ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 5: Isaiah Collier #13 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks recap
The Jazz lost a thrilling game that went down to the last second against the Hawks. Ace Bailey hit the game-tying three with 10.3 seconds remaining, before Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit the game-winner with 1.3 seconds left. The Jazz then had the ball down two and had to settle for a highly contested fadeaway three-point attempt from Bailey that couldn’t find the rim.
AN EPIC FINISH IN ATL!
ACE BAILEY HITS THE GAME-TYING TRIPLE…
NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER FOLLOWS IT UP WITH THE GO-AHEAD JUMPER TO WIN IT FOR THE HAWKS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/UqD9Y4J7Ey
It was back and forth all game long, with 31 lead changes and the largest lead for either team being 12. The Hawks were finally able to put together a run in the final minutes and came away with the tight win. Isaiah Collier was once again the standout, with star guard Keyonte George continuing to miss time with a left ankle sprain. Collier played 48 minutes for the second straight game and finished with 25 points and 11 assists, seeming lackluster in comparison to the 22-assist game he had just a few days ago.
Bailey had a tough shooting night but still managed to impact the game in positive areas, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. It’ll never be a complete game from Bailey without a few cool dunks that make you yell from the couch. Lauri Markkanen played well but only logged 23 minutes in this one and sat the entire fourth quarter, maybe giving you a hint at what the Jazz are trying to do with the rest of their season. Kyle Filipowski was a standout, with Jusuf Nurkic collecting another DNP—coach’s decision. Filipowski finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Brice Sensabaugh played another good offensive game, and Cody Williams continues to show flashes on the defensive side of the court.
ELITE ball movement by the Jazz leads to an Ace Bailey slam!
The Jazz are playing respectable basketball while missing George. Coming off a win against a shriveled Pacers team, a win is a win—especially given the Jazz’s limited player availability. They then played the Hawks tough the entire game and just barely came up short at the end. The point is, the Jazz are playing good basketball and YOU should be excited moving forward. The Jaren Jackson Jr. trade will massively impact this team on both ends of the court, and if he were playing tonight, the Jazz absolutely would’ve won this game. But most would agree it’s a good thing the Jazz were able to come away with the loss tonight. The future truly is bright in Salt Lake City.
Will Hardy has to be given credit for his coaching choices in the fourth quarter. Choosing to rest Markkanen and roll with the young guys like Williams and Bailey is a perfect example of putting the team first. Let’s all be thankful we have Will Hardy coaching our favorite basketball team and not Quin Snyder.
The Hawks edge out the Jazz tonight in a close one, 121–119, and improve to 26–27. The Jazz fall to 16–36 and will look ahead to the 26–24 Orlando Magic in Orlando on Saturday.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Karly Weathers added 14 points and six rebounds, and No. 21 Alabama took down No. 13 Ole Miss 64-63 on Thursday night.
Timmons scored six straight points beginning with 2:31 remaining in regulation, and gave the Crimson Tide (20-4, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) a lead with 47 seconds on the clock.
After Ole Miss retook the lead on two free throws, Diana Collins made a driving layup that secured the win with 18 seconds to go.
Cotie McMahon led with 22 points for the Rebels (19-5, 6-3), but she was called for a charge with 10 seconds remaining that negated her go-ahead bucket.
Sira Thienou added 13 points and seven rebounds, Christeen Iwuala had 11 and 15 rebounds, and Latasha Lattimore scored 10 to go with 13 rebounds for Ole Miss.
Lattimore's buzzer-beater attempt couldn't find the basket as Alabama survived for the upset.
Alabama has lost just one game of 17 at home this season (a 70-59 loss to then-No. 20 Tennessee). Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry reached 550 career victories with the win.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a busy trade deadline day for the Boston Celtics, who salary-dumped three players and converted two-way center Amari Williams to a standard contract. Plus, there’s the addition of veteran center Nikola Vučević, acquired from the Chicago Bulls in the Anfernee Simons trade, which sparked the organization’s final 72 hours of activity.
Boston’s trio of trades during Thursday afternoon’s hours — with the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte Hornets — allowed the Celtics to reduce their projected salary and luxury tax figure down to $186.5 million, seven months and three weeks after it stood at $540 million.
By parting ways with Simons, Chris Boucher, Josh Minott, and Xavier Tillman Sr., the Celtics dumped enough salary to sit approximately $840,000 under the tax line while creating three open standard-contract roster spots. The Celtics will be able to stay below the tax by getting creative and leveraging 10-Day contracts, as well as other vehicles. The added flexibility allows Brad Stevens to survey the buyout market for depth upgrades moving forward.
Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:
The players the Celtics acquired:
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
John Tonje, Utah Jazz
The picks and players the Celtics sent out:
Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets
Chris Boucher (and a future second-round pick) to the Utah Jazz
Anfernee Simons (and a future second-round pick) to the Chicago Bulls
Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets
The new, full Celtics roster
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Derrick White
Nikola Vucevic
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Baylor Scheierman
Luka Garza
Neemias Queta
Jordan Walsh
Amari Williams
Two-way players:
Max Shulga
Ron Harper Jr.
John Tonje (acquired in the Chris Boucher trade)
Celtics draft picks remaining
2026: first-round pick, second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons), second-round pick (via New Orleans Pelicans)
2027: first-round pick
2028: first-round pick (via swap with San Antonio Spurs, least favorable)
Vučević stands as Boston’s premier trade deadline acquisition, brought in to address the team’s need for frontcourt depth. Since the 35-year-old wasn’t mentioned in the Celtics’ latest injury report, he’ll likely debut in Friday night’s game against the Heat at TD Garden.
This season, Vučević is averaging 16.9 points with nine rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range across 48 appearances.
In addition, the Celtics bring in John Tonje on a two-way contract from Utah, after being drafted by the Jazz with the 53rd pick last Spring. He was a consensus second-team All-American last season at Wisconsin, averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 38.8% shooting from 3-point range. He has spent most of the season in the G League, averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and1.4 assists, while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range with Salt Lake City.
What are your thoughts on the new-look Celtics following Thursday’s trade deadline? Let us know in the comments down below.
