Category: Basketball

Per a Spurs press release:

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Jalen Johnson has ascended in meteoric fashion during his five-year basketball career.

Johnson has gone from G Leaguer, to rotation player, to franchise cornerstone in that short span. And now, he’s been named to his first All-Star Game in his career. The weekend festivities will take place in southern California, primarily in the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the home of the Clippers.

But that won’t be his only involvement next weekend. It was recently announced that he will join fellow Duke Blue Devils Kon Knueppel, a rookie phenom, and Corey Maggette, a retired 14-year NBA veteran, in the NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Challenge.

In that competition, he’ll take on these three other trios:

• Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Richard “Rip” Hamilton
• Team Harper: Derek Harper, Ron Harper Jr., Ron Harper Sr.
• Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony-Towns, Allan Houston

The contest makes its first appearance since the 2015 All-Star weekend. In it, there are seven spots on the floor with which the players can shoot from and earn various amounts of points with 70 seconds. Please see the attached PDF for a full set of rules and regulations.

Many will remember franchise icon Dominique Wilkins not only taking part in three straight competitions but winning the three most recent editions of the competition — a veritable dynasty as part of Team Bosh with NBA star Chris Bosh and WNBA star Swin Cash.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 14 after 5 PM EST on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

When you zoom out on Week 16 for the Suns, it reads like a week of missed opportunity. The West does not wait for anyone. It chews teams up nightly and dares you to keep pace. You have to handle your own business and hope a few breaks fall your way.

Phoenix started the week as the seventh seed and ended it the same way, but the math is shifting. Houston and the Lakers now sit two games ahead at 32-19. That gap did not have to be there. The door was open. The Suns never fully walked through it.

Coming off that long road trip where they split six games and lost both Devin Booker and Jalen Green along the way, the schedule finally softened. Nine of ten at home. Prime real estate. This team is supposed to feast there. Instead, seven games into that stretch, they are 3-4. Even the lone road game this week turned into an early mess, down 19 before waking up and clawing back to win. Credit for the fight, sure. But it keeps feeling harder than it needs to be.

That is the rhythm of an NBA season. You steal some you should not. You drop some you cannot afford. Eventually, it evens out. The bad from this week is loud. A 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporated against Golden State. The good matters too. Booker is back. Green is back. Health changes everything.

The season keeps breathing. Up and down. In and out. Same as it ever was. Look at it, learn from it, and carry on.

Week 16 Record: 1-2

@ Portland Trail Blazers, W, 130-125

• Possession Differential: -5.7
• Turnover Differential: -6
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: 0

Tuesday night in Portland started like a trap game and played like one, at least early.

The Suns sleepwalked through a brutal opening quarter and watched the league’s worst three-point shooting team go 13-of-30 from deep. Down 19, things looked cooked. Then Phoenix woke up. They clawed back before halftime, detonated a 34-22 third quarter, and flipped the night on effort and poise.

Ugly start, strong spine, familiar finish.

vs. Golden State Warriors, L, 101-97

• Possession Differential: +0.8
• Turnover Differential: -3
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -4

It’s three days later, and I’m still pissed about this game.

vs. Philadelphia 76ers, L, 109-103

• Possession Differential: +1.7
• Turnover Differential: -5
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: +1

The Suns got their cavalry back Saturday night. Devin Booker returned. Jalen Green returned. The vibes were there. The shooting was not. Phoenix opened 1-of-13 from deep, finished 11-of-46 overall, and spent the night pump-faking themselves into worse decisions. The offense moved. The looks were clean. The threes refused to fall.

Inside the Possession Game

• Weekly Possession Differential: -2.8
• Weekly Turnover Differential: -14
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -3
• Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +9

Who doesn’t love trying to figure out this graph, eh?

There’s not a lot to unpack in the possession battle from this past week. On the surface, the Suns did some things well. They won the turnover differential. They were not crushed on the glass the way the noise might suggest. And yet, they still lost the possession game overall.

When I dig into the numbers, nothing really screams at me. Even with that ugly shooting night against Philadelphia baked in, the Suns finished the week at 36.2% from beyond the arc, which sits 14th in the league. That is fine. They were sixth in the NBA with 10.3 steals per game, which tracks with the effort and activity we have come to expect.

The problem shows up in the assists. 23.3 per game. That ranks 25th. And that tells you everything you need to know. The ball did not move with any real pop. Too much standing. Too much dribbling. Too many possessions ending in isolation that never quite got where they needed to go. And on the occasions when the ball did move, the shots did not fall.

