Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo ripped the NCAA's decision to grant former NBA draft pick James Nnaji immediate eligibility at Baylor.
Bucks list Antetokounmpo as questionable for Saturday’s game as he nears return from calf strain
CHICAGO — Giannis Antetokounmpo may be on the verge of returning from the right calf strain that has kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ last eight games.
The Bucks issued an injury report that listed Antetokounmpo as questionable for Saturday’s game at Chicago rather than ruling him out entirely.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.
“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”
The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.
Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.
Russell Westbrook not considering retirement after new milestones in Kings' win
Russell Westbrook not considering retirement after new milestones in Kings' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – It seems almost every time an NBA discussion involves Stephen Curry or LeBron James, inevitably their age gets brought up. Seems reasonable enough considering what the two superstars are doing at this stage of their respective careers.
At 37 years old and in his first season with the Kings, Russell Westbrook also is showing he still can get it done at a high level, though his age is rarely brought up.
Retirement is not something the nine-time NBA All-Star is even remotely considering.
“I just take it day by day,” Westbrook said after Sacramento’s 113-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at Golden 1 Center. “I make sure I take care of my body and make sure I’m able to play at a high level. And then I’ll keep going until I feel like I had enough.”
Clearly Westbrook hasn’t had enough.
Now in his 18th NBA season, Westbrook is doing the same things he’s always done. The Kings are his seventh team in eight seasons, and he’s playing at times like he’s still in his 20s.
Against the Mavericks, Westbrook slipped past the great Magic Johnson into seventh place on the NBA career assist list and inched closer to moving past Dominique Wilkins on the all-time scoring list.
Whenever he does decide to call it quits, Westbrook is guaranteed an invitation into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That’s unquestioned.
Until then, though, the mercurial point guard wants to keep cooking like he always has.
Westbrook grew up watching Johnson work his own magic on the court, so to pass the Hall of Famer in any statistical category was kind of mind-boggling.
“Before I speak and say anything, I’m truly blessed and thankful to the man above for just allowing me and gifting me with the time to go out and play basketball,” Westbrook said. “As for passing Magic … it’s an honor. Magic is one of the greats. I’m grateful to be able to pass him just because he’s such a legend in so many different ways.”
Ironically, Westbrook as become a legend in a sport that wasn’t even his first love.
“I grew up wanting to play football,” Westbrook said. “I grew up playing football, taking a bus, going to the park, playing just being a normal kid in the city. And things happened so fast to me. I always knew if given the opportunity to be able to be somebody, I would take full advantage of it. That’s why every time I step on the floor, I don’t take anything for granted. I don’t take plays or anything for granted.
“This was given to me, not just for basketball, but to use as a platform to be able to help and inspire other people. So I hope the way I play the game, I hope the way people see it be competing. Yes, the records are all great, but I hope it inspires other people, people across the world, to do great things in their lives as well.”
Westbrook clearly is comfortable in the state capital. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists with four triple-doubles in Sacramento’s first 30 games.
Against the Mavericks, he was in vintage form with 21 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Westbrook also recorded the 2,000th steal of his career, one of 14 players in NBA history to reach that plateau.
Kings coach Doug Christie didn’t sound very surprised considering the work ethic that Westbrook has shown during his time in Sacramento.
“He gets in, he gets his work when you see him at practice, but he also comes back at nighttime,” Christie said. “That’s how you get to be that great. He truly believes in himself. He works his butt off, on his game and on his body. He watches film like he does.
“He’s a pro. He wants to win more than anything, and that’s where you see that nastiness at and I’m all for it. His ability to go out on a night-to-night basis and compete the way that he does just says so much about him as a professional. And I think that his teammates also really, really respect that.”
Westbrook owns the record for most triple-doubles – currently with 207, with the great Oscar Robertson next with 181 – and is getting closer to moving ahead of the Big O as the NBA’s top-scoring point guard. Robertson has the top spot with 26,710 while Westbrook is closing in quickly with 26,659.
There’s a good chance that record will be broken this season. If not, Christie is all in favor for bringing Westbrook back for another run for the 2026-27 NBA season.
“I’m a big fan,” Christie said. “I hope that he’s here because I think everything that he stands for, how he goes about his business, for our young players, as we build this thing out, is super, super important. The competitiveness, the anger after a loss … the things that they see with him are really good, so it’s an honor and a blessing to have him.”
What we learned as Russell Westbrook, Keon Ellis power Kings' win vs. Mavericks
What we learned as Russell Westbrook, Keon Ellis power Kings' win vs. Mavericks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – The Kings have been playing a lot like the weather lately. Gloomy, depressing and not much reason to go outside.
The sun broke through the clouds Saturday, and ironically or not, the Kings followed suit and lit up the Mavericks, dropping a 113-107 hammer on Dallas at Golden 1 Center.
Russell Westbrook led the way with another monster game (21 points, five rebounds, nine assists). Keon Ellis, back in the starting rotation for the first time in two months, added 21 points with five 3-pointers. Maxime Raynaud had 19 points and six rebounds.
The Kings only trailed once in the first half and went on a 20-10 run in the third quarter after the Mavericks pulled within 68-60. Ellis made a pair of threes and scored eight points as part of the run.
The win was Sacramento’s fourth straight over Dallas and upped Doug Christie’s record to 35-48 since taking over as coach when Mike Brown was fired last season.
Coincidentally, Christie’s first win for the Kings came against the Mavericks nearly a year ago to the day, with De’Aaron Fox leading the way with 33 points.
Fox is gone, but the Kings’ backcourt once again proved too much for the Mavs to handle.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday:
Russ Chasing Milestones
Westbrook already was one of the greatest point guards in NBA history before signing with the Kings, and the 37-year-old added another layer to his Hall of Fame resume in front of the G1C crowd Saturday.
Westbrook surpassed legendary Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson (10,141) for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time assist list. Westbrook now has 10,149 career assists.
Westbrook also inched closer to another historical milestone and is now nine points shy of tying Dominique Wilkins (26,668) for 16th all-time.
Keon Gets The Start
Keon Ellis might be the second-most popular player among Kings fans, and he got a chance to show out in front of the home crowd while making his second start of the 2025-26 NBA season and first since Oct. 26.
Ellis had a nice game (21 points on 8-of-15 shooting with three steals and two blocks), but his most impressive play might have been a running block he had against Max Christie. Christie appeared to have an open look before Ellis raced over to knock the shot away.
Ellis has had an up-and-down campaign, partially due to the way he has been used this season. It will be interesting to see what the Kings plans are for him for next season.
Raynaud, Interior D Step Up
Ever since losing Domantas Sabonis to a knee injury, the Kings have been very vulnerable when defending the paint. That changed a little bit against the Mavericks, with Raynaud providing a nice spark in the key.
Making his ninth straight start, the rookie played steady all afternoon in 27 minutes. It helped that Dallas was without Anthony Davis, but Raynaud has been making steady progress all season no matter who he has faced, although he did miss an easy bunny in the third quarter.
Given where the team is in the standings and where Sabonis is in his recovery, it would make sense for Sacramento to shut the big man down for the remainder of the schedule and give him a full offseason to heal. At the same time, that would open the door for Raynaud to get increased minutes on the court to continue his path on the learning curve.
Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel limps off court, does not play second half after rolling ankle
Kon Knueppel, the Charlotte Hornets' standout rookie, limped off the court just before the end of the first half Friday night against Orlando and did not play in the second half.
While there are no details on the injury or how much time Knueppel may miss, coach Charles Lee said postgame that his X-rays were clean. The injury occurred while leaping to contest a shot by Orlando's Desmond Bane and coming down on Bane's foot.
Kon Knueppel suffered a "right ankle injury" and will not return tonight, team says. https://t.co/PP9Dyjv5Zlpic.twitter.com/vcH59TIVFf
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) December 27, 2025
Knueppel, the No. 4 pick last June out of Duke, has been a revelation for the Hornets, averaging 19.3 points (second on the team) and 5.1 rebounds a game, shooting 42.8% from 3-point range. He has become one of the clear frontrunners for Rookie of the Year.
Even without Knueppel, the Hornets beat the Magic 120-105 behind 22 points and seven rebounds from LaMelo Ball. Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Knueppel had 16 points in the first quarter of the win. Orlando reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup but is 2-4 since.
The ascendant San Antonio Spurs are the gift the NBA needed
I’ve seen enough: Give the San Antonio Spurs the keys to Santa Claus’ workshop. Put Stephon Castle in charge of toy assembly. Let De’Aaron Fox toss presents into chimneys, from whatever range he’d like. Devin Vassell can customize the Christmas cookies. Harrison Barnes has the army of elves covered. And, of course, Santa Claus’s sleigh must immediately be resized for a taller, thinner pilot so that the towering Victor Wembanyama can drive it comfortably. The sensational Spurs have felled the Oklahoma City Thunder three times in two weeks, and in doing so revitalized this NBA season. I now have more faith in the Spurs’ ability to grant joy to the masses than any holiday legends of old.
It looked dire for a while there. The Thunder might have won the Larry O’Brien trophy in June, but began this season in even more ominous form. They reeled off 24 wins in their first 25 games (the lone loss was a fluky 20-point comeback). In most of them, Jalen Williams, their second-best player, was on the sidelines recovering from wrist surgery. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their best, seldom had to play in fourth quarters. The Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings by 31. The Los Angeles Lakers, who some expected to be a plausible rival, lost by 29; their basketball savant Luka Doncic looked like he was playing against ten men. The Phoenix Suns’ valiant first earned them a close loss, by just four points. When they met again 12 days later, the Thunder won by 49. This game knocked all the remaining leaves off the trees and started winter 10 days ahead of schedule. Oklahoma City looked capable of shredding anything in its path, even the 2016 Golden State Warriors’ legendary regular season record of 73-9.
The Thunder do not play a particularly appealing style of basketball. They skillfully exploit the referees’ dilemma over which fouls to call (a consistent whistle interrupts the flow of the game, an absent one lets players get away with blatant violations), often resulting in Gilgeous-Alexander shooting free throws after whistles that would be better swallowed, while personified mosquito swarm Alex Caruso seems to have free rein to do whatever he likes on defense. Some profess to enjoy, or admire, Gilgeous-Alexander contorting his body to draw slight bumps from defenders; I can only assume those same people also like being kicked hard between the legs. That’s not to mention man-mountain Luguentz Dort flying off his feet and into opponents after plenty of suspiciously light touches. This chicanery enables haters to harbor the fantasy that in a world with ideal officiating, the Thunder would be a mediocre team. True basketball heads know it’s far more exasperating than integral to the Thunder’s success, but the general irritation is sufficient to nudge some fans who might otherwise be neutral into rooting for Oklahoma City’s downfall.
Dominance can be coldly thrilling to watch, but a historically great performance tends to evoke less awe the more times it repeats. How many times does anybody really want to watch one team beat another by 35? Eventually you remember that the drama is the point. The Thunder were draining the season of suspense, running up leads on other teams in the table as well as on the floor.
Through 21 minutes of the first Spurs-Thunder game this season, San Antonio trailed by 16 and looked likely to go the same way as every other team. Instead, they have wrought hell upon the Thunder ever since.
Against the Spurs, the Thunder look mortal. Each member of their core deserves immense credit for that, but this is Victor Wembanyama’s team, and the Thunder know it. “There’s this guy on their team that’s seven-foot-five and takes up a lot of space on the court,” Jalen Williams said, with some exasperation, when asked what made the Spurs such a tough out. The Thunder’s professional beanpole, 7ft 1in Chet Holmgren, is the tallest player on the floor in most games, free to grab rebounds and swat down opposing shots. Next to Wemby, he’s short, crude, and even timid. Wembanyama’s contempt for Holmgren is evident in how he celebrates each time Chet misses a free throw, as though he’s won the lottery; the way he fouls him with a bit of extra venom; the way he told reporters he doesn’t consider Holmgren a rival. (There is indeed no debate over which player is better.) At this rate Holmgren must expect Wemby to burst out of the cupboard, talking smack, when he reaches up for a snack.
Wembanyama and the Spurs made their most definitive statement yet on Christmas, thumping the Thunder by 15 on their home floor. San Antonio took the inevitable early punch well yet again, recovering to pile 41 points on the league’s best defense in the first quarter. Fox effortlessly found the miniscule holes in that defense to the tune of 29 points. The Spurs even held Gilgeous-Alexander to a season-low 22. He tried to make up for it by zipping passes to open teammates behind the arc, but they let him down by bricking almost every single attempt.
A Thunder optimist would say that enough of those threes will go in next time to produce a win or a tighter loss, but I found the misses symptomatic of a flaw. Off the strength of his silky-smooth stepback jumper, Gilgeous-Alexander is the steadiest scoring engine in the league. He is difficult to guard and impossible to stop. (LeBron James recently offered some advice on how to slow him down: “you gotta keep him off the free throw line. Which is hard.”) But even he can’t carry an offense entirely on his own. The Spurs put Gilgeous-Alexander under enough pressure that he had to delegate more than usual, and his supporting parts broke down under the heavier burden. Caruso and Dort are good for the occasional three-pointer, but relying on them to hit the long shot is the last place the Thunder want to be.
The Spurs’ surge couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only have they emphatically established themselves as title contenders – some say they’re too young, and inexperience has indeed undone plenty of fabulous teams in the playoffs, but the 23-7 Spurs aren’t contenders, hardly anyone is – but they’ve allowed fans to see the Thunder in higher definition other teams couldn’t come close to revealing. Oklahoma City, potentially the best team in history two weeks ago, is merely exceptional. If you take Gilgeous-Alexander’s word for it, the Spurs are better right now. 74-8 is off the table. With the Spurs just two and a half games behind, OKC has its hands full just holding onto its lead in the Western Conference. Even if only against one team, the Thunder have assumed the unfamiliar role of chaser, trying to solve a squad who torments them the way they torment so many others. In their newfound vulnerability, the Thunder are a little easier to enjoy and a little harder to hate. And any future wins against the Spurs will be a lot more meaningful.
