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What's next for Warriors after Jonathan Kuminga demanded trade from team?

What's next for Warriors after Jonathan Kuminga demanded trade from team? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

League sources confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area that Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade away from the Warriors with Thursday, Jan. 15, being the first day he became trade eligible from the contract he signed over the summer as a restricted free agent. 

The NBA’s official trade deadline is three weeks away on Feb. 5. So, now what? 

Every party involved, the Warriors side and the Kuminga side, acknowledge the best move for the two is a split and fresh start for the fifth-year pro. However, league sources recently have relayed there’s a non-zero chance Kuminga remains on the Warriors in the coming weeks and past the trade deadline. 

His trade value has never been lower as teams around the league watch him be nowhere in Golden State’s plans, and the Warriors have dug a hole that might be too hard to climb out of at 22-19 as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference at the halfway point of the season. Kuminga has played just once in the last 17 games, in which the Warriors have gone 10-7, playing nine and a half minutes against the Phoenix Suns in a one-point loss after Steve Kerr said he would “reward” Kuminga for a string of strong practices. 

Kerr has made Kuminga a healthy DNP-CD in every other game since Dec. 7, aside from Kuminga being a late, and surprising, addition to the injury report with lower back soreness against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 37-point loss on Jan. 2.

Multiple teams have shown different levels of interest in Kuminga, with one always standing out as the strongest suitor. NBC Sports Bay Area listed the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards as those teams one week ago on Jan. 7. Some things already have changed. 

The Kuminga connection to the Mavs, though they do like the idea of having him in a rebuilding state around rookie Cooper Flagg, was centered more on Dallas gauging the Warriors’ interest in Anthony Davis. It already was a stretch to envision Davis wearing a Golden State jersey with the Warriors’ reluctance to trading Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, and now the oft-injured Davis is out for at least the next six weeks because of a left hand injury. 

The Bulls, who were the first team Kuminga was a healthy DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) against, have eyed Kuminga multiple times in the past but nothing materialized then, and it hasn’t now. The Wizards recently took a big swing and traded for Trae Young, sending Corey Kispert, whom the Warriors have liked in the past, and CJ McCollum to the Atlanta Hawks. That leaves the Kings, who also have pushed hardest for Kuminga, remaining from those above four teams. 

Even still, the Warriors have lost leverage on their foes from up north. The Kings offered a three-year, $63 million contract to Kuminga in the summer, putting guard Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-round draft pick on the table. The draft pick has been taken off the table for a long time now as Kuminga racks up DNPs, and the Warriors don’t have any interest in Monk, as well as the three years and more than $60 million left on his contract. 

The Phoenix Suns are the other team that did offer Kuminga a contract in the offseason. Their offer was a four-year, $90 million contract with Kuminga’s desired player option at the end, in exchange for veteran Royce O’Neal and multiple second-round picks. The Warriors didn’t deem that to be a good enough trade, and the Suns currently don’t have the same kind of in-season Kuminga interest.

With only Moses Moody’s $13.4 million contract on the books for the 2027-28 season, the Warriors are unenthusiastic about taking on long-term contracts and dealing future first-round picks a few years from now in what could be the post-Steph Curry era. 

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been a name hotly connected to the Warriors on social media. In reality, the Warriors, as NBC Sports Bay Area reported three days ago, have been hesitant on Porter and have never shown the kind of interest that would get a deal done. The two teams have not spoken for more than a month. 

The Nets are not a Kuminga team. If they were, they wouldn’t have selected five players in the first round of last June’s draft, and they would have opened their wallets as one of the only teams with salary cap space last summer.

A multi-team trade to acquire Porter always was going to be the path if the Warriors even want to walk down that road. They haven’t shown any desire to give the Nets multiple first-round picks for Porter. 

The player they would do that for is 25-year-old Trey Murphy, who is averaging a career-high 22.2 points per game on 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range. But the Pelicans have even less reasons than the Nets to move their best asset during the season. 

As the list of possible Kuminga teams becomes murkier, there is one to keep your eyes on: The Los Angeles Lakers. 

That connection dates back to the summer of Kuminga’s restricted free agency saga. League sources told NBC Sports Bay Area then that the Lakers were a team monitoring Kuminga’s situation and the possibility of him taking the qualifying offer where he’d be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. 

Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is a fan of Kuminga’s, sources say, and likes the idea of him as an athletic wing on a Luka Dončić-led team. The Warriors have been aware of the Lakers’ likeness for Kuminga, though it’s unclear how likely an in-season move between the two teams is. 

