Portland Trail Blazers (28-31, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (24-35, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago comes into the matchup against Portland as losers of 10 games in a row.
The Bulls have gone 15-16 at home. Chicago is eighth in the Eastern Conference scoring 115.8 points while shooting 46.8% from the field.
The Trail Blazers have gone 12-16 away from home. Portland ranks third in the Western Conference with 45.8 rebounds per game led by Donovan Clingan averaging 11.5.
The Bulls are shooting 46.8% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points lower than the 47.6% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers' 45.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.6 percentage points lower than the Bulls have given up to their opponents (47.8%).
The teams play for the second time this season. The Bulls won the last matchup 122-121 on Nov. 20. Isaac Okoro scored 13 points to help lead the Bulls to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matas Buzelis is shooting 47.4% and averaging 15.3 points for the Bulls. Guerschon Yabusele is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Clingan is averaging 11.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 0-10, averaging 106.2 points, 41.1 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.3 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 118.8 points, 46.8 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.8 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf).
Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija: out (back), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Robert Williams III: out (foot), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio is looking to build upon its nine-game win streak with a victory against Toronto.
The Raptors have gone 16-14 at home. Toronto scores 113.7 points while outscoring opponents by 1.9 points per game.
The Spurs have gone 20-10 away from home. San Antonio is the Western Conference leader with 35.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Victor Wembanyama averaging 9.3.
The Raptors score 113.7 points per game, 1.8 more points than the 111.9 the Spurs allow. The Spurs are shooting 47.8% from the field, 1.8% higher than the 46.0% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 121-103 on Oct. 28. Wembanyama scored 24 points to help lead the Spurs to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 24.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks for the Spurs. Harrison Barnes is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 112.4 points, 41.3 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 9.8 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.
Spurs: 9-1, averaging 124.3 points, 48.6 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (injury management), Scottie Barnes: day to day (quad).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Mason Plumlee: out (reconditioning).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES — As Alijah Arenas walked off the Pauley Pavilion court after picking up his third foul just four minutes into the second half of USC's rivalry game against UCLA on Tuesday night, he slammed his hands on the bench in frustration.
It was that kind of night for Arenas, and that kind of night for the Trojans in general as they lost, 81-62, to their archrivals. And maybe that kind of season.
USC was ice cold from the floor all night, struggling to find any real offensive contribution from anyone other than Chad Baker-Mazara, who led the team with 25 points. His 14 points in the first half made him the only Trojan to that point with more than two made field goals. Arenas had four points in the first — all from the free-throw line — in only nine minutes after picking up two early fouls.
It was a game that USC simply could not afford to lose as one of the first four teams out in USA TODAY Sports' latest Bracketology. The Trojans now drop their fourth consecutive Big Ten game, and second consecutive Quad 1 matchup after blowing a late lead to Oregon on Saturday.
Even with the bumps expected since making his freshman debut in late January — five months after tearing his right meniscus practice in July — Arenas continues to flash the potential that made him a five-star recruit and potential lottery pick entering the season.
If it doesn't show in the stat sheet, it shows in the little things: dribbling out of double teams, getting to the line, grabbing boards and setting his teammates up for open looks. Arenas also added six points down the final stretch to finish the game as the only Trojan besides Baker-Mazara to score in double figures.
Here's how Alijah Arenas fared in Tuesday's loss to UCLA:
Feb 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) dunks the ball during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images | Soobum Im-Imagn Images
After a disappointing home loss to the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers, the Minnesota Timberwolves begin their trifecta of matchups during a west coast road trip with the Portland Trail Blazers, who will be without Shaedon Sharpe and first-time all-star Deni Avdija. Minnesota started the break with a home win against the Mavericks, but followed it up with a dreadful battle against the Sixers.
Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid return to the lineup after missing the previous game due to suspension and injury, respectively. The front-court troops were thin on Sunday, and having two key pieces back should help them a lot with the impending matchup. Rudy Gobert will have his hands full with Donovan Clingan, who has been playing extremely well as of late and is a massive presence down low and on the glass. It’s a great opportunity for the Wolves to recollect and start this interesting road trip against very competitive teams with a bang.
The game opened with the arena seeming a little bit hazy, but it did not seem to impact either team as it was a close one throughout, with Minnesota holding a slight edge for the majority of the quarter. The Timberwolves, as they tend to do, had too many turnovers early on, but Ant and Jaden answered the bell to keep the pressure on and maintain the lead.
Kris Murray and Scoot Henderson carried the Blazers’ scoring load early, for a team bereft of scorers with the absence of Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe. Jaden McDaniels stole the show in the first, hitting three 3s and adding an insane four blocks to his stat line. The Timberwolves used Slim’s dominance to hold a 33-27 lead in the first.
Julius Randle began the second quarter off on a sour note, picking up the third foul that forced him out of the game early in the second. A lightning-quick 8-0 run spurred by Donte DiVincenzo helped Minnesota to grow the lead, but Portland was able to slow the game down by drawing fouls and making their free throws to stay within striking distance.
Jaden McDaniels continued to wreak havoc, and Anthony Edwards answered every Blazers bucket with one of their own. Ant was nearly flawless in the first 24 minutes; he shot 8/12 with 25 points, including 4/8 from beyond the arc. Despite shooting well and seemingly having control over much of the second quarter, Minnesota only led 62-59 at the break.
