Category: Basketball

Boy, can life in the NBA change in a heartbeat. One moment, you’re celebrating the first-ever clean injury report for the Phoenix Suns, the next, you’re in disbelief over Jalen Green heading to the locker room, grabbing his hamstring.

You accept that. The team is playing well, and Booker looks like he’s in one of those “takeover” modes. And then, of course, in true Suns fashion, he goes down with a nasty ankle injury. Life comes at you fast.

We’re lucky it’s just listed as a sprain with how it looked playing it back in slow-mo.

Now suddenly, instead of getting the healthy team reps we all hoped for, the Suns are back in “next man up” mode. This piece was actually supposed to be about how Jalen Green’s return would impact the rest of the Suns. I had to scrap it and put together a survival kit instead. Luckily for Jordan Ott and company, this isn’t their first rodeo.

We don’t know exactly how long Devin Booker will be out. We do know just 36 games are remaining on the schedule, and each one will be vital in the Suns’ playoff run. The Western Conference is a bundle of teams vying for the 2-7 seeds, all within just a few games of each other.

Phoenix began its 5-game homestand with a loss against the Miami Heat on Sunday night. They play eight of their next nine games in Phoenix, so that helps. They absolutely have to get a win against a reeling Brooklyn Nets squad tonight at home.

Who Steps Up?

The obvious answer here is veteran Dillon Brooks. He has already seen an increase in usage and responsibility (on both ends) this season, so we can skip past him for now, though he will be an important piece in all of this.

We’ll need a lot more of this.

Grayson Allen is the next name that comes to mind, and he could sure use a refresh after a rough night against Miami on Sunday. He poured in 18 points, but most of his work came at the charity stripe, where he went 10-for-11. He shot just 4 of 18 from the field and 1 of 11 from three-point range.

Allen and Royce combined to go 1 of 18 from three-point range, which was a major reason why the team shot just 20% from deep in the loss. Ice cold.

As SPG notes below, the team ran a season-high 28 PnR’s for Grayson in the loss to Miami. An increase in usage and shot attempts for Allen is all but guaranteed for this next stretch. I expect a bounce-back game from Allen against the Brooklyn Nets.

They’re going to need him.

Collin Gillespie is the other candidate to continue his breakout season with an increased role yet again. They will likely be leaning on 30+ minutes from both Allen and Gillespie as long as Green and Booker remain sidelined.

Along with the noted increase in Allen’s on-ball usage above, Collin will likely be tasked with plenty of creation himself out of the PnR. They’ll need him to be in attack mode, hunting his own shot along with getting others involved.

Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea are the other key pieces, who have shown they are more than capable of stepping up in big moments. Goodwin will compete every second he’s out there… we already know this.

Bouyea’s return from concussion protocol could not have come at a better time. He is a sparkplug of energy himself and has shown he is fearless in getting his own buckets and picking up full court.

He was likely a bit rusty in his first game back against Miami, but once he settles into his role again, I expect him to be a major piece for this team while their star guards are sidelined.

A blend of increased usage from Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen as your top two scoring options, along with a more aggressive Collin Gillespie? That gives you a shot if they can get the role players hot from deep and continue to play their relentless style of basketball.

Jordan Ott has plenty of options at his disposal, but it won’t be easy without Devin Booker’s gravity. These next few games are important for Phoenix to stay afloat as they push for a top-6 seed out West.

Last night, former Tar Heel and current Chicago Bulls guard Coby White caught fire against the Los Angeles Lakers to the tune of 23 points, five rebounds and six assists. While this is more common than not for the Goldsboro native, the significance of this is the fact that he made five of his 10 three-point attempts, which was good enough to pass Kirk Hinrich in the race to score the most three-pointers in Chicago Bulls history.

Now that White holds the second-place spot in the franchise history books, the only player standing in his way is current Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, who left the Bulls after draining 1,130. White is now less than 100 threes away from breaking the record, and while it feels inevitable that he will break it, there is a problem: the NBA trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline is February 5th at 3 PM ET, and there has been a lot of noise about White potentially being traded since he is on an expiring contract. Should the Bulls keep him until the end of the season, he will become an unrestricted free agent, meaning that he could decide to take his talents to another team after the season is over anyway. It’s a weird situation because whichever team that takes him would need to acquire him with the intent of signing him to his inevitably larger contract following the season, but by no means would that team be required to do so. The Bulls find themselves in a weird spot because at this point White has more or less become their franchise player, but he also isn’t an All-Star caliber player right now. So then, what is worth more? Losing one of your best scorers only to risk having a less productive player, or sticking it out only for White to throw them the peace sign this summer? It’s a really messy situation that Bulls VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas has found himself in, but also for anybody that pays enough attention to this franchise…it’s not surprising to say the least.

Regardless, it has been a lot of fun seeing White grow as a player and become one of the better scorers in the NBA. Enduring the dysfunction that is the Chicago Bulls front office — and at one point the coaching staff — and managing to develop into such a good player is something that other Bulls draftees did not manage to pull off in the post-Jimmy Butler/Derrick Rose era. Regardless of whether or not he breaks LaVine’s record, his contributions in Chicago will not soon be forgotten.

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with just one loss in their last nine games. The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, are one of its coldest, scoring just a single victory in its previous seven outings.