They’ll get a few, maybe (or probably, but it’s thanks to the Spurs that choosing a word is difficult) as soon as this season. The Thunder are too good to stay down for long. When they rise the Spurs will eventually have to make their own adjustments. How’s this for terrifying: Wemby’s probably still a few years out from his peak. Christmases and NBA seasons can blend together, with only the most meaningful sticking out in the memory years later. Whatever happens next, the Spurs have given me enough reason to look back on these ones and smile.
Keegan Murray diagnosed with mild calf strain, to miss more time for Kings
Keegan Murray diagnosed with mild calf strain, to miss more time for Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After missing the first 15 games of the season with a UCL injury, Keegan Murray again will be sidelined for the Kings.
The young forward underwent MRI imaging on his right calf after exiting Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons early, and imaging revealed Murray has a mild calf strain.
He will be listed as out and re-evaluated in one week.
The one-week timeframe will put Murray out for at least the Kings’ games against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and likely the Boston Celtics next Thursday.
Murray, while maintaining his defensive dominance, has struggled to find a consistent rhythm offensively since returning from his thumb injury.
In 15 games this season, he’s averaging 14.9 points on 43.8-percent shooting from the field and 26.3 percent from 3-point range, with 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 37.1 minutes.
The Kings (7-23) now must rely on the next man to step up in Murray’s absence.
Lakers' Austin Reaves diagnosed with Grade 2 calf strain, will be re-evaluated in four weeks
JJ Redick may be about to get a lot more frustrated.
Austin Reaves, the Lakers' second-leading scorer, has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain — a calf strain — and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced. With that timeline, he will miss at least the next 14 games. The injury happened on Christmas Day, when he did not play the second half in a loss to the Rockets because of it. This reportedly is separate from the calf strain that cost him three games earlier in the month.
Reaves has been playing at an All-Star level, averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game this season, shooting 36.5% from 3-point range. He has proven he can carry the offense for a stretch when Luka Doncic is out.
This season, the Lakers outscore opponents by 3.1 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court and get outscored by 5.6 per 100 while he is off. With him out, more playmaking duties will fall to LeBron James and backup guards such as Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
The Lakers have lost three straight games, the last two by 20+ points to Houston on Christmas Day and Phoenix before that. The Lakers have gone 2-4 in their previous six games, with the worst defense in the league over that stretch. Reaves is a member of four of the five most-used Lakers lineups.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves out for at least a month because of calf injury
Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss at least a month with a grade 2 strain in his left calf, the team announced Friday, one day after he left the game against the Houston Rockets at halftime.
Reaves, averaging career highs in points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2), had already missed three games with what the team called a “mild” calf strain. He returned off the bench while playing on a minutes restriction against Phoenix on Dec. 23 and reprised his starting role on Christmas Day in a loss to the Rockets. But after scoring 12 points in 15 minutes in the first half, he was ruled out for the second half with “left calf soreness.”
Calf injuries have been major concerns across the NBA since three stars — Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum — suffered Achilles tears during last year’s playoffs. Haliburton and Lillard have previously dealt with calf injuries.
Lakers star guard Luka Doncic suffered a calf injury on Christmas Day last year while with the Dallas Mavericks and missed two months, during which he was traded to the Lakers.
“I know how it is to go to a calf injury. It's not fun at all,” Doncic said Thursday after the game. “[I’ll] just be there to support him. Take your time. Calves are dangerous so take your time.”
The Lakers (19-10) are losing their second-leading scorer at a critical time of the season. They have lost three consecutive games, their only losing streak of the season, and their defense in the last 15 games has been among the worst in the league.
Read more:'We don’t have it right now.' Takeaways from the Lakers' third straight loss
After the third consecutive blowout loss, coach JJ Redick questioned how much his players cared. He promised an “uncomfortable” film session and team meeting at practice on Saturday before the Lakers face Sacramento at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.
After a difficult stretch of the schedule that included eight out of 10 games against teams with winning records, the Lakers have four of their next five against teams in the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Outside of a home game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies (on Jan. 2 and 4) and at New Orleans on Jan. 6.
Reaves’ absence could extend until the beginning of the Lakers’ Grammy road trip that begins on Jan. 20 against Denver.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Frustrated Lakers coach JJ Redick: 'We don't care enough right now'
On Christmas Day the Lakers dropped their third straight game, an ugly 23-point loss to the Houston Rockets. That comes on the heels of a 24-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers are 2-4 in their last six with the worst defense in the NBA in that stretch with a -10.9 net rating in that stretch.
After the game, a frustrated JJ Redick vented at his team, with quotes via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
"We don't care enough right now," Redick said. "And that's the part that bothers you a lot. We don't care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don't care enough to be a professional...
"Saturday's practice — I told the guys — it's going to be uncomfortable," Redick said. "The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I'm not doing another 53 games like this."
Redick made similar comments after the loss to the Suns days earlier, saying of his team's defense, "It comes down to just making the choice. It's making the choice."
Three quick thoughts.
1) It's understandable that Redick is frustrated with the losing and the play of his team lately. Lakers fans are, too. He's understandably frustrated with the athleticism gap between his team and some of the other top six teams in the West — such as Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City — but that is less about effort and more about the roster's construction. This is a team that waived Jordan Goodwin to clear roster space for veteran Marcus Smart, and Goodwin goes to Phoenix and thrives on an athletic roster.
2) The idea that the Lakers' biggest issue is just needing to play harder — "We don't care enough" or "it's making a choice" — both feels slightly outdated in today's high-paced NBA and is not going to play well in the locker room long-term. The "we just have to play harder" card is one a coach can only pull out once or twice a season, and Redick has pulled it out twice in the last week.
3) The Lakers roster was clearly going to struggle defensively even before the season tipped off — playing Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves (who is expected to miss time with calf soreness) and about-to-turn 41 LeBron James together was always going to be an issue. Dallas, a couple of years ago, showed the model for winning and reaching the NBA Finals with Luka Doncic — surrounding him with shooting, athleticism and defense — and the Lakers have not built to that model.
Redick isn't wrong trying to push his players, but the Lakers are what they are built to be. Redick can shift things around, but at the end of the game these are the cards he's been dealt. Welcome to coaching in the NBA.
Observations after Sixers falter down stretch, open road trip with loss to Bulls
Observations after Sixers falter down stretch, open road trip with loss to Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers were thoroughly outplayed in crunch time Friday night in Chicago.
They kicked off a five-game road trip by faltering late in the fourth quarter and dropping a 109-102 contest to the Bulls.
Chicago extended its winning streak to five games and moved to 15-15 overall. The Sixers dipped to 16-13. They’ll face the Thunder on Sunday afternoon.
Joel Embiid scored 31 points and Tyrese Maxey added 27.
The Bulls had six double-figure scorers. Zach Collins and Tre Jones posted 15 points each.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ loss to the Bulls:
Three key pieces back in action
VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow and Quentin Grimes were back in the fold after all three players missed the Sixers’ loss Tuesday to Nets because of an illness.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse had highlighted that his team felt the absence of that trio’s considerable collective athleticism. Their boost was noticeable right away in Chicago.
Edgecombe opened the game guarding Josh Giddey and Barlow defended Matas Buzelis. Both Edgecombe and Barlow featured in the Sixers’ strong start. Barlow had an early put-back layup and Edgecombe turned a steal into an easy slam. Two free throws apiece by Edgecombe and Barlow gave the Sixers a 13-2 lead.
