The Celtics roll into Chicago looking to extend a winning rhythm, but the Bulls are in a groove as well. Boston had to dig deep last night, and they’ll have to again on the second half of a back-to-back. Fatigue may be a factor, but the Celtics have a key contributor returning. Here are three questions that could decide the outcome.
Can the Celtics survive a short turnaround against the Bulls?
Boston was put to the test all night by Brooklyn, and had just enough left in the tank to pull off a gutsy win. After a double-overtime finish and a late-night flight to Chicago, the Celtics haven’t had much time to recharge ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Bulls.
Chicago, meanwhile, enters well-rested and riding a three-game winning streak. They most recently handled Minnesota behind a balanced effort that saw seven players reach double figures.
Brooklyn’s size and switchability posed problems for Boston, but Chicago presents a different challenge. The Bulls lack the same positional versatility, which should allow the Celtics to generate and punish switches more easily. The concern lies on the other end.
Chicago plays fast. They rank fourth in pace and average the second-most transition possessions per game — a recipe that could expose tired legs if this game stays close late.
This puts a premium on execution. If Boston can control turnovers and get into its half-court offense, they’ll limit Chicago’s ability to run, and force the Bulls to score against a set defense.
The good news? Derrick White is back.
Can Derrick White’s return slow down the Bulls’ fast break?
The weather is unusually cold — and so is Derrick White’s jumper lately.
After a slow start to the season, White found his rhythm, before slipping back into another brief efficiency dip. It’s a familiar pattern, and one that prompted Joe Mazzulla to give him the night off against Brooklyn.
Derrick White tends to slump every January. It’s probably cost him an All-Star nod (or two). But he tends to break out in a big way by February. pic.twitter.com/kB0pcne1z2
His return against Chicago comes at an ideal moment. White’s defensive versatility and off-ball activity could be critical against a Bulls team that thrives in transition, particularly when it comes to slowing his namesake, Coby White. With extra rest, he may also be better positioned to shoulder a larger load if others begin to fade.
There’s no long-term concern with one of the league’s most reliable shooters. If anything, this feels like a natural spot for a course correction.
Will Amari Williams get more minutes after his strong performance?
Amari Williams had arguably the most encouraging five-minute stint one could imagine against the Nets.
With Neemias Queta and Luka Garza fouled out, it was Amari Williams who stepped up with the game on the line. His size and defensive impact were huge, but more importantly, he looked like he belonged.
Getting thrown into the fire of double overtime is a big ask for a rookie two-way center. He handled it extremely well, and effectively iced the game with some excellent rim protection.
Mazzulla has consistently rewarded young players who impact games, and Williams may have earned himself a longer look. While his development is primarily happening in Maine, there’s value in giving him NBA reps — something he’s handled well each time so far.
With Queta still dealing with illness and listed as probable, tonight presents another opportunity. Like White, Williams could help Boston manage the physical toll of a short turnaround.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Toby Fournier scored 19 points, reserve Arianna Roberson had 19 points in a double-double and No. 21 Duke overwhelmed Pittsburgh 95-41 on Saturday for the Blue Devils' 11th straight win.
Roberson, a freshman, was 9-of-15 shooting and matched her high of 12 rebounds for her first double-double. Riley Nelson also posted her first double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Delaney Thomas scored 16 points and Taina Mair added 12 for the Blue Devils (14-6, 9-0 ACC), who share first place with No. 8 Louisville.
Mikayla Johnson led the Panthers (8-14, 1-7) with 15 points.
Duke scored the first seven points of the game and Pittsburgh's first made basket came with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. Duke led 9-4 at that point then made 6 of 8 shots to finish the quarter. The Blue Devils led 22-8 after one.
Duke shot 68% in the second quarter and finished the half on a 19-4 run, building a 51-16 halftime lead.
Duke led 66-20 midway through the third quarter before Pitt scored back-to-back baskets for the first time. The Panthers scored 14 points in the third, their first quarter with double-digit scoring. Duke led 76-30 at the end of three.
The lead peaked at 85-30 after the Blue Devils scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter.
The 11 consecutive wins match Duke's longest under coach Kara Lawson, also accomplished in the 2022-23 season.
The game was moved from Sunday to Saturday because of the severe winter storm in the south and east.
In today’s matinee, the Knicks (27*-18) absorbed a Joel Embiid onslaught, survived cold shooting from the wings, and steadied themselves just enough in the final seconds to leave Philadelphia with a 112–109 win, holding off the 76ers (24-20) after nearly squandering a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.
Through the first quarter, New York mostly controlled the flow but never created separation. They relied on Brunson, Towns, and McBride to build modest leads, but never more than six points. Before the game, Towns was questionable to play due to back spasms. Numerous times this afternoon, he seemed to aggravate the problem. Off the bench, Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection and physicality made him the only effective deterrent to Embiid.
In a tightly contested frame, Maxey and Embiid consistently erased any ground the visitors gained. When McBride drilled a late three, Maxey answered with some freebies, and the quarter ended with a 34-34 deadlock.
The home team seized control in the second quarter. Maxey bent the defense at the point of attack. Embiid gradually thundered into the lane, benefiting from his strength, footwork, and friendly whistles. For our heroes, Anunoby emerged as an offensive presence, cutting and finishing with concentrated energy, but Towns was unable to slow Embiid. By the break, the Knicks were on the wrong side of 64-60.
Through the half, New York dominated the glass (25–14) and crushed the offensive boards (10–1). The Sixers, meanwhile, were ruthless when they got looks, shooting 65% overall, won the paint 30-22, and moved the ball well enough to offset the rebounding deficit. Embiid’s highest scoring first-half of the season ended with a game-high 28 points. For the Knicks, Brunson posted 19.
In the third quarter, the Knicks showed us what they can do when focused on both ends. Behind efficient scoring and furious defense, they opened the second half with a 14-4 run. Philly’s Embiid looked bedraggled after his extraordinary first half, so perhaps the coronation by the ABC halftime panel was a tad premature.
