TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Aaron Judge #99 and George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees smile during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training is an enigma of a time, statistically speaking. Up and coming prospects are competing with journeymen and aging vets to beat out roster cuts, while the core players are mostly getting their timing set and aiming to stay healthy for Opening Day. Pitchers likewise aren’t showcasing their full arsenal, or are intentionally playing with pitches they worked on in the offseason as well as utilizing different ratios of their pitches. There’s a lot of room for crazy things to occur.
You can reasonably pencil guys like Aaron Judge on top of the list of the Yankees’ WAR leaderboards for the entire season, but predicting who will be top dog during the month before the stats actually count? That’s a much tougher task, but we can try and reason out some candidates. Perhaps you look towards a young player that’s expected to get some runtime before going down to the minors like Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones. Maybe you think a pitcher like Ryan Weathers is going to turn heads as soon as he gets a couple sessions with Matt Blake. Could a non-roster invitee like Marco Luciano is going to turn back the clock for a month and look like the top prospect he once was? Nothing’s off the table when spring rolls around.
Personally, I think this is George Lombard Jr.’s camp to make a statement. The team’s top prospect is still viewed as being at least a year off from the majors, but he had a dazzling start in High-A last year getting him a promotion after just 24 games. Double-A proved to be more of a challenge, but he got a 108-game sample of the level, and could make a great impression of what he learned by showing off in the Grapefruit League.
Today on the site, Nolan leads off with a look at the crossroads that the Yankees and Spencer Jones find themselves stuck at. Michael wishes a happy birthday to the oft-memed native of Toms River himself, Todd Frazier, and then Sam has a double-feature on relievers first previewing Fernando Cruz’s upcoming second season in pinstripes before covering the past with Zack Britton’s tenure on the team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best prospect of baseball, and his name is Konnor Griffin.
Griffin, 19, was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and he made the most of his opportunity in his rookie season in the minor leagues. Griffin made it all the way to Double-A Altoona and played well at every level, giving him a shot to make the Opening Day roster with a good Spring Training showcase. MLB.com writer Jonathan Mayo gives Griffin 50/50 odds to make the team for Opening Day.
“He’s 19. He played one year of pro ball and just barely played above A-ball. However, he had one of the best seasons in Minor League Baseball ever, especially for a teenager. A 20/60 season, making it to Double-A. He’s going to get a very long look. There’s not a shortstop that’s better or blocking him. I would love for the Pirates to break camp with him, but I’m not convinced they will. I will say that he’s in competition,” Mayo wrote.
The Pirates gain more years of team control if they keep Griffin in the minor leagues, but if he is one of the best players in the organization and he’s ready for the show, he should get the call-up. However, the Pirates may not want to skip a step or two.
“You look at this history of how they treated Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler the last two years. I know they may be a little more in contention this year. I don’t think they’re inclined to break camp with him, but he’s so talented that I can’t rule it out,” MLB.com contributor Jim Callis wrote.
Griffin’s talent speaks for itself. He is a prodigy that could emerge into one of the best players in baseball someday. The Pirates just have to make sure they hit the right buttons, one of which could mean a call-up to start the season.
BD community, would you want to see Griffin on the Opening Day roster? Chime off in the comments section below.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk as they warm up prior to a game against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cavs fans embraced James Harden in his debut. Some of the loudest cheers of the night were reserved for his pregame introduction and anytime he did something on the court. The giveaway stick-beards helped add to the atmosphere as well.
“[There was a] different buzz tonight,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I felt it when I walked into the arena. This is a superstar league. … It’s great for Cleveland. It’s great for this market, these fans. They had LeBron over here for a long time. This is another, in that category of superstar, which is really cool for everybody.”
Harden also enjoyed his first home game in Cleveland.
“The crowd is always crazy,” Harden said about playing in front of the home fans for the first time as a Cavalier.
“I come here as a visitor, they’re crazy. They’re about the Cavs, and the land, and very loyal. They show up every single night. It’s one of the things that I was most excited about. So tonight was no different.”
“We all know why I’m here,” Harden said. “It’s one goal, and we all have that in common. So whether I score, take four shots, or take 20 shots. If we win the game, who cares?”
It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from a game against an awful, tanking Wizards team, but the Cavs are considerably closer to that goal now than they were a little over a week ago.
Harden’s fit on the court remains seamless. Any team with Harden is naturally going to play more deliberately in the half-court. He plays at his own pace, but often to the benefit of his teammates.
This led to 11 assists while providing 13 points on just four shot attempts. Harden’s ability to put stuff on the table without taking anything off it is exactly what you want when you add a superstar to an already established contender.
Donovan Mitchell has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this. The playmaking burden isn’t on him anymore. This allows his focus to return to what he does best: scoring.
