Jeremiah Wilkinson tied his career high with 26 points and No. Georgia beat Western Carolina 112-82 on Thursday night in the Bulldogs' first game after moving into the AP Top 25. Georgia (10-1), which leads the nation in scoring at 98.3 points per game, topped 100 points for the fifth time in 11 games.
Steve Kerr in disbelief over refs' ‘disappointing' call to end Warriors game
Steve Kerr in disbelief over refs' ‘disappointing' call to end Warriors game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
When Dillon Brooks’ shot bounced off the backboard with the clock winding down at Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday night, it looked like the Warriors and Phoenix Suns were heading to overtime tied 98-98.
But then Moses Moody was whistled for a foul as he went to grab the rebound, and Suns guard Jordan Goodwin sank a free throw with 0.4 seconds left to give Phoenix the 99-98 win. Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn’t believe that’s what it came down to for a Golden State team that has struggled to close out games as of late.
“Tonight we executed really well,” Kerr told reporters after the game. “It’s hard to believe that the game was decided on that call, you know, on an air ball that hits the side of the backboard, and guys behind the bench told me that Moses got all ball. Everybody’s tangled up … That, to me, it better be a foul to decide the game on a play like that.
“So, disappointing that we didn’t get to go to overtime because I thought our guys executed and did a great job in the last few minutes of giving ourselves a chance.”
The Warriors dropped to 5-10 in clutch games during the 2025-26 NBA season with the loss, and ranked 24th in the league in that category entering Thursday’s game. After the Warriors blew a 14-point lead against the Suns, star guard Steph Curry pointed to other issues other than the final call of the game — concerns that have plagued Golden State all the way to its current 13-15 record.
“Same story. Turnovers. Offensive rebounds,” Curry told reporters after the game. “And especially on the road, it’s hard to give teams momentum. You give them belief, they start hitting shots.”
The Warriors certainly could use some belief of their own right now. And while Kerr and Co. might have had some down the stretch on Thursday, a questionable call left the coach scratching his head.
NBA Finals and MVP Odds, Predictions: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder run the table?
NBA Christmas Day games are right around the corner, which means the value in the futures market will start correcting itself more and more as we inch closer to the halfway mark of the 2025-26 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the talk of the West with a 24-2 start reminiscent of the 2015-16 Warriors and 1995-96 Bulls, while the Detroit Pistons have surged to the top of the East with a surprising 21-5 record.
The Thunder lead the way in odds for NBA Champion and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner to win MVP, but the West is loaded. Can Oklahoma City repeat as champions? Can SGA repeat and win back-to-back MVPs? Let's talk about it.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
NBA Finals Winner: Thunder (+110) | Nuggets (+650) | Rockets (+1100) | Lakers (+1300) | Knicks (+1300) | Pistons (+2000) | Cavaliers (+2500) | Spurs (+2500)
The Thunder are off to a historic 24-2 start and most experts and the public, including myself believe this team is capable of breaking the Warriors win record, if not coming a few games short. The current state of the NBA is down right now with so many teams tanking short-term with load management and in tough travel spots or long-term with sitting players for stretches to enhance their chances in the draft lottery.
Incidentally enough, Oklahoma City was built on a little bit of that with draft capital acquired during back-to-back finishes of 22-50 and 24-58 in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. In 2025-26, Denver is the biggest competition to Oklahoma City with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets following. I question whether Houston has the depth to beat Oklahoma City and if the Lakers have the defense. Denver's success will be dependent on the health of role players or how much Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray can handle.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say no team in the East can withstand a seven-game series with Oklahoma City. I know the Pacers pushed the Thunder to seven games last season and Indiana had a chance to win, but that was also the first NBA Finals experience for both teams. Now, the Thunder have that experience under their belt and know the feeling.
Jokic and the Nuggets won the Finals back in 2022-23 and LeBron James won with the Lakers during the 2019-20 season. Then there's Kevin Durant who went to the Finals with the Thunder and the Warriors, so I 100-percent understand how challenging the path in the Western Conference is. These teams will beat up on each other and whoever earns the No. 1 and 2 seeds shouldn't have issues with the 7 or 8's, unless it's the Spurs or Timberwolves.
The price of the Thunder has dropped slowly from +160 to +110 over the last two months, and in a lot of people's minds, the NBA season starts on Christmas. Odds will drop to -105 or longer sooner than later, so I am jumping on the ship. The Thunder are simply too deep, have the experience now, and the best scoring guard in a guard-driven league.
Pick: Thunder to win the NBA Finals (2 units)
NBA MVP Winner: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+125) | Nikola Jokic (+170) | Luka Doncic (+320) | Cade Cunningham (+5500) | Victor Wembanyama (+8000)
I cover the NBA MVP race weekly here at NBC and for seven of the nine weeks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has owned my top spot. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic both had a spot for a short time and I believe it will be a three-man race for most, if not all of the season.
Victor Wembanyama can only miss five more games to be eligible for MVP or Defensive Player of the Year, so his price at +8000 to win MVP and +450 to win DPOY is really reliant on his health. Cade Cunningham and Detroit own the top spot in the East amid a career year, but he's not doing anything that Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander are doing as a guard.
The biggest threat to Gilgeous-Alexander not repeating is Jokic. The Nuggets star is averaging a 29.8-point triple-double and leads the league in rebounds and assists. Without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, Jokic has been asked to do more and delivered. Denver has the third-best record in the league, and all that he does could be negated if the Thunder win 70-plus games. In both years, Michael Jordan won the MVP in 1995-96 for the 72-10 Bulls and Steph Curry won in 2015-16 for the 73-9 Warriors.
In three months of action, SGA has been top 10 in usage rate with percentages of 38.5, 31.4, and 31%. The knock on SGA has been the lack of fourth quarters played, but he’s only missed one game so far. He's shooting an incredible 56% from the floor, 43.7% from three, and 88.4% from the free-throw line to go along with 32.4 points and 6.4 assists per game in 33.2 minutes. He's playing like an MVP and if the Thunder can win 70-plus games, then SGA will win back-to-back MVPs.
Pick:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP (2 units)
Season Record: 31-26 +5.05 units | 7.98 ROI%
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.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
What we learned as Warriors waste Jimmy Butler's 31 in last-second loss to Suns
What we learned as Warriors waste Jimmy Butler's 31 in last-second loss to Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Another clutch game for the Warriors, their eighth in the last nine and 15th this season, and another disappointing finish.
With their offense going kaput in the second half and the turnover bug resurfacing, the Warriors walked out of Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix with a 99-98 loss – their third in a row.
With the Suns committed to keeping Stephen Curry from his cape, Jimmy Butler III and Brandin Podziemski tried to come to the rescue Thursday night and failed in their quest.
