分類: 综合

Former NBA center Kendrick Perkins criticized Steve Kerr following the Golden State Warriors’ decision to trade Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Road Trippin’ Show, Perkins questioned Kerr’s confidence in Kuminga’s ability after the 23-year-old’s strong debut in Atlanta.

“We knew Jonathan Kuminga’s ceiling was high. Steph Curry knew it, Draymond Green knew it, Jimmy Butler knew it. The only guy who didn’t believe it was Steve Kerr.”

The Warriors dealt Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis, a move that reshaped Golden State’s roster as it attempts to remain competitive in the Western Conference. Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, had shown flashes of his athleticism and scoring ability during his time with Golden State, but often played up-and-down minutes within Kerr’s rotation.

Since joining the Hawks, Kuminga has provided immediate production. Through three games – including one start – he is averaging 21.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.7 minutes per contest. He has shot 67.7% from the field, 55.6% from three-point range and 77.3% from the free-throw line during that period.

Jonathan Kuminga’s fast start with Hawks prompts scrutiny of Warriors’ decision

Atlanta has won all three games with Kuminga in the lineup, highlighted by a 135-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. The Hawks improved to 31–31 on the season and are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Perkins’ comments show that several prominent Warriors, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, believed in Kuminga’s rise. His comments defined the trade as a missed opportunity for Golden State to further develop the youth within their system.

Meanwhile, the Warriors (31-30) have suffered two consecutive losses, including a 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday after blowing a 17-point lead. Golden State continues to search for stability as it slips in the Western Conference standings.

As Kuminga has had early success in Atlanta, the trade has drawn renewed scrutiny, with Perkins openly questioning whether Kerr had maximized the forward’s role before the organization moved on.

As the San Antonio Spurs (43-17) prepare to conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (33-27) on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, center Luke Cornette reiterated his criticism of the Atlanta Hawks’ association with the Magic City.

Cornette addressed the controversy while speaking with Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc following Tuesday’s shooting. His comments come a day after he publicly objected to the Hawks’ planned “Magic City Night” promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

“I actually saw the statement just last week, the Hawks’ announcement and as far as the point that you have the public voice, I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of others in the NBA. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that that part of the discussion is expressed and that it includes criticizing people and things like that – that’s part of the process that white people may be hesitant to do but I think really trying to start a conversation and be able to do that.

He continued:

“It’s important to help make sure everyone in the league is ready to be represented and has an environment like you want.”

Cornette’s renewed comments follow backlash after he first expressed concerns about the Hawks’ partnership. On Monday, he elaborated in a post on Medium, where he directly called on the organization to cancel the event.

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night collaboration celebrating the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. “In their press release, Hawks failed to acknowledge that this location is, as the business itself claims, ‘Atlanta’s premiere strip club.’ Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Luke Kornet says NBA, Hawks haven’t contacted him amid Magic City controversy

Asked whether the league moved forward after his initial statement, Cornette said:

“Not really after that. I talked to a few people in the league first, just to see what the status of it was, to make sure it was up to date on the situation.”

He said the Hawks have not contacted him.

“No, I didn’t.”

The Hawks’ collaboration has attracted widespread attention, including public support from former guard Lou Williams. While Atlanta has not indicated any changes to its plans, Cornette’s comments add another layer to the broader conversation surrounding the event.

San Antonio will now turn their attention back to the court as they prepare to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and look to bounce back from a 114-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Cornette made headlines when he took to his blog to speak out against the Atlanta Hawks’ recently announced partnership with adult entertainment venue Magic City for an upcoming game. Now, Golden State Warriors big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, has weighed in on the conversation.

“Luke is right,” Horford, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his blog post. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”

Horford was a member of the Atlanta Hawks when they hosted the Tinder “Swipe Right” during the 2015 season, which marked the beginning of a brand partnership for the team that many might not have expected from an NBA organization.

So far, there is no indication that the NBA or the Hawks will come forward and follow Kornet’s advice by discontinuing the promotion, which is scheduled for a home game against the Orlando Magic later this month.

The Hawks have advertised Magic City sweatshirts as part of the celebration, and ticket sales for the game skyrocketed as a result of the announcement.

Cornette’s blog post sparked a widespread discussion on social media about the adult entertainment industry as a whole and whether or not family-friendly organizations like the NBA should be associated with it.

Meanwhile, some have called on Cornette to raise the issue but not speak out about the NBA’s partnerships with gambling companies and other equally less savory organizations.

It remains to be seen whether anything will happen as a result of Cornette’s requests.

