Duke freshman Cameron Boozer voted AP men’s basketball player of the week

The freshman from Salt Lake City had 29 points and six rebounds in leading the third-ranked Blue Devils to a 67-66 win over No. 18 Florida, then Boozer poured in 18 points with 15 rebounds and five assists in a 66-60 win at No. 9 Michigan State. The son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer, Cameron Boozer was the runner-up for national player of the week to Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg last week, and he was honorable mention in Week 2 of the college basketball season.

Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Derrick White excels for surging Celtics

The NBA docket is a bit less busy this week, with the NBA In-Season Tournament on the horizon. Players won’t be on the floor quite as much this week, which makes for a good time to pinpoint some guys that are trending in either direction.

NBA: Preseason-Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers
Raynaud has emerged as a legitimate backup big, and he should remain in the starting lineup until Domantas Sabonis returns.

STOCK UP

Derrick White — PG/SG, Celtics

Small sample size here, but White’s been outstanding to begin December — in four games, his 24.5 points per game on 51.4/ 40.8/ 80.0 shooting splits have been significantly better than his lower-scoring, inefficient-shooting October and November. What’s stood out most is White’s 12.3 three-point attempts per game! With him hitting threes at a high rate, the production from beyond the arc has brought incredible value from a fantasy basketball perspective, as have his recent bumps in rebounds and assists. Hopefully, this type of production is here to stay, now that White may be adjusting well to his role as one of the Celtics’ go-to scorers. Stock way up!

Kevin Porter Jr. — PG/SG, Bucks

Between the Game 1 injury and Ryan Rollins’ immediate ascension that followed, it’s likely that Porter Jr. became an afterthought to many folks from a fantasy basketball perspective. Well, he’s been back for a bit more than one week and has already become Milwaukee’s most productive player. In the five games since his return, KPJ is averaging 24.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.4 steals on 55.6/ 61.3/ 88.0 shooting splits, which includes a couple of 30-point outings with at least five three-pointers made. Whatever questions fantasy managers may have had about Porter Jr.’s reintegration and fit alongside Rollins, they should now have answers.

Dylan Harper — PG/SG, Spurs

It took a couple of games for Harper to find his rhythm, as well as his fit off the bench, in his return from an early-season calf injury. He’s been productive in the five games since, however, tallying at least 15 points in four of those five contests, while logging five assists or more in four consecutive games. The rookie guard most recently amassed a career-high 22 points against the Pelicans and dropped in a smooth-looking game-winning layup with his off hand to end the night. Whether it be his minutes, production, or confidence, everything seems to be trending in a positive direction for Harper, who’ll likely improve with more reps under his belt. Like many of the Spurs’ players, his ceiling is high.

STOCK DOWN

Myles Turner — C, Bucks

It’s been a rough go for the Bucks, who are struggling to find an identity or put together wins with or without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Regardless of the former Finals MVP’s availability, the supporting cast has been inconsistent lately — specifically, Turner. The prized offseason addition hasn’t secured more than three rebounds in a game since November 26 against the Heat, and has scored more than 12 points just once over that period. He’s also playing fewer than 24.0 minutes per game since the start of December and finds himself in an unpredictable spot just over a quarter of the way through his debut season in Milwaukee. Things could always get better as the season progresses, but vibes aren’t currently high, and neither is Turner’s productivity.

De’Andre Hunter — SF/PF, Cavaliers

Hunter’s gone cold of late as the Cavaliers have rotated wins and losses over their last five games. He’s failed to score in double figures in two of those five games, with his high being 13 points. The seventh-year forward has also tallied exactly three rebounds in each of the past five games and totaled nine assists over that time, leading to minimal fantasy production recently. Hunter could use a big game in the near future to get him back on track, but until he does, his stock will remain down.

Reed Sheppard — PG/SG, Rockets

There was a 10-game stretch not long ago in which Sheppard averaged 17.1 points and 3.0 threes per game, including a 31-point masterpiece to carry the Rockets to a road win over the Warriors that marked the moment of his young career thus far. And just when it looked as though the second-year guard was about to take off, Kevin Durant returned from injury to reclaim his high production and make Sheppard’s contributions less necessary in the five games since. As a result, Sheppard is down to 9.0 points per game and has played fewer minutes than Aaron Holiday, the current backup point guard, in three of the last five games. Sheppard’s still having a nice sophomore season, but it’s tough to say whether he’ll reach those early-season heights again anytime soon.