For the third game in a row, Mitchell reached the 30-point plateau with Harden on the floor. He’s also taking more shot attempts in games with Harden than he has compared to his season-long average. Right now, there isn’t any struggle with who should be the primary scorer.
As we’ve seen in the two previous games, Harden’s presence makes life considerably easier for Mitchell.
“He’s manipulating the game,” Mitchell said of Harden. “He’s being able to put guys in positions. And then for me, to just be who I am. Attack, get downhill, still create, still playmake, but still be myself.”
The biggest fear when adding another high-usage player is that it might take away from what the other does best. Even guys who turned out to be phenomenal teammates, like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat, needed nearly a year together to figure out how to coexist. Even more natural partnerships like James and Kyrie Irving’s needed time to develop.
This duo has been the exception to the general rule so far.
The gravity Harden creates just makes everyone better.
“There’s a play in Denver where he’s isoing and Sam is in the right wing, and he just throws it to him because everyone’s pulled over,” Mitchell said.
“Now if that’s me over there, like what do you do?” Mitchell asked. “[Harden’s gravity] gives me time to go sit in the corner and watch him operate, and then defenses have to respect me. Now, everything is open to everybody else.”
Mitchell has played with great teammates before, but nobody else demands as much attention as Harden. This is a completely new dynamic for Mitchell, and he’s taking advantage of it so far.
These two plays are examples of that. Mitchell is going to get easy baskets like this when the defense either has to consistently stay with Harden or has to come to him when he has the ball.
Mitchell has also given Harden the space to do what he does best. Even though Harden only had four field-goal attempts against Washington, he was able to completely play his game, his way. He acted as the play initiator for most of the evening and had the second-highest usage on the team.
“Don is unselfish,” Harden said. “Even last game in Denver, the last couple minutes of the game, he just gave me the ball, let me facilitate, and do what I do. So, you don’t really get that from superstars in this league. And so that right there gave me the open welcome. … We both have the same freedom.”
There will undoubtedly be friction at some point, but so far, the fit couldn’t be better. Both have been able to play their game, and the team has benefited from that.
Harden assisted on six of Merrill’s 11 field goals. Some of those were simply from Harden drawing two to the ball and hitting the wide-open Merrill. Others were from incorporating some movement offense around a stagnant Harden. The latter is what’s interesting.
The Cavs got clean looks for a moving Merrill twice with Harden posted up on the elbow. The first was for a three when Merrill came around an Allen screen. The second was from using a screen to dive back inside for a layup.
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Atkinson’s offense will need to evolve to fit around Harden, but there’s ways to do that without disrupting what Harden does best. These are examples of how you can try to create a hybrid of both.
Not the burry the lede, but Merrill put up a career-high 32 points. He was on fire and couldn’t miss for long stretches of the game. He finished 9-10 from three and 11-12 from the field overall.
There’s nothing opponents can do to stop Merrill when he gets it going like he did on Wednesday. And playing with an additional star in Harden, who requires the defense to keep track of, is going to give Merrill more room to operate.
Jarrett Allen continued his run of good play. He went 8-8 from the field en route to a 21-point performance.
The addition of Harden has made life easier for Allen. He’s getting many more clean looks per game because of it. However, this impressive run goes back to before the trade. Allen has leveled up his game since Evan Mobley’s injury.
Now, we come back to this question: How do you get this version of Allen when Mobley returns?
If the Cavs had an easy answer, we would’ve likely seen it years ago. But there is one thing that they can do better.
“From my perspective, we have to get him involved more,” Atkinson said. “[I’m] just thinking maybe [we] didn’t focus enough on how important it is for him to touch the ball, to be involved. We ran an ATO (after timeout play) for him. I think it was the first one of the year today, first play of the game. I got to do that more. That seems like the formula. And of course, we’ll separate him and Evan (their minutes), but he’s got to be more involved. Touch the ball more.
There’s also concerns about how Harden — who has traditionally played with optimal spacing — would adjust to playing with two bigs.
But no matter how that looks, one thing is clear: Allen needs to be more involved. This version of Allen is playing at an All-Star level and elevates the entire team. He’s too skilled to be relegated to the glorified role player he’s been for the majority of this season.
Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini started his Olympic career with a bang.
The 19-year-old scored Team Canada’s opening goal in its 5-0 win over Team Czechia in the Group A Preliminary Round game on Thursday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milano, Italy.
Celebrini deflected Team Canada defenseman Cale Makar’s shot past Czechia goalie Lukáš Dostál with 5.7 seconds remaining in the first period.