When Shamet slipped through for a backdoor layup, the Knicks had outscored Philly 21-7 and taken a 10-point lead, their largest yet. A little later, Deuce hit a jumper to make the score 88-74. With steals, blocks, rebounds, and forced turnovers—and Karl-Anthony Towns benched for most of the quarter due to foul trouble—the Knicks held the home team to just 13 points in the frame. (Yep, 13.) With the wind in their sails, New York gleefully embarked into the fourth with a 90-77 advantage.
Early in the fourth, Embiid went down, grabbing his leg, but remained in the game. His gait was gimpy, Joel had scored zilch in Q3, and missed two free throws before gingerly hitting a triple around the eight-minute mark of Q4. The big fella spurred an eight-point run to cut into New York’s 17-point lead, but you could just tell he was already fantasizing about that postgame ice bath. By game’s end, he’d have 38 points, 11 boards, and five assists.
Good luck keeping a lead in today’s NBA when two of your players (Bridges, McBride) each shoot 1-of-8 from downtown. Bridges was terrible, hurting his team by missing dead-on bunnies and, at one point, shooting 3-of-16 from the floor. Captain Clutch sizzled from deep (6-of-12) but was the only Knick with more than one made three-pointer. Nonetheless, they looked like the better team. Worried about the playoffs? Not us, not yet. (Brunson would finish with 31 points on 11-of-24 FG.)
At the midway point, Towns fouled out. Blame the bad back, but that’s six fouls in 16 minutes to go with his 10 points and six boards. Lucky for New York, Robinson was playing like a spring chicken, grabbing every possible offensive rebound. Philly had some juice, though, with Kelly “Sideshow Bob” Oubre, Jr. and OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes pitching in to cut the differential to five with five minutes left.
With two minutes left, Embiid scored to make the score 102-99. Anunoby (the wing who was shooting well) made a tip-in to drive half of the stadium wild. VJ Edgecombe responded with a quick-trigger triple, which set the Philly half of the crowd cheering. OG said Hmph and answered with a triple; then an Embiid miss became a Shamet trey for an eight-point lead with 42 seconds left. The Knicks fans were shaking the building. (Anunoby tallied 23 points on 10-of-15 FG.)
A Maxey triple and two Edgecombe free throws made it a three-point game. In a wild final 30 seconds, Brunson was tagged for an offensive foul, trying to break away from Edgecombe on an inbound. A coach’s challenge overturned the call, giving New York a free throw and possession. Anunoby was fouled and made one of two free throws. Maxey raced down the floor for a layup, cutting the difference to five points with 18 seconds left. Brunson missed two free throws, but Maxey missed on a three-pointer, Shamet wasn’t whistled while trying to commit an intentional foul, and New York escaped with a 112-109 win.
Up Next
My sheet says Matthew Miranda is coming in hot with a recap. As for New York, they will host the Kings of Sacramento on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
As Bright Side’s East Coast Correspondent, I attended the Phoenix Suns’ contests against the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. About halfway through the season, and Jalen Green returning, there was a lot going on for the team. Here are the most interesting things I heard on the trip:
Jordan Ott’s Infatuation with Process:
Against the Knicks, the Suns had six players score in double digits after just four different players scored in the first quarter. I asked Ott about the stat and he didn’t hold back:
Question: In the First quarter you had four players score a basket and then by the time ended you guys had six players in double-digits. What was the shift after the first quarter with the ball movement?
Answer: I try not to just look at the scoreboard, I don’t think that’s 2026 coaching. There’s too much data out there. There’s too much data, what the quality of shots were getting. I did feel from the middle of the first on, our process was starting to get right, and again, we’re gonna shoot threes, that’s what were gonna do. It’s hard for us to get to the rim at times. We’re gonna try and play as fast as we can, especially, into an action as fast as we can, so we play a lot of pick-and-roll. When that starts to get right and we’re starting to find some high quality shots, whether they go in or not, we trust that that process is right.
After the Suns got down early in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix went on a 38-18 run to close the quarter which gave them a cushion when the 76ers rallied late. Ott said that their process was a huge part of what helped them go on their huge run.
"We didn't have to say much in the timeout."
-Jordan Ott on how the coaching staff managed the Suns going down 66-59 early in the third.
Phoenix ended the quarter on a 38-18 run. @BrightSideSun ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Jalen Green on Traveling with the Team While Hurt:
Green spent a lot of time with the Suns while injured, traveling throughout the country with the team. After his first game, he spoke about the impact that it had on his recovery. Green was out more than two months with a hamstring strain.
"We bond together so well, the guys supporting so much."
-Jalen Green on the impact on traveling with the Suns while he was injured in his recovery process. @BrightSideSun
In the Suns’ 116-110 win over Philly, Phoenix’s bench and starters scored the same amount, 58 each. I asked Booker about the team’s depth after the game, and he talked about the importance of having a strong rotation.
"That's what you need to go far in this league."
-Devin Booker on the Suns' depth.
Phoenix reserves had the same amount of points as their starters with 58.@BrightSideSun
In his first two games back, Green has come off the bench. It’s yet to be seen if he will stay with the second unit as he gets healthier.
Royce O’Neale’s Comfort in Jordan Ott’s System
Royce O’Neale is having the best season of his career. Averaging the most points of his career, O’Neale has 29 games this season with three or more made threes. On Tuesday, when he turned 29, he was tied for the most in the NBA this season. I asked after the game what that meant about how comfortable he is in Phoenix, and gave credit to his teammates and his hard work.
"Just all the work I've been putting in."
With three 3s tonight, Royce O'Neale is tied for first for the most games this season with 3 or more threes with 29.
Here's how he responded when he heard the news. @BrightSideSun
Once again, Ott’s infatuation with process leaves him confident in his players. After a few poor shooting nights, he wasn’t surprised to see Dillon Brooks hit six triples against the Nets because of the work he puts in.
