DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 06: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks reacts against Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 06, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Does the regular season matter?
Well, you need to win enough games in the regular season to make the playoffs and get a favorable seed in the playoffs. Home court advantage is very important.
But does it matter who you beat and who you lose to? Probably not. The Knicks won the season series with the Hawks in 2021, the Heat in 2023, and the Pacers in 2025, but flamed out against all three in the playoffs. They were beaten up by Detroit and Boston last year in the regular season, but they sent them home in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter what happens before the playoffs start in that regard.
So, how much do I take from the two blowout losses at Little Caesars Arena in January, the same arena that the Knicks won thrice in the playoffs last April? Not much. We all know what happened with the Celtics last year.
But there was one thing that happened in the Knicks-Celtics season series that year that made you raise an eyebrow. On April 8, the Celtics, without Al Horford but otherwise pretty healthy, came to the World’s Most Famous Arena and, after three blowouts in the season series, got caught up in a very competitive game.
The Knicks led for much of the first half, but the Celtics took control late in the third quarter. Yet, the Knicks rallied back from a seven-point deficit to take a three-point lead in the final 15 seconds, only to get their hearts broken by Jayson Tatum at the end of regulation and in overtime.
While the Celtics prevailed and pulled off the season series sweep, that game being as competitive as it was surely made the Knicks believe in that locker room, “We can beat these guys.” If they fouled up 3 or executed in overtime, they would’ve won. They used the lessons from that clutch scenario to pull off several clutch games in the second round series.
So, even though the Knicks knocked off those same Pistons last season, it’s imperative that they don’t get embarrassed a third time. They had excuses the first two games, they don’t on Thursday.
In the first game, they were in the midst of their 11-game rut where they couldn’t defend a thing, and the offense similarly slumped. In the second game, they were down OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with the still-injured Deuce McBride. Towns and possibly Anunoby will be back on Thursday, and the game will be in MSG.
They have to match the intensity. The Pistons are a team that knows they were a few key plays away from pulling off the upset last year, and they don’t like that the media still hasn’t anointed them as the East favorite. They see the Knicks on the schedule and feel hatred. They can’t get revenge until May, so they want to beat them into the ground to vindicate themselves until then.
The Knicks haven’t felt like they needed to match that intensity yet, and you can do with that what you want. It feels like they have to on Thursday, even if they don’t pull it out for whatever reason. You can’t get boatraced every single game in the regular season series. That’s when doubt starts to creep in.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on January 23, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Boston Celtics won 130-126. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets have been a top 10 team in salary dedicated to injured players during five of the past seven NBA seasons. In three of them, they’ve been in the top two. Last season, the Nets set a franchise record for games missed to injury/illness at 374, second only to the 76ers 397.
Sure, those stats loses some stock when you remind yourself they paid Kevin Durant $37 million during the 2019-20 campaign, fully knowing he wouldn’t suit up for a single game during it. Whatever you want to call Kyrie Irving’s imposed absence due to the New York City vaccine mandate factors in here too. Uncle Drew made $35.3 million in 2021-22, appearing in just 29 games.
But even if you’re willing to concede that, there’s still no arguing against the idea that the injury bug likes to dine in Brooklyn, and not at Peter Luger. It’s nobody’s fault, but that doesn’t make it any less unfortunate.
However, this year, the Nets have been relatively healthy. At the All-Star break, they’re second-to-last in cumulative injured salary, per Spotrac.
We always knew this season would be a turning point for the Nets. Brooklyn installed five rookies via the draft over the summer, becoming the first NBA team to ever select five players in the first round. Good or bad, their first steps are also the first tangible ones in a new era for the Nets — one no longer defined by star players of the 2010s, the crushing expectations that come with them, and the amplified misery that follows when one inevitably gets hurt.
Nolan Traoré, the 19th pick in last year’s draft, is part of that rookie crew … and part of the program to reduce time lost. He’s fully embracing both sides of the responsibility that comes with shaping a new age for the Nets, on the court and off.
As part of that, he’s big on preventive performance, so to speak, trying to limit the games he loses at this level. He’s had a balky knee in France. Both he and the Nets don’t want to see that replicated in the NBA. It’s a big if not much publicized part of his development and how the Nets have been treating their young players.
He’s not alone in his praise among the Nets young players both in Brooklyn and Long Island. Grant Nelson sat seven weeks to clear up his knee issues, which he said he’s had been an issue since he was 20.