The Trail Blazers came out swinging in the third in what would be a tug-of-war frame with both sides having their moments. Jaden McDaniels continued his awe-inspiring dominance on both ends to help the Wolves take a larger edge a couple of times throughout the third, but Minnesota wasn’t able to keep the momentum going as the Blazers kept fighting their way back in it with offensive rebounds and a boost of Scoot Henderson energy. Donte DiVincenzo ended a lackluster third quarter from the Timberwolves with a bang, ripping the ball away from Scoot Henderson and going in for a slam to give Minnesota the slight 96-94 edge.
Another nail-biter was in store for the Minnesota Timberwolves after allowing the shorthanded Blazers to stay in the game. The fourth quarter was no different, with both teams throwing punches trying to gain the upper hand. For the start of the quarter, the Timberwolves were getting killed on the offensive glass and allowing the Trail Blazers to get extra opportunities.
That’s when Coach Finch turned to Rudy Gobert. Rudy had a dominant fourth quarter, controlling the glass, contesting shots, and most importantly, rebounding Ant’s misses as he went cold down the stretch. Gobert controlled the game and helped the Timberwolves to score points in the clutch when their usual ace in the hole was a bit off line.
We’ve seen these types of performances by Jaden McDaniels in the past – uber-efficient, lockdown defense on the perimeter and at the rim, closed out by his bounce dunk that is nearly patented at this point. This was another chapter in the long book of awe-inspiring McDaniels performances. He scored 29 points on 12/16 shooting, added six rebounds, five blocks, and three steals. Definition of stuffing the stat sheet.
Fans have gotten used to Jaden’s stoic coldness as he wreaks havoc on opponents’ shots and dashes their dreams of coming out with a victory. While we can all appreciate that, it is fun to see a little flair in his emphatic dunk that can and should call attention to a performance that deserves its (Portland) roses.
Anthony Edwards on Jaden McDaniels: This man right here in this game he supposed to have 40 tonight, he back home in front of the home crowd….The fam right here. He back at the crib. He went ham man. (Jaden possibly covering his mouth with a towel so he doesn't show his big… pic.twitter.com/DeZwDjYw3s
Minnesota let the Trail Blazers hang around for a lot longer than they should have. When this happens, the less talented team starts to feel themself. One of the worst ways that this can manifest is by hounding the offensive glass. The best way to make up a talent deficit is to shoot more shots, which usually come easier off an offensive rebound.
As the fourth quarter started, that was exploited – the Trail Blazers were getting multiple shots per possession, and one was bound to find its way into the hoop. That is when Chris Finch turned to Rudy Gobert. Rudy understood the assignment: end possessions. But he had a much larger impact than that. Gobert not only helped keep the massive Donovan Clingan off the boards, while ending Portland’s offensive possessions after one shot, but he also impacted every drive that they had during the stretch.
This led to runouts and an easier time managing Portland’s pressure. Finally, Anthony Edwards went on a cold streak to close this one. When your alpha doesn’t have it, things can get scary. Rudy Gobert took it upon himself to help gut out those offensive possessions.
He attacked the offensive glass and generated extra possessions while also finishing plays himself (including a 2/2 trip to the free throw line). Rudy’s ability to control games in this way is big-time, and a big reason they finished this game with a win.
Just some monster plays from Rudy Gobert on both ends down the stretch.
The Timberwolves will face off against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers in another late 9 PM CT tipoff on Thursday night. This will be another nationally televised game on Prime Video, but also available on Fanduel Sports Network.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 34 points and made five 3-pointers to help the Minnesota Timberwolves hold off the Portland Trail Blazers 124-121 on Tuesday night, their fourth win in their last five games.
Jaden McDaniels added 27 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and five blocks for the Timberwolves.
Donte DiVincenzo had 19 points and made five 3-pointers, and Julius Randle had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Rudy Gobert scored just 10 points but had 19 rebounds and changed the game defensively.
Jrue Holiday led the Blazers with 22 points. Jerami Grant had 18 points, and Donovan Clingan scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
Scoot Henderson had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench.
It was a tight, physical, back-and-forth affair with 15 lead changes, but Minnesota’s 3-point shooting (17 of 35) was enough to hold off the Blazers, who were 14 of 35 from deep.
Up next
Trail Blazers: Face the Bulls in Chicago on Thursday night.
Timberwolves: Face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. loses control of the ball while being guarded by LeBron James and Deandre Ayton in the first half. (Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
In a topsy-turvy fourth quarter, the Lakers came up short when LeBron James missed a last-second shot that sent them to a 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Luka Doncic had 22 points to lead the Lakers but was just eight for 24 from the field and two for 10 from three-point range. He was wide open behind the arc after taking the inbounds pass in the closing seconds, but he didn't shoot, passing to James with the clock running down.
James took a turnaround three that missed. He finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The lead went back and forth most of the fourth quarter, each play more important than the previous one, each moment more intense, each possession more meaningful.
When Rui Hachimura drilled a three-pointer from the corner off a pass from Doncic for a 106-103 lead with 2 minutes 14 seconds left, the Lakers (34-23) looked to be in pretty good shape.
But Magic star Paolo Banchero scored in the paint, giving him a game-high 36 points, and was fouled by Deandre Ayton. Banchero missed the free throw, leaving the Lakers ahead 106-105 with 1:18 left.