The Warriors have a team option on Kuminga’s second season, and he essentially becomes a $23.4 million expiring contract this summer. That can be valuable to teams, sure. It also can’t be stressed enough how much moving on from one another now would benefit Kuminga and the Warriors, a team that can’t have Curry and Butler playing at an elite level as a play-in team while such a tradable contract sits and watches from the bench. 

Standing idle would be a failure in asset mismanagement. The Warriors can see what Curry and Butler still are, and any help is better than no help.

Changes come quickly in the NBA. There is undoubtedly more than one team that likes Kuminga, but that doesn’t ensure anything. More could be added to the mix in this three-week window now that Kuminga is trade eligible. His standing with Kerr and the Warriors, though, couldn’t be clearer. 

It’s time to move on, and time to let Kuminga move on too.

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Warriors reportedly not showing real Michael Porter Jr. trade interest

Warriors reportedly not showing real Michael Porter Jr. trade interest originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Michael Porter Jr. does not appear destined for the Warriors.

At least, not yet.

The Brooklyn Nets’ veteran forward has drawn plenty of interest across the NBA ahead of the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, and while many believe Golden State could be a fit, the Warriors have not spoken to Brooklyn about Porter in quite some time, and do not appear to be a serious suitor as of right now, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Thursday, citing league sources.

“As of this week, the Warriors hadn’t talked to the Brooklyn Nets in more than a month and have never shown real interest in a trade for wing Michael Porter Jr., league sources said,” Slater and Charania wrote. “They’ve been fond of Trey Murphy III in the past, but the New Orleans Pelicans are rebuffing calls about all their young wings, league sources said.”

Charania and Slater also reported, citing team sources, that Golden State would be willing to move multiple of its first-round draft picks if the right player is made available, but that the team is more protective of its first-rounders from 2028 and beyond.

Porter, 27, who was selected by the Nuggets with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, spent the first six years of his career with Denver and averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 345 games (291 starts).

Then, Porter was traded to Brooklyn this summer in a deal that landed guard Cameron Johnson in Denver, and in 31 games with the Nets this season, Porter is averaging career-highs in points (25.7), rebounds (7.5) and assists (3.3).

Porter’s breakout campaign has made him one of the hottest names on the trade market, and while he certainly could be a fit for the Warriors, it does not appear Golden State has much interest right now with the trade deadline three weeks away.

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Sources: Jonathan Kuminga demanding Warriors trade on first day of eligibility

Sources: Jonathan Kuminga demanding Warriors trade on first day of eligibility originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga, unsurprisingly, wants out.

The Warriors’ young forward is demanding a trade from the team, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson confirmed Thursday morning, citing league sources, after ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania first reported the news.

Kuminga, who signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with the Warriors on Sept. 30, was not eligible to be traded, due to a rule in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, until Thursday, Jan. 15.

After spending all offseason canvassing the league for a potential Kuminga trade suitor as the young forward navigated through restricted free agency, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and his front office have spent the past several weeks doing so again, with the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks among the teams that have shown interest in Kuminga, Charania and Slater reported in their story, citing league sources.

After a tumultuous summer, Kuminga started the first 12 games of the 2025-26 NBA season, and impressed early before returning to a role off the bench and eventually falling out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotations completely. The 23-year-old now has registered 13 consecutive DNP-CDs (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision).

While it appears likely that Kuminga is traded sooner rather than later, ESPN also reported that the Warriors’ decision-makers have given zero assurances to teams that the young forward will be dealt before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, believing it could “prove better business” to push the decision to the summer.

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Jonathan Kuminga reportedly demanding Warriors trade on first day of eligibility

Jonathan Kuminga reportedly demanding Warriors trade on first day of eligibility originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga, unsurprisingly, wants out.

The Warriors’ young forward is demanding a trade from the team, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported Thursday morning, citing league sources.

This story will be updated …

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Knicks' Jalen Brunson out for Thursday's game against Warriors due to ankle injury

Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who suffered a right ankle sprain in the first quarter of Wednesday's 112-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings, is out for Thursday's matchup against the Warriors.

Brunson is listed as day-to-day.

While Brunson is out, Landry Shamet has been upgraded to questionable.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, including from The Athletic's James Edwards, Brunson left the locker room after Wednesday's game without a boot or crutches. 

The incident occurred with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter when Brunson tried to cross up Maxime Raynaud on the wing, but slipped and fell, appearing to turn his ankle. 

