分類: 综合

The Charlotte Hornets are winners of six straight games after recently defeating the Boston Celtics 118-89. According to the NBA on ESPN, this was another big win for the Hornets, and they made history with this win and put themselves in the same conversation as the 2017 Golden State Warriors.

“Charlotte Hornets are on a roll: six straight wins by 15+ points. “Tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history, longest since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors,” the NBA wrote on Twitter.

Everyone knows what a special Warriors team they were and Kevin Durant changed everything for them. The Hornets haven’t added a player like Durant, but it seems like they’ve figured something out over the past few months and are finally reaping the benefits.

The Hornets are now over .500, and have a chance to keep climbing the Eastern Conference standings. At this point, they will be in the play-ins, but if some of the teams above them start to falter, they could finish in the top six.

Not only are the starting five playing well, but the bench comes in and keeps the team afloat. Coby White has been a huge contributor for the Hornets since he started playing, and he was a great addition at the trade deadline to give them someone who can come in and score at will.

“Just a dynamic veteran guard off the bench. He’s doing a great job. He can score 20-30. [points] Every night if he wanted to, but just having him as the sixth man, it’s great for us,” Miles Bridges said. “He’s playing in his hometown. Therefore, it should feel extra good for him and be comfortable. We’re trying to make him comfortable with our team and we’re happy to have him.”

It’s been a great time for the Hornets to play like this, and they’ll look to continue that.

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about the changing dynamics within the Boston Celtics. Much of it revolves around the return of Jayson Tatum to what is otherwise known as Jaylen Brown’s team.

ESPN has joined the debate over whether this is Brown’s team or Tatum’s. That debate has deeply concerned media personality and longtime Celtics fan Bill Simmons.

He met Stephen A. An image from ESPN’s first take with Smith, Jay Williams and Chiney Ogwuemeke “Are the Celtics Brown’s or Tatum’s team?” Posted under the title. Simmons posted four crying emojis.

😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ueeWtOqHA7

– Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) 5 March 2026

Tatum is out this season due to an Achilles injury after last season. It has been reported that Tatum will return this Friday when the Celtics play the Dallas Mavericks.

Meanwhile, Boston is doing really well. They have won seven of their last 10 games and are in second place in the Eastern Conference at 41-20. Refuting the adage that Boston would be in the tank without Tatum.

Jaylen Brown has carried the team on his shoulders. He is the leading scorer with an average of 28.9 points per game. Additionally, he averages 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Tatum and Brown played key roles in the Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship. Brown won MVP honors after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in six games.

Meanwhile, Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

The two combined to win the deciding Game 5, 106–88. Tatum led with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Brown scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists.

The Milwaukee Bucks faltered again, falling to 26-35 after losing 131-113 to the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum. Giannis Antetokounmpo played well but could not help his team. Following the Bucks’ loss, according to Eurohoops’ Johnny Askonis recap, Antetokounmpo lamented the loss and challenged his team afterward.

“I was a little disappointed. I feel like when you’re down 11 or 12, you just have to play smart, try to take the best shots possible, be in the right spots. At the end of the day, we all have to be on the same page,” Antetokounmpo told Askonis.

Antetokounmpo scored 24 points while making 10 of 15 shots from the floor. However, the rest of the players of his team could not do anything special. The offense still shot 50% on the night, but allowed the Hawks to shoot 54.3%, including 44.4% from triples.

The Bucks led 38-25 after the first quarter. Eventually, things fell apart later. While the Bucks led 71–66 at halftime, a poor third quarter performance doomed them, giving the Hawks the lead for good.

The team sits at 26-35, there is still time to make a run and at least clinch one of the play-in spots. Yet the Bucks are five games behind the Hawks for the final play-in spot, leading many to believe the team will miss the playoffs. Antetokounmpo acknowledged the situation and questioned what the plan was.

“We have to decide, do we wave the white flag, or do we come together and try to play hard and push for the last 21 games?” Antetokounmpo asked.

The Bucks will have a few days to prepare for their next game, which will be at home against the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is aiming to return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks after being upgraded on the team’s injury report for the first time all season.

He is officially listed as questionable to play against the Mavs.

Tatum, who has been working extremely hard to make his comeback from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs against the New York Knicks, will now give the Celtics a huge boost a month before the end of the 2025-26 regular season.

Many were wondering when this moment would come for the 28-year-old superstar and now the answer has been found.

Friday will mark 298 days since Tatum suffered an Achilles injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, a moment that changed the trajectory of the Celtics franchise as we knew it. However, Tatum immediately dedicated himself to coming back stronger than ever, and his goal was always to return during the 2025–26 season.

After recently being cleared for full contact in 5-on-5 scrimmages and practice, it was only a matter of time before Tatum got the green light. When he steps onto the court for the first time this season on Friday at TD Garden, Tatum will face a very strict minutes restriction from head coach Joe Mazzulla and the medical staff.

Tatum recently took to social media after passing the 40-week mark in his recovery process, leading many to wonder if his season debut was imminent.

“40 weeks,” Tatum wrote. “I have really grown to appreciate this journey and have found time to pat myself on the back for doing well every day!”

Without Tatum this season, many expected the Celtics to take a step back, but All-Star wing Jaylen Brown has put this franchise in a position to compete for a championship, especially with his partner in crime back.

Brown has cemented himself in the MVP discussion this year, and he has led the Celtics to a 41-21 record ahead of Friday’s showdown with Dallas. Boston currently holds sole possession of the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference and is five games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the standings.

While he’s still technically listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Mavs, all signs point towards the Celtics making it official and Tatum’s season debut to what will be a thrilled and sold-out crowd in Boston.

Tatum is back for the Celtics.

The Chicago Bulls will visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Josh Giddy and Matas Buzelis are listed as questionable on the NBA injury report. Both are recovering from ankle sprains suffered Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddy came out briefly but then returned to finish with a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists. Meanwhile, Buzzellis came out, but did not return. Here’s everything we know about Josh Giddy and Matas Buzelis’ injuries and their game status vs. the Suns.

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Josh Giddy and Matas Buzelis’ injury status vs. Suns

Given that Giddy and Bouzelis are listed as questionable, the assumption is that both will be out against the Suns. Giddy, in particular, has been a fixture on the injury report recently. He most recently missed eleven games from late December to January with a left hamstring strain. Subsequently, head coach Billy Donovan placed Giddy on a minutes restriction as he worked his way back into the lineup.

Their first game was on January 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Giddy scored 21 points, including 18 in the first half, six rebounds and five assists in the 120–115 victory.

Giddy is averaging 17.7 points, 8.4 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Bouzelis has remained largely safe from injury. Additionally, he is coming off of playing in the NBA Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend. He has remained focused on winning above anything else, even though the Bulls were winless in February.

Bouzelis is averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

So when the question comes up about whether Josh Giddy and Matas Buzelis are playing against the Suns tonight, the answer is probably yes.

oxen injury report

Matus Buzzellis (right ankle sprain) – doubtful

Josh Giddy (right ankle sprain) – doubtful

Jadney Ivey (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)-out

Effernie Simmons (left ulnar styloid; fracture) – Outside

Jalen Smith (right calf strain) – Questionable.

Patrick Williams (right quadricep strain) – Questionable

sans injury report

Dillon Brooks (fractured left hand)-Out

Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain)-out

Mark Williams (left foot pain)-out

Former NBA player Chandler Parsons sent a friendly warning to the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and head coach Mike Brown after accusing Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of a foul play in Wednesday’s 103-100 loss. After a tight contest, Brown gave the Thunder’s Gilgeous-Alexander backhanded praise for his ability to get to the line.

Parsons told Brown the reason complaint about caretaker It’s not a good look for the Knicks, he said, according to FanDuel TV’s Run It Back.

“When you make the play on defense, and you’re the more physical team, and you throw the first punch, and make contact, that’s usually how you get the whistle,” Parsons said. “SGA is phenomenal at getting those calls. The confusing thing to me is that Mike Brown wants these calls for Jalen Brunson, and he usually gets them. Now be careful because your starting point guard does the same thing. If not, it’s even better than SGA.

“So, be careful with low whistles because that’s a big part of Jalen Brunson’s offensive game as well.”

“Tread lightly…your point guard (Jalen Brunson) does the same thing, even if he’s not even better than SGA!” 🗣️

Chandler Parsons has a message for Knicks HC Mike Brown about making the wrong call@michelledbiddle | @Chandler Parsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/HFSYP0ED36

– Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) 5 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander was an excellent 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. He finished with 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting and eight assists. Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson had a tough shooting night, making 5 of 18 attempts, including 1 of 5 from deep and 4 of 6 from the charity stripe. Karl-Anthony Towns’ double-double (17 points, 17 rebounds) led the Knicks in Wednesday’s loss.

Mike Brown accuses SGA of wrongdoing after Knicks loss

Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson took a shot at officiating during his postgame media availability. When a reporter asked about the alleged black eye on his face, Brunson said it was probably related to the no-call. Brunson, pointing to the referees in the Thunder’s win over the Knicks, was an ongoing theme.

It seemed as if head coach Mike Brown set the tone for the Knicks with his postgame comments

“SGA, that’s a tough cover,” Brown admitted before addressing the criticism. “He does a very good job of convincing the refs, probably better than anyone in the league, that he’s getting hit.”

The Knicks will look to bounce back in their matchup against the Nuggets on Friday.

The New York Knicks have tried to land a superstar for years. From pursuing LeBron James’ free agency in 2010 to being linked to stars like Donovan Mitchell and even Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks appear to be home to one of basketball’s biggest stars and a perennial championship contender. But, that effort to acquire franchise-changing talent hindered the Knicks for several years.

In an interview with Fan Duel TV play it backFormer Knicks coach David Fizdale looks back at the 2018-2019 season, where New York went 17-65. According to him, the team was trying to land either Zion Williamson or Ja Morant in the 2019 NBA Draft, while also trying to land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“I was totally on board with the plan we came up with, and I thought this was the deal and this was the way to go about it. It didn’t work out… losing all the games, sacrificing our record to get Zion Williamson or Ja.

He added, “That summer our guys thought KD and Kyrie were definitely coming to us, but it didn’t work out.”

The Knicks have had some productive role players on the team, such as Luke Kornet, who is emerging as a backup center with the Spurs this season. Tim Hardaway, Courtney Lee and Enes Kanter have had productive years in the league and Kristaps Porziņš, though battling injuries, recently helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA title.

But Fizdale believed the roster construction was not really conducive to winning.

“When you look at that roster as a whole, all solid players, but when you put them on the floor together, the pieces weren’t working… If I were doing it again, I would have struggled more to make a team early on and not cash in on my record.”

Overall, Fizdale brought a different take to the conversation about tanking. The tanking discussion has been a big one throughout the season, and Fizdale offered a different perspective on it.

“That’s the hard part for coaches when you agree to tank. When you tank, you have to build something big. Not everything that happens is considered a tank… That’s not the formula.”

DeMar DeRozan is the definition of a true professional in the NBA. Although things have not been going well for the Sacramento Kings this season, DeRozan’s demeanor is unchanged, and he continues to play late in the 2025-26 season as if it was the first game of the year.

At this point, many veterans like him would have wasted the season and called it quits, especially as players like him, 36 and older, want to preserve any time they have left on the hardwood. Although DeRozan clearly believes this is a lost season in Sacramento, he is not one to leave in the middle of the year.

He has always held himself to a high standard, and the six-time All-Star recently admitted that he cherishes every minute he spends on the court because you never know when it will be your last moment to put on your uniform or put on your shoes.

“Yeah, I mean everybody’s got to find their happiness, whatever way it is. For me, you know, you can’t take these moments for granted,” DeRozan told reporters on Wednesday, via Sactown Sports 1140.

“So for me, just the ability to go out there and play, to be able to get the opportunity, you know, for me, that’s what keeps me going, keeps my happiness out there because you never know.”