James went to work in the post over the smaller Anthony Black, drawing a foul. But James made just one of two free throws for a 107-105 lead
Magic guard Desmond Bane (22 points) answered with a three-pointer for a 108-107 lead that forced the Lakers to call a timeout with 34.6 seconds left.
Hachimura missed a three but the Lakers retained possession, and on the ensuing inbounds play Doncic found James cutting down the lane for a dunk for a 109-108 Lakers lead.
Banchero missed a jumper, but Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed the rebound and scored for a 110-109 Orlando lead with 6.7 seconds left. The Magic finished with 12 offensive rebounds.
The Lakers called another timeout and had one last opportunity, but this time they couldn’t get a good shot and time expired.
The good news was the Lakers sawa more engaged Ayton, a more active big man, a more involved player.
Doncic passed the ball inside to Ayton in the midpost early in the third quarter and watched his big center turn and shot over a smaller defender. Ayton missed the shot, but he collected the rebound and scored on a layup.
Ayton had 17 points on six-for-eight shooting and six rebounds in the first half and 21 points for the game to go along with 13 rebounds.
Doncic went down late in the first quarter after getting poked in his eye by Mo Wager, a red mark developing beneath his eye. Doncic stayed down for a while before eventually getting up with one minute and 59 seconds left in the first.
On the very next possession, Doncic drilled a three-pointer, a sign that his vision was clear.
He finished the first quarter with 11 points on four-for-eight shooting, four rebounds and four assists.
After the end of the first, Doncic went to the Lakers’ locker room, but he returned to the bench early in the second quarter.
Early in that second quarter, the Lakers displayed hustle and defense.
James ran down Anthony Black and blocked his shot off the backboard. Banchero got the rebound, but he had his shot blocked by a hustling Marcus Smart.
The Lakers started the third quarter by giving their fans a highlight moment.
It began with Ayton getting the defensive rebound and passing the ball to James, who then whipped the ball to Austin Reaves and filled the lane on the fast break.
Reaves threw a lob to James for a dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet.
The Lakers even opened a 12-point lead in the third quarter, their defense on point and their offense looking good.
But the Magic didn’t stop coming after the Lakers.
Orlando closed out the third quarter hard and got to within 80-79 entering the fourth.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 24, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the first time this season, the Lakers lost when leading after three quarters, falling to the Magic at home on Tuesday, 110-109. A putback layup from Wendell Carter Jr. after a missed jumper from Paolo Banchero with 6.7 seconds left put Orlando up.
Luka Dončić had a chance to win the game with a three, but hesitated, allowing the defense to recover, forcing a pass to LeBron James whose off-balance shot missed at the buzzer..
LA led for the near entirety of the first three quarters, building a 12-point lead in the second and third quarters. However, a huge game by Paolo Banchero and big fourth quarter from Desmond Bane made it a tight game down the stretch.
The Magic crushed the Lakers in second-chance opportunities, scoring 15 points on 13 offensive rebounds.
The game began with LeBron James setting the tone with 10 points, including two triples. Deandre Ayton was the next highest scorer with four points. Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane combined for eight points for the Magic.
LA built a lead of seven. Orlando then responded well, cutting Los Angeles’ lead down to two.
Carter Jr.’s nine points helped the Magic trim the deficit. The Lakers had no answer for him, allowing him to have a free path to the rim.
Luke Kennard scored a quick four points off the bench after entering the game. Los Angeles held off Orlando on the shoulders of Luka Dončić, who was now in double figures with 11 points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by eight.
Good 1st Q overall against an ORL team that's won 5 of 7 despite missing Wagner/Suggs.
LA's up 33-25, with LeBron/Luka combining for 21 points, and Luke Kennard adding 6 off the bench.
Lakers shooting 60% to ORL's 41.7%; LA does have 5 TO's to 1 from ORL.
Tristan da Silva started the second period by converting on a hook shot for the Magic. LA still had no answer for Carter Jr., who was now at 15 points for the half. The Lakers only had three offensive rebounds compared to Orlando’s five.
With 6:20 left until halftime, Austin Reaves was still scoreless on four shot attempts.
Da Silva knocked down two more 3-pointers as he had not missed a shot. Ayton was now the third player in double figures for the Lakers with 15 points. Neither team seemed to have the answer for each other’s centers. Ayton was scoring easily on hook shots.
Luckily for LA, Desmond Bane was 0-5 from behind the arc. Going into halftime, Los Angeles was up by three.
The Lakers lead the Magic 56-53 at the half. Deandre Ayton has been great. He has 17 points. Austin Reaves has been very quiet, he has 0 points and is 0-5 from the field. I'm not sure when the last time that happened was.
Reaves started the third period by converting on a pair of free throws for his first two points of the game. Reaves also connected with LeBron for an impressive alley-oop. After Reaves knocked down a 3-pointer, Orlando had to call a timeout, trailing by 10.
After an uncharacteristically quiet first half scoring wise, Austin Reaves scored 5 points in the first 2 minutes of the 3rd Q, to go with an alley-oop assist to LeBron, that put LA up 63-53 and forced an early Orlando time out.
Out of the break, the Magic missed on a shot from behind the arc. On the other end, Reaves scored on a jumper in the paint. Paolo Banchero scored four in a row to stop some of the bleeding for Orlando.
The Magic cut the deficit down to five with 6:37 left until the fourth.
