Philadelphia 76ers (30-22, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28, ninth in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Portland Trail Blazers host the Philadelphia 76ers in non-conference play.
The Trail Blazers are 15-13 on their home court. Portland has a 14-22 record against teams over .500.
The 76ers are 15-9 in road games. Philadelphia has a 12-18 record against teams over .500.
The Trail Blazers average 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 116.7 points per game, 1.3 fewer than the 118.0 the Trail Blazers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Donovan Clingan is averaging 11.4 points and 11.5 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.8 points, 6.9 assists and two steals for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 26.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 113.7 points, 47.8 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points per game.
76ers: 7-3, averaging 117.1 points, 41.3 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija: out (back), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Robert Williams III: out (knee), Kris Murray: out (lumbar), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
76ers: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (38-13, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (25-28, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte hosts Detroit looking to continue its four-game home winning streak.
The Hornets are 15-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte scores 116.0 points while outscoring opponents by 2.0 points per game.
The Pistons are 24-7 in conference games. Detroit is third in the Eastern Conference scoring 117.5 points per game and is shooting 48.0%.
The 116.0 points per game the Hornets score are 6.3 more points than the Pistons allow (109.7). The Pistons average 117.5 points per game, 3.5 more than the 114.0 the Hornets give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 112-86 in the last matchup on Dec. 21.
TOP PERFORMERS: Miles Bridges is shooting 45.1% and averaging 18.4 points for the Hornets. LaMelo Ball is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Ausar Thompson is shooting 51.3% and averaging 10.4 points for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 9-1, averaging 114.3 points, 48.6 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.6 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 118.0 points, 43.3 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 11.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: Coby White: out (calf), Malaki Branham: out (not injury related), Xavier Tillman: out (not injury related).
Pistons: Dario Saric: day to day (not injury related), Jalen Duren: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Milwaukee Bucks (21-29, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (27-24, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando hosts Milwaukee trying to extend its three-game home winning streak.
The Magic are 18-17 in conference games. Orlando is sixth in the league with 52.5 points in the paint led by Franz Wagner averaging 11.4.
The Bucks have gone 16-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. Milwaukee averages 13.7 turnovers per game and is 8-8 when winning the turnover battle.
The Magic are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Bucks allow to opponents. The Bucks are shooting 48.1% from the field, which equals what the Magic's opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is averaging 21.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Bobby Portis is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 6.7 rebounds for the Bucks. Ryan Rollins is averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 110.5 points, 38.1 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.2 points per game.
Bucks: 4-6, averaging 109.2 points, 43.7 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Kyle Kuzma: day to day (calf), Taurean Prince: out (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Conference foes Washington and Miami will play on Sunday.
The Wizards have gone 2-5 against division opponents. Washington allows the most points in the Eastern Conference, giving up 122.7 points and is allowing opponents to shoot 47.7%.
The Heat are 3-5 against the rest of their division. Miami is 6-3 in one-possession games.
The Wizards average 112.4 points per game, 5.2 fewer points than the 117.6 the Heat allow. The Heat average 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 fewer makes per game than the Wizards allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is averaging 10.1 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 12.8 points over the last 10 games.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is scoring 15.4 points per game and averaging 5.4 rebounds for the Heat. Bam Adebayo is averaging 21.9 points and 10.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 4-6, averaging 110.9 points, 42.0 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 120.1 points, 50.2 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 9.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Alex Sarr: out (ankle), Jaden Hardy: out (not injury related), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: out (illness), Tre Johnson: out (ankle), Kyshawn George: out (knee), Trae Young: out (knee).
Heat: Norman Powell: day to day (hand), Tyler Herro: out (ribs), Pelle Larsson: day to day (elbow), Bam Adebayo: day to day (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Chicago Bulls (24-29, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (14-37, 13th in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago hits the road against Brooklyn looking to break its three-game road skid.
The Nets are 10-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn is 5-24 against opponents with a winning record.
The Bulls are 16-20 in Eastern Conference play. Chicago is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 117.0 points per game and is shooting 47.2%.
The Nets average 107.3 points per game, 13.2 fewer points than the 120.5 the Bulls allow. The Bulls' 47.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.2 percentage points lower than the Nets have given up to their opponents (49.4%).
The two teams play for the fourth time this season. The Bulls defeated the Nets 124-102 in their last meeting on Jan. 19. Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 17 points, and Nolan Traore led the Nets with 16 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Nets. Egor Demin is averaging 10.8 points over the last 10 games.
Buzelis is averaging 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Bulls. Patrick Williams is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 2-8, averaging 100.6 points, 42.4 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.4 points per game.
