Category: Sports News

The Bucks put the Warriors through the washing machine. 

By dangling Giannis Antetokounmpo as a carrot ahead of the NBA trade deadline, they made the league’s modern-day dynasty believe it had another shot at the mountaintop. They made Steph Curry believe he had a chance to compete for his fifth ring. And they made Draymond Green face the harsh reality that anyone is disposable if a shiny enough object comes along. 

The Warriors went all in on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. They were considered front-runners. They were willing to mortgage their future with four unprotected first-round picks. They shifted their focus from pursuing other trades, including Jaren Jackson Jr., before pivoting at the buzzer and landing Kristaps Porzingis.

There was a lot of fallout from the Bucks’ 6-foot-11, 240-pound pump fake.

But none was more revealing than the way Green handled hearing that his name was involved in trade talks for the first time in his 14-season career, something that would’ve been off the table for pretty much anyone not named Antetokounmpo.

Green took it on the chin. 

Two days before the trade deadline, when he was asked about being included in a potential deal, he was markedly understanding. “I think a lot of people want to know how I feel about it, like am I upset about it,” Green said Tuesday. “I’m not at all. If that’s what’s best for this organization, that’s what’s best for the organization.”

That wasn’t an act. One thing Green isn’t is disingenuous. Rather, those were the words of a man who knew he did everything he could for the Warriors. They were the words of someone who poured every ounce of himself into a franchise, helping it become a dynasty that won four championships in eight years. They were the words of someone at peace. 

The 35-year-old Green is known for being fiery. He’s a guy who transformed himself from an undersized No. 35 pick in the 2012 draft into one of the greatest defenders in NBA history. He’s grit personified. For the Warriors, none of this would’ve happened without him. 

He was considered untradable — or at least as untradable as someone can be in a league in which Luka Doncic can be dealt. He had earned that. But when that changed, he didn’t express surprise over the whiplash of it all. He didn’t express disappointment over the shift in loyalty. 

Rather, he leaned into gratitude. 

“I don’t know that it ends at 13 1/2, but if it does, what a f***ing run it’s been,” Green said. “I’ll take the fine for (cursing). What a f***ing run it’s been.”

The thing is the relationship between Green and the Warriors has always been symbiotic. 

His ability to guard 1 through 5 made the Warriors one of the greatest franchises ever. In turn, they supported him through the turbulence that goes hand-in-hand with a player whose oxygen is intensity. 

After Green got into it with Kevin Durant in November 2018, Curry drove to Green’s Oakland home and talked with him in his backyard for two hours. And after Green was suspended indefinitely for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face in December 2023, Warriors coach Steve Kerr went to Green’s Los Angeles home, sat in his backyard and helped recenter him. 

The Warriors have had Green’s back. And he’s had theirs. 

For Green, if a trade had happened, there wouldn’t have been any bitterness. Any resentment. Any betrayal. While Green can be reactionary, this clearly showed his other side. He’s contemplative. He’s likable. 

You don’t remain on a team for 13 1/2 years if you’re not. A few years ago, Green likened himself, Curry and Klay Thompson to being the co-founders of a start-up. Over their six Finals runs, they played an extra 127 games, or the equivalent of an extra season and a half. 

They became brothers, spending more time together than with their actual families. They wanted to retire together. Thompson left in free agency in July 2024 because he wanted out amid frustrations over contract negotiations and his decreased role. 

If Green had been traded, that would’ve felt different. 

Kerr has called Green the “heart and soul” of the team. His unbridled intensity served as a defibrillator in locker rooms and huddles, shocking his teammates into meeting him at the feverish pitch at which he existed. 

Without Green, the Warriors’ path could’ve been dramatically altered. 

Curry might not have been able to become the best shooter of all time without fully trusting that the other end of the court was patrolled. Kerr might not have been so effective without having a human form of fireworks echoing his words.

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Green is the Warriors’ glue guy, who selflessly facilitated on offense, while also pouring himself into the less glamorous side of the court. He is the person who does the things other players don’t want to do. He’s a blue-collar worker who turned himself into a four-time All-Star and future first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

And when his name surprisingly came into trade conversations, he didn’t hem and haw. He didn’t take veiled shots at the organization. Rather, he understood. 

The Warriors needed to do everything possible to acquire Antetokounmpo. Green knew that. He respected it. Even if it came at a big cost to him. 

Over the last decade, he helped the Warriors become one of the NBA’s most dominant teams. And in turn, they enabled him to become the best version of himself. 

