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Steph Curry shares how playing Klay Thompson puts NBA journey into perspective

Steph Curry shares how playing Klay Thompson puts NBA journey into perspective originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Christmas Day wasn’t Klay Thompson’s first time playing at Chase Center as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, but each time the Warriors legend returns is a special occasion for Dub Nation and his former teammates.

That admiration was on display during a moment in warmups, hours before Golden State’s eventual 126-116 win Thursday, when the ex-Warriors guard and Steph Curry met up for a pregame handshake — an interaction that elicited cheers from the Bay Area crowd.

The moment wasn’t lost on Curry, who won four NBA championships with his fellow Splash Bro over the course of 13 years before Thompson departed for the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade following the 2023-24 season.

“Yeah, [Warriors fans] don’t miss a thing for sure, especially the Splash Bros out there,” Curry told reporters after the game. “Very sentimental moment, I’m sure, any time we’re in the same space, Draymond [Green] included, so that was cool, for sure.”

The reunion came just one day after Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted Golden State is a “fading dynasty.” Both Curry and Thompson were key to those golden days, but facing each other on different teams at ages 37 and 35, respectively, certainly puts things into perspective for the Warriors point guard.

But Curry knows both he and Thompson still are capable of accomplishing more, no matter how quickly Father Time is ticking.

“It will never be normal, you know, seeing [Thompson] somewhere else, but it’s also — we’re all trying to deal with the here and now,” Curry said. “And we’re such competitors that no matter what position you’re in or situation you’re in with your teams, you still feel like you can win and you have a lot to accomplish. So, it’s a great reminder of the journey, but you don’t really put too much extra emphasis on it.

“That time will come down the road.”

There’s no saying for sure when Curry or Thompson will hang up their sneakers. But the memories they’ve made together — and the memories Dub Nation has made watching them play with and now against each other — certainly will live on forever.

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Steve Kerr misses Klay Thompson, wishes Splash Brother still was on the Warriors

Steve Kerr misses Klay Thompson, wishes Splash Brother still was on the Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ core, which won four NBA championships in eight seasons, is family.

Which made Klay Thompson’s discontent and subsequent departure two years ago all that much harder.

But more than a full season removed from Thompson leaving the Warriors for the Dallas Mavericks, the bitterness seems to have dissipated and given way to nostalgia.

Following the Warriors’ 126-116 Christmas Day win over the Mavericks, coach Steve Kerr was asked if he has gotten used to seeing Thompson on the other side, as an opponent.

“No,” Kerr told reporters at Chase Center. “I’ll never get used to seeing Klay on the other side. I miss Klay. Wish he was still here.”

Kerr’s comments echo what Steph Curry told ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon in the lead-up to Thursday’s game between the Warriors and Mavericks.

“I wish he was still here,” Curry told Slater and MacMahon.

As much as Kerr and Curry miss Thompson, that page has been turned, at least for the moment.

Thompson has one more guaranteed year left on his three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks. But the team he joined before last season is completely different, and his role has changed as well. He’s no longer a starter, having been relegated to the bench unit.

Thompson picked the Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers because he wanted to play with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. But Doncic was traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis and Irving is recovering from a torn ACL.

Two years removed from the NBA Finals, the Mavericks, who are building around No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, are a borderline Western Conference play-in team this season.

That could open the door for the Mavericks to move Thompson to a contender before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

The Warriors believe they have the pieces to contend in the West, but they have yet to consistently show it. Thursday’s win pushes their record to 16-15.

So a return to the Warriors might not be the move Thompson is looking for, if he wants out of Dallas at all.

But Curry and Thompson didn’t shut the door on it when talking to Slater and MacMahon.

“I don’t know,” Thompson told Slater and MacMahon when asked if playing one final season with the Warriors was possible. “That’s a long ways away, man. That’s a lot of basketball to be had. I don’t know what the future holds.”

“It would be unbelievable,” Curry told Slater and MacMahon of a possible reunion. “If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.’ And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him. But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far distant reality. But so did him leaving.”

Curry and Kerr have publicly stated they miss Thompson in the Bay. That doesn’t mean the four-time NBA champion will come back someday.

But it at least plants the seed.

In today’s NBA, anything is possible.

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors outlast Klay, Mavs in Christmas Day win

What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors outlast Klay, Mavs in Christmas Day win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Cheer and joy had no place for drama and coal when it came to the Warriors on Christmas this year.

Though the game wasn’t stylistically a thing of beauty, the Warriors outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Thursday for their third straight win, giving Golden State (16-15) its second three-game win streak of the season.

Steph Curry never got going, yet still led the Warriors with 23 points. Nobody else on the Warriors reached 20 points, but six others scored in double figures.

No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 27 points in his first career contest against the Warriors. Franchise legend Klay Thompson struggled shooting and scored a lowly seven points off the bench for the Mavs. Thompson went 3 of 8 from the field and made one of his four 3-pointers in 26 minutes. 

The Warriors shot an ugly 28 percent from 3-point range themselves but still had a 30-point advantage on threes over the Mavs. 

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ third straight win.

Draymond’s Christmas Response

Promises were made in the aftermath of Monday’s incident that the argument between Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr during a third-quarter timeout would not linger. The two apologized to each other, as well as the team, and turned the page.

Kerr also made it clear that the past has shown he expected the best version of Green in the next game, which just so happened to fall on Christmas in front of a national audience. 

The response by Green and his Golden State teammates had them walking the walk after talking the talk. Nobody seemed fazed by a frustrating scene a few days prior, including Green. He played spectacular defense on Anthony Davis before the often-injured big man’s day ended early. 

Davis, in just under 11 minutes, scored just three points and was 1 of 4 from the field. 