"It's the process."
-Jordan Ott on Dillon Brooks' strong shooting game after a rough shooting stretch
Brooks also picked up his 14th technical foul tonight. If he gets two more he'll be suspended for a game unless any are rescinded. @BrightSideSun
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Riley Kugel scored 22 points with the help of six 3-pointers and Themus Fulks scored 19 points and UCF beat Colorado 95-86 on Saturday to earn its first-ever win over the Buffaloes in Boulder.
Jamichael Stillwell scored 15 points and reserves Devan Cambridge and Chris Johnson scored 11 and 10 respectively for the Knights (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) who shot a blistering 61% (33 of 54) including 63% (15 of 24) from 3-point range.
UCF made more 3s (15) than foul shots (14).
Barrington Hargress, Isaiah Johnson and Sebastian Rancik each scored 20 points for Colorado (12-8, 2-6) who on most other nights would've posted a victory, shooting 52% (29 of 56) including 55% (11 of 20) from 3.
Jordan Burks’ short shot gave UCF its largest lead at 79-64 with 6:48 left before Colorado went on a 16-7 spurt to close within 86-80.
With 2:16 left and Colorado rallying, Kugel banked in a 3 out of an inbounds play with 0.6 on the shot clock, and the Buffs never recovered.
Rancik gave Colorado its largest lead at 34-27 with 6:53 before halftime with a deep 3 before UCF went on a 9-2 run to tie it at 36 with 5:32 before the break. Cambridge's layup a minute-and-a-half later put UCF up for good and they led 49-47 at halftime.
Up Next
Colorado: The Buffs, who now have lost six five straight, travel to face ninth-ranked Iowa State on Thursday.
The Knicks played one of their best quarters of the season, but the 76ers fought back in the fourth quarter, as New York held on to a 112-109 win in Philadelphia.
Coming off a big win against the Nets, questions regarding the Knicks (coming into the game 3-9 in their last 12 games) still prevailed. And although New York was behind at halftime, a 30-13 third quarter gave the Knicks enough cushion to weather the Philadelphia comeback.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, while OG Anunoby added 23 points and was clutch down the stretch.
Joel Embiid, coming off his first triple-double this season, had a game-high 38 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five assists and one block.
Here are the takeaways...
-Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable heading into the game with back spasms, but showed his health, knocking down his first shot (a three) to put the Knicks up early. New York's energy was visible, as they were aggressive on both ends of the floor. However, Philadelphia had that same spark with both teams knocking down shots and getting to the free-throw line.
New York took a 21-18 lead at the six-minute mark of the first quarter. The Knicks knocked down three of their first five three-pointers. Both offenses continued to hum through the first frame, but Knicks turnovers and lapses in defense allowed the Sixers to tie the game at 34 apiece after one. Brunson had a team-high 14 points and played the entire first quarter. Embiid (15) and Tyrese Maxey (11) led the Sixers.
-Early in the second, Towns drove to the basket and converted an and-one, but the foul took him to the floor. Towns was visibly hurt, grabbing at his back. The big man completed the old-fashioned three-point play and stayed in the game. But New York had bigger issues. With Brunson off the floor to start, turnovers and fouls pushed the Sixers to a 43-41 lead with nine minutes to go when coach Mike Brown called a timeout after Quentin Grimes leaked out behind the defense after an Anunoby layup for an uncontested dunk.
Josh Hart hit a three out of the timeout, but the Knicks' shooting dipped from there. One sequence saw New York miss three straight three-point attempts on one possession.
Missed shots, missed free throws and turnovers gave Philly a lead for most of the second and almost got out of hand before the return of Brunson, Mitchell Robinson's rebounding and clutch defense from Miles McBride cut the Sixers' lead. But Philly took a 64-60 lead into halftime off the back of Embiid's 28 points.
Brunson (19), Towns (10), and Anunoby (13) led the Knicks, but the team's lack of three-point efficiency hurt them. After going 6-for-11 from downtown in the first, they were 2-for-12 in the second.
-Towns picked up his fourth personal early in the third and had to sit, but with Robinson in, the Knicks began their comeback. A 15-0 run gave the Knicks a nine-point lead, the biggest of the game by either side at the time. New York would take a 90-77 lead into the final frame thanks to rebounding, great ball movement and, more importantly, incredible defense, especially on Embiid, who didn't score in the quarter.
New York outscored Philly 30-13 in the third.
-Towns started the fourth but picked up his fifth foul 25 seconds in and had to take a seat. Ariel Hukporti, who didn't play in the first half, checked in to give Robinson a blow, but didn't factor much as he scored two points in four minutes on the floor.
Philadelphia would go on an 11-0 run to cut the Knicks' lead to six points as shots stopped going down and Mikal Bridges' ice-cold shooting continued -- he finished 3-for-16 from the field and 1-for-9 from three. Towns, who checked in with Brunson with 7:29 left, would foul out as the Sixers continued to chop away at the deficit. Momentum swung back to the Knicks after a Robinson offensive rebound led to a Landry Shamet three. The Sixers would cut the Knicks' lead to three points, but Anunoby skied for a putback-dunk, followed by a three giving the Knicks some breathing room.
Shamet hit a wide-open three (from Anunoby's assist) to put them up by eight points with 41 seconds to play, and looked to be the dagger. However, a quick Maxey three, a Brunson turnover and foul cut the Knicks' lead to three with 33 seconds remaining. On the next possession, an offensive foul against Brunson on the in-bounds play was called, which Brown challenged. The foul was changed to a foul on VJ Edgecombe, and since it was away from the ball, Brunson hit the free throw and gave the Knicks the ball. Anunoby hit one of two free throws and after a quick Maxey layup, Philadelphia got the ball back -- after a successful challenge overturning a foul into possession for the Sixers -- down just three with 10 seconds remaining. After Maxey airballed a deep three out of bounds, Brunson was fouled, but the All-Star guard missed both free throws. Embiid looked to push the ball up the floor in the waning seconds, but the big man lost his handle after thinking he was fouled by Brunson on purpose as the time ticked to zero, and the Knicks escaped with the win.