Brunson tried to remain in the game, but checked out with 7:01 on the clock and headed to the locker room.

The Knicks guard missed two games last November when he sprained the same ankle against the Orlando Magic.

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Knicks struggle offensively, miss 33 three-pointers in 112-101 loss to Kings

The Knicks had one of their worst shooting games of the season and lost to the Sacramento Kings, 112-101, on Wednesday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-- New York found themselves down 16-8 early in the first quarter and then things got even worse with Jalen Brunson leaving the game with a right ankle injury. Brunson slipped and fell with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter while trying to cross up Maxime Raynaud. He tried to stay in the game but left for the locker room with 7:01 on the clock and did not return.

-- It didn't get better for Mike Brown's new squad against his former team as NY trailed 32-17 at the end of the first quarter. The Knicks went 0-for-9 from three-point range and shot just 35 percent from the field compared to the Kings' 63 percent. Former Knick Precious Achiuwa, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine all scored 10 points in the first. Karl-Anthony Towns tried to carry the load for New York with seven points.

-- New York missed their first 12 three-point attempts before Josh Hart hit one to make it a 41-24 game in the second quarter. The Knicks slowly tried to mount a comeback despite their struggles from beyond the arc. Offensive rebounds and second-chance points were a big factor as Mitchell Robinson dominated the glass (11 total offensive rebounds in the first half, Robinson with six). 

The Knicks outscored the Kings, 25-24, in the second quarter but trailed 56-42 at halftime. It's tied for their lowest scoring first half of the season. The team shot an abysmal 1-for-19 from three and 34 percent from the field. Towns was the go-to scorer with Brunson out (13 points on 5-for-11 shooting), but no one else was in double figures.

-- Sacramento scored seven quick points to open the third quarter before Mikal Bridges made the Knicks' second three-pointer of the night (2-for-21 at the time), making it a 63-46 game. The Kings continued to get to the foul line and extend their lead. Hart made the team's third three-pointer (3-for-25) and then Robinson picked up his seventh offensive rebound, scoring on a tip-in as the Knicks trailed, 79-57, with 4:47 left in the third quarter.

DeRozan made his first three-pointer in three games with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter as the Kings grew their lead to 23 points. They led 96-76 heading into the fourth as Achiuwa's revenge game continued, getting up to a season-high 20 points already. New York made a total of four three-pointers (4-for-10) in the third, improving to 17 percent from deep.

-- Jordan Clarkson gave the Knicks a spark with six straight points in the fourth quarter and then Bridges sank his second three-pointer to cut the Sacramento lead to 15 points. Brown emptied the bench with 2:34 left, down 108-94. They made it a nine-point game after a Tyler Kolek three and Guerschon Yabusele layup before Russell Westbrook banked in a three to have fans chanting to "light the beam."

-- The Knicks shot 39 percent overall and 20 percent from three, missing 33 attempts (8-for-41). Towns didn't score in the second half, finishing with 13 points and four rebounds, while Bridges led the team with 19 points. OG Anunoby finished with 15 points, Clarkson had 11 points, and Hart and McBride each had 10 points. 

Sacramento made 32 free throws (84 percent from the foul line) and shot 47 percent from the field. The Kings won the rebound battle, 48-43. DeRozan had 27 points and LaVine added 25 points.

Game MVP: Precious Achiuwa

The former Knick and five-star recruit out of high school had his best game of the season, scoring 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting with 14 rebounds (six offensive), two assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks will make a quick trip to the Bay Area to face Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at 10:00 p.m. ET.

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Watch Bulls' insane game-winning play to beat Jazz

This looked like it was going to be Brice Sensabaugh night. The forward scored 21 points off the bench in the first quarter alone and went on to score a career-high 43.

But the Bulls pulled out the victory on a Nikola Vucevic game-winner that came on the most improbable of plays.

Utah's Keyonte George missed a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left and that was the ball game, the Bulls got the 128-126 win.

Sensabaugh shot 15-of-22 overall and hit five 3-pointers on the way to his record night. George added 25 for the Jazz.

Vucevic scored 35 to lead the Bulls, but the real story was their bench, which scored 61 points and had five players in double figures.

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Braden Smith leads 2nd-half charge in No. 5 Purdue's 79-72 comeback victory over Iowa

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Braden Smith scored all 16 of his points in the second half and tied the Big Ten record for assists in conference play, and No. 5 Purdue overcame a nine-point to beat Iowa 79-72 on Wednesday night.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 12 points, Fletcher Loyer had 11 and Oscar Cluff 10 to help the Boilermakers (16-1, 6-0 Big Ten) win their eighth straight game. They have won their first six conference games for only the fifth time since 1940.