The 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick became the fourth teenager to score a goal in his first-ever Olympic period, joining Olli Määttä (Feb. 13, 2014 with Finland), Ilya Kovalchuk (Feb. 15, 2002 with Russia) and Oliver Setzinger (Feb. 9, 2002 with Austria), per NHL PR.
By far the youngest player on Team Canada’s roster, Celebrini made his presence felt immediately, setting the tone for a dominant win.
Celebrini entered the NHL’s Olympic break fourth in the league with 81 points, behind Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (96), Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (93) and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (91).
Celebrini has the Sharks circling the Western Conference playoff picture, and his experience with Team Canada during the Olympics could give him the boost he needs when the season resumes to get San Jose back in the postseason.
Team Canada’s next game comes against Team Switzerland on Friday at 12:10 p.m. PT in Milano.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vuevi #4 of the Boston Celticsc shoots a three point basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 11, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — Nikola Vučević’s acclimation with the Celtics picked up Wednesday night.
Since acquiring him ahead of last week’s NBA trade deadline, Boston has largely operated as usual. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has continued to start Neemias Queta at center, bringing Vučević off the bench in each of his first three games with the team. There has been no indication that the approach will change, but when the moment called for an unexpected adjustment against his old team, Vučević was ready.
“I think tonight was a good step forward of where we can get to,” Vučević said after Boston’s 124-105 blowout win over the Bulls. “I felt more comfortable out there, and I think the guys felt more comfortable around me, and we were able to build some good chemistry, so it’s a good step forward. I’m glad we got the win, so we’ll just continue to work on it.”
Vučević picked up the slack for Queta in the first quarter after an ankle injury sent Boston’s go-to five hobbling up and down the floor and briefly into the player’s tunnel. Although Queta quickly returned, he logged just 15 minutes, giving Vučević his first major chance to make a significant impact.
Both the Celtics and Vučević used their matchup against his former team as a stepping stone. With Queta recovering on the bench using a resistance band, Boston adjusted on the fly, putting a greater emphasis on Vučević’s aggressiveness. He responded by knocking down four 3-pointers — his most in a Celtics uniform — and finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, notching his second double-double in a comfortable, kick-your-feet-up pouncing of Anfernee Simons and the Bulls.
Upon arriving from Chicago after his trade was finalized, the 35-year-old Vučević quickly got to work — studying film and meeting with coaches and staff at the team’s practice facility to get up to speed. Still, nothing compares to on-the-job training, and for Vučević, that’s where the real growth and comfort come from.
Playing 26 minutes while filling a critical void allowed for that comfort to kick in.
“Before that, I had gone through shootaround with the coaches, and there were a lot of one-on-ones,” he said. “Even in the day in between, when I took some time off and watched tape — trying to learn the plays a little bit more — I felt like I’ve settled in a bit better.”
For the first time, Vučević thrived on the perimeter. The Celtics toyed with Chicago’s fragile defense and imposed their will. Teammates found Vučević in the paint and beyond the arc, turning their finale before the All-Star break into an opportunity to showcase his offensive versatility to the TD Garden crowd while also giving Queta a breather.
When asked how different Vučević looked Wednesday night compared to his first two games with the Celtics, Mazzulla echoed Vučević’s sentiment — nearly word-for-word.
“Much more comfortable today,” Mazzulla said. “His pick-and-roll positioning defensively was good — really good. Then offensively, the reads were good — spacing, understanding where he is, the early offense reads, offensive execution. He just felt much more comfortable out there, so it’s always good to get out and practice. He values the details and wants to get it right, so he’s put a lot of preparation into it.”
Finding his place in Boston’s offense isn’t immediate. It takes time to develop, as was the case when Simons first joined Mazzulla’s locker room in the offseason. After debuting with the Celtics last Friday, Vučević called his first game a “work in progress,” a process that will continue as the team pushes to secure a strong position in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of the playoffs.
The next seven days won’t just serve as a break for everyone in the locker room except Jaylen Brown — they’ll give Vučević valuable time to continue learning the ways of Celtics basketball without juggling the hectic pace of flights, meet-and-greets, and limited hours before hitting the court. Even with 15 years of NBA experience, Vučević knows that joining a contender like Boston requires work on and off the floor to bring the organization’s vision to life, so he plans on using the off-time wisely.
“I think the (break) could help a little bit,” Vučević said. “There’s a lot that comes with a trade — you come to a whole new city, a whole new situation — so I think the (break) will do some good. It gives me more time to study, watch film and see some things, then refresh for the end of the year. All of us players look forward to the break at this point of the season, but I do think it was good to finish on a positive note and go into it feeling pretty good.”
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is out of the Milan Cortina Games after he refused to stop wearing a banned tribute helmet.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
PHILADELPHIA — The little man stood up for the big man. And it had a big impact.