DeRozan will turn 37 in August, making him one of the league’s oldest active players, joining LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. As he enters the final few seasons of his career, DeRozan clearly wants to win and compete at the highest level, but playing for the Kings has allowed him to embrace this stage of his career.

Retirement is around the corner for DeRozan, which is why, whether it’s for the Kings or another team moving forward, he’ll be continuing to bring the same work ethic and positive attitude to being able to play the game he loves.

“I’m closer to the end more than anything. For me, I want to enjoy every single moment of playing basketball.”

Playing in all 63 of the Kings’ games so far on the season, DeRozan has averaged 18.2 points, 3.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.0 percent from the floor. He recently passed Paul Pierce to move to No. 23 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and he will temporarily surpass Stephen Curry at No. 22 in his next game as Steph is currently out with an injury.

By the end of the season, DeRozan, who has 26,439 career points, could move into the top 20 of the all-time scoring list, surpassing George Gervin (26,595). Every player in the top 40 of this historical list is either a Hall of Famer or will be a Hall of Famer, which is why DeRozan’s chances of being immortalized in Springfield when the time comes look good.

So, how many years does DeRozan have left? Only he knows the answer to that, but that won’t stop him from going on the court every day and playing to the best of his ability, finding joy in both wins and losses, until his career is over.

Denver Nuggets head coach David Edelman continues to defend All-Star Nikola Jokic for his actions in the fourth quarter of last Friday’s 127-121 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Edelman didn’t care for Lou Dort’s apology for drawing the flagrant-2 foul on Jokic. When Dort intentionally knocked down the MVP candidate in the backcourt by going over his injured left knee, Nikola was furious.

Edelman understands Jokic’s frustration, having to deal with the physicality of opposing teams that run the line on dirty plays is enough for any player. lose one’s temper According to the DNVR Nuggets, he said, in the heat of competition at a high level.

“It’s not biased towards my own player. Nobody in the league is being guarded like he is. Nobody. Nobody is sitting on the knees of other MVPs. Nobody is taking shots the way he’s taking them. But that’s our reality,” Edelman said. “And so, we’ve got to continue to try to win games. He’s got to play through that physicality. I’ve got to find places on the court where he can play in space – that’s on me. So, there [are] No excuse. If the whistle doesn’t blow, it won’t blow.

“The game continues. We will deal with it as long as we can. Also, I have no problem with his reaction. Like I said, reacting is part of being a human being. If this continues, we will react accordingly.”

“No one in the league is being protected like he is. No one is taking a knee to another MVP. No one is taking shots the way he’s taking them. But that’s our reality.”

Nuggets head coach David Edelman explained how to execute Nikola Jokic.

(via @DNVR_Nuggets)
pic.twitter.com/QahpHTOKrZ

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 5 March 2026

After losing to the Thunder in overtime, the Nuggets suffered another loss at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves (117–108), but bounced back with a 128–125 win against the Utah Jazz.

David Edelman calls out Thunder for not reacting to Lu Dort

Nuggets head coach David Edelman was amazed by the Thunder’s response to Lou Dort’s blatant -2 foul on Nikola Jokic. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault expected the same result if the situation had been reversed, but he never condemned Dort for his actions. Lu’s teammates chalked it up to a spur-of-the-moment play.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, for Edelman, Jocic losing his temper was justified due to the severity of Dort’s foul.

“He’s a more measured guy throughout the season — I think most guys are. If they’re measured they’re more productive. But there’s a point where we play these games, and he tackles anybody on the night [would] React that way. For Dort to take that shot – and then I guess it was no big deal from his perspective, how he saw it – is ridiculous. He was malicious. It was a cheap shot.

“Lou Dort is a great player, and I haven’t seen him do that before. But at some point, you have to stand up for yourself, and so does the team. They’re a great team. That’s what that game was. But, yeah, Nikola, that’s who he is, man. You can’t have the success that he’s had and you can’t be as competitive. He’s got emotions inside of him that he keeps under control, but the guy is very capable and very willing to respond emotionally,” Edelman said. Concluded.

The Nuggets will face the Thunder on Monday at Paycom Center.

The Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors, who have lost their last three games, at Toyota Center on Thursday night. Still, Houston heads into the game at 38-22 and in third place in the West, while Golden State is 31-30 and in eighth place.

The Warriors need to recover from their losses in the last two they have faced. The injury report lists the hosts as three key contributors in Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.

All of them are listed as doubtful on the official injury list. Sengun is battling an illness, while Thompson and Smith are both dealing with ankle injuries.

The Rockets are already dealing with some major injuries. Fred VanVleet is out for the season after an ACL repair, Steven Adams is out after left ankle surgery, and Ja’Sean Tate is out with a right knee sprain. Tristan Newton is unavailable during a G League two-way assignment.

The warriors are also in a similar boat. Jimmy Butler III is out after right ACL surgery, while Stephen Curry is out with right patellofemoral pain syndrome. Seth Curry (left sciatic nerve irritation), Moses Moody (right wrist sprain), Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Will Richard (right ankle sprain) have also been ruled out. Gary Payton II is questionable with a left ankle injury.

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Injury status of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. vs. Warriors

With all three players listed as questionable, their availability will be a decision on game day. Thompson and Sengun both started in the last game, both achieved double-doubles
Sengun had 32 points and eight rebounds while Thompson returned with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

However, Smith Jr. sat out the Rockets’ last game and last played in a win over the Orlando Magic. Regardless, despite the injury concerns, the Rockets (38-22) remain formidable, especially at home where they have a 20-7 record. They currently sit comfortably in third place in the Western Conference.

Houston has already proven they can handle Golden State this season by earning a 104-100 win in November. With the Warriors having lost three of their last four games and a weak road record of 12-17, the Rockets will be the favorites as hosts this time.

rocket injury report

Alperen Sengun: Doubtful (disease)

Amen Thompson: Questionable (sprained right ankle)

Jabari Smith Jr.: Questionable (sprained right ankle)

Ja’Sean Tate: Out (right knee sprain)

Steven Adams: Out (left ankle surgery)

Fred VanVleet: Out (right knee ACL repair)

Tristan Newton: Out (G League Two-Way)

warriors injury report

Stephen Curry: Out (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)

Seth Curry: Out (left sciatic nerve irritation)

Jimmy Butler III: Out (right ACL surgery)

Moses Moody: Out (right wrist sprain)

Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness)

Will Richard: Out (sprained right ankle)

Gary Payton II: Questionable (left ankle injury)

When the Golden State Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, it created a storm of discussion around the league. Many questioned Steve Kerr’s ability to develop young players. 95. According to a post from The Game, Kerr is now hitting back at fans who are critical of the Warriors’ youth development.

“Any frustration from our fans is probably coming from the idea that young players should get it right away. It doesn’t work that way.”

– Steve Kerr addressed some fans’ opinion that he “doesn’t develop young players” (via). @willardanddibs). pic.twitter.com/5Ch2uReWbb

– 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) 5 March 2026

Kerr emphasized that youth development involves a process. Furthermore, he indicated that it is more complicated than giving them all the minutes.

The Warriors are still technically contending, sitting at 31-30 and eighth in the Western Conference. But recent games have shown that this season is starting to get away from them.

Things began to deteriorate for the team when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending injury. Then, Stephen Curry suffered a knee injury, which has kept him out since January 30. The Warriors officially traded Kuminga, ending an experiment that looked promising at one point but failed over time.

After winning four titles over the past decade, the Warriors hoped to continue building their roster by keeping Curry, Butler, Draymond Green and other veterans who can help them. But after drafting Kuminga in 2021, they weren’t able to develop him into the star that Curry and Butler are.

Kuminga never averaged more than 16.1 points with the Warriors. In three games with the Hawks, he is averaging 21.3 points per game. Brandin Podziemski has been a solid role player, but still isn’t developing as quickly, averaging 12.4 points per game while shooting 44.7% from the floor, including 36.2% from the triple. Meanwhile, Moses Moody has battled injuries while averaging 11.9 points per game.

Assuming Curry returns, he will once again be the main focus as the Warriors attempt to make a run at the end of the season. But the Warriors’ youth development hasn’t gone according to plan, and Kerr may be tired of hearing about it.

The New York Knicks did not have enough effort to overcome the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they lost 103–100. In close games like this, sometimes one or two things happen that change the trajectory of the game, and for the Knicks, they believe it was the referees that had a lot to do with the outcome.

After the game, head coach Mike Brown talked about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his ability to manipulate the referees into thinking he was being fouled.

“SGA, that’s a tough cover,” Brown said. “He does a very good job of convincing the refs, probably better than anyone in the league, that he’s getting hit.”

The one thing people have always criticized about Gilgeous-Alexander is his game and how he gets to the free-throw line. Against the Knicks, he only attempted seven free throws, as that number has been higher at times.

Jalen Brunson took it further when talking about the refs, but they had physical evidence of a foul that probably should have been called. Brunson had a black eye and after the game a reporter asked him about it.

“Probably no call,” Brunson said.

Jalen Brunson has a scratch under his eye after playing with the Thunder

“Maybe no-call”

(via @sny_knicks)pic.twitter.com/we3pIYRiKF

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 5 March 2026

There may be a possibility that Brown may receive a letter in his mailbox, but Brunson may be safe. Either way, it’s clear that both of them were not fans of how the game was being run against them.

It seems like the way the Thunder play, especially on defense, has made a lot of people fall for them and made them difficult to stop. When teams try to copy what he does, it usually results in foul play, which has been frustrating for some throughout the season.

The Knicks didn’t let them bother them much during the game and they still managed to give themselves a chance in the end.

As Jayson Tatum prepares to return to the lineup for the Celtics, there is a growing group of NBA prognosticators who believe he will need to sideline Jaylen Brown for the team to be successful. Although the Celtics lost to the Hornets last night, they are still in second place in the Eastern Conference. They are 41-21 this year, two games ahead of the New York Knicks in the loss column.

on the latest episode of 7pm in BrooklynNBA Hall-of-Famer and nba on nbc Studio analyst Carmelo Anthony gave his opinion on the conversation surrounding Brown’s return, saying that Tatum needs to take a back seat to his All-Star teammate.

“For so long JB has sacrificed everything. Now it’s like JT, what are you going to sacrifice? But now I’ve held down the fort for you and the entire organization. JT has to be very mature about this situation. This is no ego, no pride. We got a chance to come back and win a championship. So I have to put my pride and ego aside for the next 3 months and let JB continue to steer the ship.”

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix made a similar comment on Wednesday, saying, “I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 55 appearances this season, Jaylen Brown has averaged 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game, while also recording a steal per contest. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. Brown has been a driving force behind the success of the Boston Celtics, helping keep them firmly in the championship conversation.

Still, if Jayson Tatum returns to full strength, the Celtics will be a formidable team regardless of who rules each game. Over 72 games during the regular season, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists per contest, while shooting 34% from three-point range. During that period, Tatum continued to develop into a high-level playmaker, someone who was able to generate scoring opportunities for his teammates while also being offensive for himself.

Tatum will certainly demonstrate his fit with the team when he returns to the lineup on Friday against the Mavericks.

The Charlotte Hornets demolished the Boston Celtics 118-89 on Wednesday at TD Garden. In the process, the Hornets continued to rise and according to Basket News, Kon Knueppel has officially made NBA history by joining Michael Jordan in an elite club after scoring 20 points.

“Such a performance allowed Knueppel to tie Michael Jordan for the most games in NBA history with at least 20 points and at least 65% true shooting,” Basket News wrote on its website.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Hornets, who are now 32–31, and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Knueppel has been the star of the show, averaging 19.2 points per game while shooting 48.8% from the field, including 43.6% from the triple. On Wednesday, he had 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Knueppel recently made history with three-point transformations and Charlotte is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Along with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, these three have given the Hornets momentum and helped improve the team’s standing after the Hornets went just 19-63 last season. Knueppel has achieved a shooting mark that only Jordan has achieved in his rookie season.