This was a very loud record scratch during the Warriors’ extended dance with mediocrity, with their record dropping to 13-15, the first time this season the Warriors have fallen two games below .500.
Butler scored a team-high 31 points, with Podziemski adding 18. Curry managed 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-of-9 from distance.
Jonathan Kuminga made his first appearance since Dec. 6, playing 10 minutes off the bench and finishing with two points and four rebounds.
Here are three observations from the first of a home-and-home set between the Warriors and the Suns:
Christmas in Phoenix
The Warriors arrived in Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon and seem to have been fitted for Santa Claus suits shortly thereafter.
Without a sleigh, they walked into the downtown Phoenix arena on Thursday and immediately started handing out wonderful gifts to the Suns.
Five turnovers, for six Phoenix points in the first quarter. Four turnovers for four Phoenix points in the second quarter. Seven giveaways for 10 Phoenix points in the third quarter, during which the Suns sliced a seven-point deficit to one.
Golden State’s 20 turnovers accounted for 30 of Phoenix’s 99 points. Eleven giveaways in the second half gave the Suns 20 points and allowed them to spread good cheer in triumph.
Draymond Green, who committed a ghastly eight turnovers in Portland on Sunday, committed a team-high five against the Suns. Butler, Curry, Podziemski, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton each committed two giveaways.
It’s a familiar song for the Warriors, and it’s no Christmas carol.
Jimmy goes “Himmy”
Much of the chatter around the Warriors in recent days has been about Butler. About his relatively minimal impact or not being utilized properly or his mounting frustration amid the team’s consistent mediocrity.
He responded by putting more emphasis on scoring and delivering the kind of assertive offensive performance that ably supports Curry and makes Golden State appreciably more difficult to defend. Butler seemed on a mission to challenge the Suns.
While Curry played 18 first-half minutes, scoring five points, Butler played 18 minutes and went into intermission with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which came in seven first-quarter minutes.
Butler’s 31 points came on 11-of-17 shooting from the field, including a clutch 3-ball with 35.5 seconds remaining, and 8-of-9 from the line.
This was an emphatic response to the pleas for more scoring from the 36-year-old veteran.
Kerr gets a little crazy
Coach Steve Kerr was emphatic this week, saying he has 14 or 15 players he’s comfortable sending onto the floor but ideally want a rotation of 10, maybe 11.
Twelve different Warriors played in the first half, everyone on the active roster except rookie Will Richard and Seth Curry, who is managing a left glute injury. Golden State went through 10 substitutions in the first quarter, 18 in the half.
Some of the substitutions were rapid fire, as if Kerr were auditioning candidates in an open-gym tryout. If he was keeping players fresh to fortify the team’s energy, the results were mixed.
Two reserves made token appearances, with Trayce Jackson-Davis logging seven minutes and Gary Payton II only three.
Dillon Brooks hits Steph Curry in chest, earns Flagrant 1 foul vs. Warriors
Dillon Brooks hits Steph Curry in chest, earns Flagrant 1 foul vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Dillon Brooks is no stranger to taking shots at the Warriors no matter what team he’s on, and the Phoenix Suns forward added Golden State star Steph Curry to his list of victims on Thursday night at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Officials hit Brooks with a Flagrant 1 foul in the final minute of the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the Suns, when he struck Curry in the midsection/chest area with 38 seconds left.
As a member of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022, Brooks famously “broke the code” against the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals after knocking Gary Payton II to the floor under the rim and fracturing his elbow.
The 29-year-old has had plenty of run-ins with Golden State since then, most recently swiping at Curry’s injured thumb during the NBA playoffs last year with the Houston Rockets.
It’s always guaranteed to be a fiery matchup with Brooks on the floor against the Warriors, but he certainly took it too far Thursday as evidenced by the Flagrant call.
Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium 'among strong options' as league considers moving NBA Cup finals
Before the NBA Cup finals tipped off Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was honest about the future of the event in Las Vegas during an appearance on the NBA on Prime pregame show.
"We're talking with Amazon Prime about whether it makes sense to maybe go to some unique locations for the final game. They have suggested, for example, some like storied college arenas. We're just looking at other ways we could do this."
Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium is "among strong options" under consideration to host next year's event, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The league's contract with T-Mobile Arena to host the Cup Finals is year-to-year, so there is no hurdle to moving the game.
However, one key challenge in moving the event to Durham and the Cameron Indoor — or to Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas, or Michigan State's Breslin Center in Lansing, or any other college setting — is that the NBA Cup title game lands just as the students that make those venues special are headed home for the holidays (or, the game falls during finals week for the students). Also, some of these arenas are much smaller than the average NBA arena; for example, Cameron Indoor Stadium has a capacity of just 9,314.
The topic of the lack of buzz in Las Vegas around the NBA Cup and the lack of energy in the building has been ongoing for a couple of years, and Amazon Prime has a big stake in making the Cup work — a large part of its massive NBA broadcast package was based around the rights to Cup games. The NBA had already announced that next year the semifinals would move to home-market arenas (for example, this year the Thunder would have hosted the Spurs and the Magic would have hosted the Knicks). While there was good energy at T-Mobile Arena for this year's Cup Finals — Knicks fans will travel, and there are Victor Wembanyama fans everywhere — Prime and the NBA are looking for something more.
In addition to college settings, there had also been speculation about moving the NBA Cup Finals to other non-NBA markets, such as Seattle, Louisville, or Columbus. But just dropping one NBA game in those cities will not necessarily bring the energy the NBA and Prime are seeking.
The NBA Cup has been a success on many fronts. The hard-core NBA fan base has embraced it. It has given more meaning to some early-season games and gotten some more casual fans talking about the NBA before Christmas. The games have motivated players (the $530,000 per player on the winning team will do that). It's worked, but Amazon and the NBA think it can be much more.
Will playing games on a college campus further that goal?
NBA Minutes Report: Anthony Edwards' injury, Bub Carrington's emergence, and 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 incredibly generous, so make sure to give him a follow to check out all of his baseball data as well.
While Joel Embiid’s return has been huge for fantasy basketball, so has Paul George’s.
Raphielle JohnsonAtlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Dyson Daniels | 36.1 | 35.3 | 36.3 |
| Jalen Johnson | 35.9 | 36.3 | 37.4 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 33.5 | 32.3 | 33.3 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 32.2 | 32.2 | 34.6 |
| Vít Krejčí | 28.4 | 26.9 | 24.5 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 22.5 | 24.3 | 25.1 |
| Luke Kennard | 19.7 | 19.5 | 17.8 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | — | 20.5 | 21.1 |
Trae Young could return as early as Thursday, but we also got a report that Kristaps Porzingis would be out for at least two weeks as he battles an illness. I covered all of that in a video this week.