“I think it really shows how good the performance staff is here,” Nelson told ND last month. “And what they’ve done to get me back on the court and be ready for when I get back on the court.”
Brooklyn selected Traoré with their second first rounder out of France in June, then paid his French team a six-figure buyout fee. He logged eight minutes on opening night, but spent much of the team’s first two months of the season in the G-League. Early on at the pro level, he looked uncomfortable, off-pace, and without command of the offense. He needed to develop a tad more. So, the Nets sent him to a place where he could.
Since coming over from Long Island in mid-December, it feels like Traoré’s come much farther than Nassau County, 20 miles to the east. The young ball-handler now resembles a confident, professional offensive facilitator starting to find his footing while not sacrificing that awesome speed…
He’s also shooting north of 40% from three since mid-January. The sample gets bigger and better all the time.
But as mentioned, while looking to give Nets fans something fresh to cheer for, Traoré’s also looking to reverse course when it comes to the injury department.
“Recovery isn’t just downtime for me,” he told NetsDaily. “It’s a non-negotiable part of my job…Staying ahead of the curve with recovery and constantly adapting my routines is how I plan to build a long and productive career in this league. Ultimately, success is being just as physically capable in year ten as I was in year one.”
Traoré’s focus on his body runs deep as blood. His brother, Armel Traoré, has dealt with hand, quad, ankle, and back injuries while playing professionally in France over the past four years and during a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nolan named Armel as the biggest influence on his approach to longevity.
“Having played in the NBA and faced his own battles with injuries, he has been an invaluable source of advice on what it actually takes to stay healthy at this level,” Traoré said. “Seeing his journey firsthand made me realize early on that talent alone isn’t enough if you aren’t available to play.”
That said, Traoré’s also seen a similar level of dedication to long-term health in his new home(s). He mentioned he’s relied “heavily” on Brooklyn’s medical staff and noted that rather than applying a one-size-fits-all program, the Nets integrate their professional expertise with a player’s personal goals to develop training and recovery plans. Traoré said he appreciates that collaborative approach more than anything. He also said Brooklyn’s helped him better listen to his body, which he claims is key.
“The most important lesson I’ve gathered from both my brother and the staff is that you have to be your own biggest advocate when it comes to health,” he said. “It is about understanding my body and its limits while using every tool at my disposal to push those limits safely.”
Traoré listed pace and the sheer physicality of the NBA as the biggest training and recovery-related factors he’s had to adjust to since coming over from France.
“Even coming from France, where the game is fast, the NBA is even faster,” he said. “I’ve had to become much more proactive rather than reactive. It’s no longer just about recovering after I feel fatigued; it’s about preparing my body days in advance to absorb that nightly impact. In this league, you can’t just play through the grind; you have to stay ahead of it.”
Traoré’s typical recovery days focus on targeting stretching and soft tissue work. He also mentioned he prioritizes mental clarity with consistent, quality sleep, as well as disciplined nutrition and hydration.
Then on the court, Traoré also noted he wears a custom brace that gives him a unique blend of support and flexibility. If you haven’t seen Traoré play, trust me, the ability to stop and go in an instant is a pretty important part of his game.
“Because my game relies on being shifty and change-of-direction, I can’t afford to feel restricted,” he said. “It’s the only brace I’ve found that feels completely natural and fluid while I’m moving, but activates instantly to protect my ankle the moment there’s a risk of injury. It gives me the confidence to play my style without compromise.”
Traoré again being strategic with when he takes off. Fellow rookie Egor Dëmin benefits this time. pic.twitter.com/aR3K8twesL
It’s all part of something more crucial to Traoré than any dime he’ll drop, triple he’ll splash, or painted area he’ll touch — to be ready not just for Brooklyn’s next game, but its next one hundred, and so on.
“Injury prevention is essential to having a long, successful career, and as an athlete, this is my ultimate goal,” Traoré reiterated. “Talent isn’t everything; the small, disciplined choices you make every day to take care of your body now at a young age are what determine your ceiling. I see this as being proactive and thinking years ahead rather than waiting for a problem to occur before addressing it.”
Traoré is starting to reap the benefits of his labor as well. Since returning from Long Island, he’s appeared in 27 games for the Nets, only missing two due to an illness, not an illness. He’s logged over 30 minutes in six of his last nine contests. In his most recent one, he became the first Nets rookie with at least 20 points and eight assists in a game since Terrence Williams did so on April 9, 2010.
