Category: Basketball

The San Antonio Spurs spent much of Wednesday night searching for their footing, trailing early and struggling to slow Houston’s tempo. By the final buzzer, they had imposed their will, turning a shaky start into a dominant 111–99 road victory over the Rockets at Toyota Center.

San Antonio overcame a double-digit first-half deficit by tightening its defense, controlling the glass, and leaning on its size in the paint. The Spurs outscored Houston 58–38 in the second half and limited the Rockets to just 13 points in the fourth quarter, sealing the win with disciplined execution and physical play.

“I think it’s the job that everyone was doing around him [Wembanyama] that allowed Victor to be that impactful at the rim,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “We had quite a bit of crowds at the rim and we did a much better job of securing loose balls in the second half and the latter part of the game.”

The Rockets dictated much of the opening half, attacking early in the shot clock and finding success from the perimeter. Houston built a lead that grew to 16 points as San Antonio struggled to contain dribble penetration and gave up second-chance opportunities.

That changed after halftime.

The Spurs emerged with a renewed focus on defense, shrinking the floor and forcing Houston into contested shots. San Antonio began to chip away late in the third quarter, closing the gap behind improved ball movement and a steady diet of interior scoring.

“It felt like we were freaking out a bit,” Johnson said. “It felt like we didn’t settle down into the game [in the first half], but we kept our composure.”

Victor Wembanyama was at the center of it all. He star finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds, anchoring the Spurs on both ends of the floor. Wembanyama repeatedly punished Houston inside, altering shots defensively while drawing fouls and creating space for teammates offensively.

San Antonio’s patience paid off early in the fourth quarter. After finally taking the lead late in the third, the Spurs opened the final period with an 11–0 run that shifted momentum decisively. Defensive stops led to transition opportunities, and the Spurs capitalized by attacking the rim and controlling the pace.

The Spurs’ advantage in the paint proved decisive. San Antonio consistently beat Houston to loose balls and dominated the rebounding battle, limiting the Rockets’ ability to generate second chances. As the game slowed, Houston struggled to find clean looks against San Antonio’s length and discipline.

Rookie guard Dylan Harper provided a significant boost off the bench, scoring 16 points and offering energy during critical stretches. His ability to attack downhill and convert at the rim helped stabilize the Spurs’ offense when the game tightened, preventing Houston from regaining momentum.

Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 25 points, showcasing his athleticism and aggressiveness throughout the night. But despite strong individual performances, Houston could not sustain its early success once San Antonio imposed its defensive structure. The Rockets committed key turnovers and endured extended scoring droughts in the fourth quarter as the Spurs closed out the game.

For San Antonio, the win served as a reminder of how effective the team can be when it commits to defense and physicality. After a recent stretch marked by inconsistency, the Spurs demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure and win a tough, grind-it-out game on the road.

The victory also highlighted the Spurs’ growth in late-game situations. Rather than rushing possessions or settling for contested jump shots, San Antonio remained composed, working the ball inside and trusting its defensive rotations.

As the Spurs continue to navigate a competitive Western Conference, Wednesday’s performance offered a blueprint for success — defend, rebound, and let discipline dictate the outcome. Against a young and energetic Rockets team, San Antonio proved that resilience and execution can still make a difference.

Game notes

• Charles Barkley said Stephon Castle “single handedly changed the game” for the Spurs. And if you look at the tape, he’s right. Castle was in Sengun and Kevin Durant’s business in the second half and made life difficult for him. While Durant finished with 24 points, he shot 8-for-17 and that is largely due to Castle.
• Can we stop with the Mitch Johnson hate? His coaching in the second half and adjustments of putting Wembanyama on Amen Thompson was a huge reason why the Spurs rallied for the win. The Spurs are 32-15 and are en route for the NBA Playoffs. He’s a huge reason why.
• San Antonio’s bench outscored Houston’s 38-14.
• Dylan Harper had a nice evening at the office with 16 points on 8-11 shooting.

1. Tough Day at the Office

After the Celtics went into Atlanta and beat the Hawks by 26, Atlanta decided to return the favor by beating Boston 117-106 in TD Garden. It was an annoying game to watch because every time the Celtics got close to coming back and cut into the lead, the Hawks would go on a run. The frustration was definitely boiling over for Boston, no better personified than when Joe Mazzulla lost it on the refs in the third quarter. Mazzulla essentially waved the white flag at the 4:39 mark of the fourth quarter and Atlanta exacted their revenge.