As for Green, he gave the Warriors seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two turnovers, and was a team-low minus-9. He went to the bench at the 8:46 mark of the fourth quarter with five fouls and returned for the final four minutes and 37 seconds. The Warriors outscored the Mavs by four points down the stretch with him back on the court.

Focus and composure weren’t a problem for Green after two straight games of letting his emotions take over in the worst ways.

Good Enough Group Effort

It was one year ago when the Warriors wasted Curry’s Christmas heroics of 38 points and eight 3-pointers in a heartbreaking last-second loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry this year was much closer to how he typically fares on Christmas. 

The holiday hasn’t always been kind to Curry. Coming into Curry’s 12th Christmas game, he has only averaged 17.6 points on 35.1 percent shooting with a 28.0 3-point percentage. Curry couldn’t find his 3-point shot (2 of 10), opting instead to convert a few layups and made all nine of his free throws.

Jimmy Butler didn’t go on a scoring spree and still was what Curry and the Warriors needed. Doing it all, Butler just missed a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Butler was a plus-14.

Warriors reserves scored 64 points, 10 more than the Mavs’ bench, and featured four players who ended with 10 or more points. Every bench player had a positive plus/minus, led by De’Anthony Melton’s 16 points as a plus-19. Those around Curry picked him up, and there still will be corrections to be made from film.

You Can Call Him Al

Truth be told, everybody reaches an age where their body needs a break. Al Horford, at 39 years old, is firmly entrenched in that club. Between a sciatic nerve irritation issue and missing a few days for an excused personal reason, Horford hadn’t played in the Warriors’ last seven games over a three-week stretch going into Thursday. 

That long of a break apparently is exactly what Horford needed to deliver the kind of player the Warriors always expected after signing the five-time All-Star center. The Warriors struggled shooting the ball to begin the game, missing their first six 3-point attempts. Then Horford got off the bench for the first time since Dec. 4 and brought the goods. 

Horford, in the final three minutes and 43 seconds of the first quarter, let it fly from deep four times, connecting on all four. The Warriors went from leading by two points before his first shot attempt to owning a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter, in which Horford scored 12 points on a perfect 4 of 4 beyond the arc. 

The 19-year NBA veteran also made history in the first quarter alone. Horford became the first player ever to make four 3-pointers in a Christmas game at 39 or older. In 11 minutes off the bench, Horford was a plus-9 with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting while adding four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

A Christmas miracle or just one game? Horford looked spry and resembled what the Warriors would love to see as often as possible the rest of the season.

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Steph Curry rocks Klay Thompson's shoes during Christmas Day game vs. Mavericks

Steph Curry rocks Klay Thompson's shoes during Christmas Day game vs. Mavericks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Since parting ways with Under Armour in November, sneaker free agent Steph Curry has put a lot of thought into the shoes he wears when he arrives at the arena, when he warms up and when he plays in the games.

And Christmas Day was no different for the Warriors superstar.

After arriving in Kobe Bryant’s “Yellow Toe” Player Edition of Allen Iverson’s Reebok Question kicks and warming up in his original 2010 Nike Christmas sneakers, Curry wore Klay Thompson’s KT11 shoes during the actual game.

Curry and Thompson spent 13 years and 11 seasons as Warriors teammates before the latter asked out and was traded to the Mavericks following the 2023-24 NBA season.

While they no longer share the same backcourt, the love between the Splash Brothers remains unbreakable.

Before Thursday’s game, Curry and Thompson shared a quick embrace during their respective pregame warmup routines.

There’s rhyme and reason behind just about everything Curry does, and Thursday’s gesture clearly was a tribute to his former running-mate and lifelong friend.

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Draymond Green perfectly claps back after Charles Barkley shades Warriors

Draymond Green perfectly claps back after Charles Barkley shades Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Charles Barkley wasn’t in the Christmas spirit on Thursday morning.

The “Inside The NBA” Grinch threw shade at the Warriors while welcoming Draymond Green to ABC’s telecast before the New York Knicks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We’re going to have you back here once the playoffs start,” Barkley told Green, signifying that he believes the Warriors will miss the first round of the NBA playoffs.

“Shaq, we’ll bring our rings and share them with Chuck,” Green said in response to Barkley.

Barkley is the most well-known Warriors detractor, and even after they won four NBA titles in the last 11 seasons — four more than he ever won — he still takes at them whenever he can.

But Green, a prolific trash-talker, has found a way to take shots at Barkley.

Green and Shaquille O’Neal, Barkley’s “Inside The NBA” co-host, have been doing a “Four Rings Handshake” ever since the Warriors won the 2022 NBA championship, a not-so-subtle jab at Barkley.

“It was always to pick on Charles … it’s so fun picking on Charles,” Green told former co-host Baron Davis on “The Draymond Green Show” in May. “And Chuck’s such a good sport about everything and funny as hell.”

Entering Thursday’s Christmas Day clash with the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors hold the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed, which would mean they would have to escape the NBA play-in tournament to secure a playoff spot.

Green and the Warriors made it out of the play-in tournament last season and then upset the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets before falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round after Steph Curry sustained a hamstring injury in Game 1 of that series.

If the Warriors can replicate that success this season, Green won’t join Barkley until at least May.

But if Green has it his way, in a dream scenario, he never joins Barkley in the studio this spring as he helps lead the Warriors on a magical run to a fifth NBA title.

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'A million choices': Lakers' defense will get a Christmas Day test vs. Rockets

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 20, 2025: Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) pulls on the jersey of LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) near the basket in the second half at the Intuit Dome on December 20, 2025 in Inglewood, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Forward LeBron James, guarding Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, and the Lakers have lost two games in a row for the first time this season, in part because of lackluster defense. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It’s not the lineups, the injuries or necessarily the system. The cause of the Lakers' defensive demise is a thousand little decisions gone wrong.