Smith finished the game with 478 assists in league games — the same number former Michigan State player Cassius Winston had.

Bennett Stirtz had 19 points to lead Iowa (12-5, 2-4). Kael Combs added 16 points as the Hawkeyes lost their third in a row overall, fell to 0-4 against ranked teams this season and extended their losing streak against top-10 opponents to 10 since 2021-22.

NO. 13 ILLINOIS 79, NORTHWESTERN 68

EVANSTON, Ill.(AP) — Keaton Wagler scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half, and Illinois beat Northwestern for their season-high sixth consecutive victory.

Tomislav Ivisic added 21 points and seven rebounds as Illinois (14-3, 5-1 Big Ten) won at Northwestern for the first time since Jan. 29, 2022. The Illini had dropped their last three games in Evanston.

Jayden Reid led Northwestern with a career-high 28 points, including 20 in the second half. Nick Martinelli had 20 points.

STANFORD 95, NO. 14 NORTH CAROLINA 90

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Freshman Ebuka Okorie had 36 points and nine assists and Stanford rallied from 12 points down in the second half to beat North Carolina.

Okorie outdueled Tar Heels freshman star Caleb Wilson and helped the Cardinal (14-4, 3-2 ACC) knock off the Tar Heels (14-3, 2-2) for the second straight season as conference opponents. North Carolina had won all 13 meetings between the schools before coach Kyle Smith took over last season in Stanford’s first year in the ACC.

Jeremy Dent-Smith hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:04 to play for his sixth long ball of the night to make it 88-87. After Wilson turned it over at the other end, Ryan Agarwal hit another 3 to but the Cardinal up by four points with 32 seconds to play.

The Cardinal held on from there for their second win over a ranked opponent this month after beating No. 16 Louisville at home on Jan. 2. That matches the most wins against ranked wins in a season for Stanford since the Cardinal had five in 2013-14 in the last season when they made the NCAA Tournament.

Dent-Smith and Agarwal each finished with 20 points as Stanford won despite playing without second-leading scorer Chisom Okpara, who is out with a lower-body injury.

Wilson and Henri Veesaar each scored 26 points for North Carolina.

NO. 15 TEXAS TECH 88, UTAH 74

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — JT Toppin had 31 points and 13 rebounds for his sixth consecutive double-double and Christian Anderson had his own with 26 points and 10 assists as Texas Tech beat Utah.

It was Toppin’s 11th double-double this season, his 30th in 49 games over two seasons with Tech since transferring from New Mexico, and his 42nd overall. The 6-foot-9 junior forward also had seven assists and five blocked shots while making a career-high three 3-pointers.

Donovan Atwell added 12 points on four 3-pointers for the Red Raiders (13-4, 3-1 Big 12), who shot 51.4% overall from the field (36 of 70) while improving to 9-0 at home this season. Anderson had six of their 13 made 3-pointers.

Keanu Dawes and Don McHenry each had 18 points, and Terrence Brown 17 for Utah (8-9, 0-4). The Utes have lost 11 consecutive true road games.

NO. 17 ARKANSAS 108, SOUTH CAROLINA 74

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Darius Acuff Jr. had 18 points and 13 assists as Arkansas routed South Carolina.

Meleek Thomas led six Razorbacks in double figures with 21 points off the bench. Reserve forward Malique Ewin scored 18, Trevon Brazile had 13 and D.J. Wagner added 12.

Nick Pringle, who spent last season at South Carolina, set a season high with 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Acuff, a freshman, posted his third double-double and set a career best for assists. He’s scored in double figures in every game for Arkansas (13-4, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) this season.

Meechie Johnson paced the Gamecocks (10-7, 1-3) with 29 points.

MISSISSIPPI 97, NO. 21 GEORGIA 95, OT

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Patton Pinkins sank a follow-up shot with 1 second remaining in overtime and Mississippi beat Georgia despite Jeremiah Wilkinson’s season-high 32 points for the Bulldogs.

Marcus “Smurf” Millender made one of two free throws for Georgia (14-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) with 10.2 seconds remaining in overtime to tie the game at 95.

Following a miss by AJ Storr, who led Ole Miss (10-7, 2-2) with 27 points, Pinkins grabbed the rebound and sank the winning shot to finish with 18 points.

Kanon Catchings scored 17 points for Georgia, including a 3-pointer for a 94-91 lead.