“I define a successful career by longevity and consistency, specifically how long you can sustain your performance at an elite level,” Traoré went on. “To remain on the court for many years, you have to be disciplined about how you treat your body from the very start of your professional journey. It’s not just about the number of games played. It’s about the quality of those minutes and your ability to bounce back night after night.”
Dialogue today around player availability can easily spill into arguments over load management and the NBA’s recently imposed 65-game threshold for award eligibility. It’s a tiresome, static conversation that continues to flood First Take airwaves and serve as the backbone for the “this league is soft” narrative.
However, Traoré simply remains concentrated on being there for this teammates, and, of course, the fans.
“Players today have a greater responsibility than ever to use the advanced tools and medical resources available,” he said. “Meeting league benchmarks like the 65-game threshold isn’t just about award eligibility; it’s about being reliable for your teammates and the fans.”
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan fell seven points behind Inter Milan in the Italian title race after drawing 1-1 at home to Como on Wednesday.
Argentina midfielder Nico Paz put the visitors ahead in the 32nd minute following a clumsy error from Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The France No. 1 tried passing the ball from the edge of his penalty area, but Paz swiftly intercepted it and shot through Maignan's legs for his ninth league goal of the season.
Portugal winger Rafael Leão equalized midway through the second half for Milan with a neat lob, after being set up by midfielder Ardon Jashari.
Como moved into sixth spot on goal difference from Atalanta in the race for a Champions League place next season. Fifth-place Juventus is four points ahead. ___
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin over the All-Star break and will miss the Philadelphia 76ers' game against Atlanta on Thursday night.
The Sixers said Embiid experienced the soreness while participating in a right knee injury management program over the break. Following a consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.
Embiid will be evaluated again ahead of the Sixers' back-to-back road games, Saturday at New Orleans and Sunday at Minnesota.
Embiid averaged 26.6 points in 31 games this season for the Sixers and was free of the minutes restrictions that had plagued him over the last few seasons. He sat out three of the last five Sixers' games headed into the All-Star break with soreness in his right knee.
The Sixers have lost six of their last seven games in which Embiid doesn’t play.
The 7-foot center was limited to 19 games last year and 39 games the previous season. He had 40 points and 11 rebounds in a win last month over New Orleans on a night in which Paul George was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Embiid has dealt with multiple injuries since even before he entered the NBA. He suffered a stress fracture in his right foot before he was drafted out of Kansas that cost him two years. From there, it was a bone bruise here, a meniscus tear there. A busted orbital bone. A sprained shoulder. Tendinitis. Torn ligaments. Even Bell’s palsy.
Even with all the injuries, the 76ers still signed Embiid in 2024 to a three-year, $193 million extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season that doesn’t kick in until next season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors talks with his player Draymond Green #23 during a break in the action against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 13, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!
Well folks, it’s almost time. On Thursday, the Golden State Warriors will get back in action at the Chase Center, hosting the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals, though both teams look dramatically different four years later (including two of the players from that Celtics team now playing for the Warriors).
It marks the end of the All-Star break, and the start of the second half of the season … though this “half” is only 27 games, after 55 in the opening act.
I’ll admit that it’s not the most exciting return to action for the Warriors. With Jimmy Butler III out for the year with an ACL tear, Steph Curry fighting off lingering injuries, and the Jonathan Kuminga drama finally behind us, there aren’t a ton of intriguing stories for a Warriors team that would need a minor miracle to make a playoff run that outlasts the first round of the playoffs. The biggest story for the rest of the season is how Kristaps Porziņģis looks when he gets on the court … and if he can stay healthy.
Still, basketball is back in front of us, and that’s fun and exciting, and there’s much to talk about. So it seemed like a good time to do another mailbag, which we haven’t done in quite some time.
So drop your questions — no topic (within reason) is off limits — in the comment section below, and I’ll answer them all on Thursday ahead of the team’s return to action. And until then, enjoy one more night of peace before getting back to watching this fairly frustrating basketball team.
30 September 2024, USA, El Segundo: Basketball, NBA, Media Day, Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James answers questions during a press conference. Photo: Maximilian Haupt/dpa (Photo by Maximilian Haupt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
There’s a lot of smoke around a potential LeBron James return when his current deal with the Los Angeles Lakers ends at the conclusion of this season. James once again added fuel to the fire by having some nice things to say about the Cleveland Cavaliers in the most recent episode of the Mind the Game Podcast after their moves to acquire James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis at the trade deadline.