The Atlanta Hawks essentially hit the reset button when they traded franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Washington Wizards at the deadline. It’s clear they plan to build around their youth like rising star Jalen Johnson. And their other deadline trade for Jonathan Kuminga solidifies their direction. According to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the name of the game for the Hawks is to identify potential young talent, which they hope to do with the signing of Keyshawn Gilbert to a two-way contract roster spot.

With the Hawks signing Keyshawn Gilbert, all three two-way contract spots on their roster have been filled. The Hawks had an open spot after converting Caleb Houston’s two-way to a standard deal. Gilbert joins Christian Koloko and Raze Dennis as the Hawks’ two-way contract players.

Gilbert is on a new term with the Wizards as part of a 10-day contract. During that period, he appeared in three games, at a rate of approximately 16 minutes per game. He averaged 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from 2-point range and 100 percent from the free-throw line.

His best game came in his first game with the Wizards, even though they lost to the Brooklyn Nets. He finished with a well-rounded stat line of four points, three rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots in a little over 28 minutes. He went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Gilbert joined the Wizards for training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract. He was waived before the start of the season, and was playing for their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go’s.

The Houston Rockets have been up and down lately, currently sitting at 38-22 after a recent narrow road win over the Washington Wizards. The Rockets’ solid roster construction has allowed them to survive despite playing without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams for most of this year.

Roster construction has been a topic of debate in the NBA in recent years, with various cap restrictions and aprons making it difficult for teams to assemble truly effective squads.

However, one person who is a fan is Rockets star Kevin Durant.

“Thank God for the second apron and the first apron,” Durant said, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press via The Washington Post.

“We wanted some parity and I think that’s exactly what we’ve gotten over the last few years,” he said. “I mean, it’s fun for everybody watching the game, not knowing who will be there at the end of the season. And as a team, it gives you the confidence to know that even if you don’t play your best ball right now, nobody really is. … Teams are trying to figure out what lineups they want to use, (after) trades, all that stuff, so it’s a fun time to be in the league.”

Ironically, Durant’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors was a large part of the reason why the league had so much incentive to implement a second apron, as Golden State had dominated the league for the three years he was in the Bay Area.

However, now, many would argue that the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction, with teams seeking smart roster construction essentially being penalized by not being able to keep their core together, even if they are all homegrown.

In any case, the Rockets next face off on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors.

In recent memory, many have compared Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green to NBA legend Dennis Rodman. The reason for this is his aggressive play on the court and his controversial actions and statements outside the court. Rodman himself once said that Green is the only player in the NBA who reminds him of him.

However, according to ScoopB.com, Green is not at all among those who try to compare him to Rodman. He told sports media personality Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that he found these comparisons “lazy”.

“People always make comparisons between you and Dennis Rodman and I don’t think that’s fair,” Robinson said.

“It’s not fair to the way Rodman came back to basketball,” Green said. “Dennis Rodman was one of the most elite rebounders we’ve seen in this league, and I think it’s unfair to make comparisons between us.”

Green is playing his 13th season in the NBA. All those years were spent with the warriors. During this time, he helped lead Golden State to four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022). In 2017, Green was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Additionally, he is a four-time NBA All-Star.

Overall, the comparisons to Rodman come from his high-octane defensive effectiveness. Sometimes, the presence of both can be destabilizing on the floor. Rodman was recognized as the premier rebounder of his era, but was not much of an offensive threat. Green, meanwhile, is regarded more as a playwright.

Still, the two will be forever linked, whether justified or not.

The Memphis Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, and standout rookie Cedric Coward is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Coward is battling a knee injury and has missed the team’s last seven games. Here’s everything we know about Cedric Coward’s injury and his playing status heading into the Grizzlies’ game against the Timberwolves.

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Cedric Coward’s injury status vs. Timberwolves

Given that Cedric Coward was officially listed as questionable on the NBA’s injury report, any firm update on his status against the Timberwolves won’t come until just before the game begins. At times when players are doubtful, playing time is decided after seeing how they feel during warm-ups.

This has been a season that has gone relatively south for the Grizzlies. Their intention to essentially hit the reset button was made clear after their decision to trade one of their franchise cornerstones in Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz.

But amid a disappointing season, Coward has been a bright spot for the team. He was selected to participate in the Rising Stars program at All-Star Weekend, but was ruled out due to a knee injury.

Coward has appeared in 48 games, including 35 starts, averaging a little over 26 minutes per game. He is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range.