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Nets drop fifth straight game after 116-113 loss to Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 34 points, Saddiq Bey made a tying 3-pointer, converted an offensive rebound into a dunk and hit two free throws in the final 1:04, and the New Orleans Pelicans edged the Brooklyn Nets 116-113 on Wednesday night.

Zion Williamson had 25 points for New Orleans, which won for just the second time in 13 games. Yves Missi contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, nine on the offensive end to help the Pelicans finish with 33 second-chance points.

Egor Demin scored 17 points and hit five 3s, the last of them giving the Nets a 110-107 lead with 1:28 to go. Bey responded with his 3 to tie it as the shot clock was about to expire. His dunk came after he grabbed a long rebound on Murphy’s missed deep 3, and his free throws came with 5 seconds left after he was fouled intentionally.

Bey finished with 12 points.

Michael Porter Jr., who scored 20 points for the Nets, gained possession in the final seconds after a scramble for a loose ball near midcourt and let go a desperation heave that missed as the horn sounded.

Drake Powell had 16 points while Day’Ron Sharpe added 15 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, which lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Demin hit four of his first five 3-point shots and the Nets led by 12 early.

New Orleans chipped away and trailed just 55-54 after Williamson’s layup closed out the scoring in the first half. The game was tied at 87 through three quarters.

The Pelicans entered with an NBA-worst opponent shooting percentage of 50.5 in the fourth quarter. The Nets scored the first seven points of the final period on their first three shots, prompting New Orleans coach James Borrego to call a timeout.

New Orleans responded soon after with an 15-4 run, during which Murphy scored nine points and assisted on Karlo Matkovic’s dunk, setting up the tight finish.

Up next

Nets: Host the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Pelicans: Visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

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No. 3 UCLA beats Minnesota 76-58 for 10th straight win

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kiki Rice had 25 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Lauren Betts posted her third straight double-double, leading No. 3 UCLA past Minnesota 76-58 on Wednesday night.

Betts staved off early foul trouble to finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bruins (16-1, 6-0) stayed unbeaten in Big Ten play and pushed their winning streak to 10 straight games. Their only loss was to No. 4 Texas in Las Vegas on Nov. 26.

Rice hit all three of her 3-point attempts to make the Gophers pay for packing the paint, as the Bruins shot 60% from the floor (27 for 45) against the top defensive team in the nation. UCLA had by far the highest final score in a regulation game this season against Minnesota, which was allowing an average of 51.8 points per game entering the night.

The Gophers lost 100-99 in double overtime to then-No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7. They beat then-No. 21 USC 63-62 on Sunday for the program’s first win over a ranked team since 2019.

Amaya Battle scored 16 points and Mara Braun added 15 points for the Gophers (12-5, 3-3), who forced 17 turnovers but managed only three fast-break points.

NO. 10 TCU, WEST VIRGINIA

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Marta Suarez hit a 3-pointer as time expired to lift TCU to a win over West Virginia.

Suarez, who had missed her first five tries from beyond the arc, took an inbounds pass from Donovyn Hunter, set her feet and sank the winner to cap off an otherwise sloppy effort from the Horned Frogs (17-1, 5-1 Big 12).

Olivia Miles led TCU with 14 points and Suarez finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Jordan Harrison led West Virginia (14-4, 4-2) with 19 points.

NO. 14 OHIO STATE 108, PENN STATE 84

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge scored 33 points, Chance Gray had 23 points and seven 3-pointers, and Ohio State made a season-high 17 3-pointers in a victory over Penn State for its fifth straight victory.

Elsa Lemmilä added 21 points for Ohio State (16-2, 6-1 Big Ten). Cambridge, the Big Ten player of the week, also had four 3-pointers.

Moriah Murray scored 25 points, Gracie Merkle had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Kiyomi McMiller added 20 points for Penn State (7-11, 0-7), which has lost seven straight games. Tea Cleante came off the bench to score 10 points.

NO. 18 BAYLOR 61, UTAH 45

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 14 points to lead Baylor to a victory over Utah.

Scott was 5-of-21 shooting and 3 of 9 from behind the arc for the Bears (16-3, 5-1 Big 12) Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 11 points and nine rebounds. Jana Van Gytenbeek had 10 points and six assists. Kiersten Johnson added nine rebounds.

Chyra Evans posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Utes (13-5, 4-2), while Lani White had 14 points and eight rebounds.

COLORADO 68, NO. 19 IOWA STATE 62

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Desiree Wooten scored a season-high 24 points, and Jade Masogayo added 15 as Colorado held off Iowa State.