Feb 5, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The short-handed Mavs gave the Spurs a tough contest tonight as they kept the game close throughout, and got incredible performances from Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall and Max Christie. Daniel Gafford dominated the paint for Dallas, it was a tense night for the Silver and Black as they barely held onto the lead for the second half. Victor Wembanyama started off the game with incredible shooting, but it was his defensive plays late in the game that sealed the win, as the Spurs put the game away with a 12-4 surge in the last 3 minutes in the game. Harrison Barnes had a really efficient game and made key plays in the finishing run. Dylan Harper did another great job and provided key plays as the Spurs took over late. Stephon Castle had some WOW plays and his defense was key, although he didn’t have a perfect game, he did make key plays down the stretch and finished with a +27 in under 22 minutes, which is almost inconceivable. It was another less than perfect game, but also a solid win for the Silver and Black as they overcame another great game from the Maverick’s super rookie and got their 35th win of the season. You also have to give credit to Fox, who came through with key plays in the fourth quarter after not playing particularly well for most of the game, and Champagnie, who always comes through with needed.
Observations
After playing an 8 man squad last night against the Thunder, the Spurs faced Mavs team that only fielded 9 players as they traded away four players at the trade deadline and didn’t have the players they traded for available tonight. [The box score on nba.com listed 11 players available, so maybe the broadcast crew was wrong.] This seemed a little more legit than the artificial situation created by the Thunder last night when half of the roster suddenly developed hangnails on the same day and couldn’t suit up against the Spurs.
Tonight is the the 4,000th Spurs game in history.
Victor scored the first 10 points of the game for the Spurs, but he picked up two early fouls, one on a charge, and the other on a play where Caleb Martin charged into him, but was changed into a block on a replay.
The Spurs, took almost all of their shots in the first quarter from three point range. I’m not sure that’s a winning strategy, but they committed to it.
Gafford was killing the Spurs smallball lineup when Victor had to sit and Coach Mitch went with Harrison Barnes at center. He took a bunch of trips to the line as the Mavs tied up the game late in the first quarter.
Barnes made a veteran move and drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws to give the Spurs a 38-35 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Castle was on a minutes restriction, but he brought it in the minutes he played, and stole Cooper Flagg’s cookies to stop a Mavs mini-run halfway through the second quarter.
Victor Wembanyama’s unreal shooting touch and Castle’s pugnacious defense broke down the Mavericks resolve as the Spurs took a double digit lead late in the second quarter. Naji Marshall kept the Mavs in it with 20 first half points, and a sloppy end to the first where both teams traded turnovers had the Spurs leading 74-63 with a half to go. As always, the biggest concern going into halftime for the Spurs is always whether they can hold up in the third, when they often step off the gas and drift into a miasmic fugue state.
Carter Bryant is growing up before our eyes, and while his offense is inconsistent, he’s already one of the best defenders on the roster.
The Spurs’ tendency to give three point shooters wide open looks is becoming concerning. Naji Marshall was burning up the nets in the first half, and he still was able to get lots of great looks in the third quarter.
The Spur had two travelling calls in the third quarter, which has to be some kind of record. The first one looked to me like the kind thing that happens about 30 times a game in the average NBA game and is never called. The second one was a legal hop step from Keldon Johnson that was just an incorrect call. Between that and an obvious missed goaltending call on a Harper shot, it felt like home cooking. It’s puzzling.
The Mavericks shot light out in the third quarter and cut the Spurs lead to 3 with a quarter left to play, Spur leading 99-96, outscored 33-25 in the quarter.
Flagg was aggressive to start the fourth, and cut the deficit to a single point early in the fourth with an open three caused by Castle gambling for a steal. Things got chaotic for a while and somehow the Spurs were able to regain the upper hand with a Fox triple to get up by 7 with 7:55 left in the game.
Champagnie’s ability to draw fouls on three point attempts is one of the Spurs best offensive plays.
Wembanyama re-entered the game with 5:37 left with a four point Spurs lead. The Mavs cut the lead to just a single point a minute and a half later with Gafford and Marshall taking advantage of poor Spurs defensive rotations.
Daniel Gafford was isolated on Victor Wembanyama under the hoop with thee minutes and the Mavs within four points. Victor gave him no chance to score, swallowing up his shot. The Spurs put on a finishing 12-4 flurry in the final three minutes to put the game away and win 135-123.
The Spurs will be back in San Antonio on Saturday night for a rematch against the Mavs. After that game, the Spurs will be on the road until March 5 for the annual Rodeo Road Trip. They will play February 19 and 21 at the Moody Center in Austin, which will count as home games, but still are part of the RRT.
DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg's fourth consecutive 30-point game in a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.
Flagg scored 32 points to extend his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 30 points by a teenager. The 19-year-old joined Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson and Jalen Green as the only rookies to score at least 30 in four straight games since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.
Dallas lost all four games and is on a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season.
Harrison Barnes was another of seven San Antonio players in double figures with 19 points, and De'Aaron Fox scored 17 points while pushing through a rough shooting night with two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The second came on Wembanyama's sixth assist and gave the Spurs a 131-123 lead with 1:24 remaining.
Stephon Castle had 18 points and seven rebounds, the last board coming on his empathic and punctating follow dunk for the final points.
Naji Marshall matched Flagg with 32 points for Dallas, and Daniel Gafford had 16 points and 10 rebounds a few hours after the trade deadline passed without the center leaving in a deal when he was the subject of speculation.
The Mavericks were playing their first game since trading 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who had been sidelined a month with a left hand injury.
Wembanyama made his first five 3-pointers and had 20 points at halftime as the Spurs led by double digits several times but couldn't put the Mavericks away until the final two minutes. The 7-foot-4 French star missed his last four 3s and was 9 of 14 from the field.
Flagg did most of his damage after halftime, scoring 22 points as the Mavericks cut a 13-point deficit to one but never could go in front.
Up next
These teams play again in San Antonio on Saturday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares a shot in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a 105-101 Bucks win at Crypto.com Arena on January 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And so it begins.
While the Lakers made a small move for Luke Kennard on Thursday ahead of the trade deadline, their biggest win came when the Bucks opted not to deal Giannis Antetokounmpo. By kicking the can down the road on his kinda sorta trade demand, it brings the Lakers into the fold this summer.
