BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Skiers from host Italy still trying to secure starting spots led the second downhill training session at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday and Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger crashed.
Mattia Casse posted the fastest time but missed a gate midway down. Teammates Florian Schieder and Giovanni Franzoni were second and third, respectively.
Franzoni, the breakout star of the Italian team who recently won the downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria, already has a starting spot, along with Dominik Paris, who holds the Bormio record with seven World Cup victories. Casse, Schieder and Christof Innerhofer — who was seventh — are vying for the last two spots.
Favorites like Marco Odermatt and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the American who led the opening session Wednesday, tested only portions of the Stelvio course and otherwise stood up out of their tuck positions.
Hemetsberger lost control midway down, got spun around and crashed through a gate — causing his helmet to pop off. He then hit the safety nets at high speed. He quickly got back up but was holding his face and nose area.
A third and final training session is scheduled for Friday before the downhill race on Saturday awards the first Alpine skiing medal of the Games.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 31: Dalen Terry #7 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 31, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have a trade!
Leon Rose might not have had the midseason blockbuster up his sleeve (OG Anunoby) or added an impact bench player (Derrick Rose, Josh Hart), but he almost always makes a move. In his six seasons now as Knicks president of basketball operations, he has made a midseason move in all six:
2020-21: Traded Dennis Smith Jr. and 2021 2nd for Derrick Rose 2021-22: Traded Kevin Knox and a conditional CHA 1st for Cam Reddish 2022-23: Traded Cam Reddish (and more) for Josh Hart 2023-24: Traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett for OG Anunoby 2024-25: Traded Jericho Sims for Delon Wright
Yes, some of these are bigger than others, but the Knicks made a move, nevertheless.
Per Shams Charania, the Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in a straight-up, 1-for-1 deal for fourth-year wing Dalen Terry. There are no draft picks involved.
The New York Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry, sources tell ESPN.
The move ends a frustrating Knicks tenure for Yabusele, who went from a celebrated offseason acquisition following his career revival for the horrid 76ers last season to a pariah. He showed up in camp overweight and visibly played slower than he did in Philly or even in Eurobasket. In 41 games, he averaged just 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds on 39.3% from the field and 29.4% from three. His best game as a Knick? When he scored 11 against the Jazz in a 34-point blowout.
Yabusele’s contract had been a holdup as the Knicks attempted to swing deals for a number of bench players like Jose Alvarado, Yves Missi, and Jeremy Sochan. Yabusele has a player option for 2026-27 worth $5.7 million, making him a negative asset. It’s gotten so bad crumbs are being left on social media, and he’s flirting with overseas opportunities in Greece and Israel.
But now, he’s off the books. It was widely assumed that the Knicks would need to part with some of the little draft capital they have left to move Yabusele in any fashion, but that does not seem to be the case. This opens up extra salary for the 2026 offseason, giving the Knicks a better chance to retain Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson in free agency. The Knicks are now projected to have $21.3 million in space under the second apron in the offseason, albeit with six roster spots to fill.
Terry was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Bulls, and the Arizona product has struggled to break through in Chicago, despite the hopeless mediocrity the team has been in. He’s started just seven games and has averaged just 11.1 minutes a night for his career, but has taken a big step forward in one aspect: three-point shooting.
The 23-year-old has never been known for his shooting, but he’s at 41.3% in a small sample size this season. He had seen an improved role as of late due to injuries and has taken advantage, averaging 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 48% from the field and 55% from deep in his last four games.
Terry stands at 6’6” and is not a big, lanky wing, but he is taller than several rotation options and could get some minutes in a Josh Hart role, similar to what two-way wing Kevin McCullar Jr. has been getting when Hart is in street clothes. There’s a chance he could play a role, but he currently exists as emergency depth.
While fans will wake up Thursday morning assuming that this is the one and only move, there is a chance that Terry is redirected elsewhere. While the CBA normally restricts immediately flipping players, it is possible if the player’s salary is not aggregated. If the Knicks are still interested in Alvarado, for example, they can do a 1-for-1 trade while adding second-rounders as sweeteners.
This trade does, however, restrict the Knicks from acquiring another player making more than his $5.4 million salary. For that reason, Pacome Dadiet and other low-salary players can likely breathe a sigh of relief.
As for the buyout market, if no other move is made, this does nothing. The team will save approximately $38,000 from this move and will be able to sign a 15th player… three days earlier, on March 30. That basically does nothing.
This is a very small move, but one that Leon Rose has thrived with on the margins to keep flexibility. This move was undoubtedly made with offseason flexibility in mind, but don’t rule out one more deal involving Terry before the deadline at 3 PM.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s take a look at how exactly he’ll help the Cavs.
Ability to drive to the basket
One of the Cavs’ biggest problems at the beginning of the season was a lack of drives. They didn’t have a guard who could consistently get to and score at the basket. This led to a lot of side-to-side actions and pull-up threes. As a result, Cleveland is 16th in attempts at the rim.
Harden’s presence will solve a lot of those issues.
He is ninth in the league in drives per game this season with 14.8 per game. Harden’s ability to get past his defender and either draw a shooting foul, get all the way to the basket, or find an open teammate is still elite regardless of his age.
Harden has the rare combination of strength, touch around the basket, and straight-line speed. This is coupled with an uncanny ability to stop and start on a whim to create angles for attack. The skills that have made him one of the best offensive combo guards of all time are still there.