Why Pat Spencer passed up opportunities with other NBA teams to rejoin Warriors

Why Pat Spencer passed up opportunities with other NBA teams to rejoin Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Pat Spencer is fueling the injury-stricken Warriors with fiery performances, all while playing under a two-way contract. 

In the offseason, Spencer had opportunities to sign with other teams which would have given him an easier path to a roster spot, but opted to rejoin the Warriors, he said Tuesday in an interview with 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny and Guru.” 

“Ultimately, I just have a belief in the group that we had at the end of last year,” Spencer said. “I truly enjoy playing for [coach] Steve [Kerr] and competing with him, and just love the group we have in the locker room. And so, it felt like too good of an opportunity to pass up on.” 

Spencer, 29, made his NBA debut with the Warriors in the 2023-24 season after he signed a two-way contract in February. Last season, he played in 39 regular-season games, averaging 2.5 points per game. Golden State converted him to a regular contract in March, allowing him to play eight NBA playoff games for the Warriors as well. 

His familiarity with the Warriors and developing a relationship with the team were big reasons why he returned on a two-way contract this season. 

“Built some real momentum in the playoffs last year, felt like I gained the trust of the veterans in the locker room and much of this staff,” Spencer said. “I’m a believer in people first and foremost. So, just makes sense for me to be back here and give this thing a run one more time.” 

Spencer’s play time has increased as the Warriors wait for Steph Curry to return from injury. In the last two games, he made his first two career starts. 

With his jump in play time, his production has jumped as well. In his last four games, Spencer has averaged 16.0 points and 5.7 assists per game, leading the team in both categories in that span. 

Spencer said playing in Golden State’s system among all-time greats like Curry was another big reason for his return. 

“You look at our top-tier guy [Curry], he’s probably someone who runs five miles a game moving off the ball, draws a ton of attention… and quite frankly, it’s won us four championships here,” Spencer said. “It’s something that attracted me to come here. I feel like I can utilize my IQ on and off the ball to play off some obviously incredible hall-of-famers.” 

As a two-way player, Spencer is limited to 50 games as an active player. With 17 games played already, the Warriors might have to convert Spencer to a regular contract if they continue to need his fire throughout the season. 

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OG Anunoby's importance to Knicks' championship aspirations evident in return from injury

OG Anunoby is back in the rotation after missing nine games for the Knicks, leaving his mark with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in Sunday’s win over Orlando. Though New York went a commendable 6-3 in that span, Anunoby’s absence and recent return to the lineup only reiterated his importance to this team and its championship aspirations.

The Knicks may have traded two homegrown prospects and signed him to the biggest contract in franchise history for what he can ultimately do in April and May, but Anunoby is giving us a staunch reminder of his value in the regular season, too.   

Any Anunoby conversation has to start with his stalwart defense, which has single-handedly lifted the Knicks from mediocrity this season. With Anunoby on the court, the Knicks are allowing 105.4 points per 100 possessions, on par with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but without him, they’re at 116.7, or bottom third in the league. 

It’s a stark discrepancy non-existent with any other member of the rotation. His on/off numbers as a Knick remain absurd: he’s a +154 in 426 minutes this season, only recording one negative +/- in a game all year. 

These figures don’t just stand out, but reflect the eye test well. Anunoby’s their best one-on-one stopper and off-ball disruptor, often engaged to do both while putting up numbers on the other end. 

His presence was especially missed against the tougher opponents they faced during his injury. The Heat, Magic and Celtics all exposed weak points in the Knicks' defense that Anunoby often makes up for. 

Anunoby is the stabilizer and anchor with Mitchell Robinson’s minutes and impact limited, and we saw a lack of discipline and late-game execution on that end when Miami snuck by a win. Franz Wagner scored 37 points in Orlando’s win, taking advantage of New York’s lack of size down low and switching options.

When the Knicks desperately needed stops against a star in his bag, they couldn’t turn to Anunoby against Jaylen Brown, who finished with 42 and the W. Now compare these to New York’s win over Orlando on Sunday.