The injury reports for both sides are busy, which leads my Clippers vs. Jazz predictions to L.A. center Ivica Zubac, who will be asked to pick up the slack against an ailing Utah frontcourt.

Here are my NBA picks for January 27.

Clippers vs Jazz prediction

Clippers vs Jazz best bet: Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points (-115)

Ivica Zubac’s scoring output is down in January compared to the first half of the season. Entering tonight’s tilt in Salt Lake City, the Los Angeles Clippers big man is averaging 12.5 points through 11 games this month.

His nightly scoring props had totals set as high as 16.5 and 17.5 points earlier this month before dropping to tonight's 14.5. However, this matchup with the Utah Jazz is a great buyback spot for Zubac’s offensive efforts.

He faces a Utah defense ranked worst in the NBA, with a notable soft spot inside. The Jazz could be down both starting bigs against Los Angeles, with center Jusuf Nurkic doubtful (illness) and standout forward Lauri Markkanen questionable (illness).

The Clippers could also need Zubac to pick up the scoring slack should Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn sit out Tuesday (both questionable). He did just that in the first meeting with the Jazz back in October, leading L.A. with 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting.

Zubac snatched three offensive rebounds in that contest and is a handful on the boards, hauling in 3.6 offensive rebounds a night and scoring an average of 4.2 second-chance points – third-most in the NBA.

Even at full strength, the Jazz have a tough time limiting second-chance looks, allowing 16.2 SCP per contest with the 12th-lowest rebound rate in the land. If Markkanen and Nurkic sit out, that’s a collective 17.4 rebounds per game gone from the lineup.

Player projections for Zubac are very optimistic, ranging from 14.8 to as high as 17 points tonight. My number comes out to 15.8 points, which should have the Over 14.5 priced around -125.

Clippers vs Jazz same-game parlay

The Clippers are rolling right now, while the ice-cold Jazz could be missing some big bodies tonight.

Zubac attacks the interior and picks up extra points on offensive rebounds.

James Harden could see more touches if Leonard and Dunn are out, which means more 3-point looks. He isn’t afraid to let it fly, and player models call for 3.6 makes from downtown.

Clippers vs Jazz SGP

• Clippers -8.5
• Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points
• James Harden Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sour Note

Kyle Filipowski could see extra run and involvement with injuries to Utah’s big men.

Clippers vs Jazz SGP

• Clippers -8.5
• Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points
• James Harden Over 2.5 made threes
• Kyle Filipowski Over 13.5 points

Clippers vs Jazz odds

• Spread: Clippers -8.5 (-105) | Jazz +8.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Clippers -340 | Jazz +270
• Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)

Clippers vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Over is 16-6 (73%) in the 22 games in which Utah has closed as a home underdog this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Jazz.

How to watch Clippers vs Jazz

Clippers vs Jazz latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Whoever thinks that grown men are above high-school level drama don’t follow the NBA.

This season, we’ve already seen a superstar get punched (reportedly) for making fun of an opponent’s contract blunder, and a very mid player demand(!!!) a trade out of what he believes to be a “hostage” situation. Somehow, neither of those stories takes the cake, since an all-time great is now dragging out an inevitable divorce because he doesn’t have the cojones to look like the bad guy.

What makes it sillier is that Giannis had a teammate in Dame who went through this exact saga, which resulted in them teaming up. You’d think he might’ve learned a thing or two from that, but instead, he’s copying Dame’s playbook to the tee.

With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Bucks hitting rock bottom, there’s no better time to look at what they could do with their seemingly disgruntled superstar.

First, we need to map out everything that’s led up to this point.

Timeline

Rumours about a potential Giannis departure have gone on for much longer than 6 months, but let’s focus on this season for the sake of sanity.

• Sept 29th: On media day, Bucks owner Wes Eden claimed that he and Giannis had a productive meeting over the summer that ended with the star affirming his loyalty to the franchise. An hour later, Giannis said that he does not remember such a meeting. Wait, what?
• October 7th: Shams reported that the Bucks gave the Knicks an exclusive window to discuss a potential Giannis trade in August, after the Greek Freak revealed New York to be the only team he’d be open to playing for, outside of Milwaukee.
• Oct 22nd – Dec 1: Milwaukee starts the season 9-13 — 8-8 with Giannis in the lineup, and 1-5 without him.
• Dec 1: Giannis strains his right calf, which is the same injury that kept him out of the 2024 playoffs.
• Dec 3: Just days after his calf strain, Shams reported that Giannis is meeting with the Bucks again to discuss his future, before Doc Rivers stated that there have been no conversations regarding Giannis’ future and that the star loves Milwaukee. Whatever you say, Glen.
• Dec 18: Two weeks after, Giannis said that he can’t control what his agent discusses with the Bucks, then bizarrely stated that he’s enjoyed being “the hottest chick in the game,” given the circulating rumours. Umm, you do realize that your agent works for you, right Giannis?
• Dec 27: Giannis returns from his injury, with the Bucks going 3-6 in his absence.
• Dec 28: Giannis calls out a “disrespectful” question after a reporter asked if he wants to stay in Milwaukee, saying: “I’m here, I’m here.”
• Jan 8: The Athletic publishes an exclusive one-on-one interview between Giannis and Sam Amick (paywall), where the Greek Freak says that he is invested in the Bucks and isn’t going anywhere. However, he followed up and said that those feelings only applied to that day, something that he apparently says a lot to his wife(???). Maybe you don’t realize this, Giannis, but you have a lot more power in the Bucks organization than you do in your marriage.
• Jan 13: With the Bucks getting blown out at home against a Minnesota team without Ant or Gobert, the fans began booing their team, and Giannis booed right back at them. Postgame, he explained that he’ll boo any crowd if they give him the same treatment, even if it’s his own fans. He then said that “when people don’t believe in me, I don’t tend to be with them. I tend to be against them.” Damn.
• Jan 22: Giannis calls out his teammates after a loss, saying that “guys are being selfish,” following a four-game span where he had 13 field goal attempts or fewer in every match.
• Jan 23: Giannis re-injures his right calf for the third time in less than two years and provided a self-diagnosed timeline of 4-6 weeks. The Bucks sit 11th in the East with a 18-26 record and remain 3 games out of the final play-in spot.