Week 16 ended up being strange like that. A week that easily could have been 2-1. Instead, it turned into something messier. Sometimes it is not one stat that betrays you. Sometimes it is the way all of them quietly point in the same direction.

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Week 17 Preview

Only two games on the slate this week, both at home. And because the NBA never misses a chance to trip over its own scheduling genius, they come as a back-to-back. This could have been clean. Saturday. Monday. Wednesday. Instead, the league jams Dallas and Oklahoma City together and calls it a plan. So that is what it is, and that is when it is happening.

Dallas is fascinating in a chaotic way. Cooper Flagg has arrived and changed the temperature of the franchise. Everything Nico Harrison built has been stripped down to the studs, outside of keeping Max Christie around. Anthony Davis is gone. Flagg is already a problem. And yet, the wins have not followed. The talent is there. The results are not.

Then comes Oklahoma City. A Thunder team playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and wobbling a bit because of it. This feels like an opportunity. A real one. The Suns can make it two wins in four games against this group this season, with one more meeting waiting at the very end. Back to back or not, the opening is there. The question is whether Phoenix takes it.

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63% of voters believed Week 16 would be a 2-1 week for Phoenix. The 3% who chose 1-2 were correct. How does it shake out in this short week that has only two games…but they’re back-to-back?

MILAN (AP) — Lindsey Vonn came to the Winter Olympics as one of the headline acts of the Games, just a week after tearing the ACL in her left knee. But her chances of winning a medal at 41 came to an abrupt and painful end when she crashed in the women's downhill. Here's a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors of Vonn in Cortina, from her training ahead of the race to her crash on Sunday.

Luke Kennard has been in the NBA for a little more than a third of his life now, which is kind of wild to think about. He’s moved around, starting with Detroit, then playing for the LA Clippers, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Lakers just before the trade deadline.

Kennard’s singular gift is hitting shots – he’s leading the NBA in three point percentage at 49.7% – and since he’s playing for Duke legend JJ Redick, he has a coach who knows exactly what to do with that.

Redick said in an interview he sent Kennard some Lakers plays and schemes to get used to and that while a lot of guys wouldn’t bother, he was pretty sure Kennard would.

Maybe he did, because he nailed his first shot and got 10 points in his first appearance in purple and gold. L.A. is still transitioning from the LeBron James era to the Luka Doncic era and spacing is a big deal. Kennard can certainly provide that – and professionalism as well.

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Joe Mazzulla doesn’t intend to change much in the aftermath of this season’s trade deadline.

Even after four trades that resulted in four departures, the Boston Celtics head coach is standing by the approach that has helped them climb as high as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Nothing will compromise that plan, which Mazzulla has adamantly preached since Opening Night.

He doubled down on that stance following Sunday evening’s 118–89 loss to the New York Knicks while addressing the team’s rotations moving forward.

“The same as we’ve done all year,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media.

For the third straight game, Mazzulla stuck with a double-big lineup, giving Neemias Queta and Luka Garza the starting nod against New York. That configuration worked tremendously against the Houston Rockets, after which Mazzulla said it was a scheme the Celtics could turn to at any point for the remainder of the season. Now, with Nikola Vučević added via Boston’s Anfernee Simons trade with the Chicago Bulls, comes the challenge of integrating him while keeping the system intact.

With limited time — less than 48 hours — to work with Vučević at the team’s practice facility in Brighton, the Celtics did what they could to get the 15-year veteran up to speed before his debut Friday night against the Miami Heat. That game marked Vučević’s first opportunity to familiarize himself with Boston’s system and showcase what the Celtics will be getting from the two-time All-Star — an opportunity Mazzulla believes everyone on the roster will earn and will continue to get.

“I think we’re up to 15 or 17 different ones, so nothing’s changed,” Mazzulla told reporters. “Everybody on our roster has a chance to impact winning. We have a chance to develop and do different things there. So whether it’s before or after the trade deadline, nothing changes in our approach. How do we have flexibility? How do we know everyone on the roster has a chance to impact winning? We just keep developing identities and whatnot.”

So far, it’s been a work in progress acclimating Vučević.

Mazzulla has used him off the bench twice to start his Celtics stint, with both games producing unusual team performances at home. The Celtics battled back from a 22-point deficit against Miami but then fell victim to their 3-point struggles, shooting just 17% on 41 attempts and ultimately losing their No. 2 seed to Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.