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaylen Brown | 36 | 35.5 | 36.7 |
| Derrick White | 34.8 | 32.6 | 33.8 |
| Payton Pritchard | 34.6 | 33.2 | 32.6 |
| Neemias Queta | 31.2 | 28.1 | 24.5 |
| Jordan Walsh | 25.2 | 26.3 | 26.1 |
| Anfernee Simons | 24 | 22.7 | 21.6 |
| Sam Hauser | 17.5 | 19.4 | 22.6 |
The Celtics' rotation has been pretty set for much of the year. The minutes really only shift around for some of the fringe guys, like what happened after Sam Hauser left Monday's game with an ankle injury and didn't return. If Hauser misses time, guys like Anfernee Simons could play a bit more, but not much will change in Boston.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 31.4 | 32 | 32 |
| Nic Claxton | 29.8 | 30.8 | 30.8 |
| Noah Clowney | 28.2 | 30.5 | 31.6 |
| Terance Mann | 24.6 | 23 | 23.6 |
| Danny Wolf | 23.1 | 24.4 | 23 |
| Egor Dëmin | 22.9 | 22.8 | 25.3 |
| Ziaire Williams | 20.5 | 23 | 23.5 |
| Ben Saraf | 20.2 | 19.6 | 21.3 |
Cam Thomas has been cleared for on-court work and could return to the lineup next week. That could shake things up, but, in the meantime, Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton are carrying much of the load for the Nets. As we mentioned last week, Brooklyn has incorporated three rookies into the rotation regularly: Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, and Egor Dëmin. Wolf has been the best of late and has also played the most.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kon Knueppel | 37.8 | 35.8 | 34.7 |
| Miles Bridges | 36.8 | 34.2 | 34.7 |
| Brandon Miller | 34.2 | 33.1 | 31 |
| Sion James | 29.6 | 26.7 | 27 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 25.4 | 25.3 | 25.8 |
| KJ Simpson | 24.6 | 21 | 19.5 |
| Liam McNeeley | 19.5 | 19.5 | 15.4 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 17.3 | 17.6 | 20.2 |
| LaMelo Ball | — | 24.4 | 26 |
| Collin Sexton | — | 8.6 | 23.3 |
LaMelo Ball is dealing with an ankle injury, and Collin Sexton is fighting a quad injury, so that has led to more minutes and usage for Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. There is some thought that the Hornets may try to move Ball in a trade and turn the team over to Miller and Knueppel, so that's something to monitor in the weeks ahead.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Josh Giddey | 30.6 | 31.9 | 33.3 |
| Coby White | 29.5 | 27.9 | 29.1 |
| Nikola Vučević | 27.1 | 26.4 | 28.9 |
| Isaac Okoro | 26.9 | 26.9 | 26.9 |
| Kevin Huerter | 25.1 | 25.1 | 22.5 |
| Tre Jones | 24.5 | 24.5 | 26.7 |
| Matas Buzelis | 23.2 | 25.8 | 28.2 |
| Patrick Williams | 20.1 | 21.4 | 20.5 |
| Zach Collins | 16 | 17.5 | 17.5 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | — | 27.3 | 31.8 |
| Jevon Carter | — | 21.9 | 14.9 |
Kevin Huerter and Zach Collins both returned from injuries, which has shifted around some of the playing time for the players on the fringes of the rotation. Additionally, Ayo Dosunmu has been battling a thumb injury, so we've seen consistent minutes for Tre Jones and Isaac Okoro, even with new players joining the rotation. Guys like Mataza Buzeliez and Jalen Smith have seen the biggest hit in minutes.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Evan Mobley | 36.2 | 34.6 | 33.8 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 35.2 | 34.9 | 35.1 |
| Darius Garland | 35 | 34.2 | 32.9 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 33 | 33.2 | 31.9 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 27.1 | 27.1 | 28 |
| Dean Wade | 25.4 | 24.9 | 22.8 |
| Jarrett Allen | 25.2 | 25.2 | 26.2 |
| Lonzo Ball | 24.5 | 24 | 24.4 |
| Thomas Bryant | 13.3 | 13.6 | 12.4 |
This Cavaliers team is in dire straits. They just lost to the Bulls on Wednesday night and will be without starting center Evan Mobley for the next 2-4 weeks as he recovers from a calf strain.I covered who could see the biggest bumps in playing time here, but we also saw Jaylon Tyson move into the starting lineup with De'Andre Hunter moving to the bench on Wednesday. Tyson has been really good when given the shot, so that could stick; however, the Cavs also lost that game, so it remains to be seen how long they keep that lineup.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cooper Flagg | 37.3 | 34.5 | 34.7 |
| P.J. Washington | 33.4 | 33.4 | 33.6 |
| Naji Marshall | 32.2 | 31.8 | 30.4 |
| Anthony Davis | 31.5 | 28.8 | 29.4 |
| Max Christie | 28 | 27.8 | 26.8 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 27.4 | 28.1 | 26.2 |
| Brandon Williams | 24.8 | 21.8 | 22.5 |
| Klay Thompson | 20.7 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Dwight Powell | 18.9 | 15.7 | 14.2 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 12.9 | 14.6 | 14.3 |
Last week, we discussed that Dereck Lively II will be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing foot surgery. Daniel Gafford is still working his way back from an injury, so his minutes are a bit limited right now, but we’re seeing Cooper Flagg emerge as a legit star in the NBA. The Mavericks also have seemed to settle on Ryan Nembhard as their starting point guard, but D'Angelo Russell is also battling an illness, which has limited his minutes.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cameron Johnson | 38.1 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Nikola Jokić | 35.4 | 35.4 | 35.2 |
| Jamal Murray | 34.8 | 35.7 | 35.2 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 30.5 | 29.2 | 28.6 |
| Spencer Jones | 29.1 | 25.6 | 25.6 |
| Bruce Brown | 24.4 | 26.3 | 25.3 |
| Jalen Pickett | 20.5 | 14.2 | 11 |
| Peyton Watson | 19.7 | 24.8 | 28.7 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 15.3 | 13.8 | 13.3 |
The Nuggets were already without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, but Peyton Watson is now dealing with an oblique injury as well. That has led to more minutes for Cameron Johnson and Tim Hadaway Jr., and some time in the rotation for Jalen Pickett when the Nuggets are forced to go smaller. Regardless, this team still runs through Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray fairly exclusively and will remain that way until Gordon comes back.