A quick six straight points for LA put some more cushion on their lead. Orlando answered right back with Banchero continuing to lead the way with 17 points in the quarter, making it a one-point game. He was also 10-10 from the charity stripe.
Los Angeles turned the ball over with seven seconds left, but decent defense on the other end protected their one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers lead the Magic 80-79 entering the fourth quarter. LA has yet to lose this year when leading after three quarters of play.
Marcus Smart started the final frame by converting on a free throw. Bane responded by knocking down a pair of jumpers, giving Orlando their first lead since the first quarter.. LeBron ended that lead with a jump shot.
Reaves put Los Angeles back in the lead with a layup.
It was Bane’s quarter as he scored another five points, putting the Magic back ahead. Reaves aggressive play was helping keep the Lakers from falling apart. He tied the game after completing a three-point play.
Jonathan Isaac was left wide-open for an easy slam to retake the lead for Orlando,
The Lakers were shooting 50% from the field in the quarter, while the Magic were shooting 58%. After Orlando went up by five, Los Angeles responded with five straight points to tie the game.
Both teams were battling hard and exchanging the lead. Luka was having a tough offensive game, but suddenly turned the jets on, converting on two big-time shots.
Lakers-Magic going bucket for bucket in the fourth.
With 1:25 left, LA was nursing a three-point lead until Banchero converted on a layup to cut it to one again. Luka was then fouled from behind the arc; Orlando challenged the call and won. It led to a jump ball, which the Lakers won.
LeBron was then fouled with 44 seconds left in regulation, splitting the free throws to put LA up two. Bane knocked down a 3-pointer on the other end that put the Magic up by one with 34 seconds left.
Hachimura missed a triple, but Los Angeles got the ball back and LeBron dunked to give the Lakers the lead back. On the other end, Carter Jr. grabbed the offensive rebound and converted on a layup to give them the lead again.
LA had 6.7 seconds left to get the win, but they fumbled it with Luka passing up an open 3-pointer to pass to LeBron, who had to take a bad shot that he missed.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and 15 assists. LeBron notched 21 points with six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Ayton pitched in with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Reaves had a slow offensive game with 18 points. Kennard scored nine points off the bench. Hachimura ended with 10 points.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at 6:00 PM PT.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 24: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 24, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors got back in the loss column on Tuesday, losing 113-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans. It was an odd game, and it wasn’t clear whether the Warriors should be favored or not. They were facing a very bad Pelicans team, but New Orleans was fairly healthy, and even welcomed Dejounte Murray back after more than a year on the sidelines. Golden State, meanwhile, was playing without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Al Horford.
It was a very ugly first half, with the Warriors unable to buy a bucket. It looked for a while like they would get blown out, but they came roaring back in the second half, and took the lead. Then they lost their rhythm down the stretch, and the Pelicans took control in the final moments.
Let’s grade the shorthanded squad that came up just short against old friend Jordan Poole. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Tuesday’s games, league average TS was 57.9%.
Moody stepped up in a huge way this game, just as he did on Sunday. After a few games looking a little slow and sluggish, he’s starting to take advantage of the opportunity in front of him. His shot was nice in this one, and his defense was solid, even though he almost fouled out. But what I really loved was the way he used the threat of his jump shot to attack … he took three shots inside the arc and drew eight free throws, and that was fantastic to see.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
It’s been a while since a Warrior played 39 minutes in a game, but if anyone can do it, it’s the endless ball of energy that is Santos. That energy mostly did good things. The 12 rebounds speak for themselves, and Santos was frequently leaping around the court, keeping a possession alive or saving a ball from going out of bounds. The five stocks certainly speaks to his activity level.
The energy sometimes did bad things, though. Six turnovers is way too many, as is five fouls, though some grace is afforded given how shorthanded the team was. Overall, it was a chaotic game from Gui, but he did more good than harm, especially considering the circumstances of the roster.
A pretty solid Dray game which, honestly, we hadn’t really seen in a while. He played really strong defense on Zion Williamson, who scored 26 points but needed 21 shots and five free throws to get there, while having his playmaking shut down. Some really nice passes from Dray, as well.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
There were points in this game where Melton was the only Warrior capable of getting a bucket. When no one else could score early, he was dropping it shots. He continued to be able to get looks all through the game, though his efficiency fell off rather dramatically. He was the team’s top scorer, but didn’t score very efficiently, and turned the ball over as often as he passed out an assist (though much of that was due to his teammates missing shots).
He had the highlight of the game on a massive dunk, and was a reminder as to the value of being able to get a bucket, even when the efficiency isn’t great. Especially with Curry out.
Spencer couldn’t get much going in this game. It was an especially rough first half for him, though he came out of the gates in the third quarter with some big plays. But mostly, he struggled.
With Horford resting, Porziņģis sick, and Trayce Jackson-Davis in Toronto, Post was the only true center that the Warriors had. And he played like one. His signature three wasn’t falling, so he took up a more old school game. He scored in the paint, going 3-for-4, gobbled up nine rebounds in just 23 minutes, and played strong interior defense. It was fun to see!
As we’ve grown accustomed to, Richard played some strong perimeter defense. Unfortunately, that’s about all he did. That’s not strictly a bad thing: it’s still impressive for a rookie to play more than 17 minutes and be comfortable not taking a single shot. But he just didn’t provide an impact in any area of the game, except on some defensive possessions.