Harden’s rim attempts have gone down as he’s aged. The in-between runner has become much more a part of his game than it was during his peak years with the Houston Rockets. Still, he’s in the 60th percentile in shots at the rim for a point guard and in the 71st percentile for finishing at the rim (66%).
Pick-and-roll master
The Cavs aren’t a heavy pick-and-roll team. That will undoubtedly change with Harden in the fold. And the Cavaliers have two good bigs that Harden can play off.
The pick-and-roll works so well for Harden because of his ability to read the floor and create advantages. If you try not to switch the pick-and-roll, Harden is good enough to keep his defender on his hip and get the easy layup.
The jump shot hasn’t been as deadly this season. His 34.7% three-point shooting clip is the lowest since 2021-22. This includes hitting 34.4% of his pull-up threes. That number isn’t too much lower than Donovan Mitchell’s (35.9%), but not the level you’d want it to be considering Harden takes the second-most pull-up threes per game.
More than his scoring, the ability to playmake off on-ball screens is what makes Harden so dangerous. Seeing passes and making passes are two different skills. He does both at an elite level. That doesn’t always show up in impressive, otherworldly passes. The greats are often that way because they routinely do the little things right.
If the defense helps from the corner, Harden is going to pass out to where the help comes. If the defense is going to give the roller any space, he’s not afraid to make the simple bounce pass.
Basketball doesn’t always have to be complicated when you’re consistently executing at a high level.
Post entry passes
People don’t necessarily think of Harden as a basketball savant, but when you watch the reads that he’s consistently making, it’s clear that he processes the game incredibly well.
Harden’s entire offensive game is based on creating and exploiting advantages. He uses that mostly as a scorer, but if he sees a mismatch elsewhere on the court, he will make sure the ball gets there as soon as possible.
One of the most difficult things about exploiting mismatches is that by the time the offensive player sees it, the defense is also reacting and trying to help if they can. One of the ways the offense can keep that advantage is to throw an entry pass that keeps the offensive player away from the trouble.
The Cavs have historically struggled when teams would blitz their guards. Part of that is due to both of their primary offensive engines being 6’2” or under.
Harden will help in this area. It’s risky to double-team Mitchell if Harden is on the court because of his skill as an offensive player. And if you were to double Harden, he’s more often than not going to make you pay.
Being 6’5” with good strength helps Harden not get bullied when teams blitz him. This allows him to patiently accept the double, survey where the open man is, and get the ball out.
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Rebounding
The Cavs have had trouble with rebounding, particularly from their guards. Harden fixes some of those issues.
Harden also does a good job of holding his own when he’s forced to guard small and power forwards. His strength makes him difficult to bully in the post and on the glass. This can be useful in situations where he gets a big switched onto him or if you’re in a matchup where you’d be better served with hiding Harden on an offensively weaker forward so that Evan Mobley or Dean Wade could cover an opposing guard.
Free throw merchant
Harden gets a bad wrap, partially because no one likes the way he continually gets to the free-throw line. He’s the poster child of inventing new ways to initiate contact and bend the rules to his advantage. And while that’s annoying when he’s playing against your favorite team, there is an undeniable skill and craft that allows him to do this.
Harden’s presence alone is going to help immensely. He’s in the 90th percentile in drawing shooting fouls. This translates over to a team context. This season, the Clippers were in the 95th percentile in free-throw rate when Harden was on the floor. Over his 17-year career, his team has been in the 75th percentile for free-throw rate or better when he’s playing.
The Cavs’ offense under head coach Kenny Atkinson has been powered primarily by their shooting from the field. That will change some with the boost that Harden will provide here.
One man offense
The Cavs have gone as Mitchell has this season. When he’s on the floor, they’ve been great (+6.6 net rating) and without him, they’ve been awful (-3.3 net rating). This includes somehow being worse when Garland was on the court without Mitchell (-9.5 net rating).
Harden will help drastically in the minutes without Mitchell. He’s been a one-man offense over his entire career.
One of the most consistent things in the NBA over the past decade and a half is that your offense will be good if Harden is on the court. This season, the Clippers had a 120.3 offensive rating with Harden on the floor (87th percentile). That plummets to a 109.6 offensive rating (12th percentile) without him. And if your offense is that bad, you’re going to lose those minutes.
It’s fair to wonder whether Mitchell and Harden can mesh their games when they share the floor. The Cavs aren’t going to win a championship if their new core-four players don’t play well together. If they are going to play well together, Harden will likely have to adjust his game to play at Atkinson’s pace.
Those concerns aside, you can almost certainly guarantee that the Cavs will still have a great offensive attack when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell.
The Cavs are sacrificing future stability to increase their chances of winning now. Despite his age, Harden raises the floor and ceiling of this team. He will help their offense tremendously, especially when compared to this season’s version of Garland. Whether or not that will translate over to the playoffs remains to be seen and will ultimately determine if this was a worthwhile gamble.
Feb 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) drives with the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The numbers say the Houston Rockets are a top five offense. The eye test says something very different. The Rockets shot 41 percent against the Boston Celtics, and on top of that, they were dominated on the boards by the Celtics, leading to an ugly 114-93 defeat.
The Rockets were outrebounded 57-38 in reversal of their typical fortune, and with no one on offense playing well, including Kevin Durant, the Rockets were blown out of the water.
KD did lead the way with 15 points, but he shot just 4-for-11 from the field and 0-for-4 from deep. Alperen Sengun had 13 points and 9 boards, but he was just 5-for-12 from the floor. Same with Jabari Smith Jr. — 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Amen Thompson pitched in 11 and Tari Eason added 10.