Got all that? Good, because we’re just getting started.

What can Milwaukee do at the deadline?

Despite the Bucks’ struggles, Eric Nehm has consistently reported (paywall) that Milwaukee only has intentions of buying at the deadline. That sounds ludicrous from the outside, but if you’re part of a front office in a small market that never attracts any free agents, it’s understandable to try and keep Giannis at all costs — especially considering that Milwaukee is +5.4 per 100 possessions with him on the court, which would be the 6th best mark league-wide.

The counterargument? Well, they’re -11.2 when he sits, tying the Wizards for the worst mark in the league, and the Bucks have played more minutes without Giannis this season due to his recurring calf injuries. From an unbiased perspective, it makes absolutely no sense to buy. First, due to their lack of assets and financial constraints, the only players they could acquire are heavily distressed assets like a Zach LaVine or Ja Morant – players who frankly aren’t very good. Secondly, even if they do make such moves, it’s been years since Giannis has strung together two months of health, so why would anyone expect him to last through an entire playoff run?

How does the draft factor into this?

The biggest X-factor in all this is the upcoming draft. Milwaukee still owns the “bad” end of their own 2026 pick swap between themselves and the Pelicans, with Atlanta owning the better half of that swap. In other words, the Bucks would have the lower draft position between the two picks, and given that New Orleans is already at the bottom of the league, Milwaukee could guarantee that both picks would have high lottery odds if they pull the plug on this season.

If it hasn’t dawned on you yet, there is a possibility that the Hawks (via the Pelicans) and Bucks get the 1st and 2nd picks of the upcoming draft, thus giving Milwaukee the #2 overall selection.

Yes, really.

So what point is there in having Giannis return this season? Milwaukee is already 3 games out of the play-in, sitting 22nd in the overall league standings and just a half game ahead of the red-hot Hornets. There is a 4-game gap between them and the 25th-ranked Jazz, and another 4-game difference between the Jazz and the last-place Wizards. It might seem like a big hill to climb, but I don’t doubt Milwaukee’s ability to join that group when their .214 winning percentage without Giannis is worse than Washington’s — and that’s with them trying to win!

It makes way more sense for them to tank and get the highest pick possible. The chance to get one of Dybantsa/Boozer/Peterson is too hard to pass up, even if the odds of that happening are minuscule. Imagine if Milwaukee does end up with one of those prospects while also managing to trade for a reclamation project like Ja — a package involving Rollins and/or a lightly protected 2031/32 pick would be more than enough for any distressed asset, and I’d be lying if I said that a lineup including Ja/Giannis/Turner/lottery pick doesn’t intrigue me.

Again, I am not advising them to do that, but this franchise has made countless desperation moves as a last-ditch attempt to appease their star, and they’ve acquired criminals once-relevant players before. Even adding a mid-lottery talent could give the Bucks either an intriguing player to build around or use as a trade chip to acquire another star, which is the likeliest outcome.

Atlanta’s pick could play a big role in this as well. Would they be willing to include it in a potential package for Giannis, even if it ends up in the top-3? And if Milwaukee gets a high pick too, would they be more willing to deal the Greek Freak now that they have two potential cornerstone prospects to build around? Again, the chances of that happening are close to nil, but I’ve learned to never rule out anything after watching Dallas trade Luka and draft Cooper within the span of 5 months.

Final thoughts

A Giannis trade still seems inevitable. Even in the off chance that Milwaukee acquires a good starter along with a high pick, we’ve seen countless times that the two timelines “plan” just doesn’t work (see: Mavericks, Dallas, and Warriors, Golden State). Don’t expect him to be moved before the deadline, though, due to his injury and lack of a trade demand, but a divorce seems certain in the offseason. Still, another wrinkle in this convoluted saga is that Giannis can’t officially be offered an extension until October, and if both sides continue this situationship, it could drag out until the last minute.

So, get ready for many more months of this, peeps. The noise will only intensify from here.

This week, please check out Marilyn’s article on the Spurs’ recent complacency! San Antonio’s been in a lull ever since they beat OKC 3 times in 10 days, which is especially disappointing for a young team that hasn’t accomplished anything yet.

Thanks for reading!

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass and NBA Stats.