Bulls: 3-7, averaging 113.3 points, 43.4 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points.
INJURIES: Nets: None listed.
Bulls: Jalen Smith: out (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Tre Jones: out (hamstring), Zach Collins: out (toe), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (20-31, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (28-25, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State hosts Memphis looking to stop its three-game home skid.
The Warriors are 18-15 in Western Conference games. Golden State is 2-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Grizzlies are 16-19 in conference play. Memphis ranks eighth in the NBA with 45.5 rebounds per game. Santi Aldama paces the Grizzlies with 6.7.
The Warriors are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 115.3 points per game, 1.8 more than the 113.5 the Warriors give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Warriors won 131-118 in the last matchup on Oct. 28.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandin Podziemski is averaging 11.9 points and 3.5 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Walter Clayton is scoring 6.9 points per game and averaging 2.0 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 40.6 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 12.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 116.1 points, 42.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), LJ Cryer: out (hamstring), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back).
Grizzlies: Cam Spencer: out (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out (shoulder), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Cedric Coward: out (shoulder), Brandon Clarke: out (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) — Paulius Murauskas scored 20 points and Andrew McKeever and Joshua Dent posted double-doubles as Saint Mary's rolled to a 79-54 victory over San Francisco on Saturday night.
Murauskas made 9 of 18 shots with two 3-pointers, adding eight rebounds and four assists for the Gaels (20-4, 9-2 West Coast Conference). McKeever finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, while Dent contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mikey Lewis hit four 3-pointers and scored 15, while Dillan Shaw pitched in with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Junjie Wang had 14 points to lead the Dons (14-11, 6-6). David Fuchs totaled 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Mookie Cook added 10 points and five boards off the bench.
Lewis had 10 points and Murauskas scored nine to guide Saint Mary's to a 40-29 lead at halftime.
GUADALAJARA, México (AP) — Reliever Guadalupe Chavez threw a couple of wild pitches with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Jalisco Charros defeated the Culiacan Tomateros 12-11 on Saturday to win the Caribbean Series championship for the first time in their history.
The Charros, who lost last year's final against the Escogido Leones from the Dominican Republic, led 9-1 after four innings. But the Tomateros rallied and tied it at 10 to send the game into extra innings when they took a 11-10 lead. But Jalisco loaded the bases and Chavez's erratic throws gave them the win.
The Charros' victory gave Mexico its first Caribbean Series title since 2016, when the Mazatlan Venados won.
The Caribbean Series was set to be played in Venezuela, but political turmoil forced organizers to move it to Guadalajara.
Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico had decided not to attend the tournament in Venezuela due to tensions between that country and the United States.
Mexico played with two teams in the tournament after the Venezuelans declined to play this year.
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 7: Blake Hinson #42 of the Rip City Remix drives to the basket during the game against the South Bay Lakers on December 2, 2025 at at Chiles Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Suhela Hassan/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz have signed Blake Hinson to a two-way deal.
The Utah Jazz are signing forward Blake Hinson to a two-way NBA deal out of the G League's Rip City Remix, agent Paolo Zamorano of Gersh Sports tells ESPN. Hinson has averaged 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in the G League.
In the 2025-26 G-League season, Hinson is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 32.5% from three.
Probably the most interesting thing about this signing is Hinson’s size. He stands 6’8” with a 6’10.25” wingspan. Those are great numbers for a player who’s doing nice things in the G-League. These types of signings are smart because you never know when a player like this can work his way into your rotation. And it becomes more and more likely when you’re adding players with top-tier tools. We’ll see how Hinson does and whether he can earn a standard contract. It would be nice if Utah was able to find more talent in the G-League as they move towards contention next season.
It’s also a reminder that the Jazz are looking for players with size and length. The Jazz are looking huge with the Signing of Jaren Jackson Jr., and this type of signing seems to fit with the Jazz’s teambuilding philosophy.
22-year-old has subscriber count of nearly 30 million
Source confirms streamer’s ban from future events
A controversial livestreamer has been barred from attending PGA Tour events indefinitely after being removed from the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a person familiar with the matter told the Guardian, though the tour has declined to publicly confirm any specific disciplinary action.
Security and law enforcement removed Jack Doherty from the tournament grounds on Friday after he appeared to pay a spectator to shout during a player’s pre-shot routine, according to videos circulating online and accounts of the incident.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by #42 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on February 07, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took over in the fourth quarter to win a thriller in Sacramento. Let’s see who won and lost the night.