Joe Mazzulla is HEATED at the refs. Poor Sam Cassell tried to hold him back… pic.twitter.com/7ACryYWAZZ

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) January 29, 2026

In the postgame interview, Joe Mazzulla was adiment about this being a game that you just flush away. From the hot Hawks shooting to the Celtics turnovers, Mazzulla just chalked it up to “just a bad day at the office.”

Joe Mazzulla on the tough loss and the Hawks three point shooting

“Tough day at the office” pic.twitter.com/ulc7IuBSKl

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) January 29, 2026

2. Celtics Slow Start Cost them the game

This loss started with the Celtics very slow start to the first quarter and it felt like they never recovered from it. The Hawks went on a 26-9 run to open the game up by 3:35 mark. Anfernee Simons tried to will the Celtics back into the game with 8 straight points out of the timeout, but the score was 38-18 after the first quarter. The Hawks shot 13-26 (50%) from the field and 7-12 (58%) from three. Although Boston got close multiple times in this game, the monster start by Atlanta really was the beginning of the end for this game.

3. Three Point Difference

In the past the Celtics have won and lost games this season just because of the three point shot. That was the great equalizer again in this game, but it was on the losing end for Boston. The Celtics shot 9-34 (27%) from three as a team in this one while the Hawks shot 18-42 (43%) from three. In a game where Boston lost by 11 and Atlanta made 9 more three pointers, that is a recipe for a guaranteed loss.

4. Brown/Pritchard/White Off Nights

It was a tough game for the Celtics three main offensive guys tonight as Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White all combined to shoot 19-44 (43%) from the field but 1-13 (7%) from three. There were times where all three of them had short bursts in this game that cut in to Atlanta’s lead but it never felt all that cohesive.

Derrick White had a burst in the third quarter that started with a three on wing. He then was able to make a nice driving layup off of a good screen by Luka Garza. Next he was being defended by Jalen Johnson, was able to stop on a dime and hit a mid range jumper over him. Finally, he drove into the midrange and hit a floater over CJ McCollum.

Pritchard went on his short run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He started with a pump fake over McCollum, got him up in the air, then finished a wide open layup. The next bucket came when he ran around a Garza screen and hit a nice midrange jumper over Onyeka Okongwu. Finally, he was matched up on Corey Kispert and hit another mid range jumper over him after make a quick stop.

Brown also had his burst in the fourth quarter but it was in the middle when the Celtics were trying to make their last attempt at winning the game. He started with a nice play where Luke Kennard was guarding him and Brown just took him to his spot in the midrange and splashed the jumper. The next play came on a drive blowing by Jalen Johnson where he was fouled and finished the layup for an And-1. The third play was a goal tending call against Dyson Daniels. Finally, he was matched up on Daniels again and hit a sweet midrange jumper with him draped all over him.

5. Anfernee Simons

In a game where a lot of guys struggled to get going, Anfernee Simons was able to play a pretty good game overall. He finished with 12 points on 5-7 shooting from the field and 2-4 from three. He was a big part of the Celtics turning the game around in the first quarter with some really huge baskets.

Simons came out of a Celtics timeout and finished a nice finger roll over the outstretched arm of Okongwu. Next he got the ball from Amari Williams and hit a side step three over Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Finally, on the next Celtics possession he hit another three over Alexander-Walker in essentially the same exact place.

6. Luka Garza

Another guy that had a good night for the Celtics in this game was Luka Garza coming off of the bench after missing Monday’s game against the Trail Blazers with an illness. Garza finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and a career high 6 assists.

All of Garza’s baskets came in the second quarter but they were pretty much all tough buckets. The first one was a put back layup where he sealed off Luke Kennard and was able to finish the play after Jordan Walsh missed a layup. The next play came when Brown found him wide open underneath the basket and finished an And-1 layup through contact. The third basket was another layup, this time off of a nice bounce pass by Derrick White. The fourth was an all out hustle play where he missed a layup, grabbed his own rebound, and put it back up to score. Finally, after Brown missed a layup, Garza was able to tap it back up twice to finish the basket.

When it comes to his new career high in assists, Garza had two of them that made him look like the new-aged Magic Johnson. The first one came off of a nice offense rebound off of a Sam Hauser missed three. Hauser then was able to relocate to the corner where Garza made a nice pass to find him to hit the three. The second started with a nice pick and roll between Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza. Garza received a bounce pass and made a nice pass over a double team to find a cutting Jordan Walsh who finished with a reverse layup.

7. Tough Amari Williams Game

Coming off a couple good games against the Bulls and the Trail Blazers, Amari Williams had a bit of rough game. Williams finished with 2 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on 1-3 shooting. He started the game for the Celtics and played 10 minutes in the first quarter but after that was benched for the rest of the game until garbage time. The reason I can think of for his benching was a culmination of the two smoked layups and two turnovers in the first quarter.

