SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of Team Chuck looks on against Team Shaq during the 74th NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cleveland Cavaliers’ star Donovan Mitchell will participate in the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest. This will be Mitchell’s third time competing in the contest, second time as a member of the Cavaliers.
Mitchell is joined in this year’s contest by Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey, Bobby Portis Jr, Norman Powell and surprise candidate Damian Lillard, who hasn’t played in a game yet this season but could match the all-time record of three wins.
The 3-Point Contest will be the first event of All-Star Saturday night, marking a shift from recent years. This is a weird decision, in my opinion, as the contest has arguably become the most popular event of the weekend. So, make sure you remember this change so you don’t end up missing it.
Mitchell currently leads the NBA in total three-point makes with 180 threes in 49 games. Charlotte rookie Knueppel is third with 174 makes, while Maxey is right behind him at 169. Cleveland’s franchise record for three-pointers in a season is 245, set by Mitchell in 2023.
The Cavaliers last won the contest in 2013 when Kyrie Irving took home the trophy. Mark Price won back-to-back contests in 1993 and 1994. Other notable contestants include Darius Garland and Daniel Gibson.
Cleveland’s Sam Merrill isn’t in the contest despite being one of the league’s best three-point shooting role players. Merrill implied that he prefers golfing during the All-Star break in recent years, so perhaps that’s why. Either way, it makes sense for the league’s leading sniper, Mitchell, to get the nod. But it would have been cool to see multiple Cavaliers in the event.
Mitchell is also the only Cavalier who will be playing on All-Star Sunday. He’s had a career-year in Cleveland and carried this team when they struggled early in the season.
While the league’s activities are on a hiatus for the duration of the Olympics, the Men’s hockey tournament is the talk of the town in just about any city. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a real best-on-best tournament. We did whet our collective appetite on the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, but as the name suggests, only four nations were playing. When the tournament kicks off on February 11, 12 countries will be vying for gold. Unfortunately for Ivan Demidov and his countrymen, Russia won’t be one of them since the country is still banned from international competition because of its war on Ukraine.
Still, it’s interesting to wonder who would have made Team Russia if war had been over and the country had been reinstated. The Athletic asked Ivan Larionov, former NHL player (644 points in 921 games) and current coach of SKA St. Petersburg, who would have been on his Olympic roster, and one Montreal Canadiens’ player made the cut: Ivan Demidov.
In net, the former center man would have gone with Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Igor Shesterkin, leaving off Ilya Sorokin. It’s hard to argue with any of those selections. The first two have backstopped the Stanley Cup Champions for four of the last six years, while Shesterkin is the only reason the New York Rangers are not the worst team in the NHL right now. Bobrovsky would be his third-string goalie; talk about an embarrassment of riches.
On defence, Larionov would have selected former Canadiens’ defenseman Alexander Romanov if he weren’t out of action because of a shoulder surgery. However, the group he selected remains impressive and includes a former Hab: Mikhail Sergachev, Alexander Nikishin, Vladislav Gavrikov, Artem Zub, Nikita Zadorov, and Dmitri Orlov.
Commenting on his picks, the NHL legend explained that while physicality is a big part of the game, in a best-on-best tournament, you must take players that have the skill set to compete with the best – that might be a message to Team USA GM Bill Guerin, who knows.
Up front, Larionov would have Demidov skate on a line with all-time NHL leading goal scorer Alexander Ovechkin and Vladislav Namestnikov. It’s hard not to wonder what magic the youngster could create playing alongside such a fantastic goal scorer. Believe it or not, that would be his third line; that’s a scary thought.
His first line would feature Evgeny Malkin, Nikita Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov, and his second line would put Artemi Panarin, Pavel Buchnevich and Kirill Marchenko. A wonderful top six which would have been tough for any team to face. As for his fourth line, it would have been formed by Vasily Podolkin, Fedor Svechkov and Ivan Barbashev.