Reed Sheppard continues in a bit of a slump shooting, finishing just 3-for-12, as Aaron Holiday was the only bench player with a little mojo, hitting 4-for-6 from the field.
It should be painfully obvious that this is not last year’s team. They’ve lost a big part of their identity and have been outplayed, outhustled and out-shot too many times this season. And help is likely not on the way. It’s also painfully obvious that Ime Udoka needs an offensive coordinator. He’s been outcoached too many times this year as well.
As for the Celtics, they were led by Derrick White, who had 28 points and 8 assists, and Payton Pritchard, who finished with 27 points.
The Rockets now stand at 31-18, and despite currently sitting in fourth place, are just one game out of falling to the Play-In.
The Rockets return to action tonight against the Charlotte Hornets and will be looking to get right against a team that’s currently on a seven-game win streak and while the Rockets themselves are on the second night of a back-to-back. We’ll see what Houston has in the guts department tonight.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 04: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts after making a three point shot in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on February 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Incredible Defensive Effort
In a game where both Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser were out on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hospital Celtics stepped up big time and handed the Houston Rockets their largest margin of defeat this season, winning 114-93. Boston held Houston to to their second lowest scoring game of the season as well, making them shoot 34-82 (42%) and 11-30 (37%) from three. They forced the Rockets into 9 turnovers, 6 steals, and 5 blocks, just dominating them on the defensive side of the ball. Houston got so tired of the Celtics defense that both Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun got ejected in the second half.
This is the fourth win in a row for the Celtics and all of them came by double digits. They have held their opponents to an average of 91.2 points per game in this winning streak. In these games their opponents had their 3rd, 1st, 6th, and 2nd lowest points in a game this season. What a performance by Boston.
The Celtics have won 4 in a row, all by double digits (including 2 by 20+).
Their opponent's scoring totals over that stretch:
At the half, the Celtics were leading the Rockets 49-42. They started the game rough shooting in the first quarter, only scoring 18 points but bounced back in the second quarter scoring 31. In my mind the second half was going to continue being a defensive slug fest but Boston had a different idea. In the first 8 minutes of the second half, the Celtics exploded for a 28-6 run on the Rockets and opened up a 26 point lead. They had one sequence midway through their run where they hit four straight three pointers and really took the life out of Houston. Durant tried to make a little bit of a push with 9 straight points after this but there was no stopping Boston.
The Celtics shot 12-27 (44%) from the field and 7-14 (50%) from three in the quarter while the Rockets shot 11 less shots than them, going 7-16 (44%) from the field and 2-5 (40%) from three. This third quarter was a big reason why Boston was able to win this game by 21 points and they got contributions from every player up and down the lineup.
Celtics Shot Zone Chart in the 3Q (Via NBA.com)
3. Domination on the Boards
Coming into this game the Houston Rockets were the number one rebounding team in the NBA, grabbing 49.4 boards a game. In this game against the Celtics however, they were held to only 38. Boston on the other hand averaged 45.1 rebounds a game and grabbed 57 on the night. That is an insane number for the Celtics and gets crazier when you notice 20 of them were offensive rebounds. Boston did everything they could to destroy Houston on the glass in this game and it worked to perfection.
4. Derrick White Big Night
For the first time since January 10th, Derrick White scored 20+ points in a game, finishing with 28 points and 8 assists on 10-25 shooting from the field and 6-14 from three. White really looked like he broke out out of his shooting slump in this game and at the perfect time too. Shorthanded, he was given the keys as the number one scoring option and didn’t let up.
White really started to come alive in this game in the second quarter where he scored 9 points on 3-6 shooting. His first shot came after pump faking a three to get Amen Thompson to bite, then driving to the basket and finishing a floater. The second came on a turnaround three where Thompson was right in his face for the contest. Finally, the third came when being guarded by former Celtic JD Davison. White drove to the basket, pump faked a couple of times to get Davison in the air, and finished with a nice bank shot off the top of the backboard.
The third quarter was where White really started to take over with his scoring, finishing with 14 points and 4 threes. White started his third quarter scoring with a three coming off of an offensive rebound tipped by Neemias Queta to Baylor Scheierman. His second came on a step-back three over Tari Eason. The third bucket was the only non-three he scored, sprinting to the basket and finishing a nice finger roll over Sengun. The fourth came on a three pointer where White stopped on a dime and had Josh Okogie on skates. Finally, he finished his night with a step-back in the face of Kevin Durant.
After transitioning to the bench in the Celtics last game against the Mavericks and having a great performance, Payton Pritchard continued his great play as Boston’s 6th Man, finishing with 27 points and 7 assists on 9-20 shooting from the field and 5-10 from three. I have been loving what Pritchard has done in these last two games because he just looks so much more comfortable as a scorer when he doesn’t have to worry about being the main point guard on the team.
Pritchard’s biggest impact on this game came in the fourth quarter where he scored 11 of his 27 points. These points were important because Durant was coming off of a nice scoring run to finish off the third quarter. Pritchard started his fourth quarter with a three coming off a nice handoff by Neemias Queta. The second bucket saw him take Jabari Smith Jr all over the court before splashing a midrange jumper in his face. The third started with a missed three by White but a good offensive rebound by Ron Harper Jr. allowed him to tap it back to Pritchard for a wide open three. To finish off his night, he thought it would be fun to navigate another great Queta screen to splash a wide open three.