First, LeBron was complimentary of the team going out and getting Harden.
“They felt like they needed another playmaker, someone that’s been there, kind of been in this situation before, and they added James, perennial All-Star who’s still putting up All-Star numbers,” James said. “He gives Donovan Mitchell another, like, ball handler guy who can make shots late in the game.”
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
LeBron seems like he has a lot of respect for Harden. Back in June 2024, Rich Paul said that his client would accept a paycut from the Lakers if it meant he could play with an established playmaker or big man. Harden was one of the players Paul listed.
Making the move to acquire Schroder and Ellis also received the king’s blessing.
“Those pickups that they got from Sac as well,” James said. “Schroder, a former teammate of mine, you know that’s going to compete every single night, and Keon Ellis, the guy’s going to compete, make shots. Like, those guys are going to be, I think, really, really good for that team, especially in the East, where it’s a lot of bulk.”
LeBron — like seemingly every man over 35 years-old in America — has a podcast. He talks about the NBA, and Cleveland’s moves at the deadline have been mostly praised. From that perspective, his doing so isn’t newsworthy.
At the same time, LeBron has been in this business for a long time. He knows that his words have meaning, and he sees all the noise about him returning to Cleveland. If he wanted to quiet that down, he’d avoid talking about his former team — especially on his podcast, where he presumably controls what gets released.
We’ll see what happens this summer. In the meantime, James believes the Cavs are better prepared for the playoffs now.
“You’ve got to have some dogs in there, so I think they added a lot.”
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at last-place Wolves on Wednesday to give a huge boost to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.
The league leader was held to a surprise 2-2 draw at Molineux, having led 2-0 in the second half.
Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in the fourth minute of added time to complete Wolves' comeback.
“There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka told the BBC.
The draw means Arsenal has dropped points in back-to-back games and leaves it just five ahead of second-place City, having played a game more.
With the top two still to play each other at City's Etihad Stadium, the title race is too close to call.
“(It's) time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control,” Saka said.
Arsenal has led the way for the majority of the season and one bookmaker paid out on Mikel Arteta's team winning the title after it opened up a nine-point lead earlier this month.
But Wednesday's result was the latest sign that it is feeling the pressure, having finished runner-up in each of the last three seasons. It has won just two of its last seven league games.
Having blown a lead against Brentford last week, it was even worse at a Wolves team that has won just one game all season.
Victory looked all but secured after Saka gave Arsenal the lead with a header in the fifth minute and Piero Hincapie ran through to blast in the second in the 56th.
But Wolves' fightback began with Hugo Bueno's curling shot into the top corner in the 61st.
The 19-year-old Edozie was sent on as a substitute in the 84th and his effort earned the home team only its 10th point of a campaign that looks certain to end in relegation. While it did little for Wolves' chances of survival, it may have had a major impact at the top of the standings.
“Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away,” Arteta said. "I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves. But what we did in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.
“When you don’t perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top."
Arsenal plays Tottenham on Sunday. Its lead could be cut to two points before it kicks off if City wins against Newcastle on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Joel Embiid #21 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that’s not going to help start the second half on the right foot.
The Sixers have ruled Joel Embiid out for their first game back out of the All-Star break against the Atlanta Hawks with shin soreness. While he hasn’t been ruled out for any further games, the team has released a short update.
“While participating in a right knee injury management program during the All-Star break, Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin,” the team’s release said. “Following a consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.
“He will be OUT of tomorrow’s night game vs. Atlanta and will be reevaluated ahead of the team’s back-to-back this weekend. Further updates will be provided later this week.”
Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin. Following consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.
He’s OUT tomorrow, reevaluated ahead of the back-to-back this weekend, per Sixers.
So it would appear this shin soreness popped up in his right leg. That one hasn’t been plagued by injuries or required a number of surgeries, but it has caused Embiid problems as of late. He missed the last two games before the break with right knee soreness.
It’s especially unfortunate because the Sixers have really needed him on the court as of late, losing six of their last seven games without him in the lineup. Those last two games before the break were especially bad blowout losses, including a 49-point drubbing at home against the New York Knicks.