When it comes to whether Cedric Coward will play tonight against the Timberwolves, the answer is to wait until game time.

grizzlies injury report

-Santi Aldama doubtful (right knee injury management)
-Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out (recovering from surgery on right fifth finger)
-Brandon Clarke out (right calf strain)
-Cedric Coward doubtful (right knee sprain)
-Jack Eddy out (stress reaction on left ankle)
-Taj Gibson out (return on competition recovery)
-T Jerome doubtful (left thigh injury)
-Ja Morant out (left elbow sprain)

timberwolves injury report

-Enrique Freeman (G League Two-Way)
-Zion Pullin (G League Two-Way)
-Rocco Zikarski (G League Two-Way)

On Tuesday evening, the Denver Nuggets got back into the win column with a narrow road win over the Utah Jazz. Nikola Jokic once again filled the stat sheet in this one, scoring 22 points with 12 rebounds and five assists in the win.

There was a controversial moment late in the game when Jazz guard Keyonte George was attempting to box out Jokic on a free throw rebound, after which Jokic essentially took a piggyback ride, causing both players to fall to the floor, and drawing outrage from fans in attendance.

Nikola Jokic and Keyontae George tangled in the box out. 🤣

(h/t @CourtsideBuzzX)

pic.twitter.com/YCk7a5XdAx

– Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) 3 March 2026

After the game, Jazz coach Will Hardy spoke about the difficult challenge of keeping the Joker in control, especially with smaller players like George.

“There are some other teams in the league that have defended [Nikola] With the little things and it’s about trying to wear him down, make the catch difficult… If you know a good coverage for Jokic, please email me,” Oh No He Didn’t on X, Hardy previously said on Twitter.

Some fans on social media termed this drama as dirty. Making matters more ironic was the fact that Jokic was involved in another brawl the previous week against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when Oklahoma City forward Lou Dort attempted a blatant cheap shot by going past Jokic’s legs while jogging on the court, leading to a heated altercation between the two teams and Dort being ejected.

Meanwhile, through the many chaotic plays he has been involved in recently, Jokic is getting back to his MVP form after a bit of a slow start as he recently returned from a knee injury that sidelined him for a month.

The Nuggets currently sit at 38-24 on the season. They will next take the field on Thursday evening in a home match against the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers moved closer to the .500 mark with a convincing win over the Golden State Warriors after outscoring the Dubs by 15 points in the fourth quarter. This game marked the Clippers debut of point guard Darius Garland, who came off the bench and scored 12 points with two assists in 23 minutes of action.

After the game, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for the performance the young guard brought to the table.

“Number one, just competitive nature…we’re looking for him to get involved, get him some shots, push the transition pace for us, and just get everybody involved and call sets so we don’t get stagnant at times. I think he’s capable of doing that. He’s an All-Star player. I’m just looking forward to playing more basketball with him,” Leonard said, according to former Joe Lynn on Twitter.

Garland was brought to the Clippers after the team surprisingly traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before the deadline.

The 26-year-old has been a two-time All-Star in the NBA, although injury concerns have unfortunately become a major part of the story of his career in recent years, and Los Angeles will hope those concerns subside for the rest of this season and beyond.

While he may not be as adept at making plays as Harden, Garland is still a capable distributor capable of creating his own offense off the dribble, as well as a solid catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc.

All of these tools make him a good fit next to Leonard in Los Angeles, even if the team further depleted their roster at the deadline by sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.

The Clippers next face Indiana on Wednesday evening.

The Golden State Warriors suffered a 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, an area that is hurting the team as they remain without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. While the Warriors wait for Curry’s injury to heal, the team is trying to somewhat keep the ship afloat, but they face another dilemma as it involves Draymond Green.

The non-Green minutes on Monday night were crucial for Los Angeles to come back strongly and take control of the game in the final 17 minutes of the game. Without Green’s defensive ability to keep players like Kawhi Leonard and others in check, the Clippers outscored Golden State 53-30 in a span of nearly 17 minutes.

However, the dilemma is Green’s minutes, as he turns 36 on Wednesday, his minutes are now subject to monitoring. He’s averaging 26.7 minutes per game as he played 31 minutes on Monday, marking the 11th time he’s scored more than 31 in 50 games this season.

Warriors’ Steve Kerr on Draymond Green’s minutes

The problem is compounded by the Warriors not having Curry, the team now has to figure out how to compensate in this area, although it goes without saying how important Green is.