The Hornets took Knueppel with the fourth overall pick before the start of the 2025–26 season. Since then, he has battled his former college roommate Cooper Flagg in the battle for the Rookie of the Year award. Although that race isn’t scheduled, there’s something else Knueppel can accomplish that Flagg can’t.

Currently, the Hornets are striving for a playoff spot. If they finish in the top six, they will automatically get a berth. If they finish anywhere between seventh and 10th, they will qualify for the play-in place. The Hornets have not made the playoffs since the 2015–16 season. Their next game will be on Friday against the Miami Heat, the team directly ahead of them in the standings.

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, hoping to continue their three-game winning streak. The Nuggets come into this game coming off an easy win over the struggling Utah Jazz, but still have some injury concerns, including Aaron Gordon.

He is on the injury report along with Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, with all three players listed out on the official injury report. Gordon is dealing with a right hamstring strain, the Nuggets are also missing Curtis Jones, who is on G League assignment.

Cameron Johnson is listed as questionable, though Gordon himself is close to returning and is expected to play a role in the Nuggets’ game against the New York Knicks, according to Brett Segel of ClutchPoints.

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Aaron Gordon injury status vs. Lakers

Gordon is certain to be out of this match. He has been out of action since January 23 due to a right hamstring strain and will miss the important match.
The Nuggets (38-24) currently hold a slim half-game lead over the Lakers (37-24) in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers come to Ball Arena on a three-game winning streak and will look to take advantage of a Denver defense that has slipped to 21st in the league without players like Gordon and Watson.

Offensively, this game is headed to be a shootout, which is reflected by the massive over/under of 240.5. Denver boasts the NBA’s highest scoring offense, averaging 120.5 points per game. Their anchors are Nikola Jokic, who leads the league in both rebounds (12.6) and assists (10.3), putting up 28.7 points per night, and Jamal Murray, who is fresh off a 45-point masterclass against Utah.

However, the Lakers pose a bigger challenge. They are 3-1 against Denver in the Doncic era, including a 115-107 win on Jan. 20.

LeBron James and Co. are also relatively healthy and the official injury report does not list any players out due to injury. The Lakers’ skid prior to their current win has left them struggling near the top half of the Western Conference table, and a win against Denver will prove crucial as they look to recover.

nuggets injury report

Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain): Out

Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain): Out

Spencer Jones (right shoulder strain): out

Curtis Jones (G League – Two-Way): Out

Cameron Johnson (right ankle inflammation): doubtful

Lakers injury report

Maxi Kleber (back pain): doubtful

The Washington Wizards are set to host the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Is Trae Young going to make his Wizards debut tonight?

Young was transferred from the Atlanta Hawks to the Wizards before the 2026 trade deadline. However, he has yet to make his debut with Washington, as the All-Star guard is dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out of action since late December.

Here’s everything we know about Trae Young’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Jazz.

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Trae Young’s injury status vs. Jazz

Trae Young is not listed on the NBA injury report and is expected to make his Wizards debut tonight against the Jazz.

The Wizards hope Young and Anthony Davis can lead the team to a postseason run next year. Although Davis is still out due to injury, the next few weeks of the 2025–26 season will give Young a chance to get comfortable with his new team.

At 16-45 and 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, Washington is not going to contend this year. Still, the future is interesting for magicians.

When it comes to the question of whether Trae Young is playing tonight against the Jazz, the answer is yes.

magicians injury report

The Wizards have eight players listed on the injury report.

• Anthony Gill (illness): doubtful
• Anthony Davis (sprained left finger): Out
• Kishawn George (left elbow sprain): Out
• D’Angelo Russell (not with team): Out
• Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain): Out
• Tristan Vukcevic (left thigh injury): Out
• Jameer Watkins (sprained left ankle): Out
• Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis): out

The Jazz played a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, which they lost 106–102. With Thursday’s contest representing the second consecutive contest for Utah, the Jazz have not released their injury report as of the writing of this story.

In a less dangerous but equally entertaining modern NBA beef, Patrick Beverley and former Atlanta Hawks talisman Trae Young have been taking shots at each other for the past few months, mostly on social media. What started as a debate about tryouts at the NBA All-Star Game soon turned full-blown, with Beverley questioning Trae’s work ethic and whether he matched up with his teammates.

Now, about two months after Young made the move to the Washington Wizards, Beverley posted a not-so-subtle dig at Young, questioning why the two-time All-Star wasn’t wanted by competing teams.

wait. Look look what happened?? Oh ok I guess I wasn’t wrong!! And why didn’t a competing team want him? And why did ATL trade the franchise?

PatBev™️ https://t.co/ZZABXXnbEv

-Patrick Beverly (@patbev21) 5 March 2026

“Wait, wait. Guess what happened?? Okay, I guess I wasn’t wrong!! And why didn’t a competing team want him? And why did ATL trade the franchise? PatBev™️,” he wrote on Twitter.

Of course, teams were dealing with minimal cap space last offseason and Young also reportedly wanted to be the focal point of his new team, both of which could have been a factor in his move to the Wizards. Regardless, Beverley was clearly late to the party and posted this comment a few weeks after the move, even though he has yet to play a game due to a right knee sprain and quadriceps strain.

The controversy began when Beverley claimed that Trae’s postseason resume was not commensurate with the superstardom he had earned. Young has reached the playoffs three times in his seven NBA seasons, reaching the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals with the Hawks. This came after averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game in the playoffs.

Beverley went even further, questioning Young’s leadership reputation in the league. He suggested that players and staff associated with the Hawks organization were transferred or replaced due to the environment surrounding Young, reviving the narrative that has followed the Atlanta guard throughout his career.

The Wizards star responded in a nearly 12-minute YouTube video. Despite this, according to The Athletic, Beverley went further and even labeled Young a “coach killer”, claiming that coaches, teammates and front-office personnel associated with him are often replaced.

While the Hawks have indeed cycled through leadership, including head coaches Lloyd Pierce and Nate McMillan, the organization’s instability was not due to its star player alone. Plus, at 27, Young is still learning the ropes and has had plenty of time to silence his critics, with Beverley undoubtedly at the forefront of that line.

Jabari Walker had a career-high performance during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 106–102 victory over the struggling Utah Jazz. The 23-year-old bounced back with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, helping the 76ers stage a fourth-quarter comeback against now 18-44 Utah.

However, while the game proved to be huge for Walker, an unfortunate incident occurred before that as the 2022 draftee scratched a brand new car earlier.

“I actually had an unfortunate incident happen today. I just got a new car and I was driving it for like 30 minutes and I scratched it. And talk about being in the zone and you know, I just wanted to come to the game and it was an unfortunate incident for me. Mentally I was walking here like, ‘My brand new car that I just got, I scratched it,'” he revealed, according to a post by PHLY Sixers on X.

Jabari Walker says he bought a brand new car today… and scratched it within the first 30 minutes of buying it.

“When I saw the first two 3s go in, I said ‘Okay. OK. This is a whole new world. I got a chance to redeem myself.’ I forgot what happened earlier today… pic.twitter.com/1aIwjftkyz

– PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) 5 March 2026

However, Walker starred for his team in the absence of several key stars, including Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George, who is still suspended.

“When I saw the first two 3s go in, I was like, ‘Okay. Okay. This is a whole new world. I got a chance to redeem myself’ so I forgot about what happened earlier today,” he said.
Walker’s night started explosively. During his first stint, he scored 15 points on all five of his shot attempts, including four three-pointers.

While he undoubtedly proved vital, it was once again Tyrese Maxey who led the way with 25 points on 8-of-22 shooting. Quentin Grimes also played a key role, especially late in the fourth quarter.

He finished with 16 points and knocked down two go-ahead free throws with less than 17 seconds remaining on the clock. However, this game will be extremely memorable for Walker for several reasons.

Not only did he return with a career-best score, but he did so on a day that didn’t start off on the best of terms.

There’s something about the bright lights of Madison Square Garden that brings out the best in the NBA’s rising stars. For Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, Wednesday night was the perfect stage to show why he is a fundamental part of a championship contender.

In a back-and-forth battle leading up to the final possession, the Thunder defeated the New York Knicks 103–100. Holmgren was the focal point of the attack, finishing with 28 points and eight rebounds. He made 11 of 19 shots from the field and hit six crucial three-pointers, silencing the boisterous New York crowd every time the Knicks threatened to pull away.

After the game, Holmgren did not hide his excitement about performing in the world’s most famous arena. “Playing in the Garden is any hooper’s dream,” Holmgren said. “The juices were flowing, and we were ready to play”. His defensive presence was equally impressive, as he stopped multiple drives by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the final minutes.

“Playing in the garden is any hooper’s dream…the juices were flowing, and we were ready to play.”

—Chet Holmgren knows how to put on a show at MSG 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/pXblGFSTMD

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 5 March 2026

The win didn’t come easy, especially with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein suffering minor injuries earlier in the evening in Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points and eight assists, providing the steady leadership needed to earn the win on a tough road. For the Knicks, Anthony-Towns led the way with 17 points, but late turnovers proved costly as the Thunder’s defense crumbled.

The Thunder remain on top of the Western Conference standings, and games like this prove they have the mental toughness to win in adverse environments. As Holmgren continues to develop into a two-way force, the rest of the league is beginning to realize that “Hooper’s dream” is becoming a reality in OKC.

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks lost 103-100 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, facing a tough challenge from the reigning NBA champions. This was the Knicks’ first success over a top-seeded Western Conference club, having already failed to defeat the East’s number Q seed, the Detroit Pistons, three times.

Despite some notable losses, the Knicks have performed better than last season against top teams under new head coach Mike Brown. The coach did not describe the game as important, but stressed the importance of learning from the match post-match.

“Seeing what they did, how they did it, why we shot 28% from three. Why this happened, why that happened. It’s a great learning experience,” Brown told reporters at Madison Square Garden. “It doesn’t matter if you – you want to win. But it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. And seeing the competitiveness from our guys was something I love, as well as the physicality.”

The process-to-results mentality fits the coach, who uses the regular season as an information-gathering period to get the most out of his personnel in the postseason. He has often said that the Knicks’ regular season losses are treated as learning opportunities, not failed opportunities to compete.

No matter how one spins it, the Knicks’ margin of error in the playoffs continues to shrink. Will these regular season losses become a topic of discussion if the team fails to deliver in the postseason?

The pressure to outperform last season’s Eastern Conference Finals appearance was already intense prior to the season. And with six weeks left in the NBA playoffs, it looks like it’s only going to keep on going.

Final preview? Brown, Daigneault both play it cool

Brown downplayed the significance of the matchup after the game, telling reporters that he believed the regular season “statement games” were contradictory.

The coach said, “I don’t believe in statement games just because in the playoffs, it’s a different season, you know? … They’re one of the elite teams defensively. You can probably get more from that film than a team that might be 29th defensively.”

Mark Daigneault shared a similar sentiment before the game, telling reporters that the Knicks are a “great test” for his Thunder and crediting New York with being one of the best groups in the league. Asked by the coach if he thought of games like Wednesday as a potential Finals preview, he quickly replied that it was still too early in March to have any thoughts about playoff matchups.

Brown clearly values ​​the opportunity for teams like the Thunder to test his Knicks’ ability. However, his zoomed-out approach to these games, viewing them as data points that span a long season as opposed to the confrontation of individual battles, is representative of the exact philosophical shift the Knicks’ front office wanted from their coaching change.

New York will travel to Oklahoma City in late March for the teams’ second and final regular season matchup. After this, one thing is clear whether Daigneault wants to accept it or not. If these teams meet again, it will be in the 2026 NBA Finals.

The Charlotte Hornets are officially one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and head coach Charles Lee believes the looming trade deadline is a major reason why. After Wednesday night’s impressive 118-89 win over the Boston Celtics, Lee praised guard Coby White, calling him a “battle-tested” veteran who has turned the team around.