The Lakers will make a hard push to acquire the All-Star forward during the summer, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Times, after the Milwaukee Bucks declined to deal the two-time most valuable player by the noon deadline.
People close to Antetokounmpo said the New York Knicks and Miami Heat are his preferred destinations, but he would not rule out the Lakers .
While the first point is very obvious in that the Lakers will go after Giannis, the latter part is the most interesting. New York has long been at the top of the list for Giannis, but their involvement in any trade feels like it will depend on whether things go awry for them in the postseason.
As for the Heat, they had a chance at Giannis at the deadline but couldn’t muster a good enough offer. With Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware to go with draft picks, they’re going to have one of the most competitive offers.
Having said all that, the Lakers have never been much of a factor in the Giannis trade conversation until now. Once they establish themselves as an option, will that sway Giannis? He had a lengthy response talking about how cool it was for a European to be the face of the Lakers when Luka was traded to LA. More recently, he spoke glowingly about LeBron James after playing him in Crypto.com Arena.
None of that means he would want to play in LA, necessarily. But the allure of playing with Luka has to mean something.
But it doesn’t mean the Bucks will send him to the Lakers either. They’ll have to make the best offer. But they’re going to be in the race, which is closer than they’ve been at any other point.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Christoph Tilly and Bruce Thornton combined for 36 points as Ohio State beat Maryland 82-62 on Thursday.
Tilly had 19 on 7-of-10 shooting for the Buckeyes (15-7 7-5 Big Ten). Thornton shot 7 of 9 to finish with 17. John Mobley Jr. added 15 points, four assists and two steals. He was 5 of 9 from deep, continuing his streak of making at least one 3-pointer in every game this season. Taison Chatman added 10 points before he was ejected.
Thornton, who now has 1,913 career points, is 21 shy of the fifth place on the Ohio State all-time scoring list. He'd reach third on the list with 2,000 career points.
The win snapped a three-game skid for the Buckeyes.
Elijah Saunders had 20 points for the Terrapins (8-14, 1-10) before receiving a flagrant foul and an ejection — he had also fouled out — with 1:34 left in the game, along with Chatman after a scuffle under the hoop.
Solomon Washington added 13 and eight rebounds. Andre Mills scored 11.
The Buckeyes took a 42-30 advantage into the break after holding Maryland to five points over the final four minutes of the half. Tilly had 11 in the first half and Thornton added 10. The Buckeyes used a 9-3 turnover advantage in the half to build a 13-0 edge on points off turnovers.
Their lead ballooned to as much as 22 in the second half on a 3-pointer from Mobley that capped a 9-0 run.
Up next
Ohio State hosts their rival, No. 2 Michigan on Sunday.
Maryland heads to Minnesota on Sunday for a contest with the Golden Gophers.
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 5: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket as Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on February 5, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can a six-game losing streak be fun? The Dallas Mavericks (19-32) are hard at work testing psychological boundaries on the basketball court.
Losing basketball in the short term means better chances for Draft Lottery wins ahead, and a new era started in earnest on Thursday with the tank rolling through the tulips in the Mavs’ 135-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs (35-16) at American Airlines Center.
Whether bad basketball means good vibes for the Mavericks (19-32) for the rest of the 2025-26 season remains to be seen, but as losses like Thursday’s begin to pile up for Dallas, it should result in a good draft pick in June. Thursday’s loss was the Mavericks’ sixth and a row, but it was anything but bad basketball, as Dallas shot 47-of-95 (48.5%) from the field and 12-of-31 (38.7%) from 3-point range against the Spurs. Dallas’ losing streak could be prolonged with another matchup at the Spurs on Saturday, followed by road dates at the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Imbued with the juice of an eventful Trade Deadline, the Mavs had a certain bounce to their step to open the game against San Antonio. Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall and Max Christie all stepped up for Dallas, combining for 26 of the Mavericks’ 35 first-quarter points. Marshall played 11 of the game’s opening 12 minutes and led all scorers with 11 points after one. San Antonio was led by Victor Wembanyama, who scored 10 in the frame as the Spurs took a 38-35 lead going into the second quarter.
Marshall scored a tear-drop floater over Wembanyama’s outstretched arm on the first possession of the second, before Gafford finished an alley-oop from Ryan Nembhard the next time down to cut the Spurs’ lead to 41-39. Nembhard wormed his way to the cup for a scooping score with 10:45 left in the second to tie the game, 41-41, before Caleb Martin turned a baseline drive into a fadeaway jumper for his second bucket of the game to pull the Mavericks in front.
The Mavs were playing like they had something to prove, as Nembhard launched a long 3-pointer from five feet beyond the top of the key to keep Dallas in front, 46-44. Cooper Flagg bailed himself out with a series of pump fakes and a turnaround jumper the next time down to extend Dallas’ lead to 48-44. The Mavericks were shooting 19-0f-31 at that point.
DALLAS, TX – FEBRUARY 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
But San Antonio built a quick 7-0 run on two steals from Stephon Castle to take the lead back and take it for good. Castle made four of his first five field goat attempts on Thursday, including a jam midway through the second as the Mavs’ defense parted before him, before Wembanyama canned his fourth straight 3-ball to open the game the next time down to give San Antonio back a 58-52 lead. His fifth was of the step-back variety from 26 feet away, extending the Spurs’ run to 19-4 and forcing another Mavericks’ timeout.
Marshall did everything he could to keep the Mavericks in it in the first half, knocking down his second 3-pointer of the game with a minute left in the first half to keep Dallas connected, down 71-63. Dallas went into the locker room down 74-63 after Harrison Barned answered with a 3-pointer of his own on the other end.
Flagg, who scored 10 of his own in the first half, knocked down his first 3-ball of the game in rhythm from the top of the key in a late-clock scenario on the Mavericks’ first possession of the third. He dipped through the defense for a turnaround in the lane the next time down for a bucket that brought the Mavs to within 77-70. Flagg found Marshall for an open 3-pointer, Marshall’s third of the game, midway through the third to pull the Mavs to within single digits, down 87-78.
