No. 20)
The Trail Blazers are 4-1 in their last five games, doing so mostly thanks to a top-10 defense in the league during that stretch (against some good offenses). It's hard not to wonder what this team would look like if its guards were healthy: Jrue Holiday has been out since mid-November with a calf strain, Scoot Henderson hasn't played yet this season due to a torn left hamstring suffered in training camp, and don't forget that Damian Lillard has taken the season off to rehab his Achilles. There are good reasons to be positive in Portland.

23. Charlotte Hornets

(12-23, last week No. 23)
We all need more Kon Knueppel: His 3.6 made 3-pointers per game is the most ever by an NBA rookie (besting the other guys on the list, such as Stephen Curry and Tyrese Haliburton, by more than one made 3 per game). This offseason, expect to see a big pivot in Charlotte to start building around Knueppel (which is the smart thing to do). The Hornets have been one of the least lucky teams in the league this season, they have the net rating of a team that should be 15-20 (which still is outside the play-in).

24. Brooklyn Nets

(11-22, last week No. 26)
The Nets are now 0-6 in games Michael Porter Jr. has missed, the latest being a loss to the Wizards when Porter had an illness. He could be missing a lot more Nets games in the future as he is the hottest name on the trade market right now, with a number of teams — Milwaukee and Golden State are at the front of the line, and a lot of people around the league are watching Detroit — interested in the wing with a ring. Porter is having the best season of his career (having a full-time green light as the primary scorer helps), averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game while shooting 41% from 3-point range.

25. Dallas Mavericks

(13-23, last week No. 21)
Dallas went 0-2 when Anthony Davis went out with an adductor strain, and has split the two games since his return. The Mavericks are on the road for three games this week, which his worth watching because this team is clearly far more comfortable at home, where they are 9-9, but they have dropped seven straight on the road and are 3-13 away from Big D. Fans will show up on the road because they want to see Cooper Flagg, who scored 15+ points in 14 straight game up until that streak ended two games ago (when Davis returned and got some of those touches). Consider this a reminder that Flagg is the youngest player in the NBA this season.

26. Washington Wizards

(9-24, last week No. 28)
Washington has won 4-of-6 and is no longer sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. That will not be the focus for the next month, as Washington should be finding a new home for CJ McCollum — because he could help a playoff team down the stretch (he's averaging 18.6 points a game), because he deserves to be in a better spot, and because the Wizards need to focus on the future.

27. Utah Jazz

(12-22, last week No. 24)
The Jazz are sixth in the league in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 29.4 points a game in the final frame. The problem is that, because of a porous defense, they are playing teams a little less than even in the fourth quarter rather than pulling away (-0.7 net rating in the fourth). That defense is not just a fourth-quarter issue, Utah has the worst defense in the NBA this season.

28. New Orleans Pelicans

(8-29, last week No. 25)
Zion Williamson is back in the starting lineup and putting up numbers. For the first seven games after his return from an adductor strain Zion came off the bench, but he has started the last four games and put up 30+ points in three of them, his first three 30+ games of the season. However, this has not led to winning, with the Pelicans dropping seven in a row. For people saying it is time to sell high on Zion at the trade deadline, there is no market for him, league sources tell NBC Sports. Not at a fair price, anyway (teams want to talk more about Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III). The challenges are his injury history and the fact that he is guaranteed $87 million over the two seasons after this one. If he gets traded, it will be in the offseason.

29. Sacramento Kings

(8-28, last week No. 29)
Losers of five in a row and 11-of-13, with a bottom-three offense and defense, the focus in Sacramento needs to be on making trades to build for the future. Which is why the return of Zach LaVine to the lineup this week matters, he needs to show teams he's healthy (Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined with a knee injury that likely has hit out until the trade deadline, which is bad because he was drawing the most trade interest of Sacramento's veterans).

30. Indiana Pacers

(6-30, last week No. 30)
Rick Carlisle has 999 career wins and has been stuck on that number for weeks as the Pacers have dropped 12 straight. That losing streak may cost Pascal Siakam an All-Star spot — he deserves it, averaging 23.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game while shooting 37.2% from 3, but the losses are going to hurt his cause when the coaches select the All-Star reserves.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says

Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A new NBA star is about to be on the move.

The Atlanta Hawks are working with star guard Trae Young on a trade away from the franchise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein added that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a potential landing spot, with a deal possibly centered around CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract.

Young, 27 and the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, has seemed to plateau with Atlanta ever since leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018.

With the Hawks at 17-20 at the time of the report, Young has featured in just 10 games and has seen a drop in per-game averages.

He’s posting 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes on a 41.5/30.5/86.3 shooting split. Just last season, he averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds on a 41.1/34/87.5 split in 36.0 minutes, but Atlanta hasn’t developed into a serious contender for multiple seasons.

Despite a small sample size, Atlanta has fared better without him thus far.

A four-time All-Star, Young can still provide a team with a focal point at the 1-spot thanks to his elite playmaking, but his dip in long-range shooting numbers and playoff defense will be notable concerns.

Jalen Johnson has led Atlanta with 24 points per game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 27, is averaging a career-high 20.7 points on a healthy 45/38/85 split at the guard spot.

The 2026 trade deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

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Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says

Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A new NBA star is about to be on the move.

The Atlanta Hawks are working with star guard Trae Young on a trade away from the franchise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein added that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a potential landing spot, with a deal possibly centered around CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract.

Young, 27 and the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, has seemed to plateau with Atlanta ever since leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018.

With the Hawks at 17-20 at the time of the report, Young has featured in just 10 games and has seen a drop in per-game averages.

He’s posting 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes on a 41.5/30.5/86.3 shooting split. Just last season, he averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds on a 41.1/34/87.5 split in 36.0 minutes, but Atlanta hasn’t developed into a serious contender for multiple seasons.

Despite a small sample size, Atlanta has fared better without him thus far.

A four-time All-Star, Young can still provide a team with a focal point at the 1-spot thanks to his elite playmaking, but his dip in long-range shooting numbers and playoff defense will be notable concerns.

Jalen Johnson has led Atlanta with 24 points per game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 27, is averaging a career-high 20.7 points on a healthy 45/38/85 split at the guard spot.

The 2026 trade deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.