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 30.2 | 32.4 | 35.1 |
| Jalen Duren | 28.7 | 27.8 | 29.2 |
| Tobias Harris | 26.4 | 28.3 | 28.1 |
| Ausar Thompson | 23.8 | 24.4 | 26.1 |
| Duncan Robinson | 23.6 | 26.2 | 29.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 23 | 21.6 | 21.6 |
| Caris LeVert | 21.2 | 20.6 | 22 |
| Ronald Holland II | 19.1 | 19 | 17 |
| Jaden Ivey | 18.4 | 16.8 | 14.9 |
Things have remained pretty status quo for the Pistons over the last two weeks since they've gotten back to full strength. You could maybe argue that their rotation is too deep, but I don't see that changing unless there's an injury or a trade.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 33.8 | 33.8 | 32.6 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 33.5 | 33.5 | 31 |
| Draymond Green | 29.9 | 19.6 | 28 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 28.1 | 25 | 26.2 |
| Quinten Post | 26.2 | 27.2 | 23.7 |
| Will Richard | 24.2 | 21.7 | 21.1 |
| Moses Moody | 21.8 | 21.6 | 23.8 |
| Pat Spencer | 20.7 | 23.1 | 19.1 |
| Buddy Hield | 19.3 | 21.9 | 20.8 |
The Warriors got back both Steph Curry and Draymond Green this week, which shifted some things around. Then, on Tuesday, head coach Steve Kerr announced a change in the starting lineup that he claimed he would commit to exploring over the next couple of weeks. We'll need to see how that plays out and how long this lineup sticks before we truly know who sees any uptick in value.
In a search for better continuity, Steve Kerr said he will keep the five-man group of Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post as the established starting lineup for the foreseeable future (barring injury).
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 16, 2025
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 40.4 | 36.7 | 35.4 |
| Amen Thompson | 39.3 | 37.3 | 37.3 |
| Alperen Sengun | 39.3 | 36.1 | 35 |
| Kevin Durant | 37.4 | 35.2 | 35.2 |
| Reed Sheppard | 25.9 | 25.3 | 28.2 |
| Josh Okogie | 24 | 23 | 20.8 |
| Aaron Holiday | 18.1 | 20.1 | 22.3 |
| Jae'Sean Tate | 17.3 | 13.5 | 12.5 |
| Steven Adams | 16.7 | 20.3 | 19.7 |
Steven Adams is back but has been fighting an ankle issue, which is why his minutes are down a bit. The rest of the lineup has remained relatively consistent, but Jabari Smith Jr. has seen an uptick in playing time as a result of strong performance. He's been a top-75 fantasy player over the last two weeks, which has fueled some of that added time. Reed Sheppard has seen his usage and his playing time decrease over the last few weeks.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 32.6 | 31.8 | 32.8 |
| Pascal Siakam | 32.4 | 32.4 | 32.2 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 32.2 | 32.6 | 31.9 |
| Ethan Thompson | 28.1 | 24.4 | 21.5 |
| Jay Huff | 27.9 | 26 | 24.9 |
| Garrison Mathews | 19.8 | 18.8 | 15.5 |
| Jarace Walker | 19.6 | 17.9 | 21.6 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 17.2 | 17.3 | 18.6 |
| T.J. McConnell | 16.1 | 15.7 | 17.5 |
This Pacers rotation is deep, but the production is really concentrated around four players. All of Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jay Huff have been top 100 players in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, but nobody else is inside the top 200. We know this is a bit of a rebuilding year for the Pacers, so the fringes of the rotation may change throughout the year.
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 | 36.9 | 36.6 | 34.9 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 36.3 | 35.8 | 32.1 |
| Ivica Zubac | 35.4 | 34.8 | 35.1 |
| Kris Dunn | 29.6 | 26 | 27.3 |
| John Collins | 26.4 | 27.2 | 29.4 |
| Kobe Brown | 25.4 | 19.8 | 16.8 |
| Nicolas Batum | 22.6 | 24 | 23.9 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Jordan Miller | 21.9 | 21.9 | 13.7 |
Bogdan Bogdanović has now been back for over a week and has settled into a full-time role in the rotation, but this remains a three-man team with the top three guys on this list. There's not much excitement coming from the Clippers this season.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Austin Reaves | 39.5 | 38.3 | 38 |
| Luka Dončić | 39.4 | 39.4 | 37.9 |
| LeBron James | 35.6 | 35.7 | 34.3 |
| Rui Hachimura | 32.6 | 32.4 | 31.5 |
| Marcus Smart | 29.9 | 29.9 | 24.3 |
| Deandre Ayton | 29.1 | 29.3 | 27.9 |
| Gabe Vincent | 17.5 | 21.3 | 21.3 |
| Jake LaRavia | 15.7 | 19.2 | 18.1 |
DeAndre Ayton is battling an elbow injury, but the Lakers have been relativelty healthy and kept a consistent rotation over the last few weeks. Marcus Smart is the one big change, with him moving into a larger role, which makes some sense since he's far and away the best on-ball defender on the team. Smart has been a top 100 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks, so he's certainly somebody that we can consider while his role remains increased.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Santi Aldama | 33.6 | 30.7 | 27.9 |
| Jaylen Wells | 31.2 | 29.3 | 29.8 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 30.9 | 29.4 | 30.3 |
| Jock Landale | 28.2 | 24.4 | 21.9 |
| Cam Spencer | 27.7 | 29 | 25.7 |
| Cedric Coward | 26.6 | 26.6 | 28.2 |
| Ja Morant | 23.1 | 23.1 | 23.1 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 23 | 22.4 | 20.5 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 19.6 | 18.9 | 23 |
| Brandon Clarke | 16.6 | 16.6 | 16.6 |
The big news is that Zach Edey is injured again, which my colleague Noah Rubin discussed earlier this week. Ja Morant was also on crutches at the shootaround the other day, so he may still be battling that ankle injury and could miss a few more games. On the other hand, the Grizzlies got Brandon Clarke back on Wednesday for the first game of the season. He should see an uptick in minutes as he gets his timing and rhythm back. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. has been on fire lately, which I discussed in a video this week.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Davion Mitchell | 34.6 | 31.8 | 31.3 |
| Tyler Herro | 34.5 | 33.8 | 31.8 |
| Norman Powell | 31.5 | 31.7 | 31.3 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 31.3 | 32.2 | 32.6 |
| Bam Adebayo | 31 | 32.2 | 31.6 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 29.9 | 28.9 | 27.5 |
| Kel'el Ware | 20.5 | 21.7 | 23.3 |
| Simone Fontecchio | 19.8 | 19.3 | 18.2 |
Tyler Herro is battling a toe injury but isn't expected to be out long. Nikola Jokic is week-to-week with an elbow injury, but we've seen Kel'el Ware's minutes decrease a bit with Bam Adebayo back and the rest of the frontcourt pretty healthy. With Herro missing three of the last four games, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped back into a larger role and been a top 100 player over the last two weeks. He's a name to watch whenever a Miami player misses time.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 32.7 | 34 | 32.2 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 29.1 | 27.4 | 26.4 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 28.4 | 26.1 | 27.8 |