His firs tough play came on a bad pass to Jaylen Brown. Williams was trying to make a bounce pass to Brown but just threw it into Dyson Daniels feet for a turnover that resulted in a Corey Kispert three. The next play came on the Celtics next offensive possession where he ran a pick and roll with Brown. Two defenders went to Brown and it looked like Williams had an easy layup but he just smoked it on the way up. The next one came on alley-oop pass from Derrick White that Williams didn’t slam down, but tried to lay it up and smoked again. Finally, at the end of the first quarter, he committed an illegal screen at half court on Alexander-Walker and Mazzulla pulled him for the rest of the night. This is normal for a rookie in the NBA to have growing pains but it was hard not to see Williams performance as a reason for the Celtics slow start in this game.

8. Baylor Scheierman Hustle

Baylor Scheierman had a quite two first quarters of this game but once he entered the game in the third quarter, he was chaos personified. Scheierman had all 6 of his points in the third quarter along with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a lot of hustle plays.

Scheierman started his run of great play by drawing a charge on Jalen Johnson where Johnson threw his shoulder into Baylor’s chest. Then on the next possession, Baylor drew the attention of three Hawks defenders and found Hugo Gonzalez wide open for a corner three. The next play came where the ball was being juggled in the air, Scheierman picked it off and drove to the lane for a layup. That was until Okongwu hit him with a horse collar tackle and Baylor went to the line and hit 1-2 free throws. Finally, at the 1:13 mark, Scheierman backed down CJ McCollum from the three point line to the basket and finished an And-1 layup over him.

9. No paint defense

Neemias Queta was ruled OUT before this game with an illness and I didn’t know the Celtics would look so poor in the paint without him. Clearly he is what makes their defense role because Boston ended up getting destroyed in the points in the paint battle, giving up 44. Hawks were able to take advantage of Williams to start the game in the first quarter, shooting 5-9. The second quarter was a little better for Boston as Garza took over and held Atlanta to 4-9 shooting. However, once the Celtics ran a small ball lineup in the third quarter, the Hawks were able to feast down low, shooting 8-9.

10. Bad Turnover Game

This was a game that was dominated by turnovers for the Celtics. The Hawks only finished with 9 turnovers but Boston ended with 16 turnovers on the night where Atlanta was able to generate 23 points off of them. These turnovers were most seen in the first half as the Celtics had 9 of them. This culminated with the tough shooting game from three was a big reason for the loss.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Six direct places in the Europa League round of 16 are up for grabs and 11 teams remain in contention for the five last spots in the knockout stage in the final round of the opening phase on Thursday.

Only leader Lyon and second-placed Aston Villa have already qualified for the last 16. They are tied on points atop the standings with six wins and a loss.

Like in the Champions League, all 36 teams play in the last 18 games that kick off simultaneously, and the top eight finishers advance automatically after eight rounds.

The teams placed from nine to 24 enter a two-leg playoff.

Lyon hosts PAOK while Villa meets Salzburg at home.

Third-placed Freiburg, which trails the leaders by a point, travels to 21st-placed Lille and a point would be enough for the Bundesliga team to advance.

Roma in sixth is away at Panathinaikos in 19th. Sixteenth-placed Nottingham Forest plays seventh-placed Ferencváros at City Ground.

Celtic sits in the 24th and last qualifying place and needs a win against Utrecht, which is 34th and already eliminated. Scottish rival Rangers in 31st is also out of knockout contention.

___

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

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown felt apologetic after Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu was left missing a tooth following Wednesday night’s 117-106 Celtics loss at TD Garden.

In the fourth quarter, Brown swung his right elbow and connected with Okongwu’s jaw on an offensive possession. Okongwu immediately clutched his face and was left bloodied and missing a tooth, though the 25-year-old later returned to the scene of the crime to shoot his two flagrant free throws. He then retreated to the player’s tunnel, cutting his night short with 6:43 remaining.

Brown addressed the collision with Okongwu and offered his sympathy, drawing from his own experience with facial injuries.

“Just being aggressive like I always am,” Brown said. “Just a basketball play, it’s unfortunate. Okongwu is a good player, and I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth — that s••t is a hassle. It wasn’t intentional, and I know it’s gonna be a long day at the dentist for him, so hopefully he has a good recovery.”

Two seasons ago, Brown took an elbow to the face from teammate Jayson Tatum that resulted in a maxillary facial fracture and required him to wear a protective mask upon his return. Brown missed just four games after a miscommunication while going for an offensive rebound left him dealing with discomfort and pain for nearly two weeks.