“It comes down to just making the choice,” coach JJ Redick said after the Lakers gave up 132 points in a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. “It's making the choice. There's shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can't. It's just a choice and there's a million choices in a game, and you're very likely not gonna make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of 'em correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Lakers (19-9) are ranked 28th in defensive rating in the last 14 games entering a Christmas Day showcase against the Houston Rockets at 5 p.m. PST at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers, without any individual shutdown defenders, need a perfectly executed team defense to compete. But 15 different starting lineups in 28 games has delayed some of the team's ability to build continuity. The Lakers have had their full complement of 14 standard contract players for two games.

Forward Rui Hachimura (groin) and Luka Doncic (leg) could return Thursday. Guard Gabe Vincent, one of the team’s top defensive options on the perimeter, will miss his fourth game with lower-back soreness. Center Jaxson Hayes tweaked his left ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss and didn’t return.

The Rockets (17-10) limp into the Christmas Day blockbuster with their own struggles. The team thought to be one of the few who could challenge Oklahoma City in the West has lost five of its last seven games. Three of the losses were in overtime and four came against teams currently out of the play-in picture, including Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers.

Read more:Austin Reaves' return can't save Lakers from dismal defensive effort in loss to Suns

Led by Kevin Durant’s 25.2 points, the Rockets are a statistical anomaly in the sped up, possession-maximizing modern NBA. They have the third-ranked offense in the league despite being one of the slowest. They shoot the fewest three-pointers per game, but make them at a 40% clip that ranks second, and dominate the glass with NBA-leading 48.7 rebounds and 16.1 offensive rebounds per game.

Houston’s physicality and expertise on the boards could be especially worrisome for a team that still has to consciously choose defense on a possession-by-possession basis instead of consistently living up to a standard of playing hard.

“There's really no defense, no scheme we can do when we're giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, our [opponents] are getting wherever they want on the court,” guard Marcus Smart said after Tuesday’s loss. “And there's no help, there's no resistance, there's no urgency. … It's on us.”

The Suns grabbed 12 offensive rebounds against the Lakers on 35 missed shots, an offensive rebounding rate of 34.3%. After the Suns scored a three-pointer by twice grabbing offensive rebounds off tipped balls, Lakers players had an animated discussion in a timeout with Smart was gesturing toward center Deandre Ayton about tipping rebounds. Ayton, who finished with 10 rebounds and 12 points, and Smart ended the timeout with a high-five.

“[I need to] just continue to talk to guys, even though sometimes they might not want to hear it,” said Smart, a free-agent addition the Lakers coveted for his leadership and tenacity on defense. “Especially when we losing, nobody wants to hear it, myself included, but also understand that it's integral for us to hear those things, to see and to be able to talk to one another and figure it out as players on the court, because we're the ones out there.”

Redick intentionally built in moments for players to connect and communicate during every timeout this season before coaches speak. The strategy was meant to encourage players to take a larger leadership role. “Championship communication” was one of the team’s three pillars.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, foulds Clippers guard James Harden on a layup.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, foulds Clippers guard James Harden on a layup during their game Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Along with “championship shape,” Redick also asked his team to build “championship habits.” Living up to the mantras is easier said than done.

“It's not the easy choice,” Redick said. “It's human nature. … We do it on a daily basis. We make easy choices cause it's comfortable. Comfortable doesn't win.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Fantasy Basketball Week 10 Injury Report: How much longer will Luka Dončić sit?

Christmas Eve means that the entire NBA is off for the first time since Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, one day isn't enough to help with the recovery of some of the league's most important players, leaving many fantasy managers to scour the waiver wire for help in the final days of Week 10. And while there are some key injuries, most notably Luka Dončić, other teams have already shifted into "injury management" mode, opening the door for some unheralded players to step up. Let's look at some key injuries heading into the second half of Week 10.

G Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Thomas has not appeared in a game since straining his left hamstring on November 5, but he is progressing in his recovery. As of Sunday, the guard was cleared to resume 5-on-5 activities, and Thomas went through a session the day prior without any issues. There still isn't a timeline for a return to game action, but Thomas's presence on the floor affects multiple Nets.

Terance Mann (three percent rostered, Yahoo!) may be the player most likely to move out of the starting lineup, even though he was a starter at the time of Thomas' injury. That's because of the development of rookie Egor Dëmin (eight percent), as it would clearly be in the Nets' best interest to let him develop in his current starting role. Dëmin's fantasy value remains relatively low, but he and Danny Wolf have been the Nets' most promising rookies thus far.

C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets

Kalkbrenner has missed the last two games with an elbow injury. Mason Plumlee (less than one percent) started the December 22 loss to the Cavaliers, but he did not play in Tuesday's win over the Wizards due to a groin injury. Moussa Diabaté (10 percent) received the starting nod, finishing with 12 points, 18 rebounds and one assist in 36 minutes. Even when he did not start against Cleveland, Diabaté was the superior streaming option with Kalkbrenner out. Behind him, the Hornets had to go small, with Tidjane Salaün (one percent) picking up additional minutes off the bench. Diabaté is the only player to consider if Kalkbrenner remains out.

F Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

Buzelis exited Tuesday's win over the Hawks during the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury and did not return. At the time of publication, no update was available on the second-year forward's injury or whether he will have to miss time. Josh Giddey (100 percent) re-entered the game after Buzelis' injury, but he clearly isn't available on waiver wires. If Buzelis has to miss time, Ayo Dosunmu (17 percent) and Kevin Huerter (12 percent) are the two players who stand to benefit most from additional opportunities and playing time.