Game MVP: OG Anunoby
While Brunson was the high-point man for the Knicks, Anunoby came up big on the offensive and defensive end.
It would appear being the home team is a massive disadvantage in this series.
The Sixers, sunk by a bad third quarter again, fell 112-109 the New York Knicks Saturday afternoon.
Joel Embiid set the tone with a brilliant first half before cooling off in the second, leading all scorers with 38 points and 11 rebounds on 13-of-21 shooting. Tyrese Maxey was quiet outside of the first and fourth quarters, going for 22 while shooting 8-of-15 from the floor including a missed potential game-tying three with nine seconds left.
Paul George didn’t score outside the second quarter, putting up nine points going 3-of-10 from the floor. VJ Edgecombe’s late heroics fell short — he finished with 14 points on nine shots. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30.
In an extremely rare sight these days, both teams went into this contest at full strength.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Not the best defensive start for the Sixers with the Knicks scoring on eight of their first nine trips down the floor, getting their fans who made the trip down loud early. There was one breakdown where it looked like Edgecombe forgot to step out to Brunson, but New York also hit plenty of contested threes early as well.
Behind Embiid making four of his first five shots of the game the Sixers started nearly as hot and needed every bit of it. The Sixers made good use of him as a hub, with both Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. using his attention to get baskets.
There was plenty of juice in the building for this one, and both Embiid and Mitchell Robinson seemed to have some extra juice for their matchup. After Robinson blocked him a couple of times, Embiid wanted to get him back before taking his first rest, waving off Adem Bona for a few more minutes. He got his statement play on offense when Quentin Grimes found him rolling in transition, and threw down a dunk more ferocious than anyone would have thought him capable of at the beginning of the year. His 15 in the first was all needed to match Brunson’s 14, as a pair of Maxey free throws tied the game at 34 as the quarter ended.
Karl-Anthony Towns came into this game questionable with back spasms. It already seemed to be bothering him to start the game, and the hard fall he took after getting fouled by Adem Bona to start the second didn’t help. Nick Nurse went back to staggering Maxey with Embiid, leaving George and Edgecombe to run the second unit. George fueled the offense with his midrange pull-ups falling, going for nine points in the quarter.
Bona ran down a block and George came up with a steal, but the Sixers finally getting some stops did boil down to the Knicks being very ineffective with Brunson on the bench. He picked right back up when he subbed back in, but Embiid did as well. The stepback three he hit over Robinson felt like a sign he was feeling good, and blowing by him for a layup on the following possession even more so.
Everyone is saying it now, but it is still unbelievable to see Embiid move the way he can compared to where he was in October. He just remained in control of everything offensively, including another acrobatic finish, this time a reverse layup to reach 28 points in the half. The Knicks struggling at at the free throw line in the second didn’t just give fans an early 8-count of chicken nuggets, but gave the Sixers a four-point lead at the break.
The big adjustment for the Knicks didn’t come to start the second half, but rather a couple minutes in when Towns picked up his fourth foul. Embiid made a couple mistakes, throwing a pass out of bounds after a miscommunication with Maxey and missed pretty bad on a pull-up jumper while the Knicks took advantage with eight straight points.
That run would eventually turn into an extended 15-0 run, giving Knicks’ fans the chance to takeover the building again as well. Shooting regression hit the Sixers hard, which was bad because they were only settling for pull-up jumpers. Not only did their patience for working good shots slip as the Knicks started pulling ahead but their focus on defense did as well, allowing too many cutters to get to the basket wide open.
Perhaps calling more timeouts sooner would have helped, but at no point in the quarter were the Sixers able to stop the bleeding. The offensive ineptitude was stunning given the first half they had had. It took a Bona putback and Dominick Barlow three to get them over double digits as they shot 23% in the third, falling into a 13-point deficit.
Fourth Quarter
Even after getting Towns to pick up his fifth foul just as quickly into the fourth, Embiid and the Sixers offense couldn’t get it going. It didn’t help that Embiid appeared to tweak his knee drawing a foul against backup Ariel Hukporti. He didn’t leave the game but did limp around a bit.
The Knicks were on the verge of hitting the kill shot, but a three from Embiid and a transition bucket helped the Sixers cut it to 12. After a timeout, the Sixers got a couple of and-1s that got them right back in the game, the second fouling out Towns with still over five minutes to go.
A five- or six-point lead was where it stayed as both teams traded baskets for a couple of minutes. A bucket inside from Embiid cut it to three with about two minutes to go, but OG Anunoby stuck by him on the following possession to put back the offensive rebound for a three. Naturally the ball was swung to Edgecombe for a big three and he drilled it, but again Anunoby answered with one of his own.
A missed bunny from Embiid followed by a wide open Shamet three appeared to end the comeback hopes. Maxey hit a ridiculous three out of the timeout though. Not only did Edgecombe tie up Brunson for a jump ball, but drew a foul on Brunson during the jump, those two free throws cutting the lead to three with 33 seconds left.
Brunson appeared to foul Edgecombe on the inbound, but after a long challenge the call was reversed to a foul on Edgecombe, making it an away-from-the-play foul as well. Converting on that free throw plus the subsequent free throw Anunoby made looked like another nail in the coffin. The Sixers won a challenge though on the following possession to get a stop. Down three with nine seconds, they went really quick for some reason, Maxey chucking up a long deep three that didn’t come close. Somehow Brunson missed both free throws but Embiid turned it over and that finally was it for this game. A very tough game to let go where all of the recent frustrations of this rivalry were on display.