Grimes scored a slick bucket on the Sixers’ last possession of the first quarter, gliding along the baseline and converting a graceful reverse layup.
Boards help Sixers offset more shooting troubles
Maxey sunk a long-range jumper for the night’s first points. He was coming off of his worst shooting game of the season, a 3-for-14 outing vs. Brooklyn.
Seeing one drop didn’t spell an immediate return to form; Maxey missed his next six field goals. As a team, the Sixers started 1 for 13 beyond the arc.
Their early superiority on the glass mitigated those shooting struggles. The Sixers grabbed the game’s first six offensive rebounds and scored the first nine second-chance points. Paul George reached a new season high in rebounds by the end of the first half. He finished with 12 rebounds — his most in a game since 2021
— and also tallied 15 points on 5-for-15 shooting and five assists.
The Sixers have improved substantially on the offensive boards so far this season. According to Cleaning the Glass, they entered Friday night ranked eighth in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate.
Bulls dominate off the bench, down the stretch
With Maxey, George and Embiid all sitting, the Sixers’ defense was very leaky in the first few minutes of the second quarter. Chicago routinely had the Sixers on their heels and created high-quality looks in the half court with little resistance. Ayo Dosunmu’s wide-open corner three put the Bulls up 41-30.
The Sixers’ stars prevented that deficit from growing.
Embiid had another efficient, aggressive first quarter offensively and also churned out plenty of points in the second and third. Maxey eventually rediscovered his jumper to some extent, knocking down five threes. He wound up 9 for 24 from the field.
Chicago leaned heavily on its bench and got a ton of production. The Bulls’ second unit racked up 59 points. On the other side, Nurse tried a variety of bench options and ultimately used 11 players. No Sixers bench player did much in the scoring department. Overall, the team’s second unit had just 12 points on 5-for-19 shooting.
The Sixers and Bulls traded runs throughout the night. Thanks to threes from George and Maxey late in the third quarter, the Sixers held an 85-81 edge going into the fourth.
Like so many Sixers games this year, the contest came down to the final minutes. The Sixers went up 102-99 with 2:45 to play when Embiid scored on Nikola Vucevic in the post.
The Bulls then closed the evening with a 10-0 spurt, making all the clutch plays and out-hustling the Sixers on several occasions.
Jalen Smith jammed in a huge dunk over Embiid and Coby White nailed a step-back three on the Sixers’ superstar big man. Jones scored inside after the 6-foot-1 guard somehow snagged two offensive boards on one possession.
Offensively, the Sixers appeared rushed and panicky at times as Chicago seized control of the game. No one had any answers to stop the bleeding.
2025-26 NBA MVP Ladder, Race, Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Nikola Jokic overtaking SGA
The NBA's MVP race has a new leader in the clubhouse, and it's a familiar face, Nikola Jokic. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City lost to San Antonio on Christmas Day, marking a third-straight loss to the Spurs, and Denver's epic OT win on the back of Jokic's record-breaking Christmas performance — it's quite easy to see why the odds have shifted.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Vaughn Dalzell‘s Week 10 MVP Rankings
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+120)
Points Per Game: 29.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.1 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.1 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)
We have a new No. 1 in the building and no surprise, it's Nikola Jokic! His stock has been trending alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's as the No. 2 option all season long and it will likely go back-and-forth a few more times. However, this is Jokic's time to be the leader.
The Joker went bananas with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 142-138 OT win versus Minnesota on Christmas Day. Denver won that game despite being down three starters and what's more impressive was Jokic scoring 18 points in OT! Those 18 OT points broke Steph Curry's record of 17 points in 2016.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+125)
Points Per Game: 32.1 (2nd)
Assists Per Game: 6.5 (17th)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.9 RPG (89th)
Assists Per Game: 6.5 (17th)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.9 RPG (89th)
The Thunder have dropped back-to-back games for the first time all season, plus lost three of the past four, and are 2-4 over the previous six. Nothing has gone right for the Thunder, especially if it includes the Spurs who beat them three times over the last six games.
It's hard to defend the Thunder as the best team right now or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the rightful MVP favorite. SGA is still playing at an extremely high level, scoring 30 points in four of the past five, shooting at ridiculous clips, but the winning hasn't come lately, so the door is open for Nikola Jokic and Denver.
3. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+700)
Points Per Game: 33.7 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 8.7 (4th)
Rebounds Per Game: 8.5 (20th)
Assists Per Game: 8.7 (4th)
Rebounds Per Game: 8.5 (20th)
Luka Doncic has missed three games in December, but balled out in the other seven. Doncic is averaging 30.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in December. but scored 12 and 25 points in the past two.
Los Angeles has lost the past two with Doncic and three games overall. The offense has suffered one of its worst stretches of the season, ranking 27th in offensive rating over the last three and 15th in all of December.
4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (+8000)
Points Per Game: 26.4 (12th)
Rebounds Per Game: 6.4 (T-46th)
Assists Per Game: 9.4 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 6.4 (T-46th)
Assists Per Game: 9.4 (2nd)
Over the last two weeks, Cade Cunningham's odds shifted negatively from +5500 to +8000 due to his low scoring output. Cunningham averaged 22.2 points in December, which is a monthly-low on the season, but did post 9.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. Through those 10 games, Detroit has gone 8-2 in that span and still leads the Eastern Conference with a 24-6 record.
5. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (+15000)
Points Per Game: 29.3 (8th)
Rebounds Per Game: 3.3 (150th+)
Assists Per Game: 6.5 (16th)
Rebounds Per Game: 3.3 (150th+)
Assists Per Game: 6.5 (16th)
Jalen Brunson is about to close off a strong December. The Knicks star has averaged 30.7 points, 6.9 assists and shot 47.9% from the field and 39.8% from deep through 11 games. New York's December will be remembered for their cup win over San Antonio, who beat Oklahoma City to get there. The Knicks have solidified themselves as a top two team in the East (No. 1 for me).
Stock Up
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+120)
Points Per Game: 29.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.1 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.1 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)
Nikola Jokic did everything he could to boost his stock on Christmas Day and it worked. Jokic has overtaken Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time at all sports books, and while it's only a $5 difference between a $100 bet — a lead is a lead.
Starting on Dec. 27, Denver goes on a seven-game road trip that ends on Jan. 7. The Nuggets start in Orlando and finish the trip in Boston. Success on their longest road trip of the season is either a trampoline for Jokic's odds or a worst case scenario if they end up with a losing record or close to it through seven games.
Stock Down
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+15000)
Points Per Game: 26.2 (14th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.9 (2nd)
Blocks Per Game: 3.6 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.9 (2nd)
Blocks Per Game: 3.6 (1st)
Despite beating the Thunder three times and winning on Christmas, Victor Wembanyama's MVP odds have faded toward 150-to-1. With Wembanyama coming off the bench, his case isn't as strong since no MVP has likely ever done that for a part of the season, but the Spurs are 6-1 since he's returned and won five straight.
Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
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Anthony Davis to miss 'a few games' with latest groin strain
Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, who maintains a deep database of NBA injuries, had the scariest stat of the day: This is the 13th groin injury of Anthony Davis' career.