While Brown was the culprit this time, he’s uniquely qualified to speak from the perspective of someone who’s been through it.

Okongwu finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in 28 minutes. After the Hawks closed out the Celtics, he took to social media while receiving medical treatment to send a message to his teammates, offering them a virtual pat on the back for a job well done.

“Good winssss birdsss,” Okongwu posted on his Instagram story.

But even with Okongwu left bloodied, the Celtics suffered the heaviest blow.

Atlanta faced little resistance as Boston struggled to find any rhythm. The Celtics shot just 9-for-34 (26.5%) from three, while the Hawks connected on 18-of-42 (42.9%) from beyond the arc. In the third quarter, Atlanta quickly went on a 10-4 run over the first 4:25 to take a 20-point lead (70-50), prompting Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to call a timeout. The C’s then proceeded to shoot 2-of-11 from three to end the frame.

The defeat, while harsh, isn’t one Boston plans to harp on.

“I give credit to Atlanta,” Brown said. “They just beat us up and down the floor — offense and defense. They shot the ball really well, so give credit to them. They put a lot of pressure on us. This is the part of the season where you have to dig deep physically and mentally, and tonight wasn’t the best example of that.”

Okongwu’s missing tooth didn’t go in vain, and Hawks coach Quin Snyder doesn’t expect the sixth-year veteran to miss much time despite the injury. As one of the more durable members of the team, Okongwu has missed only two games all season.

“He’s tough,” Snyder told reporters. “He took quite a shot, and it’s a good thing that dentistry is a profession. I don’t know what he’s gonna need, but he’s pretty banged up. He took quite a shot. I told him he’s still handsome. But it’s a good thing that people can repair his teeth because he’s going to need some work.”

Will Tatum miss entire season? Forsberg, Abby react to ‘surprising' report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the past several months, the question hasn’t been if Jayson Tatum will return to the Boston Celtics this season, but when he’ll return.

But a report Wednesday night has shifted that conversation.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Tatum is “re-evaluating his situation and is now considering sitting out the entire 2025-26 season” while recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered last May.

Tatum recently expressed doubt over how he’d reintegrate with the Celtics when he returns to action, telling The Pivot podcast that he’s been thinking “every single day” for the last two weeks about the potential challenges of joining a team that’s playing like a legitimate contender without him (29-18 and third in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday).

Still, the overwhelming expectation was that Tatum would return at some point this season, with a home date in February or March looking like the general timeframe. So, what should we make of this latest plot twist?

NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg and Abby Chin shared their immediate reactions on the Celtics Talk Podcast after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden.

“My immediate reaction is to just dismiss it,” Forsberg said. “I do think Tatum showed a bunch of self-awareness in those comments on The Pivot where he kind of said, ‘Hey, the Celtics have a good thing going. I don’t want to come in and be a disruptor.’ On the other hand, the Celtics still need some pieces to be a true contender, and I ultimately think for them to be in that mix, Jayson Tatum needs to be on the court.

“So, very interesting that this is being thrown out into the universe. I don’t know if this is just it being reaffirmed that he’s having some real heavy thoughts about how he fits and not wanting to disrupt, or if he’s truly pondering if the best path is to just wait.”

“I’m surprised by this,” Chin added. “I feel like this entire season — and everything that we’ve heard coming from Jayson himself — was just how motivated he is to get back this season and to get back as soon as possible.

“And yes, while the Celtics have exceeded expectations, there was always the expectation that Jayson would return this season. And to me, that’s part of the plan and has been part of the plan. So, this is surprising. I’m curious to see where this goes from here.”

To be clear, Tatum hasn’t decided on his future one way or the other. The Celtics star told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday night that he has yet to make a decision on whether he’ll return this season because he “wants to get it right the first time, so it’s just a lot to think about.”

As Forsberg mentioned, it’s possible that Tatum is just wrestling with some internal doubts. This is the first major injury of his career — prior to his injury, no NBA player had appeared in more games than Tatum since he entered the league in 2017 — and he understandably doesn’t want to risk coming back too soon, especially if the Celtics are playing well.

“I do think we’re seeing a little bit of human nature,” Chin said. “I think this injury forced Jayson to confront his basketball mortality.”

That part is understandable. But if Tatum is truly concerned that he’ll somehow mess with the Celtics’ mojo by coming back, Forsberg has a message for the six-time All-Star.

“The Celtics have been good and they’re playing different, and I think Tatum has every right to think that there will be pain points or bumps in the road trying to re-acclimatize,” Forsberg said.