“He adds a lot to our environment and our product on the court,” Lee said of White. With the win the Hornets moved to 32–31, the first time they have sat above the .500 mark since late October. This extended their current winning streak to six games, a stretch where Charlotte has boasted one of the most efficient offenses in the league.

🎙️ Charles Lee on Coby White: “He adds a lot to our environment and our product on the court.”

“We have a very deep team, but there’s something about having a guy like that who is battle-tested, a high-level thinker and has been through a lot of experiences as a basketball player.”… pic.twitter.com/WsJ9sYnhqC

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 5 March 2026

White was surgically efficient against the Celtics at TD Garden, finishing with 17 points and six assists while shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from the field in just 20 minutes of action. His ability to stabilize the second unit and provide clutch scoring punch has provided Lee with a luxury the Hornets have lacked in recent seasons.

Lee said having a high-level thinker like White makes it easier for him to put the ball in his hands at the end of quarters so the team can get quality shots.

The blowout featured a balanced attack as rookie Con Knueppel led all Charlotte scorers with 20 points. Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball each scored 18 points, while the defense held a powerful Boston team to just 89 points.

For a team that was struggling to stay in the play-in race a month ago, the addition of White along with stars like Ball and Miller has created a tremendous rotation. As the Hornets head toward the postseason, their new “battle-tested” creator appears to be just what the doctor ordered.

It’s looked hopeless at many points this season, but somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks are still alive in the playoff race — especially now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in action after a long absence of more than a month due to a calf injury.

Although it is mathematically possible for the Bucks to make the play-in tournament, as at the time of writing, they are only four games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the standings, the fact that they are not in the playoff picture is a clear indication that the team is not very good right now.

There’s no denying Antetokounmpo’s greatness, but the prolonged absence of a superstar shouldn’t mean the team will collapse around him. For the Bucks, they have collapsed most of the season when Antetokounmpo is on the mend. They’ve gone 11-18 without him, and that won’t cut it.

Of course, the good news is that Antetokounmpo remains on the roster, even though he was on the trade block just a month ago and it looked like a blockbuster trade involving him would finally materialize.

It simply means that the Bucks are still on the clock, as there is not zero chance that Antetokounmpo will commit his future to the team despite his disappointing short-term to medium-term outlook.

And while they are limited in the changes they can make to the roster, perhaps the Bucks can start convincing Antetokounmpo that they mean business by cleaning house – starting with the departure of head coach Doc Rivers.

Bucks need to start fresh, move on from Doc Rivers

Despite having a 30–13 record, the Bucks made the surprise decision to fire Adrian Griffin and replace him with Doc Rivers as the team’s head coach in 2024. They finished the season under .500 under Rivers (they went 19–20) and lost in the first round of the playoffs against the eventual conference finalists Indiana Pacers.

Now, this isn’t going to turn into Griffin’s defense. By all accounts, the Bucks locker room questioned his strategy because Griffin had not maximized the team’s personnel. But reports revealed that when Griffin called his players out he took it in stride, although the fact that he did meant that his respect for them was fractured from the start.

Still, Griffin coached a terrible defense, and it was clear Antetokounmpo was growing tired of his schemes. They replaced Griffin with Rivers, who at least has the respect of people in the locker room.

This may be Rivers’ only save at this stage of his coaching career. Everyone knows the story with Rivers: He won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, maintains a sense of professionalism in the locker room that commands respect from everyone on the team, and he’s a consistent win producer, at least in the regular season.

Rivers has had his fair share of black eyes in the playoffs. He is the only head coach in NBA history to lead multiple 3–1 playoff series. His star-studded teams perform poorly under the bright lights of the postseason. But that’s all moot when the Bucks team he’s currently coaching couldn’t even make the start of the postseason.

Some Bucks fans may be wondering why Rivers hasn’t been fired yet. The results have not been there, and there has been nothing but disappointment in the Cream City since the team brought him in. It’s clear his voice still has influence in the locker room, and Antetokounmpo is at least there to stay with him unlike Griffin.

The Bucks’ shortcomings this season aren’t really Rivers’ fault. The team he is currently coaching is not very good anyway. But he’s not really adding wins to the team. Some of his rotation decisions recently were surprising; Why did Kyle Kuzma not play at all in their recent loss to the Boston Celtics? Why was Ryan Rollins, of all people, benched upon Antetokounmpo’s return?

It’s time for a fresh start for the Bucks under the tutelage of a well-known coach who knows how to handle a locker room with big egos. And for once, the Bucks will have to enlist the services of a new voice, an up-and-coming assistant who has paid his dues during his time in the NBA.

Why Mika Nori deserves a chance in Milwaukee?

Nouri has been an assistant coach in the NBA for 17 seasons, and he is currently part of the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff under head coach Chris Finch. He is the main assistant of the team, as he replaces Finch if he is out or misses time due to personal reasons or injury.

Most accounts state that Nori is adept at managing game situations, meaning his main strength is adjusting to what he sees on the court. Now, the head coaching job requires much more than mastering such skills. Still, his tactical plans could be what brings Antetokounmpo on board for at least the next few years.

If there’s one thing Antetokounmpo wants from a coach, it’s defensive consistency and communication. Nori provides both; Players have appreciated the Timberwolves assistant’s ability to build relationships with them, and he has been instrumental in crafting a Minnesota defense that routinely ranks top-10 in the NBA.

Given that the Bucks lack scoring weapons around Antetokounmpo, getting it done on defense should be priority number one for them. They are currently ranked 24th in that department, so that won’t make the cut. They have solid individual pieces on defense, Kevin Porter Jr. and Rollins are very disruptive, and Myles Turner has a long history of adequate rim protection, but it hasn’t come together under Rivers.

Now, the Bucks may need an experienced head coach to reassign Antetokounmpo. But Milwaukee needs to avoid retreading head coaches at all costs. And there may be no better candidate for the potential Bucks head coaching vacancy than Nouri.

The Philadelphia 76ers went into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz missing almost their entire starting lineup, but thanks to an unexpected hero they walked away with a gritty 106-102 victory. While Tyrese Maxey handled the heavy lifting with 25 points, it was Jabari Walker’s breakout performance that caught everyone’s attention and ultimately gave head coach Nick Nurse a reason to smile.

Walker was a force off the bench, tallying a massive double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was efficient from the floor, making 7 of 12 shots overall and an impressive 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. It was the kind of performance the 76ers desperately needed with Joel Embiid, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe sidelined.

After the game, Nurse explained that Walker’s sudden increase in minutes was no accident. “We’re trying to get him to play like that. Because he’s like, and I’ve said this a lot before, like he’s a really good shooter, you just have to get used to the feeling of the NBA and be good enough to pull the trigger on them and be much better in his last few games and he’s just running.”

“We’re trying to inspire him to play the same way.”

Nick Nurse discusses what Jabari Walker brings to the table. | @kia pic.twitter.com/GvXflmD5ap

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 5 March 2026

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Walker’s rise is his own explanation for his high-motor style. When asked about his emotional nature and hustle dramas, Walker offered a hilarious self-assessment, claiming that people who know him know he is “really kind of crazy”. He joked that there was “something really wrong” with him, but that energy clearly translated onto the court as he helped Philadelphia avoid a two-game losing streak.

The win also included 16 points from Quentin Grimes and a clutch follow-dunk from Adem Bona that tied the game late. For a 76ers team struggling to maintain their playoff position, finding a reliable bench weapon like Walker could be a ray of hope for an injury-plagued week.

The Los Angeles Clippers are unable to catch any breaks this season. The Clippers were playing against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The game also marked former Clipper Ivica Zubac’s debut with his new Indiana team. However, during the game, LA lost one of its key centers to injury. According to Tomer Azzarly of ClutchPoints, Yannick Konan Niederhauser, who backed up Zubac in LA, missed the game with a foot injury.

“Yannick Konan Niederhauser is out for the remainder of Clippers-Pacers with a right foot injury,” Azarly posted.

More coming soon.

The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into a tough stretch of the season, and Tyrese Maxey recently explained how the team is battling a depleted roster. The 76ers have struggled with injuries, Joel Embiid’s injury status, and Paul George’s suspension while trying to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Following Wednesday night’s narrow win over the PHLY Sixers, X, formerly an affiliate of PHLY Sports, shared a clip on Twitter that shows Maxey speaking about how the team has handled its recent games despite missing several starters.

“It’s not going to be easy. We’re not asking to make it easy. We’re basically missing all of our starters tonight. Get moving, guys.”

Tyrese Maxey: “I think we’re at 4-4 after the break. Listen, we’re the sixth seed right now. We’re staying right where we are.

“It’s not going to be easy. We’re not asking to make it easy. We’re basically missing all of our starters tonight. Get moving, guys.” pic.twitter.com/fo4JKLJ0p6

– PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) 5 March 2026

The comments came after the 76ers’ 106-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. Despite missing several key contributors, the 2026 NBA All-Star helped direct the offense while the rotation relied on role players to close out the win.

Philadelphia has gone 4-4 since the All-Star break while dealing with several roster challenges. Embiid’s injury has sidelined the franchise center due to a right oblique strain, forcing the club to adjust both offensively and defensively during this stretch.

George’s suspension has also removed another primary scoring option and perimeter defender from the lineup. As a result, Maxey has taken on a larger offensive role while injuries are reshaping the rotation for Philadelphia.

During this period, the 76ers have leaned heavily on aggression to remain competitive. Wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat require 135, 135 and 124 points, respectively, which shows how much pressure the offense has endured.

Despite the adversity created by Embiid’s injury and George’s suspension, the 76ers remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race. If the roster stabilizes and Philadelphia’s injuries begin to subside, the team could still build momentum toward the end of the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks finally have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup, but the celebration was short-lived. Just before tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the team announced that guard Kevin Porter Jr. would miss the contest due to significant swelling in his right knee.

The game at Fiserv Forum is currently hotly contested, with Milwaukee holding a slim 71-66 lead at halftime, with the focus primarily on the long-term health of their young guard. Head coach Doc Rivers Axe, previously via Eric Nehm on Twitter, did not seem particularly optimistic when discussing the injury during his pre-game availability. Rivers noted that the knee has been a problem for about two weeks, but the recent incident was serious enough to raise alarm bells on a large scale.

Asked about a possible lengthy absence, Rivers said, “We’re hoping not.” “They’re going to do more things tomorrow to check, but it’s a lot of swelling and then you have the concern. It’s been really bothering him for the last few weeks, but it just hasn’t progressed the way it has, so there’s some concern there.”

The Bucks are trying their best to stabilize their season and stay in the Eastern Conference play-in race. Getting Antetokounmpo back on the floor is a big boost, but losing Porter Jr., who has been a reliable secondary playmaker averaging 17.5 points and 7.4 assists this season, is a brutal blow. Ryan Rollins has stepped into a bigger role tonight to make up for the loss as the Bucks look to stop a Jalen Johnson-led Atlanta team.

Milwaukee will likely provide a more definitive update after further testing on Thursday. For now, the Bucks are holding their breath regarding their backcourt rotation as they struggle to get a much-needed home win.

“Dwight Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-2022 Golden State Warriors championship season,” Green said. “Dwight got a lot of love, Orange Jacket Hall of Famer. You did it brother. You won the game. This ain’t no retirement tour, no farewell tour, you got it. You got the tour brother. It was to Springfield, Massachusetts. That was the tour. That’s the end of the game Dwight.”

Subsequently, Howard played four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and one season with the Hawks, Hornets, Wizards and 76ers.

During this time, Howard became an eight-time NBA All-Star, a five-time NBA First Team member, and a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, he won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games as part of the “Redeem Team”.

In 2020, he won the NBA championship with the Lakers.

After an ankle-related one-game layoff, Zion Williamson wasted little time in reminding everyone what the New Orleans Pelicans look like at full strength. Williamson finished with 24 points on 10 of 18 shooting, added four rebounds and drew six fouls in 33 minutes in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the loss, it was a very encouraging bounce-back performance against LeBron James. The 25-year-old consistently attacked the rim, converting all three of his fast-break opportunities and scoring 20 of his points in the paint.