Welcoming Vučević aboard will be more about integrating him than adapting to his presence. It’s a two-way street: he’ll need to study the Celtics, their schemes, and their habits, and the roster will need to help him learn the playbook and put him in positions to succeed. Two seasons ago, the Celtics faced a similar situation — though under very different circumstances — when Kristaps Porziņģis first joined the team. Like Vučević, Porziņģis arrived as a stretch big capable of shooting the 3-pointer, and shooting it well.

“We gotta figure out the chemistry a little bit, the flow a little bit,” Jaylen Brown admitted to reporters, per CLNS Media. “We want Vooch to be more aggressive. We’re looking for him to get going and make him feel confident in taking those shots and where he can catch the ball. We’re still learning, but we need him to be more aggressive, so we’ll make some adjustments. We’ll communicate. We’ll watch film, and we’ll be better for it.”

This season, more than any other, has been a complete showcase for the Celtics. It’s been a revolving door of opportunity, where unproven players like Queta, Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, and others have gotten chances they might not have had before. It’s forced Mazzulla to get creative, demonstrate patience, and, all the while, strike the balance between giving players opportunities and knowing when to pull the plug and look elsewhere for the production the team needs to flourish.

The trade deadline was an opportunity to improve — but to improve in ways that fit their system.

Boston’s two-game sample size isn’t like them. They’ve been one of the most well-oiled machines in the NBA, powered by a retooled offense tailored to a new-look roster without star Jayson Tatum. That’s been the plan from the start. It has completely shifted the perception of the Celtics from a potential tank candidate to a contender, and that approach is expected to remain in place for the rest of the season.

By Dan Bruno, RotoWire.com

The All-Star break always complicates fantasy basketball strategy, and this season is no different. With Yahoo combining the week before and after the break into one extended scoring period, maximizing games played becomes even more critical. In this article, we'll break down the schedule to help you identify prime streaming days, teams with advantageous five-game slates and clubs with limited action that could clog your roster. We'll also spotlight squads with especially favorable matchups, highlighting where category boosts may be available. Smart roster management over this two-week stretch can be the difference between stealing a win and falling behind.

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Tuesday, Feb. 10: IND at NYK, LAC at HOU, DAL at PHX, SAS at LAL

Thursday, Feb. 12: MIL at OKC, POR at UTA, DAL at LAL

Teams with more than four games

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Hawks (5), Nets (5), Hornets (5), Bulls (5), Cavaliers (5), Nuggets (5), Pacers (5), Clippers (5), Lakers (5), Bucks (5), Knicks (5), Thunder (5), Magic (5), 76ers (5), Suns (5), Trail Blazers (5)

Teams with fewer than four games

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

Raptors (3), Celtics (3)

Top teams to target based on favorable matchups

Cavaliers

at Nuggets, vs. Wizards, vs. Nets, at Hornets, at Thunder

The new-look Cavaliers have a great chance to build some momentum through the next couple of weeks. The stretch will begin and end with a couple formidable challenges, which will be perfect chances for the team to calibrate where they stand. First, they take on the Nuggets, who, with Nikola Jokić back in the lineup, will be a tough foe. However, the Nuggets give up the league's fifth-most three-pointers per game to opposing shooting guards, providing a window for Donovan Mitchell to build off the momentum from his last couple of outings.

Moving on, the Cavs clash with the Wizards, who give up the league's second-most points and third-most turnovers per game, followed by a meeting with the Nets, whogive up the league's highest field-goal percentage and seventh-most turnovers per game. Both matchups provide ideal low-resistance opportunities for the squad to test their schemes and work on establishing a new rhythm while integrating James Harden into the offense.

Up next, an encounter with the Hornets, who have been balling lately but also give up the league's seventh-highest 3-point shooting percentage and fifth-most turnovers per game. Harden and Mitchell should once again be able to excel in the matchup, while guys like Dennis Schröder and Sam Merrill could also stand out from long range. Finally, the Cavs wrap the week against the Thunder, who sit first in the West but are just 5-5 in their last 10 games heading into Week 17. This will be a perfect chance for the Cavs to see how they measure up against top-tier competition and another game where Merrill could be an X-Factor, as the Thunder give up the league's second-most 3-pointers per game to opposing small forwards. 