Davis has suffered a minor groin strain and is expected to miss a few games, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Stotts said Davis' average time missed for a minor groin strain is about eight days, meaning two or three games.
Davis left the Mavericks' Christmas Day game against the Warriors in the second quarter with the injury and did not return.
"Leg got tight, like a little spasm…" Davis said after the game. "Obviously, dealing with the ab strain still, so just tried to get it loose, it wouldn't really loosen up, let go, but it's nothing serious. I'm fine."
Davis has played in half of the Mavericks' games this season, but has been fantastic when healthy, averaging 20.5 points on 52.1% shooting, plus grabbing 10.9 rebounds a game.
Davis' name comes up in trade rumors, and while the Mavericks are listening to offers, the market for Davis — who is making $54.1 million this season, and is guaranteed $58.5 million next season, and wants an extension beyond next season — is limited.
Nets' Cam Thomas returning to lineup Saturday after lengthy hamstring injury
December has been far more kind to the Nets than November, and their month on the relative upswing will soon include the return of a key contributor.
Cam Thomas, who missed nearly eight weeks nursing a hamstring strain, is slated to take the court again on Saturday against the Timberwolves, head coach Jordi Fernandezrevealed on Friday.
The 24-year-old guard last played on Nov. 5 against the Pacers, and the hamstring injury cost him 20 games. Before the injury, Thomas averaged 21.4 points on 40 percent shooting across eight contests.
While the Nets have yet to see Thomas score in a win this season -- they were 0-7 at the time of his injury -- he's rejoining a group that's discovered some ways to build momentum.
In their 20 games without Thomas, the Nets went 8-12, rattling off back-to-back victories on two separate occasions. They've heavily relied on offense from veteran Michael Porter Jr., averaging a career-high 25.7 points with 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists (24 games).
This wasn't Thomas' first time recovering from a prolonged hamstring injury -- he dealt with similar troubles last season, missing a whopping 57 games.
Thomas is slated for unrestricted free agency next summer, after signing a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer to return to the Nets this past offseason.
NBA Minutes Report: Tyler Kolek emerges, Ivica Zubac gets hurt, more
Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.
The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.
All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.
Ware had an outstanding Week 9, culminating with a 28-point, 19-rebound effort against the Knicks.
Raphielle JohnsonAtlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 35.5 | 35.8 | 34 |
| Jalen Johnson | 35.2 | 36 | 36.5 |
| Dyson Daniels | 32.5 | 33.8 | 34.5 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 32 | 32.8 | 32.6 |
| Trae Young | 28.7 | 25.8 | 25.8 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 25.2 | 23.5 | 23.9 |
| Vít Krejčí | 21.8 | 22.9 | 24 |
| Luke Kennard | 19.7 | 18.8 | 18.7 |
Trae Young is back, but has that actually been a good thing for this team? The Hawks' offense was kind of flowing without him, and the defense has taken a real step back with Young on the court. Fantasy managers don't care about that, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker has seen his usage take a big hit, and this team isn't playing as well of late.
The Hawks have the NBA’s worst defense this season with Trae Young on the court:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 24, 2025
On: 127.1 (30th)
Off: 113.1 (10th)
Atlanta’s record with Young is 2-8 compared to 13-8 without. pic.twitter.com/MLy1mtYWhX
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Derrick White | 34.4 | 34.1 | 33.5 |
| Jaylen Brown | 34 | 34.3 | 35.9 |
| Payton Pritchard | 32.3 | 32.6 | 32.4 |
| Hugo González | 31.4 | 25.2 | 18.4 |
| Luka Garza | 25.1 | 25.1 | 15.2 |
| Sam Hauser | 24.2 | 19.7 | 22.4 |
| Anfernee Simons | 24.1 | 24.7 | 23.7 |
| Neemias Queta | 23.5 | 26.1 | 25.8 |
| Jordan Walsh | 17.1 | 21 | 24.8 |
As we've seen all season, the fringes of the Celtics' rotation (apart from White, Brown, and Pritchard) continue to change, with Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza getting increased minutes. Jordan Walsh has been battling an illness recently, but over the last two weeks, Gonzalez and Garza have been the two biggest contributors on the fringe of the rotation as the Celtics have looked to play a little bigger. Neemias Queta is still seeing some minutes, but Sam Hauser and Josh Minott are seeing their minutes decline.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 34.5 | 32.9 | 33.4 |
| Egor Dëmin | 30.6 | 27.1 | 25.8 |
| Nic Claxton | 29.9 | 30 | 30.2 |
| Noah Clowney | 29.3 | 28.5 | 29.2 |
| Terance Mann | 28.8 | 26.8 | 24.9 |
| Danny Wolf | 20.1 | 22.2 | 23.2 |
| Nolan Traore | 18.4 | 13.7 | 13.7 |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | 18.1 | 16.9 | 17.2 |
| Ziaire Williams | 16.9 | 19.5 | 20.4 |
Don't look now, but the Nets are playing some feisty basketball. They've won three of their last four games and six of their last nine, and their defense has been tremendous. Offensively, this team is still basically driven by Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, but Egor Dëmin is emerging as a little bit more of a consistent threat, averaging 14 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals over his last five games, which is a top-150 player. This still isn't a really good team, but they're playing hard.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kon Knueppel | 31.2 | 34.5 | 34.3 |
| Miles Bridges | 31.2 | 33 | 32.7 |
| Brandon Miller | 29 | 32.3 | 31.8 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 26.9 | 24 | 21.2 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 24.2 | 24 | 25.5 |
| LaMelo Ball | 24.1 | 25.4 | 25.7 |
| Sion James | 22.2 | 24.8 | 24.9 |
| Tidjane Salaün | 20.2 | 18.1 | 18.6 |
| Collin Sexton | 16 | 16 | 14.5 |
LaMelo Ball continues to be in and out of the lineup, and both Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner have been battling day-to-day injuries, which has meant extra minutes for Moussa Diabaté. Diabaté hasn't done a ton with the minutes, but he is averaging 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals over the last three games with Kalkbrenner out, so the defensive value has been great. It won't help fantasy managers too much, but it makes him a valuable player in the Hornets' rotation. Collin Sexton also missed seven games with a quad injury and returned earlier this week to play 20 minutes against the Wizards, so we should expect those minutes to tick up soon.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Josh Giddey | 32.7 | 31.1 | 32.9 |
| Nikola Vučević | 31.2 | 30.6 | 29.3 |
| Coby White | 30.7 | 30.2 | 28.9 |
| Matas Buzelis | 26.8 | 25.3 | 27.8 |
| Tre Jones | 22.8 | 23.4 | 24.5 |
| Kevin Huerter | 22.7 | 23.6 | 20.6 |
| Isaac Okoro | 20.1 | 22.9 | 23.5 |
| Zach Collins | 17.5 | 16.1 | 17.5 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 15.6 | 15.6 | 24.5 |