And when his future was hanging in the balance, it was clear he overwhelmingly felt one emotion: appreciation. 

“What do I have to be upset about?” he asked. “I’ve been here for 13 1/2 years. That’s longer than probably 98% of NBA players have been in one place. And this guy from Saginaw has been in a place for 13 1/2 years.”

DETROIT — The Knicks were already banged up before Josh Hart limped off the court with another ankle problem.

It’s unclear how Hart, who has been dealing with soreness in his right ankle since spraining it on Christmas, was injured.

He grabbed a rebound about midway through the third quarter, started dribbling, and grabbed his ankle area in pain.

Hart went to the locker room and never returned, with the Knicks saying it was a right ankle issue and there was no further update.

Hart was listed as questionable before the game with a left ankle injury, which he twisted Tuesday.

“He’s a gamer,” Jalen Brunson said. “He’s going to do whatever he can to help his team win, regardless of how he feels or whatever. It’s just who he is.”

Two other starters didn’t suit up in the 118-80 loss to the Pistons. OG Anunoby (toe soreness) was a late scratch.

Karl-Anthony Towns sat with an eye laceration, which the center sustained in Wednesday’s double-OT win over the Nuggets.

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Jose Alvarado, who was acquired in a trade Thursday, was completing his physical and is expected to debut Sunday in Boston.

Coach Mike Brown explained why the Knicks acquired Alvarado.

“He just brings a level of toughness to the team, his energy is unmatched,” Brown said. “What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the frontcourt on the ball especially on pick-and-rolls and stuff like that, is at a pretty high level.

“He shoots it better than most people think. We want to play fast and we believe he’s a guy who will come in and push the pace. Get us into our offense and all that other stuff. Because he is quick, he’s got a low center of gravity. Been around for a while, he’ll touch the paint and make others better. We’re a big spray team and he should be good in that area, too. So, excited to have him.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo is "close" to returning from injury, says Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who described the "relief" in the camp after speculation that the two-time MVP might be traded.

The 31-year-old forward remained at the club after Thursday's trade deadline, and Rivers said the other players were "skipping around the gym" after it was confirmed he would be staying put.

Antetokounmpo has been limited to 30 games this season because of injury and has not played since suffering a calf strain on 23 January.

"He's going to play when he's healthy - he's getting close," said Rivers.

"He's working out. He looks good. So I would say hopefully sooner than later."

The Bucks claimed their third consecutive win on Friday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 105-99, but remain 12th in the NBA's Eastern Conference, three wins behind the Charlotte Hornets in the final play-off spot.

The Bucks have a 6-14 losing record when playing without Antetokounmpo, but have won 15 of their 30 games when he has been in the team.

Antetokounmpo averages 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and a 65% shooting success this season, earning him a place in the NBA All-Star game.

He has completed a workout on court before the past three Bucks games and posted a clip on social media from the film The Wolf of Wall Street after Thursday's trade deadline passed, along with a message: "Legends don't chase. They attract."

"It was a relief," Rivers said. "I thought Giannis' tweet was like a unifying thing for all the players."

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The Dallas Mavericks have spent two weeks in free fall, during which their coach, Jason Kidd, has lost his cool with the press. They can point to injuries sinking their season, yet they also run a starting lineup without a traditional point guard, and have lacked a spare penetrator to combine with top pick Cooper Flagg. 

It’s game two of the miniseries, and the San Antonio Spurs have beat them twice this year. Despite some warts here and there, the Spurs are playing well and must continue to do so because the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first seed is vulnerable. Keep in mind that the Mavericks are on par with the league’s worst offensive rating on the road.

San Antonio Spurs (35-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-32)

February 7, 2026 | 5:00 PM CT

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Spurs injuries: De’Aaron Fox — questionable (back); Luke Kornet — questionable (adductor, ankle); Jeremy Sochan — questionable (quad); Lindy Waters III — out (knee)

Mavericks injuries: Kyrie Irving — out (knee); Derrick Lively II — out (foot); Khris Middleton — doubtful (trade pending); Brandon Williams — probable (leg)