Nets

vs. Bulls, vs. Pacers, at Cavaliers, at Thunder, at Hawks 

The Nets begin their week against the Bulls, who give up the league's fifth-most points per game along with the eighth-highest field-goal percentage, including the fourth-highest 3-point shooting percentage.

Up next, they clash with the Pacers, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game along with the fifth-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the second-most free throws, fourth-most rebounds and second-most points in the paint per game. Both matchups should allow plenty of room for the Nets' rotation players to prosper, as the squad continues to forge ahead with development as their main focus, with guys like Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf in line to see notable playing time.

From there, the Nets will have their work cut out in back-to-back games against the Cavaliers and Thunder.However, they have a good chance to make up some ground from downtown, as the Cavs give up the league's second-highest 3-point shooting percentage, and the Thunder give up the league's fourth-most 3-pointers per game, along with the fifth-highest 3-point shooting percentage, an area where Egor Dёmin has shown that he can excel. The Thunder also give up the league's seventh-most rebounds per game, which leaves room for Nic Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe to stand out.

Lastly, the Nets close their five-game stretch against the Hawks, whogive up the league's seventh-most points per game, including the third-most points per game to opposing small forwards and the fourth-most points to opposing power forwards. 

Pacers

at Knicks, at Nets, at Wizards, at Wizards, vs. Mavericks 

The Pacers kick off Week 17 against the Knicks,who enter the week 9-1 in their last 10 games.One of the best chances they will have to put up a competitive fight in the matchup will be to make the most of the opportunities from long range, as the Knicks  give up the league's eighth-most 3-pointers per game, which means the squad's 3-point leaders, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, will be key factors.

Up next, a much more winnable game in a meeting with the Nets, whogive up the league's highest 3-point shooting percentage and sixth-most points in the paint per game. This matchup suits Jay Huff and Pascal Siakam very well, as both big men have a proven ability to score inside and out.

Moving ahead are back-to-back encounters with the Wizards, who give up the league's fourth-most free throws, most rebounds and fifth-most points in the paint per game, before the Pacers then close their week against the Mavericks, whogive up the league's third-most rebounds and most points in the paint per game. All three matchups once again put the spotlight on the Pacers' frontcourt and will likely be ideal grounds for Jarace Walker to continue to step up with his well-rounded play. 

76ers

at Trail Blazers, vs. Knicks, vs. Hawks, at Pelicans, at Timberwolves 

The 76ers begin with a matchup against the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's eighth-most points and most turnovers per game, suggesting VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre are prime candidates to pad their stats on the defensive end. Up next, a tougher challenge against the Knicks, followed by a clash with the Hawks, who give up the league's fifth-most rebounds and seventh-most points in the paint per game, providing a good chance for Dominick Barlow to keep up his strong play.

Moving on, the 76ers meet with the Pelicans, who give up the league's third-most points per game along with the seventh-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the second-most 3-pointers and sixth-most rebounds per game.

Lastly, an encounter with the Timberwolves, who will certainly pose a significant challenge but should also provide the opportunity for guys to pad their stats from the foul line, as they give up the league's seventh-most free throws per game.

Indiana Pacers (13-40, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (34-19, second in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana looks to end its four-game losing streak with a win against New York.

The Knicks are 23-12 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks second in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 46.2 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns paces the Knicks with 11.9 boards.

The Pacers have gone 9-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana allows 118.5 points to opponents and has been outscored by 7.9 points per game.

The Knicks average 117.3 points per game, 1.2 fewer points than the 118.5 the Pacers allow. The Pacers are shooting 44.7% from the field, 1.2% lower than the 45.9% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 19 the Knicks won 114-113 led by 25 points from Jalen Brunson, while Andrew Nembhard scored 31 points for the Pacers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mikal Bridges is scoring 15.7 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 23.6 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 9-1, averaging 115.0 points, 47.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 98.6 points per game.

Pacers: 3-7, averaging 112.2 points, 42.3 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Kobe Brown: out (not injury related ).

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

Utah Jazz (16-37, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (28-26, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Heat -8.5; over/under is 244.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Jazz take on the Miami Heat in a non-conference matchup.

The Heat are 16-10 in home games. Miami ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 28.7 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.1.