| Myles Turner | 25.8 | 24.1 | 26.3 |
| Jericho Sims | 23.7 | 26.2 | 22.2 |
| Ryan Rollins | 23.7 | 28.9 | 31.8 |
| Bobby Portis | 21.1 | 23.3 | 22 |
| Gary Harris | 17.5 | 18.4 | 18.1 |
With Giannis Antetokounmpo out, this has kind of become Kevin Porter Jr's offense, and he's been the 9th-ranked player in fantasy over the last two weeks. He should be 100% rostered. Ryan Rollins has also continued to produce with Giannis out, and Myles Turner has re-taken his minutes from Bobby Portis Jr.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 36.5 | 37.3 | 34.3 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 35.4 | 31.6 | 32.3 |
| Julius Randle | 35.3 | 35.2 | 34.6 |
| Naz Reid | 31.7 | 30.6 | 30 |
| Rudy Gobert | 30.2 | 28.9 | 29.3 |
| Bones Hyland | 24.8 | 22.6 | 18.3 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | 18.2 | 12.6 | 12.7 |
| Anthony Edwards | — | 37.6 | 38.2 |
| Mike Conley | — | 16.6 | 15.8 |
Anthony Edwards has now missed three straight games with a foot injury, so we'll need to see how long his absence lasts. Bones Hyland has seen an uptick in minutes, but the impact has mostly been that Naz Reid has seen more usage and been a top-80 player in fantasy leagues. The rest of the usage has been picked up by the usual suspects like Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Julius Randle.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Trey Murphy III | 34.2 | 34.3 | 35.8 |
| Derik Queen | 30.8 | 29.5 | 27 |
| Saddiq Bey | 30.1 | 31.4 | 33.6 |
| Zion Williamson | 26.6 | 26.6 | 29.8 |
| Jordan Poole | 26.5 | 26.5 | 26.5 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 24.6 | 28.1 | 28.8 |
| Jose Alvarado | 23.9 | 24.8 | 26.7 |
| Bryce McGowens | 22.6 | 25.2 | 24.3 |
| Herbert Jones | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, and Herbert Jones are both back, which has changed around the minutes a little bit. Zion has only played in one game and played 27 minutes, so we'll need to see how that usage and minutes share grow as he gets back onto the court more. Perhaps New Orleans will be more cautious with him, given his extensive injury history. Saddiq Bey has also seen his usage take a big hit, which makes him no longer relevant in fantasy leagues.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 38.5 | 36.6 | 36.2 |
| Mikal Bridges | 37.6 | 33.7 | 34 |
| OG Anunoby | 34.6 | 31.6 | 31.6 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 34 | 32.4 | 32.7 |
| Josh Hart | 33.7 | 33.1 | 34.8 |
| Miles McBride | 21.3 | 25.7 | 31.3 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 19.3 | 18.5 | 17.9 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 18.8 | 21.6 | 20.8 |
The Knicks have moved Josh Hart back into the starting lineup, and Miles McBride has been out with an ankle injury, which has shifted around some of the bench minutes and led to an uptick in usage for Tyler Kolek. OG Anunoby has been tremendous for the Knicks this year, which Noah covered this week.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 31.7 | 31.9 | 32.9 |
| Jalen Williams | 26.8 | 27.5 | 28.7 |
| Chet Holmgren | 25.9 | 26.2 | 27.4 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 23.9 | 25.4 | 23.2 |
| Cason Wallace | 23.6 | 24.4 | 26.1 |
| Luguentz Dort | 21.6 | 21.6 | 25 |
| Kenrich Williams | 20.8 | 19.7 | 16 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 20.2 | 20.2 | 23.6 |
Isaiah Hartenstein came back from his calf injury this week, so we actually saw the full Thunder roster for the first time all season. It remains to be seen how Hartenstein's minutes increase after he plays a few more games. It's been just one game so far and Hartenstein is out for the next game as the team manages his calf injury, so it may take a couple of weeks before we truly see how the minutes are split up.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Desmond Bane | 36.4 | 35.9 | 34.3 |
| Anthony Black | 33.7 | 32 | 31 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 33.2 | 31.2 | 29.1 |
| Jalen Suggs | 30.7 | 29.6 | 28.8 |
| Paolo Banchero | 30.6 | 28 | 28 |
| Tristan da Silva | 19.2 | 21.6 | 21.9 |
| Tyus Jones | 15.7 | 14 | 16.4 |
| Goga Bitadze | 14.1 | 16.4 | 17 |
Franz Wagner got hurt last week, and then Jalen Suggs may not be set to miss an extended period of time with a hip injury.I covered that all in a video this week, with Anthony Black seeing the biggest bump in usage and minutes.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 38.8 | 38.4 | 38.3 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 38.6 | 32.8 | 29.9 |
| Quentin Grimes | 35.6 | 34.7 | 36.1 |
| Paul George | 32.9 | 32.2 | 27 |
| Joel Embiid | 30.8 | 29.4 | 29.5 |
| Dominick Barlow | 28.4 | 28.4 | 28.3 |
| Andre Drummond | 17.9 | 18.7 | 18.8 |
| Jared McCain | 14.8 | 17.7 | 22.2 |
The 76ers have been relatively healthy for the couple of weeks, and are getting both Paul George and Joel Embiid in the lineup more regularly. That has led to far less work for Jared McCain and a usage dip for VJ Edgecombe, who is not producing at near the levels he did at the start of the season. Still, Edgecombe, George, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Quentin Grimes have all been top 100 players for the last two weeks.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Collin Gillespie | 31.8 | 31.6 | 31.4 |
| Devin Booker | 31.4 | 20.6 | 32.8 |
| Grayson Allen | 29.9 | 28.9 | 28.3 |
| Royce O'Neale | 27.8 | 27.1 | 29.2 |
| Dillon Brooks | 27.2 | 29.1 | 31.3 |
| Mark Williams | 25.5 | 23.7 | 24.7 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 21 | 21.9 | 23.4 |
| Ryan Dunn | 19.2 | 19.3 | 19.3 |
Devin Booker returned, which led to a dip in minutes for Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Jordan Goodwin. Booker has only been back for one game, so we'll need a bit of a bigger sample size before we can react for sure.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jerami Grant | 32.5 | 32.9 | 31.9 |
| Deni Avdija | 31.7 | 33.9 | 33.9 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 28.9 | 30.8 | 28.4 |
| Toumani Camara | 28.7 | 29.1 | 30.8 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 28 | 26.4 | 24.8 |
| Kris Murray | 25.9 | 26.3 | 27.7 |
| Donovan Clingan | 21.9 | 23.5 | 23.6 |
| Yang Hansen | 19.2 | 12.2 | 8.4 |
| Robert Williams III | 19.2 | 24.7 | 20.1 |
Jrue Holiday remains out, and Scoot Henderson will be out til the end of December, so we are seeing how the Portland rotation settles without them. Robert Williams III had entered the rotation, but he's playing a smaller allotment of minutes and seems to be sharing time with Donovan Clingan. Deni Avdija remains a legit star and a should-be All-Star, and Jerami Grant has been a top-50 player over the last two weeks. They and Shaedon Sharpe are carrying this team from a production level.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Keegan Murray | 34.6 | 34.7 | 37.4 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 32.1 | 31.7 | 32.9 |