Grade: C Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
My goodness, what has gotten into Podziemski on the glass? That’s now 15 boards in back-to-back games for the diminutive (by NBA standards) guard. Pretty magnificent stuff.
He struggled to score, but I liked a lot of the things he did on offense, the shots just weren’t falling. Keep rebounding like that, though, and the shots will eventually fall. Like Santos, Podz’s hustle and energy made good things happen, even where it isn’t statistically reflected.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Hey, we might as well shout out Kuminga, who made his Atlanta Hawks debut and thoroughly dominated. Hawks fans are probably feeling really excited right about now. Way to go, JK.
Grade: A+
Tuesday’s DNP-CDs: Malevy Leons
Tuesday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, Nate Williams
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (20) during the first half at Rocket Arena.
CLEVELAND — Jeremy Sochan’s transition to the Knicks has not gone smoothly on the court as he tries to recover game conditioning and gets comfortable with his teammates.
But he’s confident it will turn around.
“It’s a process. It’s my fourth game here,” Sochan said in an interview with The Post. “So we’ll figure it out. We’ll be good.”
James Harden defends Jeremy Sochan during the first half of the Knicks’ 109-94 blowout loss to the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on Feb. 24, 2025 in Cleveland. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sochan managed just two rocky minutes in the first half of Tuesday’s 109-94 loss to the Cavaliers, then was benched until garbage time while finishing with no points.
Sochan, who was signed as a free agent during the All-Star break, had been given a rotational opportunity by coach Mike Brown, who said he wanted to give the forward a chance to determine his fit before the playoffs.
But Sochan’s third-quarter shift Tuesday went to rookie Mohamed Diawara, who had been surging before Sochan’s signing but struggled in Cleveland while missing three of his four 3-point attempts.
“It’s my first time adjusting to a different dynamic,” said Sochan, who spent his first three full seasons with the Spurs. “So it’s going to take some time to figure out and, of course, I haven’t been in a lot of game shape. So altogether there are going to [be] ups and downs. But I’m blessed and excited to be in this situation. And I truly believe I can add to this team.”
In four appearances, Sochan is averaging one point and one rebound in 7.5 minutes.
“I think it’s just learning how everyone wants to play. The vibe on the team and all those sorts of things,” Sochan said about his biggest adjustment. “And I think it’s pretty easy for me to learn the playbook. But now it’s learning everybody’s tendencies. What they like and what don’t like. Just trying to figure out that part. That’s offense and defense, too.”
Jeremy Sochan rises up for a layup attempt during the Knick’ road loss to the Cavaliers. NBAE via Getty Images
Fitness was also a hurdle after spending most of this season on the bench with the Spurs.
“[Tuesday] I felt a little better than Chicago [on Sunday] and the other two games. There’s nothing you can really do to get into game shape,” Sochan said. “That’s a whole different story. But it only takes a few games and then you start feeling better.”
Kenny Atkinson isn’t focused on beating the Knicks in the playoffs because he doesn’t want to make the same mistake as last season, when his top-seeded Cavs were prepping for a Celtics showdown but got upset in the second round by the Pacers.
“You have to be careful. I know last year we were thinking ‘Boston, Boston, Boston,’ and we got Indiana,” Atkinson said Tuesday. “I thought, ‘We’ve got to beat Boston.’ As a head coach, I do keep an eye on what those teams are doing, the Knicks or Boston, teams that are in our wheelhouse. Detroit, I’ll keep an eye on. But I think it’s a mistake just to focus on one team because the roulette wheel could just drop on another team.
“I’m aware of what’s going on with those teams more than, say, teams at the end of the standings.”
The Knicks and Cavs entered the season as favorites in the East but the Pistons and Celtics emerged as surprising top two seeds nearing the end of February.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Team Owner Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz talks with CEO Danny Ainge and President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge during warmups before their game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Delta Center on January 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things move quickly in the NBA news cycle. It’s been a few weeks since the Utah Jazz were chosen to be the scapegoats for Adam Silver’s terrible plan to flatten lottery odds in 2019. Instead of the flattened odds preventing tanking, they made it worse by incentivizing middle-lottery teams to lose more. Utah had to adjust to Silver’s incompetence to do what was best for the Jazz. Just like Utah was worse off because of Silver’s decision-making, ESPN is now worse off as well.
The Utah Jazz are “old news” now, everyone is slowly forgetting the big story a few weeks ago. Everyone but the Jazz, that is. And you can count on the Jazz not forgetting anytime soon. If you haven’t noticed, there have been some news stories recently involving the Utah Jazz, but the reporters have been different.
When the Jazz traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., it wasn’t Shams Charania who broke the news, it was Chris Haynes.
BREAKING: Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left knee to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/pHeJT8NphE
When the news that Jusuf Nurkic was out for the season due to nose surgery broke, it was Haynes, not Charania, who broke it again.
BREAKING: Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkić will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose Wednesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/MFYjY333GU
And it’s not just breaking news stories that are now being sent to different reporters, relationships are being cut off as well. On his podcast on February 13, Brian Windhorst said he was done talking about tanking, that the Jazz are an organization of “good people” just trying to do what’s best for their team. He talked about not wanting to talk about tanking anymore because he didn’t want to ruin any more relationships, like the one he apparently had with Utah.