It’s not a sight that has been common around these Knicks this year — someone actually getting in an opponent’s face to stick up for a teammate.
Mitchell Robinson, while going up for a dunk, was brought down hard by Trendon Watford at the end of the first quarter of the Knicks’ 138-89 win over the 76ers on Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Immediately, with Robinson still on the ground, Alvarado tried to push Watford away.
Jose Alvarado celebrates after hitting one of is eight 3-pointers in the Knicks’ blowout win over the 76ers in Philadelphia. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When Watford didn’t budge, Alvarado exchanged a few words with him, and the two had to be separated.
Alvarado and 76ers coach Nick Nurse were both given technical fouls.
“He did a hard foul, but I think he did a little extra with the staring,” Alvarado said. “I’m just not gonna go for none of that. It was just in the moment. That’s when I’m at my best, I guess, getting a little active. It worked out in my favor.”
And it sparked the Knicks run that blew the game open and put them firmly in control.
After the incident, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by 15 points before Alvarado checked out in the second quarter to increase their lead from nine to 24 points.
Alvarado scored nine of those 15 points with a trio of 3-pointers.
“He ignited us,” coach Mike Brown said, “in a lot of different ways.
Jose Alvarado (right) celebrates with Karl-Anthony Towns during the Knicks’ 138-89 blowout win over the 76ers on Feb. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia. Getty Images
It wasn’t a major fracas, but it was a bit of snarl that the Knicks were missing this year, one of the reasons they acquired Alvarado just ahead of the deadline.
It was a major contrast to their lack of response when Draymond Green grabbed Karl-Anthony Towns’ leg and dragged him down during the loss to the Warriors on Jan 15.
Now, though, the Knicks have an enforcer. Even if he’s generously listed at 6 feet.
Brown gives out a defensive player of the game afterward, and the recipient poses with a pair of Timberland boots, among other accessories, to represent a hard-nosed mentality.
It was fitting that Alvarado, who got the recognition Wednesday, was already wearing his own pair.
“That’s what we need,” Josh Hart said. “That’s what we want from him. Obviously that toughness, ability to help us get organized, ability to knock down shots. And defensively bring energy, bring physicality, get in the passing lanes, those kinds of things. That’s why he’s here.”
Alvarado’s dogged on-ball defending and toughness are what he’s known for. His offensive game is usually much more of a question mark.
But he was their unlikely leading scorer Wednesday, finishing with 26 points, almost all via 3-pointers.
Garbage time became Alvarado time, as he began toying with the 76ers during the fourth quarter, using his patented sneak attack to come up with steals while jacking up 3s on the other end. He hit four more 3s in that fourth quarter.
His 26 points and five steals were both season highs. He was a team-high plus-35 in just 19 minutes. His eight 3s tied a career high.
“I had it rolling,” Alvarado said. “I didn’t know I had eight [3s] — I should’ve made one more so I could break my tie.”
By the fourth quarter, the plethora of Knicks fans in attendance were chanting “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose” and getting on their feet for every shot. A potentially key Knicks energizer has firmly arrived.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 11: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 11, 2026 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For a half, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs might limp into the All-Star break. Instead, they stormed into it.
Behind a ferocious second-half turnaround and another poised performance from their young stars, the Spurs erased a 16-point 3rd quarter deficit and powered past the Golden State Warriors 126-113 on Wednesday night at Chase Center. The win extended San Antonio’s streak to six games and reinforced a growing belief around the league: this team is maturing fast.
The Spurs didn’t just win. They imposed themselves.
Golden State came out sharp, moving the ball and knocking down perimeter shots to seize early control. The Warriors dictated pace in the first quarter and maintained separation through much of the second, capitalizing on defensive lapses and pushing their lead into double digits.
San Antonio looked a step slow defensively and out of rhythm offensively. But there was no panic on the bench. No visible frustration. Just a steady pace.
The shift began midway through the third quarter. The Spurs ramped up their defensive intensity, cut off driving lanes and forced Golden State into tougher, contested looks. What had been comfortable Warriors possessions suddenly became rushed ones.
At the other end, San Antonio simplified its approach. The ball found the paint. Cuts became sharper. Screens hit harder. The Spurs began bullying their way inside — and the Warriors had no answer.
Fox ignited the comeback, finishing with 27 points and eight assists. He controlled tempo during a pivotal stretch late in the third quarter, slicing into the lane and knocking down pull-up jumpers that erased the deficit piece by piece. A deep jumper just before the buzzer capped a furious run and tied the game heading into the fourth.
That’s when Victor Wembanyama took over.