Marshall’s fourth straight longball to start the game came with five minutes left in the third and after a San Antonio timeout, to bring Dallas to within 90-86. Flagg drove for an authoritative dunk three minutes later to trim San Antonio’s lead to two, 93-91. Flagg and Marshall combined for 47 points through three quarters in an impressive offensive display against one of the league’s best teams. Dallas trailed 99-96 heading into the fourth.
The legend continues to grow. No rookie since Allen Iverson in 1996 has ever scored more points in a four-game span than Flagg has in his last four. Two free throws early in the fourth quarter put Flagg at 146 in the Mavs’ last four losses, passing Trae Young’s mark of 144 set in 2018. They also brought the Mavericks to within one point of the lead, down 106-105 with 9:12 left in the game.
Although the outmatched Mavericks couldn’t get over the hump down the stretch, this team is playing with a breath of fresh air at its back, even as the losses pile up. After the dark cloud of Nico Harrison’s presence was lifted earlier this season, it’s been incredible to watch Flagg elevate his game to an elite level in the last week or so. And now that Anthony Davis’ elephant of a contract has left the room, the Mavericks are fun again all of a sudden.
Flagg soared for another teardrop finish over Wembanyama with five minutes left to play to put him at the 30-point mark for the fourth straight game. He finished with 32 points on 14-of-27 shooting and six rebounds in the loss and perfected his newly patented “Wemby Killer” in the process. If the NBA is looking for a new face of the league, maybe, just maybe, Flagg could shave that mustache and fill the role.
Marshall scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the first half, matching Wembanyama for the game-high mark through two quarters. His name was at the tip of every NBA analyst’s tongue as the Trade Deadline came and went, due to his team-friendly contract and his brilliant stretch of play that started last year and continued this season, whether playing with the starting five or coming off the bench.
He made both of his first-half 3-point attempts and abused a Spurs’ defense that was clearly focused on slowing Flagg down as its first priority. Marshall has expressed his desire in recent days to stay with the Mavericks, and that’s what Mavericks fans wanted, too. Dallas held firm to its requirement of a first-round draft pick if the team was going to move off of Marshall at the deadline, and it may be a blessing that no teams bellied up to the bar with one in any offers over the past week.
Marshall drove through De’Aaron Fox for a bucket in the mid-range with 4:08 to play that once again brought the Mavericks to within one, down just 120-119 and give him 30 points to go along with Flagg’s 30-piece. He finished with 32 and six, matching his young buddy Flagg every step of the way.
Marshall’s game fits so many different styles of play. He’s so skilled at bullying his way to the bucket, but the thing that sets Marshall apart is that he’s able to remain in control and avoid turning the ball over while doing it. As co-general manager Matt Riccardi said in a pre-game press conference, Marshall’s game fits “perfectly” with Flagg’s as a core part of the new era of Mavericks basketball.
No new friends, yet
The Mavericks started the game with an increasingly familiar starting lineup of Christie, Marshall, Gafford, Martin and Cooper Flagg. The four new roster members acquired in NBA Trade Deadline deals on Wednesday and Thursday were not with the team. The Mavs had just 10 players available against the Spurs, but Kidd leaned on his starters for heavier minutes against the Spurs rather than relying on the second unit, which featured all three of the Mavs’ two-way guys.
Nembhard made a couple of nice plays in the second quarter, but Cisse found himself in foul trouble when he picked up his third with 7:30 left in the frame. Brandon Williams (leg) was out for Thursday’s game against San Antonio, as was P.J. Washington (concussion).
The first chance that Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson and Tyus Jones will have to play with their new team will come on Saturday in San Antonio. Their first home game in Dallas won’t come until Feb. 26, as the Mavs’ next six games are on the road, with the All-Star break in the middle of that road trip.
Wemby quiet down the stretch
Wembanyama started the game by making his first five 3-point attempts and racked up 20 points and six rebounds by halftime. He finally missed one from deep with 2:35 left in the second. Wembanyama raised up and zipped a pass to a wide open Dylan Harper underneath the next time down for Wembanyama’s second assist of the game. That bucket kept the Spurs in front, 69-58, late in the second after the strong start by the Mavs.
Wembanyama scored just four points in the third quarter, which helped the Mavs climb back into the game, as Marshall and Flagg chipped away at the lead. He was inexplicably shut out in the fourth until he hit two free throws with three minutes left to play, as his Spurs nursed a four-point lead. His team-high 29 points and 11 boards came on a night when seven Spurs scored in double-figures.
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Bobby Webster General Manager of the Toronto Raptors looks on before his team plays the New York Knicks at the Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thursday’s NBA trade deadline came and went without too much noise from the Toronto Raptors, for better or worse. The team only made two small transactions, mostly working to duck the luxury tax and avoiding the big trades they had been attached to in recent weeks.
While the deal to send Ochai Agbaji to the Nets and bring Chris Paul to the Raptors (he won’t report, Bobby says he will be waived when the time is right) was finalized earlier, the second deal to bring in Trayce Jackson-Davis was cemented Thursday evening. While the Raptors played the second night of a back-to-back, welcoming the Chicago Bulls to town, Bobby Webster was busy behind the scenes on calls to finalize TJD’s trade.
After a rough loss on Wednesday to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ending a decades-long Toronto-based winning streak against the TWolves, Thursday was a little bit of a must-win. For pride, mostly. Yet, there was a little bit of anticipation hanging in the air, as fans waited for the Raptors’ trades to become official, more so because that meant GM Bobby Webster could finally speak to the media. The trade went official during the fourth quarter.
The Raptors ended up winning over the Bulls, improving to 31-22 on the season, 123-107.
In their search for a depth big (TJD, as it turned out), Raptors were insistent on not giving up a 1st-rounder (smart), not taking minutes away from CMB (smart) & not adding long-term $/making it more difficult to re-sign Mamu (smart).
After the game, Darko Rajakovic and Bobby Webster answered questions about the trade deadline, their new players, and everything that has been going on behind the scenes over the past few weeks. While Rajakovic hadn’t had time to go too deep into research on his newest player, Jackson-Davis, he did say that he liked the fact that they have the same birthday. He also mentioned earlier in the night that Jakob Poeltl was “progressing well” and the hope is to have him back soon.