The Bulls are finally healthy with only one player on their entire injury report. Of course, that has led to a confusing rotation behind Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević. Matas Buzelis continues to be the most intriguing player of the rest of the roster, and he has looked good in his last three games, but he needs to find more consistency. Kevin Huerter is also averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds in his last three games and has taken a lot of minutes from Ayo Dosunmu, who also continues to play through multiple hand injuries.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Darius Garland | 31.7 | 31.7 | 32.7 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 30.4 | 30.9 | 33.4 |
| Dean Wade | 27.4 | 26.4 | 25 |
| Sam Merrill | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 25.6 | 26.1 | 26.8 |
| Evan Mobley | 25.3 | 25.3 | 32.8 |
| Jarrett Allen | 23.1 | 25.3 | 24.9 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 21.6 | 24.6 | 28.9 |
| Lonzo Ball | 18.7 | 20.7 | 23.2 |
Evan Mobley made his return after only missing five games with a calf injury that was allegedly supposed to have sidelined him for up to four weeks. Jarrett Allen went back to playing 23 minutes with Mobley back and scored seven points with eight rebounds. Thomas Bryant basically fell out of the rotation with only three minutes played. It's back to the status quo for the Cavs.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cooper Flagg | 36.9 | 37.4 | 36 |
| Max Christie | 33.5 | 22.3 | 25.7 |
| P.J. Washington | 31.2 | 32.4 | 32.8 |
| Naji Marshall | 29.5 | 31.2 | 31.5 |
| Klay Thompson | 28.7 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Anthony Davis | 27.4 | 30.7 | 29.9 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 24.7 | 24.4 | 26.2 |
| Brandon Williams | 19.9 | 22.5 | 22.2 |
| Jaden Hardy | 19.4 | 19.4 | 15.3 |
Anthony Davis continues to battle injuries and just left Thursday's game with a groin injury. As we've come to see, a Davis injury will mean more minutes and usage for P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall and would likely also mean more run for Daniel Gafford, who hasn't played over 17 minutes in any of the six games since being back from injury. Ryan Nembhard's play has also really fallen off of late, and we saw Brandon Williams play 30 minutes and score 26 points on Thursday, so this might be an ugly hot hand situation for a while.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Nikola Jokić | 35.9 | 34.9 | 35.2 |
| Jamal Murray | 35.6 | 35.4 | 35.6 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 31.6 | 30.4 | 29.8 |
| Peyton Watson | 31.5 | 31.5 | 27.3 |
| Spencer Jones | 29 | 26.7 | 26.2 |
| Bruce Brown | 27.4 | 28.8 | 27.6 |
| Cameron Johnson | 26.5 | 30.2 | 33.7 |
| Jalen Pickett | 13.7 | 18.4 | 16.6 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 13.6 | 13.9 | 13.9 |
The Nuggets could be getting Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back as early as next week, and they need them because Cameron Johnson is now going to be sidelined for a month with a knee injury. Without him, Bruce Brown figures to take on a big of a bigger role, and Tim Hardaway Jr. should see his usage continue to increase. He's averaging 17.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last four games, but he doesn't contribute much else
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 33.4 | 36.2 | 34.5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 29.8 | 24.2 | 25 |
| Tobias Harris | 29.8 | 27.9 | 27.4 |
| Duncan Robinson | 29.1 | 25.2 | 25.6 |
| Jalen Duren | 26.9 | 28.8 | 28.6 |
| Ronald Holland II | 23.1 | 19.2 | 19.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 22.1 | 24 | 23.1 |
| Javonte Green | 18.7 | 17.8 | 15.2 |
| Caris LeVert | 18.3 | 20.2 | 21 |
| Jaden Ivey | 15.2 | 16.2 | 15.8 |
There are too many players in this rotation. Yes, it's great to have a deep team, and the Pistons remain at the top of the Eastern Conference, but this is a ship driven by Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren and then a rotation of guys who step up in different games. That might change if Ausar Thompson could develop some consistency, but this feels like a team that could make a consolidation trade to move on from somebody like Jaden Ivey, who barely plays, and some other pieces to add a bigger offensive force that can help them win a title.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 33 | 33.6 | 33.3 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 32 | 33 | 30.7 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 28.6 | 29.2 | 26.6 |
| Moses Moody | 26.8 | 26.9 | 23.4 |
| Quinten Post | 21.7 | 22.3 | 24.6 |
| De'Anthony Melton | 18.4 | 17.8 | 18.5 |
| Draymond Green | 17.9 | 22.7 | 21.7 |
| Will Richard | 15 | 15 | 19.4 |
| Gary Payton II | 14.6 | 11.7 | 12.4 |
Draymond Green's minutes are down because he stormed off the court in the third quarter on Monday. I mean, not really, but also kind of. Green simply isn't the player that he used to be, and he's not impacting the game in as meaningful a way. You have to wonder if the team would be better off if some of his minutes went to Brandin Podziemski or Al Horford, who just came back from injury.
Draymond Green has not recorded a positive plus-minus in any game this month
— Peter O’Keefe (@POK252) December 24, 2025
The Warriors are a -60 in his 124 minutes on the floor, with Gary Payton II the next worst at -20 pic.twitter.com/hphZq42MZX
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 37.2 | 38.1 | 37.7 |
| Kevin Durant | 36.8 | 38.5 | 36.9 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 34.7 | 37.3 | 37 |
| Alperen Sengun | 33.4 | 33.3 | 34.3 |
| Reed Sheppard | 26.5 | 27.3 | 26.3 |
| Tari Eason | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Steven Adams | 19.8 | 23.2 | 21.7 |
| Josh Okogie | 18.4 | 22.8 | 22.9 |
Can we just take a minute to acknowledge that Clint Capela has somehow become a player who plays just seven minutes a game? Jabari Smith Jr. is back to being a top-100 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, averaging 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Tari Eason also returned from injury and has seen his minutes tick up due to his strong defensive value. He played 26 minutes on Christmas against the Lakers, and that has relegated Josh Okogie to a much smaller role.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 33.9 | 33.6 | 33.3 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 32.5 | 33.5 | 32.1 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 32 | 32.7 | 32.5 |
| Ethan Thompson | 26.2 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| Jay Huff | 22.5 | 22.1 | 24.1 |
| Johnny Furphy | 21.7 | 16.9 | 14.4 |
| T.J. McConnell | 19.1 | 17.9 | 15.6 |
| Jarace Walker | 17.4 | 18.1 | 18.7 |
This Pacers rotation has been pretty consistent for the last few weeks. They are working around injuries to Ben Sheppard and Isaiah Jackson, but neither player was playing huge minutes. T.J. McConnell has gone on one of his runs where he's playing really solid basketball, and is a top-100 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks, but he's still seeing under 20 minutes per game, which makes it hard to trust him too much.