In this series, we’re looking at the biggest statistical differences between last season and the current one to understand how Celtics players have evolved while wearing the same jersey. Not every role change comes with an identity shift. Sometimes, it comes by filling a need. Neemias Queta’s season reflects that idea.

Coming into the year, Queta’s role was expected to evolve, but how? The answer became clear quickly. His minutes per game jumped by more than 10, one of the largest increases on the roster. His usage barely moved (+1.3%), and his scoring efficiency stayed almost identical. The Celtics didn’t ask Queta to change who he was; they asked him to fill the hole created by Luke Kornet’s departure.

That responsibility shows up first in the details. Queta’s turnover rate dropped sharply (-5.1%), while his assist rate held steady. He’s touching the ball more often without disrupting the offense, making quick reads and flowing naturally into the next action. His role isn’t to create, it’s to connect and screen for space.

Offensively, his shot profile barely changed. He’s finishing slightly less at the rim and taking marginally more short- and long-midrange shots, but nothing about his offensive diet suggests expanded freedom. The small drop in assisted field goals reinforces that point: Queta is still a finisher, just a more reliable one, now doing it on a larger volume and often against opposing starting lineups.

Where the impact becomes clearer is on the defensive end. Queta’s block rate (+0.3%) and steal rate (+0.6%) both increased, signaling greater activity. More importantly, the Celtics allowed 10 fewer points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. That on/off differential speaks to positioning, rim deterrence, and structural defense more than highlight plays.

Another quiet but meaningful indicator is screen assists. Queta averaged 1.7 screen assists per game, a reflection of how often he’s involved before the shot even goes up. He’s creating space without needing the ball, a critical function in Boston’s offensive ecosystem, especially with a diminished spacing compared to last season.

Queta’s season isn’t about changing who he is. It’s about refinement and impact. Fewer mistakes, more repetitions, and a defensive presence that stabilizes lineups. Same jersey, different job.

Below is an overview of his statistical evolution, via Cleaning the Glass:

The Knicks (27*-18) return to Madison Square Garden tonight as heavy favorites against a lowly Kings (12-35) team that spanked New York just two weeks ago.

When the teams clashed on January 14, coach Mike Brown’s former club won almost wire-to-wire, beating the Knicks 112–101 behind DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points. DeRozan and OAKAAKUYOAK Precious Achiuwa muscled the Kings to a 32–17 first quarter, during which New York lost Jalen Brunson to a right ankle sprain just five minutes in. New York shot atrociously, making 8-of-41 from three. Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 19 points, followed by OG Anunoby (15) and Karl-Anthony Towns (13).

Sacramento arrives having lost five straight games and nine straight on the road. On Sunday, Detroit blew their minds with a 139-116 loss. The team is a cellar dweller with a –10.19 net rating, ranking 29th offensively (120.6 ORtg) and 28th defensively (130.8 DRtg). The Kings attempt the fewest three-pointers in the league, making 35% of them, but they are a strong midrange team, thanks to DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, and Zach LaVine. Defensively, they struggle across the board, allowing 49% shooting, 35% from three, and 121.2 points per game.

For the visitors, Zach LaVine is questionable with back soreness, Malik Monk is banged up, and Keegan Murray remains out. For the Knicks: the list is clean!

ESPN.com believes in New York! They favor our gang at 86%. Yowza! Sure, by the numbers, the Knicks should clobber these guys, previous game notwithstanding. What could go wrong? Hubris. In their last two games, New York pulverized Brooklyn by 50-some points and then withstood Philly’s best punches to escape PA and a winter storm with a reassuring win. ‘Twas reassuring because they’d been reeling for a few weeks prior to that. The past two games showed what rockers the ‘Bockers can be when they go full-tilt boogie.

There might be a temptation to coast tonight, and that could bite our heroes. Worse, some players might lope along at half-steam because their names have circulated in trade rumors. Hence, if the Knicks aren’t careful . . . oh, come on. The loss in Sacramento was a weird fluke. Tonight, Jalen Brunson and the boys will stomp on the gas pedal from the jump and press it to the metal all game, trying to see if they can actually beat a team by 60 points. In the end, the reserves will lose some ground in the final quarter, but the home team wins handily nonetheless. Knicks by 18.

Game Details

Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

The Knicks led by 17 points with just over eight minutes to go on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. After a choppy first half that saw the Knicks get dominated by Joel Embiid and allow the Sixers to shoot 65% from the field, the Knicks had dominated the first 16 minutes of the second half and had all but salted the game away.

Karl-Anthony Towns had barely played due to early foul trouble, and the team had been forced to go to Ariel Hukporti in a key spot in the fourth quarter. Still, all the correct buttons were being pressed for the Knicks… until it didn’t.

As the team has done so many times in the month of January, the offense ground to a halt after a Hukporti’s layup with 8:17 left. The Sixers would score 12 straight points and cut the deficit to five before the next Knicks’ basket over three and a half minutes later. Over a span of 6:20, they scored just four total points and went 1-for-14 from the field and 1-for-4 from the foul line, a truly disgusting effort to nearly piss away a big win.

Yet, they held on. They held on despite some of the worst clutch basketball you’ve ever seen, missing half their free throws, and some ill-advised decisions. Part of that was the simple fact that a lot has to go right to overcome such a deficit in so little time, but the other part was an important lineup switch made by Mike Brown, whose seat had become unexpectedly hot after the team’s disastrous start to the month.