Neemias Queta was dominating the Rockets in this game, finishing with a double-double of 10 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Alperen Sengun is one of the best big men in the NBA and Queta basically made him a non-factor for Houston. I really wanted to highlight his 5 blocks in this game because Queta was a big reason why the Rockets had a hard time scoring.
The first block came in the second quarter when Aaron Holiday threw up a prayer after Pritchard played some great defense on him. Since it was a poor attempt, Queta was able to just swat it out of the air with no problem. The other one that came in the second quarter was when Durant had Harper Jr one-on-one. Queta decided to reach in as KD went up for the shot and got the deflection.
The rest of Queta’s blocks came in the fourth quarter but two of them came in one sequence. It started with Queta hustling back for a chase down block on Tari Eason where he fell into the stands. When he came out of the stands, the Celtics turned the ball over and Reed Sheppard was going for a dunk attempt before Queta swatted it away. It was recovered by Eason who scored but the effort on that play was amazing.
Finally, his fifth block came when him and Garza double teamed Sengun under neath the basket. Queta knocked the ball out of Sengun’s hands and it must have hit off of him before it went out of bounds because the ref called it Celtics ball. Sengun was not happy with the call ended up getting ejected from the game over it.
When Ron Harper Jr. signed with the Celtics on a two-way contract, I don’t think anyone really expected much from him. But after putting up some great stats for the Maine Celtics this year in the G-League, Joe Mazzulla decided to call his number tonight for his first NBA start. He took the opportunity and ran with it, finishing with 11 points and 9 rebounds on 4-8 shooting while locking up Kevin Durant on defense.
Harper had three possessions in the third quarter where he was the primary defender on KD and he played great defense. The first came at the 10:21 mark where Harper Jr. fought around a screen to contest a Durant three. The other two came on back-to-back possessions around the 7 minute mark. Durant was being hounded around the perimeter and once he went for a midrange pull-up, Harper Jr. was right there for a great contest. The second came when KD decided to shoot a pull-up three around a Sengun screen, but Harper Jr. got around quick enough to once again contest the shot.
When it comes to the offensive side, Harper Jr. did his job by hitting the wide open shots that came to him. His first three baskets all came on catch and shoot threes. The first came on a pass from Derrick White where Harper Jr. pump faked Kevin Durant, relocated, and splashed the three. The second came on a nice pass by Luka Garza for a wide open corner three. The last three came off of a great contest of Durant on defense and Baylor Scheierman rewarded Harper Jr. with a wide open fast break corner three.
His last basket of the game was electric. After a great offensive rebound by Hugo Gonzalez and a missed three by Derrick White, Harper Jr. came flying in out of nowhere and through down a nasty dunk. I loved what I saw out of Ron Harper Jr. in this game and I think I want to see more of him moving forward.
Baylor Scheierman was the second Celtics player to record a double-double in this game, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 5-10 shooting. Baylor was balling all night long and did a great job when it came to being a secondary option for the Celtics at times. His scoring came up huge for Boston in this game and I think it is important to talk about it.
Baylor started his scoring in the second quarter when he received a bounce pass from Pritchard. Scheierman then threw his shoulder into Tari Eason and finished a crazy, one-legged floater over him.
In the third quarter, Scheierman made two threes, the first one coming on a catch-and-shoot opportunity from White. The second was a bit of a chaotic play that started with Queta making a steal and diving on the floor to get the ball. Queta found White who started the fast break and found Scheierman wide open in the corner for three.
In the fourth quarter, Scheierman continued his great night with his last two baskets of the game. He started by getting a pass from Pritchard and driving to the basket for a running bank shot layup over a late contest from Reed Sheppard. The second was a catch-and-shoot three that came off a nice bounce pass by Pritchard who was getting double teamed.
One thing you can never knock Luka Garza for this season is his hustle. He leaves it all out on the court every single night and in this game it looked like he was going to war. Garza was put into the starting lineup tonight, finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds on 7-13 shooting and just like Queta, he did an incredible job when it came to guarding Sengun. Sengun was attacking Garza on the block all night long and although he got beat a couple of times, Luka held his own and was able to make some nice contests.
Some of my favorite moments offensively from Garza included his first three of the night in the second quarter. He couldn’t get the hand-off to Pritchard, so he just turned around and hit a wide open jumper. The second basked I liked came in the third quarter where he played the pick and roll to perfection with Ron Harper Jr. As he rolled to the basket, Harper Jr. found him with a nice bounce pass and Garza hit a deceleration step on Jabari Smith Jr to get the And-1. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Garza faked like he was going to set a screen for White but instead ran under the basket. He had the defense out of position and finished with a rare dunk.
If you don’t think Joe Mazzulla is the Coach of the Year in the NBA this season, I really just think you don’t watch basketball. What Mazzulla and his staff have been able to accomplish when it comes to getting the best out of every player on the Celtics roster is something no other coach in the league is doing. He started Ron Harper Jr. tonight for his first NBA start against one of the best teams in the Western Conference on a back-to-back and it worked. He implemented a game plan for lineups that have probably never seen the floor together and it worked. He had Payton Pritchard, who was the Celtics starting point guard all season long, come off of the bench and it worked.