What to watch for

• The Mavericks spend nearly as much time in transition as the Spurs, yet are slightly more efficient, scoring 1.2 points per possession. They notably kept up the pace in Thursday’s game even when the Spurs were scoring efficiently, which is not easy to do because checking in the ball takes away precious seconds. The Spurs will need to get back promptly, and avoid being torched by a trailing shooter.
• Coach Mitch Johnson said on Thursday that Stephon Castle’s normal role is starting, but he dominated in 22 bench minutes in the win over the Wild Horses. Castle will play well regardless of when his minutes begin, but using him as a reserve gives the Spurs an advantage because second-string players are easier for him to take apart. Still, expect to see him get most of the defensive minutes on Flagg.
• The next best thing three years ago versus the next best thing now. It makes it much sweeter that both play in Texas, and divisional matchups usually carry extra intensity. Don’t expect Wembanyama to guard him much because he’s only spent 83 seconds doing that this season, although it would be nice to see him take an unorthodox assignment. Giannis Antetokounmpo neutralized Jimmy Butler in the 2021 first round when guarding him, and maybe Wemby could do something similar. 
• League tracking data says the Mavericks are the 11th-best defense in the league, but it’s suspect, and their defensive numbers are better thanks to misses they didn’t cause. Opponents aren’t taking advantage of the Mavericks’ poor outside defense, only making 35.7 percent of the 18.7 wide-open attempts Dallas allows. A wide-open shot is defined as being open by six feet or more.

Los Angeles Clippers (24-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-21, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference action Sunday.

The Timberwolves are 18-16 in Western Conference games. Minnesota scores 119.5 points and has outscored opponents by 4.7 points per game.

The Clippers are 14-15 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 3-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers average 112.3 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 114.8 the Timberwolves give up to opponents.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 7 the Timberwolves won 109-106 led by 27 points from Jaden McDaniels, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points for the Clippers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.3 points over the last 10 games.

Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 20.4 points and 4.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 46.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.

Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (quadriceps).

Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (not injury related), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: day to day (illness), Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (not injury related).

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

New York Knicks (33-19, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-18, second in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Celtics take on New York.

The Celtics are 23-12 against conference opponents. Boston has a 5-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks are 22-12 in Eastern Conference play. New York averages 117.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.2 points per game.

The Celtics score 115.6 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 112.3 the Knicks allow. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Celtics won 123-117 in the last matchup on Dec. 3. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 42 points, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 35 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 20 points and five assists over the last 10 games.

Jalen Brunson is scoring 27.1 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 110.9 points, 47.5 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.

Knicks: 8-2, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).

Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Jose Alvarado: day to day (not injury related), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

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

Indiana Pacers (13-39, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (31-22, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Toronto after losing three in a row.

The Raptors are 23-14 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is the league leader with 19.2 fast break points per game led by RJ Barrett averaging 3.8.

The Pacers are 9-25 against conference opponents. Indiana gives up 118.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 7.7 points per game.

The Raptors average 114.0 points per game, 4.4 fewer points than the 118.4 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Raptors give up.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 15 the Raptors won 115-101 led by 30 points from Brandon Ingram, while Pascal Siakam scored 26 points for the Pacers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ingram is averaging 23.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and four assists over the last 10 games.

Siakam is averaging 23.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 42.3 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.

Pacers: 3-7, averaging 109.6 points, 42.5 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.7 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (back), RJ Barrett: day to day (injury management).

Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ivica Zubac: day to day (personal), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Kobe Brown: day to day (not injury related ).

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

Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-41, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cavaliers -12; over/under is 233.5

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento plays Cleveland looking to stop its five-game home skid.

The Kings are 9-18 in home games. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in one-possession games.

The Cavaliers are 14-10 on the road. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.4 points per game and is shooting 47.4%.

The Kings average 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers give up (13.9). The Cavaliers average 119.4 points per game, 1.0 fewer than the 120.4 the Kings give up to opponents.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Cavaliers won 123-118 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Donovan Mitchell is scoring 28.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson is averaging 18.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 53.8% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.9 points, 43.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.

Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 116.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: day to day (back), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: day to day (eye).

Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Evan Mobley: out (calf), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), James Harden: day to day (personal).

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

NEW YORK — To no one's surprise, Round One between UConn and St. John's men's basketball lived up to all the expectations on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

But it was the No. 22-ranked Red Storm that emerged as the victor rather than the No. 3-ranked team in the Big East heavyweight matchup.

The Red Storm did so by doing something the Huskies excelled at heading into the game, something that makes them a national championship contender once again: by getting defensive stops down the stretch.

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs. St. John’s basketball score, highlights of top 25 game

"I thought The Garden was as good as I've seen it," St. John's coach Rick Pitino said after the Red Storm's 81-72 win over the Huskies.