| Russell Westbrook | 31.7 | 31 | 29.7 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 28.8 | 28.7 | 21.9 |
| Zach LaVine | 26.8 | 27.9 | 31.7 |
| Dennis Schröder | 25.1 | 25.1 | 22.6 |
| Keon Ellis | 23.2 | 18.9 | 14.7 |
| Malik Monk | 22 | 22.6 | 24.2 |
| Devin Carter | 21.1 | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 19.1 | 18.5 | 21.8 |
Dennis Schröder returned from injury, and now Zach LaVine will miss at least a week with an ankle injury. It's been nice to see Keon Ellis get an uptick in playing time, and you'd like to think that would continue. Expect Schröder to take most of LaVine's minutes, with the rest of the rotation remaining pretty static.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 32.8 | 32.1 | 32.4 |
| Harrison Barnes | 31.6 | 31.2 | 32.2 |
| Devin Vassell | 30.1 | 30.3 | 31.1 |
| Julian Champagnie | 28.1 | 29.4 | 30.6 |
| Stephon Castle | 27.8 | 27.8 | 27.8 |
| Luke Kornet | 27.7 | 27.9 | 27.4 |
| Dylan Harper | 23.7 | 23.3 | 20.9 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 20.6 | 20.6 | 20.6 |
| Keldon Johnson | 17.6 | 20.5 | 22.7 |
For the first time this season, we saw the Spurs fully healthy with all three guards and Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup. Wemby has been on a bit of a minutes restriction, so we've yet to see them truly at full strength, but we'd imagine there will be less time for Julian Champagnie and less usage for players like Devin Vassell. I covered the Spurs rotation in a video last week.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Brandon Ingram | 37.2 | 35.3 | 35.9 |
| Scottie Barnes | 35.7 | 34.9 | 35.9 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 32.9 | 32.1 | 33.6 |
| Jamal Shead | 26.4 | 24.4 | 22.6 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 26.3 | 25.4 | 27.3 |
| Ochai Agbaji | 23.2 | 23.2 | 16.3 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 18.9 | 21.8 | 21.2 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 14.3 | 18.5 | 21.6 |
Brandon Ingram has been on a heater of late, which I covered in a video last weekwhere I also discussed the impact of RJ Barrett's knee injury and the increase in playing time for guys like Jamal Shead. The fringe rotation guys here aren't really doing enough in their minutes to warrant much fantasy attention.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 37.7 | 34.1 | 34.6 |
| Keyonte George | 34.2 | 32.4 | 33 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 30.8 | 30.7 | 27 |
| Ace Bailey | 29.3 | 29.4 | 28.5 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 28.5 | 25.2 | 24.8 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 23.7 | 22.3 | 24.1 |
| Taylor Hendricks | 21.6 | 16.7 | 12.7 |
| Isaiah Collier | 20.4 | 19.9 | 19.6 |
| Kevin Love | 18.2 | 17.6 | 16.5 |
The Jazz seem to be resting Jusuf Nurkić after he came back from his rib injury, and Lauri Markkanen missed some time with "groin injury management," which has led to a few more minutes for Kyle Filipowski. This is a team that is clearly tanking, so those guys will be impactful when they play, and Keyonte George has been one of the biggest surprises of the early season. Apart from that, there's not much exciting happening here.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Bub Carrington | 38.3 | 33.4 | 27.8 |
| CJ McCollum | 35.6 | 32.2 | 31.6 |
| Kyshawn George | 32.8 | 32 | 31.4 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 28.2 | 27.3 | 27.6 |
| Justin Champagnie | 27.7 | 24.4 | 21.1 |
| Will Riley | 21.6 | 23.5 | 15.8 |
| Jamir Watkins | 19.9 | 19.6 | 15 |
| Tristan Vukcevic | 19.3 | 18.2 | 17.4 |
| Tre Johnson | 16.2 | 16.2 | 17.3 |
Bilal Coulibaly is out until January with an oblique injury, Alex Sarr has been battling a thigh injury, and Khris Middleton continues to deal with a knee issue, so this team is really banged up. That has led to lots of minutes for other players, and Bub Carrington has really stepped up of late. The 2024 first-round pick is a top-90 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks, and his emergence would be a nice development for this team.
Mike Brown's trust in Knicks bench, plus experimentation paying dividends
When the Knicks hired Mike Brown as head coach this offseason, it was in part to address specific failings from previous seasons. Two in particular were the underutilization of the bench and the lack of experimentation during the regular season.
If you wanted to grade Brown on the job he’s doing, the only metric that will satisfy Knicks fans is whether he wins a championship or not. In the meantime, he’s managed to help secure the city an NBA Cup title, relying on the very things the Knicks had been ignoring before he took over.
Taking on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs coming off a victory over the streaking Oklahoma City Thunder would be no easy task. The Knicks found themselves trailing for most of the first three quarters, until Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson turned things around.
The two bench guards closed the third quarter strong, and Brown rode them through the final period, even playing them alongside Jalen Brunson. New York would win the fourth quarter 35-19 to take home the Cup, as Clarkson finished with 15 points while Kolek chipped in 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Brown made a clever in-game adjustment, but Tom Thibodeau had made many of those, so what’s the big deal? It’s that these looks weren’t thrown out there with no prior experience as a desperate last measure, rather they had a foundation of being tried and developed during the season.
Going to the three-guard lineup of Brunson-Kolek-Clarkson was something Brown could do after playing that group together in three games prior and seeing Miles McBride-Kolek-Clarkson over nearly 10 games. For comparison, Thibodeau made a similar adjustment in last year’s playoffs, with a McBride-Landry Shamet-Delon Wright bench unit winning key minutes in the Conference Finals, yet only appeared for 10 minutes in the regular season.
This was just the primary example. Brown threw out multiple defensive schemes and lineup combinations to keep the Spurs on their toes, backed by trying them out in previous games.
Not only did Brown have his team ready to play in unique circumstances, but he had end-of-bench players ready to go in the biggest game of their lives. Kolek spent most of his rookie season riding pine, save for the brief garbage time or Westchester appearance.
This year, Kolek got a fair crack at the rotation to start the season, then another when Shamet went down due to injury. That trust didn’t immediately pay off, but it did in spades on Tuesday night.
Brown has displayed a level of trust in his depth not seen in previous seasons, both leading up to and during the championship game. That he rode Kolek and Clarkson deep into the fourth quarter when other coaches would have returned their starters was another welcome sign.