“I think the bigger thing is, he just needs to get over that, because the best version of the Celtics includes Jayson Tatum.”

Stephen Curry is now 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. With a stepback three against Utah, he passed Paul Pierce, finishing the night at 26,398 career points and still climbing. Another name checked off. Another Hall of Famer in the rearview. On paper, it’s just another milestone in a career already stuffed with them. In practice, this one hits a little different.

Keep 'em coming, 30👏

Stephen Curry has passed Paul Pierce for 19th most points scored in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/kKkp7xR2Ng

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 29, 2026

Speaking of Pierce, remember NBA Live 2002? There was something about that classic hoops title that hit different for me back when I was a young high schooler. Not the gameplay, but the bios. Those little blocks of text that turned polygons into people. And there it was in Paul Pierce’s profile: born in Oakland, playing for Boston, nicknamed The Truth. Now I know Pierce’s family moved to Los Angeles when he was still in elementary school, but for an East Oakland kid like myself scrolling through rosters, that bit of Town trivia felt like finding a secret passage.

He immediately joined several other Bay Area born players like Gary Payton and Jason Kidd as guys I would root for no matter their jersey. Pierce was never the most athletic wing of his era like Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady. He was something better for a certain kind of fan: relentlessly effective. A killer from deep before that was the default setting. Ice cold when the game slowed down. Crafty in ways that didn’t show up on mixtapes but absolutely showed up on scoreboards. And nobody lived at the line like Pierce. He drew fouls with angles, leverage, timing. Nearly nine free throws a night at his peak. That wasn’t explosion. That was intelligence. Knowing exactly when a defender was cooked and making the whistle unavoidable.

So watching him finally break through in 2008, watching him win Finals MVP, felt personal even in Celtics green. An Oakland-born player who proved you didn’t need freakish tools to dominate. Just toughness, feel, and nerve.

Around that same time, the Warriors drafted a skinny kid from Davidson with fragile ankles and a jumper people thought was cute. His name was Stephen Curry, a baby-faced sidekick to Monta Ellis, a guy who very few could have imagined would bend the sport to his will.

Sixteen years later, Curry passed Paul Pierce on the all-time scoring list and he did it with a stepback three in a fashion that would make the Truth proud. Curry also went to the line ten times against Utah, channeling Pierce’s old blueprint in his own language.

The shot that sent Steph to 19th on the all-time scoring list 🎥 https://t.co/1ePHFHzMkppic.twitter.com/mF5NMR4r4B

— NBA (@NBA) January 29, 2026

His FIRST game with 10 FTA in 2026! pic.twitter.com/1F6MPwnX8w

— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) January 29, 2026

That’s the poetry. Pierce thrived by being smarter than everyone else. Curry does the same thing at 37, except his craft warps the geometry of basketball itself. Pierce pushed the three forward for his era while Curry turned audacity into infrastructure. It makes me smile that Pierce was born in Oakland and decades later Curry became Oakland’s basketball avatar. Different paths, and yet the same principles: outsmart the defense, punish mistakes, and do it in style. For me, watching Curry pass Pierce doesn’t just feel like a stat update, but rather more of a handoff. One era of Bay-born basketball intelligence giving way to the next, louder, stranger, more revolutionary version.

If you loved Pierce for being effective over flashy, for the threes, for the free throws, for the nerve, this moment keeps that spirit alive. Curry didn’t just pass him folks, he did it the Pierce way, then added a chapter only he could write.

That’s full-circle basketball swag. The Truth would respect it.

TORONTO — Karl-Anthony Towns, the subject of persistent trade rumors ahead of next week’s deadline, said he’s unconcerned with the chatter.

“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot for a lot of times, for a year damn near. That don’t matter to me,” said Towns, who was traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks before last season. “I don’t look at social media or none of that stuff. I focus on the job on hand which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I do my job, I go home happy and I feel accomplished. I’m not worried about what anybody got to say or people write or anything like that.”

At least as of earlier this week, the Knicks were not talking to other teams about trading Towns, according to sources. But his struggles have compelled speculation about his availability and that will intensify with recent news that Giannis Antetokounmpo is available.

Towns has a longstanding relationship with Knicks president Leon Rose, who once represented the center as a longtime agent at CAA. Still, Towns said he hasn’t discussed the trade rumors with Rose.