His extras would have been Andrei Svechnikov, Ilya Mekheyev, Ivan Provorov, and Ilya Lubushkin. Needless to say, Russia would have been one of the favourites entering the tournament.
While I understand the ban and the need to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, I can’t help but feel for older players like Ovechkin and Malkin, who probably won’t ever have the chance to compete at the Olympics since time waits for no man. At least, Demidov is only 20, which means that he should have another opportunity somewhere down the line to live that incredible experience. The NHL has agreed to its players taking part for 12 years, which brings us to 2038. If things aren’t resolved by then, though, it could spell trouble for the Canadiens’ rookie, since there’s no guarantee that there will be another between the NHL and the International Olympic Committee.
BOSTON — Jose Alvarado officially arrived at the end of the third quarter.
The newest Knick was on defense and switched onto Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who saw the size mismatch and tried to back Alvarado into the paint.
Alvarado, generously listed at 6 feet, didn’t give an inch. He took the contact, waited for Brown to turn for a shot, stripped the ball clean and gave the Knicks bench a hometown flex. It was Alvarado’s first steal with the Knicks and the highlight of a successful debut, an 111-89 victory over the rival Celtics in Sunday’s pre-Super Bowl matinee.
Jose Alvarado #5 of the Knicks knocks the ball away from Payton Pritchard #11 of the Celtics during the second quarter on Feb. 8, 2026. Getty Images
The transition for Alvarado was seamless. At least in Game 1.
“It just feels like it was meant to be,” Alvarado, the Brooklyn product, said. “It feels like I’ve been part of it for a while, even though it was the first game. Like it felt like nothing. It felt like home. It felt like it was supposed to happen this way.
“And I’m glad I did.”
Alvarado finished with 12 points, two steals and six deflections in 25 minutes on 5-for-12 shooting. His other steal — this time in the fourth quarter — was also splendid. He airballed a 3-pointer from the corner, recovered to sneak behind Brown for a strip, then buried a layup before yelling at the Celtics bench.
Welcome to the Alvarado experience.
“[People on the Celtics bench] basically said, ‘You’re going to miss.’ And I said, ‘That’s how you get it back, you know what I’m saying?’ ” Alvarado said. “Who cares about the miss if you get it back.”
The 27-year-old ball of energy arrived as advertised, providing a feisty defensive presence to muck up the game and help Jalen Brunson, who pummeled the Celtics with 31 points in 33 minutes.
Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Celtics on Feb. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“That’s him,” Josh Hart said of Alvarado, who was earmarked by Mike Brown for 22 minutes but expanded it to 25. “He’s a really good on-ball defender, takes the challenge of being a great secondary ball handler for us, being able to playmake, get into the paint, handle pressure, so what you got from Jose today is the player he is.”
The victory moved the Knicks (34-19) into a tie with the Celtics (34-19) for second in the East.
And it was an impressive way to bounce back, especially without OG Anunoby (sore toe).
The Knicks were coming off a disheartening blowout defeat Friday to the conference-leading Pistons, who squeezed the breath out of New York’s offense.
It didn’t take long for it to come back to life in Boston. The Knicks scored 35 points in the first quarter, with Brunson contributing 15.
The Celtics cut the deficit to four early in the second half, but they never regained the lead after the first quarter.
“Our group is resilient,” coach Mike Brown said. “Sometimes like in Detroit, that happens. None of us like it. None of us want to go through it. Give Detroit a lot of credit, but we know it’s not who we are.
“We played a lot better than that. We will. But I do think this group is resilient because they’ve shown time and time again after tough losses or multiple losses playing the next game usually doing a pretty good job of playing again.”
Plus, they have a new plucky defensive guard to help.
“Obviously [my teammates] know my passion is defense and they trust in me and believe in me and they let me be myself,” Alvarado said. “They keep saying go out there and be yourself and everything will go the way we need it to go.”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives past Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman on Sunday. | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Late in the fourth quarter Sunday, with the outcome of Celtics-Knicks decided, simultaneous “Let’s go, Pats!” chants and boos from Knicks fans echoed throughout TD Garden.