At least the rest of the Sixers’ injury report is clean, with only Johni Broome and MarJon Beauchamp doubtful on G-League assignments. That means Quentin Grimes is good to return — he missed the last two games before the break as well with an illness.
Former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have headlined the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year race for much of the season. In recent weeks, however, the perceived gap between the two has appeared to widen, with Flagg averaging 27.3 points per game to open February and strengthening his case as the class’s best player.
Yet, scoring averages alone rarely capture a player’s true impact.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at how this year’s rookie class is actually impacting games – separating shot volume and counting stats from measurable value added.
The Top Rookies of 2025-2026
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
FGOE: +0.7%PTOE: +0.0Team Record: 19-35
Cooper Flagg, this past summer’s No. 1 overall pick, is priced at -750 betting odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year coming out of the All-Star break. However, a closer look at NBA StatsHub metrics makes it difficult to argue that he has been the league’s most impactful rookie to date.
Flagg’s +0.7% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation ranks 122nd out of 224 players averaging at least 20 minutes per game this season. He also ranks 139th in Points Over Expectation, suggesting that his scoring production has been more volume-driven than efficiency-driven.
The on/off data supports that conclusion. Dallas has been 3.1 points better per 100 possessions with Flagg off the floor this year. While he has provided a modest offensive boost (+1.9 offensive rating), he ranks last on the team in defensive rating among players with at least 200 minutes played.
It’s not difficult to see Flagg’s long-term upside, but his overall impact on a 19-35 Dallas team has been less impressive than his surface-level stats indicate.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
FGOE: +6.1%PTOE: +2.2Team Record: 26-29
A month ago, we examined the league’s most underrated scorers using Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and came away wondering if Kon Knueppel could be the NBA’s next superstar.
Since then, his production has only strengthened that case. Over the past month, he’s averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 47.1% from the floor, including 41.7% from 3-point territory. He’s also converted 92.5% of his free throw attempts during that stretch – ranking ninth in the NBA among players with at least seven games played and 3.0 free throw attempts per game.
Charlotte’s team success further validates Knueppel’s positive impact.
Charlotte finished 19-63 last season, posting the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-worst point differential in the league. This year, the Hornets have already surpassed that win total and remain firmly entrenched in the playoff conversation with fewer than 30 games remaining.
Like many rookies, Knueppel has experienced defensive growing pains. However, his +6.1% FGOE and positive Points Over Expectation suggest that his scoring impact is not simply the product of opportunity. His ability to convert difficult shots efficiently has been a central factor in Charlotte outperforming their preseason expectations.
VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
FGOE: -3.5%PTOE: -0.8Team Record: 30-24
VJ Edgecombe pulled into the All-Star break averaging the third-most points per game (14.9) and fourth-most assists per game (4.1) in this year’s rookie class. However, his efficiency looks more like what we would expect from a traditional rookie 42.3% shooting overall and 35.2% from 3-point territory.
His relative offensive inefficiency is captured in NBA StatsHub’s advanced metrics, too, with his -3.5% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and -0.8 Points Over Expectation both lagging significantly behind Flagg and Knueppel.
Similar to other players in their first year, Edgecombe has struggled defensively – ranking fourth worst on the 76ers in defensive rating among players to log at least 500 minutes this season.
Nevertheless, the upside for Edgecombe is undeniable. He was named Rising Stars MVP after a dominant performance at NBA All-Star Weekend and will look to parlay that into a strong second-half as he looks to help Philadelphia improve their playoff position during the home stretch of the regular season.
The Takeaway
The gap between perception and production is where FTN’s NBA StatsHub proves most valuable.
For years, rookie evaluation leaned heavily on scoring averages and traditional box score metrics. Now, with tools like Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and Points Over Expectation, we can better distinguish between volume-driven production and true value creation.
This year’s rookie class is filled with impact players. But when isolating sustainable shot-making and measurable offensive value, Kon Knueppel stands out — even if the betting markets don’t agree.
The Sacramento Kings are losing another one of their key players for the rest of the season.
Star center Domantas Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery on Wednesday morning to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. The Kings confirmed Sabonis' surgery was successful.
Sabonis had originally torn his meniscus in November and rehabbed it before returning to the court last month, but it was ultimately decided that surgery was the best option.
The news comes just after it was reported that the Kings' leading scorer Zach Lavine had surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break; he will also miss the rest of the season.