It may seem like a small thing to some, but those relationships matter. Utah is a part of interconnected relationships and is a contact that can provide news and rumors. Now, that’s gone. Hope it was worth it for a week of bullying a small market team. And in all honesty, this might not be the only team. The Pacers have to be frustrated as well, and it appears they may be looking to fire back at Silver and ESPN, also.
Rick Carlisle was recently on the radio and said the league asked the Pacers to consider medicating Aaron Nesmith so he could play in the game they were fined for sitting out players.
The league asking if the Pacers would consider medicating Aaron Nesmith so that he could play in the game that they were fined for sitting out players seems like a massive overreach. Absurd. https://t.co/2MlvhjWLTN
Adam Silver could not look worse. He apparently wants to force teams to play injured players now? It seems insane, considering the issues the league is having with players going down with injuries. Just another example of horrible leadership from Adam Silver and the NBA. The question that comes from this is, what are the stories we don’t know about?
One thing you can bet is that these leaks and changes would not have happened had Adam Silver not put out some sort of bat signal to bully the Jazz and Pacers. Now, he gets even more bad press, and those reporters who salivate over access are now without the most important thing a reporter needs: sources.
Hope it was worth it, ESPN and Adam Silver, you can bet that Utah and Indiana will not forget, and no doubt if a vote ever comes to remove Adam Silver, you can count on two teams being involved.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Micah Robinson scored 20 points, Xavier Edmonds added 17 and TCU rolled to a 90-78 victory over Arizona State on Tuesday night.
TCU took the lead for good with about six minutes to play before halftime led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Edmonds and Robinson each made three of TCU's eight 3-pointers. Brock Harding shot just 1 of 10 from the floor but made 8 of 11 free throws and finished with 10 points and distributed 11 assists for the Horned Frogs. Tanner Toolson added 12 points and Liutauras Lelevicius scored 10.
TCU (18-10, 8-7 Big 12) has won five of its last six and four straight against Arizona State (14-14, 5-10).
Maurice Odum scored 21 points and had 10 assists to lead the Sun Devils. Anthony Johnson added 18 points and Massamba Diop 13.
Edmonds scored 14 points and Lelevicius added nine to help TCU take a 33-30 lead to halftime. With 13:30 left, TCU started a 9-0 surge for a 58-46 lead and the Horned Frogs held a double-digit advantage for most of the remainder.
While the anticipation for a primetime heavyweight bout was warranted, the Knicks never came close to resembling a threat to the Cavaliers with crucial playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference at stake.
The fatal combination of poor three-point shooting, costly turnovers, and jumbled defense knocked the Knicks out early on Tuesday night at Rocket Arena, and head coach Mike Brown didn't bother to describe the 109-94 loss with any fancy adjectives. He cut right to the chase.
"An ugly game, obviously. We didn't do much right defensively, we didn't do much right offensively," Brown said. "Our turnovers in the first half really put a damper on things we were trying to do... We had some decent looks throughout the course of the game, but we couldn't knock a shot down."
Held below 100 points for just the sixth time this season, the Knicks couldn't buy a bucket from beyond the arc, and that start-to-finish cold spell heavily influenced their pace and cohesion. They shot a measly 27 percent from three (10 of 37), their fourth-worst mark of the 2025-26 campaign.
To make matters worse, the Knicks struggled to score from anywhere on the floor during the third quarter, as the Cavaliers held them to a season-low 11 points. It was the Knicks' worst shooting quarter (3 of 20) since 2018, and also their worst third-quarter points output since 2022.
"One of the things we have to do better, especially offensively, is play with pace," Brown said. "Our pace isn't good. We have to do a better job of getting to the corners, we have to do a better job of playing with pace in the frontcourt."
Now, the turnovers. The Knicks committed 11 in the first half, finishing with 16 that produced 17 points in transition from the Cavaliers. The sloppiness disrupted their rhythm and thwarted any chance of a late comeback -- akin to what the Knicks showed the same Cavaliers on Christmas Day.
Rightfully so, the Knicks directed most of their attention toward stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who combined for a tolerable 43 points. But they didn't have much of a plan for Jarrett Allen, who caused fits down low with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Brown didn't see the Knicks defending "on a string," with sharp attention to the Cavaliers' ball movement.
Jalen Brunson scored a quiet 20 points on 6 of 19 shooting, and Mitchell Robinson was the Knicks' lone bright spot with 16 boards -- eight came on offense -- and 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
But the most confounding performance belonged to Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite scoring 14 points, he attempted just a single shot in the second half, finishing a perfect 5-for-5, and was responsible for five giveaways. A far cry from the stellar 28-point, 11-rebound double-double he delivered against the Bulls on Sunday.
"There were some things we could've done better defensively, but our offense was non-existent, in terms of pace, the ability to touch the paint, and spray the ball," Brown said. "All that stuff came to play in that third quarter."
Now tied with the Cavaliers for third in the East playoff picture -- although New York has the tiebreaker -- the Knicks (37-22) will wrap up their brief Midwest road trip on Friday night against the Bucks. They're 2-2 since the All-Star break, and of their five-worst shooting displays from three this season, three have come in February.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings looks to drive to the basket on Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on January 11, 2026 in Sacramento, 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
Tonight’s game is sort of a triage game for the Houston Rockets. In addition to their usual out-for-the-season guys, they will be without Jae’Sean Tate once again as he misses the next four to six weeks, as well as Amen Thompson, who has quadriceps tendonitis. It’s going to either force Ime Udoka to expand his rotation (lol) or give even more minutes to Kevin Durant.