Obviously, there are factors beyond Anunoby, but he’s the biggest one. And we’ve yet to touch on what he’s brought offensively this season as the latest beneficiary of head coach Mike Brown’s new system.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The new spacing, motion, and ball-sharing principles have allowed Anunoby to average one extra drive per game despite playing six fewer minutes, and he’s converting more of them into scores, passes and assists. Getting to utilize his size and strength in more opportunities where help is less present or confident in coming over has opened up a ton for his game, like the game-sealing dunk against Orlando. 

He’s also shooting a career-high 40.9 percent from three, given the full green light to use his big frame to shoot over defenders. All this has made his game more efficient without compromising the work he’s done on the other end of the court. 

Now the Knicks have him getting back to full strength as they enter the second quarter of the season, having survived an initial wave of injuries with their spot at second in the East intact for now. Not a moment too soon, as New York’s schedule beefs up with Miami-Philadelphia-Minnesota-Cleveland as their Christmas sled and a West Coast trip early in the new year. 

Having Anunoby back in tow is huge, and could potentially bring their defense to new heights if they’re able to build on what they learned when he was gone. New York’s defense seemed to improve in some of their later games against the Raptors and Hornets, hopefully as a result of development and not strength of schedule.  

Anunoby’s return to the offense shouldn’t be understated either, with Karl-Anthony Towns still finding his footing, Mikal Bridges not exploding without him and some key guys still out. Expect him to have some big games as he finds his rhythm and Jalen Brunson needs a breather. 

If this Knicks start hasn’t felt as dominant as some fans might have liked, it’s because it hasn’t been. New York is one team with Anunoby and another without him, and he’s about to remind the basketball world why.  

Kings reportedly open-minded about trading star players before deadline

Kings reportedly open-minded about trading star players before deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings are gearing up to re-enter familiar territory: rebuild mode.

With a 6-18 record, Sacramento and first-year general manager Scott Perry are “open-minded” about discussing trades throughout the roster, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in a story published Tuesday, citing sources.

“The Kings and first-year general manager Scott Perry are using this season as a patient evaluation campaign, trying to build a gritty culture,” Charania wrote. “Teams are monitoring veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, along with 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis.” 

Sabonis was acquired from the Pacers in February 2022 in a trade that sent budding star Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana. He became a foundational piece in the Sacramento core alongside guard De’Aaron Fox, and the duo led the Kings to their first playoff appearance since the 2005-06 season the following year. 

The Kings acquired DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal in July 2024. LaVine was acquired nearly seven months later in a trade that sent the disgruntled Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. 

Despite having three All-Star caliber players, the Kings’ 2024-25 season ended with a disappointing 40-42 record and an elimination in the NBA Play-In Tournament. In the wake of that result and a subsequent struggle out of the gate this season, the team is closer to entering a rebuild phase than contending for another playoff appearance. 

In an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick corroborated Charania’s report. 

“Now, you have the shifting of the storyline and the framing, which is – it’s time to rebuild. That’s a tough pill to swallow…” Amick said. “…And right now, GM Scott Perry is trying to keep [Kings owner Vivek Ranadive] at bay and convince him that this might take three, four, five years to turn around…” 

“…I mean really, you’re just talking about Nique Clifford and a couple other guys who are part of the future. The rest of them, they’re trying to test the market and figure out what kind of moves they can make,” Amick said. 

Amick said that DeRozan, out of the three Kings stars listed, could be “easy enough” to move, but his partial guarantee for next season could make negotiations tricky. 

LaVine and Sabonis’ remaining money could make their contracts tougher to move. Amick notes that the only “concrete” team that has some level of interest in Lavine is the Milwaukee Bucks, while for Sabonis, not many teams are interested in having their offenses run through the center position. 

“That’s why Scott Perry is asking for a long runway and a lot of patience here, because the market for their guys, I don’t think, is great,” Amick noted. 

Keegan Murray might be the player who the Kings would be most reluctant to part ways with, Amick said. The 25-year-old forward signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension prior to the start of the season. 

But, as Amick mentioned, with the blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić last season, there might be no truly untouchable player in the NBA. 

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Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job'

Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler wants nothing but to see his up-and-coming Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga succeed.

Butler shared why helping Kuminga is so important to him in the latest edition of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dub Talk” with Monte Poole and Raj Mathai, adding that the 23-year-old swingman is better than he was at that age.