Zyanna Walker added 10 for the Buffaloes (11-6, 3-3 Big 12). Anaelle Dutat had 12 rebounds to go with nine points. It was the first time Colorado has beaten Iowa State since rejoining the Big 12.

Colorado took it first lead with 1:55 left to play in the third quarter off a 6-0 run, 40-37. Iowa State tied it 42-all heading into the final frame, where another 6-0 run for the Buffaloes set them up with their biggest lead of the night, 48-42, forcing the Cyclones to call a timeout.

Iowa State tied the game at 52, but a foul sent Dutat to the line, where she sank both shots. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Tabitha Betson put the Buffs up 60-55. Wooten hit a shot from beyond the arc with 46 seconds left to seal the victory.

Audi Crooks had 17 points and 15 rebounds for Iowa State (14-3, 2-4), which has lost four straight. Sydney Harris added 16 points for the Cyclones, who scored a season-low 62 points. Their previous low was 63, which came earlier this month in their loss to Cincinnati.

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Hornets to retire No. 30 jersey of long-time franchise player, broadcaster Dell Curry

Dell Curry is more than just a father and the guy who likes to golf with his sons Stephen and Seth — he's an NBA legend in his own right.

Which is why the Hornets announced that on March 19, they will retire Curry's No. 30 jersey. Curry spent 10 seasons as a player with the Charlotte Hornets, won Sixth Man of the Year with the team, and has now spent the last 17 years as the team's color commentator.

"When I first came to Charlotte in 1988, the city embraced my family and me in a way I never expected," Curry said in a statement. "I was blessed to join an organization that believed in me, play alongside teammates who would become life-long friends and compete in front of the most passionate fans in the NBA. I'm proud to continue being part of the Hornets organization and this community today. Having my jersey retired is an honor I never imagined, and I'm forever grateful to Rick and Gabe as well as the entire organization. Charlotte shaped so many meaningful moments in my life, and I'm humbled by this recognition."

This is part of an effort by Hornets Co-Chairmen/owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin to grow the connection between the team and community, and as part of that the franchise's history.

Dell Curry is a big part of that history. A 3-point sharpshooter, Curry was a key part of some of the best Hornets teams including three 50-plus win campaigns and four playoff appearances. Curry remains the team's all-time leader in games played (701), and is second in points (9,839), field goals made (3,951) and 3-point field goals (929).

For a younger generation of Hornets fans, he has always been the color analyst on the broadcasts.

The jersey retirement will happen during a halftime ceremony on March 19, when Charlotte hosts Orlando.

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Trae Young reportedly to be out past the All-Star break with right MCL, quad injuries

When the Trae Young to Washington trade went down, one of the big questions was how much Young would play for the Wizards this season. Washington has motivation not to be too good this season and Young is the kind of player who raises a team's floor (at least) and wins games.

Young will remain out with right MCL and quad injuries through the All-Star break in a month, at which point he will be re-evaluated, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

It doesn't seem coincidental that this report comes out just as there were growing questions around the league about whether the Wizards were running afoul of the league's player participation policy. Those are the rules the league put in place a few years ago to make sure star players are on the court — and Young, an All-Star the past four years, qualifies. Young had already returned from an MCL issue, and quad injuries don't usually take very long to recover from.

The Hawks held Young out with that quad contusion prior to the trade, but the expectation was that, once traded, he would be instantly, almost miraculously healthy (as many other players have been in that situation over the years).

Except, the Wizards are not looking to win too much. Washington owes its first-round pick to New York, but it is top eight protected heading into what is expected to be a very good draft at the top. The Wizards currently have the fourth-worst record in the league, and, even if things go poorly with the lottery, they cannot lose their pick. Even if Washington enters the lottery with the fifth- or sixth-worst record, there is a greater than 96% chance it keeps the pick. However, get to the seventh-worst record or better and the Knicks suddenly start to feel a lot better. Young, as a guy who can just win a team games, can mess up their plans.

Injury or no, there have been "rumbles" that the Wizards might give Young a two-year contract extension, reports NBA insider Marc Stein at The Stein Line. Young has a player option for $48.9 million next season. If he is willing to waive it, the Wizards might offer him two years with more guaranteed money overall but less per season (two years, $70-$75 million). It's something to watch.

As is when Young will actually step on the court for the Wizards.