F P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks

Washington did not play in Tuesday's win over the Nuggets due to right midfoot soreness, opening up a spot in the starting lineup for Jaden Hardy (less than one percent). He played 27 minutes against Denver, finishing with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal, shooting 5-of-9 from the field. Regardless of Washington's availability for Thursday's game against the Warriors, Naji Marshall (25 percent) is a player who should be more popular in 12-team formats. As for Hardy, there's no need to target him as a streamer if Washington remains out.

NBA: Houston Rockets at Sacramento Kings
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Russell Westbrook and Brook Lopez back into fantasy relevance
Brook Lopez has an opportunity to produce for the Clippers and fantasy managers with Ivica Zubac sidelined.

F Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets

Johnson suffered a knee injury during Tuesday's loss to Dallas and was due to undergo an MRI on Wednesday. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, he has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and is expected to miss time. As was the case when Peyton Watson (18 percent) missed a few games, Tim Hardaway Jr. (eight percent) and Bruce Brown (10 percent) are the players who are likely to be first in line to fill the resulting vacancy in the starting lineup. Of course, the Nuggets are still awaiting the returns of Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, who may not be available until early January.

F/C Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

Jackson suffered a head injury during Monday's loss to the Celtics and was not available for Tuesday's loss to the Bucks. Starting center Jay Huff (29 percent) only played 21 minutes on Tuesday, but he would be the "best" option for fantasy managers willing to consider rostering a Pacers center. The team recently re-signed James Wiseman (less than one percent), and he played 12 minutes off the bench on Tuesday. The Pacers were also willing to go small at times, factoring into Jarace Walker (two percent) picking up a few additional minutes off the bench. Even with Huff as the starter, he's averaging only 19.6 minutes per game this season; there aren't any appealing options on the Pacers' roster.

C Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers

Zubac suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain during Saturday's win over the Lakers and has been ruled out for at least three weeks. Brook Lopez (15 percent) moved into the starting lineup for Tuesday's win over the Rockets, producing five points, six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. He's been challenging to rely on in fantasy basketball this season, and that's unlikely to change, even with Zubac's injury. First-round pick Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (less than one percent) played 15 minutes off the bench on Tuesday and is a better option for dynasty league managers who can afford to stash him than redraft leagues.

G Luka Dončić and F Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers

Dončić suffered a leg contusion during Saturday's loss to the Clippers and did not play in Tuesday's loss to the Suns, while Hachimura has missed the last two games with a groin injury. Nick Smith Jr. (less than one percent) and Jake LaRavia (seven percent) moved into the starting lineup, with the latter's four defensive contributions being most notable about their performances. While LaRavia would be worth a look in deep leagues if Hachimura remains out on Thursday against the Rockets, there's no need to consider Smith.

The expectation is that Luka is on track to play Thursday, so Smith may be headed to the bench regardless of what happens with Austin Reaves' minutes restriction. Reaves, who missed time with a calf injury, logged 22 minutes off the bench on Tuesday.

F/C Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies

By itself, Clarke's injury would not affect fantasy basketball. However, he was Zach Edey's replacement in the starting lineup before going down with a strained right calf. Jock Landale (12 percent) filled in for Clarke for the December 22 loss to the Thunder, but Santi Aldama (45 percent) received the nod for the December 23 win over the Jazz. And he went off, finishing with 37 points, five rebounds, seven assists, one steal and seven three-pointers in 34 minutes. While starting would make Landale worth a look in deep leagues, Aldama deserves consideration in 12-team formats, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

F Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

McDaniels suffered an oblique injury during Minnesota's December 21 win over the Bucks and did not play two nights later against the Knicks. Mike Conley (one percent) moved into the starting lineup, finishing with eight points, one rebound, two assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 30 minutes. Even if McDaniels remains sidelined, Conley's production has not been good enough to merit rostering in most leagues. Bones Hyland (three percent) has earned rotation minutes recently, but there should be better options available on most waiver wires.

G/F Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

Jones has been banged up recently, first developing a migraine after taking a hit to the face during Saturday's win over the Pacers. He was able to play two nights later against the Mavericks, but then the Pelicans wing sprained his right ankle. Jones did not play in Tuesday's loss to the Cavaliers, resulting in Bryce McGowens (one percent) moving into the starting lineup. In 31 minutes, McGowens recorded eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and one three-pointer.

If Jones has to miss more time, fantasy managers would be better off targeting Saddiq Bey (36 percent), especially as he continues to start over Zion Williamson. Williamson's minutes limit will disappear at some point, but Bey has played well enough to continue figure prominently in the rotation, even if he's pushed to the bench.

G Jalen Brunson and F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

Neither Brunson nor Anunoby traveled with the team for Tuesday's loss to the Timberwolves, staying back in New York to get a little more time off for injury maintenance reasons. Both should be fine for Thursday's game against the Cavaliers, with Brunson already cleared and Anunoby listed as probable. Tyler Kolek (three percent) and Mitchell Robinson (16 percent) moved into the starting lineup, with the former recording career-highs in points and rebounds. Kolek isn't worth holding onto when Brunson is available, but his recent performances have made the second-year guard a player worth keeping in mind for nights when the Knicks rest their star point guard. And with the Knicks not having more than one day off at any point until January 14, it would be unsurprising if starters not named Mikal Bridges get an occasional night off.

G Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mitchell did not play in Tuesday's loss to the Spurs after entering the league's concussion protocol following Monday's win over the Grizzlies. While he may not be a starter, the second-year guard has played well enough to put himself on the radar of some standard leagues despite coming off the bench on most nights. The minutes that would have gone to Mitchell were spread among multiple players, including Cason Wallace (25 percent), Alex Caruso (nine percent) and Isaiah Joe (five percent). While Joe boasts the highest scoring average of the trio, Wallace's 2.3 steals per game have made him the best option for category league managers.

G Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns

Allen has been out since December 14, missing the last three games due to right knee injury management. Royce O'Neale (15 percent) has returned to the starting lineup, averaging 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.3 three-pointers in 28 minutes per game. He's mainly worth a look for those needing steals and three-pointers, but that's about it. And it's always a good time to target Collin Gillespie (31 percent), especially with Jalen Green unlikely to return from his hamstring injury until sometime in January.

F Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

Grant has missed Portland's last three games with a sore Achilles tendon. While this isn't believed to be an injury that will sideline the forward for an extended period, it does affect the Trail Blazers' rotation. Kris Murray (one percent) moved into the starting lineup, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 30.7 minutes. While the playing time is encouraging for the former first-round pick, the production isn't enough to make Murray a player worth streaming if Grant remains out.

F Keegan Murray and G Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

Unfortunately, Murray's name was added to the long list of players who have suffered calf injuries this season. The Kings' forward had to exit Tuesday's loss to the Pistons after playing 20 minutes, having appeared to tweak his right calf. Rookie Nique Clifford (one percent) was the replacement, and he finished with 14 points, two rebounds, two steals and two three-pointers in 25 minutes. With Zach LaVine also sidelined, the rookie wing's playing time increased even before Murray's injury.

Clifford isn't someone to target if Murray misses time, but he is worth tracking. Something else to watch in Sacramento is Malik Monk's (19 percent) playing time. He played 14 minutes off the bench on Tuesday and five two nights prior against the Rockets. The veteran guard picked up two DNP-CDs before then, with injuries getting him back onto the fringe of the Kings' rotation. If Murray has to miss time, Monk would be a better streaming option, provided he receives rotation minutes.

C Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

The lower back injury that first became a problem for Poeltl during the preseason flared up recently, sidelining him during Toronto's December 21 loss to the Nets. The 7-footer did not play at all in Tuesday's win over the Heat, with Sandro Mamukelashvili (11 percent) moving into the starting lineup. In 27 minutes, Mamu tallied 14 points, six rebounds, seven assists, one steal and four three-pointers.

And he wasn't the only Raptors frontcourt player to provide solid value in Poeltl's absence. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (two percent) recorded his first double-double, finishing with 11 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, one block and one three-pointer in 25 minutes off the bench. While Mamu is the superior streaming option if Poeltl remains out, Murray-Boyles is worth keeping an eye on.

F Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

It looks like we're at the point in the season when the Jazz begin to sit some of their established players for "injury management" reasons. Neither Markkanen nor Jusuf Nurkić played in Tuesday's loss to the Grizzlies, resulting in Utah starting Kevin Love (one percent) and Kyle Filipowski (24 percent). Filipowski, who can probably be rostered even when Markkanen and Nurkić are available, finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in 35 minutes.

Deeper into the rotation, Taylor Hendricks (one percent) may be a "silly season" option in deeper leagues where Filipowski has already been claimed after the trade deadline. He recorded a line of 21 points, four rebounds, one assist, three steals and two three-pointers in 27 minutes off the bench.

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NBA Christmas 2025: Five things to watch across five NBA Christmas games

While the NFL has entered the arena, Christmas Day remains one of the biggest days on the NBA calendar — the biggest stars in some of the best matchups. It is a showcase day for the league.

That showcase happens across a slate of five games — Cavaliers at Knicks, Spurs at Thunder, Mavericks at Warriors, Rockets at Lakers, Timberwolves at Nuggets — and here is what to look for in each of those contests.

Can Cavaliers slow Brunson, Knicks offense?

Christmas Day in New York City is one of the NBA's great traditions, and this year Spike Lee and the Knicks faithful are going to get the present of offensive fireworks.

In the last four games Jalen Brunson has played, the New York Knicks have a 121.6 offensive rating, third best in the NBA for that stretch— and that doesn't even count their NBA Cup championship game. Brunson has been the spark in those contests, scoring 40, 25, 22 and 47. Ignore Miike Brown's way-too-early argument that Brunson should be the MVP, but know that he's not wrong in making the case for the Knicks' guard has to be considered one of the best offensive players in the game.

Meanwhile, without Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley for the last five games (and he will be out on Christmas, too, due to a calf strain), the Cavaliers have had a bottom-five defense in the league. While Cleveland won its last two games, it was because the Cavs' offense exploded for 139 and 141 points.

All of which sets up a high-scoring, entertaining first game of the Christmas Day showdown (of what we thought would be the two best teams in the East, but Cleveland has not lived up to the hype). The challenge for Cleveland is whether it can get enough stops to stay close.

One other thing to watch: Brown has the Knicks playing faster, and with that, both teams want to run, while neither is particularly good at stopping opponents in transition. The team that gets the most easy buckets by winning the transition battle may take the game.

Can the Spurs upset the Thunder for a third time?

Welcome to the best game of the day — and the NBA's best budding rivalry.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have made the Thunder look human, beating them twice in the last week. Do that a third time and we're going to have some serious questions. For both teams.

Not many teams have the perimeter athleticism to match up with Oklahoma City, but San Antonio does, with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell. The Spurs look like a legitimate top-four team in the West that can host a playoff round, which is way ahead of schedule for this young roster.

One big X-factor in this game: Luke Kornet. Signed last summer as Wembanyama's backup, he remains the starter even with Wemby back (Wembanyama is coming off the bench as the Spurs try to limit his minutes). Kornet has thrived and proven to be a problem for the Thunder this season.