The Jazz are 6-20 on the road. Utah is 4-7 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Heat average 119.7 points per game, 7.0 fewer points than the 126.7 the Jazz give up. The Jazz are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 45.9% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won 147-116 in the last meeting on Jan. 25. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 26 points, and Brice Sensabaugh led the Jazz with 23 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is scoring 18.2 points per game with 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Heat. Norman Powell is averaging 13.5 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 41.1% over the past 10 games.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is scoring 19.3 points per game and averaging 5.7 rebounds for the Jazz. Sensabaugh is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 5-5, averaging 120.3 points, 51.6 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 10.4 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points per game.

Jazz: 2-8, averaging 114.5 points, 43.0 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.9 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Norman Powell: day to day (back), Tyler Herro: out (ribs), Pelle Larsson: out (elbow).

Jazz: Keyonte George: out (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

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

Los Angeles Clippers (25-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (32-19, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Houston Rockets after Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points in the Clippers' 115-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Rockets are 18-15 against Western Conference opponents. Houston is second in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing only 110.0 points while holding opponents to 45.9% shooting.

The Clippers have gone 15-15 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 15-18 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Rockets average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 fewer makes per game than the Clippers give up (13.5). The Clippers average 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Rockets allow.

The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 24 the Clippers won 128-108 led by 41 points from Leonard, while Kevin Durant scored 22 points for the Rockets.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Rockets. Durant is averaging 23.5 points over the last 10 games.

Leonard is scoring 28.0 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Clippers. John Collins is averaging 17.0 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 62.3% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 107.7 points, 47.9 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 10.9 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points per game.

Clippers: 6-4, averaging 112.2 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: day to day (wrist), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin: out (not injury related), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: day to day (illness), Darius Garland: out (toe), Isaiah Jackson: out (not injury related).

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

Dallas Mavericks (19-33, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (31-22, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas aims to stop its seven-game skid with a win against Phoenix.

The Suns are 21-15 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix has a 14-17 record against teams over .500.

The Mavericks are 11-23 against conference opponents. Dallas gives up 117.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.0 points per game.

The Suns are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points lower than the 46.5% the Mavericks allow to opponents. The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 46.8% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Suns won 123-114 in the last matchup on Nov. 13.

TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.6 points and 4.7 assists for the Suns. Dillon Brooks is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games.

P.J. Washington is scoring 14.1 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds for the Mavericks. Cooper Flagg is averaging 22.0 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 109.0 points, 41.9 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 9.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points per game.

Mavericks: 3-7, averaging 116.6 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.3 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Isaiah Livers: day to day (shoulder), Cole Anthony: day to day (not injury related), Grayson Allen: day to day (knee).

Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Khris Middleton: day to day (not injury related), Kyrie Irving: out (knee).

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

BOSTON — Knicks veteran Jordan Clarkson went profane at a fan on Twitter and reminded another about his lack of minutes.

“Get my d–k out ya mouth pls,” Clarkson replied to a fan who was calling for Tyler Kolek to win back minutes because “CLARKSON DON’T WANT IT.”

To another fan who asked for Bulls guard Collin Sexton to join the Knicks because “imagine him with Clarkson minutes,” Clarkson replied on the social media platform, “stop saying my minutes i never had minutes. …”

Clarkson, 33, who signed as a free agent in the summer, is averaging career lows in minutes, points and shot attempts. 

Even with Miles McBride out for the remainder of the regular season, the acquisition of Jose Alvarado means Clarkson could still play sparingly.

He played just 7 ½ minutes in Sunday’s win over the Celtics. 

“For me, it’s just been fluctuation of play, really. In and out the lineups. DNPs,” said Clarkson, who had four healthy DNPs since late January, told The Post recently. “Sometimes you’re getting five minutes in the game, here and there. But it’s a whole new process for me, and a new role. Offensively and defensively. 

“They’re asking me to do things defensively as well. And then offensively, I got to figure it out and make stuff out of what comes in the offense in terms of opportunities. It’s not like I’m featured in the offense or anything. I’m playing hard, I’m crashing the glass, figuring out different things – little things to be effective on that end. So it’s a whole new thing for me. But I’ll continue to be a pro and stay in the gym and working on my craft and keep it going.”

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Italy’s 45-year wait ended in a disappointing 73-run defeat against Scotland at the T20 World Cup on Monday, with captain Wayne Madsen dislocating his shoulder inside the first six overs of Group C game.

Italy, where the sport’s national federation was formed in 1980, crashed to 137 all out in 16.4 overs as Madsen didn’t take further part in the historic game after damaging his left shoulder while attempting a catch at mid-wicket.