Towns fouled out in just 16 minutes with 5:24 left. It was another bleh game for him, which is a story for another day. Brown inserted Mitchell Robinson in the game, who was a team-best plus-14 in the game and was an integral part of the team’s massive third quarter by shutting down Embiid and demolishing Philly on the boards. The decision to ride Robinson past his likely minutes limit was a big one on its own.

But Robinson had already logged over 25 minutes, a minute off his season high. If he closed the game, he would be over 30 minutes for the first time since April 11 of last season and just the third time since the December 2023 stress fracture in his ankle seemed to permanently put him on a minutes restriction. As such, Robinson only spent 86 seconds in the game before being lifted for…

Deuce McBride. Not Hukporti or Mikal Bridges, it was McBride.

Despite facing a full-throttle and healthy Embiid, Mike Brown elected to go to a bold small-ball lineup, keeping Bridges on the bench to run out a never-before-seen Brunson-McBride-Shamet-Hart-Anunoby lineup. OG Anunoby has very rarely played a small-ball 5 as a Knick and this was a bold way to use it.

Did the lineup do well? Not really, the Sixers outscored the Knicks the rest of the way. What the lineup did, however, was take Embiid out of the rhythm he was gaining to start the Sixers’ run. The former MVP had scored eight of his team’s last 11 during this run and would only manage one putback layup the rest of the game.

Anunoby’s strength is his strength. He lacks the speed to stick a guy like Tyrese Maxey or De’Aaron Fox or any small, shifty guard, but makes his money by being able to use his strength to stonewall players who use their physicality to get points. Embiid is one of those, especially when he’s on.

They also didn’t lose anything on the boards. Grabbing rebounds isn’t always about having the bigger or savvier center, but about effort. This ludicrous standing putback dunk was a big part of holding off the Sixers.

One of the reasons the Knicks made the change from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown is lineup versatility. There haven’t been the revolutionary five-out spacing lineups that people envisioned (Brown has reverted to a Thibs classic to start most games), but there have been occasional lineups and adjustments that are necessary over the course of an NBA season that make you think “This is why they made the change they made.”

He passed a big test on Saturday. There are undoubtedly more to come.

The Long Island Nets returned home court Monday night for a game vs. Motor City Cruise. The game got underway at 7:00 p.m. EST, and early on, it looked as if it wasn’t going to be Long Island’s night. the Nets found themselves down by 16 points, but ultimately they came back to win it, 112-106.

After going down early, the Nets dominated the offensive glass in the third and picked up five steals to take an 83-80 lead over the Pistons G League team going into the final frame. Long Island closed out the win by shooting 88.9 percent (8-for-9) from the line in the fourth and going on a 14-5 run to snap Motor City’s five-game win streak…

The Nets trailed by as many as 16 points, marking the largest comeback win of the season for Long Island and the team’s first comeback from a deficit of at least 15 points since a 16-point comeback win over Motor City on March 22, 2025. The Nets G League affiliate’s record is now 9-6, good enough for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Long Island starters combined for 72 points with two vets, Nets two-way Tyson Etienne (22) and Long Island signee Malachi Smith (23) leading the way.

Grant Nelson has now started six straight games after returning from a seven-week rehab of a balky knee. He once again played a solid all-around game despite still being on a minutes restriction, The 23-year-old 7-footer played a little less than 20 minutes, his high since returning and flirted with a double-double, yet again. He shot the ball well, connecting on four of his eight attempts, as well as making two-of-three from the foul stripe, the last of which sealed the win…

Nelson finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, which was a team best, as well as block and two assists. In his six starts, Nelson is averaging 28.9 points and 12.9 rebounds as well as 1.4 blocks, per 36 minutes. He’s also hitting 67% of his shots overall and 88% from the stripe. Although he shot nearly 30% from three in 160 college games, he’s only attempted two deep shots since returning although one of his four field goals Monday night was on the line.

.A small sample no doubt, but a growing one. No word yet on when the Nets might remove the restrictions, but the near 20 minutes he played Monday is the most he’s played in those starts.

E.J. Liddell, one of the Nets current two-ways along with Etienne and Chaney Johnson, remained with Brooklyn on the West Coast.. With the trade deadline just about 10 days away, Brooklyn could elevate one of their two-way players to a standard NBA deal if one opens up or waive the player from their NBA roster while retaining the players G League rights.

Malachi Smith, the 6’4” combo guard who was Liddell’s high school teammate once again got the start Friday with Brooklyn rookie PG Ben Saraf, also with the big club. Smith reminded Long Island exactly why the started him in the first place. He led the team in scoring with 23 points. Smith shot the ball very well, as he connected on eight of his 14 shots, including going four of six from three-point land.

Smith also contributed in other ways, as picked up four assists. That’s become an area where the 6’4” 24-year-old’s game has he’s exceled, getting s his teammates involved, particularly now with Saraf and Nolan Traore in Brooklyn.

Etienne, was second on the team in scoring in this one. After having a rough few performances shooting the ball, the 6’0” 26-year-old Etienne landed six of his 14 shots, six of 13 from deep, for a total of 22 points. Etienne also hauled in four rebounds and a team-high seven assists. This also marked Etienne’s 11th game with at least five makes from long range since joining the Nets, the second-most such games in franchise history.