“Oh my God … No. He [is] way better than I was at the age he is,” Butler told Poole and Mathai. “The upside, the ceiling, it’s all of that. Now, what I will say is that I’ve been in his position — as in like starting [and] not starting, just got a deal … But he wants to be great. So, he’s asking all the right questions. He’s saying what he sees.  ‘Yo, I need to learn how to do this?’ That’s all you can ask from anybody. Nobody has all the answers; I don’t. Steph [Curry] might, actually …

“So, besides Steph, nobody has all the answers, and [Kuminga’s] asking all these questions because, once again, he wants to do right — whatever you ask him to do. You want him to play the five? You think JK wants to play the damn five? No. But … he’s going to ask, ‘How could I play the five, be effective, win my minutes and help us win?’ And that’s who JK is. And it’s my job to help as often as I can.”

There aren’t many, if any, better situations for a young player like Kuminga to develop in than the Warriors; at minimum, he gets to watch and learn from Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.

However, Butler’s journey to NBA stardom was anything but linear, making him the ideal mentor for Kuminga.

Butler understands the bumps in the road that Kuminga might — or already has — come across, and, as he explained to Poole and Mathai, will have the youngster’s back regardless.

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Arizona Wildcats rise to No. 1 in AP Top 25, face another tough test against No. 18 Alabama

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd talked about his team's ascent to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll this week, pointing out that playing on big stages with a big target on your back is why his guys wanted to play for the Wildcats. Already with four ranked wins amid their 8-0 start, the Wildcats are headed next to Birmingham, Alabama, for what amounts to a road game against No. 12 Alabama on a court that will be neutral in name only for the C.M. Newton Classic. “There's a lot of really, really good teams,” Lloyd said after routing Auburn last weekend, ticking off No. 2 Michigan, third-ranked Duke, a UConn team his Wildcats have beaten already, and No. 25 UCLA, which also fell to Arizona earlier this season.

NBA Cup 2025: Quarterfinals preview, format, how much money players can win in NBA's in-season tournament

We have reached the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the eight-team knockout round — now things get serious. Especially for the players on those teams, because the money is now very real.

"I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games," the Lakers' Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports recently.

Here is everything you need to know about the NBA Cup quarterfinals matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what happens from there.

What’s the NBA Cup 2025 format?

This is the one thing that has remained largely the same through the three years of the NBA Cup. First, all 30 teams were drawn into one of the six five-team groups (three East groups and three West groups). Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular-season and NBA Cup games.

The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference advance to the quarterfinals, where we are now. Those teams are placed in an eight-team knockout bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, until the Finals). Starting with Tuesday's games, they are single-elimination.

What are the quarterfinals matchups?

Eastern Conference

Dec. 9 (on Amazon Prime)

Miami Heat at Orlando Magic

Game Analysis: After a slow start to their season, Orlando found its footing just as the NBA Cup got rolling. Not only did the Magic sweep into the quarterfinals, but it also comes in hot, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 with a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. However, the Magic will enter the game without their best player this season, Franz Wagner, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday.

Miami has been one of the great surprises of the season, with Erik Spoelstra flipping the Heat offense on its head, putting in an up-tempo, fast-decision offense that shuns picks in favor of isolation attacks. The good news is that the Heat are basically healthy for this game, with Norman Powell and Tyler Herro ready to go. The bad news is they come in cold having dropped three in a row, and in the past couple of weeks their defense and offense have fallen off.

New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors

Game Analysis: Watch the tempo of this game to get a clue how it is going. Toronto wants to run — it starts more of its possessions in transition than any team in the league, and it's got the athletes who can finish in space with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Toronto relies on a pressure defense to fuel its transition offense, but when forced into the half-court, it banks on Brandon Ingram and his midrange game to power things (Toronto as a team loves the midrange).

The Knicks will run when they get the chance, but this is the team with the league's sixth-best first-shot half-court offense behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. New York comes in red hot, having won 7-of-8.

Western Conference

Dec. 10 (on Amazon Prime)

Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder

Game Analysis: Oklahoma City has been a juggernaut so far this season — 23-1 with a 15.9 net rating that is on pace to set an NBA record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the headlines — he appears the early frontrunner to repeat as MVP — and they have Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, but what really drives the Thunder is their league-best defense. OKC's 104.1 defensive rating is 6.5 points per 100 possessions better than any team in the league.