The 7-foot-4 franchise cornerstone delivered 26 points and nine rebounds, but his impact went beyond the stat sheet. Early in the fourth quarter, he altered two shots at the rim on consecutive possessions, then sprinted the floor for a alley-oop slam that sent the Spurs bench into a frenzy.
Moments later, he stepped out and buried a three-pointer. The sequence turned a tight contest into a Spurs advantage — and drained the building of its energy.
San Antonio outscored Golden State 32–19 in the final quarter, suffocating the Warriors with length and physicality. The Spurs dominated the glass down the stretch and repeatedly punished mismatches inside.
Keldon Johnson provided a crucial lift off the bench, scoring 21 points with aggressive drives and perimeter shots. His energy stabilized the rotation when the starters briefly rested and ensured the momentum never shifted back.
Golden State fought to stay within striking distance. Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double and battled relentlessly in the paint, while Moses Moody and De’Anthony Melton supplied scoring on the perimeter. But without sustained rhythm — and without Stephen Curry in uniform — the Warriors could not match San Antonio’s late-game execution.
The most impressive part of the Spurs’ performance wasn’t the scoring burst. It was the composure.
Early in the season, falling behind by 16 on the road might have unraveled this young group. On Wednesday, it sharpened them.
Defensive rotations tightened. Communication improved. Shot selection matured. The Spurs looked less like an upstart and more like a team learning how to win difficult games in hostile environments.
As the final minutes ticked away, the Spurs were hugging and clapping as Golden State dribbled out the clock. Another comeback. Another statement.
Now 38-16, San Antonio heads into the All-Star break with momentum and growing confidence. The offense is fluid. The defense is evolving. And the chemistry between Fox and Wembanyama is becoming one of the league’s most dangerous combinations.
For a team that once leaned heavily on potential, the Spurs are now leaning on results.
Wednesday night was proof: this group doesn’t fold when punched. It responds.
BOTTOM LINE: Portland will try to break its four-game road losing streak when the Trail Blazers face Utah.
The Jazz have gone 10-24 against Western Conference teams. Utah ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 15.1 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.2.
The Trail Blazers are 20-16 against conference opponents. Portland is 10-7 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 16.5 turnovers per game.
The Jazz average 118.3 points per game, equal to what the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 15.5 per game the Jazz give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 137-117 on Jan. 6. Deni Avdija scored 33 points to help lead the Trail Blazers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz. Isaiah Collier is averaging 15.6 points over the last 10 games.
Donovan Clingan is scoring 11.4 points per game and averaging 11.4 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.5 points, 45.1 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.5 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 3-7, averaging 113.7 points, 48.6 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Trail Blazers: Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Shaedon Sharpe: day to day (calf), Kris Murray: day to day (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 11: De'Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the gameagainst the San Antonio Spurs on February 11, 2026 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors played their final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday, and it went quite well. Unfortunately, we’re living what feels like uncharted territory for many Warriors fans after the dynasty, where a game can go “quite well” and still be a loss. A double-digit loss, even!
But that was the case on Wednesday. The Warriors were hosting one of the NBA’s best teams, the San Antonio Spurs, and they were doing so without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, or Kristaps Porziņģis. But they entertained, and they led for much of the game, often by double-digits. About halfway through the third quarter, they ran out of steam against a significantly more-talented squad, and the Spurs quickly flipped things around, winning 126-113.
Let’s grade the players who took the court for Golden State, for the final time until the unofficial second half of the season. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Wednesday’s games, league-average TS was 58.0%.
An absolutely throwback game from Draymond. We don’t see him play like this all that often anymore, especially when his career running-mate in Curry is sidelined. Green did it all in this game. He ran the offense masterfully, setting up his teammates with passes that were both technical and artistic. He contributed plenty of his own scoring, and was comfortably the leading rebounder for either team. And while Victor Wembanyama still got his, Dray played some beautiful defense on him, and made his life incredible hard. For a while it looked like the Dubs would pull off the upset, and Green was the biggest reason why.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds and assists, tied for the team lead in points.
It looks like Santos is going to get a chance to start for the rest of the year, and in doing so, he’ll get a chance to prove that he should be a key part of next year’s rotation. He certainly appears to be trending in that direction. There are still some young player lumps, as evidenced by this game: against an ultra-athletic, high-action team, Santos struggled both to score efficiently and to defend without fouling.
But the good far outweighs the bad. He is so active, and just always making things happen. His six assists were great, but he did just as much playmaking with his hockey assists and his screens. His defense, notwithstanding the fouls, was fantastic, as evidenced by the four steals … against one of the league’s best teams at taking care of the ball.
I have to give players a pass for not scoring well when Curry isn’t on the court. Turns out it’s very hard. Who knew! But Santos played very well.