Yet Williamson’s defenders were rarely whistled for any contact, allowing only five free throw attempts. This disparity did not go unnoticed by the Pelicans. James Borrego praised Williamson’s effort in no uncertain terms after the game, but admitted growing frustration at how contact was being made when his star forward went downhill.

“(Williamson) looked good,” Borrego said. “He had a lot of pop in his step, he was aggressive, downhill. I’ve gotten to see some clips of them, but I feel like there’s a lot of contact on that as well. There’s a tough, tough whistle out there with Z running the ball. He had a lot of strength, a lot of balance. I thought he brought it on the defensive end as well, so a really good performance by him (against the Lakers).

At this point the visible frustration towards the authorities should be forgiven. Borrego is calling out the refs about the lack of calls on a nightly basis.

Payment of fine for technical glitches may be included in next month’s budget.

“Got to be disappointed,” Borrego admitted. “If I were him, I would be disappointed. It’s a question for (Williamson), but I understand it. I look at it and talk to him about it. I understand it’s a tough call, but the amount of force when he goes to the rim, it’s definitely a lot of contact. A lot of contact in my opinion. We have to do everything we can as an organization, as a team, to protect him.”

Williamson, who has heard criticism about his durability and conditioning throughout his career, addressed his mindset in an ESPN interview last week, and admitted that injuries have taken a toll. Borrego addressed the emotional hurdles the former All-Star constantly needs to overcome.

“Obviously, right now, he’s got to keep his head, his cool, but it’s extremely frustrating. I feel it, and it really happens every night. So we’ve just got to keep fighting, stick together and keep fighting. I just love his spirit and fight.”

Call it sentiment or professional pride, but the Pelicans are going to have to play this way for a long time. A loss to the LA Clippers before a loss to the Lakers practically eliminated New Orleans from any NBA play-in race. It should be a little easier to build a little chemistry with a healthy roster, even without any foul play on the part of the executives.

The Oklahoma City Thunder arrived at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night looking to prove why they have the best record in the NBA, but they left with more questions than answers regarding their health. In a physical performance against the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City lost two of its most important defensive anchors as Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein were both forced to foul out early via Brett Siegel.

Caruso, a versatile defender known for his tireless perimeter defense, suffered a left hip injury during the heat of the action. The team immediately ruled him out for the remainder of the night, a major blow to a unit that relies on his ability to disrupt opposing stars like Jalen Brunson. Shortly after, the frontcourt suffered a blow of its own. Hartenstein, who was returning to his former home in New York, was sidelined with left calf tightness.

Harrison Barnes is generally the gold standard for NBA credibility. Before Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs forward had not missed a single professional basketball game since the end of 2021. But even the league’s most durable giants are no match for the dangers of the mid-day snooze.

In one of the most bizarre injury reports you’ll ever see, Barnes was a late scratch for Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The reason was as simple as it was frustrating: Via AP News, he woke up with left ankle pain after a pre-game nap.

The temporary injury officially broke his incredible streak of 364 consecutive games played. The last time Barnes was eliminated from a competition was in December. 4, 2021, when he was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Since then, he has been a fixture on the court, and has provided a steady veteran presence for whatever team he has represented.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to adapt quickly without his experienced forwards, but the rest of the roster left no stone unturned. San Antonio completely destroyed a shorthanded Philadelphia team in a 131-91 blowout loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Devin Vassell led the scoring charge with 22 points, including six three-pointers, while rookie Dylan Harper provided a big spark off the bench with his 22 points.

Victor Wembanyama didn’t have to carry the heavy scoring load, but remained a defensive terror, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in just 24 minutes. Stephen Cassel also had a stellar performance with a 15-point, 10-assist double-double, while De’Aaron Fox led the offense with 11 points and seven assists. Tyrese Maxey, on the other hand, put up a lone battle for the Sixers and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

It’s a tough way to end a great “Iron Man” race. Barnes was not sidelined due to a hard screen or a playoff foul; He was betrayed only by his own bed. While Spurs have dominated without him, they will soon need his consistency. Barnes has already been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons, meaning the wait for his new streak to start continues.

The Portland Trail Blazers were looking to keep their momentum going against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, but things took a turn for the worse late in the second quarter. Donovan Clingan, the Blazers’ towering rookie center, found himself ejected early after a hot moment leading to automatic elimination.

Donovan Clingan has been ejected from the game after being rated 2 in this game 😳

pic.twitter.com/5oxOF8iHpA

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 5 March 2026

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half and the Grizzlies leading 52–47, Clingan was running the ball at the top of the key. Memphis forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper was locked down defensively, getting tough and keeping his hands active in the rookie’s face. In an apparent attempt to create space or perhaps out of frustration from the physical pressure, the Klingon delivered a sharp elbow that caught Prosper, sending him falling to the floor.

Throughout his life and career, Kobe Bryant has made friends, enemies, and foes. Surely, everyone knows about them roller coaster relationship With Shaquille O’Neal. But one of his closest relationships Was with Richard “Rip” Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons.

on wednesday, hamilton reflect on His years with Bryant, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. They both grew up in Philadelphia, but Hamilton shared how he and Bryant had to prove to themselves that they were tough enough. This is mainly because Bryant spent most of his childhood in Italy and the Hamilton suburb of Coatesville.

“We have to come out and be a lot better,” Hamilton said. “We have to compete at a higher level.”

Hamilton attended Coatesville Area High School, while Bryant attended Lower Merion High School. Bryant defeated Hamilton in the district championship game. Bryant and Hamilton both played AAU basketball together and were roommates.

Additionally, both were McDonald’s All-Americans.

Rip Hamilton talks about his close relationship with the late Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/DrPYyN0zV7

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

In 1996, Bryant led Lower Merion to the state championship. Soon after, he decided to leave college and pursue his NBA dreams. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the LA Lakers.

Meanwhile, Hamilton attended UConn. In 1999, he helped lead the Huskies to the national championship. That same year, Hamilton was drafted by the Washington Wizards.

In 2004, the two old friends met in the NBA Finals when Hamilton was playing with the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons defeated the Lakers in five games, a series that marked the end of the Kobe/Shaq era in Los Angeles.

The Washington Wizards will be without Keyshawn George in the lineup for at least three weeks. It is being said that he is suffering from an elbow injury which will take some time to heal.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, reports indicate that George, who is 22, is dealing with a partial tear in the UCL in his left elbow. It is said that the Wizards will re-evaluate George’s arm after he sits out three weeks.

“Wizards forward Keyshawn George has a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow and will be treated conservatively. George will be reevaluated in three weeks.”

The Wizards also provided an injury update on the second-year pro. Washington claims the injury occurred during the club’s 123-118 loss to the Houston Rockets on March 2.

“Washington Wizards forward Keyshawn George suffered a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow on March 2 against the Houston Rockets. The injury will be treated conservatively, and George will be reevaluated in three weeks. Further updates will be provided at that time.”

With George out of the lineup, the Wizards will likely turn to Will Riley. However, Bub Carrington and Jaden Hardy may get some additional playing time as well. We’ll find out for sure when Washington takes on the Utah Jazz on Thursday.

Due to this injury, George will not be able to play 10 to 11 games. This is approximately half of the remaining competitions on the club’s schedule. Given that the Wizards have a 16-45 record and are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, it is likely that Keyshawn George will sit out the remainder of the season. Ultimately, it depends on how severe the injury is.

The Los Angeles Lakers won their third consecutive game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, 110-101. A win that was reminiscent of how the Lakers started the season when they had to come from behind.

The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 34-23 in the fourth quarter. In the process, they managed to achieve something that had not been seen since 2009. He had seven blocks in the fourth quarter.

According to Spectrum Sportsnet, LeBron James fired back at the reporter when asked if the Lakers have made progress in that area.

“We have?” James asked. “think so.”

Let’s talk LeBron James (8/12 FG, 7 REB, 21 PTS on 7 AST) @RealAClifton And the media is following him #lakers Third consecutive win. pic.twitter.com/jExD46fFMB

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 4 March 2026

James finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. As a result, Los Angeles is now 37–24 and remains in 6th place in the Western Conference standings.

James is averaging 21.6 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.

This wasn’t even the first confusing question after the game. Luka Doncic was asked if the momentum of star players including James and Austin Reeves is continuing. Doncic wasn’t having it when he responded: “Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Doncic finished the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

In 2009, Los Angeles defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to win their first NBA championship since 2022.

On Thursday, Los Angeles will take the field to play against the Denver Nuggets. Then, they have five consecutive home games starting Friday against the Indiana Pacers. Next, they will play against the New York Knicks (March 8), Minnesota Timberwolves (March 10), Chicago Bulls (March 12) and Nuggets (March 14).

Despite the veteran guard’s recent apology, Denver Nuggets head coach David Edelman is not discounting the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lou Dort for his flagrant 2 fouls on All-Star Nikola Jokic. After the Nuggets’ 127-121 loss in overtime on Friday, Jokic called Dort’s dirty play an unnecessary move. Dortch spoke about the incident for the first time Tuesday.

The Thunder guard said he shouldn’t have made such a dangerous play on Jokic. However, Edelman did not care about Dort’s recent comments when a reporter asked the Nuggets head coach if Lu Apology means nothing to himhe said, according to Troy Renk of the Denver Post.

“No,” Edelman replied. “No,” as he repeated his terse response.

Dort acknowledged that his foul on Jokic was out of bounds. #nuggets‘ feedback? don’t care.

Coach Edelman:

As a footnote, there is going to be a playoff-physical cage match on Monday night in OKC pic.twitter.com/o3OwGWQ1DR

– Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) 4 March 2026

Speaking to the media in the visitors’ locker room after Tuesday’s 116-108 win against the Chicago Bulls, Dort reflected on the play that caused him to miss Friday’s game, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

“It was a physical game the whole game,” Dortch said. “Obviously, there was unnecessary contact that I shouldn’t have made. Getting kicked out of the game hurt me the worst. But yes, it was a high-level game. I’m a competitor, so I compete.”

David Edelman and the Nuggets will face the Thunder in a rematch next Monday at Paycom Center.

Nikola Jokic speaks out after altercation with Thunder’s Lu Dort

Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic slammed Lou Dort for his flagrant-2 foul in Friday’s overtime loss to the Thunder. Ready to leave the loss behind, Jokic believes adversity will make the Nuggets better in the long run. Perhaps there is a plan to avenge the defeat from the current champion.

According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, he said, by no means, that Jokic did not hold back from criticizing Dort’s actions.

“Unnecessary move, and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said. “There’s no such thing – I think things like that shouldn’t happen on a basketball floor. So it was just an unnecessary step and a necessary reaction by me.”

The Nuggets returned to the win column with a 128-125 win against the Jazz on Monday.

ESPN NBA insider Tim McMahon publicly criticized Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert on Wednesday, accusing the four-time Defensive Player of the Year of “crying” about offensive touches following recent comments involving teammate Kyle Anderson.

Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, McMahon addressed Gobert’s comments and suggested the veteran center should focus on the role he has played in helping Minnesota find success this season.

“Rudy… who has the ball? Anthony Edwards has the ball. These are the same kind of comments that used to get under Donovan Mitchell’s skin at Utah. Now fortunately, the ant’s skin has gotten really thick. I mean, that kind of stuff blows up but Rudy, you guys are rolling. You don’t have to complain about not touching the ball. Protect the rim, like you did with four Defensive Player of the Year awards. Run the floor, set screens, roll. If you don’t touch the ball much, this is not the time to rock the boat.

McMahon’s comments came shortly after Gobert spoke about Anderson, who recently returned to the Timberwolves after signing with the team last week following a buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Rudy, you guys are rolling. You don’t have to complain about not touching the ball. Protect the rim, like you did to get four Defensive Player of the Year awards.”@BannedMacMahon On Rudy Gobert after his comments about Kyle Anderson as a guy who ‘wants to pass…’ pic.twitter.com/o8PIrbeal0

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 4 March 2026

Gobert addressed Anderson’s playmaking ability after Minnesota’s 117-110 win over Memphis on Tuesday. While discussing what Anderson has added to the offense, Gobert made light-hearted comments about ball movement early on.