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Precious Achiuwa's ‘contagious' energy propels Kings to third consecutive win

Precious Achiuwa's ‘contagious' energy propels Kings to third consecutive win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The primary storyline entering Wednesday night was New York Knicks coach Mike Brown returning to Golden 1 Center for the first time since being fired by the Kings just over a year ago.

But Sacramento forward Precious Achiuwa ended up stealing the spotlight in a “revenge game” of his own — his first game against his previous team from Manhattan since moving across the country as an NBA free agent this past offseason.

The former Knick recorded season highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds en route to leading the Kings to a 112-101 win, though Achiuwa maintained this matchup held no extra importance to him.

“I don’t think it was extra motivation,” Achiuwa told reporters postgame. “I just think it was continuing to build on the success we’ve had in the last couple games, you know, just continuing to carry that over. Just go out there and play hard, play the right way, and that was the result.”

Achiuwa was a clear spark plug on the offensive end and made sure to celebrate right in front of former teammate OG Anunoby after hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter.

But that scoring success appeared to be a product of his defensive intensity, at least in the eyes of his coach Doug Christie.

“He was locked in on the defensive end, because he was accepting an assignment in [Knicks guard Jalen Brunson] that is a huge one,” Christie explained about Achiuwa, a 6-foot-8 forward that typically might not be expected to defend a point guard. “I mean, he’s an MVP candidate — all the different things that come along with Jalen Brunson. The ability for him to be willing and ready to step into that, I think that just locks him in.”

And in order to be able to defend effectively a player of Brunson’s caliber, it’s almost a necessity to have a certain level of self-confidence and belief — which Achiuwa doesn’t appear to lack on defense.

“Defense is something that I can hang my hat on, any time, any day, any night,” Achiuwa asserted. “A lot of guys around the league talk about defense — I put myself up there with the best of them, being able to guard point guards all the way through centers. If you look at the last 10 games or so, I’ve guarded pretty much … every position from point guards to centers.”

Achiuwa’s primary defensive assignment didn’t last long; Brunson rolled his right ankle within the opening five minutes and didn’t return. But that didn’t deter Achiuwa’s energy on either end, with the 26-year-old out of Queens adding two assists, two steals and two blocks to his stat line.

“He was aggressive downhill, driving, making sure he was getting to the basket,” Christie added. “There’s not a selfish bone in his body, so he’s a willing passer. But the biggest thing on [the box score] is the 14 rebounds, six of them on the offensive end, and just grown-man basketball all around.”

Achiuwa has played 39, 30 and 30 minutes in the Kings’ last three games — that’s three of his four highest minute totals this season, with the lone exception being 34 minutes in an overtime game in November. In what perhaps isn’t a coincidence, Wednesday’s win gave Sacramento (11-30) its first three-game winning streak of the 2025-26 NBA season.

And Achiuwa’s intensity hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“Precious, I can’t believe he was a free agent when we picked him up,” Zach Lavine told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live” while Achiuwa lit the beam. “Playing against him the last five, six years, and then being able to actually have him come in and bring energy. He’s a defensive guy, but he can play 1 through 5. He’s knocking down some threes, which I haven’t seen, but you know, we’ll take it. His pressure, his energy, and the way every day he comes into the facility, he brings happiness.”

To be fair, Maxime Raynaud’s parents also have been in attendance for all three of the Kings’ consecutive wins, so maybe the reasoning behind this hot stretch is twofold. But Raynaud appreciated Achiuwa’s effort, too.

“I thought he started off super aggressive, first by scoring, but also getting stops and getting big-time rebounds, so his energy is contagious,” Raynaud told Ragan and Mason postgame. “He started it, and then everybody just picked up from there. He was definitely the leader of our team tonight.”

Now a perfect 3-0 to start its seven-game homestand, Sacramento welcomes the Washington Wizards on Friday night as the team looks to continue playing their best ball of the season.

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Observations after Sixers get blown out by Cavs to kick off homestand

Observations after Sixers get blown out by Cavs to kick off homestand  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers certainly did not begin their six-game homestand with their finest performance Wednesday night. 

They fell to a 133-107 loss to the Cavs at Xfinity Mobile Arena, dropping to 22-17 on the season. Cleveland moved to 23-19. 

Joel Embiid’s 20 points topped the Sixers. Paul George added 17.

Cavs star Donovan Mitchell tallied 35 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Darius Garland had 20 points and seven assists. Evan Mobley posted 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.

The Sixers remained at full strength to begin the evening. Cleveland was down Dean Wade (left knee contusion) and Max Strus (left foot fracture surgery). 