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| James Harden | 37.8 | 36.8 | 35.1 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 37 | 37.7 | 34.9 |
| John Collins | 29.8 | 27.8 | 28.7 |
| Kris Dunn | 29.5 | 28.2 | 27.7 |
| Brook Lopez | 22.5 | 20.2 | 18.1 |
| Nicolas Batum | 21.7 | 23.2 | 23.3 |
| Ivica Zubac | 21.2 | 27.5 | 31.6 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | 20.6 | 21 | 21.3 |
| Kobe Sanders | 20.1 | 16.4 | 18.7 |
Ivica Zubac went down with an injury this week, and the Clippers will be without him until the middle of January. I covered the fallout in a video this week, but I think John Collins figures to benefit the most.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| LeBron James | 31.9 | 32.9 | 33.6 |
| Deandre Ayton | 31.9 | 31.3 | 29.7 |
| Marcus Smart | 29.9 | 29.8 | 29.6 |
| Jake LaRavia | 29.8 | 27.8 | 23 |
| Rui Hachimura | 27.7 | 30.5 | 30.7 |
| Luka Dončić | 26.7 | 32.8 | 34.7 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | 25 | 18.4 | 16.5 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | 24.5 | 22.7 | 19.5 |
| Austin Reaves | 18.3 | 18.3 | 31.8 |
Austin Reaves is hurt again, leaving the Lakers' Christmas game with a calf injury. We don't know how many games, if any, he'll miss, but his absence previously has (obviously) led to more usage for LeBron James and Luka Dončić, who is back from his own brief absence with a leg injury. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia would also likely benefit a little with increased playing time if Reaves were to miss games.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cam Spencer | 34.7 | 33.5 | 29.2 |
| Jaylen Wells | 32.1 | 31.5 | 30.1 |
| Santi Aldama | 31.6 | 32 | 29.5 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 31.3 | 32 | 30.2 |
| Cedric Coward | 27.9 | 26.6 | 27.4 |
| Jock Landale | 23.4 | 25.5 | 22.5 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 22.7 | 23 | 21.3 |
| GG Jackson | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Brandon Clarke | 3.9 | 10.2 | 10.2 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 21.7 | 21.1 | |
| Ja Morant | 21 | 23.1 |
With Ja Morant sidelined again, Cam Spencer is enjoying a bit of a breakout, which I covered in a video this week, so check that out. Brandon Clarke also returned and then got hurt again, which led to an opportunity for GG Jackson, who returned from his own injury on Monday and then played 30 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He's a name to keep an eye on.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 35.2 | 32.9 | 30 |
| Norman Powell | 34.9 | 34.3 | 32.9 |
| Bam Adebayo | 34.6 | 33.6 | 32.8 |
| Davion Mitchell | 29.1 | 30 | 30.8 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 28.5 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Kel'el Ware | 27.7 | 26.6 | 23.9 |
| Kasparas Jakučionis | 25.2 | 20.8 | 16.8 |
| Tyler Herro | 32.3 |
Tyler Herro is still out with his toe injury and is still trying to fit into this new-look Miami offense. I covered all of that in a video this week. In that time, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped back into his larger role, but Kel'el Ware has also seen his role increase in a two-big-man look with Bam Adebayo. Ware has been a top-70 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks and deserves a bit more attention for how well he's played.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 38.4 | 35.4 | 34.1 |
| Bobby Portis | 36.8 | 30.6 | 26.5 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 33.4 | 31.3 | 27.4 |
| Myles Turner | 32.1 | 29.7 | 26.5 |
| Ryan Rollins | 27.9 | 26.4 | 28.9 |
| AJ Green | 24.6 | 24.6 | 26.1 |
| Jericho Sims | 21.8 | 21.2 | 23.8 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 17.7 | 22 | 24 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out, and Gary Trent Jr. has played just 23 total minutes in the last two games as he battles a calf injury. In their stead, Kevin Porter Jr's has been a top-15 player in fantasy basketball, and Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis Jr. have both continued to play well in their expanded roles. They're both top-100 players in fantasy basketball, but Myles Turner doesn't seem to be doing much more with the bigger role, averaging just 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last 5 games.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 38.7 | 39.2 | 37.6 |
| Rudy Gobert | 37 | 35.9 | 31.2 |
| Julius Randle | 35 | 34.5 | 35 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 33.2 | 34 | 32.3 |
| Naz Reid | 27.3 | 28.5 | 29.8 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 24.2 | 30.5 | 34.1 |
| Bones Hyland | 22.2 | 23.3 | 21.6 |
| Mike Conley | 21.1 | 21.1 | 18.9 |
Minnesota has a pretty consolidated eight-man rotation, and little has changed. Bones Hyland has stepped into a slightly bigger role as a ball-handling scorer off the bench, and he might be better suited in that role than Mike Conley right now.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Trey Murphy III | 32.5 | 33.9 | 34.8 |
| Bryce McGowens | 30.6 | 16.5 | 23.4 |
| Saddiq Bey | 29.7 | 29.6 | 31.5 |
| Jordan Poole | 29.4 | 27.7 | 27.3 |
| Derik Queen | 28.8 | 29.3 | 30.8 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 24.6 | 24.4 | 26.8 |
| Zion Williamson | 23.2 | 23.5 | 23.5 |
| Jose Alvarado | 21 | 22.2 | 24.2 |
| Herbert Jones | 16.9 | 23 | 22 |
The Pelicans reportedly don't want to trade Herbert Jones, but his ankle injury has kept him off the court and sapped some of his effectiveness. Derik Queen continues to be effective, even playing alongside Zion Williamson, and both have been top-80 players in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks. I would like to see more minutes for Jeremiah Fears, but Jordan Poole has seemed to cut into those.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 38.7 | 37.1 | 36.8 |
| Mikal Bridges | 38 | 37.7 | 35.7 |
| Josh Hart | 34.1 | 34 | 33.5 |
| OG Anunoby | 33.3 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 30.2 | 31.5 | 31.9 |
| Tyler Kolek | 26.1 | 24 | 17.9 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 25.5 | 24.4 | 23 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 21.7 | 22.8 | 20.6 |
Tyler Kolek season is here, and I'm not sure it's going anywhere. Deuce McBride is still managing an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is out with a shoulder injury, so Kolek has stepped up and is averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds over the last two weeks while playing crucial minutes at the end of games for the Knicks. At this point, the Knicks can't take Kolek out of the rotation, so even when Deuce returns, it might be somebody like Jordan Clarkson who needs to lose more minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35.8 | 34.6 | 33.4 |
| Jalen Williams | 31.6 | 31 | 29.2 |
| Chet Holmgren | 28.8 | 28.3 | 27.1 |
| Luguentz Dort | 28.5 | 26.4 | 25.1 |
| Cason Wallace | 25.2 | 26.3 | 25.3 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 24.6 | 25.6 | 24.2 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 22.2 | 24.6 | 25.1 |
| Alex Caruso | 19.3 | 19.1 | 18.9 |
Isaiah Hartenstein came back from his calf injury last week, so we've actually seen the full Thunder roster for the first time all season. Turns out, it's a roster that can't beat the Spurs. I'm kidding, but the Spurs are playing tremendously well against the Thunder. The rotation has become pretty consistent, but it's a matter of who emerges. Chet Holmgren has not been as effective in recent games, but Ajay Mitchell has stepped up and been a top 100 player in fantasy leagues over his last four games.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Paolo Banchero | 37.6 | 37.5 | 33 |
| Desmond Bane | 36 | 36.4 | 35.9 |
| Anthony Black | 34.2 | 35.3 | 33.4 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 32.3 | 32.2 | 31.2 |