While Knicks fans enjoyed leaning into their cantankerous DNA for a moment, those boos quickly returned to cheers as the Knicks cemented a 111-89 victory over the Celtics (34-19).
The result snaps Boston’s five-game winning streak, as the Knicks (34-19) came out flying and never relinquished power.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points and eight assists, Josh Hart added 19 and the Knicks shot 40 percent from 3-point range as a team.
Jaylen Brown paced Boston with 26, Baylor Scheierman added 10 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and Derrick White contributed 19 points, but the Celtics shot just 37 percent from the floor as a team.
While the Celtics looked disorganized and flat-footed at times, this one was more so about the Knicks beating the Celtics than the Celtics losing to the Knicks. New York was the more physical, skilled and organized team.
The Knicks jumped out to a 35-24 edge through 1, as Brunson made his mark early with 15 points and four assists. New York shot 63 percent from the floor, compared to 35 percent for Boston, and got out in transition in the opening minutes.
White and Brown responded to help the Celtics slice the deficit to 60-53 at halftime, but the Knicks finished the half at 60 percent and generated a steady stream of easy looks.
Scheierman gave the Celtics a lift in the quarter, showcasing his versatility as a playmaker and rebounder. Scheierman has now totaled 40 rebounds in his last four games following a career high Sunday.
The Knicks extended the margin to 85-68 following a terrific third quarter in which they held the Celtics to just 15 points. With Neemias Queta in foul trouble, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla elected to go small with Brown at the 4 and the Knicks made them pay inside.
Hart made his presence felt in the quarter as New York turned defense into offense to seize command.
As they did two days prior against the Heat, the Celtics showed some fight; this time, however, there was no magical comeback. Scheierman buried a corner 3 to slice it to 12, then New York caught fire to pull away convincingly.
After holding their opponent to fewer than 100 points in each of the last five games, the Celtics let the Knicks get comfortable and couldn’t catch up. The game was closer than the score indicates, but the outcome was never really in doubt.
The Celtics have still won five of six, but Sunday wasn’t their best showing. New England fans will quickly forget about their shortcomings if the Patriots are able to win Super Bowl LX.
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 4: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during first half action at Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a season of inactivity for Lakers rookie Adou Thiero.
While most young players may not play as they learn and develop in their rookie season, Thiero has been out for the majority of the year due to injuries, the most recent a right MCL sprain suffered on Dec. 30.
The team stated that he would be out for four weeks before being re-evaluated. The Lakers delivered some good news on the rookie on Sunday as they assigned him to practice with their G-League affiliate team, the South Bay Lakers.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN also reported that he played in his first full-contact stay-ready game earlier this week.
The Lakers have assigned Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero to South Bay for today’s practice, the team announced. Thiero, out since Dec. 30 with a sprained right MCL, participated in his first full-contact stay ready game since the injury earlier this week, sources told ESPN
This is excellent news for Thiero, who has only played in 15 games this season.
Barring any setbacks, he should be made available to play sooner rather than later. The Lakers only have three games left to play before the All-Star break, so perhaps he can be available when LA takes on the Clippers after that break.
Regardless of when he returns, what matters is that he is progressing well. This is a developmental year for Thiero, but it’s hard to develop when you can’t practice or play.
Even in limited availability, Thiero has shown his ability to demolish the rim. He has had an impressive performance in South Bay against the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he scored 12 points in the team’s 108-105 win.
LA moved up twice in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Thiero, so they clearly value what he brings to the court. Hopefully, he can fully return soon and begin demonstrating his talent in games.
Week two of these daily questions gets under way, with the (vague) theme this week being rosters, expectations and reality checks. Arizona enters 2026 coming off a sub-.500 season, and signed just one of MLB Trade RumorsTop 50 Free Agents. And that was Merrill Kelly, who was here for most of the season anyway. They did add significant veteran presence, in the shapes of Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana, and made some smaller moves intended to address the bullpen, a significant problem last year. But was it enough? Or is this simply lip service, effectively re-arranging the dugout chairs on a mediocre baseball team?