Standing in front of his locker with the assembled media after the Milwaukee Bucks’ comeback attempt fell short in their 102-100 loss to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed news that Bucks fans least wanted to hear: he had injured his calf again, and he would likely be out another 4-6 weeks:
So, the next steps will be to go to an MRI tomorrow (Saturday). After the MRI, they will probably tell me I popped something in my calf, in my soleus or something. I’ll probably be out 4-6 weeks. This is from my experience being around in the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back.
Giannis appeared to first show signs of injury in the first quarter and checked out of the game with 3:57 to go. He didn’t quite look the same after that, as he was limited to just 2/5 shooting (eight points) at halftime. Giannis ended up playing 16:37 in the second half, as the Bucks nearly mounted a 23-point comeback. Doc Rivers finally pulled Giannis with 34.2 seconds left after he couldn’t get back down the floor. Doc broke down what happened and how he saw Giannis playing through the injury:
I thought he was favoring it for most of the second half. I asked our team (medical staff) five different times. I didn’t like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in. On that one play, seeing him try to run down the floor, to me, I’d had enough. I didn’t ask, I just took him out.
For those who haven’t seen it by now, here is the play in question:
What makes it sting more is that, when asked, Giannis answered in the affirmative that if the Bucks’ record was significantly better, he would’ve sat out the rest of the game. This injury comes at the worst possible time, with 12 days until the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5 and Bucks GM Jon Horst reportedly looking to add to this current team to get back into the playoff race. This injury could preclude the Bucks from making any significant additions at the deadline, and they could fully embrace the role of being sellers.
This injury could keep Giannis out of the All-Star tournament in LA, so a replacement will have to be selected for his starting spot. If Giannis misses more than three games, he would fall below the minimum games requirement of 65 to qualify for All-NBA teams, NBA MVP, and several other major awards. The two-time MVP was asked about ending his chances of making an All-NBA team for the 10th straight season:
It’s hard, what is it, 10 years in a row? Always in my mind, I think of the good things that have happened in my life and I think where I am at this moment and what my goals are and what stops me from my goals. The first thing you have to think about it can be worse, could be way worse, I could’ve been out for 12 months, 18 months. Being out for whatever it might be and not making All-NBA for sure it’s gonna be frustrating, but it doesn’t matter, that’s not where we are right now mentally as a team, as a player, I’m not there.
We’ll see what the MRI says and what the official timeline is when we learn the results. As for now, the Bucks will have to find a way to get some wins if they want to sniff a playoff spot. Otherwise, get ready to start scouting some draft prospects and firing up Tankathon, hoping the Bucks end up with a lottery selection. It’s been a long time since Bucks fans have been hoping the ping-pong balls fall their way, but that’s where they sit.
Around the quarter-season mark, we took a look at the numbers that explained the Spurs’ then-surprising success. The goal was to look at stats that showed what the Silver and Black were doing well early, but some readers suggested a follow-up article near the halfway mark of the season to see if the trends held.
While going back to the same four stats from the original post, it was somewhat surprising to see that they still reflect some of the Spurs’ biggest strengths. It seems like it wasn’t a coincidence or an anomaly that they did well in those areas to start the season, but the first signs of the identity they were building. So let’s look at the numbers that explain the type of team San Antonio has built.
51.5 – Total rebound percentage
(Previously, 52.3 Total Rebound Percentage)
The Spurs have been an elite rebounding team all season long. Back in late November, they ranked fourth in the league in total rebound percentage, and in late January, they rank fifth, behind the Rockets, Hornets, Pistons, and Knicks. Cleaning the glass seems to be a priority, and San Antonio is among the best in the league at it.
As mentioned in the previous article, the good Spurs teams of the past have generally been great at defensive rebounding, and that’s a tradition Mitch Johnson has continued. The Silver and Black rank second behind only the Hornets in getting opponent misses in the entire league. Victor Wembanyama is a major reason why. He’s not the best at boxouts, but Wemby ranks third in the league in defensive rebounds per game and is first in defensive rebound percentage among players who have suited up for at least 20 games. His rebounding range is huge, and the team makes sure others put bodies on potential offensive rebounders.
Where the Spurs have not been as effective is in offensive rebounding. They ranked 12th in the league back in late January and now rank 15th. The drop is explained by their ranking 19th in offensive rebounding since Thanksgiving. They were seventh in second-chance points then and have ranked 15th since. There are several reasons for it. Some Luke Kornet absences have hurt them. Part of it is Keldon Johnson not being as shockingly prolific on the offensive glass lately as he was earlier. There’s also the fact that opponents now expect the Spurs to crash the glass and protect against it.
While being elite on both would be great, as long as the Spurs remain elite at preventing offensive boards from opponents, they should have a shot at controlling the possession game, which is all that matters.
11.1 – Opponent attempts from midrange per game
(Previously, 11.5 opponent attempts from midrange per game)
Another trend that continues from the past great Spurs teams is their proclivity to allow midrange jumpers as a way to protect the paint and the three-point line. San Antonio is still forcing opponents to take the most midrange shots in the league. The field goal percentage allowed on those looks is still fairly high, but not prohibitively so, at 41.9 percent.
The strategy has worked when it comes to preventing shots at the rim. The Spurs allow the 11th fewest shots in the restricted area and rank sixth in opponent field goal percentage allowed in that range despite missing Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet at times. That said, those absences have affected them, as they have significantly fallen down the ranks since Thanksgiving, which shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who has seen some of the lineups they have trotted out recently. Still, the Silver and Black have been among the best at not sending opponents to the free-throw line throughout the year, which is related to making them jump shooters.
Where things have not been progressing well is in the opponent’s three-point shooting department. The Spurs were allowing a lot of corner threes in their first month and continue to allow a ton of them now. The scheme, which places Wemby as the low man guarding a corner shooter, often results in open looks for his guy. It’s not all bad, though. The Thunder, the best defense in the league, allows the most corner threes, so it’s clearly not a death sentence to give up those looks, as long as the right shooters are taking them. The Spurs’ opponents rank in the bottom five in the NBA in corner three-point percentage, which might mean the Silver and Black are getting lucky, but also that they know who to leave open.