This philosophy won’t always look pretty. Fans were polishing their pitchforks when the team opened 2-3, seemed to be throwing things at the wall, and couldn’t get anything from their bench.
Slowly Brown’s vision is coming to fruition, with other examples of smaller payoffs before the Cup. Shamet became a viable rotation piece and lit up the Heat to win a group play game, Kolek stepped up when he got hurt, and the offense is beginning to buzz behind some winning lineups.
What will building off this foundation look like in April and May? It’s a tantalizing thought, with increased glimpses of Mohamed Diawara, Karl-Anthony Towns-Mitchell Robinson lineups, and OG Anunoby breakout scoring nights pointing toward what we might see going forward.
It may not be the title fans ultimately crave, but the Knicks accomplished something in Las Vegas and did it in large part thanks to the vision of the team Brown is trying to build. It’s not the end goal, but it’s a real sign of positive development in pursuit of an NBA championship.
Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns named to 2025 NBA Cup All-Tournament team
The Knicks’ one-two punch of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns has been spectacular this season, and on Thursday, the pair were both named to the NBA Cup All-Tournament team.
New York’s duo joins LA's Luka Dončic, San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox, and OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The All-Tournament Team was selected by a media panel of 20 voters.
OG Anunoby received seven votes as well, but ultimately well three short of the final spot.
Brunson was also named the tournament MVP following Tuesday night’s championship victory over the Spurs.
The captain averaged 33.5 points, 6.5 assists, and shot 55 percent from the field.
Towns was slowed down by an injury during the championship matchup, but still put together a strong showing.
He averaged 21.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, and had a double-double in six of New York’s seven tournament games.
Kevin Garnett reconciles with Timberwolves, will have role with franchise, have jersey retired
Kevin Garnett is a legend of the game, enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with his No. 5 jersey hanging in the rafters in Boston.
Yet, so deep was his feud with former Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor that Garnett — the greatest player in franchise history —was never around the team, and his number is not retired there. Now, with Taylor out and the new Mark Lore/Alex Rodriguez group in charge, all that is about to change.
A franchise icon, Garnett has reconciled with the Timberwolves and will have a "new, all-encompassing role involving business, community efforts and content development," role with the franchise and the WNBA's Lynx, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by the team itself.
THE BIG TICKET IS BACK pic.twitter.com/baiO5oQvML
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 18, 2025
It also means we can expect the long-overdue Garnett jersey retirement in Minnesota to come together sooner rather than later.
Garnett played 14 seasons with the Timberwolves, at the beginning and end of his career, was named MVP in 2004, was a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player while with the club, and remains the franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, assists, and steals. He also took the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals for the first time.
Despite his icon status among Timberwolves fans, Garnett had a long-running feud with former owner Glen Taylor that dated back to his 2007 trade to Boston (KG went on to win a ring in Boston in 2008). Former Timberwolves coach and president Flip Saunders worked to mend fences between Taylor and Garnett, and there was an announcement about a reconciliation a decade ago, but that fell apart again pretty quickly after Saunders ' death. Since then, Garnett has not been around the franchise where he played his best years.
When Lore and Rodriguez purchased the team, they set out to repair the relationship between Garnett and the franchise, ultimately resulting in this announcement. What all of this will ultimately look like remains to be seen, but what matters is that Garnett is back in the Timberwolves family. As it should be.
Will 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder break Warriors' 73-game win record?
LAS VEGAS — The last time we saw the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was in a dramatic NBA Cup loss to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
That dropped the Thunder to 24-2 on the season, "only" a record 76-win pace. They are off to the second-fastest start in NBA history, trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who were 25-1 and went on to set an NBA record 73 wins that season.
Does eclipsing that regular-season win record matter?
"Absolutely," Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Winning matters, and no matter what form it looks like to me. So absolutely."
They absolutely can do it, too. The first part of chasing a record like that is the "want" factor — do they want to chase it? Talking to some Thunder players in Las Vegas, the answer was yes, but it has to come in the flow of them improving throughout the season and staying healthy. Beyond the desire to do it, the Thunder have the talent — a defense that is the best in the league by a country mile, the fifth-ranked offense, and a net rating of +16.4 that would set a league record.
There are a lot of similarities between the 2015-16 Warriors, who set the league record with 73 wins, and these Thunder. Both were teams coming off their first titles and looking to make a mark as a dynasty, both are led by superstars coming off their first MVP (Stephen Curry and Gilgeous-Alexander), and both teams have deep talent pools around those stars, talented guys who want to win.
Also, both those 2016 Warriors and these Thunder are willing to talk openly about chasing that record. However, those Thunder also remember that the 73-win Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals and blamed that, in part, on being tired from the record chase.
"Yes, because we're competitive, you know what I mean," Jalen Williams said when asked if they were going to go after the record. "You could say that we're chasing it, but it's also one of those things that we are not going out there to lose, either. So if it happens organically, then it does.
"Obviously, down the road, whenever that gets there, it's like, all right, do we sacrifice health when we're already solidified at the No. 1 or whatever the spot is? You get into those questions, we can answer those down the road.
"But a lot of it is just seeing how good we can be every game and if it results in a win and we get there, then that's cool. But once you get to the playoffs, everybody, your season really doesn't matter. So that's kind of how we look at it."
The loss to the Spurs in a big national game wasn't seen as a setback so much as a learning experience in the Thunder locker room.
"What are we, 24-2?" Williams said. "I mean, we can go home and just hang our hat on that, or we can look at it as a way to get better and understand that we played against a playoff team that beat us and gave us a two [second loss] on our thing. So that's how we'll look at it from a competitive standpoint."
The other competitive standpoint: The Thunder get two more shots at the Spurs next week. The two will face off on Tuesday night on Coast 2 Coast on NBC and Peacock, then they will play again in a prime slot on Christmas Day.
Take those two games from an outstanding Spurs team, and the Thunder's threat to surpass the Warriors' 73-win record will be in even more jeopardy.
How to watch No. 21 Auburn vs. No. 6 Purdue: TV, live stream info, storylines for Saturday’s game
The Tigers and Boilermakers will meet in Indianapolis for a high-profile matchup.
3 things we learned about Knicks during 2025 NBA Cup run
After a riveting second half comeback, the Knicks captured the NBA Cup with a 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs. A benefit of the cup is that it offers a glimpse into how teams react in high-leverage situations, how coaches figure out rotations and how the best players handle the bright lights.
New York's run in the NBA Cup was quick with three elimination games over the span of a full week, but it offered a chance to see how a future run in the playoffs could look in 2026.
Let’s look at three things we learned about the team after the NBA Cup title win.