WINNER – The Fourth Quarter
This one came down to the wire. That’s in part because of Sacramento’s lights-out shooting and Cleveland’s poor rebounding. But when push came to shove, the Cavs had two stars they could turn to.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 32 points in the fourth quarter, just when the team needed it most. It was devastating shot after devastating shot, as Mitchell got the ball rolling before Harden buried the Kings with his three-point shooting.
This wasn’t seamless. Mitchell and Harden took turns dicing up the Kings in a game where they might have led earlier if they had more synergy between each other. But hey, it’s their first game together. It took both Mitchell and Harden a few quarters to find each other’s groove. But with one prolific quarter, we saw how special this duo can be.
WINNER – James Harden’s Pick-and-Roll
There’s a new maestro in town, and he has a big fuzzy beard.
Harden is one of the best playmakers in the NBA. That’s something you probably already knew. But until you see him in a Cavs uniform dishing the ball to some of your favorite players — you don’t really understand just how great he is.
This wasn’t anything incredible. Harden finished with 23 points and 8 assists. But he consistently delivered the ball to his teammates in the pick-and-roll. Harden was finding them on their way to the rim, whether it be Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, or Craig Porter.
Harden’s instincts as a 6’5” dimer give this offense a new wrinkle. He shredded Sacramento’s attempts at trapping him, showing supreme poise in accepting the pressure and then getting the ball out at precisely the right time. He’s a basketball savant who is now surrounded by connective passers and competent play finishers.
The Cavaliers have always, in my opinion, been at their best when the offense is leading the charge. Sure, they’ve had the backbone of a defensive team for years, but it’s their offensive explosions that took them from good to great last season.
Getting back to that level hasn’t been easy. Injuries and poor shooting held them back early in the season. But now? They have a brand new engine that’s ready to get them burning rubber again.
LOSER – Three-Point Defense
I’ll cut the Cavs a little bit of slack. You can’t always control when the other team has an outlier night shooting the ball. For example, Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford are shooting below 35% from deep this season, yet they combined for 9-13 shooting in the first three quarters.
No one else on the Kings had more than one three-pointer entering the fourth quarter. That’s tough.
Westbrook and Clifford’s outlier nights almost single-handedly kept the Kings in this one. But I can’t completely dismiss this as poor shooting luck for the Cavs. After all, it’s their job to contest and limit shots. Especially once an opponent is in a rhythym.
Cleveland’s rotations were a step slow tonight. Their defensive rebounding was also an issue, as the Kings had 15 offensive rebounds. Tighter rotations and a better effort on the glass would have cleaned up a handful of the open three-point attempts Sacramento generated.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen
Speaking of Harden’s passing in the pick-and-roll, let’s talk about the player who will benefit the most from the Beard’s arrival.
Allen is going to be living in paradise for the foreseeable future. It felt like he received a paint touch on every screen he set for Harden, often catching the ball with enough space to go straight up for a layup. That’s a testament to Harden’s threat as a scorer, as the Kings spent more time worrying about him than covering Allen’s roll.
But I don’t want to give Harden all of the credit.
We’ve seen that Allen can be a crafty and creative finisher around the rim. Getting the ball to him in the short roll is one part of the equation. From there, we saw Allen score using his post-hook, drop-step, and up-and-under move.
Allen finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and didn’t miss on his first 11 shot attempts.
The Cavs have leaned on Allen heavily with Evan Mobley on the sidelines. He’s taken more offensive responsibility in stride and deserves all the credit in the world for holding down the fort.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trent Perry scored 23 points, Donovan Dent had 17 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals, and UCLA beat Washington 77-73 on Saturday night.
Tyler Bilodeau added 19 points in 23 foul-plagued minutes for UCLA (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten) and Eric Dailey Jr. finished with 14 points.
Washington trimmed its deficit to a point midway through the second half and a layup by Wesley Yates III made it a two-point game with 5:50 left, but Bilodeau answered with a three-point play, Dailey hit a jumper and Dent made a layup that gave the Huskies a 67-58 lead with 1:37 to go. UCLA made 10 of 12 from the free-throw line the rest of the way to seal it.
Yates led Washington (12-12, 4-9) with 21 points, Hannes Steinbach scored 13 and Quimari Peterson had 12 points and a season-high seven assists.
Skyy Clark (hamstring) did not play for UCLA.
The Bruins have won four straight against Washington and lead the series 112-44, 71-8 in Los Angeles.
The Huskies used an 8-2 spurt to open an eight-point lead — their biggest of the game — but UCLA scored 13 of the next 16 points to take its first lead of the game when Perry hit a 3-pointer that made it 25-23 with 6:15 left in the first half.
Up next
Washington: The Huskies host Penn State on Wednesday.