Obviously, there were more questions for Webster after weeks of trade rumours and speculation. He mentioned they “had a lot of fun” leading up to the deadline, alluding to the fact that there were many, many various scenarios involving them out there. Webster has been candid about being a guy who loves to make an inquisitive call, and those calls were likely the source of a lot of the rumours circulating out there. Here are some highlights from what Bobby had to say:
He mentioned that he thinks fans need to have a little bit of patience regarding this current team, especially given the expectations for the year. The front office is keen on seeing how they perform in the postseason together before making any huge decisions about the future. That’s why they weren’t too quick to make any huge trades right now.
Said that the prices out there for other bigs (ie 7-footers) were too high for them at the moment. There are speculations that many of these teams wanted 1st-round picks for their backup big men, something Webster did not want to part with.
Said that they will waive Chris Paul when the time is right, and as Blake Murphy of Sportsnet tweeted this evening, it may be in a few weeks to help with some other paperwork. Webster mentioned his respect for the veteran and wanted to make sure they were being as professional as possible in the process.
When asked about the rumours surrounding RJ Barrett, said that they were basically just rumours. Re-emphasized wanting to see this core healthy and in the playoffs before making a big change. Also said guys like Barrett and even Poeltl know not to believe anything until it comes from them.
Re Chris Paul, Raptors will eventually waive/buyout, but not a rush.
Having a full 15-man roster allows the Raptors greater use of their 2-way players, and since deadline to add a new 2-way isn’t until March 4, you can keep Paul, get extra time for those guys, THEN convert one.
Overall, Bobby made ME feel super smart. Everything I wrote last night after the Minnesota game was essentially Webster’s messaging tonight. Emphasis on not rushing the process, needing to see this core have a full season of playing together, being patient. That’s literally what I was saying.
So, we end another trade deadline season (thankfully). A particularly quiet one from Toronto, but quantity is not always better. Time to lock in, get healthier, and see what the rest of this season holds. Toronto was literally a tanking lottery team one year ago, and now it’s time to make a playoff push. Pretty impressive, in my opinion. Which we can now assume is also Bobby’s opinion.
The Raptors have a few days off now before they host the Indiana Pacers on Super Bowl Sunday, and then the Detroit Pistons next Wednesday before having eight days off for the All-Star Break. Hopefully, in this stretch, Jakob Poeltl can get back to full strength, RJ Barrett’s knee can rest up, and the rest of the team can continue to build.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 5: Kevin Huerter #27 of the Detroit Pistons listens to the national anthem before the game against the Washington Wizards on February 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, the trade deadline is in the books.
The Detroit Pistons, sitting first in the East even after an ugly loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday, opted to take a more measured approach to the deadline with just one minor deal. Whether that was the right or wrong move is yet to be seen, but the squad took time to break down the deadline from a Pistons’ POV.
1. The Pistons made a relatively minor trade, acquiring Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric + a pick swap with the Wolves for Jaden Ivey. What are your thoughts on the players and assets Detroit acquired?
Brady Fredericksen: I think Huerter is… fine? I don’t think he’s as bad a shooter as he’s shown this season, and I think if you had faith that Fred Vinson could fix the Pistons’ shooting when he got here, you gotta have that same feeling for fixing whatever is off mechanically with Kevin Huerter’s jumper. There’s too big a sample size of good there for me to be convinced he just sucks now. Plus, he’s still shooting 43% on corner 3s over his last 70 games. He’ll get a healthy diet of that in Detroit. The pick swap is whatever, I liked that more when I thought they were going to trade that pick. Dario Saric would have been a cool Pistons addition sometime in 2019.
Wes Davenport: Kevin Huerter might be a great fit. It just comes down to his ability to shoot the basketball. His 3pt% has fallen precipitously since his first season with the Kings, bottoming out this year at 31% so far. But he has history as a very good shooter, even going back to his college days. Huerter is more than a shooter, he can handle and create out of the P&R as well. Good finisher, can hit a pull-up jumper. There’s a lot to like… if that 3pt shot comes back around. The pick swap is nice enough. The team could conceivably move up a few slots to the mid-20s on draft night which might not be a massive swing but is helpful. Saric hasn’t been impactful for some time now. Overall, Huerter does a lot of the stuff Ivey did but adds the ability to shoot off of movement, which they very much needed. Assuming that shot is what is was, not what is has been, of course.
Robbie Bettelon: I don’t think Saric will be here long, and moving up a handful of picks is nice, but I have some excitement about Kevin Huerter. He should at least provide additional gravity around screens as a movement shooter, similar to what Duncan does. Playing with Cade Cunningham should only help his three-point percentage.
Brennan Sims: I like Huerter as a spacer and finisher. Don’t think you need Šarić. I’m hopeful that Huerter will shoot better playing off Cade. He’s another handoff threat who can finish at the cup. The pick is another bonus. It never hurts to have a chance to move up when a class is this loaded.
Max Sturm: I think this all comes down to what they get out of the pick swap. Will it be used to sweeten a future bigger trade, or do the Pistons like someone that a potential move up via the Wolves pick could offer in this summer’s draft? To me, the answers to those questions down the road will say the most about this trade. Huerter can shoot it-despite a down year from three, and has surprisingly good finishing numbers at the rim. But I do wonder if he will play good enough defense to be on the floor consistently come playoff time. In that sense, I’m not sure if he is more than a regular season innings eater, but I hope I’m proven wrong.
2. What will Jaden Ivey be remembered for from his time in Detroit? What’s his “legacy” here, if you will.
Brady Fredericksen: I’ll always remember Jaden Ivey as a guy who worked hard to find his place but never quite found it. He was born into a horrific situation during the Weaver years. He spent a year in Point Guard 101 with Dwane Casey when Cade Cunningham missed the season. He had a disappointing sophomore season under Monty Williams and a really strong 30 games under JB Bickerstaff before the injury. I was never keen on Ivey’s game or fit, but I always appreciated his attitude and work ethic. He never mailed it in, even amidst some bullshit seasons and situations. I’ll always give the guy credit for that, even if I’m left disappointed that all of his never came together in a real way here.
Wes Davenport: Frankly, I don’t think a player who spent only a few seasons’ worth of games with a team earns much of a legacy one way or another. Obviously there is unmet potential, and the personal connections to Detroit make this all the more of a bummer. But legacies are made of more than that, either negative or positive.