Consistent scorer
After a 25-point, eight-assist night against San Antonio, Jalen Brunson took home the NBA Cup MVP award. It was a pedestrian night for the Knick captain, who shot 11-for-27, but his overall Cup performance was impressive.
Brunson averaged 33.3 points on 54.7 percent from the field and 6.7 assists through the three Cup elimination games.
The two-time All-Star has already cemented himself as one of the top performers in franchise history in just three and a quarter seasons. He has guided New York to more playoff series wins (four) than the franchise had in 22 seasons prior to his arrival.
And even with a new head coach in Mike Brown and an adjustment of having the ball in his hands less, Brunson has thrived.
Though there’s often talk about how hard it is to win with a diminutive point guard, Brunson has quieted doubters with clutch play. In high pressure situations, with elite defenses game-planning to short circuit the Knicks offense, Brunson has delivered constantly.
New York has added the pieces around Brunson to form a contender, but the NBA Cup was a reminder that the Knicks point guard is the ultimate factor that gives this team a chance to make the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
Third option
The Knicks' pecking order at the top has always been clear. Brunson is the team’s go-to scorer, and Karl-Anthony Towns is a clear number two option. Behind that, the Knicks have a committee of role players that are all capable of taking over the scoring on any given night.
One player making a case to break out into a larger role is OG Anunoby.
New York’s resident “demon” proved to be the catalyst in the club’s cup run, scoring 52 points in the two Las Vegas games. Though his overall scoring (16.2 points) is down from last season, Anunoby’s mix of finishing ability around the rim with corner three-point shooting has been invaluable to New York’s second-ranked offense.
We’ve seen these types of offensive outbursts before with Anunoby.
He emerged when Brunson was sidelined for 15 games with an ankle injury last year, averaging 23.2 points on 47.6 percent shooting. The question is can the defensive stalwart be a consistent source of offense for New York?
Anunoby had a relatively quiet offensive showing in the playoffs last year, but under a new coach, he could be due for an offensive breakout.
Surprise contributor
The Cup does carry some similarities to the playoffs -- with the high stakes nature of the games, rotations get cut short and minutes for core players increase.
Early in the season, the NBA Cup showcased who New York's new head coach trusts to be on the floor. As an example, Guerschon Yabusele saw just four total minutes in the final two games, including a DNP on Tuesday night.
As expected, Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson earned minutes off the bench, but an unexpected ascender in New York’s rotation during these games was Tyler Kolek.
The second year point guard scored 14 points in the title game and found himself on the floor in crunch time. Coach Brown went to two point guard lineups with Brunson and Kolek on the floor at the same time often. The decision paid off as Kolek gave the Knicks another ball-handler to ease the full-court pressure applied to Brunson and make plays.
Coming into the season, the Knicks needed one of their recent draft picks to step into a rotation spot. Kolek could use the tournament as a building block to gain consistent playing time.
One concern is Kolek’s play adds to an already crowded backcourt. With Clarkson and the injured duo of Miles McBride and Landry Shamet part of the rotation, it will be tricky for all of them to see minutes, but that’s a good problem to have.
The Knicks can trust Kolek to be on the floor in serious moments.
Steph Curry recalls cathartic dinner at Klay Thompson's house last season
Steph Curry recalls cathartic dinner at Klay Thompson's house last season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Despite playing on different teams, the iconic trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson still make time to hang out together.
Even after Thompson’s departure from the Warriors.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon published a story Thursday about Thompson’s departure from Golden State and his relationships with his former teammates today and revealed that Curry, Green, Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco and some of Thompson’s friends all met up at the veteran guard’s Dallas home last season on Feb. 11 for a private dinner.
Curry, per ESPN, decided in advance that he would spend the night at Thompson’s house before the Warriors and Mavericks faced off the following day. The visit, perhaps, was needed after Thompson’s seemingly icy departure from Golden State last summer.
“I was like, I’m making sure I get over there,” Curry told ESPN.
“Man. I had to move to Texas to get this guy to come over to my house,” Thompson joked.
The mood throughout the evening, per ESPN, was light, and featured plenty of games, conversations and Thompson showing his former teammates around his new neighborhood.
“We didn’t need to address any feelings or his departure or anything like that,” Green told ESPN. “It was friends kicking it. He’s showing us, ‘Yeah, this is my life here.’
“But you could tell he’s trying to come to grips with it. It was odd for him.”
The dinner seemingly was a cathartic experience for Curry, who called it an “acknowledgement of the finality.”
“I didn’t go there for that,” Curry explained to ESPN. “But that’s what it turned into.”
“You don’t spend 12 years with your friends and then that just fades,” Thompson said. “That was a really fun moment of last season, [which] was pretty up and down.”
Thompson and the Mavericks then beat the Warriors 111-107 the following day before Golden State got its revenge 10 days later in a 126-102 win over Dallas at Chase Center to cap a four-game season series split.
Curry, Green and the Warriors will make the trip back to Dallas on Christmas Day this season, in the first of three games against the former Splash Brother.
Steph Curry recalls cathartic dinner at Klay Thompson's house last season
Steph Curry recalls cathartic dinner at Klay Thompson's house last season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Despite playing on different teams, the iconic trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson still make time to hang out together.
Even after Thompson’s departure from the Warriors.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon published a story on Thursday about Thompson’s departure from Golden State and his relationships with his former teammates today and revealed that Curry, Green, Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco and some of Thompson’s friends all met up at the veteran guard’s Dallas home last season on Feb. 11 for a private dinner.
Curry, according to ESPN, decided in advance that he would spend the night at Thompson’s house before the Warriors and Mavericks faced off the following day. The visit, perhaps, was needed after Thompson’s seemingly icy departure from Golden State last summer.
“I was like, I’m making sure I get over there,” Curry told ESPN.
“Man. I had to move to Texas to get this guy to come over to my house,” Thompson joked.
The mood throughout the evening, according to ESPN, was light, and featured plenty of games, conversations and Thompson showing his former teammates around his new neighborhood.
“We didn’t need to address any feelings or his departure or anything like that,” Green told ESPN. “It was friends kicking it. He’s showing us, ‘Yeah, this is my life here.’
“But you could tell he’s trying to come to grips with it. It was odd for him.”
The dinner seemingly was a cathartic experience for Curry, who called it an “acknowledgement of the finality.”
“I didn’t go there for that,” Curry explained to ESPN. “But that’s what it turned into.”
“You don’t spend 12 years with your friends and then that just fades,” Thompson said. “That was a really fun moment of last season, [which] was pretty up and down.”
Thompson and the Mavericks then beat the Warriors 111-107 the following day before Golden State got its revenge 10 days later in a 126-102 win over Dallas at Chase Center to cap a four-game season series split.
Curry, Green and the Warriors will make the trip back to Dallas on Christmas Day this season, in the first of three games against the former Splash Brother.