It was an entertaining contest that showed St. John's can go a full 40 minutes and grind out a win against a top-tier team like UConn. It also showed the Huskies are legit contenders once again, seeking a third national title in four years — even if their offense is still a work in progress.

"As hard a game as we've had to play all year," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.

For St. John's, it's the highest-ranked win since 2021 against Villanova, and the highest-ranked win at The Garden for the Red Storm since they took down No. 3 Duke on Jan. 30, 2011. It's also the first three-game winning streak against UConn since the 1999-2000 season, when St. John's swept the regular season series and won the Big East championship game.

3 straight wins over UConn for the Johnnies 👀@StJohnsBBallpic.twitter.com/J8Fso7KY1H

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 7, 2026

The Red Storm's statement win, which puts them within a half-game of first place in the Big East standings, ended an 18-game win streak for the Huskies. It's the first loss for UConn since it fell 71-67 to then-No. 4 Arizona on Nov. 19, and it's just the second overall loss of the year for the Huskies.

"We work too hard to play like that and just lose," UConn forward Alex Karaban said. "We invested too much time to lose, and it's a hard feeling. It's not an easy feeling to sit with right now."

The Red Storm had to fight for their fourth Quad 1 win of the season after an even first half.

That fight began with a 16-6 run to begin the second half to claim a 10-point lead after Bryce Hopkins drilled a 3-pointer at the 13:03 mark. The Huskies allowed the Red Storm to stay in the game — and then grow a double-digit lead — with self-inflicted wounds (like four turnovers in more than six minutes) and by falling into foul trouble.

B HOP TRIPLE

10-0 run for the Johnnies‼️ pic.twitter.com/xYYiPiSwYP

— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 7, 2026

St. John's turned 15 UConn turnovers, nine of which came from Huskies point guard Silas Demary Jr., into 20 points. The nine turnovers were a season high for Demary, who has otherwise been a home run find out of the transfer portal for the Huskies this season.

"You've got to be in great shape to do what they do," Hurley said of the St. John's defense and the disruption it created for the Huskies' offense. "It disrupts your ability to get into what you want to do offensively.

"I don't think that we turned it over because of their pressure. We turned it over because we lost our (expletive) mind a little bit and they have great defense. That's a top 20 defense, easy. They're hard to beat."

That fight then continued with the St. John's response to UConn's 16-9 run midway through the second half, where it saw its 11-point lead sliced to a single point after Demary hit a 3-pointer from the corner of the Huskies' bench.

A second-chance, tipped-in jumper from Dillon Mitchell off a missed 3-pointer and a 3-pointer from Dylan Darling turned the energy in The Garden back the Johnnies' way, and they closed on a 12-7 run. St. John's physicality around the rim led to 16 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds.

🔔🔔 pic.twitter.com/Txz2eUQj7Y

— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 7, 2026

"We made a lot of big plays tonight, a lot of big plays," Pitino said. "I'm proud of our guys for not panicking one bit at any point in the game."

Zuby Ejiofer was also a difference maker for St. John's across his 34 minutes of action, as he stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals.

"You know you’re going to make me retire because I’m not living life without you," Pitino said of the preseason Big East Player of the Year.

It's the fourth game this season in which Ejiofor finished with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 21 points were a key driver of the 50 points the Red Storm received from their frontcourt, (Mitchell had 15 points and Hopkins 14).

"They’re grown-ass men," Hurley said of the St. John's frontcourt. "... They are built for Big East games."

St. John's physicality also helped it earn its first top-25 win of the season. The Red Storm outscored the Huskies 42-22 inside the paint, and got to the line 31 times compared to UConn's 12 free-throw attempts.

Those reasons, and growing guard play, could make Pitino's squad a real tough out in the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm entered the night on the 5-seed line in projections, but after Friday's win, they should see a bump to a 4-seed.

For UConn, the Huskies miss out on adding a second Quad 1 win in Big East play on the season. Hurley's squad shouldn't see a drop in their projections, as a combined 13-3 Quad 1 and Quad 2 record, which features a win over Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, is a fine resume to keep them at the 1-seed line.

But for now, St. John's shifts its focus to Xavier at The Garden on Monday night with Round Two against the Huskies not that far in the distance on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. It will likely be a fight for the No. 1 seed in next month's Big East tournament back at The Garden.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. John's basketball makes statement with upset of UConn