Mazzulla should have been in the running before tonight just because of what he has done without Jayson Tatum this season but tonight cemented his case for me. No other coach in the NBA can do what Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics development staff can do when it comes to finding ways to win basketball games and he needs more respect. Granted if Joe did win the award I’m sure he would respond with “who cares?” and go on a diatribe on Shaolin monks or something but its the thought that counts and he should win the award.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 04: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Toyota Center on February 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During a season where nothing’s guaranteed and rotations are a revolving door, Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta found a way to strengthen his bid at remaining in the team’s starting lineup.
“Neemy was the best version of himself,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Even though he was only 3-for-4, you felt his presence.”
Queta assumed his usual starting spot for the 47th time this season. But this time, he played a critical role in a double-big lineup that also gave Luka Garza his second start of the season. With Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Anfernee Simons — who remains unofficially traded in the Nikola Vučević swap with the Chicago Bulls — out, the Celtics were in a tough spot. On the other end, a healthier Houston Rockets team awaited, one that had last beaten Boston by 27 points on Nov. 1 and had won five of its last six games.
Short-staffed and on the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics had little going in their favor. Rookie Ron Harper Jr. was thrown into the fire, making his first career NBA start and immediately tasked with guarding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. Payton Pritchard remained in the sixth man’s role to balance the second unit, and on a night that seemed destined for defeat, Queta used Boston’s circumstances to his advantage.
Queta recorded his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points with 19 rebounds — including a career-high 12 defensive boards — and five blocks in Boston’s 114-93 win over Houston.
“It’s mostly positioning — getting there early, wedging guys under the rim, and going to get rebounds with two hands,” Queta told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think I did a pretty good job with that tonight. That’s an emphasis for me. I’m trying to go get it with two hands at the highest speed, and you have to be fortunate enough to get a couple of those. But mostly, it’s positioning — you’ve got to go get it with two hands.”
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 4: Neemias Queta #88 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 4, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Currently, it’s unclear what Vučević’s pending arrival will mean for Queta’s role. Vučević, a 15-year veteran and two-time NBA All-Star, obviously brings a level of experience Queta doesn’t yet match. Still, Queta’s case isn’t fragile. Since being tossed into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, he’s handled the role better than the Celtics could have expected after parting ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet in the offseason. He hasn’t performed like a downgrade and is developing rapidly, keeping pace with Boston’s rise from underdog to a bona fide contender in the Eastern Conference.
Queta has been more than a serviceable rim-protecting, lob-target center, adapting seamlessly to what Mazzulla has architected this season’s Celtics to be. Unlike Porziņģis, Horford, and Vučević, Queta is a purely traditional big. He’s not going to keep defenses on their toes on the perimeter, as he isn’t a 3-point threat. Instead, Queta’s movement around the elbow and his off-ball screens help the Celtics establish a fluid offensive flow that gets everyone involved, even when he doesn’t touch the ball.
It’s a scheme that won’t always produce eye-popping box score figures, but it keeps Queta effective.
Sometimes Queta will finish in the 10–15 rebound range; other nights, it’s a modest eight points and eight rebounds on a high-efficiency shooting percentage. But it’s never about the numbers. It’s always about staying impactful towards winning.
In the fourth quarter Wednesday night, Queta found himself in the middle of his most adventurous sequence, colliding with Houston’s Tari Eason and tumbling several rows into the stands — only to scramble back on defense seconds later to guard a quick Rockets transition.
“Eason and I got tangled up, and I lost my balance, which threw me all the way up to like the 14th (row),” Queta told reporters. “I champed it up with a fan on the way. On the way down, I was looking at the bench, then they got the ball, and my momentum was taking me the other way. I just tried to stay patient and poised, and I got the block, fortunately. But at the end of the day, it would’ve been a highlight if they didn’t score, so that wasn’t that great.”
Queta’s retelling matched the play’s real-time confusion and drew laughter in the locker room after the game.
“That was hilarious,” Derrick White told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Yeah, Neemy is hilarious. I was just watching him keep going up and up, and I’m like, ‘Just stop.’ But that was hilarious.
White continued: “He was big-time for us tonight — protecting the paint, rebounding. He did a lot of great things for us.”
If anything, Queta’s statement performance in Houston didn’t just reinforce his case to keep his role — it showed how effective he can be within a double-big rotation. Vučević, meanwhile, is better suited to last season’s version of the Celtics, entering this year as a career 35.1% shooter from beyond the arc while attempting 4.5 threes through 48 games in Chicago. He’s also an aging center at 35, further clouding how Boston will manage the five spot moving forward.
Regardless, Queta isn’t overly concerned if Boston needs to resort to a double-big lineup.
“I don’t think it’s that big of an adjustment,” Queta told reporters. “A lot of the guys who’ve been here the last couple of years — that’s what we’ve been running. So it’s more about getting used to it, figuring out how to maximize each of the new players, and that chemistry. We started pretty well and rebounded the ball well, too. That’s stuff we can still get better at, but I don’t think it was that big of an adjustment for us tonight.”
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at American Airlines Center on October 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are still feeling the aftermath of last season’s shocking Luka Doncic trade. They came away with the #1 overall pick last season, cashing that chip in by selecting Cooper Flagg out of Duke, but at 19-31 little else has gone their way. Reviled GM Nico Harrison was relieved of his duties in early November while Anthony Davis, the biggest acquisition from the Luka trade, was traded to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday ahead of the NBA trade deadline. With Davis now out of the picture and closing the door more or less on the Luka debacle, Dallas is poised to commence a full rebuild with the 19-year-old Flagg as the face of the franchise.
Tonight represents a rare home/away SEGABABA for the Silver and Black, as they come into town after a hard-fought win last night against the defending champs. They’ve shown very recently though just how capable they are of getting in late and still playing with a winning effort.