“We only worry about one thing. That’s winning. So I got no reason to go into depth on anything else,” said Towns before the Knicks’ 119-92 blowout win over the Raptors. “It’s just at the end of the day the conversations revolve around one thing and one thing only every single day, 24 hours a day — is winning. How can we win? How can I help this team win? The sacrifices I’ve got to continue to make every single night for us to be the best version of ourselves. I’ve been willing to do that every single night, regardless of what anyone talks about.”

Towns, an All-NBA selection last season, became eligible for a contract extension before the season but there was no traction toward an agreement.

He is shooting career lows this campaign and continued those struggles Wednesday (3 for 11 from beyond the arc), but he also grabbed a season-high 22 boards.

---

The Knicks had a case of the back-to-back blues.

Two players — Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson — were ruled out of Wednesday’s win for “ankle injury management,” one day after both played in a victory at MSG versus the Kings.

Josh Hart (ankle injury management) and Jalen Brunson (illness) were also questionable Wednesday before playing.

Hart scored 22 points and Brunson had a rare off night offensively, scoring just 13.

With the depth compromised, Tyler Kolek went from consecutive DNPs to 20 minutes on Wednesday, collecting 10 assists.

Happy birthday to Andre Iguodala, the man who helped the Golden State Warriors unlock a dynasty.

On his special day, with the Warriors scrambling to replace Jimmy Butler and contemplating trading Jonathan Kuminga possibly back to Miami for Andrew Wiggins, there’s no better moment to recognize what we lost when Iguodala retired. Because the truth is simple: the Warriors have been searching for another Iguodala since he retired, and they still haven’t found him.

Join us in wishing a Happy 42nd Birthday to #NBAAllStar, 4x NBA champion and 2014-15 NBA Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala! #NBABDAYpic.twitter.com/lyhDCHz94m

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 28, 2026

Let’s remember what made him irreplaceable.

In July 2013, Andre Iguodala turned down more money from Denver to join the Warriors on a four-year, $48 million deal. That single decision separated the Warriors from “cute story” to “championship contender.” His pedigree legitimized everything Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were building. When an All-Star caliber player chooses your young, unproven team over a bigger payday, people pay attention.

Then he backed it up by winning Finals MVP in 2015, holding LeBron James to 38.1% shooting when guarding him compared to 44% against other defenders. That wasn’t just about defense. That was about identity. The role player who sacrificed his ego won the biggest individual award of the championship run. That was the Warriors Way crystallized. Here’s what made Iguodala special: he came off the bench for Harrison Barnes without destroying the locker room. An All-Star, a franchise centerpiece in Philadelphia, willingly accepted a reduced role because Coach Steve Kerr believed it gave the team the best chance to win.

Most players would have demanded a trade. Iguodala absorbed the tough situation privately, then went out and delivered when the Warriors needed him most. When Golden State fell behind 2-1 to Cleveland in the 2015 Finals, Kerr inserted him into the starting lineup and Iguodala kept LeBron from averaging 80 points, helping the Warriors win three straight games and capture their first championship.

That’s championship DNA. That’s what separates good players from dynasty builders.

When Kevin Durant arrived, the Warriors added otherworldly talent and complicated emotional dynamics. He was the guy Kerr referred to as the adult in the room, a level headed veteran who could lead with both his play on the court and his spirit behind the scenes.

He was the Swiss Army knife alternating between being a highflyer, clutch shooter, and primary playmaker over eight seasons while guarding the opponent’s best player. But his real value was leadership. He mentored young players like Moses Moody, Kuminga, and Wiggins during his final Warriors stint in 2021-23. When the Warriors won their fourth championship in 2022, Iguodala was taking a backseat yet again to his younger teammates. But his presence, his voice, his example carried through the entire run.

Remember when the Warriors retired his jersey last year, making him only the seventh Warriors player to have the honor? He joined Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Chris Mullin (No. 17), Nate Thurmond (No. 42), Alvin Attles (No. 16), Rick Barry (No. 24) and Tom Meschery (No. 14) up in the rafters. The cosmic poetry of Jimmy Butler making his Warriors debut on the night Iguodala’s jersey was retired felt like a passing of the torch. Butler, who played alongside Iguodala in Miami, embodied similar qualities: the calm in the chaos, the defensive anchor, the unselfish star.

Butler helped the Warriors get a first round playoff series win in a supporting role to Curry, before his ACL exploded this season. And suddenly Golden State is back to an all too familiar space, desperately searching for someone who can fill the Iguodala-shaped hole in their roster.

Pretty good chance they won’t find him. Not because there aren’t great wings in the league, but because Iguodala’s greatness wasn’t just his skill set. It was his spirit, his timing, his willingness to sacrifice, his ability to lead without needing credit. That’s the standard. That’s what every trade, every signing, every draft pick has been chasing. And that’s what makes Iguodala’s legacy etched in stone, even as the Warriors struggle to find the next wing to carry that honor forward.