I don’t know much, but I do know this: Mike Dunleavy Jr. devotes a significant portion of each day to thinking about how he can ensure that Melton is on the team next season. At times the offense ran so well that you almost forgot Curry wasn’t out there, and that’s without even taking into account his Curry-esque shooting performance. He’s been the total package lately, and if he’s on the team next year, Steve Kerr will need to give some serious thought to the idea of having him be a full-time starter alongside Curry.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points, best plus/minus on the team.
Moody’s performance mirrored the Warriors in this game. It started strong. It looked elite for a good while. And then it ran out of steam late in the game. Moody was an offensive force to be reckoned with early in the game, and played some strong defense as well. He seemed to run out of legs in the second half. He still played well overall, but he looks like he’s ready for the All-Star break.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points.
A fairly nondescript game from Spencer. He did some really good things with the ball in his hands, but at times looked overmatched, which isn’t abnormal when going up against super athletic squads.
Horford has been on a tear lately, but this game was a little bit more pedestrian for him. Things probably would have looked a bit different if his three-point shot had fallen but, as it was, he didn’t have the all-around impact that we’re used to. Not his best work as a scorer, playmaker, or defensive player. But, not to sound ageist, that shouldn’t be too surprising with one of the league’s oldest players against one of the youngest and most athletic teams. Not a great matchup for him, especially without Curry.
While Horford struggled, Golden State’s other center thrived. Things always look rosier when you make your threes, but it was a strong all-around game for Post, who made things happen all over the court.
Payton was one of many player’s whose efficiency took a big hit by not having Curry around. But it’s hard to find much else to fault in his game. He was moving the ball all over the court, getting out in transition, and playing exceedingly annoying defense.
Podz got hit with a truly brutal plus/minus, which really is just a reflection of when he was on the court. He played very in control in this game, having just one turnover and one foul despite leading the team in minutes played. His offense was huge when he first came off the bench, and helped give Golden State control early. He couldn’t stop the bleeding when he was on the court in the second half, but he wasn’t really the problem, either.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team
Wednesday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Malevy Leons, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
SEATTLE (AP) — Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points, Josh Reed added 14, and Penn State beat Washington 63-60 on Wednesday night.
Kayden Mingo had 13 points and Eli Rice scored 13 for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) had lost back-to-back games and 10 of their last 11.
Franck Kepnang was called for goaltending on a layup by Mingo to give the Nittany Lions a 61-59 lead with 1:22 left in the game. Zoom Diallo’s short jumper rolled on the rim before falling out, Mingo missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Hannes Steinbach split a pair of free throws before Rice hit two foul shots to cap the scoring with 20.1 remaining.
Wesley Yates III missed a potential tying 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Steinbach had 19 points and 14 rebounds and extended his program record for double-doubles by a freshman to 16, the second most in the Big Ten since the 1996-97 season. Isaiah Stewart set the previous Huskies' record of 14 in 2019-20 and Ohio State's Jared Sulliger had 18 double-doubles in 2010-11.
Yates added 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting for Washington (12-13, 4-10), which has lost three games in a row and seven of nine.
Kepnang threw down a dunk that gave the Huskies a two-point lead with 2:44 to play, but the went 0 for 3 from the field and committed two turnovers from there.
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN - MARCH 12: Xander Bogaerts #2 of Team Netherlands reacts after throwing at the bottom of the 6th inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool A game between Netherlands and Italy at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on March 12, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The World Baseball Classic is an opportunity for MLB players to represent their country on the baseball field. The tournament takes place every three to four years and games are played during Spring Training when MLB teams are typically trying to get their players prepared for the 162-game season. There has been some debate about whether the WBC games should be played in lieu of that season’s All-Star game to provide the athletes who are taking part more time to ramp up and prepare for the rigors of a global competition.
The WBC players often talk about how being selected to play for their country is an honor and for the fans of the players it is fun to see them competing on their respective teams. However, at the end of the tournament, the players all return to their MLB clubs and the missed opportunities to work with teammates and coaches can prove to be problematic. At least that seemed to be the case for the San Diego Padres in years past.
The last WBC was held in 2023 and that was supposed to be the year the Padres were going to coast into the playoffs, blow through the postseason and claim the first World Series Championship in franchise history for San Diego. That proved not to be the case, in fact the Padres struggled to win just 83 games and missed the playoffs completely. The team never seemed to come together under then manager Bob Melvin despite having Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Juan Soto on the roster and in the same lineup.