Is Arizona actually trying to contend, or are they just pretending?
Obviously, it’s rare for any team to come out and admit they don’t have a chance. Though nobody would blame the Colorado Rockies front-office for throwing their hands in the air and ‘fessing up. But given the team only missed out on the playoffs by three games last year, despite some major injuries, it’s not as if the Diamondbacks need to be rebuilt from the ground up. However, there is also massive uncertainty regarding the 2027 season, so perhaps it makes sense to make no big movies until a new CBA is agreed. Tell us what you think lies behind the team’s mindset, as we head into spring training…
Won’t be in the comments immediately, since as mentioned yesterday, we’re off to the RenFair, where wifi has yet to be invented. 🙂 But I’ll check back when we return from the Middle Ages!
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Big 12 Conference announced Sunday it fined Oklahoma State $50,000 following an investigation into inappropriate chants referencing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormons, during a men's basketball game against BYU last week.
“The Big 12 Conference will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others,” the conference said in a statement.
BYU coach Kevin Young said after a 99-92 loss at Oklahoma State on Wednesday night that he heard “F--- The Mormons” chants coming out of the student section. BYU is the flagship school for the religion.
"The reference to religion did not meet our standards and expectations,” the university said in a statement. “Oklahoma State respects the Big 12’s decision and will not appeal the fine.”
It was at least the fourth time in a year that BYU teams had been the target of anti-Mormon chants.
The Big 12 fined Colorado $50,000 in September after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a game against the Cougars in Boulder.
Similar incidents occurred at an Arizona men's basketball game last season and a Cincinnati football game in November. Neither school was fined.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP) — Alijah Arenas scored 11 of his 24 points in the final four minutes, including the go-ahead basket with 0.7 seconds left, to help USC beat Penn State 77-75 on Sunday.
Freddie Dilione V made a layup for Penn State that tied it at 75-all with 12 seconds remaining. After USC called timeout to move the ball into the front court, Arenas took the inbounds pass, worked his way to the right block and kissed a layup high off the glass to cap the scoring.
Kam Woods had 13 points, a season-high nine assists, five rebounds and four steals for USC (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten). Ezra Ausar added 13 points and Jacob Cofie had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Dilione led Penn State (10-14, 1-12) with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Josh Reed made 8 of 11 from the field and finished with 17 points while Ivan Juric scored 13 and Dominick Stewart added 11 points.
The Nittany Lions have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Penn State scored 10 consecutive points before Woods made a layup that trimmed USC's deficit to 40-36 at halftime. The Nittany Lions opened the second half with a 10-2 run that culminated with a fast-break dunk by Dilione that gave Penn State its biggest lead of the game at 50-38 with 17:23 left in the game.
The Nittany Lions went 0 for 8 from the field in a span of more than 8 1/2 minutes in the second half as USC used a 22-5 run to take a six-point lead with six minutes remaining.
England clung on to beat Nepal by four runs in a nerve-jangling last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday and avoid one of the biggest upsets in the history of the T20 World Cup.
A three-time Cy Young Award winner, a former MVP, and the first baseman who helped end a 108-year World Series drought are joining NBC Sports. How’s that for an All-Star lineup?
Recently retired stars Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo will provide their insight as MLB makes its return to NBC and Peacock for the 2026 season. The trio will serve as pregame analysts for the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs this fall and will also appear on select Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts during the regular season alongside hosts Bob Costas and Ahmed Fareed.
Beyond being three of the most recognizable players of their generation, Kershaw, Votto, and Rizzo have combined for 20 All-Star selections. They’ll draw on that experience to deliver informed analysis and fresh perspectives throughout NBC Sports’ MLB coverage.
Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw completed his 18th and final season in 2025 by winning his third World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, Kershaw posted a 223-96 career record for a .699 winning percentage – third best in MLB history (minimum 100 decisions). A left-hander, he recorded more than 3,000 career strikeouts, was an 11-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and National League Most Valuable Player in 2014, a year in which he pitched a no-hitter. In addition, the Dallas native led the NL in earned run average five times and in wins and strikeouts three times. In 2012, Kershaw earned MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award, which is regarded as MLB’s most prestigious individual honor for a player who exhibits exemplary community service, for his charitable work, which included building an orphanage with his wife, Ellen, in Africa.
Joey Votto
Votto spent 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he was a six-time All-Star, the 2010 NL Most Valuable Player and 2011 Gold Glove first baseman. Known for his power and patience, the left-handed hitter compiled a .294 career batting average and blasted 356 career home runs while leading the NL in on-base percentage seven times. He helped the Reds reach the Postseason four times in his career. Votto, a native of Toronto, also turned in numerous memorable interviews and mic’d up moments as a player, becoming a fan favorite across the game.
Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman who is perhaps best known for catching the final out of the 2016 World Series for the Chicago Cubs, breaking the team’s 108-year championship drought. Rizzo also hit .360 in that World Series. In 2016, Rizzo was awarded the Platinum Glove as the NL’s best overall defensive player. Over 14 seasons with the Padres, Cubs and Yankees, the lefty slugger hit 303 home runs and had four seasons with at least 100 RBIs. A survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the Florida native was the 2017 recipient of the Clemente Award for the work of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which benefits cancer research and families affected by the disease.
From an MLB Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 to the Wild Card round of the playoffs, NBC Sports’ 2026 schedule delivers wall-to-wall coverage.
D.J. Short
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When does MLB on NBC coverage begin?
MLB on NBC coverage will begin with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26, as Paul Skenes and the Pirates will take on Juan Soto and the Mets before the World Series champion Dodgers will raise their banner leading into a primetime matchup against Ketel Marte and the Diamondbacks.
As part of a three-year media rights agreement, MLB will be presented across NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. Sunday Night Baseball will debut on March 29 with a matchup between two 2025 first-place teams, as the Mariners host the Guardians. The 18-game MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule begins May 3, with the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Twins in Minnesota. On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
Viewers can also look forward to a weekly Sunday whip-around show, a Labor Day special, the MLB Draft, the All-Star Futures Game, as well as highlights, short-form content, and documentaries.
Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
Feb 7, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes up for a shot between Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) and forward Cooper Flagg (32) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Coming off a road win versus the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs traveled home for a rematch. Luke Kornet made his return from injury, so the Spurs were at full strength. After leading 39-32 at the end of the first quarter, the Spurs kept the pace high and outscored the Mavs 42-35 in the second to lead 81-67 at halftime. The 81 points at halftime was the Spurs’ highest scoring half since March 2022. The lead just kept growing, with the Spurs taking a 23-point lead into the fourth quarter. Thanks to a career performance from Stephon Castle and five other Spurs scoring in double figures, the Spurs ultimately won 138-125.
Stephon Castle dropped a historic triple-double: Career-high 40 points (15-19 FG, 3-5 3PT), 12 assists, and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals and a block. This is the third 40-point triple-double in Spurs history, with David Robinson providing the other two. This is also the first 40-point triple-double with 75% FG since Wilt Chamberlain. Steph started hot, scoring in double figures in each of the first two quarters on perfect shooting. Then, he fanned the flame and cemented his historic performance in the fourth. The former ROTY has always showcased his talent each game, but this performance puts his potential into another stratosphere!
ST3PH! Living up to his first name, Steph splashes home one of his three threes!
Devin Vassell dropped 17 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a block. Dev shook off the rust and looked like his usual self. His ability to create shots for himself is a real game-changer for this team. Besides the scoring, he is also gelling well in the offense by dishing out six assists. Look for him to continue fulfilling his role to the fullest.
Middy Magician! Dev takes the handoff from Luke Kornet and dribbles into a pull-up midrange jumper!
Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 16 points and 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks and a dime. Vic did not have his best shooting night, but he did the dirty work on both ends for easy swats and buckets. (Although some might have been easy for Vic and not for average-sized NBA players.) He caught lobs from several different Spurs and was more than happy to take a backseat offensively.
W3MBY! Vic drains the open three from the wing, thanks to the Carter Bryant screen!
SPURS BASKETBALL! After Carter completely locks down Caleb Martin, the Spurs run out in transition, and the ball movement ends up in Vic’s hands for the easy slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 15 points (7-13 FG), five assists, and two rebounds. D-Fox struggled at first, but ended up draining buckets when the offense stalled. Just like Vic, he took a backseat offensively, but still managed to dish out some dimes. His unselfishness and willingness to be part of this offense, no matter who has the hot hand, show his adaptability to put the team in the best position to win.
FOX TO THE ALIEN! On the fastbreak, D-Fox catches the ball at the free-throw line and immediately lobs it up to Wemby, who throws it down with one hand!
Dylan Harper dropped 11 points (5-8 FG), five assists, four rebounds, a steal, and a block. Of the three star guards, Dyl played the least amount of minutes (23), but still filled the stat sheet. He got to the cup and showed off his elite finishing ability alongside his playmaking and defensive highlights. The rookie is a little more than halfway through the season and has already shown multiple glimpses of his potential.
HARP3R! Dyl knocks down the three from the wing off the Castle dime!
Carter Bryant dropped 11 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. In just 17 minutes, CB’s impact on both ends fueled the Spurs’ momentum, especially in the second quarter. He wowed with an alley-oop jam, drained three threes, and most of all, locked down multiple defenders. Throughout the season, he would get little spurts of action, but his playing time has gradually increased. With this added playing time, his confidence grows each game. This performance is just the appetizer for Spurs fans.
GET UP! On the fastbreak, Steph lobs it up for CB who throws it down with force!
Keldon Johnson dropped eight points (3-5 FG) and four rebounds in 16 minutes. KJ struggled taking care of the ball with four turnovers, but still managed to get tough buckets in the paint. He provided offense when the shot clock was dwindling, and also grabbed boards. Look for him to have more playing time next game, with a side of 6MOTY energy.
TOUGH BUCKET. KJ battles his way into the paint and throws up a contested shot over P.J. Washington for the deuce!
Luke Kornet dropped six points (3-3 FG), four rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes. Luke made the most of his playing time and did the dirty work for his teammates with screens. He continues to be a solid backup center for a team that desperately lacked one the last three seasons.
Johnny on the spot! Luke cleans up the missed D-Fox shot with a tip slam!
What more could one say about Stephon Castle? His performance was otherworldly, and allowed key players to take backseats. It is one thing to accomplish a triple-double; it is another to accomplish a high-scoring triple-double, but on this efficiency? His name being mentioned in the same breath as Wilt is an accomplishment in itself. As this team moves to 36-16, look for them to focus back on a pair of playoff teams out west this upcoming week.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs travel to Los Angeles for their fourth matchup with the Lakers this season on Tuesday at 9:30 P.M. (CST) on FDSN-SW.
When the Los Angeles Lakers played the Golden State Warriors on Saturday without Luka Dončić and Steph Curry, the most interesting drama happened off the court.
Both teams’ general managers spoke to reporters before the Lakers’ 105–99 win. And with California’s NBA darlings both on the verge of major change, a lot of eyebrow-raising things came out of those conversations.
Where do we begin?
Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. talks to the media before the game against the Lakers on Feb 7. NBAE via Getty Images
First of all, Warriors’ GM Mike Dunleavy claimed Draymond Green wasn’t involved in trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. “Draymond was not being shopped or talked about in deals,” he said.
The problem?
That assertion was contradicted by Green himself Saturday morning on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” when he said Dunleavy reached out to him before the trade deadline to say that he or Jimmy Butler would have to be included in a deal to match salaries.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Dunleavy reached out to him before the trade deadline to say that he or Jimmy Butler would have to be included in a deal to match salaries. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“What is said to me in that moment was there’s a chance I may get traded for Giannis because he didn’t rule it out,” Green said on his podcast. “He didn’t say, ‘We’re not putting you in a deal.’ So I took that as, all right, it’ll probably be me.”