As long as the Spurs force their opponents to be jump shooters, which should not be hard considering the quality of their rim protectors, they should be fine, even if they allow corner shots that occasionally hurt them. Still, cleaning up their rotations would make them an even more formidable defensive team.
3.0 – Fastbreak points differential
(Previously, 6.6 Fastbreak point differential)
Although not by as many points, the Spurs are still getting more transition buckets than their opponents. They do it despite playing at an average pace and ranking in the bottom half of the league in steals, which normally lead to live-ball turnovers that turn into fastbreak opportunities.
The positive number is a good sign, but there have been some notable changes in where the Spurs rank in several related categories. San Antonio has played at a significantly higher pace since the last check-in. At Thanksgiving, they ranked 26th in possessions per game. Since then, they’ve ranked 12th. Playing faster is not necessarily a bad thing, and it seems to be encouraged by the coaching staff, but it hasn’t resulted in more fastbreak points. The good news is that turnover percentage has also decreased significantly lately, even with the increased pace, so while pushing the ball up court has not gotten San Antonio more fastbreak points, it has not turned them into a sloppy team either.
That said, the number of opponent fastbreak points has climbed. The Spurs don’t allow that many, with only eight other teams allowing fewer, but they ranked first in the league at Thanksgiving despite having a much higher turnover percentage. Curiously, San Antonio still allows few points coming directly off steals, according to PBPstats.com. They also defend the break well after made shots, which is not surprising. The issue seems to come from a combination of opponent buckets after missed threes and shots at the rim, plus a few more points allowed off live-ball turnovers.
San Antonio is still winning the battle in transition, which is great news. But this might be an area to monitor going forward, because they don’t have as big an edge as they used to.
66.6% – Win percentage in clutch games
(Previously, 70 percent win percentage in clutch games)
Despite a couple of painful close losses, often preceded by a comeback, the Spurs remain one of the best clutch teams in the league, tying the Thunder at fourth with a 66.6 percent win percentage in games that come down to the wire. It’s an impressive season-long achievement for a young team that has seen its closers sidelined at times due to injury.
The exciting news is that San Antonio hasn’t been coasting on its early success. Since Thanksgiving, the Silver and Black are 9-5 on games in which the lead is five points or fewer in the last five minutes of the game, the fourth-best mark in the league, trailing only the Lakers, Magic, and Nuggets. In that stretch, they have shot surprisingly well on threes (39.5 percent) and have barely turned it over. Their numbers have not been as tidy in the last two minutes of games when they are ahead or behind by three points or fewer, but they are still 8-4 in those situations, the fourth-best mark in the league in the stretch.
The Spurs don’t often run interesting plays in close games, relying on the scoring ability of their stars Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who both rank in the top 20 in clutch points per game. It doesn’t make for the most exciting viewing experience, especially for those who remember the set pieces the Beautiful Game Spurs used to run late in games, but it’s hard to argue against the results. Hopefully, as time passes, Mitch Johnson will add more variety to his clutch offense, but for now, it seems that giving the ball to his closers is a good strategy that reduces turnovers and gets more wins than losses.
Initially, the signing of Deandre Ayton looked to have potentially filled the hole at center for the future. However, as the season has progressed, Ayton has looked less and less like the perfect solution, opening up the search for the long-term answer at the position.
One of the names that could come up in the lead-up to the trade deadline could be Pelicans young center Yves Missi. Drafted four picks after Dalton Knecht, Missi is a young, energetic big man who loves to throw down a lob.
Despite sporting a dazzling 11-36 record, the Pelicans have reportedly made a host of their players, including Herb Jones, untouchable, as a team with the worst record in the league should do. Not included among those players, though, is Yves Missi.
Earlier this week. NBA reporter Jake Fischer wrote about Missi being available and potentially being part of a trade involving Benedict Mathurin from the Pacers.
Combo guard Jordan Poole and the feisty Jose Alvarado are said to feature on that list, but recent first-round pick Yves Missi seems to be generating the greatest interest among the players for which the Pelicans have been testing the market. Along with our reporting last week that Indiana has called on Missi — as part of the Pacers’ ongoing search for front-line reinforcements — I’ve been advised that the Chicago Bulls are a team that covets Missi.
While the Lakers are not mentioned in the piece, there has been previous connections between Missi and LA. Over the summer, Missi was one of the players the Lakers reportedly called about in their search for a center.
After a promising rookie season in which he averaged 9.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game, Missi is averaging just 5.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game this season. After finishing last season with 116 dunks in 73 games, he has 30 in 39 games this year.
A lot of his step back in production feels related to his minutes decreasing and, subsequently, fewer shot attempts. The arrival of Derik Queen has dipped into his playing time, as has the improved health of Zion Williamson.
As a result, Missi is available.
At one point, a swap of Dalton Knecht for Missi was fair value, but those days have long passed. But Knecht’s salary could still be involved to make the math work with other compensation to follow. The biggest question is what that other compensation looks like.
If it’s draft picks, the Lakers are going to run into some problems. There’s the possibility that Pelinka pulls off a trade that nets them more future draft picks, but if that doesn’t happen, then the path to a trade isn’t as clear.
The Lakers don’t really have much in the way of enticing young players to add to the deal. Their best bet is offering some sort of salary relief. New Orleans, though, doesn’t have a bad contract that would make sense for the Lakers to trade for. Which means this is a pretty difficult trade to make work for the Lakers.
To that point, when the competition in the trade market is Mathurin, it’s going to make it a difficult trade for the Lakers to pull off. Mathurin is a much more talented young player than the Lakers have, so their deal would have to be structured differently.
What that solution is, though, is unclear, which might make it unlikely for Missi to be a Laker. But the fact that he’s available and the Lakers have been linked to him at least makes it a possibility.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey used the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft to take Bassey. He appeared in 23 NBA games a rookie, averaging 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per contest. Bassey had an impressive night in the Sixers’ Nov. 18, 2021 win over the Nuggets, posting 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks against Denver and superstar big man Nikola Jokic.