There was some silver lining in Italy’s maiden appearance in a major global tournament when Benjamin Manenti scored 52 off 31. Benjamin and his brother Harry (37) briefly threatened the tall target with a 73-run stand before both fell in successive overs and Italy lost the last six wickets for 21 runs.

Opening batter George Munsey’s blazing knock of 84 off 54 balls, which featured 13 fours and two sixes, had led Scotland to 207-4 — the highest-ever total by an associate nation in the tournament — after Madsen won the toss and elected to chase.

“I imagine everyone will be flat in the dressing room and disappointed,” vice-captain Harry Manenti said. “We wanted to show the world what we have. We get another chance in a few days’ time and hopefully we can bounce back.”

Munsey was the star for Scotland and also held four catches, including a brilliant low catch at point to dismiss opener Justin Mosca off the first ball before Italy succumbed to off-spinner Michael Leask, who finished with an impressive 4-17.

Under-prepared Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh, lost to the West Indies at the same venue in its first game, but came back strongly to get its first points in the tournament.

Scotland originally missed out after losing to Italy in the qualifiers, but was drafted in late as a replacement for Bangladesh in Group C. The ICC rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to shift its games from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.

Munsey set the tempo of a strong total with the first century partnership of the tournament and added 126 runs with his opening partner Michael Jones (37).

Munsey missed out on a deserved century and threw his bat in the air in frustration when he holed out at long on in the 14th over to fast bowler Grant Stewart (1-44).

Brandon McMullen then hit a brisk 41 off 18 balls and Leask gave a perfect finish with 22 off just five balls, hitting two fours and two sixes in the final over.

“Really important for us to bounce back strong,” Scotland captain Richie Berrington said. “It was a comprehensive win but had to work hard for it … we will enjoy this win and then we will start preparing for the game against England.”

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field against Oman in Group B at Colombo, and later in the night game 2024 runner-up South Africa played Canada at Ahmedabad.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Lakers (32-19) aim to extend their winning streak to four when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-13) on Monday. This is the second match-up between the two teams this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 7 p.m. PT, Feb. 9

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Peacock

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The Lakers have three more games to play before taking a well-deserved break during All-Star weekend. The catch is that two of the teams they’re facing are sitting in first and second place in the Western Conference, which should be a good test for the purple and gold.

Visiting the Lakers on Monday is a Thunder team that is currently on a two-game losing streak and has lost five of its last 10 games. This may sound surprising since OKC has pretty much been the best team in basketball for two straight seasons now but this year, they haven’t been as unstoppable. One reason is that they haven’t been healthy with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now nursing an abdominal strain.

With SGA and Luka Dončić out, the dynamic of this matchup obviously changes. Jalen Williams — who missed the last 10 games — will be returning on Monday and he’s too good of a player not to make an impact right away. Expect him to get a ton of touches alongside Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams. The Thunder are still a really good offensive and defensive team even without their best player.

One of, perhaps, OKC’s strongest assets is their perimeter defense, which will be a huge test for the Austin Reaves and L.A.’s ball handlers. With Dončić out, there’s been an uptick of touches for the role players like Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Marcus Smart and even Luke Kennard in the last game. It’s important that they continue to make the most of those opportunities because that’s the best way to make up for Dončić‘s absence. This game will be about which role players show up and deliver for their corresponding teams.

Ultimately, it’s a game that the Lakers must take advantage of, especially since SGA isn’t going to suit up. It’ll be nice to not only keep the winning streak going but continue to further improve their record against teams above .500. It’ll also be ideal to head into the All-Star break on a strong note so they can build off that after. Let’s see if the Lakers can beat the Thunder on Monday.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) is listed as probable.
• Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are out.
• Shai Gilgerous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgery) and Nikola Topic (surgical recovery) are out.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

You love NBA free agency and trades. I love NBA free agency and trades. We all do. Sickos like me love it so much that we delve into legal documents to figure out exactly what is permitted and what isn’t. But all of us want all the information about the team-building options available to our favorite franchises at our fingertips whenever we need them.

With that in mind, SB Nation has partnered with SalarySwish, and alongside their data we attempt to answer every single question you could possibly have about the Bucks’ financial situation. Questions about the first or second apron and the Bucks’ relationship to them? How few draft picks do they have available to trade? How much money is on the books after next summer? The answers are here, and it’s an updating, living, and breathing document with all relevant context as the Bucks move ahead. I recommend you bookmark this page to keep up with all the latest changes!