Happy birthday, Andre. We’re still trying to figure out how to replace you. We probably never will.

CLEVELAND — As LeBron James made the trip to Rocket Arena before the Lakers’ Wednesday night blowout loss to the Cavaliers, he couldn’t help but wonder the same thing everyone else was.

Could that have been James’ last NBA game in Cleveland, and should he soak it in even more than usual?

“That’s every road arena that I’ve been in,” James said. “I think [I’ve] talked about that, that I’m just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted. Because it could be [my last season].” 

James, who’s 41 years old and playing in his league-record 23rd NBA season, reiterated that he doesn’t know what the future will hold for him beyond this season. 

He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

“I obviously haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be [my last season]. So, no matter if it’s here or going to Washington and playing the next game, [Madison Square] Garden, Barclays [Center], on this trip. And obviously it means a little bit more here for me personally because I grew up 35 minutes south of here.”

James, and the Lakers, struggled on Wednesday night. 

The four-time league MVP finished with just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting to go with six turnovers, five assists and three rebounds.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

And the 129-99 final score was the Lakers’ largest margin of defeat in a game this season. They were outscored by the Cavaliers 99-59 in the game’s final 32 minutes, including 72-44 in the second half, after having a 40-30 lead early in the third. 

“We got outplayed, you can say, I got outcoached,” coach JJ Redick said. “We just didn’t look like we had all our juice.”

Despite the lackluster performance that dropped the Lakers to 28-18, there was a bright spot outside of the tribute video the Cavaliers had for James in the first quarter: second-year guard Bronny James scoring eight points — a dunk in transition and a pair of 3-pointers in the game’s final 3 ½ minutes after the Cleveland chanted “We want Bron-ny” multiple times during the fourth quarter. 

Bronny, 21, was born in Akron, Ohio like his father. He spent many years around the Cavaliers during the elder James’ two stints with the organization from 2003-2010 and 2014-18. 

“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching him just continue to live out his dream,” LeBron said of Bronny. “Obviously it’s a homecoming for him/ And to see him get that fastbreak dunk, hit a couple shots, get the ovation from the fans – it’s a pretty cool moment for him, for us as a family, for my wife and his siblings. Just super cool.”

LeBron added: “And my mom is here watching her son and her grandson. Like, I don’t even know how to even wrap that all in one in my brain. And yeah, it’s so weird and so cool and so surreal. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time. I actually just started to think about how insane that is. That’s awesome.”

But regardless of Wednesday’s result, James’ future was always going to be the main focus coming out of the game against the Cavaliers. 

James told cleveland.com in May 2017 that he felt he didn’t have anything left to prove. 

But nearly nine years later, he’s still playing. 

“After going to eight straight Finals and with all the energy and all the mental toll and the physical toll that it took on me and obviously my teammates – four in Miami, four [in Cleveland – if you would’ve asked me if I was going to be playing eight years later, I’d have said no,” James said. “It’s just, there’s no way I could have foreseen that. A couple more years? Yeah. I can go out and play at a high level for a couple more years. But eight years? No.”

Most team and league personnel aren’t expecting for James to retire after this season — though it’s uncertain whether he’d continue his career with the Lakers.

But if James does decide to retire, he would’ve done so without a proper farewell tour. 

“I have not even thought to the point of a farewell tour or whatever the case may be,” James said. “Because I haven’t had the conversation with myself and my family on when is it over? So I think that will come after that.”

When James does have his internal dialogues, they come back to why he’s still playing – a question he has a consistent answer for.

“My why has been that I’m still playing this game at a high level and I still love the process,” he said. “The process of putting in the work, inspiring, giving what I got to the game because I’ll have more years in my life without it than with it to be able to inspire. I’m not talking about even me personally. I’ve done well for myself on a personal note.

“Now, obviously, the question gets asked more and the thought creeps in my mind more at 41 years old of when the end is and where’s the finish line for us to hang this thing up. But how much juice can I squeeze out of this orange? I’m in a battle with Father Time and I’m taking it personal, and I’m seeing how many more times I could be victorious over him. I won’t be one of those guys that won’t be able to walk off the court, that’s for sure.”

Memphis Grizzlies (18-27, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (12-37, 15th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Memphis hits the road against New Orleans looking to end its five-game road skid.

The Pelicans are 6-26 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is seventh in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 44.0 rebounds. Derik Queen paces the Pelicans with 7.4 boards.