“He’s still one of the great defenders in the league,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. “And they set the tone in that first half, and we were able to keep the lead for most of the third quarter. But they took the lead late in the third quarter, and got it down to two going into the fourth.”

“But we had to take him out. He can’t play the whole game. And he played 31 minutes, which is a lot for him at this level,” Kerr added.

During that aforementioned stretch, the Warriors lost their 16-point lead and trailed by 17 points in the final frame. At any rate, Golden State looks to bounce back with its next game on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets.

On Monday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a blowout loss at home to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors controlled the game for most of the season, but fell behind in the fourth quarter, trailing by 15 in the final frame and losing the game 114–101.

Now, things have gone from bad to worse with some tough news on the injury front regarding shooting guard Moses Moody.

Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter, “According to Steve Kerr, Moses Moody jammed his right wrist and hurt his shoulder.” “The Warriors will know more about his condition tomorrow.”

It’s a tough break for a Warriors team that was already weakened from an injury perspective, with Stephen Curry out for most of the last month with a knee injury, and Jimmy Butler already out for the year with a torn ACL.

Moody is enjoying a good season for the Warriors, hovering around 40 percent from beyond the arc throughout the campaign, and he’ll certainly be hoping these injuries aren’t too serious.

Currently, the Warriors are 31-30 on the season, and if the regular season ended today, they would be in the Western Conference play-in tournament for the third consecutive year.

Making matters more frustrating for Golden State is that recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team brought in from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga, has played just one game for the team as he battled an illness.

Kuminga, meanwhile, has had a great start to his tenure in Atlanta.

In any case, the Warriors next face off on Thursday evening when they hit the road to take on the Houston Rockets.

Last season, Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn was denied the honor for his defensive efforts. However, his efforts this season are being rewarded by teammates Kawhi Leonard and Darrisu Garland.

According to Clippers beat writer Joey Lynn, Leonard, in particular, is campaigning for Dunn to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

“He’s been very good all year, even last year, I think he should definitely be First Team All-Defense this year. I’m not sure what the requirements are, I know he didn’t make it last year because of minutes or something like that. Hopefully he’s hitting those minutes because he’ll definitely get First Team or Second Team. I think he definitely should, the way I’m watching him play last year and this year.” “I am.”

According to The Athletic’s Law Murray, on Monday, Leonard and Garland reiterated their conviction that Dunn is worthy of such an honor.

“Should be first team all-around defense this year,” Leonard said.

“KD – just a beast,” Garland said.

Talked to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland about Kris Dunn last night

Kawhi: “Must be first team on all defense this year”

DG: “KD – just a beast” pic.twitter.com/FOs8VeE8Gd

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 3 March 2026

The Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 114–101. Overall, Dunn finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Additionally, he also recorded two thefts.

Meanwhile, Leonard led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, Garland finished the game with 12 points in his debut with the Clippers.

As a result, the Clippers are 29-31.

Dunn currently has a defensive rating of 107.1. He is known for having a similar defensive presence. During the 2024–25 season, Dunn consistently averaged 3.3 steals a game.

Additionally, Dunn is posting his highest defensive rating of 114.0 so far from the 2021-22 season.

As Darius Garland made his debut for the Los Angeles Clippers in a 114-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, the star spoke after an outing that was highly anticipated. With Garland coming off the bench for the Clippers in his debut, there is no denying the work he needs to do to refine himself after missing significant time.

In the win, Garland recorded 12 points on four of nine shooting from the field, two of seven from three-point range, to go with two assists and two rebounds, while committing five turnovers. Garland would say that his debut was focused on “adjusting” to his new surroundings.

“Just getting adjusted,” Garland said, according to The Athletic’s Law Murray. “Getting adjusted to L.A., getting to know the people. Getting to know the staff, everyone around the organization, and just trying to get back to me… Yeah, man, it’s definitely good to be out there with the people. Especially getting a win, my first win with the Clips. It’s a blessing.”

🆕 @athletic

Darius Garland came off the bench in a month-long Clippers debut. The Clippers were down by 17 and Garland’s first minutes were very bad

And then Garland started playing with Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn. Beginning of PG in GS inside DG 👉🏾 pic.twitter.com/0ncau2yjYu

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 3 March 2026

Darius Garland’s Clippers debut gets off to a great start

While a toe injury kept Garland from making his Clippers debut since he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal involving James Harden, he was rough to start, even drawing major attention from the Warriors on defense.

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to get blitzed after a month off,” Garland said, via Murray. “But Steve Kerr always had something up his sleeve.”