The concern about Padres players competing in the WBC is not just about how they will mesh with their teammates and makeup for lost time building camaraderie, there are also the overwhelming health concerns. Playing baseball is going to come with a risk of injury but when you have this kind of competition and players pushing themselves to perform at a high level earlier than they normally do, it increases the injury potential. The New York Mets lost their closer, Edwin Diaz, for the 2023 season when he was injured celebrating a win during a WBC contest. He was not doing anything that was inherently hazardous to his health, but he was injured all the same.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the WBC and I will watch the games because its real baseball being played by some of the best athletes in the sport. I will do so nervously if Machado, Tatis Jr., Bogaerts, Mason Miller or any of the other Padres competing for their respective countries has a misstep, an extra circular motion of their arm or a slight wince following a swing.
It is with this information and these concerns in mind that Gaslamp Ball poses this question for this week’s Padres Reacts Survey. How do you feel about Padres players competing in the WBC? Results of the poll will be posted later in the week.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket past Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on February 11, 2026 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors came out hot to take advantage of a San Antonio Spurs team on the second night of a back-to-back. They were red-hot from three and jumped out to a 38-31 lead in the first quarter. The Spurs fought back by getting to the basket and crushing the Warriors in the paint on their way to a 126-113 win. A 24-8 run in the third quarter tied the game, and then San Antonio finished strong in the fourth, outscoring Golden State 32-19 in the final frame.
The Spurs were led by their stars. De’Aaron Fox was in control offensively all game, scoring a game-high 27 points on 11-16 shooting, adding 8 assists and 3 steals. Victor Wembanyama was quiet in the first half, but was crucial to San Antonio’s second-half comeback with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He was locked in defensively in the fourth quarter and completely disrupted the Warriors’ offensive attack.
San Antonio outscored the Warriors in the paint 60-42 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. The Spurs turned things around with their physicality in the second half, propelling them to victory.
With Stephen Curry out for the game, Golden State got a vintage performance from Draymond Green, who led the team with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The win extends the Spurs’ winning streak to 6 and improves their record to 38-16. They’ll now get a week off for the All-Star break.
Observations
The Spurs gave up 38 first-quarter points against the Warriors, which felt like the inverse of San Antonio scoring 47 points in the first frame the night before. The Warriors shot 57% from the field and knocked down 5 three-pointers.
This was a gritty, hard-nosed performance from Golden State. The crowd was really into it for a Wednesday night regular-season game. The Warriors played exactly how you should when you’re down key players. They moved the ball well, played really hard on both ends, and stuck to their scheme. It wasn’t until the Spurs matched their physicality in the second half that things started to slip away for them.
San Antonio’s best work came at the end of quarters. The Spurs cut the lead to four with a late-second-quarter hot streak. They rode a 24-8 run at the end of the third quarter to tie the game at 94. In both stretches, San Antonio relentlessly attacked the paint while Golden State missed shots from deep.
Keldon Johnson set the tone for the Spurs in the third quarter, kicking off their run by scoring on three-straight drives to the basket. Johnson had 21 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. When San Antonio needed clutch buckets in the fourth quarter, KJ delivered.
Carter Bryant looked good in the first half, tallying 8 points and 5 rebounds in his 9 minutes. The rookie didn’t touch the floor in the second half as the Spurs fought to claw back into the game. This may be a sign that when the games really matter, come playoff time, Bryant may be the odd man out of the rotation.
A funny moment in the fourth quarter happened when Dylan Harper lost Green defensively, leading to an open layup. Mitch Johnson immediately called a timeout and had some choice words for Harper. He ultimately stuck with the rookie, who closed out the game. Harper had a solid game with 14 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds off the bench.
San Antonio finally got the monkey off their back by beating Golden State. This is a difficult matchup for the Spurs, as the Warriors have the floor spacing and passing to take advantage of the Spurs’ defensive scheme. On the other end, Golden State forces teams to beat them with jump shots. On Wednesday night, San Antonio displayed the blueprint for beating them – penetrating the paint and not settling for kick-out jumpers.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz grabs a pass against Precious Achiuwa #9 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of their game at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sacramento Kings are bad at basketball. Like really, really bad. Lose to the infamously tanking Jazz by nearly 30 points bad. Empty Delta Center bad. So bad that the official dictionary of basketball is this close to changing the definition of “bad” to simply: an organization that used to be a professional basketball team, but is no longer fit for that designation; the Sacramento Kings.
Minus DeAndre Hunter, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk, the Kings are a shell of whatever vision was hatched in their front office over the offseason (Bulls 2.0). At no point in this contest with the Utah Jazz did the Kings resemble anything near a competent, put-together, playoff-contending basketball team, dropping their league-worst 44th loss of the year in Salt Lake City, 121-93.
The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, are good at basketball. At least when paired up against the truly putrid rosters stagnating at the bottom of the league standings, the addition of Jaren Jackson Jr and the invisible threat of a tanking fine have the Jazz playing at (nearly) full strength, and it’s a sight to behold.