Bucks Roster, Salaries, Draft Picks, Cap Space & More

Here is a table with all of the Bucks’ salary information, courtesy of our friends at SalarySwish:

That’s a lot to swallow, so let’s dive into a few key pieces and what they mean, which could answer any questions that pop into your head while reading.

Do the Bucks have any cap room? If not, when will they?

No, though they did create some last July to accommodate the four-year, $108.9m contract for Myles Turner by waiving Damian Lillard, among other moves. If every Buck with a player option in the summer of 2026 declines them (unlikely), the team could potentially create cap room by renouncing these players’ rights (even more unlikely), but it wouldn’t be enough to sign a player for more than $3m. Barring that, they project to have room in the summer of 2027, when their only guaranteed contracts will be for Turner, AJ Green, Giannis, Ryan Rollins, and Bobby Portis—should the latter three exercise their player options—plus potentially the player they take in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. But it would likely not be more than $20m in space.

Can the Bucks use the mid-level exception or bi-annual exception this year? Do they have any trade exceptions?

Since the Bucks conjured up some cap room to sign Turner, they lost the right to use the full $14.1m mid-level exception and the $5.1m bi-annual exception. Instead, they had access to a version of the MLE worth $8.8m, commonly known as the room exception. They used part of that exception to sign Kevin Porter Jr. to a new deal worth $5.1m, so they have about $3.6m remaining on it for the remainder of the league year, but the number begins prorating down in January. Milwaukee previously had four trade exceptions, all of which would have expired in February 2026, including one for $7.2m generated in February’s trade with Washington and New York. However, creating cap space also sacrificed those.

Are the Bucks over the first or second apron above the luxury tax?

For 2025–26, they are currently $11.8m beneath the first apron and $23.7m beneath the second apron, so they face none of the restrictions associated with being above either. The Bucks have $181.3m guaranteed for 15 players, including Lillard’s stretched salary at $22.5m (this will be reduced to $20.2m due to his new contract in Portland, but not until season’s end), Vasilije Micić’s stretched salary of $667k after he too was bought out, plus $6.3m in dead money due to waiving Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith, and Nigel Hayes-Davis. They are currently operating as an over-the-cap team, facing all the restrictions that come with having no remaining cap space. In 2024–25, they finished about $7.8m over the first apron but about $3m under the second apron, where they were hard-capped.

Are the Bucks paying the luxury tax? If so, how much is their bill?

In 2025–26, their $181.3m currently on the books leaves them $6.5m below the $187.9m tax threshold. Reports indicate that ownership doesn’t want to pay the tax this season, but the bill isn’t calculated until the day the regular season ends next April. It is essentially impossible for them to add enough salary during the remainder of the season to cross the tax line.

Will the Bucks be beneath the first or second apron next year?

Doing so would mean that Milwaukee would become a taxpayer again in 2026–27. If a team pays the tax in three of any four consecutive seasons, they are subject to more punitive repeater penalties. Should they remain below the tax threshold again in 2026–27, they would then reset that clock and could finish above it in 2027–28 without facing those penalties, since at that point, they would have only paid luxury tax in two of the prior four seasons (2024–25 included). So it seems likely that they will avoid being taxpayers in 2026–27, and thus not contend with either apron.

Are the Bucks hard-capped?

Yes. At the deadline, the Bucks traded away about $4.6m worth of salary in the form of Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, receiving the combined salaries of Ousmane Dieng and Nigel Hayes-Davis in return, about $8.7m. Using Anthony and Coffey’s salaries to take back more money in return triggers a hard cap at the first apron. This means their “apron salary” (all guaranteed money plus any unlikely benefits written into contracts) cannot cross $195.9m under any circumstances. You can read more here about what causes teams to become hard-capped.

What draft picks can the Bucks currently trade?

The Bucks may trade their own first-round picks in the 2031 and 2032 NBA Drafts, but no others. If one of those two is traded, the other could only be dealt as a pick swap, since the NBA’s Stepien rule prevents teams from going without a first in consecutive drafts. While they control firsts in the 2026, 2028, and 2030 drafts, meaning they will be able to draft a player in those years, the selections themselves are encumbered by swaps. They therefore cannot be traded, only re-swapped, as occurred in last February’s Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma deal. The only second-round pick the Bucks currently possess and can trade is Utah’s top-55 protected 2026 second.

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Updated February 14, 2026.