After playing more minutes, it was noticeable that the 26-year-old was becoming more comfortable, with Garland even saying he believed the “cobwebs” had been removed.

“That second half, that’s when it really started,” Garland said. “KD [Kris Dunn] Came inside, some big thefts took place. Jordan [Miller] …Yanic [Konan Niederhauser] Played your butt. and ‘whi [Kawhi Leonard] There’s definitely going to be a ‘whi’.

Garland will look to further improve as the remainder of Los Angeles’ season progresses, with the next game coming on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers, as the team currently holds a 29-31 record.

The Dallas Mavericks face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night and Cooper Flagg is once again at the center of the injury report. Flagg is listed as questionable due to a medial left hamstring sprain suffered during the February 10 game against the Phoenix Suns. The standout rookie has missed the last seven games, and his potential return remains uncertain as Dallas prepares for Charlotte.

The Mavericks enter the season 21-39, ranked No. 12 in the West, trying to snap a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Hornets are 10th in the East and are aiming to continue their four-match winning streak. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Cooper Flagg and his playing status against the Hornets.

Flagg has been one of the few bright spots for the Mavericks this season. Through 49 games, he has averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the line. He logs over 34 minutes per night and carries a heavy offensive load. When he plays, the Mavericks operate with better pace and spacing.

Cooper Flagg Injury Status vs. Hornets

The Mavericks’ injury report makes Flagg’s availability especially important as Dallas looks to halt their decline in the Western Conference standings. Multiple players are listed as out or questionable, reducing the margin for error if the flag is not appropriate.

With several rotation pieces missing or limited, Dallas faces a tough challenge against a Hornets team running on pace. His absence will leave the Mavericks without their primary offensive engine.

Charlotte is entering with confidence after recording four consecutive wins. The Hornets will look at this matchup as an opportunity to continue climbing in the East by taking advantage of a struggling opponent. Had Flagg played, the game could have also included an interesting Rookie of the Year subplot against fellow contender Kon Knueppel.

For Dallas, this game is about stopping the bleeding. For Charlotte, it’s about keeping the momentum going. And at the center of it all is Flagg’s healing left leg.

So when it comes to the question of whether Cooper Flagg is playing tonight against the Hornets, the answer now leans towards ‘no’. His designation is doubtful. Dallas can remain cautious as he works his way back from a midfoot sprain.

mavericks injury report

Marvin Bagley III: Outside (neck sprain)

Moussa Sissay: Suspicious (two-way player)

Cooper Flag: Suspicious (Sprain on left center front)

Kyrie Irving: Outside (left knee surgery)

Derek Lively II: Outside (left leg surgery)

Nazi Marshall: Outside (injury in right finger)

Caleb Martin: potential (lower back pain)

John Polakidas: Suspicious (two-way player)

Tyler Smith: Suspicious (two-way player)

Clay Thompson: Suspicious (right adductor fusion)

PJ Washington: Suspicious (sprained left ankle)

hornet injury report

Tosan Avbuoman: Outside (two-way player)

PJ Hall: Outside (two-way player)

Liam McNeely: Outside (on assignment)

Antonio Reeves: Outside (two-way player)

Coby White: Outside (Left Calf Injury Management)

Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings will face each other on Tuesday night. Devin Booker is dealing with a hip injury. Is Sans Tara playing tonight?

On February 21, it was reported that Booker would miss at least a week of action. It’s been over 10 days now, so is Booker ready to return? Here’s everything we know about Devin Booker’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Kings.

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Devin Booker’s injury status vs. Kings

Booker is not listed on the NBA injury report. Barring any potential setbacks, Booker is expected to be available against the Kings.

Phoenix will enter the game with a 34-26 record. The Suns are in seventh place in the Western Conference standings. The Kings are 14-48 and in last place in the West.

Phoenix is ​​in a good position to pick up a win. Booker’s expected return further reinforces that statement.

When it comes to the question of whether Devin Booker is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is yes.

sans injury report

With Devin Booker available, the Suns have four players listed on the injury report.

• Khaman Malooch (right thumb sprain): Out
• Dillon Brooks (fractured left hand): Out
• Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain): out

Kings injury report

There are injury reports for six Kings players.

• Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair): outside
• Zach LaVine (left 5th finger tendon repair): out
• Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain): out
• De’Andre Hunter (retinal repair of left eye): out
• Keegan Murray (sprained left ankle): Out
• Isaiah Stevens (G League Two-Way): Out

The Washington Wizards have gone full force in their tanking efforts this season, with trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis both out of the lineup due to apparent injuries. Young was brought to the team by the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with the hope that he, Davis and a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 NBA Draft vault would put Washington into contention next year.