“I think just passing the ball…Yeah, somebody that wants to pass the ball to his teammates.”

NBA insider criticizes Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert after Kyle Anderson comments

Gobert later clarified that Anderson’s value went beyond that comment, emphasizing his ability to connect the offense and facilitate opportunities for others.

“But yes, he’s a coordinator. So, someone who makes plays for his teammates.”

Anderson spent parts of three seasons with the Timberwolves before departing for the Golden State Warriors. He was later traded to the Miami Heat last season, then transferred again in the offseason to the Utah Jazz, before Utah dealt him to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season. Following a buyout in Memphis, Anderson returned to Minnesota, giving the Timberwolves another experienced ball-handler and facilitator with All-Star guard Anthony Edwards.

Minnesota continues to maintain strong momentum in the Western Conference heading into the 2025–26 season. The Timberwolves improved to 39-23 after Tuesday’s win over the Grizzlies and are currently in fourth place in the conference standings.

Gobert remains a central figure in the team’s defensive identity. Known for rim protection and rebounding, the French center has had a stellar career highlighted by four Defensive Player of the Year awards and multiple All-Star selections.

The Timberwolves will look to extend their current four-game winning streak when they host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET as Minnesota continues a three-game homestand.

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown has led his team to one of the best records in the NBA this season without Jayson Tatum, which for JR Smith means this is no longer Tatum’s team. With Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics, many wonder how Boston will adjust to Jason Tatum’s midseason debut.

while brown have been leaders For the Celtics this season, that’s been their title for Jaylen for years, Smith said, according to To The Baha.

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? First of all, he protects everybody. It’s always been his team. It’s his team,” Smith said. “To the players, I’m sure it’s their team; to everyone else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team. That’s the way they want to show it. Internally, it’s Jaylen Brown’s team.

“Jaylen Brown is the leader of that team. 100 percent on and off the court. Fact. I guarantee you he commands more film sessions, practices than JT. He’s the leader of that team.”

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? … To the players, I’m pretty sure it’s his team; to everybody else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team.”

– JR Smith 🤔

(via @ToTheBaha)pic.twitter.com/mnELzcwFk9

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

In Brown and Tatum’s second NBA Finals appearance in two years, Brown won the 2024 Finals MVP award after capturing his first title.

NBA insider says Jayson Tatum will need to adjust to new Celtics

NBA insider Chris Mannix believes the Celtics are Jaylen Brown’s team who will have to accommodate Jayson Tatum if he returns from his nearly season-long Achilles injury. Tatum has to do it slowly work your way back Mannix said, according to FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, linking up with the Browns and the Celtics.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. “Brown is a top-five, top-six MVP candidate this year,” Mannix said. “He’s put this team on his back offensively.” And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

This is Jaylen Brown’s team now 👀

With the pending return of Jayson Tatum, @SIChrisMannix I don’t think there is a chemistry problem.

Tatum knows this is Brown’s team. pic.twitter.com/wgMkvmJHDF

– Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) 4 March 2026

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as they have kept themselves in the news as NBA title contenders.

The NBA on Tuesday officially named Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February, marking the third time in his career that he has won the award and the first time he has earned the honor this season. Atkinson is only the third coach in Cavs franchise history to accomplish the feat, joining Mike Brown and the late, great Lenny Wilkens.

Cleveland went 8-3 last month with a league-leading scoring average of 120.9 points per game and the top field-goal percentage (49.8%). He also averaged the third-most assists per contest (28.9).

This coincided with the incredible dominance of Jarrett Allen and the trade deadline acquisitions of James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder.

“Bringing in James has given us new confidence, if that means anything,” Atkinson said. “We understand we’re a better team and that feeling, that confidence, for some strange reason forces you to play more and compete harder and compete harder defensively, and I felt like we were losing that edge, that confidence. So I think we’re getting that back.”

Three of the team’s four lowest opponent-scoring totals were recorded in February against the New York Knicks (94) and Los Angeles Clippers (91), and the Wine and Gold held the Brooklyn Nets to a season-low 84 points at Rocket Arena.

Offensively, Cleveland scored at least 130 points three times last month, which tied for second in the East. Its average margin of victory was 10.9 points, which ranked third in the conference. Additionally, from February 1–20, the Cavs remained undefeated and had five consecutive road wins, despite the interruption of the All-Star break.

Atkinson won the NBA Coach of the Month award twice last year, with recognition for October/November 2024 and December 2024. To catch Brown’s leading total of five with the Cavs, he will have to win it twice more.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson won the award for representing the Western Conference.

The Cavs have already had a solid start to March despite nagging injuries throughout the campaign. They have earned the next four days off before welcoming the Boston Celtics to town on Sunday afternoon.

even after Stephen A. Smith’s monologue take firstNew Orleans Pelicans Social Media Team is still. Following his comments about Zion Williamson, Stephen A. Smith fired back at the Pelicans after they posted a video of Smith’s athletic shortcomings.

Smith reiterated rumors that Williamson was “addicted to food” and had weight problems during his time with the Pelicans, which led to the back-and-forth.

“There was nothing fabricated. The information that came out about Zion Williamson, yes, it came from inside the organization. It came from people even closer to Zion Williamson. I’ll leave it at that,” Smith said Tuesday. “People who called and encouraged us to capture him because of his actions. You got people who are alcoholics, you got people who are drug addicts, and things like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Addicted to food!”

Wednesday morning edition take firstSmith was furious, even claiming he was more relevant than the Pelicans organization.

“My popularity is higher than anyone on your team outside of Zion… 65 games played and you’re still looking for your 20th win. You’re all terrible! You’re all wasted! That’s the reality…. You’re worth about $3.55B right now. That’s 29th out of 30 teams in the NBA. This is your 24th year in the NBA. You used to be the Hornets, now you’re the Pelicans, that is. Nickname 2. You have so many playoff wins… you have time to clap at me, at least tell America that’s the only thing that can make you relevant.

A 5 minute monologue from a former NBA player on how to shoot https://t.co/SD4gBMwMrY pic.twitter.com/QWdFMgGN4i

– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) 4 March 2026

But even after a heated exchange, the Pelicans decided to go after Smith again. The NBA chimed in on ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson and Stephen A. Asked Smith to stop trolling. Pelican then posted a video of a man mimicking boxing moves and captioned the video, “Unk trippin’ again.”

The tweet’s caption read, “5 minute monologue from a former NBA player on how to shoot,” Jefferson sarcastically responded to what he said in the post. The feud may be about to stop soon, but it’s clear the Pelicans aren’t ready to give up.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won a hard-fought win against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night without their star Donovan Mitchell. The 113-109 win on Tuesday night came just days after the Cavs lost the game 122-119 in overtime against the Pistons on Friday night.

Jaylon Tyson led the Cavs in Tuesday’s win, scoring a team-high 22 points to go with his three rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a game-high five three-pointers in 32 minutes of play. It was a strong night for Tyson, but the Cavs forward received a minor penalty after the game ended.

On Wednesday morning, Cavs forward Jaylon Tyson was assessed a $2,000 postgame flopping fine in league review for flopping on Cade Cunningham’s drive. The Pistons guard moved his hand slightly to avoid Tyson, but the Cavs forward made contact and ran backward, which is why the NBA is imposing a flopping fine on him.

Cavs forward Jaylon Tyson has been fined $2,000 for a game flop following a league review.

This play involved Cade Cunningham in last night’s game against the Pistons. pic.twitter.com/KjnRIUA4n8

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 4 March 2026

In addition to the flopping penalty, Tyson has also committed two technical fouls this season, resulting in a $2,000 fine each.

While the idea of ​​penalizing players for flopping is a popular idea that was introduced years ago, it has become relatively unused over the past few seasons and has led many to wonder what the difference is between what Jaylon Tyson did and what, for example, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic does on a nightly basis.

How come Nikola Jokic was never fined for flopping? https://t.co/2xAgFzzYAH

– BGB♛ (@BonesGotBizzy) 4 March 2026

The joke flops WAAAY more than it gets credit for pic.twitter.com/sXIi8nQk8i

– Outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) 22 April 2025

Jock doesn’t get enough respect for being one of the greatest floppers of this generationpic.twitter.com/P1Bp31icqQ

– NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) 26 December 2025

In his second season in the NBA after being selected 20th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jaylon Tyson is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three. Tyson recorded a career-high 39 points on January 16 against the Sixers, shooting 13 of 13 from the field and 7 of 9 from three.

The Cavs will have a few days off to recover and prepare for their upcoming back-to-back sets against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

The Rookie of the Year discussion has begun, and the conversation focuses on Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe. This doesn’t reflect what other players are doing in the league, because there are some who are playing really well. One of those rookies is Dylan Harper.

Chandler Parsons recently showed love to the San Antonio Spurs rookie, and although he doesn’t think he’s in the Rookie of the Year conversation, he thinks he has a solid career ahead of him.

“If you put Dylan Harper on the Mavs or Charlotte [Hornets]”He’s probably averaging the same exact numbers, if not better,” Parsons said on Run It Back. “He’s that good. … This scenario of being on a good team almost hurts his chances of winning [ROTY]. His opportunity is not there; He’s playing less minutes, he’s playing behind guys like Fox and Cassel, where Cone and Cooper have the final green light and they’re playing on bad teams.

“If you put Dylan Harper on the Mavs or Charlotte [Hornets]He’s probably averaging the same exact numbers, if not better. He is that good. …This scenario of being on a good team almost hurts its chances of winning [ROTY]”

-Chandler Parsons 🤔pic.twitter.com/6xY7IhTviR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 4 March 2026

Harper is in a different situation than Flagg, as he is basically putting up big numbers for the Mavericks as the No. 1 option on the team. Knueppel has played a solid role for the Hornets, but they are not one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

As far as Harper is concerned, he is playing behind multiple guards, but he is still contributing to the Spurs as they are one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Harper certainly deserves flowers for the way he’s been performing with the Spurs, but it won’t come with a Rookie of the Year trophy.

As for him, he’s probably hoping he gets a chance to capture an NBA championship at the end of the season because of the role he’ll play in helping them get there.

Golden State Warriors forward and podcaster Draymond Green chimed in on the conversation about shutting down Steph Curry for the remainder of the season so the Warriors can tank. On January 30, Curry suffered a right knee injury in a game against the red-hot Detroit Pistons; It did not appear to be serious, and as the All-Star break approached, the Warriors listed him day-to-day.

But Curry has been out for more than a month, as the Warriors said they are ready to reevaluate him soon. Now, the Warriors face a tough challenge without Curry and Jimmy Butler, who were sidelined midway through the season with ACL injuries. With the eighth-seeded Warriors having lost seven of their last 11 games, there is speculation that the season is over.

In an interview with Tim Kawakami tk showMike Dunleavy Jr. did not completely rule out Curry sitting out the remainder of the season, but said it would be surprising if that happened.

“It would be very, very surprising. But, you know, I’m not ruling anything out; I’m not a doctor, and things could go a certain way. So, I don’t want the headline to be that Steph could be done for the year because I’m not ruling it out, but just because he’s not playing right now, I just have to admit that I’m sure there’s a chance, but we don’t expect it.”

Following the conversation, Green discussed the possibility of the Warriors making this decision on his eponymous podcast.

“I’ve seen a lot of people say, ‘Hey man, they should just tank and not bring Steph back the rest of the year’ and all this stuff. One thing I will tell you is this: Shutting Steph down for the rest of the year is not something that’s just going to happen, except so he can play. I can also assure you, Joe Lacob is not going to tank. I saw Matt Ishbia say it, tanking is in my DNA. Never will. You get better and if we end up being bad and get a good draft pick, we get a good draft pick, but we’re definitely not going to tank Joe Lacob.”