That said, just more than a week ago the Suns gave the Thunder all they could handle in a 123-119 loss. Phoenix has been one of the great stories of the young season and three people deserve a lot of credit for that. One is coach Jordan Ott, who, in his first season, has given this team an identity — which starts with an aggressive, pressing defense — and has them playing hard every night (something the Suns didn't do consistently over the past couple of years). The second is Dillon Brooks, who came to Phoenix this summer in the Kevin Durant trade as a defensive stopper and an energy and intensity guy, but is breaking out on offense averaging 22.3 points per game. The other is Devin Booker, who remains one of the best two guards in the game, but his status for this game is questionable.

San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers

Game Analysis: The big question heading into this one is whether Victor Wembanyama returns to play for the Spurs. He has been practicing with the team, but there is no word from the team (as of this writing), and the reports out of San Antonio make it sound like Wemby may sit this one out, too (Stephon Castle did return Monday night). San Antonio has gone 8-3 with Wembanyama out (calf strain), and in that time, the Spurs have gotten All-Star-level scoring and leadership from De'Aaron Fox, and keep an eye on rookie Dylan Harper, who has been brilliant.

The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the West, led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, Austin Reaves proving he is ready to be a second scoring option, and LeBron James returning and fitting in, doing whatever the team needs to win on a given night. One thing to watch: the Lakers are 8-0 in clutch games this season (within five points in the final five minutes).

When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals?

Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond:
Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10
Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas)
Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)

NBA Cup 2025 odds

Here are the odds for the eight teams remaining to win the NBA Cup, via our partners at DraftKings:

Oklahoma City (-120)
New York (+475)
Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
Orlando (+1200)
Miami (+1200)
Toronto (+1400)
San Antonio (+1800)
Phoenix (+9000)

How much money does the champion get?

As the Lakers' LaRavia said above, the prize money motivates the players — and every roster player in the quarterfinals will get a bonus check out of this. However, they all have their eyes on the big prize.

How big? This is how the payouts break down:

• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933
• Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373
• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187
• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093

Who won the 2024 NBA Cup?

Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He lifted them to the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City, where Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both ends of the court.

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.

Knicks' Miles McBride ruled out for Tuesday's game in Toronto with ankle sprain

The Knicks will be without guard Miles McBride on Tuesday night in Toronto due to a left ankle sprain, the team announced.

McBride left Sunday’s win over the Orlando Magic, and while initial X-rays were negative, the injury is significant enough to keep him sidelined for New York's NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup with the Raptors. 

No timetable for a return to the lineup has yet been revealed.

Playing in his fifth NBA season, McBride has been outstanding for the Knicks this year, averaging a career-best 11.6 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from three-point range. 

The West Virginia product has thrived as both a starter and a bench player this season, averaging a career-high 27.0 minutes per game under head coach Mike Brown. 

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted that with McBride sidelined, the Knicks could lean more on Tyler Kolek, or could perhaps go to more of a point-guard-by-committee off the bench. 

New York is also listing Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) as questionable.

Orlando's Franz Wagner suffers high ankle sprain, reportedly to miss 2-4 weeks

Considering how it looked when the injury happened, this is good news.

An MRI revealed Orlando's Franz Wagner has suffered a high ankle sprain, the team announced Monday.

While the Magic would not put a timetable on his return, ESPN's Shams Charania announced 2-4 weeks, which is in line with what Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes has found in his database of injuries, players usually miss about 10 games with a high ankle sprain, but that time can vary.

The injury occurred near the end of the first quarter on Sunday, when the Magic were in Madison Square Garden facing the Knicks. During a fast break, New York big man Ariel Hukporti flew in to block a pass to Wagner, and the German went to the ground and instantly grabbed his left knee. He had to be helped off the court.

Wagner has played at an All-Star level this season, averaging 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He exits the lineup just as Paolo Banchero returns from his groin strain.

Wagner will be out Tuesday when the Magic host the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game, with a trip to Las Vegas on the line.

Florida guard Boogie Fland still looking for his rhythm with a homecoming on tap

Florida guard Boogie Fland bought a hundred tickets for friends and family to watch him play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Fland grew up in the Bronx and will play at the iconic venue for the second time in as many seasons when the defending national champion and 18th-ranked Gators (5-3) continue their daunting nonconference slate against No. 5 UConn (8-1).