San Antonio Spurs (34-16) at Dallas Mavericks (19-31)
February 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: KENS 5 | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan, quad (OUT), Dylan Harper, ankle (questionable), Kelly Olynyk, foot (questionable), Lindy Waters III, knee (OUT)
Mavericks Injuries: PJ Washington, concussion (OUT), Brandon Williams, leg (Questionable), Daniel Gafford, ankle (Questionable), Kyrie Irving, ACL (OUT)
What to watch for
Cooper Flagg has shown real flashes of the player he can be throughout his rookie season. Only 19 years old, Flagg scored 49 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets last week, setting the record for the most points ever scored by a teenager in NBA history. His 3 point shooting stands out as a particularily glaring weakness (he’s hitting only 29% of his looks from outside), but he’s at least aware of this limitation, as 3s make up a relatively small portion of his shot chart. He followed up that 49 point outburst with 34 points on the road at Houston and 36 more at home against the Celtics.
Dallas finds itself bereft of talent at center, which could bode well for Victor Wembanyama tonight. The oft-injured Davis wasn’t the Maverick’s only problem in the middle, as they’ve been dealing with a season-ending injury to Derek Lively II, an ankle injury ending his season in November. Backup center Daniel Gafford finds himself questionable with an ankle injury coming into this game. All this could make Wemby even more wide open than usual on the lob.
The former Duke tandem of Flagg and Kon Knueppel have largely dominated the rookie conversation as the season has reached its midway point, but fellow rookie Dylan Harper has managed to carve out an important role on a top team in the Association. The #2 overall pick has flashed his potential plenty as part of the Spurs’ bench unit this season. Harper, who had scored 15 or more in each of his last 3 contests, missed last night’s game against the Thunder. If he can give it a go tonight, it’ll be interesting to see how he looks next to Flagg at the midway point of the season.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Feb 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) grabs a rebound away from Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
HOUSTON — At the Celtics’ team meeting on Wednesday morning, two-way player Ron Harper Jr. saw his name on the whiteboard.
It quickly dawned on him: for the first time in his four-year NBA career, he was going to start in an NBA basketball game.
“I knew I was getting a start,” Harper Jr. said, “and I just knew I had to be ready.”
The extended chance came, in part, because Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser were both being sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back. On top of that, Anfernee Simons, who has been one of the Celtics’ primary guards all season, was traded to Chicago earlier in the week. So, a backcourt opportunity emerged that simply hadn’t been there earlier in the season.
But, the decision to give Harper Jr. the start was also the result of Joe Mazzulla having complete trust in his young guys and two-way players to step up in big moments. Last month, it was fellow two-way player Amari Williams who got multiple starts and even crucial minutes in a double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.
This time, it was Harper.
“You feel just as comfortable starting him as you do anyone else,” said Mazzulla. “Because you know he’s ready to go.”
Harper Jr. came out of the gates flying. He hit his first three three-pointers of the game, and finished the night with a career-high 11 points.
But what stood out most to Joe Mazzulla was his immediate tenacity on the glass; he finished the game with a career-best 9 rebounds.
“He got off to a great start with two defensive rebounds that he got to start the game,” Mazzulla said. “That showed that he was ready to go — and that stuck out to me more. And then the defense came, and then the shotmaking came, and I thought he had great presence.”
Most impressive was his work on the defensive end; for most of the night, Harper Jr. had to chase around one of the greatest scorers in the history of basketball, Kevin Durant.
“Don’t let him score, man,” Harper Jr. said of his mindset. “Just do everything in my power to just try to deny him the ball, try denying catches, and try to make his life difficult. And I feel like me and the rest of the guys did a great job at that — feel like we was able to frustrate him a little bit, and it ultimately led to us getting a lot of stops.”
Entering Wednesday night, Harper. had only logged 35 NBA minutes as a Celtic; in the match-up against the Rockets, he nearly eclipsed that, tallying 33 minutes and starting alongside Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, and Derrick White.
“It’s crazy,” he said after the 114-93 Celtics’ win. “In this game, on this team, you never know what you’re going to be asked to do on any given day.”
Asked Ron Harper Jr. what was going through his head throughout his career night:
“It’s crazy. In this game, on this team, you never know what you’re going to be asked to do on any given day…”
For Mazzulla, the trust in Harper Jr. stems from a profound trust in the Maine Celtics system, and its synergy with Boston.
“It starts in Maine, and it starts with our staff, and just what those guys are able to do there,” Mazzulla said. “Keeping Ron sharp, and making sure you know the language and what we’re doing, is important. And then our staff here is keeping them up to speed.”
Ron Harper Jr’s path to his first NBA start was a long one
Ron Harper Jr. might be a new face to some Celtics fans, but he’s intimately familiar with the system in Boston. The Celtics guard — a former Rutgers star — has spent the last two training camps with the Celtics, and was also a member of the 2024 Celtics Summer League squad.
He began last season on the Maine Celtics before signing a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons midseason. And, after that contract wasn’t renewed, he opted to return to Boston for training camp, successfully fighting for a two-way spot with the Celtics, and edging out RJ Luis, Jalen Bridges, Kendall Brown, and Wendell Moore in the process.
Harper Jr. impressed his teammates and coaches alike at camp.
“He can shoot it,” said Derrick White. “That’s the first thing that stood out.”
Today, that familiarity and experience with the Celtics organization is paying off.