Oklahoma City doesn't need to make a statement in this game — they remain the clear team to beat in the NBA and even with the losses are on a 71-win pace — but on their home court after a couple of losses don't be surprised if they come out looking to remind everyone why this team started 24-1, and just how suffocatingly dominant their defense can be.

OKC is led by reigning MVP (and current frontrunner to repeat) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams taking turns on any given night to see who is the second-best player on the team. They bring lockdown defenders like Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace off the bench.

Don't be surprised if the Thunder looks every bit that dominant team on Christmas… but underestimate these Spurs at your own peril. The Thunder won't.

Curry who? Come to watch the future: Cooper Flagg

If there has been a theme in the NBA in 2025, it's been the changing of the guard. While Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant are still high-level players and big draws (especially for casual fans), the league itself has started to move on.

Enter Cooper Flagg.

The No. 1 pick out of Duke has found an offensive comfort level and is thriving this season in Dallas. He looks like a future top-five player in the league. Just ask the Nuggets.

One thing to watch in this game is how Flagg handles what will be physical defense from Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. The Warriors are going to try to knock the rookie off his game. Literally.

The X-factor in this game may be Dallas center Anthony Davis — if he is dominant in the paint, as he was against Denver Tuesday, he's going to find room to operate and put up numbers. Maybe Steve Kerr adjusts and puts Green on Davis, but that just provides chances for Flagg to do his thing.

Also, while there will be a lot of chatter around the latest spat between Green and coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors have already moved on – they have been there, done that with these fights and just look past it. That will not impact them in this game. Flagg is the much bigger problem.

Durant vs. LeBron? Sure. But which team can get stops?

The first thing to watch with this game: Luka Doncic is expected to play after missing the last two Lakers games with a leg contusion. It's a safe bet he takes the court (and shows off his new signature shoe), but it's something to at least monitor.

Houston in Los Angeles got the prime time slot on Christmas Day because it's Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. It's the first time these two future Hall of Famers have faced off on Christmas Day since 2018, and it's always a show when they do.

The KD/LeBron matchup also might be the fourth-most interesting thing about this game.

At the top of the list of things to watch is a question about the defenses – both teams are struggling on that end to get stops of late.

"The theme with our team, these young teams that move, we just can't move. It's like we're stuck in mud," Lakers coach J.J. Redick said Tuesday, calling out his team's defense in a blowout loss to the Suns. The Rockets are a young team that can move.

The Lakers have the 28th-ranked defense in the NBA over the last seven games — and the Rockets are 27th. Houston is 2-5 in those games because their defense can't get stops, as evidenced by Kawhi Leonard torching them for 41 points on Tuesday. Whichever team gets stops should take this one.

For fans who just start watching the NBA at Christmas, there's going to be a lot of, "Who is this Sengun guy?" Kevin Durant might have asked that when he got to Houston, but not anymore — Durant and Sengun, both locks to be All-Stars, have developed real chemistry. Sengun is averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists a night as the hub of the Houston offense.

"The way Kevin plays, he's a good fit with anybody," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Durant. "With his hands on the basketball, whether it's catch-and- shoot, whether it's pick-and-roll with him and Sengun, whatever it may be, when you have a great talent like that, he can fit around anyone."
One Xs and Os thing to monitor: The Lakers switch more on defense than any team in the league, and surprisingly, the Rockets have struggled against teams that switch a lot.

Can Anthony Edwards grab the spotlight?

The best player walking the face of the earth is in this nightcap game. Nikola Jokic is again averaging a triple-double — 28.9 points, 12 rebounds and 10.9 assists a game — and playing like an MVP.

However, the story to watch is the guy in the other uniform: Anthony Edwards.

Denver has beaten Minnesota twice this season already, and in the one game Edwards played he put up 26 points, but on 8-of-23 shooting. The Nuggets' defense, with Aaron Gordon, can make Edwards work for his points.

Except Gordon is out with a hamstring injury. The Edwards assignment may have fallen to Cameron Johnson, but he suffered a knee bruise on Tuesday night that will keep him out for a while (though it looked like it might have been worse; the Nuggets will take the bruise). A third starter, Christian Braun, is also out.

All of this leaves this season's Nuggets looking too much like last season's Nuggets — Jokic is brilliant, but there isn't enough around him.

Which gives Edwards a chance to be the superstar in this game.

"I don't think it's no pressure. I don't think I'm under a spotlight. I don't really think I'm a superstar," Edwards said recently. "I think to some people I may be. But to myself, I'm really not. So I don't really put no pressure on myself. They got other guys in the league for that."

He may not feel the pressure, but he is that guy.

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James Nnaji, whose draft rights are owned by Knicks, joins Baylor with immediate college basketball eligibility: reports

James Nnaji, whose NBA Draft rights are owned by the Knicks, enrolled at Baylor University with immediate eligibility to play college basketball this season, according to multiple reports Wednesday. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress first reported the news, citing Nnaji's agents at Gersh Sports.

The 21-year-old center was on the Knicks' 2025 Summer League team and played in all five of New York's games. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes.

Nnaji, whom the Knicks' Summer League roster listed at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, spent the past five years and change playing overseas.

The Detroit Pistons selected Nnaji with the 2023 NBA Draft's No. 31 overall pick -- the first selection in the second round -- and traded his rights to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Knicks acquired his rights in October 2024 when they made their three-team trade with the Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves, which brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

The Makurdi, Nigeria, native's playing career continues on a Baylor team that is 9-2 overall entering Monday's game against Arlington Baptist. The Bears open Big 12 Conference play next Saturday, Jan. 3, at TCU.