Robbie Bettelon: I’ll always remember Jaden Ivey as a player that embraced Detroit and its history as soon as he was drafted. It’s not his fault that the timeline of the team fell this way, but they couldn’t afford to wait to figure out what he was on this roster.
Brennan Sims: It sucks how Ivey’s Pistons tenure turned out. I thought he was one of the steals of the draft when he fell to five. The unfortunate kept happening. He showed promise then 2024 happened. When Ivey was playing the best ball as a pro, more unfortunate stuff. The Pistons went on a run and Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson clearly became 2 and 3 on the team’s young core list. Ron Holland passed him too. Detroit got off to this hot start and haven’t looked back. It’s nobody’s fault it didn’t work out. Hopefully he recaptures that magic from last season.
Max Sturm: I held more Jaden Ivey stock than most, so selfishly this deal was tough on me. For me, it is two things: his emotional reaction to being selected by Detroit on draft night. It felt like an important statement for the organization that a prospect of his caliber wanted to be here during some of its bleakest times. Secondly, I remember a meaningless late season game against the Heat in his rookie year in which he caused so much havoc on their defense that they resorted to blitzing him. Of course, he had the ball in his hands this much because Cade Cunningham was out for the season. Which is pretty much how things went for the two of them, as they never seemed to fully get on the same page (or the same court for that matter). But back to that night against the Heat, while watching paint touch after paint touch by Ivey in which was a much closer game than expected, I remember fantasizing about how tough to guard two creators like him and Cunningham could be on the court together at the same time. We saw glimpses of it but never fully got to see the finished product. And that is a shame.
3. What grade would you give the Pistons at the deadline? Additionally, what is your confidence level on a scale of 1-10 that they can turn this magical regular season into an NBA Finals berth?
Brady Fredericksen: D+. The Pistons needed shooting, but their lack of secondary ball handling still terrifies me come playoff time. I would have liked a more reliable guard option than Caris LeVert and Daniss Jenkins. Maybe Huerter is that. It’s all comes down to this: If Red Velvet plays like he did when he had a real point guard on a playoff team (De’Aaron Fox and the 2022-23 Kings), the Pistons will have a shot to make a run. If he plays like the guy stuck in dysfunction (Kings) and purgatory (Bulls), we’re in trouble. I’ve had questions about the ultimate ceiling of this team all year, and I don’t know if that has changed today, either. I’ll say 5/10.
Wes Davenport: B. They did what we expected them to do — complete a minor trade that improves the roster on the margins. I admit I was surprised to see Ivey go, but after Kyle Metz explained some of the salary implications for the offseason in our Pindown trade deadline primer, it made all the sense in the world. As for the finals? 3/10. Nothing they could have realistically done would have changed that, though. Yeah, they have holes, but who doesn’t? My 3/10 is just out of respect for the amount of injury luck and all the other things that have to fall your way to make a finals run. It’s hard! Not guaranteed for anybody.
Robbie Bettelon: A solid B – nothing fancy, but I do think they’re better now than they were before the deadline. This team needed more shooting, and I believe Cade and Vinson will get Huerter right. My confidence level is at a 6, up from a 5 previously.
Brennan Sims: I’d give them a B+. Ivey’s value was shot but they still got a floor spacer and a pick swap. Pick swap might not do much but this is a stacked draft so why not. Detroit is in the mix with the Knicks, Cavs, Celtics, and maybe the 76ers. Detroit has been the best of that group but their playoff offense could hurt. Their defense will travel and there’s a pathway where that steers them to the Finals. I’d give it a 6.5/10. The Knicks are formidable. Harden + Mitchell could be something, time will tell.
Max Sturm: Also a solid B. The pick swap could come in handy down the line. Maybe Huerter will be a guy. I understand why they wanted to avoid an Ivey extension with it’s embarrassment of riches and a suddenly growing payroll. Not to mention, we did not see the same burst from Ivey post injuries, and it’s fair to wonder if they did in fact maximize the return for him when factoring that in. While not detrimental, it was uninspiring which is understandably hard to sell to fans of Detroit sports these days. Make no mistake, however, the championship hopes remain very real. They have the best defense, an abundance of playmakers, depth, and an immaculate culture on their side. Cade is capable of taking this team the distance in the east, and I believe the right supporting cast is there to help him along. It will, however, come down to shooting and halfcourt efficiency when the game slows down in the playoffs. If the Pistons have enough of that remains to be seen. I’m at a solid 8 level of confidence.
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What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments! 1. The Pistons made a relatively minor trade, acquiring Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric + a pick swap with the Wolves for Jaden Ivey. What are your thoughts on the players and assets Detroit acquired?
2. What will Jaden Ivey be remembered for from his time in Detroit? What’s his “legacy” here, if you will.
3. What grade would you give the Pistons at the deadline? Additionally, what is your confidence level on a scale of 1-10 that they can turn this magical regular season into an NBA Finals berth?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 5: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Jazz desperately needed to lose this one, and they did… barely. 119-121 was the final score to this exciting game. The Hawks benefited from a monster game from Jock Landale, who lead the team in scoring with 26 points, to go along with 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. That guy seems to be pretty good, wish we would’ve traded for him. Oh well, Jaren Jackson Jr. is a nice consolation prize.
Ace Bailey – C-
A really tough shooting night for Ace as he went 9/26 from the field and 2/8 from three point range. He did have hit an insanely clutch 3 from deep to tie the game, but missed on the potential game winner. Still it is very encouraging to see the trust the Jazz have in him during these clutch moments. Despite his poor shooting night Ace logged 20 points, 6 rebounds, two steals, and a block. He also had a really athletic deflection late into the game.
Cody Williams – C
Cody Williams was a monster on defense tonight. He had three straight possessions where he made a great defensive play. The first he deflected a pass, stole it, and threw it the length of the court to Collier for an easy bucket. He then followed this with two straight possessions with a block. There is no doubt that Williams is a good defender, he just needs to find consistency with his shot, and he will be a great rotational piece for this Jazz team going forward. “If he had such a good game why give him a grade of C?” you may ask. Well because he shot 2-9 tonight and missed all 3 of his attempts from deep. Still an encouraging outing for Cody Williams though.