Of note, senior NBA insider Brett Sigel of ClutchPoints reported that sources indicate Curry will receive around-the-clock treatment to put himself in position to compete in the playoffs. The Warriors are getting a break of sorts, with no games on Tuesday and Wednesday as they prepare for Thursday’s game against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets that will air nationally on Prime Video.

With the Warriors having interesting games against tough teams like the Thunder on Saturday, the Timberwolves on March 13 and the Knicks on March 15, a decision will certainly have to be made regarding Steph’s immediate playing future in order to keep the Warriors at least in the play-in picture.

Stephen A. Smith has never been one to shy away from confrontation, and he recently got into a fight with the New Orleans Pelicans. Following a segment where he was critical of Zion Williamson’s weight, the Pelicans social media team retaliated by reposting a video in which Stephen A. Smith was missing jump shots that he was attempting on the basketball court, as well as being a poor athlete in boxing.

The audio of the video was also an earlier example of him giving his assessment of Kwame Brown’s involvement in the Pau Gasol trade in February 2008, where he called Brown a “true man”. Smith fired back on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN take firstEven touting his HBCU credentials.

“You left something out and you know what? You left out the fact that I was in the fourth grade and I was left back out because I had a first-grade readership. And here I am on national television after graduating from an HBCU, going up against Hall of Famers who have played professional sports all the time… the elite journalist in this business, and I’m coming from an HBCU and still doing what I’m doing.”

Smith is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University and has done significant HBCU philanthropy work throughout her career. He has also used the platform of take first to highlight HBCUs and HBCU athletics, but Smith has been involved in numerous feuds and wars of words, often citing his HBCU connections.

Still, the Pelicans are undaunted, as they posted a response tweet to Smith’s criticism with the caption, “A five-minute monologue from a former NBA player on how to shoot.” The feud will eventually settle down, but Stephen A. is determined to show that he is not to be messed with.

Tuomas Isalo, who is one game back from a knee injury, explains why Cedric Coward’s education is entering its most demanding semester yet. Beale Street’s busted Memphis Grizzlies have been through more than 60 games in a relatively disappointing year, yet the ordeal for their NBA All-Rookie candidate is far from over. However, forget about hitting any proverbial walls for a first-timer; There are a dozen All-Stars who need cover to finish the season.

Over the next six weeks the Measuring Sticks earned their single-name reputation. Giannis, KD, Kawhi, Cade and Jokic are all that stands between the Grizzlies (23-37) and the recovery phase of the offseason. James Harden, Jalen Brunson and CJ McCollum will be chasing the win until the end. That trio can make a fool of absolutely anyone, but the coward is expected to answer the call.

“(Coward) is going to be tasked with some very tough matches,” Isalo admitted. “(Against the Minnesota Timberwolves), he had assets guarding them from (Anthony Edwards) to (Julius Randle). He can definitely get better at the point of attack. Every young man in his rotation can be better.”

The 22-year-old played 21 minutes off the bench in his return after a seven-match absence. He scored 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting with two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. By pitting Coward against the league’s elite, the Grizzlies hope to accelerate his development and build the consistency needed to compete at the highest level.

Edwards was nearly unstoppable for Minnesota, adding five steals in his 41-point outburst. Randle’s double-double and Jaden McDaniel’s efficient 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting rounded out the Timberwolves’ balanced effort. For Coward, the night served as both a challenge and a preview. The remainder of the gauntlet figures to shape the final chapter of a promising All-Rookie caliber season.

Isalo made it clear that he is counting on that experience to make an impression. The Grizzlies also hope the young core will play up to the standard, building a culture and product that everyone can be proud of. That’s the only way to be on the other side of the NBA playoff line.

“It’s just letting the guys in the locker room know that I hope we don’t take the opportunities to play against teams of this level for granted,” Isalo shared. “This is the level that every one of our players and our team is trying to get to, and you only get there by experiencing it, understanding that this is a tough, experienced team that we have stepped up to, but we have to be consistent for 48 minutes.”

Through 48 games, Coward is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 34.0% from 3-point range. The Washington State alumnus’s numbers per 40 minutes have increased to 20.7 points and 9.4 rebounds, with a true shooting percentage of 58.1%, which shows that this production can increase efficiently.

There’s no better time for the Grizzlies to find out than the next six weeks. Given Cedric Coward’s competitive nature, bringing him back into action was never an option. However, that fire is there when they throw it at the superstars and see what happens. If he can continue to be a two-way defensive force capable of consistently dropping 20 and 10, Memphis will have at least one silver lining worth its weight in gold in the summer.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg missed Tuesday’s 117-90 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, then received an encouraging injury update ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic. Flagg missed the last eight games with a foot injury, but was listed as questionable on the Mavericks’ injury report.

Flagg, who hasn’t played since the Mavericks’ 120-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 20, could make his return in Thursday’s game against the Magic. The Rookie of the Year candidate is averaging 20.4 points on 48.2% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season.

Jeff Teague of the Mavericks on Cooper Flag, Kon Knueppel of the Hornets

Former NBA guard Jeff Teague addressed the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg’s candidacy for Rookie of the Year opposite Hornets rookie Kon Nueppel. Duke’s two prospects are the leading candidates for the award, and the race is close, as Knueppel has taken a slight lead as the likely favorite to win the award.

Flagg, who had led in rushing all season amid Cooper’s injury, and the Hornets’ five-game winning streak, was overtaken by Knueppel as Teague. Mentioned in their selection For Rookie of the Year, according to the Club 520 Podcast.

“If he is [Knueppel] Not Rookie of the Year, he was robbed. They [are] actually winning the game, that [is] Average 20 points.”

“He’s killing every game… If he’s not Player of the Year, he’s been robbed. They’re actually winning games, he’s averaging 20 points.”

Jeff Teague on Kon Knuppel 🗣️

(via @club520podcast)pic.twitter.com/B019SER50Z

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 February 2026

In only his first season, Flagg is averaging 20+ points while playing for the Hornets. Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points on 48.8% shooting, and his 43.5% 3-point clip leads the NBA, along with his 212 threes. The Hornets improved to 31–31, the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference standings.

Flagg and the Mavericks, who have lost eight of their last 10 games, have the fourth-worst record (21-40) in the Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets are considered one of the potential contenders in the Western Conference, with a solid roster with strong depth. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets added that potential depth this week with the signing of David Roddy to a two-way contract.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.com, the Nuggets already had all three of their two-way contract roster spots filled, so they waived Tamar Bates to facilitate the signing of David Roddy.

Roddy’s inclusion is interesting for the Nuggets as he has been performing brilliantly with Team USA during the recent FIBA ​​World Cup qualifiers. During last week’s two-match schedule, Roddy was one of the team’s top players.

In Team USA’s first game against the Dominican Republic, he scored eight points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals. He had a breakout game with a team-high 20 points in the win against Mexico. He shot 7 of 10 from the field, and a perfect 2 of 2 from the 3-point line in that win.

Roddy’s opportunity with the Nuggets is not his first go-round in the NBA. Drafted 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he began his career in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies. After one and a half seasons, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of a multi-team deal that obtained the Suns’ Royce O’Neal.

Following the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks waived him during the 2024–25 season, and he spent the remainder of the season playing brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets. He was part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant-to-the Rockets trade involving multiple teams. The deal brought him back to the Hawks, who immediately waived him.

Roddy was playing with Raptors 905 in the G League before getting called up to Team USA and then eventually the Nuggets.

Led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors remain competitive in the beleaguered Western Conference. All three feel that if their health remains favorable, they can compete with the NBA’s best like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets.

But one thing is becoming more real with each passing day: This era of Warriors basketball is nearing its end.

Stephen Curry, 37, has one year remaining on his deal after the 2025-26 season. Draymond Green, who turned 36 on Wednesday, has a player option for the 2026-27 season worth $27.7 million. And head coach Steve Kerr is coaching in the final year of his contract.

While Curry and Green are expected to be back with the Warriors next season, what does the future look like for head coach Steve Kerr?

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently spoke in an extensive interview with Tim Kawakami, Bay Area writer for the San Francisco Standard and host of “The TK Show” on 95.7 The Game, which also touched on Kerr’s future as Warriors head coach.

That’s where Dunleavy Jr. says he envisions Kerr returning next season and beyond.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not,” Dunleavy Jr. responded. “I mean, I guess Steve [Kerr] Mentioned a desire to get to the end of the season and find out. I think things are going well for him. We’ll figure it out when it comes, but I think it’s interesting that for us internally the focus has been on Joe, among me. [Lacob]The players and Steve are really working on getting this thing right for the rest of the season. So, we haven’t given it too much thought.”

“But obviously, on a personal level, I love having Steve here. Yes, I would guess he’s our coach next year. But again, we’re going into absolute certainty, and a lot of it is in his court, so we’ll have to see.”

In his 12 seasons coaching the Warriors, Steve Kerr has compiled a 598–338 record (.639) in 936 regular season games and a 104–48 record (.684) in 152 playoff games.

In February 2024, Steve Kerr and the Warriors agreed to a record two-year, $35 million extension to retain him as head coach of the franchise.

Entering this season on an expiring deal, Kerr said he was not particularly concerned about signing a new deal before the end of the season.

“I’m very comfortable going into the season with a year remaining,” Kerr said. “I very much agree with this [general manager] mike [Dunleavy] And [owner] Who [Lacob]. We talked about this – there is no reason for discussion or concern. This is kind of the point in our relationship where we’ll see how it goes at the end of the year.

“I don’t expect any conversations during the season. Who knows — maybe it all comes up at some point, and they come up to me. But I’m not worried about it in the slightest. I don’t think about it. I just think it’s perfect for all of us.” [to wait]”

Through 61 games, the Warriors have a 31-30 record and are currently four games behind the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns and just 1.5 games ahead of the eighth-seeded LA Clippers. According to Positive Residual, the Warriors have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule, behind the Pelicans, Blazers and Suns.

The Portland Trail Blazers face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night and Deni Avdija is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable as he manages a lower back injury, putting the focus on Portland’s versatile forward as the team tries to end a two-game losing streak and maintain its position in the Western Conference play-in race.

The Blazers enter the matchup at 29-33, No. 10 in the West. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies sit at 23-37, No. 11 in the conference and are hoping to bounce back after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. With both teams placing an emphasis on pace at the end of the season, Avdija’s availability becomes even more important.

Avdija has emerged as one of Portland’s most important contributors this season. Over the course of 48 games, he is averaging 24.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. He’s also converting 34.1 percent from three-point range and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the forward contributes 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, making an impact on both ends of the floor.

When Avdija is on the floor, the Blazers operate with more balance and play. His ability to facilitate offense while attacking the rim adds another dimension to Portland’s attack and helps stabilize the lineup during key stretches.

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Deni Avdija Injury Status vs. Deni Avdija Grizzlies

Several other names are included on the Blazers’ injury report. Jason Kent and Caleb Love are out on two-way deals, while Shaddon Sharp is sidelined with a left fibula stress reaction. The injury report also lists Damian Lillard out due to left Achilles tendon injury management. Hansen Yang is also out on two-way assignment.

As for Memphis, the Grizzlies’ injury report has not yet been submitted.

Still, Avdija’s status remains the most important storyline for Portland in the matchup. The Blazers will try to stop their recent decline and salvage their spot in the Western Conference play-in picture. Meanwhile, Memphis hopes to regroup after its recent loss.

So when the question comes whether Deni Avdija is playing tonight against the Grizzlies, the answer is uncertain. His final status will depend on pregame evaluation as Portland looks for another win.

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted a legitimate franchise building block last season, but they’ll be without him for at least their next game. According to Kyle Newbeck of PHLY Sports, VJ Edgecombe has been confirmed with a back injury, and will be ruled out of the 76ers’ upcoming game against the Utah Jazz.