So, the Warriors not only missed out on acquiring Antetokounmpo — whom the Bucks decided not to trade despite Golden State opening up its treasure chest of first picks — but the organization is also trying to mop up the fallout that came out of those talks.
Other interesting things that came out of his availability? Dunleavy expressed optimism that Kristaps Porzingis — whom the Warriors acquired in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield — will be healthy even though he has only played in 17 games this season because of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and left Achilles tendonitis.
GM Rob Pelinka made it clear the Lakers are looking toward their future, when they’ll have three first-round picks and a heap of expiring contracts this summer. Getty Images
“We feel good about it,” Dunleavy said, before adding, in essence, that they had nothing to lose by taking that gamble. “We’re sending out a player in a similar boat who struggled to stay on the floor.”
In other words, at least the Kuminga saga has finally come to an end.
Dunleavy also made it clear that the Warriors are still open to putting everything on the line this summer to give Steph Curry another chance at winning a title, calling this a “win-now” window.
As for this current roster? Dunleavy didn’t pull any punches.
LA’s LeBron James is doing things on the court previously considered undoable for a 41-year-old. NBAE via Getty Images
“It was pointed out to me today that over [the] last calendar year, we had the fourth-best record in the NBA from when Jimmy got traded to when Jimmy got hurt,” Dunleavy said, referencing Butler suffering a torn ACL last month. “Despite the idea that we’re not in the mix, we’re fading, all of this stuff, the reality is up until Jimmy got hurt, we were pretty good. And I think we were trending in the right direction. Now we’ve had to pivot a little bit. I think adding Kristaps can help. But this group is kinda what it is.”
Not a shining endorsement of the Warriors’ roster. But if Porzingis can get and stay healthy, Golden State could make the playoffs. And if Butler weren’t injured, they could’ve really competed. But for now, the Warriors will look ahead, when they’ll once again try to use their stash of draft capital to make a big splash.
“We’ve got the goods to make deals,’ Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy said the Warriors are putting everything on the line to give Steph Curry another chance at winning a title. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
On the other side of Crypto.com Arena, Lakers’ president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka also spoke to reporters following the trade deadline. He addressed whether the Lakers were aggressive enough in pursuing deals, considering they have 26-year-old Luka Dončić playing at an MVP-level, Austin Reaves looking like an All-Star, and LeBron James doing things at 41 years old that were previously considered undoable.
Pelinka, whose only move before Thursday’s deadline was to deal Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick for Luke Kennard, made it clear the Lakers are looking toward their future, when they’ll have three first-round picks and a heap of expiring contracts this summer.
“One form of being aggressive is saying no to moves,” he said.
In other words, change is going to come. A lot of change. For him, too.
“When Mark [Walter] bought the team, Jeanie [Buss] and I did a really deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow and move into and get aggressive,” he acknowledged.
Both organizations are at a turning point.
The Lakers are trying to build around Dončić while he’s in his prime. And the Warriors are trying to stay relevant while 37-year-old Curry still looks like Curry. Neither team is a true contender this season. But both teams believe this summer, they can make the tweaks necessary to put their teams atop the league.
So, while the basketball was fun Saturday (six Lakers players scored in double-digits, led by James’ 20-point, 10-assist and seven-rebound performance), the real intriguing stuff happened behind the scenes. We got a glimpse into how the two of the most important franchises in the league are thinking.
And it’s clear that this summer is going to be monumental.
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Usually, I run just one sleuthing photo a day on the weekends during the offseason but I came across this one recently and it was too good to pass up. So let’s do a bit of baseball sleuthing as we wait for today’s Super Bowl to begin.
Here we have brothers Joe and Phil Niekro posing at Wrigley Field. The scoreboard is visible, just barely, and only the NL side.