Lauri Markkanen – B+
Markkanen only played 23 minutes tonight, but still found a way to be really impactful. He shot well from deep, posted 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in his limited time on the floor.
Kyle Filipowski – A
Flip had three ridiculously clutch rebounds in the fourth, and just had a monster game overall. He shot well from deep hitting 2 of his 3 shots from deep. He was in foul trouble for a decent chunk of this game, but he still logged a double-double, finishing with 15 points, 17 rebounds and 1 assist.
Isaiah Collier – A+
Collier truly is a warrior, as he played his second straight game of 48 minutes. He didn’t just flex his stamina in this one however as he also had a career high 25 points. He also logged 3 steals, 11 assists, and 7 boards. Collier was just on another level tonight, as he remained aggressive throughout and had a beautiful lob to Ace on a fast break.
Brice Sensabaugh – B
Brice fouled out of this game with about 5 minutes left in the game, but he was impactful in this one. He shot well from deep, hitting 3/5 of his three pointers. He finished the night with 18 points, four boards and two assists. He did only make 3 of his 6 free throws however.
Svi Mykhailiuk – B+
Svi was really solid in this one, having the best +/- of any Jazzman at +10. He had a decent shooting night going 6/10 from the field for 14 points and adding 4 boards. I’m looking forward to watching him next season when we’re actually trying to play winning basketball.
Oscar Tshiebwe –A
Always a great day when Jazz nation is blessed with Oscar Tshiebwe minutes. He had a very efficient game grabbing two rebounds, and making both of his shots on the night in his 10 minutes of action.
Quin Snyder– F-
Snyder did his best to lose this one, and let Jazz nation down one last time, but his efforts were not enough.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 5: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks goes up for a shot against Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in action on Thursday evening to face the Utah Jazz. With the NBA trade deadline behind them, the Hawks didn’t have most of the players that they traded for in this matchup, but they were able to have Jock Landale in the lineup after acquiring him yesterday. In fact, Landale made the start at center in his first game with the Hawks.
As for the Jazz, they made a big splash acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline, but he was not active for this game.
Landale made an impact early in the game, grabbing multiple offensive rebounds, knocking down a three-pointer, and getting blocks.
Dyson Daniels was able to knock down a three-pointer earlier in the game.
It was a back and forth game between both teams, and the Hawks were able to get stops when they needed on the defensive end to stay within striking distance.
Landale continued his defensive impact on the court with another block.
To end the first half, the Hawks went on a huge run led by Landale, as he knocked down a few three-pointers to cut the deficit. The Hawks ended up with the lead going into halftime, 61-60.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second half, but it was the Jazz that was able to pull away with the lead for most of the third quarter. Landale continued his hot streak throughout the quarter, and his teammates set him up with easy shots.
The Hawks traded buckets with the Jazz throughout the fourth, as stops were hard to come by during crucial moments. One that didn’t stop was the ball movement for the Hawks, and Newell benefitted with an easy layup.
Getting down to the stretch of the game, the Hawks were able to execute and get some shots to go down. With a chance to tie the game or take the lead, the Hawks gave up several offensive rebounds, but in the end they were able to get the stop.
Landale came in clutch once again with a big three-pointer to give the Hawks a 117-116 lead.
The Hawks came back down on the other end and got a big stop, and the Jazz had to play the foul game from there. Alexander-Walker made both of the free throws to give the Hawks a three-point lead with 13.8 seconds left.
The Jazz came down after a timeout and knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game, courtesy of Ace Bailey. The Hawks didn’t call a timeout and decided to take the ball down the court, and Alexander-Walker was the player to deliver, knocking down a tough jumper with 1.3 seconds remaining.
The Jazz called another timeout and advanced the ball, but were not able to get a clean shot off in the end, leading the Hawks to victory.
Johnson finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, Landale finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points.
The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday to face the Charlotte Hornets.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Suggs had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double, Desmond Bane scored 23 points and Paolo Banchero added 22 to lead the Orlando Magic to a 118-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Playing 29 minutes in his seventh game after missing eight games with a right knee injury, Suggs also blocked four shots and had three steals.
Egor Demin led the Nets with a career-high 26 points, shooting 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Fellow rookie Nolan Traore matched his career high with 21 points and added seven assists.
Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn's leading scorer, shot 2 of 13 and scored nine points.
Anthony Black had 18 points and five assists for Orlando and Mo Wagner came off the bench with 14 points and five rebounds in 12 minutes.
The loss was was the 15th in 17 games for the Nets, who came in as the lowest-scoring (107.1) and poorest field-goal shooting (44.3%) team in the NBA. They shot 41.5% and had 19 turnovers.
The Magic, playing the first of four straight home games against opponents with losing records, took a 21-point lead in the first half and led by as many as 26 in the third quarter.
Up next
Nets: Play at home against Washington on Saturday.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets throws a pass against Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Kia Center on February 05, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets had their first game on the other side tonight. The other side of the trade deadline. The other side of weeks spent wondering whether Michael Porter Jr. would still be here. The other side of the Cam Thomas “era,” if you can even call it that. Now, it’s about Egor Demin and Nolan Traore and the Flatbush Five!
But while the moves made today brought a collective sense of renewal to Brooklyn and the league at large, the Nets gave us more of the same tonight.
In fairness, Brooklyn did make some incremental improvements early on here in game no. 50. The Nets only trailed their opponent, the Orlando Magic, 27-19 after the first period. They ran with the same five they opened with against the Lakers on Tuesday night, which got beat down through the hardwood and into the Atlantic Yards ruins in the first quarter.
While Egor Dëmin led all Nets after one with eight points, the eye test argues Nolan Traoré played the largest part in helping us get a different solution this time even with a similar formula.
Most conversations about the French ball-handler start with his quickness, but tonight, he channeled it more decisively. Much like Dennis Schröder used to do in Brooklyn, he did well leveraging his speed around the Orlando defense, slamming and softening on the gas pedal at all the right times.
The Magic shooting 3-of-12 from deep in the first also helped. They sure as hell had the looks, though they’re not known for having laser-like accuracy as the league’s fourth-worst 3-point shooting team. Still, Desmond Bane, who’s shot 49.3% against the Nets in his career, began 0-of-4 from downtown.