Small forward Nate Williams, who turns 27 next month, looked to be more on his game in this one, tallying 16 points. Williams shot the ball well, hitting on six of his 14 shots. He also had three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. When Williams is on his game, he looks like one of the best on the court. Tonight, fortunately for Williams, was one of those nights. It was 13th consecutive game getting into double-digits in the points category. The 6’7” Sag Harbor native has the most NBA experience on Long Island, having played 47 games.

Rounding out the starting five, the Nets third two-way Chaney Johnson made his presence felt in this one. The 6’7’ 3-and-D prospect, youngest player on Long Island’s roster, got into the double digits in scoring, picking up 10 points. However, Johnson had a bit of a lackluster day shooting the ball. He connected on just three of his 10 tries, including going 1-of-4 from deep. But he had five rebounds, two assists, and one block to his credit…

Where Johnson excelled was as a ball hawk in this one. The 6’7” 23-year-old picked up a team-leading and game-leading four steals. It also marked a career-high.

The Long Island bench was quiet in this one, but was headlined by Tre Scott, who picked up 10 points, becoming the sixth and final player this game to get into the double-digit mark. He also had five rebounds to his credit. David Muoka also tallied six points and seven rebounds off the bench. Alex Schumacher, a 6’3” shooting guard signed last week, had eight points. Muoka (Hong Kong) and Schumacher (Switzerland) are the team’s two international players.

Next Up

The Long Island Nets (9-6) return to their home court on Wednesday, January 28th, as they once again face off with the Motor City Cruise. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on ESPN+ and the Gotham Sports app.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 112, Motor City Cruise 106 – G League
• Game Highlights: Long Island Nets 112, Motor City Cruise 106 (Video) – G League

The Washington Wizards signed Skal Labissiere to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

Labissiere comes to the Wizards from the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s G-League affiliate, where he is playing this season. He is averaging 19.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season with Capital City. Labissiere was the No. 28 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, though he ultimately began his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings. He has mostly bounced in and out of the NBA and G League since beginning his professional career.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

#1 – Turnovers battle

Going into the game, there was one certainty: this game would be about turnovers and taking care of the ball. While the Boston Celtics are among the very best teams at protecting the basketball, the Portland Trail Blazers are the team with the highest turnover rate in the league.

Nonetheless, they are also very aggressive and have shown throughout the season that they can force teams to lose focus and turn the ball over more often than usual. And that is exactly what happened last night at the TD Garden. The Celtics posted their fourth-worst turnover rate of the season, at 17% – back in December in Portland, they had the same issue with a 19% turnover rate. But this time, they were able to get the W despite their turnover problems.

What helped is that the Celtics also did a very good job of punishing Portland’s inability to protect the ball, forcing 18 turnovers from the young team while allowing only 17 assists. The Celtics’ defense was on point last night, and it all started by daring the Blazers to make their jump shots.

#2 – Making the most of the lack of shooting

Very early in the game, the Celtics decided to live with shooting variance and dare the Blazers to make their shots – or to drive into a crowded paint.

That approach forced a different shot profile than usual for the visitors. Usually, they are among the teams with the highest volume of shots at the rim (34% rim frequency). Yet last night, Boston took the rim away from them, and the Blazers’ lack of shooting made that easier, as they are dead last in three-point percentage at 33.7% since the start of the season.

Overall, this worked out pretty well on the defensive end, with only 94 points allowed, as the Blazers made just 25% of their attempts from deep. On the other side of the court, the defensive coverage was quite different.

#3 – How to deal with aggressive coverage

Similarly to what the Brooklyn Nets tried a few nights ago, Portland chose to be aggressive on the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations. Often, the goal was to force Jaylen Brown to give up the ball and slow down the offense.

Against such coverage, the Celtics decided to go with Sam Hauser as a screener. This created a trap for the Portland defense because, as they sent two players at the ball-handler, it freed Hauser just a few meters from the ball – and he loves to convert from these situations.

Because of those consequences, the Blazers adjusted. Instead of sending two players straight away, they waited a little before committing the second defender, making the pass to Hauser impossible. And this is where Boston’s team IQ comes in. Because Hauser knows he can reach the ball, he runs to the free-throw line to give Brown an easier pass against the trap.

From that situation, the Celtics create a four-against-three advantage, and that leads to another open shot for Mazzulla’s team.

#4 – Living with the mid-range against the drop

While the Celtics generated great shots against aggressive coverages, I had more mixed feelings about their approach against drop coverage. The Celtics took 26 mid-range shots in the second half of the game and made only eight of them.

Yes, the Celtics like these short and long mid-range zones, but it can be a trap. These shots are less efficient than drives to the rim and do not generate free throws. It also sometimes felt like Portland were dictating where the shots were taken, rather than the opposite.

This, combined with the high number of turnovers, helped the Trail Blazers stick around until the end.

#5 – Rookie push

Yet, despite some trouble on offense, the Celtics could always count on the push from their high-energy rookies. Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams brought the juice needed to impact the game on both ends. On this first play, they saved the possession after Jaylen Brown struggled to keep the ball alive.

On the very next possession, they forced a jump ball that was won by JB, allowing Boston to get the ball back quickly.