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Fantasy Basketball Christmas Day Slate Breakdown

Christmas Day delivers an NBA feast, with five marquee matchups featuring playoff implications, star power and plenty of fantasy basketball intrigue. From a bruising Eastern Conference showdown at Madison Square Garden to a heavyweight clash between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, this slate offers no shortage of storylines.

[It's not too late to create or join a High Score league, a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring]

Injuries loom large across several games, creating potential value swings and unexpected rotation changes. Superstars like Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell headline the action, while emerging contributors could swing outcomes. Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of what to watch as the NBA takes center stage on Christmas.

New York leads this season series 1-0. It's 7-3 over its past 10 games and it is 14-2 at home. Cleveland is 5-5 over its past 10 and is 6-6 on the road.

Like many of the games on this Christmas Day slate, there’s a notable injury report. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are both questionable, while Evan Mobley remains sidelined. Potential absences to Brunson and Anunoby could lead to more minutes for Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson, plus Mitchell Robinson and wing players like Ariel Hukporti.

For the Cavs, Dean Wade has been starting in place of Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill is coming off a great performance and will help with the team’s offensive punch. Jaylon Tyson and Jarrett Allen should also continue seeing expanded roles. Donovan Mitchell has been Cleveland’s best performer, averaging 31.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals this month.

Brunson has been New York’s best player, but know for sure that Karl-Anthony Towns will be available. In December, he’s producing 23.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals.

The Spurs lead this season series 2-0. They’re 9-1 over their past 10, winning seven straight and are 10-5 on the road. OKC is 7-3 over its past 10 and is undefeated at home.

This game has a much cleaner injury report than Cavs/Knicks, though Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell are notably questionable. Their potential absences could create more opportunities for Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and others. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to produce at an MVP level, averaging 32.4 points, 6.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in December.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has come off the bench for five straight games and produced 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks in 20.6 minutes. It’s unclear if he’ll rejoin the starting five and see a minutes increase for Christmas Day.

This is the first time these teams have faced off this season. The Mavericks are 3-9 on the road but are 6-4 overall across the past 10 games. Golden State is 9-4 at home and 5-5 across the past 10 games.

Dallas has a handful of role players questionable for this game, and one starter in PJ Washington. Cooper Flagg is coming off an excellent performance, with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against the Nuggets. Anthony Davis has rounded back into form as well, averaging 26.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks across his past six games.

For the Warriors, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler continue to be the team’s go-to options offensively. Curry is averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals over his past five. During that same stretch, Butler is averaging 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals.

This is the first matchup of the season for these squads. Houston is 9-8 on the road and 4-6 across the past 10. The Lakers are 7-4 at home and 5-5 over the past 10.

Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura are questionable for this one, as is Jaxson Hayes. That means we could see expanded roles from Austin Reaves and LeBron James as the Lakers’ primary creators, while Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart could see extra run. Reaves played 22 minutes in his return from a calf strain on Tuesday but should be at full strength for Christmas. In his prior 10 games, he averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Over LeBron’s past six games, he’s putting up 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals. The Rockets are being led by Alperen Şengün, who is having a career year with 23.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Denver leads this season series 2-0. It's 9-5 at home and 7-3 across the team's past 10 games. Minnesota is 8-5 on the road and is 8-2 over the past 10 with a three-game win streak.

For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels is questionable. His potential absence could lead to more minutes for Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon. Anthony Edwards continues to lead the way with averages of 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals.

Denver could be even more shorthanded than usual as Cam Johnson suffered a knee sprain Tuesday against the Mavericks. Assuming he is sidelined, more minutes should be in store for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Spencer Jones. Nikola Jokić is putting up MVP numbers with 28.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals in December.

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Warriors superstar Steph Curry is GOAT of this NBA era, Kevin Garnett declares

Warriors superstar Steph Curry is GOAT of this NBA era, Kevin Garnett declares originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry and LeBron James have dominated the last two decades of NBA basketball.

But deciding which one is the best player of this era of NBA basketball is in the eye of the beholder. Curry and James are all-time greats who have made immense impacts on the game.

Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett has taken sides in the debate.

“I think all the young stars of our league are starting to come into their own,” Garnett told Paul Pierce on their podcast, “Ticket and The Truth with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce” on Tuesday. “I’ve said this countless times. I think that we’re in the Curry era. He is the GOAT of this era. When we talk about the long ball and the 3 ball, you got to talk about the messiah of that long ball, you understand, and that’s how I look at it.

“So in this era right here, I’m watching [the Thompson] twins, those twins, [Amen and Asaur], we didn’t see them come out of no … you know what I’m saying. We got stars that are just blossoming out of this league. Look at Cade Cunningham. Cade Cunningham, [the Detroit Pistons] are the number one team in the East. We wouldn’t have, you know, but if you watch their trajectory and you watch that Knicks series, you see what you’re seeing, right?”

Garnett went on to praise the young crop of players who just entered the NBA and those who will join the league next summer.

“Yeah, man, I’m so excited about what the future is,” Garnett told Pierce. “The rookies that’s coming, that came into the league this year, [Kon Knueppel], f—–g [Cooper] Flagg, [Derik] Queen … and all these guys. Then we got another rookie class coming in [2026]

“We’re gonna look at [Jayson] Tatum. We’re gonna look at [Jaylen] Brown. We’re gonna look at all these certified superstars, and we got all these young hungry wolves just, man, bro, the league is gonna be in a really good place, bro.”

Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, has a legitimate case as the best player of this generation, having led the Warriors to four NBA championships while changing the game with his 3-point shooting.

James, on the other hand, routinely is mentioned along with Michael Jordan as the two greatest NBA players ever.

But Garnett has made it clear he believes this era belongs to Curry, and The Big Ticket won’t find much argument in the Bay Area.