The Grizzlies are 14-15 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 34.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 7.2.

The Pelicans average 114.4 points per game, 1.9 fewer points than the 116.3 the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Pelicans allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won 133-127 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.

TOP PERFORMERS: Queen is shooting 48.4% and averaging 12.1 points for the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III is averaging 24.0 points over the last 10 games.

Cam Spencer is scoring 11.7 points per game and averaging 2.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 21.0 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 114.3 points, 46.9 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.4 points per game.

Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 110.5 points, 46.4 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: out (leg).

Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

___

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

Toronto Raptors (29-20, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (24-22, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Raptors face Orlando.

The Magic have gone 16-17 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 44.2 rebounds. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 8.8 boards.

The Raptors are 22-13 in Eastern Conference play. Toronto ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 52.3 points per game in the paint led by Scottie Barnes averaging 11.4.

The Magic are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 46.2% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors average 113.6 points per game, 2.0 fewer than the 115.6 the Magic give up to opponents.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Raptors won the last matchup 107-106 on Dec. 30, with Jamal Shead scoring 19 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is shooting 46.2% and averaging 21.9 points for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.

Barnes is scoring 19.4 points per game and averaging 8.3 rebounds for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 109.5 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points per game.

Raptors: 6-4, averaging 111.5 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back).

___

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

Charlotte Hornets (20-28, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-28, 11th in the Western Conference)

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

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hornets -4.5; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Hornets take on Dallas.

The Mavericks are 14-13 on their home court. Dallas has a 5-5 record in one-possession games.

The Hornets have gone 11-15 away from home. Charlotte scores 116.2 points and has outscored opponents by 1.6 points per game.

The Mavericks are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.4% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 46.2% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: P.J. Washington is shooting 45.3% and averaging 14.3 points for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.

LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.6% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.

Hornets: 7-3, averaging 119.2 points, 49.6 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.8 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand), Klay Thompson: out (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (injury management).

Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin).

___

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

Portland Trail Blazers (23-25, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (29-18, second in the Eastern Conference)

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

BOTTOM LINE: New York will try to continue its four-game win streak with a victory over Portland.

The Knicks have gone 18-6 in home games. New York leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the Knicks with 11.6 rebounds.

The Trail Blazers are 10-14 on the road. Portland allows 117.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 1.9 points per game.

The Knicks are shooting 47.0% from the field this season, the same percentage the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Knicks defeated the Trail Blazers 123-114 in their last meeting on Jan. 11. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points, and Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Towns is averaging 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals over the last 10 games.

Donovan Clingan is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 11.2 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 22.6 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 5-5, averaging 109.4 points, 48.2 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.8 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 111.8 points, 47.6 rebounds, 21.9 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: out (ankle).

Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: day to day (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Robert Williams III: day to day (injury management), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Duop Reath: day to day (foot), Kris Murray: day to day (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

___

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

Miami Heat (25-23, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (23-24, 10th in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -1.5; over/under is 242.5

BOTTOM LINE: Miami faces Chicago in Eastern Conference action Thursday.

The Bulls are 15-16 against conference opponents. Chicago is 13-12 against opponents over .500.

The Heat are 12-13 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 28.5 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.2.

The Bulls' 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Heat give up. The Heat average 119.8 points per game, equal to what the Bulls give up.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 143-107 on Nov. 22, with Kel'el Ware scoring 20 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. Coby White is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.

Bam Adebayo is averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Heat. Simone Fontecchio is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 6-4, averaging 119.9 points, 43.6 rebounds, 31.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.

Heat: 5-5, averaging 120.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.4 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Jalen Smith: out (concussion ), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: out (hamstring), Kevin Huerter: out (back), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring).

Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: out (shoulder).

___

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

Oklahoma City Thunder (38-10, first in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-19, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -6; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Minnesota and Oklahoma City will play on Thursday.

The Timberwolves are 16-14 in conference play. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 45.0 rebounds. Rudy Gobert paces the Timberwolves with 11.2 boards.

The Thunder are 7-2 against the rest of their division. Oklahoma City has a 2-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Timberwolves make 48.1% of their shots from the field this season, which is 5.1 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (43.0%). The Thunder average 6.4 more points per game (120.5) than the Timberwolves allow (114.1).

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won 112-107 in the last meeting on Dec. 20. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 21.3 points over the past 10 games.

Chet Holmgren is scoring 17.9 points per game and averaging 8.7 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 4-6, averaging 115.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points per game.

Thunder: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 42.6 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 7.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).

Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Alex Caruso: out (adductor), Cason Wallace: day to day (hip), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

___

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