The Sacramento Kings have been a thorn in Houston’s side for the past two seasons. The Rockets have lost their last four games in California’s capital and last season were swept by the Beam Team. The Kings just snapped a 16-game losing streak by knocking off the also-tanking Memphis Grizzlies. Houston wants to win this game and Sacramento doesn’t. But the players don’t always follow the script.
Houston has to fly out right after this game to Orlando for the second night of a back-to-back against a Magic squad that has tonight off. It would behoove Houston to wrap this game up by the third quarter to allow the starters to rest a bit in anticipation of the challenge that Orlando presents. However, we all know how it goes with this team in the fourth quarter.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Cameron Boozer had 24 points and 13 rebounds as No. 1 Duke beat Notre Dame 100-56 on Tuesday night, handing the Irish their worst home loss since 1898.
Duke (26-2, 14-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), playing its first game this season as No. 1, coming off win over then-No. 1 Michigan on Saturday, ended Notre Dame’s streak of six home wins against AP No. 1-ranked teams, starting with UCLA in 1974, when the Fighting Irish ended UCLA’s record 88-game winning streak.
The 6-foot-9 Boozer, a national Player of the Year candidate, overpowered Notre Dame, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the first half as the Blue Devils rolled to a 54-22 halftime lead. He hit 10 of 12 shots in the first half.
Darren Harris scored 16 points for Duke and Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster scored 13 points each.
Cole Certa and Brady Koehler scored 14 points each for Notre Dame.
NO. 2 ARIZONA 87, BAYLOR 80
WACO, Texas (AP) — Jaden Bradley scored 25 points, Brayden Burries had 24 and Arizona outlasted Baylor, giving the Wildcats a two-game lead in the Big 12 standings with three to play in the regular season.
The Wildcats erased a 10-point deficit early in the second half, then had to withstand a back-and-forth finish. There was a 13 1/2-minute stretch in which the margin never was more than two points and the lead changed hands 13 times.
Tobe Awaka had 10 points and 13 rebounds for Arizona (26-2, 13-2), which has won its last three games since back-to-back losses that followed a 23-0 start to the season. Motiejus Krivas finished with 12 points.
Cameron Carr had 26 points for Baylor (14-14, 4-11). Isaac Williams scored 16 and freshman Tounde Yessoufou added 12.
The remaining four contenders for the Big 12 regular-season title all have 11-4 conference records: No. 4 Iowa State, No. 5 Houston, No. 14 Kansas and No. 16 Texas Tech.
Arizona finally took the lead for good on Bradley’s long jumper from the right wing that made it 76-75 with 4:04 left. Burries added a short jumper a minute later.
NO. 3 MICHIGAN 77, MINNESOTA 67
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Elliot Cadeau had 15 points and L.J. Cason scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half as Michigan beat Minnesota to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title for the first time in five years.
The Wolverines (26-2, 16-1) can earn an outright championship with a win at No. 10 Illinois on Friday night or next week at Iowa or at home against 15th-ranked Michigan State.
Michigan was coming off a 68-63 loss to Duke that dropped the Wolverines down from No. 1 and vaulted the Blue Devils to the top spot in the AP Top 25.
The Gophers (13-15, 6-11) trailed by just four at halftime before giving up too many 3-pointers. Michigan made 9 of 18 shots from beyond the arc in the second half.
Minnesota’s Cade Tyson scored 20 points, Langston Reynolds had 15 points and Isaac Asuma and Bobby Durkin scored 12 apiece.
NO. 4 IOWA STATE 75, UTAH 59
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Joshua Jefferson scored 21 points, Milan Momcilovic made four 3-pointers to break the Iowa State record for 3s in a season, and the Cyclones beat Utah.
Momcilovic entered the game with 100 3-pointers and surpassed Dedric Willoughby’s record of 102, set in 1997, when he hit back-to-back 3s in the second half. The 6-foot-8 junior forward has 104 after going 4 of 8 from deep against the Utes; he is shooting better than 50% from long range. He finished with 14 points.
Making its first visit to Salt Lake City, Iowa State (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) held Utah without a field goal — seven straight misses — over a stretch of 9:14 in the second half to turn a five-point lead into a 17-point advantage.
Jefferson recorded his 34th consecutive game in double figures. Jamarion Batemon added 13 points.
Terrence Brown scored 18 points, Don McHenry had 14 and Keanu Dawes added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Utes (10-18, 2-13), who have lost nine of 10.
The Cyclones’ pressure defense sped up the Utes’ ballhandlers, delaying their offensive sets and forcing them into 18 turnovers.
NO. 11 VIRGINIA 90, NC STATE 61
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Thijs De Ridder scored 19 points lead five Virginia players in double figures as the Cavaliers beat North Carolina State, cruising in their final tuneup before Saturday’s showdown at No. 1 Duke.
Virginia (25-3, 13-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed as it won its ninth straight. However, there was cause for concern for the Cavaliers when De Ridder limped off the floor and headed to the locker room with about five minutes remaining.
Sam Lewis added 16 points for the Cavaliers, who trail only the first-place Blue Devils in the ACC standings. Jacari White scored 15 and Malik Thomas added 12.