The Sixers waived Bassey in October of 2022. He’s appeared in 92 NBA games over the last four years and also suffered two season-ending left knee injuries. Bassey has played 10 times this season for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League and averaged 18.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
As PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson detailed, adding Bassey brings the Sixers’ roster to 15 players, which enables Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow to remain on two-way contracts for the time being. If the Sixers hadn’t made any moves, both Barlow and Walker would’ve been ineligible to stay on the roster starting Monday.
Barlow and Walker have each contributed much more than the typical two-way player and appear strong candidates to eventually be converted to standard contracts. The 2026 trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Mark Mitchell scored 25 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime, as Missouri edged Oklahoma 88-87 on Saturday.
Mitchell added 10 rebounds for his fifth career double-double and reached 1,500 career points in the second half for the Tigers (14-6, 4-3 SEC). Trent Pierce hit his only field goal of the game, a 37-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime.
Oklahoma led 37-36 at halftime and carried that edge deep into the second half before the teams traded leads over the final minutes. The Sooners were up 81-78 with five seconds left in regulation before Pierce’s shot tied it at 81 on an assist from T.O. Barrett.
The Tigers trailed 85-83 with less than a minute left in overtime before Barrett tied the game on a driving layup with 24 seconds to go. After Oklahoma regained the lead on a short jumper by Xzayvier Brown with four seconds remaining, Mitchell buried the winning 3 from the top of the arc over two defenders as time expired.
Barrett scored a career-high 21 points to go with six rebounds and three steals in his first career start for Missouri. Jayden Stone added 20 points and seven rebounds, and Shawn Phillips Jr. grabbed nine boards and posted three blocks as the Tigers finished with a 41-29 rebounding advantage.
Nijel Pack scored 25 points for Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6), making five 3-pointers and adding five assists. Brown finished with 19 points and six assists, and Derrion Reid added 12 points and five rebounds.
The loss was Oklahoma’s sixth straight after opening the season 11-3.
Boston Celtics (28-16) at Chicago Bulls (22-22) Saturday, January 24, 2026 8:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #45, Road Game #25 TV: NBCSB, Chicago Sports Network, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 670 AM, Sirius XM United Center
The Celtics complete their 2 game road trip with a visit to Chicago to take on the Bulls in the second of back to back games. This is the 2nd of 3 games between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first game 115-101 in Boston on January 5. They will meet for the 3rd and final time in Boston on February 11. The Celtics won the series 3-1 last season, with the loss coming in Boston. The Celtics are 138-110 overall, all time against the Bulls and they are 55-69 in games played in Chicago. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games. They are 4-2 so far in the 2nd of back to back games.
Unlike the Celtics, who have 8 new players this season, the Bulls haven’t changed their roster all that much since last season. They made one trade that sent Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro. They had signed Ball to a 2 year extension in February but traded him in the off season. The Bulls also drafted noa Essengue with the 12th pick in the draft and they chose Lachlan Olbrich with the 55th pick, and signed him to a 2 way contract.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 games ahead of 3rd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 3 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland and 4 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 21-10 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 15-9 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.
The Bulls are 9th in the East, 11 games behind first place Detroit, 2.5 games behind 6th place Cleveland, 1.5 games behind 7th place Orlando and 2 games behind 8th place Miami. They are 2 games ahead of 10th place Atlanta and 3.5 games ahead of 11th place Milwaukee. The Bulls are 14-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 14-9 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. They are playing in their 2nd straight game on the road in back to back games. Next, they will then have a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.
The Bulls will host the Los Angeles Lakers next before playing one game on the road at Indiana. They will return home to host Miami before playing Miami on the road in back to back games. They will then complete a 4 game road trip with games at Milwaukee and Toronto. After playing Denver at home they will go on the road at Brooklyn and Boston before the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott is out due to a sprained ankle. Jaylen Brown is probable as he is dealing with hamstring tightness. Neemias Queta is probable with a non-covid illness. For the Bulls, Noa Essengue is out with a shoulder injury, Zach Collins is out with a toe injury and Tre Jones is out with a hamstring injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Coby White
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Isaac Okoro
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Matas Buzelis
PF: Sam Hauser vs Jalen Smith
C: Neemias Queta vs Nikola Vucevic
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Chris Boucher Xavier Tillman Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Baylon Scheierman Jordan Walsh 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Josh Minott (ankle) out Jaylen Brown (hamstring) probable Neemias Queta (illness) probable Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Bulls Reserves Jevon Carter Ayo Dosunmo Josh Giddey Kevin Huerter Julian Phillips Dalen Terry
2 Way Players Yuki Kawamura Emanuel Miller Lachlan Olbrich Injuries/Out Zach Collins (toe) out Noa Essengue (shoulder) out Tre Jones (hamstring) out
Head Coach Billy Donovan
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Coby White White is averaging 18.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he has averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In the January 5 game against the Celtics, he finished with 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 28.6% from the field and 20% from 3. The Celtics need to defend him on the perimeter because, although he is streaky, he can catch fire from out there.
Neemias Queta vs Nikola Vucevic Vucevic is averaging 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc. Over his career against Boston, he has averaged 16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. In the first game against the Celtics this season he finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal while shooting 42.9% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards, but they also need to defend him on the perimeter as he is a good 3 point shooter. Honorable Mention Jaylen Brown vs Matas Buzelis Buzelis is averaging 14.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1 steal per game. In the first game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block while shooting 75% from the field and 75% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to do a better job of defending him in this game.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always a key to winning. The Celtics are 12th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.7. The Bulls are 24th with a defensive rating of 116.6. The Bulls are 16 with an offensive rating of 114.4 while the Celtics are 2nd with an offensive rating of 121.3. The Celtics need to get a strong defensive effort from every player on the court and they need to make defense a priority for all 48 minutes with no slacking off. The Celtics need to especially guard the 3 point line as the Bulls attempt 39.4 threes per game (10th) and they make 14.4 threes per game (9th).