Winning basketball is back on the menu, Utah.
With the addition of JJJ, a Utah lineup of him, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic, and Isaiah Collier (replace the last two with Walker Kessler and Keyonte George in 2026-27) is big, and not in an experimental way — in a tangible, sustainable way.
The Utah Jazz have size at every position. Highly switchable, highly skilled, and highly cohesive across the starting five, this game was one of the first glimpses into the new status quo of Jazz hoops. And as bad as Sacramento has been, the Utah Jazz sat with a 30-point cushion for the majority of this game, leading by 19 after the first quarter and 31 by half.
But true to form, the Jazz returned to dissolving the integrity of the game, as they sat their stars through the fourth quarter, letting the Kings claw back within 28.
Someone must stop the Utah Jazz from their unethical tanking will be the headline you can expect to read on the front page of ESPN tomorrow morning.
JJJ led all Jazz scorers with 23 points in just 22 minutes of play (not bad for a home debut), with Isaiah Collier tallying 14 assists to four turnovers in his starting spot.
𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇 straight game with 20+ points for Trip, his longest such stretch this season 📈
Vince Williams, a surprising bright spot in the shadow of the Memphis trade, put in some fascinating minutes at point guard, as he scored nine points, swallowed eight rebounds, and dished three assists off the bench. He even added a block for good measure. Good guy, Vince.
Brice Sensabaugh and Cody Williams round out Utah’s young supporting cast, taking on 19 and nine points, respectively, as Williams’ defensive presence gave the Kings fits — he posted three steals on the night. The Cody redemption arc of 2025-26 has been a breath of fresh air for Jazz fans worried that Utah had whiffed on their first two lottery swings of their rebuild. Still far from stardom, Williams is miles removed from the rock bottom he met as a rookie, finally scoring reliably and stuffing the stat sheet across the board.
Utah takes the court again on Thursday, February 12th, against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Delta Center.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on February 11, 2026 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors lost to the San Antonio Spurs at the Chase Center on Wednesday night 126-113. In the Dubs final game before the All-Star break, their depleted roster was unable to hold off the second-best team in the Western Conference.
The Warriors jumped out to a 16-8 lead to start the game. After a recent stretch of rough games, Draymond Green delivered an exquisite all-around performance against San Antonio. As was the case in the team’s previous two matchups against the Spurs, Green is clearly motivated to play his best against Victor Wembanyama.
Green made an early three, but was consistently pushing the pace and effectively orchestrating the team’s offense. He finished the game just 6-for-14 from the field (2-for-8 from three), but racked up 17 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and just 2 turnovers. He did that while serving as the primary defender against the toughest player to guard in the league.
Golden State controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. The Spurs cut the deficit to four at the end of the first half, but a pair of threes by De’Anthony Melton early in the third quarter led a 9-0 run that helped the Dubs build a 16-point lead. However, San Antonio quickly began to make its move.
After a scorching hot shooting start, the Warriors began struggling from behind the arc. Those shooting woes combined with a few untimely turnovers that helped the Spurs answer with an 11-0 run. As time expired at the end of the third quarter, Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox swished a fadeaway jumper over Green to tie things up at 94.
San Antonio’s run continued with a 15-5 run in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Playing from behind for the first time in the game, the Warriors needed to put another run together. However, the Spurs had already dealt with the best Golden State had to offer. The depleted Dubs simply didn’t have enough talent left in the tank.
Alongside Draymond, Melton was also excellent for the Warriors. He finished with 17 points and 7 assists on 6-for-7 shooting from the field (5-for-6 from three). Moses Moody (17 points), Brandin Podziemski (16), Quinten Post (12), and Gary Payton II (10) all finished in double figures, but were largely absent offensively in the final 18 minutes of regulation.
Podziemski’s minutes were particularly ugly late. Several possessions were wasted with Podziemski dribbling around for several seconds despite being clearly overmatched by the Spurs length and athleticism. He finished with a game-worst -23 plus/minus.
Even in a relatively quiet performance, Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. Keldon Johnson provided 21 key points off the bench, helping stop several Warriors runs that could have put San Antonio away early. Fox, however, scored a game-high 27 points on incredibly efficient shooting (11-for-16 shooting) with 8 assists and 3 steals.
The Warriors will head into the All-Star break with a 29-26 record, firmly in the Western Conference 8th-seed. They face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament, but seem on track to play in the 7-8 game for a chance to play the two-seed in the first round, which would be the Spurs at the moment. Given how well the Dubs have played against the Spurs all season, even without Steph Curry tonight, that would be far from the worst-case scenario.