The Cavs and Sixers will play the second game of their mini-series Friday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on the Sixers’ blowout loss Wednesday:

Cavs surge ahead early 

Garland swished a three-pointer for the game’s first basket and Cleveland made its first four field goals.

While the Sixers kept pace for a while and went up 10-9 on an Embiid top-of-the-key three, the Cavs pushed in front with a 10-0 run.

The Sixers were inferior early in both the turnover and rebounding departments. They conceded 11 second-chance points in a little over six minutes. As a team, the Sixers were often unable to match the Cavs’ physicality, track the ball and close out possessions. 

Embiid slammed the ball down in frustration after being whistled for traveling on the perimeter. That turnover was Embiid’s fourth and the Sixers’ sixth. At that stage, the Cavs still had zero giveaways. 

Small role for McCain 

Embiid did reach 13,000 career points in the first quarter. 

He watched from the sidelines early in the second as George took command of the Sixers’ offense. Though George drained two threes early in the second quarter, the Sixers still trailed by 14 points when Embiid subbed back in.

Searching for anything effective, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse tried out many of his bench options in the first half. Jared McCain was the 11th Sixer to see action, checking at the 6:16 mark of the second period.

McCain played just three minutes in the second quarter and missed a short baseline jumper on his only shot attempt. His next stint began around the midpoint of the fourth quarter with the Sixers down by 25 points. Though he’s played in 27 consecutive games, the second-year guard’s minutes have been minimal lately. The 21-year-old has had four straight outings under 10 minutes.

It’s a somewhat tricky situation for Nurse and the team to manage. The Sixers want McCain to gradually regain rhythm and confidence after returning from thumb and knee injuries. They also want to maximize their chances to win games and McCain has generally played well below the level he showed as an impressive rookie. 

There’s pros and cons to whatever approach the Sixers choose from here. Playing McCain a handful of minutes per game does not appear to be a good long-term solution. 

Sixers’ momentum short-lived

The game halted early in the third quarter when Dominick Barlow hit the floor hard and landed on his back after Mobley blocked his layup.

Barlow was down for several minutes and helped off the court by his teammates. He was officially ruled out with a back contusion late in the third quarter.

Once the action resumed, the Cavs extended their lead. Darius Garland’s layup gave Cleveland a 75-53 advantage, Nurse called timeout and the home fans booed.

The Sixers replied with a high-energy 10-0 run.

Jabari Walker provided ample hustle. Embiid dove into the stands in pursuit of a long rebound. A little later, Walker’s second steal led to a Tyrese Maxey fast-break layup that cut the Sixers’ deficit to 79-68.

Cleveland was soon back in control. The Sixers’ comeback ambitions were not helped by the fact that both members of their starting backcourt had inefficient games. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 23 points on 8-for-26 shooting.

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LeBron distances himself from agent Rich Paul's suggestion of Austin Reaves trade

LOS ANGELES — It all started on a recent episode of the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast, when the agent — LeBron James' agent — suggested the Lakers should talk to Memphis about a trade for All-Star and DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr., with Los Angeles sending fan favorite Austin Reaves to Tennessee.

LeBron distanced himself from that on Tuesday, speaking to Dave McMenamin of ESPN as he left the arena.

"I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel. And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they're not sensible to know that, then I don't know what to tell them."

There are a number of teams that have their eyes on Jaren Jackson Jr., and if Memphis might make him available in the wake of a Ja Morant trade. To this point, the Grizzlies are shooting down all those inquiries, league sources have told NBC Sports. The perception from other teams is that the Grizzlies are not ready to tear this thing down to the studs and rebuild. They believe they have a good supporting group led by JJJ, and if they can land another star, they could be right back in the mix in the West.

LeBron has to distance himself from the comments for locker room reasons, but Rich Paul is right. The Lakers are retooling their roster after Luka Doncic was gifted to them, and with that they need an elite two-way center who sets strong screens and can roll hard to the rim. Jackson fits that bill, plus he can do more on offense. He would be a fantastic fit for the Lakers, and if the price were Reaves (likely with an unprotected first-round pick) they should jump at it.

The reality is Jackson is not available, and this summer Reaves is going to get a much-deserved massive raise. He has played at an All-Star level when healthy and shown he can carry the offense while Doncic is out. Reaves is a fan favorite, loves playing in Los Angeles and the Lakers should not consider trading him unless the return is just too good to pass up. That's unlikely, which is why next season we will almost certainly see Reaves still in a Lakers' uniform and Jackson in Grizzlies colors.