Virginia blocked 12 shots — led by 7-foot freshman Johann Grunloh with a career-high eight — and its bench outscored N.C. State’s 32-5. The Cavaliers went 12 of 26 from 3-point range.
Paul McNeil Jr. had 22 points and six rebounds for the Wolfpack (19-9, 10-5). Darrion Williams added 14 points and Ven-Allen Lubin scored 11.
NO. 16 TEXAS TECH 80, CINCINNATI 68
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Christian Anderson had 31 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, leading Texas Tech past Cincinnati for a second consecutive victory since star forward JT Toppin’s season-ending knee injury.
Anderson’s eighth double-double of the season — and his two-year career — was his first with rebounds and filled the void the Red Raiders (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) are facing without Toppin, one of the nation’s double-double leaders. The guard’s first seven double-doubles were with assists, and he had seven against the Bearcats.
Moustapha Thiam had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Cincinnati (15-13, 7-8), which had a four-game winning streak — tied for its season best — stopped three days after an upset victory at Kansas that dropped the Jayhawks six spots to 14th in the AP Top 25.
LeJuan Watts scored 13 points for Texas Tech, and Donovan Atwell, one of the nation’s best 3-point shooters, added 12 while taking all nine of his shots from long range and making four.
Anderson had his highest-scoring game in the Big 12 as the Red Raiders made it a pair of double-digit victories since Toppin went down in a loss at Arizona State.
NO. 21 MIAMI (OHIO) 74, EASTERN MICHIGAN 64
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Brant Byers scored 16 points and Antwone Woolfolk added 14 as Miami of Ohio beat Eastern Michigan to remain the only undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball.
Peter Suder had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the RedHawks (28-0, 15-0 Mid-American Conference), who extended the best start in program history and added to their school record for wins in a season. Miami also boasts the best start and longest win streak in MAC annals.
Gregory Lawson II led the Eagles (10-19, 4-12) with 29 points, his career high.
Miami opened 0 for 6 on 3-pointers until Eian Elmer connected with 8:58 left in the first half. Despite shooting 22.2% from long range, the RedHawks took a 43-22 lead into halftime after closing the period the same way they started it: with a 12-0 run.
Miami entered shooting 40.3% from 3-point distance, good for third in the nation and best in the MAC.
MISSOURI 73, NO. 22 TENNESSEE 69
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — T.O. Barrett scored a career-best 28 points and Mark Mitchell added 23 to help Missouri beat Tennessee.
Trent Burns had seven rebounds and four steals off the bench for the Tigers (19-9, 9-6 Southeastern Conference), who improved to 3-1 at home this season against AP Top 25 opponents and 18-1 when scoring at least 73 points.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 19 points, Nate Ament had 17 and Felix Okpara added 15 points and eight rebounds for Tennessee (20-8, 10-5), which had won four consecutive games and eight of the past nine.
Tennessee outrebounded Missouri 42-30 but scored just 20 second-chance points despite grabbing 18 offensive boards. It was the sixth time a ranked Volunteers team lost to an unranked opponent this season.
Bishop Boswell hit a layup with 4 seconds left to cut Missouri’s lead to 71-69, but Jacob Crews made two free throws on the other end to seal the win.
DAYTON 77, NO. 23 SAINT LOUIS 62
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Amael L’Etang scored a career-high 26 points and Javon Bennett added 17 as Dayton beat Saint Louis.
Saint Louis has lost two of its last three games since winning 18 straight. The Billikens were 25-2 for just the second time in school history, and the loss to Dayton prevented them from reaching 26-2 for the first time.
Jordan Derkack scored 14 points for the Flyers (19-9, 10-5 A-10), who improved to 14-2 at home. It was their 12th straight win over Saint Louis in UD Arena.
Kellen Thomas led the Billikens with 24 points and Dion Brown had 15.
After trailing by as many has 25 points in the first half, the Billikens (25-3, 13-2) got within 11 late in the second half, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
One of the most recognizable faces in pop music took his seat courtside at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night and immediately ignited the crowd and The King.
Justin Bieber didn’t just sit courtside Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Orlando Magic—he became LeBron James’ biggest cheerleader. Every spin move from LeBron drew a clenched fist.
Every time he hit a three, Bieber stood and applauded. When LeBron bullied his way into the lane and splashed another jumper to push the Lakers ahead 16-10, Bieber popped up from his seat and started gassing up The King.
One of the most recognizable faces in pop music sat courtside at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Justin Bieber. Getty ImagesJustin Bieber didn’t just sit courtside Tuesday night, he became LeBron James biggest cheerleader Getty Images
Justin Bieber sitting courtside tonight at the Lakers game against the Orlando Magic pic.twitter.com/0qWe16oc3l
LeBron poured in 10 first-quarter points with the calm of a man who understands his own greatness. Luka Dončić added 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a quarter that felt like a clinic. The Lakers shot north of 50 percent and led 33-25 after one.
Before the game, as players were being introduced, LeBron went up and greeted Bieber. Fans online started calling the moment “LeBieber James,” half jokingly, of course.
Before the game, as players were being introduced, LeBron went up and greeted Bieber. Getty Images
The Lakers’ maligned defense was in a 2-3 zone for most of the night, and it surprisingly worked against the 30-26 Magic team that is fighting for playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
The best moment of the first half came when Luka Doncic broke Moritz Wagner’s ankles on a crossover, and then drilled a stepback three-pointer in his face.
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