Joe Niekro pitched for the Cubs in 1967 and 1968, and for a few weeks in 1969 before he was traded to the Padres. So that does narrow things down, a bit. The Joe Niekro trade happened before the Braves visited Wrigley Field in 1969, so that year is eliminated.
That would still leave 18 possible dates, as the Braves played nine games at Wrigley in both 1967 and 1968.
I didn’t have to look at a single box score to figure this out, though I did have to check league schedules. Here’s how this one went.
First, the style of road uniform Phil Niekro is wearing wasn’t worn by the Braves before 1968. So that eliminates 1967.
Now, we can’t see much of the board but here’s a portion that we can see, enlarged:
It’s blurry and pixellated but that doesn’t matter. If you are familiar with the Wrigley Field board and how games are designated, it’s 100 percent clear that the white squares in the games above and below the Cubs score line (and that one was in the middle in the 1960s) read NO GAME.
Thus, the Cubs and Braves were the only NL game being played on the day this photo was taken.
So, as I said, I didn’t have to look at a single box score to figure this one out, just the daily schedules. The only day that year that the Cubs and Braves played at Wrigley and were the only NL game was Thursday, April 25, 1968.
In those days, photographers didn’t cover every single game as they do now, and especially not on a chilly April weekday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The reason this photo was taken is very likely the fact that the brothers had pitched against each other in the series opener, Tuesday, April 23. It was the first time the Niekros had faced each other at Wrigley; it had happened once previously in Atlanta, July 4, 1967.
Joe was the winner that day, allowing four runs in eight innings. The Cubs scored five off Phil in three innings and won 10-4. The reason this photo had to wait until Thursday the 25th was that the Wednesday, April 24 game had been postponed because it was 39 degrees and snowing that day in Chicago.
The Cubs won the April 25 game 5-2. Fergie Jenkins threw a complete game and Ron Santo homered twice in front of just 4,399 on another chilly day, with a temperature around 50.
The Joe Niekro trade was one of the worst in Cubs history. Joe had thrown a complete-game shutout in his first 1969 start against the Expos, but then posted a 6.97 ERA in his next three starts, not getting out of the fifth inning in any of them. In a fit of pique, Leo Durocher wanted him traded and GM John Holland obliged him.
Yes, the Cubs got Dick Selma in the deal, and Selma was competent for the Cubs, not to mention fun with his bullpen antics. Selma was traded (with Oscar Gamble) to the Phillies after 1969 for Johnny Callison, another bad trade. Callison didn’t do much for the Cubs and Selma had an outstanding year for Philly in 1970 as a multi-inning reliever, posting 22 saves and 5.2 bWAR in 73 games and 134.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Niekro went on to pitch 19 more seasons for the Tigers, Astros, Braves, Yankees and Twins. He was a teammate of his brother’s in Atlanta in 1973 and 1974, finished in the top three of Cy Young voting in 1979 and 1980 and got a World Series ring with the Twins in 1987. He had 221 career wins and was one of the better starters of his time.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander is out for the NBA All-Star Game next weekend in Los Angeles due to an abdominal strain (he has already missed two games and the Thunder lost both).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Sunday that Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun would replace Gilgeous-Alexander on the World Team in the All-Star Game (part of a USA vs. World format, more on that below).
Sengun was one of the most obvious snubs when the coaches picked the reserves. In his fifth NBA season, Sengu is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and a career-high 6.3 assists per game.
Sengun joins a stacked World Team roster that already includes Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama at the five.
All-Star Game format
This year, the NBA All-Star Game returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock — and it falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which are already underway. That was a perfect setup for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game format, a USA vs. World showdown that fans and players have been asking for.
The 24 All-Star players have been divided into three teams, two USA teams — USA Stripes and USA Stars — and one World Team. Those three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games, each team playing at least two games.
At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title. (If there is a tie, it comes down to point differential.)
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, an earlier time than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game airs on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game airs on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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D.J. Short