It’s not like the Nets were any better way out there in logo land. Even with the aforementioned contributions from Traoré and Dëmin, Brooklyn’s offense began 7-of-22 from the field and 3-of-15 from outside. When the Lakers shut down the Brooklyn offense for the length of a commercial break two nights ago, multiple Nets attributed their lack of production to LA’s zone. However, Orlando played man and stayed in the drop for much of first half, and the Nets didn’t fare any better. They missed the basket — and each other — over and over again.
Ziaire Williams gets visibly frustrated with Danny Wolf after not getting a pass on a fastbreak. He slaps the stanchion and picks up a technical, with the ref seemingly thinking it was directed at him.
Then, things got magical for Orlando as the first two periods crossed over, as they enjoyed a 22-6 run. With 6:52 to go in the frame, they found themselves up by a 44-25 score. At that point, Michael Porter Jr. had only three points to his name while shooting 1-8 from the field. He finished with just nine points tonight while shooting 2-13 from the field.
“I think that we were not connected at all throughout the whole game,” Fernández said. “I know our guys are willing to do the right things. And, you know, just find that connection at some point. When you’re always half a second late or not talking when you’re supposed to, all those things are, it’s really hard to win a game.”
The Nets did put together a 9-2 run in the second period’s final two minutes, but that only made the first half deficit slightly less embarrassing — more along the lines of how it feels to get blown by on defense rather than putting up an air ball at the charity stripe. Neither are good, and both things had already happened to Brooklyn by halftime. The Nets went into it down 56-40.
Orlando later scoffed at Brooklyn’s subtle attempt to claw back into it, pushing their lead up to a then game-high 21 points less than four minutes into the third. The Magic kept it there until the start of the fourth as well. They also bullied Brooklyn inside like Flash Thompson on a rainy day, outscoring the Nets there 18-6 during the third period.
Dëmin did his best to fight back, putting down three “Egor bombs” in the period to give himself 21 points going into the fourth. Although they weren’t enough to make this a competitive watch, they gave us a chance to see Dëmin chase down the career-high scoring mark he posted less than a week ago in Utah.
He eventually got there, and had company.
Finishing with 26 points to beat his old mark by one digit, Dëmin shot 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-10 from deep. Traoré also tied his career-best in scoring with 18, going 7-13 from the field and 3-5 from deep. He did the same in the passing department, dishing seven assists. The 19-year-olds helped each other get to the top of their statistical mountains on a few occasions as well…
“We all know he’s a threat from the three point line,” Fernández said of Dëmin. “Every time he shoots, I think it’s going in. He was 6-for-10, but I felt like he could have been 10-for-10. So, very good, right there. We needed that from him.”
But even before those two reached their milestones, the fourth proved to be a period dedicated to the rookies in a way we’ve yet to see this season. Brooklyn played its final six minutes with all of its rookies — the Flatbush 5 — on the floor, doing so for the first time this year in Game 50. They played the bulk of those minutes against Orlando’s deep bench guys, but it’s still worth mentioning that they won them by a 19-13 margin.
“Every minute matters, and they won their minutes together,” Fernández said. “So, their last seven minutes, they won those minutes, and I’m proud of them for doing that, and that’s what I expect from them every time they play.”
The Nets, of course, still lost the game.
Brooklyn ended up going down without applying any real pressure for a third straight contest. The ended up losing by 24 in the paint. They also turned it over 19 times leading to 24 Orlando points. They lost by 15 or more for the third time this season.
Sure, night like this are never fun, but growth rarely comes without aches. The Nets might as well pay that price now while it’s worth it.
Final: Orlando Magic 118, Brooklyn Nets 98
Milestone Watch
Nolan Traore became the 12th rookie in Nets history with 20+ points and 7+ assists in a game and the first since MarShon Brooks on 3/10/12. He’s also recorded multiple assists in 10+ games.
Egor Dëmin joined Kerry Kittles (30 points, 6-8 3PT) on 2/17/97 as the only rookies in Nets history with 26+ points and 6+ 3PM in a game.
This was Dëmin’s third time making 6+ 3-pointers in a game this season, tied as the eighth-most by a rookie in NBA history.
Dëmin’s 21 points through three quarters tonight are the most he’s had in a game in his career through that stage of the game.
Nic Claxton’s first assist of the game tonight against Orlando was his 188th of the season, which passes Brook Lopez (187 in 2009-10) for the most assists by a center in a single season in Nets franchise history. Claxton has the fourth-most assists by a center in the NBA this season.
Final Words on Thomas
Jordi Fernández spoke on Cam Thomas’ exit with the YES Network’s Meghan Triplett before tonight’s game. The coach acknowledged how both sides can benefit from a fresh start and had some nice words for CT given the circumstances as well
“I think right now, at this point, it’s a new opportunity for everybody, and I think that is extremely valuable,” Fernández said. “Obviously, appreciate his time with us. I’m a better coach than I was before. It’s been fun to coach somebody that can score the level that he can score, and now he has the opportunity to choose where he wants to go and make the impact that he wants to make. So, happy for him, and just we all want to wish him luck.”
Since Thomas’ previous contract was below the the non-tax payer mid-level exception, he can sign with any team, even if their in the first or second apron.
Newcomers on the way
With Cam Thomas, Haywood Highsmith and Tyrese Martin all waived Thursday, the Nets had three openings, but none of their replacements, shooting guard Ochai Agbaji and small forwards Hunter Tyson and Josh Minott, were eligible to play vs. the Magic. The Nets did confirm that Agbaji will wear No. 30.
Next Up
After a three-game run of good competition, the Nets will find themselves back in a tank-off this Saturday while hosting the Washington Wizards, who are tied with them for fourth in the Tankathon rankings at 13-37.
The Wiz Kids took their largest competitive swing in almost a half-decade this week by trading for Anthony Davis — just a week removed from trading for Trae Young. The problem? Both are injured and not expected to suit up anytime soon. Also, Washington loses its pick this summer if they let it stray beyond the top eight. They’re incentivized and set-up to lose on Saturday. Who’s excited? The game tips off at 3:00 p.m. ET.