UCLA: The Bruins play next Saturday at No. 2 Michigan.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Donovan Clingan had 20 points and 19 rebounds, Jerami Grant had 29 points, and the Trail Blazers erased an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-115 on Saturday night and split a two-game series in Portland.
Jrue Holiday had 21 points and Caleb Love scored 17 points, 10 in the second half, off the bench.
Olivier Maxence-Prosper (25 points) and Javon Small (22 points) each had career nights for Memphis in the loss.
Portland’s All-Star forward Deni Avdija missed his fourth straight game with a lower back strain. Scoot Henderson also missed Saturday’s game after making his return from a torn hamstring on Friday.
Jahmai Mayshack’s 3-pointer pushed the Memphis advantage to 104-97 before Portland made its final push.
Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara and Love each hit a 3-pointer before Love stole the ball and made a layup to give Portland a 108-107 lead with 5:59 left in the game.
Javon Small’s 3-pointer cut Portland's lead to a point about three minutes later but Holiday answered with a layup before Grant made back-to-back 3s to give the Trail Blazers a 120-113 lead with 1:51 left.
There were eight ties and 18 lead changes in the game.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied back for a win on the road against the Sacramento Kings. They can thank their new backcourt for this one.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell took a backseat in the first half as his new co-star took his turn learning the offense. But in the second half, Don understood it was his time to be aggressive. He began windmilling and bombarding the Kings from all areas of the floor.
Mitchell had 6 points at the half, then scored 12 points in the third quarter, and 17 points in the fourth to finish with a game-high 35 points.
Grade: A
James Harden
23 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds
It’s tough to join a team midseason and immediately find your groove. This started as a feel-out game if I’ve ever seen one. Harden did an excellent job running Cleveland’s pick-and-roll, but it took some time for him to be start scoring the rock.
Travis Scott crashed James Harden and Donovan Mitchell's postgame interview after the Cavs win 😭
Harden officially welcomed himself to the Cavaliers by pouring in 15 points in the fourth quarter. He and Mitchell combined for a whopping 32 points in the final frame, escaping Sacramento with a win (and delivering a Travis Scott endorsement with him).
Grade: A
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Props to Allen. He’s not only carried additional weight with Evan Mobley on the sidelines, but he’s found a new pick-and-roll partner in Harden who can get him more involved than ever before. This was an awesome glimpse at a two-man game that I can’t wait to watch develop. Allen shot 11-12 tonight, starting the game 11-11.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
10 points, 0 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers
A lot was going on in this game. Tyson never found his role in it all. He finished with a minus-27 in nearly 30 minutes. That’s tough to do in a game you won.
I would have liked more Ellis in this game. His defensive playmaking and three-point shooting are skills that fit any lineup. Kenny Atkinson eventually decided he agreed, closing this game with Ellis.
Grade: A-
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Tomlin is still getting ignored by opposing defenses. That led to some clunky spacing in his minutes. But, as is the story of the season, his energy and activity keep Tomlin as one of the team’s highest plus/minus players. He finished as a plus 16 tonight.
Grade: C+
Dennis Schroder
7 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Schroder’s scrappy style is going to fit right in with Cleveland’s bench. He had a few instances of tunnel vision (3-9 shooting) tonight. Other than that, Schroder was a serviceable backup guard.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
Merrill has done a lot to earn some benefit of the doubt when he has a poor shooting night. He’s usually able to be effective even when his shots aren’t falling. But I don’t think anything was working for Sam tonight. He finished 0-6 from the floor.
Grade: F
Craig Porter Jr.
4 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
This wasn’t a great game for Porter. His lack of shooting can be crippling on the offense when his defense isn’t making up for it. He contributed as a playmaker and even swiped a few steals, but Porter was overall too out of place for me to feel good about his performance.
Grade: D+
Thomas Bryant
10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Bryant nailed back-to-back three-pointers in the first half. After that, his mobility became a serious liability for the Cavaliers’ defense. It is what it is. We knew this was a limitation for TB.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — James Harden scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut and Donovan Mitchell had 35, including a free throw that sealed the win with 35 seconds remaining, in Cleveland's 132-126 victory over Sacramento on Saturday night that sent the Kings to their 12th straight loss.
Harden was acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. He shot 7 for 13, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and had eight assists.
Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won for the eighth time in nine games.
Nique Clifford scored 30 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn’t won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. Russell Westbrook added 21 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have lost six straight at home.
The Cavaliers went into halftime leading 57-55, but the Kings took the lead in the third quarter at 96-93. Mitchell scored 29 points of his points in the second half for the Cavaliers.