As usual, Hugo brought the energy on the offensive glass and forced offensive fouls, but Amari also made his mark. On this play, he protected the rim, triggered a transition, ran the floor to offer an option below the rim, and scored the and-one. A five-point swing within a few seconds – instant impact.

But Amari wasn’t the only one who created a five-point swing within a few seconds.

#6 – +5 in the last seconds of quarters

Against an aggressive opponent at the end of the first quarter, Anfernee Simons drove to his right and triggered Toumani Camara’s stunt, leaving Pritchard alone. The help from the corner was too far away to disrupt PP’s quick release, and that was the first buzzer-beater of the night.

Twelve minutes later, Payton hadn’t scored another bucket since his buzzer-beater in the first. With only a few seconds remaining before halftime, he quickly pushed the ball up the floor and didn’t hesitate to drive… almost lost the ball, but secured it just in time to fade away for another buzzer-beater.

A five-point addition in the final seconds of both quarters, in a game decided by fewer than 10 points – a game changer.

#7 – Fighting back in transition

Those buzzers weren’t the only illustration of the Celtics’ willingness to fight for that win last night. While their transition defense can sometimes be sloppy, that wasn’t the case against Portland. The Celtics were able to contain the young team’s desire to run and limited them to just 1.05 points per possession in transition, compared to 1.53 points per transition possession for Boston’s offense.

One of the leaders of that effort was Simons, despite being targeted every time he was on the court.

#8 – Portland attacking Simons

Maybe it was ego, maybe it was tactical, but Simons’ former teammates definitely went after him when he was on the court, especially in the second half with Jerami Grant.

Yet Simons made sure to show his former team that, despite his smaller frame, he is becoming a much better defensive player in Boston. He fought well through screens and did his best to stay in front of his matchup, even against bigger players. In the end, the Trail Blazers scored a few baskets and got to the free-throw line by targeting him, but Simons’ efforts were impressive.

#9 – White saving the day

Despite losing the ball on nine possessions throughout the game, it was Derrick White who saved the day against the Trail Blazers. First, with a three, then after another smart action from Hauser, who asked for the ball at the free-throw line to swing it to White for the dagger.

Then came the steal to seal the deal. Notice how the Celtics’ coaching staff matched him up with Williams, knowing he would be involved in the play, either as a passer or a screener.

#10 – Thank you Jrue

A very well-deserved standing ovation for Jrue Holiday was the least Boston could do to celebrate the man – and the player – that he is. On and off the court, Jrue had a huge impact on the Celtics and was one of the keys to banner 18.

BOSTON — Before Monday night, Celtics rookie Amari Williams had limited NBA minutes to his name, spending most of this year with the team’s G League affiliate in Maine. When the opportunity finally arrived against the Trail Blazers, the 23-year-old made the most of it.

Williams logged a career-high 25:53 minutes in Boston’s 102-94 win over Portland, leaving a strong impression in the process.

“I thought Amari did a great job today,” Jaylen Brown said. “I thought he looked exceptional. He came out, protected the rim, and was where he was supposed to be for the most part. Amari made it easy for us tonight, but any given night — depending on how the team is playing us — that communication has to be great.”

Originally, the Celtics rolled with Neemias Queta at starting center. But coach Joe Mazzulla made the substitution at 7:27 in the first quarter, swapping Queta out for Williams. Two minutes and 38 seconds later, Williams ran a pick-and-roll with Derrick White, cut, and found an easy two-handed dunk without a Trail Blazers defender in sight.

Gradually, through each passing possession, Williams grew more and more comfortable. He attacked the rim, challenged Portland’s Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III for rebounds, and walked away having nearly notched a double-double, with nine points and seven rebounds. Teammates, both on the floor and watching from the sideline, got a glimpse of what Williams could bring to the table, and they were impressed.

“His rebounding and boxing out, protecting the rim — and we got to use Amari more for his passing ability because he can really pass,” Payton Pritchard said.

Pritchard mentioned that limited practice runs with Williams make it difficult to get him up to speed. That makes his acclimation process a two-way street, as the weight doesn’t lie solely on Williams; it’s also on everyone in the locker room to adapt and help maximize Williams’ usage on the floor. Sometimes that looks like running pick-and-rolls to catch opposing defenses sleeping. Other times, it’s Williams hovering around the paint to generate offensive looks without ever touching the ball.

For someone who hasn’t spent most of the season with the team, it could be overwhelming. The Celtics understand the position that puts Williams in.

“We’re gonna have to learn on the fly when he gets in, but it should be quick,” Pritchard said. “He reads the game really well, so it’ll be fun playing with him.”

Then there’s the coaching factor. For Mazzulla, it comes down to doing what’s best for Williams from a perspective his teammates can’t provide. We’ve seen it at times with fellow rookie Hugo González and veteran Josh Minott. If Mazzulla spots a miscue he deems inexcusable, he’ll hold the Celtics culprit accountable, often with trips to the bench, animated earfuls, or both.

So with Williams, it’s about finding that sweet spot of trusting the process and establishing a standard.

“It’s keeping the patience on the stuff that you have to teach, and losing your patience on the stuff that has to be non-negotiable,” Mazzulla said. “Regardless of whether you’re playing out in the park or playing in the NBA, it shouldn’t matter. It’s just understanding that the differences are in that.”