“I feel like I know the system; the coverages are like the back of my hand,” Harper Jr. said. “That was a big part of the process and the decision to be coming back in the summer — I just knew the team, I knew the coaches, I knew the system.”
This year, Harper Jr. has been one of the G League’s top players, and as such, he’ll represent the Celtics in the Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles later this month. This season, he’s averaged 24.3 points and 3.1 assists per game.
But, as much success as he’s had with the Maine Celtics, Wednesday night hit different. When Harper Jr. heard his name announced at the Rockets’ Toyota Center, it was undeniably a momentous occassion.
“Before tonight, the only time I heard that was in MyCareer on 2k, so it was definitely great to hear your name, your college,” he said with a smile.
Ron Harper Jr, in his third NBA season, gets his first career start in Houston tonight pic.twitter.com/ugOmb7wLvD
Harper’s most memorable moment of the night came when he crashed the glass after a Derrick White three-point miss — and slammed down a putback dunk.
“Oh, man, I mean, I had a whole runway,” he said. “My damn eyes lit up when I see them come up off the rim like that. And I was like, ‘Yeah, I gotta go get this.”
After the highlight play, he heard from his dad, former NBA star Ron Harper.
“My dad told me I was looking like him out there,” Harper Jr said with a smile. “Let’s tone that down.”
Taking advantage of an extended opportunity
The Celtics guard said it was rewarding to finally get the chance to lace up with the big club for an extended run.
“Joe makes a heavy emphasis that everybody’s gonna get their shot,” he said. “So, just stay ready and be ready. And, I feel like I did a good job.”
The role in Boston is vastly different than the one in Maine, where Harper Jr. is the primary offensive option and primarily has the ball in his hands. That doesn’t make it any less rewarding.
“I know how I can impact winning, know how I can impact this team,” he said. “I’m not gonna be asked to have as high a usage rate as I do in the G [League] — that’s okay. I’m just out there to make these guys’ lives easier, just be a role player. I know if I get out there and my get out there and get my chance, I’m not gonna come off every ball screen, I’m not gonna shoot a bunch of shots, I’m cool with that, as long as I can help the team win, and as long as we win, I’m good.”
Stints in Toronto and Detroit failed to turn into longer-term opportunities for the former Rutgers star. But, this past year, he made the decision to return to Boston for training camp — even though there was no guarantee of a contract or any on-court opportunities.
Standing in the visiting locker room in Houston, on the heels of a career game, the 25-year-old felt like he made the right decision.
“I felt like I could excel,” Harper Jr. said. “I feel like it’s working out pretty good so far.”
In a shocking move, the Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
1/2/26 – Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis #8 puts up a shot during the second quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. Now put it down, you liar.
Over the past few weeks, Dub Nation drooled over the idea of trading for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pairing him with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler (when he returns next season) was seen as a move that could extend the dynasty and give Curry at least another bite or two at his fifth NBA title.
Warrior fans were so enamored with the idea that they’d accepted the fact that Draymond Green, the heart and soul of the dynasty, would be shipped off to Milwaukee in the trade. However, they were less than thrilled with the notion that he might end up on the Lakers with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Alas, all of that chatter and time spent on trade machines was pointless because in the end, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. did what he thought was best for Golden State — trade two pieces who weren’t in the rotation for an all-NBA caliber big man.
In reality, it feels as if the Warriors are trading one enigma for another. With all due respect to Hield, but he was a throw-in for salary filler.
Jan 20, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (1) looks to pass against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images David Gonzales-Imagn Images
For Kuminga, the drama-filled saga is finally over.
Since being drafted by the Warriors in 2021 with the 7th overall pick, his tenure in the Bay Area can best be described as rocky at best. There were flashes of greatness, which is why the Warriors held on to him for so long, and saddled with stretches of incompetence, which is why the return was so low.
Despite possessing incredible athletic traits, Kuminga never found consistency with the Warriors. Always believing he was a bride rather than a bridesmaid, he had trouble filling the role Dunleavy and head coach Steve Kerr needed out of him to make the roster work.
The up-and-down affair, thought to have reached its climax in the summer with a lengthy contract negotiation, finally hit a breaking point when Kuminga and his camp demanded a trade in January. Dunleavy wasted little time in addressing those rumors.
“I think as far as the demand, we’re aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand, there needs to be a demand in the market,” Dunleavy said.
“We’ll see where that unfolds,” he added. “I tell them I’m willing to work with them, want to help people out, whether that’s J.K. or any player on our roster. We’re good with it, if that’s his wishes, trying to figure that out, but we got to do what’s best for our organization, and that’s what we’ll do, as far as it goes with the deadline coming up.”
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) shoots against Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (8) and guard Dyson Daniels (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) AP
So out he went. And in came possibly a bigger enigma.
On paper, Porzingis is an ideal fit alongside Curry, Green and Butler. A 7-2 big man who can knock down threes, it’s like he was built in a lab to play in Kerr’s motion offense. Add in his defensive capabilities as a rim-protecting center, and you can see his fit with this team and the vision they have for him.
But all of that depends on one tiny, minute detail. Will Porzingis even play?
He missed half of the 2025 season with the Celtics when he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic nervous system disorder that causes dizziness and extreme fatigue.
After being traded to the Hawks, he missed significant time this season due to left Achilles tendinitis. He’s only played in 17 out of a possible 52 games this year, and hasn’t seen the court since January 7 — although according to sources, it’s believed he will return to the court soon.