| Tyus Jones | 26.4 | 21.5 | 18.7 |
| Noah Penda | 21 | 18.6 | 13.5 |
| Jase Richardson | 18.9 | 16.7 | 13.6 |
| Jalen Suggs | — | 29.5 | 29.7 |
| Tristan da Silva | — | 12 | 21.5 |
| Franz Wagner | — | — | 27.4 |
Orlando's rotation has become consolidated thanks to injuries to Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Tristan Da Silva. In that time, Desmond Bane has taken on a much larger role, averaging 198 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks, which makes him a top 40 player. Anthony Black has also stepped into a much larger role and has been highly efficient for the Magic as well. We've also seen Noah Penda take on a bigger role now that he's up from the G-League. I don't expect that to last too long, but it's been fun to see.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 39.3 | 39.3 | 39.3 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 36.4 | 37.7 | 31.3 |
| Paul George | 33.1 | 33.2 | 30.1 |
| Joel Embiid | 31.5 | 31.2 | 29.8 |
| Jared McCain | 30.2 | 24.5 | 23.3 |
| Andre Drummond | 24 | 21.6 | 18.9 |
| Dominick Barlow | 24 | 27.4 | 28.3 |
| Quentin Grimes | 21.2 | 30 | 32.9 |
Joel Embiid survived a bit of an injury scare earlier this week, but seems ot have survived it. Quentin Grimes has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, but he has also been battling an illness, so it might be connected to that. The 76ers continue to hum because of their young guards and a resurgent season from Paul George, who is averaging 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 12 games. Also, it's pretty fun that Dominick Barlow is playing such a big role on a two-way deal.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Collin Gillespie | 32.2 | 31.8 | 31.7 |
| Devin Booker | 31.4 | 31.4 | 29.9 |
| Dillon Brooks | 29.6 | 27.9 | 30.1 |
| Royce O'Neale | 28 | 26.9 | 27.8 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 26.3 | 22.8 | 23 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 25.8 | 22.9 | 22.8 |
| Ryan Dunn | 22 | 19.8 | 20.3 |
| Mark Williams | 19.5 | 21.3 | 22.1 |
| Grayson Allen | — | 28.5 | 28.3 |
Grayson Allen is battling a knee injury, but it doesn't sound too serious. Jalen Green is also expected back in the first week of January, so this Suns team could be getting healthy soon. Collin Gillespie has also remained tremendously valuable even with Devin Booker back, but it remains to be seen if that would continue with both Allen and Green back too.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Deni Avdija | 38.5 | 38.1 | 36.5 |
| Toumani Camara | 35.2 | 33.1 | 32.1 |
| Donovan Clingan | 32.6 | 30.9 | 28.7 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 31.8 | 32.7 | 31.5 |
| Kris Murray | 30.5 | 27.2 | 26.7 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 22 | 24.6 | 24.8 |
| Caleb Love | 20.3 | 16.3 | 17.5 |
| Robert Williams III | 16.1 | 17.2 | 19.3 |
| Jerami Grant | — | 37.4 | 33.9 |
Jrue Holiday is still out, and now Jerami Grant has missed the last three games with an Achilles injury. In those three games, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe have taken on larger usage roles. Those two guys, along with Deni Avdija, have all been top-60 players in that span, but Grant doesn't figure to be out for too much longer.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 38.9 | 38.1 | 34.5 |
| Keegan Murray | 35.6 | 37.7 | 36 |
| Russell Westbrook | 32.7 | 32.3 | 30.8 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 30.1 | 30.7 | 29.3 |
| Dennis Schröder | 27.8 | 26.2 | 26.2 |
| Nique Clifford | 27.1 | 22.9 | 21.1 |
| Dylan Cardwell | 22.7 | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 18.2 | 19 | 18.5 |
Zach LaVine remains out with an ankle injury but could return early next week. Keegan Murray also suffered a calf injury earlier this week, so we're still awaiting news on how long he will be out. Russell Westbrook continues to take on a large usage role with LaVine out and will do so for the foreseeable future. We have also seen Maxime Raynaud emerge of late, averaging 14.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over the last two weeks, which has made him a top 100 player in fantasy leagues.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 33.2 | 29.3 | 30.7 |
| Devin Vassell | 30.8 | 29.2 | 29.8 |
| Stephon Castle | 30.5 | 28.1 | 28 |
| Harrison Barnes | 27.4 | 24.4 | 27.8 |
| Luke Kornet | 25.1 | 23.2 | 25.3 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 23.5 | 21.8 | 21.6 |
| Keldon Johnson | 21 | 20 | 20.3 |
| Julian Champagnie | 20.2 | 20.9 | 25.1 |
| Dylan Harper | 19.5 | 19.9 | 21.6 |
Victor Wembanyama is back but still on a bit of a minutes restriction. Nevertheless, the Spurs have been on a run of strong play lately, and this is a true contender. That being said, Dylan Harper has taken a bit of a backseat with the full crew back, and I'm a little surprised that Devin Vassell has been getting more playing time and being more productive than Harper. That said, he does fit what the team needs a little better, so he will likely remain impactful, and he's been a top 110 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Scottie Barnes | 34.3 | 34.2 | 35.2 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 32.9 | 32.4 | 32.3 |
| Brandon Ingram | 32.6 | 34.2 | 34.4 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 25.7 | 26.4 | 24.2 |
| Ochai Agbaji | 23 | 22.3 | 21.4 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 22 | 19.6 | 17.7 |
| Jamal Shead | 21 | 22 | 23.2 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 19.3 | 17.9 | 18.7 |
Not much has changed for the Raptors in recent weeks. They're still managing Jakob Poeltl's minutes, and he's missed three of the last four games. No other big man is really stepping up in his absence, so there's no real corresponding move. RJ Barrett should also return as early as next week, which would be welcome for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Keyonte George | 36.5 | 37.9 | 34.7 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 36.2 | 38 | 35 |
| Kevin Love | 30.2 | 25.6 | 20.7 |
| Ace Bailey | 29.1 | 27.6 | 28.9 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 27.8 | 29.1 | 25.5 |
| Isaiah Collier | 26 | 27.5 | 21.8 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 22.9 | 26.7 | 27.8 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 22.5 | 21.1 | 23.5 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 20.8 | 20.3 | 16.9 |
Things have remained pretty status quo for the Jazz over the last few weeks. The minutes and usage are dominated by Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, with Jusuf Nurkić and Isaiah Collier also continuing to give meaningful production in their minutes as well. Sadly, even though Ace Bailey is getting plenty of run, he's averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and little else.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| CJ McCollum | 35.6 | 34 | 33.3 |
| Kyshawn George | 34.6 | 35.2 | 33.1 |
| Bub Carrington | 30 | 31.9 | 31.2 |
| Alex Sarr | 25.3 | 24.9 | 24.9 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 23.4 | 23 | 25.9 |
| Tre Johnson | 22.8 | 21.6 | 20.8 |
| Khris Middleton | 22 | 22 | 25.1 |
| Jamir Watkins | 21.9 | 14.9 | 18.1 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 21.5 | 23.4 | 25.3 |
Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Khris Middleton are all back. Coulibaly played 23 minutes in his first game back, and Bub Carrington was down to 15 minutes. However, Carrington also had a foot injury in that game, so we may not know until Friday just how the Wizards are splitting up these minutes after Carrington emerged when everybody else was out. Marvin Bagley III has also played well in his limited minutes, and he could be useful on another squad if he gets traded.