Both Sabonis and Lavine had been at the center of trade rumors as the Kings look to rebuild, but the deadline passed with both of them staying put for now. Sacramento's 12-44 record is currently the worst in the league.
Kings starting center Domantas Sabonis is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his left meniscus on Wednesday, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other sources.
This injury is not new. Sabonis was diagnosed with a torn meniscus back in November, but opted for non-surgical treatment and sat out a couple of months. After the Kings did not find a Sabonis trade to their liking at the trade deadline, and with the tanking Kings having the worst record in the NBA this season, now seemed like a good time for Sabonis to go under the knife.
Sabonis joins wing Zach LaVine as out for the season in Sacramento. LaVine had hand surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament.
Sabonis played in just 15 games for Sacramento this season, averaging 15.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He has two years and $94 million remaining on his contract, and trade rumors about the three-time All-Star will undoubtably pop up again this offseason.
BODO, Norway (AP) — Champions League runner-up Inter Milan became the latest scalp claimed by Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, losing 3-1 away in the first leg of their playoff on Wednesday.
The club is located north of the Arctic Circle — which is farther north than any team in Champions League history.
Serie A leader Inter was seeking a seventh straight win in all competitions but fell behind in the 20th minute when midfielder Sondre Brunstad Fet netted with a neat finish.
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
Both were similar, with quick passing and unselfish assists.
For the second goal, forward Kasper Høgh rolled the ball for Jens Petter Hauge to launch a powerful shot into the top corner in the 61st.
The winger, who once had a brief spell in Serie A with AC Milan, jumped and kicked the corner flag in celebration.
The fans at the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion were cheering again three minutes later when Høgh scored the third goal after being teed up by Ole Didrik Blomberg.
Cuban's theory is that fans don't care about winning or losing. They care about experience.
"Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to," Cuban wrote on Twitter. "They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special."
For most fans, the experience is undeniably more special if the preferred team wins. Cuban doesn't see it that way.
"Fans know their team can’t win every game," he said. "They know only one team can win a ring."
His point is that long-term hope is more important than short-term success, and that tanking helps achieve the goal of building a consistent contender.
"We didn’t tank often," Cuban said of his time in charge of the Mavericks. "Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Dončić] and improve our team."
Cuban's bottom line? "The [NBA] should worry more about fan experience than tanking. It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking? A parent who [can't] afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."
He may be right about experience and affordability, with one very important caveat. Sports leagues are currently cramming their pockets with gambling money. And gamblers definitely don't wager for "the experience."
They want to win. They need to assume both teams want to win the game as badly as the gambler wants to win the bet. And while a team's "tank" rating could be factored into the betting analysis, no one knows when or where a team is going to decide to give the starting five the night off in the hopes of not winning a given game.
Legalized gambling places a premium on the integrity of sport. The integrity of the games, and the integrity of the wagers on the games.
Tanking games is a stone's throw from fixing games. Would Cuban say fans don't care about fixed games, they care about the experience?
The NBA isn't the WWE or the Harlem Globetrotters. Tolerating anything that undermines the notion that, for both teams, "winning isn’t everything but it’s the only thing" invites a major scandal driven by bets gone bad because one of the teams wasn't really trying to win.
The reality is that tanking is happening, and that the NBA isn't doing enough to stop it. A major controversy, whether manifesting itself in legislation, regulation, prosecution, and/or litigation, is inevitable.
Cristiano Ronaldo was absent as Al Nassr advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Arkadag FC of Turkmenistan that secured a 2-0 aggregate victory.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo, who returned last Saturday after missing three straight games amid reports of discontent with the club’s management, watched from the stands.
According to domestic media, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has yet to win a major trophy since signing with the Riyadh club in December 2022, is being rested for Saudi Pro League games and the latter stages of the AFC Champions League.
Al Nassr will face Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates in the first leg of the quarterfinals of Asia’s second-tier competition on March 3.
In the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite, Japan and South Korea sent three and two teams respectively to the round of 16 in the eastern zone. The top eight from each of the two 12-team groups go to the next stage.
Johor Darul Tazim of Malaysia and Buriram United of Thailand also progressed, while Melbourne City became just the second Australian team to reach the round of 16 since 2016.
In the western zone, big-spending Saudi Arabian clubs dominated with Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad all finishing in the top four. Tractor of Iran placed third, while Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Sadd advanced along with Al Wahda.
The first legs in the round of 16 are set for March 2 and 3.