Make no mistake, when healthy Porzingis can flat-out hoop. He averaged 20.1 points on 37.5 percent from three and 7.2 rebounds per game during Boston’s title-winning season two years ago. The year before that, he averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with Washington.
Jan 30, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) stands on the court during a break in the action against the Detroit Pistons in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
If healthy, this trade has the potential to be more monumental than the last trade deadline when Dunleavy traded for Butler.
A core four of Curry, Green, Butler and Porzingis is talented enough to compete with anybody in the Western Conference. But so many questions remain, and with Butler out for the foreseeable future after tearing his ACL a few weeks ago, none of those answers will come to fruition this season.
In the end, it’s a smart move for Golden State, and you can see why they did it:
They turned two non-rotation players into one rotation player. And if it doesn’t work out with Porzingis, he’s on a $30.7 million expiring contract after this season, which frees up cap space moving forward.
Will any of that amount to getting Curry his fifth ring? Time will tell, but at least the Warriors can say they did something — even if it’s not what Dub Nation was hoping for.
Los Angeles Clippers (23-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-40, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento looks to end its four-game home slide with a victory over Los Angeles.
The Kings are 2-7 against Pacific Division opponents. Sacramento has a 5-25 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Clippers are 6-4 against the rest of the division. Los Angeles has a 2-6 record in one-possession games.
The Kings average 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 fewer makes per game than the Clippers allow (13.7). The Kings average 112.3 points per game, 8.2 fewer points than the 120.5 the Kings give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Clippers won 131-90 in the last matchup on Dec. 31.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.2 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Zach LaVine is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 112.4 points, 42.9 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Ivica Zubac: out (personal), Darius Garland: day to day (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Bulls visit Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors in Eastern Conference action Thursday.
The Raptors are 22-14 in conference play. Toronto is eighth in the league giving up just 112.5 points per game while holding opponents to 46.2% shooting.
The Bulls have gone 16-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago is fifth in the league scoring 17.9 fast break points per game. Ayo Dosunmu leads the Bulls averaging 3.5.
The Raptors are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Raptors give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Barnes is averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists over the last 10 games.
Josh Giddey is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 8.6 rebounds for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 113.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.
Bulls: 5-5, averaging 116.8 points, 44.5 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 6.2 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back).
Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas hosts San Antonio looking to break its four-game home skid.
The Mavericks are 3-7 against division opponents. Dallas ranks third in the NBA with 35.0 defensive rebounds per game led by P.J. Washington averaging 5.7.
The Spurs are 8-3 against Southwest Division teams. San Antonio is fifth in the Western Conference scoring 116.9 points per game and is shooting 47.2%.
The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 45.5% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 more makes per game than the Mavericks allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Spurs won 125-92 in the last meeting on Oct. 23. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 40 points, and Washington led the Mavericks with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Stephon Castle is shooting 45.0% and averaging 16.5 points for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 4-6, averaging 117.1 points, 48.0 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 114.0 points, 45.6 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), P.J. Washington: out (concussion protocol), Brandon Williams: day to day (leg), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Daniel Gafford: day to day (ankle).
Spurs: Kelly Olynyk: out (foot), Dylan Harper: out (ankle), Lindy Waters III: out (knee), Jeremy Sochan: out (quad).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Hornets play Houston.
The Rockets have gone 17-5 in home games. Houston scores 115.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per game.
The Hornets are 12-15 on the road. Charlotte ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.0% from 3-point range.
The Rockets are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 47.3% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.3% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 46.0% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Miles Bridges is averaging 18.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 23.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 109.6 points, 48.8 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.9 points per game.
Hornets: 8-2, averaging 113.4 points, 48.7 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.1 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle).
Hornets: Tidjane Salaun: day to day (illness), KJ Simpson: out (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (19-29, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-28, 10th in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Portland comes into the matchup with Memphis after losing six in a row.
The Trail Blazers are 18-15 in Western Conference games. Portland is 9-12 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Grizzlies are 16-17 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks ninth in the Western Conference shooting 34.9% from 3-point range.
The Trail Blazers' 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Grizzlies give up. The Grizzlies average 13.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Trail Blazers allow.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Grizzlies won 119-96 in the last matchup on Dec. 7.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 21.8 points for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 13.6 points over the last 10 games.
Cedric Coward is averaging 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson is averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 53.6% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 22.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.1 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-7, averaging 116.8 points, 42.8 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija: day to day (back), Scoot Henderson: day to day (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Kris Murray: day to day (lumbar), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
Grizzlies: Kyle Anderson: out (illness), Georges Niang: out (foot), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (13-38, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (20-29, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee hosts the Indiana Pacers following the Milwaukee Bucks' 141-137 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Bucks are 6-4 against opponents in the Central Division. Milwaukee has a 9-20 record against opponents over .500.
The Pacers are 3-8 against the rest of the division. Indiana is 6-29 against opponents over .500.
The Bucks average 14.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per game the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.7 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Bucks give up.
The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Bucks defeated the Pacers 111-94 in their last matchup on Dec. 24. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 24 points, and T.J. McConnell led the Pacers with 16 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kyle Kuzma is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 3-7, averaging 109.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.9 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 112.4 points, 43.1 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Gary Harris: out (hamstring), Bobby Portis: out (hip), Taurean Prince: out (neck).
Pacers: Micah Potter: day to day (hip), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (hand), Obi Toppin: out (foot), T.J. McConnell: day to day (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