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Ben Simmons has gone fishing, buys controlling stake in professional sport fishing team

Sometimes in our modern age, stories gain traction where your first thought turns to, "Is this AI slop?" Then, it turns out to be legit.

Former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has purchased a controlling stake in a professional sports fishing team, the South Florida Sails Angling Club, the Sports Fishing Championship announced.

Simons was born in Australia and grew up in Newcastle, New South Wales, where he developed a love of fishing, he said in a statement.

"I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," Simmons said in a statement. "Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is."

The Sports Fishing Championship is a 16-team professional offshore saltwater fishing league with 16 tournaments a year. Simmons is not the only big name to invest in the Championship, with golfer Scottie Scheffler, Las Vegas Raiders running back and kick returner Raheem Mostert, and NASCAR driver Austin Dillon among the other investors.

Simmons, 29, a three-time NBA All-Star, played 51 games between the Nets and Clippers last season and was solid enough on the offensive end in Los Angeles to get looks from a few teams, but no contract was forthcoming. He is still trying to catch on with an NBA team this season or get a chance next season.

In the meantime, he has fishing.

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J.J. Redick calls out Lakers effort after loss, 'It comes down to just making the choice'

The Lakers trailed the Suns by 10 at halftime Tuesday night. When asked what happened that turned a game they were into a blowout Phoenix win, JJ Redick was blunt.

"They scored on the first 13 possessions of the second half," the Lakers coach said of the Suns.

The Lakers went on to lose consecutive games for the first time this season, getting blown out by the Suns 132-108. Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic, but the Lakers have a respectable 116.2 offensive rating when Doncic is off the court this season (which would rank 11th in the league overall). What Redick called out is the Lakers' defense — which is bottom 10 in the league whether Doncic is on the court or not — and particularly the effort on that end of the floor.

"The theme with our team, these young teams that move, we just can't move. It's like we're stuck in mud," Redick said.

When asked if the Lakers had enough players who are inherently good defenders and give a full effort on that end, Redick was blunt.

"No."

He laid the blame for the defensive effort at the players' feet.

"It comes down to just making the choice. It's making the choice," Redick said. "There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can't. It's just a choice. And there's a million choices in a game, and you're very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win."

Los Angeles' defense will be tested by another young team that can move on Christmas Day when the Lakers host the Rockets. It's a game in the national spotlight because of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but the winner will come down to which team can defend (the Rockets have struggled on that end of late).

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Klay Thompson back in Bay for Warriors game, takes Megan Thee Stallion on boat

Klay Thompson back in Bay for Warriors game, takes Megan Thee Stallion on boat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Klay Thompson is back in the Bay Area, and on Wednesday, the former Warriors guard did one of his favorite activities.

Thompson posted two videos on his Instagram stories showing him driving his boat around the San Francisco Bay.

And the current Dallas Mavericks guard had two special guests: His girlfriend, Megan Thee Stallion, and her dog, Foe Thee Frenchie.

Thompson and the Mavericks are in the Bay Area to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors on Christmas Day at Chase Center.

After 13 years and 11 full seasons with the Warriors, Thompson is in his second campaign with the Mavericks, who are 12-19 and floundering after trading superstar Luka Dončić last season.

The 35-year-old Thompson is putting up some of the worst numbers of his career, as his role with the Mavericks has fluctuated.

After starting the first seven games of the season, he has come off the bench in 20 of 21 games he has played in since. In 28 total contests, Thompson is averaging a career low 11.1 points on 36.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.

But none of that will matter on Thursday when Thompson takes on his former team in front of Dub Nation, which adores him.

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Knicks Mailbag: Is there any truth to NY's reported interest in Donte DiVincenzo?

It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...

@Kameel888 -- I am wondering, was there any truth to the Knicks being interested in Donte DiVincenzo? Has there been any movement in that regard? Thank you, Ian!

Hey Kameel, I’m sure the Knicks would love to have Donte DiVincenzo on the team. They hated losing him in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he was part of the fabric of the 2023-24 team. With regards to any movement, I’ve checked around on this for the past few days and haven’t heard about any significant movement. People on all sides of a potential trade see it as highly unlikely. I’m not questioning the ClutchPoints report on DiVincenzo and the Knicks, but I don’t think there is anything happening there.

The Knicks would have to trade either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson to make a deal work. They aren’t trading Hart. I don’t see how they can trade Robinson; if they did trade him, it wouldn’t make sense to get a non-big in return.

@tru_zoom -- When will Shamet and McBride get reevaluated again?

I think we’ll have an update on Landry Shamet by the end of the month. At the time of the shoulder injury, there was a strong belief/optimism that Shamet could avoid surgery. I believe that is still the case. Shamet continues to rehab the injury but hasn’t needed a surgical procedure. That’s a good sign for a Knick team that leaned on Shamet before he got hurt.

With regards to Miles McBride, he has been working vigorously on the court with Knicks coaches. I don’t know if he is fully sprinting yet, but he has been cleared for contact; he just hasn’t had the chance to take contact in a scrimmage setting because the Knicks haven’t practiced (NBA teams rarely practice during the heart of the regular season). But based on the available information, I would guess that McBride is back before the end of the calendar year.

@AndrewA59778512 -- Ian, for Jalen Brunson, is it more rest for him?

@DylanBackerESM -- Do you think OG’s injury is anything serious, or are they mainly just resting him? Seems like they’re just resting Brunson.

Six games in 10 days for the Knicks, going back to the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas, plus the early start on Christmas Day. I think this is all in the name of resting Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. I assume this was all about giving Brunson and Anunoby a night off (Tuesday at Minnesota) amid a tough stretch of the season.