Recently, NBA insider Marc Stein provided the latest information on when Young could potentially return from injury, as well as the status of his contract extension with the Wizards.

“Washington has said Young is moving toward making his Wizards debut at some point before the regular season ends, but there remains doubt in various corners of the league as to whether it will actually happen this season,” Stein reported on his Substack.

Stein also reported that “I have been repeatedly advised that Young and the Wizards agree to a contract extension this summer, which has been widely speculated to be a three-year deal.”

A big reason for the Hawks trading Young was believed to be around Atlanta’s reluctance to sign the star to a contract extension last offseason, a decision that reportedly alienated Young from the franchise that traded for him on draft night in 2018.

Young has only played a handful of games for the Hawks this year, missing significant time with an MCL sprain and has yet to make his debut for the Wizards this season.

The Wizards are one of several teams with their eyes on the 2026 NBA Draft class, and playing with Young this season could potentially hurt their chances of landing one of the top picks.

In any case, the Wizards are set to take the field on Monday evening for a home game against the Houston Rockets.

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s difficult to say when Kristaps Porzingis will return to the field for the Golden State Warriors.

After debuting against the Boston Celtics, the Dubs’ trade deadline acquisition has missed the last five games due to an illness that the team has not publicly classified or defined, with details about what Porzingis specifically is doing remain sparse.

Before the Warriors’ game with the Los Angeles Clippers, coach Steve Kerr described the nature of Porzingis’ illness in non-descriptive terms.

“It’s a little mysterious,” Kerr told reporters. “We’re obviously working with him and hoping he can get some clarity, and he can kind of move forward and get to a point where he’s going to be consistently healthy. But it’s something the medical staff is working hard with him on, and, yes, I won’t even offer any theories now, any medical theories.”

The last part of Kerr’s answer stems from the confusion he caused regarding Porzingis’ illness when he said in a radio interview that his previous postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) diagnosis was “misinformation”, and that a different illness had forced him to miss a game for Atlanta last year.

Kerr later walked back those comments, and told reporters that what he said was a “stupid mistake” and that he regretted trying to talk about something he is not able to talk about professionally. Now, Kerr’s return doesn’t mean Porzingis’ current ailment is due to POTS. However, this creates a bleak picture about his condition, the nature of his illness and when he will return.

What we know about Porzingis’ situation

We know very little about Porzingis’ condition, as Kerr declined to share specific information about his condition. But what we do know is that Porzingis was able to practice on Friday of last week, when the Dubs returned from their quick two-game, back-to-back road trip. It was his first practice since falling ill, which seemed like an encouraging development ahead of their Saturday game with the Los Angeles Lakers.

But things apparently took a turn for the worse as he was ejected from the Lakers game the next day. And then today before the Clippers game, Porzingis was not at the Warriors’ shootaround this morning.

As for how he’s doing emotionally, Kerr said the two of them talked today.

“Spoke to him today. We had a good conversation and he’s OK,” Kerr shared. “I mean, he obviously wants to come back and wants answers. And we’re going to continue to support him.”

Despite this, this is a precarious situation for the Warriors as they were counting on him to get a boost after the trade deadline. They finally sealed the Jonathan Kuminga era and hope to turn over a new leaf with the size, skill and defense that Porzingis is capable of when fully healthy.

But he is not healthy. And while the Warriors made this trade knowing full well the risk, as Kerr and Mike Dunleavy have said publicly, it’s clear that the gamble hasn’t paid off at all so far.

For now, the Dubs will continue to monitor Porzingis’ health as uncertainty looms over his return date.

For a rookie point guard, the pace of the NBA game is often the biggest shock to the system. For the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans and phenomenal first-round pick Jeremiah Fears, the revelation has been learning when to hit the breaks. As the regular season ends, the 19-year-old says the most important knowledge he has gained in his first 60 games has been mastering the art of deception through speed.

That’s why Fears has spent the past several weeks exploiting his elite athleticism rather than highlighting it at every turn. At least that was the first thing to be said when asked why things were going well lately.

“Through my speed, playing with speed. I think two months ago, I was just trying to use my speed. Now it’s learning when to use my speed, when to attack and get downhill, attacking angles, attack spots, and knowing where you’re trying to get on the floor. I’m manipulating the defense,” Fears began. “I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job of it since the All-Star break. So, just continuing to learn, continuing to slow the game down and make the game a lot easier for myself.”