The good news for 76ers fans is that the injury suffered by VJ Edgecombe may not be that serious as he is expected to be reevaluated almost immediately before the 76ers face off against the Atlanta Hawks. They play against the Jazz on Wednesday, then have two days off before taking on the Hawks on Saturday.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Edgecombe has proven he is one of the team’s franchise centerpieces moving forward. Edgecombe was the frontrunner during the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend. He was named MVP of the event after scoring a total of 23 points in the round robin tournament.

He had the game-winning shot in the Rising Stars semifinals to send his team to the championship game, and then he made a pair of free-throws to seal the victory in the title game.

This season, Edgecombe has appeared in 57 games, all starts, averaging just over 35 minutes per game. He is averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from the 3-point line and 80.1 percent from the free-throw line.

The 76ers are currently fighting for position in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 33-28 and are in sixth place in the standings.

Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said it would be surprising if star guard Stephen Curry was forced to miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

The Warriors’ season continued with a 114–101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, giving Golden State a 31–30 loss and its second consecutive loss. Curry has not played since January 30 with what the team calls “runner’s knee”, creating uncertainty over the timeline of his return.

In a report published Wednesday by Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, Dunleavy addressed the possibility of Curry being sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Dunleavy said, “It would be very surprising to me; very, very surprising.” “But I’m not ruling anything out. I’m not a doctor and things can happen a certain way. I don’t want the headline to be, ‘Steph could be done for the year’ because I’m not ruling it out. But just because he’s not playing right now, I just have to accept that yes, definitely, there’s a chance. But we don’t expect it.”

Stephen Curry continues rehab as Warriors monitor timeline of knee injury

Curry last appeared on January 30 in the Warriors’ 131–124 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The 37-year-old finished that game with 23 points, two assists, one rebound and one block in 25 minutes. He shot 7 of 16 from the field, 4 of 10 from 3-point range, and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Despite missing time, Curry remains one of the league’s most productive scorers this season. Through 39 games, he has averaged 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 46.8% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc, and 93.1% from the free-throw line. He has logged 31.3 minutes per contest.

The Warriors provided a medical update on Sunday that indicated Curry was continuing to progress.

“The re-evaluation concluded that Curry is making continued progress. He will be re-evaluated in 10 days,” the team said.

Additional reporting suggests the Warriors remain cautious about their franchise cornerstone as the regular season enters its final stretch.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported Tuesday:

“While the expectation was that Curry would return to the court after the All-Star break, the reality of his situation is that he was still dealing with right knee issues, which led to him taking more rest and the Warriors doing more imaging on his knee, which came back clean. Although he’s been doing little behind the scenes, Steph still has to go through full, comprehensive workouts on the court.”

Curry aims to return before playoffs amid Warriors’ cautious approach

Seagal continued:

It will be important for Steph to be available for the play-in tournament, as this will ensure he is 100 percent healthy for whoever they face in the first round playoff series.

That’s why there’s no rush to get him back, and that’s why sources say he’ll be back as soon as possible, but he’s unlikely to return until after this date, the beginning of the Warriors’ six-game road trip against the New York Knicks on Sunday, March 15.

To be completely honest, it might be in the Warriors and Curry’s best interest to put things off indefinitely until after this road trip, as seven of the Dubs’ final 10 games of the season will be in San Francisco. The Warriors have time on their hands as they aren’t moving anywhere in the play-in standings, which is why Steph’s return doesn’t really make sense right now.

As of right now, there have been no conversations about the Warriors ruling Curry out for the remainder of the season, and sources said, he specifically wants to return before the playoffs to try to build some momentum for this team.

For now, Golden State will attempt to stop its decline in the Western Conference standings without its star guard. The Warriors are currently in eighth place in the conference as they begin a three-game road trip starting Thursday against the Houston Rockets at 4:30 p.m. PT on Prime Video.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury is nothing short of a medical miracle. Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the Celtics’ second-round matchup against the New York Knicks in the 2025 playoffs. Injuries typically keep players from recovering from a full season, but Tatum is determined.

Videos have surfaced of the six-time All-Star doing vigorous workouts, and NBC even produced a miniseries highlighting his recovery journey. It appears he is ready to take the court again this week, as he is set to make his highly anticipated return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum’s return adds to the unprecedented season the Celtics spent without their star. The Celtics are currently second in the East at 41–20, as many NBA fans and forecasters believe that they will not be true contenders without Tatum being active on the roster. Jaylen Brown has emerged as a potential MVP contender and has added potential to the team.

While it’s certainly a plus that Tatum is returning to the lineup, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix believes Tatum will have to make a big adjustment to the team and emerge as Jaylen Brown’s first option.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as he has kept himself in the competitive conversation. But if Tatum returns to full strength, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA.

Playing 72 regular-season games last season, his averages were unimpressive: 26.8 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds per game, and shot 34% from three. Tatum has emerged as a star-level playmaker who can score and get buckets for his team.

While Jaylen Brown has stepped into his role, the addition of Jayson Tatum could be a scary proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets continued their dominance with a 117-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, becoming the only team in the NBA this season to record five consecutive wins by at least 15 points.

According to ClutchPoints, Charlotte’s latest setback capped a remarkable string of decisive wins during her recent surge. The Hornets have defeated five straight opponents by double-digit margins of at least 15 points, a feat no other team in the league has accomplished during the 2025–26 season.

The run included a 27-point win over the Mavericks, as well as 16-point wins against the Portland Trail Blazers, 24 points over the Indiana Pacers, 32 points against the Chicago Bulls, and 17 points against the Washington Wizards.

Charlotte’s recent success marks a dramatic change from earlier in the season. The Hornets were 13–25 after a close 114–112 loss to Indiana on January 8, a point that proved to be a turning point for the team.

Since that loss, Charlotte has improved in the standings, improving to 31–31 and climbing to ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Climbing back to the .500 mark represents the franchise’s first return to an even record since the opening week of the season, when the Hornets started 2–2 before a 144–117 loss to the Miami Heat on October 28.

The Hornets have won 5 consecutive games by 15+ points

+27 vs. Mavs
+16 vs Trail Blazers
+24 vs pacers
+32 vs Bulls
+17 vs magician

They are the only NBA team to accomplish this feat this season. pic.twitter.com/z9ssRCFDOL

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

Hornets look to extend streak of dominance against Celtics

The recent streak has been fueled by strong defense and balanced scoring, which has allowed Charlotte to consistently pull away from opponents and maintain control in the second half of games. The Hornets’ ability to string together several solid wins in a row has established them as one of the hottest teams in the league entering the final stretch of the regular season.

Charlotte will look to build on its momentum Wednesday night when it travels to face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

Boston enters the matchup with momentum. The Celtics (41-20) have won three straight games, including a 108-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from a lengthy calf injury.

With both teams on winning streaks, Wednesday’s contest will give Charlotte another chance to extend its historic win streak, as well as continue its lead in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Golden State Warriors received an encouraging update about Kristaps Porzingis as the team prepares to begin a three-game road trip Thursday against the Houston Rockets.

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Porzingis is traveling to Houston with the Warriors, indicating a positive step toward recovery from his recent illness that has sidelined him in recent games.

“Kristaps Porzingis is traveling to Houston with the Warriors today, I’m told. No word yet on his playing status for the next three (Rockets, Thunder, Jazz), but notable progress since stopping on the last road trip. He’s missed the last five games due to general illness,” Slater wrote Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Porzingis has been unavailable for Golden State’s last five games due to what the team described as a general illness. His appearance on the trip suggests he is close to a potential return, although the Warriors have not confirmed whether he will play during upcoming games.

The 30-year-old joined the Warriors earlier this season after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the February deadline. Golden State acquired the versatile big man in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.

Kristaps Porzingis nears potential return as Warriors begin road trip

Porzingis made his Warriors debut on February 19 in a 121–110 loss to the Boston Celtics. In that game, he recorded 12 points, one rebound, one assist and one block while shooting 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc in 17 minutes.

In 18 games this season, including 12 starts, Porzingis is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range while playing 23.9 minutes per contest.

Golden State enters the road trip with a 31–30 record as it attempts to stabilize its position in the Western Conference standings. After Thursday’s game against Houston, the Warriors are scheduled to face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz before returning home.

Nine years into his NBA career, Bam Adebayo’s defensive impact remains undeniable. The Miami Heat star’s defensive abilities were on full display during Tuesday’s blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Adebayo equaled his career high with six steals and added a block as Miami held Brooklyn to 98 points on 33-of-86 (38.4 percent) shooting. After the performance, the 28-year-old was asked if being left off last year’s All-Defense team served as motivation this season.

“I think people get tired of seeing continuity. It gets boring when you see someone do it over and over again,” Adebayo replied. “But at the same time, as I’ve grown up in this league, the norms have changed. You have guys who are making it who aren’t making the playoffs; they’re at the bottom of the league in record. You’re seeing some crazy things now. I don’t know if it’s just voter fatigue, but I’m always going to be first-team All-Defense. That’ll never change. It doesn’t matter what the voters say. My teammates know that. I can have moments like that. Where I can steal six times, where I have the most plus-minus, that side will never change.

Adebayo was selected Second Team All-Defense for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 before receiving his first first-team selection in 2024. After being left out of last year’s team, he anchored a Miami defense that ranks fourth in the NBA this season.

Bam Adebayo sets the record straight on his place in the NBA’s defensive hierarchy

The Heat have posted a 110.65 defensive rating during Adebayo’s minutes. According to CleaningTheGlass, he allows 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions on the court versus off, the sixth-largest defensive rating swing among Big 20 players who have played more than 1,500 minutes.

“He creates an atmosphere,” Erik Spoelstra said of Adebayo’s impact. “In that first quarter [against the Nets]I think he had four steals, and then he had a couple blocks. In the first half, our defense really came out strong. And those are two really good defensive plays, back to back. Our defense has been good all year, but we really need to step up to a higher level to finish out this regular season.

The Heat are struggling to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are separated by half a game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

New Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter continues to make big changes to the organization’s basketball and business operations department, and he made another change to his new staff on Wednesday.

Following the hiring of Lon Rosen as the Lakers’ new President of Business Operations a few weeks ago, Walter and the organization announced on Wednesday that Michael Spetsner has been named the new Chief Strategy and Development Officer.

Spetsner has spent the last decade of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Business Strategy and Analytics for the organization. Working with Walter for the Dodgers, Spetsner played a key role in identifying commercial opportunities for the franchise, implementing new business models for rights holders, and modernizing the fan ecosystem.

In this newly created role with the Lakers, Spetsner will lead the organization’s long-term business strategy to drive value and identify international growth opportunities.

“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers’ legacy and look to the future to see what’s next,” Rosen said in the team’s press release. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”

This role designed for Spetsner appears to be a continuation of what he was doing with the Dodgers, as he did a lot of work with international engagement and led L.A.’s efforts to launch a Japan-based fan club. He was also instrumental in helping create a massive museum-style exhibit in Tokyo to celebrate the Dodgers’ history and global appeal.

The Lakers announced the hiring of Spetsner just one week after adding former NCAA champion and Virginia basketball head coach Tony Bennett as the organization’s new NBA Draft advisor.

In this role, Bennett will play a key role alongside executive Rob Pelinka in the Lakers’ decisions during and before the draft, assisting with player evaluation, scouting and the final decision on who the organization should select.

As far as Pelinka’s role in leading the team is concerned, Walter and Rosen have made it clear that they do not want to make any changes to the executive’s position and ability to usher in a new era of success for the Lakers.

“I just run the business side, Rob has the authority to do what he does,” Rosen said, via ESPN. “Look, I have a great relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka since he was representing Kobe [Bryant]. I met him many, many years ago.”

Since purchasing the Lakers from Jenny Buss and her family, Walter has continued to position this historic organization for success by making key decisions on the business side of basketball. Spetsner is the latest name to join this newly revamped staff, which features plenty of faces who have turned the Dodgers into MLB’s marquee powerhouse.

Walter aims to do the same in the NBA with the Lakers.