Rebound – The Celtics must box out and crash the boards. They can’t score without the ball and it will take extra effort on their part to beat the Bulls on the boards. The Celtics are averaging 45.1 rebounds per game, which is 10th in the league. The Bulls are averaging 45.3 rebounds per game, which is 9th. The Celtics have to put out more effort to get to the rebounds before the Bulls and give themselves extra possessions and limit those possessions for the Bulls. Energy and Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to start the game with energy and have to play harder than the Bulls from the opening tip until the final buzzer. The Bulls have beaten some very good teams, among them the Pistons, Knicks, 76ers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Lakers and Clippers. The Celtics can’t expect to win with less than 100% effort for all 4 quarters. They have to be the more aggressive team, getting off to a fast start and playing hard right up to the final buzzer with no let up. They will get the Bulls best effort and so the Celtics must work harder than the Bulls with no let up.
Three Point Shooting – The Celtics often shoot 3s at a historic rate but there are times when their shots just aren’t falling. The Celtics are 2nd in the league, taking 42.4 threes per game. The Bulls are 10th, taking 39.4 threes per game. The Celtics make 15.6 threes per game while the Bulls make 14.4 threes per game. The Celtics need to focus on taking good shots and they need to move the ball so as to get open shots. If the 3s aren’t falling, they need to get to the basket or take mid-range shots. They also must defend the perimeter because the Bulls can get hot and put up a lot of 3 pointers if left open.
X-Factors Road Game and Back to Back – The Celtics are playing on the road and will have the distractions of travel and a hotel stay and playing in front of hostile fans in an unfamiliar arena. The Bulls lost the first game between these two teams and will be motivated to avenge that loss in this game. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games and are coming off a double overtime win on Friday and so fatigue may become a factor down the stretch.
Officiating – The officiating is always an x-factor. Sometimes a crew will call the game tight and blow a whistle on every play. Other times they will let them play and let the game get physical and then change that midway and tighten it up. Sometimes they will favor one team over the other and other times they will call it even. Sometimes they are just bad. The Celtics need to adjust to the way the game is called and not let missed calls or bad calls affect their focus. If the calls are bad, they just need to play harder to make up for them and not waste time arguing with the officials. Most of all, they need to play hard enough to be far enough ahead that a bad call or two won’t make a difference.
After Saturday's game between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolveswas postponed due to a fatal shooting at the hands of a federal officer in Minnesota, television host and former NBA MVP Charles Barkley offered his thoughts live on Inside the NBA, saying people need to "step up and be adults."
Barkley called the situation "sad" and "scary," and said that "two people have died for no reason."
That was in reference to Saturday's shooting as well as that of Renee Good, who was shot by a federal ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
Barkley expressed that things are "going to end badly. It's already ended badly twice."
Ernie Johnson announces that the Timberwolves-Warriors game in Minnesota, which was scheduled as part of the ABC tripleheader, has been postponed by the NBA.
Per the NBA, the Warriors-Timberwolves game that was scheduled for Saturday will now be played on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. ET at Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Dallas Mavericks have managed to put together another injury-laden season, the probability of which seemed low considering just how disastrous 2024-2025 was on the health front. Dereck Lively and Dante Exum are out for the season, having combined to play seven total games (all Lively). Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have both experienced lower leg injuries resulting in multiple absences. Anthony Davis has been more injury prone than ever before. Then there is Kyrie Irving, nearing a full year since he sustained a March 3, 2025 ACL tear.
Rumors (a generous term) about Irving’s return began around the start of the new year, a by-product of irresponsible click-baiting and/or hopeful optimism, but now we have some meaningful commentary from someone who is actually close to the situation. Dwain Price wrote a piece for NBA.com wherein he collected some tidbits from Mavs’ head coach Jason Kidd.
“It will probably be after the All-Star break but there’s also other plans that could come into play here, too. Being able to get on the floor and play in an NBA game might be just a little bit different than practice.”
A post-All Star break return puts us about a month out from today for the soonest possible return to action. Should Irving get back on the floor before March, it would be an excellent recovery timeframe for the soon-to-be 34-year old.
Kidd does a good job of burying what may actually be the lede here, however. Is there a possibility Irving returns to practice, but not to games? Of course any player coming off this injury is going to have multiple test runs in practice scenarios to ensure no setbacks and to get themselves back into shape. Still, the phraseology used may be indicative of Irving having a longer than usual runway to return to game action, even after returning to practice.
“[The standings] has nothing to do with it… At some point there will be a timeline, but right now there is not a timeline… It’s about for him mentally and physically being able to play at the highest level in his mind, no one else’s.”
Taking Kidd at face value here, the Mavs making either a PlayIn push or taking a nosedive toward a better pick in the NBA Draft will have nothing to do with Irving’s return. This is good any way you cut it. If you are a fan of tanking toward the most beneficial pick this summer (the last pick the Mavs currently have exclusive control over until 2031), Irving being off the floor only helps that cause. If you’re a fan of seeing Irving paired with Cooper Flagg, waiting until he is 100% recovered is certainly the best option. There is nothing to rush back for.
Again though, there is another layer to the wordsmith onion here. The Mavs are clearly not throwing games, but rather making every effort to play hard and get wins. Irving would likely help in that effort, yet Dallas is allowing him to operate on his own level. The Mavs are going to play their games as though Irving is unavailable, and whenever he is good and ready, he will return to action (in some form) regardless of where the Mavs rank in the standings.
The situation surrounding Kyrie Irving remains intriguing. He seems to be a part of the long term plan in Dallas, but the Mavs also need to be thinking about finding his replacement in the upcoming draft stacked with elite guards. Irving’s continued absence will only help the Mavs odds in having a plethora of options in the draft, while time to fully heal will better the odds that Irving returns to his best post-injury form next season.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