Balancing those two sides of patience isn’t easy.

“One of the greatest gifts you can give young players is coaching them hard, because you get into a situation where they may not get that all the time,” Mazzulla said. “I think holding them to the highest standard is something they should want. So I don’t know if it’s impatience as much as it’s, ‘Regardless of who you think you are, I still think there’s a standard we can get to, and we’ve got to do it. That’s just how it goes.’”

The way Mazzulla views the team is the same way he views the roster: it’s about getting the most out of everyone, both collectively and individually. That outlook comes with a caveat — if someone isn’t pulling their weight, Mazzulla won’t hesitate to look elsewhere on the bench for a contributor to get the job done. Against the Trail Blazers, Williams embodied the principles that come with that mentality, doing a little bit of everything while adding an assist, a steal, and two blocks to his stat line.

In January, Williams averaged just over seven minutes across four games. His playing time against Portland nearly matched his combined total (29 minutes) from his first six career appearances over the season’s first three months. Even in a season when Mazzulla has been at his most experimental with lineups and rotations, Williams has had to wait his turn at the table.

Through 10 games with the Maine Celtics, he has averaged 12.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, along with 1.8 blocks, while shooting 60.5% from the field.

Williams, the most recent center drafted by the Celtics, at times even outshone Robert Williams III, the last center Boston selected before him in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Mazzulla admitted that juggling the priority of winning can also heighten the degree of difficulty in player management, which trickles down throughout the entire coaching staff — not just Mazzulla.

“Yes, we do have to win the game, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to play the guys who give it everything they’ve got every single day,” Mazzulla said. “… It just validates the work because if you don’t give them chances to validate them, then they’re not going to work hard. And I think it validates the staff because at the end of the day, I have to speak to Amari knowing that, up until the point he checks into the game, there’s a full level of trust in everything the staff is telling him.”

Just over 24 hours removed from being absolutely demolished by the Charlotte Hornets, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action on Tuesday night to host the Milwaukee Bucks sans Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It’s a good thing there’s a quick turnaround here. I don’t think the Sixers want more time to dwell on their last contest. On Monday afternoon, Philadelphia put up a pathetic display for one of their worst losses all season falling to Charlotte 130-93. The Sixers even trailed by 50 at one point in the game. Joel Embiid and Paul George did not play (left knee injury management), but still. Just truly pathetic.

Fortunately, the Sixers will have to quickly flush that one from their memory with another game ahead on Tuesday.

This is the squad’s ninth back-to-back of the season so far with seven more ahead. In zero-days rest games, the Sixers are 5-3 this campaign. They will have had a few more hours of rest than a typical back-to-back, though. Philadelphia’s game on Monday in Charlotte was moved up to 3 p.m. ET (originally 7 p.m.) to give the Sixers more time to get back home in the wake of the winter storm that ripped through the East Coast this past weekend.

The Sixers’ injury report will not be made available until this afternoon. That being said, both Embiid and George did not play yesterday against the Hornets. Based on the pattern of the duo simply not playing both ends of back-to-backs, it would not be surprising to see both Embiid and George back available for today against the Bucks.

Per usual, we will keep you posted on everyone’s official statuses once they are available.

We do know that the Bucks will be without Giannis, who currently has no timetable for return after being diagnosed with a calf strain. It goes without saying that Milwaukee is a completely different team without Giannis, who is averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds per game in 30 contests this season. The Bucks are 3-11 this season when Giannis is sidelined.

Kevin Porter Jr. is also out with an oblique strain and Taurean Prince remains out recovering from neck surgery.

The last time the Sixers and Bucks faced off was also the second leg of a back-to-back for Philadelphia. Strangely, three of the four times the Sixers play the Bucks this season are second legs of back-to-backs. NBA brilliant scheduling at work!

But I digress. The Sixers are 2-0 against the Bucks this campaign. The squads had their most recent matchup back on Dec. 5, 2025, in Milwaukee with both Giannis and Embiid absent. The Sixers won 116-101 thanks in no small part to Quentin Grimes leading the team with 22 points off the bench on 7-for-9 field goal shooting (6-for-7 from long range) with five assists. Frankly, it was one of the last good (or even decent) Grimes performances, with the guard struggling mightily as of late to say the least.

In the teams’ first matchup back on Nov. 20, 2025, Tyrese Maxey put up a career-high 54 points on 18-for-30 field goal shooting (6-for-15 from three-point range) with nine assists, three steals and three blocks in a truly dominant performance. No Embiid nor Giannis for that one either.

The biggest thing this game provides for the Sixers is an opportunity to get momentum on their side. It feels like every time this team wins a good game, such as their overtime win over the Houston Rockets on Jan. 22, they follow it up with a big stumble into a loss or losing streak. That’s simply not going to cut it in a tight Eastern Conference. The Sixers haven’t been able to string four or more wins together since starting the season 4-0.

With a Giannis-less Bucks team ahead followed by meetings with the 12-win Sacramento Kings and 12-win New Orleans Pelicans, there’s not much excuse for not getting the ball rolling in their favor here.

The Sixers and Bucks tip off in South Philadelphia at 8 p.m. ET.

Game Details

When: Tuesday, January 27, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers