Category: Basketball

During a season where nothing’s guaranteed and rotations are a revolving door, Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta found a way to strengthen his bid at remaining in the team’s starting lineup.

“Neemy was the best version of himself,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Even though he was only 3-for-4, you felt his presence.”

Queta assumed his usual starting spot for the 47th time this season. But this time, he played a critical role in a double-big lineup that also gave Luka Garza his second start of the season. With Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Anfernee Simons — who remains unofficially traded in the Nikola Vučević swap with the Chicago Bulls — out, the Celtics were in a tough spot. On the other end, a healthier Houston Rockets team awaited, one that had last beaten Boston by 27 points on Nov. 1 and had won five of its last six games.

Short-staffed and on the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics had little going in their favor. Rookie Ron Harper Jr. was thrown into the fire, making his first career NBA start and immediately tasked with guarding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. Payton Pritchard remained in the sixth man’s role to balance the second unit, and on a night that seemed destined for defeat, Queta used Boston’s circumstances to his advantage.

Queta recorded his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points with 19 rebounds — including a career-high 12 defensive boards — and five blocks in Boston’s 114-93 win over Houston.

“It’s mostly positioning — getting there early, wedging guys under the rim, and going to get rebounds with two hands,” Queta told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think I did a pretty good job with that tonight. That’s an emphasis for me. I’m trying to go get it with two hands at the highest speed, and you have to be fortunate enough to get a couple of those. But mostly, it’s positioning — you’ve got to go get it with two hands.”

Currently, it’s unclear what Vučević’s pending arrival will mean for Queta’s role. Vučević, a 15-year veteran and two-time NBA All-Star, obviously brings a level of experience Queta doesn’t yet match. Still, Queta’s case isn’t fragile. Since being tossed into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, he’s handled the role better than the Celtics could have expected after parting ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet in the offseason. He hasn’t performed like a downgrade and is developing rapidly, keeping pace with Boston’s rise from underdog to a bona fide contender in the Eastern Conference.

Queta has been more than a serviceable rim-protecting, lob-target center, adapting seamlessly to what Mazzulla has architected this season’s Celtics to be. Unlike Porziņģis, Horford, and Vučević, Queta is a purely traditional big. He’s not going to keep defenses on their toes on the perimeter, as he isn’t a 3-point threat. Instead, Queta’s movement around the elbow and his off-ball screens help the Celtics establish a fluid offensive flow that gets everyone involved, even when he doesn’t touch the ball.

It’s a scheme that won’t always produce eye-popping box score figures, but it keeps Queta effective.

Sometimes Queta will finish in the 10–15 rebound range; other nights, it’s a modest eight points and eight rebounds on a high-efficiency shooting percentage. But it’s never about the numbers. It’s always about staying impactful towards winning.

In the fourth quarter Wednesday night, Queta found himself in the middle of his most adventurous sequence, colliding with Houston’s Tari Eason and tumbling several rows into the stands — only to scramble back on defense seconds later to guard a quick Rockets transition.

“Eason and I got tangled up, and I lost my balance, which threw me all the way up to like the 14th (row),” Queta told reporters. “I champed it up with a fan on the way. On the way down, I was looking at the bench, then they got the ball, and my momentum was taking me the other way. I just tried to stay patient and poised, and I got the block, fortunately. But at the end of the day, it would’ve been a highlight if they didn’t score, so that wasn’t that great.”

Queta’s retelling matched the play’s real-time confusion and drew laughter in the locker room after the game.

“That was hilarious,” Derrick White told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Yeah, Neemy is hilarious. I was just watching him keep going up and up, and I’m like, ‘Just stop.’ But that was hilarious.

White continued: “He was big-time for us tonight — protecting the paint, rebounding. He did a lot of great things for us.”

If anything, Queta’s statement performance in Houston didn’t just reinforce his case to keep his role — it showed how effective he can be within a double-big rotation. Vučević, meanwhile, is better suited to last season’s version of the Celtics, entering this year as a career 35.1% shooter from beyond the arc while attempting 4.5 threes through 48 games in Chicago. He’s also an aging center at 35, further clouding how Boston will manage the five spot moving forward.

Regardless, Queta isn’t overly concerned if Boston needs to resort to a double-big lineup.

“I don’t think it’s that big of an adjustment,” Queta told reporters. “A lot of the guys who’ve been here the last couple of years — that’s what we’ve been running. So it’s more about getting used to it, figuring out how to maximize each of the new players, and that chemistry. We started pretty well and rebounded the ball well, too. That’s stuff we can still get better at, but I don’t think it was that big of an adjustment for us tonight.”

The Dallas Mavericks are still feeling the aftermath of last season’s shocking Luka Doncic trade. They came away with the #1 overall pick last season, cashing that chip in by selecting Cooper Flagg out of Duke, but at 19-31 little else has gone their way. Reviled GM Nico Harrison was relieved of his duties in early November while Anthony Davis, the biggest acquisition from the Luka trade, was traded to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday ahead of the NBA trade deadline. With Davis now out of the picture and closing the door more or less on the Luka debacle, Dallas is poised to commence a full rebuild with the 19-year-old Flagg as the face of the franchise.

Tonight represents a rare home/away SEGABABA for the Silver and Black, as they come into town after a hard-fought win last night against the defending champs. They’ve shown very recently though just how capable they are of getting in late and still playing with a winning effort.

San Antonio Spurs (34-16) at Dallas Mavericks (19-31)

February 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT

Watch: KENS 5 | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan, quad (OUT), Dylan Harper, ankle (questionable), Kelly Olynyk, foot (questionable), Lindy Waters III, knee (OUT)

Mavericks Injuries: PJ Washington, concussion (OUT), Brandon Williams, leg (Questionable), Daniel Gafford, ankle (Questionable), Kyrie Irving, ACL (OUT)

What to watch for

• Cooper Flagg has shown real flashes of the player he can be throughout his rookie season. Only 19 years old, Flagg scored 49 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets last week, setting the record for the most points ever scored by a teenager in NBA history. His 3 point shooting stands out as a particularily glaring weakness (he’s hitting only 29% of his looks from outside), but he’s at least aware of this limitation, as 3s make up a relatively small portion of his shot chart. He followed up that 49 point outburst with 34 points on the road at Houston and 36 more at home against the Celtics.
• Dallas finds itself bereft of talent at center, which could bode well for Victor Wembanyama tonight. The oft-injured Davis wasn’t the Maverick’s only problem in the middle, as they’ve been dealing with a season-ending injury to Derek Lively II, an ankle injury ending his season in November. Backup center Daniel Gafford finds himself questionable with an ankle injury coming into this game. All this could make Wemby even more wide open than usual on the lob.
• The former Duke tandem of Flagg and Kon Knueppel  have largely dominated the rookie conversation as the season has reached its midway point, but fellow rookie Dylan Harper has managed to carve out an important role on a top team in the Association. The #2 overall pick has flashed his potential plenty as part of the Spurs’ bench unit this season. Harper, who had scored 15 or more in each of his last 3 contests, missed last night’s game against the Thunder. If he can give it a go tonight, it’ll be interesting to see how he looks next to Flagg at the midway point of the season.

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HOUSTON — At the Celtics’ team meeting on Wednesday morning, two-way player Ron Harper Jr. saw his name on the whiteboard.

It quickly dawned on him: for the first time in his four-year NBA career, he was going to start in an NBA basketball game.

“I knew I was getting a start,” Harper Jr. said, “and I just knew I had to be ready.”

The extended chance came, in part, because Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser were both being sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back. On top of that, Anfernee Simons, who has been one of the Celtics’ primary guards all season, was traded to Chicago earlier in the week. So, a backcourt opportunity emerged that simply hadn’t been there earlier in the season.

But, the decision to give Harper Jr. the start was also the result of Joe Mazzulla having complete trust in his young guys and two-way players to step up in big moments. Last month, it was fellow two-way player Amari Williams who got multiple starts and even crucial minutes in a double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.

This time, it was Harper.

“You feel just as comfortable starting him as you do anyone else,” said Mazzulla. “Because you know he’s ready to go.”

Harper Jr. came out of the gates flying. He hit his first three three-pointers of the game, and finished the night with a career-high 11 points.

But what stood out most to Joe Mazzulla was his immediate tenacity on the glass; he finished the game with a career-best 9 rebounds.

“He got off to a great start with two defensive rebounds that he got to start the game,” Mazzulla said. “That showed that he was ready to go — and that stuck out to me more. And then the defense came, and then the shotmaking came, and I thought he had great presence.”

Most impressive was his work on the defensive end; for most of the night, Harper Jr. had to chase around one of the greatest scorers in the history of basketball, Kevin Durant.

“Don’t let him score, man,” Harper Jr. said of his mindset. “Just do everything in my power to just try to deny him the ball, try denying catches, and try to make his life difficult. And I feel like me and the rest of the guys did a great job at that — feel like we was able to frustrate him a little bit, and it ultimately led to us getting a lot of stops.”

Entering Wednesday night, Harper. had only logged 35 NBA minutes as a Celtic; in the match-up against the Rockets, he nearly eclipsed that, tallying 33 minutes and starting alongside Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, and Derrick White.

“It’s crazy,” he said after the 114-93 Celtics’ win. “In this game, on this team, you never know what you’re going to be asked to do on any given day.”

Asked Ron Harper Jr. what was going through his head throughout his career night:

“It’s crazy. In this game, on this team, you never know what you’re going to be asked to do on any given day…”

Hugo interrupted him and said: “I knew!”

Ron: “You knew? Appreciate you bro!” pic.twitter.com/38lEuEfFP2

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 5, 2026

For Mazzulla, the trust in Harper Jr. stems from a profound trust in the Maine Celtics system, and its synergy with Boston.

“It starts in Maine, and it starts with our staff, and just what those guys are able to do there,” Mazzulla said. “Keeping Ron sharp, and making sure you know the language and what we’re doing, is important. And then our staff here is keeping them up to speed.”

Ron Harper Jr’s path to his first NBA start was a long one

Ron Harper Jr. might be a new face to some Celtics fans, but he’s intimately familiar with the system in Boston. The Celtics guard — a former Rutgers star — has spent the last two training camps with the Celtics, and was also a member of the 2024 Celtics Summer League squad.

He began last season on the Maine Celtics before signing a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons midseason. And, after that contract wasn’t renewed, he opted to return to Boston for training camp, successfully fighting for a two-way spot with the Celtics, and edging out RJ Luis, Jalen Bridges, Kendall Brown, and Wendell Moore in the process.

Harper Jr. impressed his teammates and coaches alike at camp.

“He can shoot it,” said Derrick White. “That’s the first thing that stood out.”

Today, that familiarity and experience with the Celtics organization is paying off.

“I feel like I know the system; the coverages are like the back of my hand,” Harper Jr. said. “That was a big part of the process and the decision to be coming back in the summer — I just knew the team, I knew the coaches, I knew the system.”

This year, Harper Jr. has been one of the G League’s top players, and as such, he’ll represent the Celtics in the Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles later this month. This season, he’s averaged 24.3 points and 3.1 assists per game.

But, as much success as he’s had with the Maine Celtics, Wednesday night hit different. When Harper Jr. heard his name announced at the Rockets’ Toyota Center, it was undeniably a momentous occassion.

“Before tonight, the only time I heard that was in MyCareer on 2k, so it was definitely great to hear your name, your college,” he said with a smile.

Ron Harper Jr, in his third NBA season, gets his first career start in Houston tonight pic.twitter.com/ugOmb7wLvD

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 5, 2026

Harper’s most memorable moment of the night came when he crashed the glass after a Derrick White three-point miss — and slammed down a putback dunk.

“Oh, man, I mean, I had a whole runway,” he said. “My damn eyes lit up when I see them come up off the rim like that. And I was like, ‘Yeah, I gotta go get this.”

RON HARPER JR 😤 pic.twitter.com/cw5jMJsaW1

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 5, 2026

After the highlight play, he heard from his dad, former NBA star Ron Harper.

“My dad told me I was looking like him out there,” Harper Jr said with a smile. “Let’s tone that down.”

Taking advantage of an extended opportunity

The Celtics guard said it was rewarding to finally get the chance to lace up with the big club for an extended run.

“Joe makes a heavy emphasis that everybody’s gonna get their shot,” he said. “So, just stay ready and be ready. And, I feel like I did a good job.”

The role in Boston is vastly different than the one in Maine, where Harper Jr. is the primary offensive option and primarily has the ball in his hands. That doesn’t make it any less rewarding.

“I know how I can impact winning, know how I can impact this team,” he said. “I’m not gonna be asked to have as high a usage rate as I do in the G [League] — that’s okay. I’m just out there to make these guys’ lives easier, just be a role player. I know if I get out there and my get out there and get my chance, I’m not gonna come off every ball screen, I’m not gonna shoot a bunch of shots, I’m cool with that, as long as I can help the team win, and as long as we win, I’m good.”

Stints in Toronto and Detroit failed to turn into longer-term opportunities for the former Rutgers star. But, this past year, he made the decision to return to Boston for training camp — even though there was no guarantee of a contract or any on-court opportunities.

Standing in the visiting locker room in Houston, on the heels of a career game, the 25-year-old felt like he made the right decision.

“I felt like I could excel,” Harper Jr. said. “I feel like it’s working out pretty good so far.”

Change is coming to Golden State.

Although it’s not the change many were expecting.

In a shocking move, the Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. Now put it down, you liar.

Over the past few weeks, Dub Nation drooled over the idea of trading for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pairing him with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler (when he returns next season) was seen as a move that could extend the dynasty and give Curry at least another bite or two at his fifth NBA title.

Warrior fans were so enamored with the idea that they’d accepted the fact that Draymond Green, the heart and soul of the dynasty, would be shipped off to Milwaukee in the trade. However, they were less than thrilled with the notion that he might end up on the Lakers with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Alas, all of that chatter and time spent on trade machines was pointless because in the end, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. did what he thought was best for Golden State — trade two pieces who weren’t in the rotation for an all-NBA caliber big man.

In reality, it feels as if the Warriors are trading one enigma for another. With all due respect to Hield, but he was a throw-in for salary filler.

For Kuminga, the drama-filled saga is finally over.

Since being drafted by the Warriors in 2021 with the 7th overall pick, his tenure in the Bay Area can best be described as rocky at best. There were flashes of greatness, which is why the Warriors held on to him for so long, and saddled with stretches of incompetence, which is why the return was so low.

Despite possessing incredible athletic traits, Kuminga never found consistency with the Warriors. Always believing he was a bride rather than a bridesmaid, he had trouble filling the role Dunleavy and head coach Steve Kerr needed out of him to make the roster work.

The up-and-down affair, thought to have reached its climax in the summer with a lengthy contract negotiation, finally hit a breaking point when Kuminga and his camp demanded a trade in January. Dunleavy wasted little time in addressing those rumors.

“I think as far as the demand, we’re aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand, there needs to be a demand in the market,” Dunleavy said.

“We’ll see where that unfolds,” he added. “I tell them I’m willing to work with them, want to help people out, whether that’s J.K. or any player on our roster. We’re good with it, if that’s his wishes, trying to figure that out, but we got to do what’s best for our organization, and that’s what we’ll do, as far as it goes with the deadline coming up.”

So out he went. And in came possibly a bigger enigma.

On paper, Porzingis is an ideal fit alongside Curry, Green and Butler. A 7-2 big man who can knock down threes, it’s like he was built in a lab to play in Kerr’s motion offense. Add in his defensive capabilities as a rim-protecting center, and you can see his fit with this team and the vision they have for him.

But all of that depends on one tiny, minute detail. Will Porzingis even play?

He missed half of the 2025 season with the Celtics when he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic nervous system disorder that causes dizziness and extreme fatigue.

After being traded to the Hawks, he missed significant time this season due to left Achilles tendinitis. He’s only played in 17 out of a possible 52 games this year, and hasn’t seen the court since January 7 — although according to sources, it’s believed he will return to the court soon.

Make no mistake, when healthy Porzingis can flat-out hoop. He averaged 20.1 points on 37.5 percent from three and 7.2 rebounds per game during Boston’s title-winning season two years ago. The year before that, he averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with Washington.

If healthy, this trade has the potential to be more monumental than the last trade deadline when Dunleavy traded for Butler.

A core four of Curry, Green, Butler and Porzingis is talented enough to compete with anybody in the Western Conference. But so many questions remain, and with Butler out for the foreseeable future after tearing his ACL a few weeks ago, none of those answers will come to fruition this season.

In the end, it’s a smart move for Golden State, and you can see why they did it:

They turned two non-rotation players into one rotation player. And if it doesn’t work out with Porzingis, he’s on a $30.7 million expiring contract after this season, which frees up cap space moving forward.

Will any of that amount to getting Curry his fifth ring? Time will tell, but at least the Warriors can say they did something — even if it’s not what Dub Nation was hoping for.

Los Angeles Clippers (23-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-40, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento looks to end its four-game home slide with a victory over Los Angeles.

The Kings are 2-7 against Pacific Division opponents. Sacramento has a 5-25 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Clippers are 6-4 against the rest of the division. Los Angeles has a 2-6 record in one-possession games.

The Kings average 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 fewer makes per game than the Clippers allow (13.7). The Kings average 112.3 points per game, 8.2 fewer points than the 120.5 the Kings give up to opponents.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Clippers won 131-90 in the last matchup on Dec. 31.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.2 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Zach LaVine is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games.

Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points per game.

Clippers: 6-4, averaging 112.4 points, 42.9 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Ivica Zubac: out (personal), Darius Garland: day to day (toe).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago Bulls (24-27, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (30-22, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Raptors -8.5; over/under is 226.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Bulls visit Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors in Eastern Conference action Thursday.

The Raptors are 22-14 in conference play. Toronto is eighth in the league giving up just 112.5 points per game while holding opponents to 46.2% shooting.

The Bulls have gone 16-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago is fifth in the league scoring 17.9 fast break points per game. Ayo Dosunmu leads the Bulls averaging 3.5.

The Raptors are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Raptors give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Barnes is averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists over the last 10 games.

Josh Giddey is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 8.6 rebounds for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 113.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.

Bulls: 5-5, averaging 116.8 points, 44.5 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 6.2 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back).

Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

San Antonio Spurs (34-16, second in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-31, 12th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spurs -6.5; over/under is 224.5

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas hosts San Antonio looking to break its four-game home skid.

The Mavericks are 3-7 against division opponents. Dallas ranks third in the NBA with 35.0 defensive rebounds per game led by P.J. Washington averaging 5.7.

The Spurs are 8-3 against Southwest Division teams. San Antonio is fifth in the Western Conference scoring 116.9 points per game and is shooting 47.2%.

The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 45.5% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 more makes per game than the Mavericks allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Spurs won 125-92 in the last meeting on Oct. 23. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 40 points, and Washington led the Mavericks with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Stephon Castle is shooting 45.0% and averaging 16.5 points for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 4-6, averaging 117.1 points, 48.0 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

Spurs: 7-3, averaging 114.0 points, 45.6 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), P.J. Washington: out (concussion protocol), Brandon Williams: day to day (leg), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Daniel Gafford: day to day (ankle).

Spurs: Kelly Olynyk: out (foot), Dylan Harper: out (ankle), Lindy Waters III: out (knee), Jeremy Sochan: out (quad).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (23-28, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (31-18, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -3.5; over/under is 217.5

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Hornets play Houston.

The Rockets have gone 17-5 in home games. Houston scores 115.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per game.

The Hornets are 12-15 on the road. Charlotte ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.0% from 3-point range.

The Rockets are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 47.3% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.3% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 46.0% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Miles Bridges is averaging 18.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 23.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 109.6 points, 48.8 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.9 points per game.

Hornets: 8-2, averaging 113.4 points, 48.7 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.1 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle).

Hornets: Tidjane Salaun: day to day (illness), KJ Simpson: out (hip).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Memphis Grizzlies (19-29, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-28, 10th in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Portland comes into the matchup with Memphis after losing six in a row.

The Trail Blazers are 18-15 in Western Conference games. Portland is 9-12 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Grizzlies are 16-17 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks ninth in the Western Conference shooting 34.9% from 3-point range.

The Trail Blazers' 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 13.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Trail Blazers allow.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Grizzlies won 119-96 in the last matchup on Dec. 7.

TOP PERFORMERS: Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 21.8 points for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 13.6 points over the last 10 games.

Cedric Coward is averaging 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 53.6% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 22.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.1 points per game.

Grizzlies: 2-7, averaging 116.8 points, 42.8 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija: day to day (back), Scoot Henderson: day to day (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Kris Murray: day to day (lumbar), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

Grizzlies: Kyle Anderson: out (illness), Georges Niang: out (foot), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Indiana Pacers (13-38, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (20-29, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Friday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee hosts the Indiana Pacers following the Milwaukee Bucks' 141-137 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Bucks are 6-4 against opponents in the Central Division. Milwaukee has a 9-20 record against opponents over .500.

The Pacers are 3-8 against the rest of the division. Indiana is 6-29 against opponents over .500.

The Bucks average 14.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per game the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.7 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Bucks give up.

The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Bucks defeated the Pacers 111-94 in their last matchup on Dec. 24. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 24 points, and T.J. McConnell led the Pacers with 16 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kyle Kuzma is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 3-7, averaging 109.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.9 points per game.

Pacers: 4-6, averaging 112.4 points, 43.1 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Gary Harris: out (hamstring), Bobby Portis: out (hip), Taurean Prince: out (neck).

Pacers: Micah Potter: day to day (hip), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (hand), Obi Toppin: out (foot), T.J. McConnell: day to day (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Golden State Warriors made a move on Wednesday, Feb. 4, in an attempt to keep themselves contenders in the Western Conference.

The Warriors added center Kristaps Porziņģis in the final hours before the NBA’s trade deadline, coming to a reported agreement with the Atlanta Hawks. The Warriors sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta in return.

For months, the Warriors were expected to trade Kuminga and were considered a candidate to land disgruntled Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The latter has seemingly changed, with Golden State having "moved on" from Antetokounmpo in the wake of this deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Here's grades for the Kristaps Porziņģis deal:

Kristaps Porziņģis trade grades

Golden State Warriors grade: B

The Warriors are finally moving on from Kuminga, who had shown flashes of his talent and potential but never appeared to be on the same page as the Golden State coaching staff.

Porziņģis could be seen as low-risk, high-reward. If he is healthy, he could be just what the  Warriors need: a center that can shoot the basketball. He also adds much-needed size near the rim.

Atlanta Hawks grade: B

Kuminga provides a level of athleticism and physicality to the Hawks at the forward position. He has also shown the ability to score and play solid defense during his time with the Warriors. Hield was a positive bonus in the trade, being one of the better long-range shooters in the league. He will also add a lighthearted and fun energy to the locker room.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kristaps Porzingis trade grades for Warriors-Hawks deal

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist for the rookie's first multipoint game in the NHL, leading the Calgary Flames to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

Ryan Lomberg scored the go-ahead goal at 6:44 of the third period. Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary also scored for Calgary. Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar and Zach Whitecloud had two assists apiece.

The Flames took the season series against their provincial rival, winning three of four meetings.

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for the Oilers, who limped into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak. Evan Bouchard had three assists.

Flames goalie Devin Cooley stopped 36 shots. Tristan Jarry made 21 saves for Edmonton.

A bouncing puck in front went on net off Lomberg's skate, forcing Jarry to kick out his pad. Lomberg buried the rebound to give the Flames a 4-3 lead.

Calgary led 3-1 before Draisaitl scored his second power-play goal of the game at 18:26 of the second period. Kapanen tied it 4:17 into the third.

Draisaitl (1,036) moved past Mark Messier (1,034) into fourth place on Edmonton’s career points list. Draisaitl is seven back of Jari Kurri for third. Wayne Gretzky (1,669) leads, followed by Connor McDavid (1,178).

Edmonton has given up goals on five consecutive penalty kills after Calgary converted each of its first two power plays in the first period.

Gridin’s third career goal was his second in three games as the 19-year-old continues to impress on a line with Huberdeau and Morgan Frost.

Up next

Oilers: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 25.

Flames: Visit the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

What do the Knicks think about their roster? We’ll find out by 3 p.m. on Thursday. 

But late Wednesday night, less than 24 hours from the trade deadline, the current Knicks roster got an endorsement from the best player on the planet. 

"Really good," Nikola Jokic said of the Knicks. "Probably one of the best teams in the league."

The Knicks have won eight in a row entering the trade deadline. Wednesday’s win is probably the most impressive of the streak. 

On the second game of a back-to-back, the Knicks beat Denver in double overtime.

Jalen Brunson had 42 points, making the right decision when the Nuggets sent two defenders at him late in the game.

The Knicks obviously needed Brunson’s scoring on Wednesday. But they don’t get the win without strong contributions from OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Landry Shamet. Jordan Clarkson has been out of the rotation. He started against Denver and finished with 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting. 

Shamet, who ranks ninth in the league in three-point field goal percentage, hit two key threes late in the game. 

It was a team win in the truest sense. 

"That’s a good team, a talented team," Jokic said after the game. 

Will it be the same team after Thursday’s trade deadline? Pelicans guardJose Alvarado remains on the Knicks' radar. The Knicks have also been in touch with teams about reserve big men. They had dialogue with Phoenix about Nick Richards. They’ve also seen Yves Missi as a potential target. 

On Missi in particular, the Knicks may not be able to compete with other teams targeting him. The Pacers are among the teams that have been in on Missi. Given the interest in the young center, New Orleans can probably net significant draft capital if they decide to move him. 

The Knicks have seven second-round picks (nine if you include the Washington pick, which is likely to convey as two second-rounders). 

They were able to flip Guerschon Yabusele for Dalen Terry without surrendering any of that draft capital. Given the market for dumping contracts (see Charlotte and Tyus Jones), it seemed like the Knicks would have to attach a draft pick to move Yabusele. The fact that they got the deal done without surrendering a pick will surprise some opposing execs. 

Do the Knicks have another move that will surprise their peers? We’ll find out soon.

The San Antonio Spurs walked onto the floor at Frost Bank Center knowing the circumstances were tilted in their favor. Oklahoma City arrived shorthanded, resting much of its regular rotation and leaning heavily on its bench. What followed, however, was not a quiet night or an easy victory.

Instead, the Spurs had to earn every possession of a 116-106 win, fending off a Thunder group that played free, fast and with nothing to lose — the kind of opponent that can turn a routine night into an uncomfortable one if focus slips.

For long stretches, the game felt more like a test of discipline than talent.

San Antonio built an early 22-point lead behind aggressive drives to the basket and steady shot-making, but the Thunder’s reserves refused to go down without a fight in the second half. Each time the Spurs appeared ready to pull away, Oklahoma City responded with energy plays — loose balls, quick cuts, and timely perimeter shooting — keeping the game within reach.

The Spurs’ offense, defined by rhythm and ball movement, came in waves. When it stalled, Keldon Johnson became the stabilizer. Johnson attacked the paint, absorbed contact and finished through traffic, providing the kind of physical scoring that kept San Antonio from drifting too far off course. His presence was a reminder of how valuable a reliable scorer can be on nights when execution isn’t crisp.

“I felt we got a little unfocused at times,” Johnson said. “Ultimately we got the win, but there are things we need to learn to clean up, you know, be tighter on and be better on. We pulled together in the end and got it done, but we definitely need to be better.”

Oklahoma City continued to hang around into the fourth quarter, turning the final minutes into something more tense than expected. The Thunder trimmed the lead to single digits and briefly threatened to make the closing stretch uncomfortable for the home crowd.

That’s when De’Aaron Fox took control.

Fox’s speed changed the tone of the game late. He pushed the pace, broke down defenders off the dribble and delivered timely baskets that steadied the Spurs when the margin felt in doubt. His late-game command didn’t show up as a dramatic takeover, but as a series of calm, efficient decisions — the kind that quietly shut the door.

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama made his impact felt in subtler ways. Even when he wasn’t the focal point of the offense, his length altered shots, discouraged drives and helped the Spurs control the paint when the Thunder tried to generate momentum inside. His presence alone forced Oklahoma City to think twice about attacking the rim during critical possessions.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs had done enough — not flashy, not flawless, but effective.

“Getting our minds prepared in shootaround to play those guys and then to go out there not being like that is tough,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “We still got it done. Whatever five is on the court for them [OKC] and they are a good matchup. So it was tough regardless.”

The win carried more weight than the box score might suggest. San Antonio matched its win total from last season, a small sign of progress for a team still learning how to close games and manage expectations. Nights like this, against an opponent with nothing to lose, often reveal as much about a team’s maturity as marquee matchups do.

For Oklahoma City, the loss still came with encouragement. Their bench-heavy lineup played with pride and confidence, showing why depth and development remain pillars of the franchise’s long-term vision.

For the Spurs, the takeaway was simpler.

They survived a trap game, leaned on experience when needed, and walked away with a win — the kind that doesn’t dominate highlight reels but quietly builds a season. As the schedule tightens and tougher opponents loom, San Antonio will look back on nights like this as lessons in patience, focus and finishing the job.

“I think we did what we had to do to get the win,” a disappointed Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I think there are a lot of things that could have been better. It was good to see us finish the job, but we’ll try to continue to get better from this one.”

Game Notes

• The Denver Nuggets’ double OT loss to the New York Knicks combined with San Antonio’s win puts the Spurs two games up on Denver for second place a jam packed Western Conference with the All-Star break around the corner.
• Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson combined for 47 of the Spurs’ 116 points. A good night at the office for them both.
• Carter Bryant continued to show his growth in his rookie season, scoring 11 points in 13 minutes. Coach Johnson said Bryant has learned from his mistakes earlier in the season. “When you have a young player, they’re never mistake free, so once they figure out that, then sometimes they’re free to play with more effort and energy,” he said of the rookie.
• Speaking of rookies, Dylan Harper missed Wednesday’s game, but it will be interesting to see if he available for Thursday’s road contest against Dallas.
• And Thursday also brings the trade deadline. Who will still on the roster by tip-off Thursday night? Pounding the Rock will bring you all the latest news as it happens.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shane Wright scored twice to lead the Seattle Kraken to a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson also scored and Chandler Stephenson and Frederick Gaudreau each had two assists for the Kraken, who have won five of their last six games. Joey Daccord made 25 saves.

Andrei Kuzmenko scored both of Los Angeles' goals and Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves.

The Kings took a 1-0 lead at 7:42 of the first period when Kuzmenko scored on the power play.

Wright tied it at 1 at 9:16 on a backhander for his first goal of the game and Larsson put Seattle up 2-1 at 10:14 on a one-timer. Dunn made it 3-1 on the power play at 15:21.

Kuzmenko cut it to 3-2 on the power play at 10:27 of the second period, but Wright gave the Kraken a two-goal lead again with a power-play score at 5:50 of the third.

Up next

Kraken: Visit Dallas on Feb. 25.

Kings: Visit Vegas on Thursday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.