At the beginning of the season, Fiers often tried to dominate defenders with pure acceleration. While that approach sometimes produced highlight plays in transition, it also led to tough shots and hasty decisions in the half-court.

Veteran NBA defenses adjusted quickly, forcing rookie guards into competitive situations by sitting in driving lanes. The experience forced Fear to think about how he used his physical equipment. Instead of attacking at maximum speed on every possession, he has started to vary the pace and wait for defenders to shift before increasing the pace. The adjustments have helped them create a better look for everyone.

“That’s huge. Being able to pick and choose when you should use your speed is definitely huge because it will definitely trick the defense,” Fears said. “I’m fast, so most of the time they’ll be thinking, “Okay, he’s going to try to get down there.” So, they’ll be intimidated by my speed.”

Fear is forcing defenders into uncomfortable positions before they can properly set themselves up, creating more advantageous angles and open driving lanes than could be generated from raw speed alone. As the Pelicans play the final weeks of a challenging season, the speedster is focused on refining that balance. While his playmaking has evolved, the former Oklahoma player remains conscious of areas that need improvement.

“I’m just continuing to play with that speed and choose when I need to use my speed. Maybe on breaks or in plays where the defense turns heads, use my speed,” Fears explained. “The last few games, I’ve been turning over a little too much, so I definitely need to cut down on the turnovers. Watch a little extra film and make sure I continue to take care of the ball. Try not to have too many turnovers. At the end of the day, those turnovers can lead to some easy baskets that you can take and potentially open up games.”

The Pelicans can deal with rookie turnovers, as long as Fiers does not play a timid role, everything should fall into place moving forward. He is averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 36.1% from three-point range over the last eight games. This is one way to break the rookie wall while shuffling between the starting lineup and a bench role. But statistics don’t tell the whole story. What really matters is that his All-Rookie contributions to this point have displayed many franchise cornerstone characteristics.

On January 23, Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself suffering from a strained calf after the Milwaukee Bucks’ close loss against the Denver Nuggets. It was the second time this season that Antetokounmpo missed significant time with a calf strain and contributed to Milwaukee’s troubles early in the season.

But on Monday night, in a clash against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo returned to action. While the Bucks still couldn’t put up much of a fight against the red-hot Celtics, ultimately losing by 27 points, 108-81, the fact that Antetokounmpo returned to action and had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes of play is a good sign for Milwaukee — especially when, before the trade deadline, it looked like Giannis might have made his final appearance for Milwaukee in some time. Had played the game.

After the game, Antetokounmpo admitted to not making things After straining his body so hard, it all became easier for him, much to his and Bucks’ dismay.

“I’m just stubborn… I just have to be smart. I’m not old, but I’m definitely old. It’s tough when you deal with a lot of soft tissue injuries. I feel like I’ve been playing with losses all year,” Antetokounmpo said on Twitter (formerly @ohnohedidnt24) via Twitter.

Giannis on dealing with his injuries: “I’m just stubborn… I just have to be smarter. I’m not old, but I’m definitely bigger. It’s tough when you deal with a lot of soft tissue injuries. I feel like I’ve been playing with a deficit all year.” pic.twitter.com/ZnBlzi4IyN

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 3 March 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks face all-important crossroads

The Bucks being uncompetitive is very frustrating for Antetokounmpo, who wants to compete year after year. Milwaukee finally retained their franchise cornerstone, but it looks like his days with the team are numbered.

Milwaukee was so weak in its return game that only three players scored in double figures – Antetokounmpo, Ousmane Dieng and Bobby Portis. Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.’s outing was a nightmare. Even Giannis went 7-18 from the field – an uncharacteristically poor field goal percentage for him.

With the offseason now upon us, it’s now or never for the Bucks to try to convince the franchise’s all-time great player to stay.

Decades after his retirement from the NBA, Michael Jordan still has reason to celebrate, as 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick triumphed at Circuit of the Americas, winning the Duramax Texas Grand Prix. Along the way, Reddick became the first driver in Cup Series history to win the opening three races of a season.

Since the NASCAR Cup Series organization is co-owned by none other than MJ, it came with a congratulatory message from none other than Magic Johnson.

“I want to congratulate my friend Michael Jordan once again! His 23XI Racing team made NASCAR history by winning their third consecutive NASCAR race to start the 2026 season! 👏🏾” he wrote on X.

It was Reddick’s 11th career Cup win and second overall at COTA. He led a race-high 58 of the 95 laps, controlled the final restart on Lap 79, and defeated one of the field’s best road-course racers, Shane van Gisbergen, who was chasing his sixth consecutive road-course victory. The margin, 3.944 seconds, looked comfortable only on paper. For the first part of the final 16-lap green-flag run, Van Gisbergen was in striking distance of Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry before slowly pulling up the hill into Turn 1.

The win gave Reddick a solid 70-point lead over teammate Bubba Wallace. This means MJ’s 23XI Racing now has three full-time entries and is a legitimate championship contender.

Additionally, Redick’s post-game celebration, during which he raised three fingers, was a direct allusion to Jordan’s iconic NBA three-peat with the Chicago Bulls. Defending race winner Christopher Bell finished third.

Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five while Hendrick Motorsports fielded Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott in sixth and seventh. Regardless, this win shows the intent of 23XI Racing, which includes players like Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Riley Herbst (No. 35), and Reddick (No. 45).

The Denver Nuggets have had to deal with a never-ending avalanche of injury problems this season, and that has caused some difficulties throughout the 2025-26 season. On Monday night, the Nuggets found themselves in a surprisingly close game against a shorthanded Utah Jazz team that was without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen, and they needed a tough effort from Jamal Murray in the end to earn a 128-125 victory on the road.

The Nuggets had some trouble handling Keyontae George, who scored 36 points on the night. But Murray would say that the Nuggets were never really in danger, because he was the “threat” himself. He went 13-19 from the field and 8-13 from beyond the arc to demolish Utah’s defense for 45 points as he clarify That the Jazz were not going to walk away from this tournament with anything other than participation points.

“Just more decisive. Pushing my range a little bit. They were a switching team, so when I was open, [I had to] shoot it. That’s all we’ve been doing,” Murray told Katie Wing of Altitude Sports after the Nuggets’ win over the Jazz. “I’ve been practicing my whole life. I love getting a chance to show the shots I can make.”

Postgame with Jamal Murray who scored an efficient 45 in the Nuggets’ win over Utah pic.twitter.com/ee8ImTPVbK

– Katy Winge (@katywinge) 3 March 2026

Nuggets to get reinforcements soon

The Nuggets have not been healthy all season, but still, they have a healthy record of 38-24 which puts them in fifth place in the Western Conference.

The goal for Denver will always be to stay healthy because games really matter in the postseason, and it looks like they’re going to be getting reinforcements soon. The injuries of both Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson will be reevaluated soon, and Cam Johnson should have ample time to recover between now and the end of the season.

But as long as Murray and Nikola Jokic are healthy, the Nuggets can win every game. Now it’s just a matter of finding that rhythm, especially once their key players have recovered.

Washington, DC – The Washington Wizards began the last full calendar month of their season with a 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday night, and they are close to retaining their top-eight protected draft pick this summer. Furthermore, their young core has taken a step forward.

For example, rookie forward Will Riley talked about partner Rookie Trey Johnson’s rise after Saturday night’s 134-125 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Will Riley on Trey Johnson’s development this season:

“Obviously he’s an amazing player. He’s also a really good teammate, he wants to see guys succeed. He’ll always encourage guys, and he’ll also tell you what you’re doing wrong, which I appreciate as a teammate. He’s a… pic.twitter.com/YKxiFLD2Yc

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 1 March 2026

“Obviously he’s an amazing player. He’s also a really good teammate, he wants to see guys succeed,” the 20-year-old said. “He’ll always encourage guys, and he’ll also tell you what you’re doing wrong, which I appreciate as a teammate. He’s a great kid, has amazing work ethic. He’s always in the gym, always one of the last guys in there with me. Always competing…”

Riley may not have intended to compliment himself when he complimented Johnson, but he did when he noted that his partner was “one of the last guys.” [the gym] With me.” The “with me” part is the highlight of the statement, as it indicates equality between the two novices.

While the cliché about professional athletes working around the clock to get better is as old as time, the work ethic is yielding results for both players. Johnson ranks third among 2025 draftees with a 37.4 percent 3-point clip (minimum of five attempts per game), and Riley averaged 14.6 points on 47 percent shooting (37.5 percent 3-point) with 4.3 rebounds in 27.1 minutes in February, the first month in which he averaged more than 20 minutes.

Washington is on a losing streak this season, but these statistical achievements are long-term wins. They represent growth, as Riley shot 38.2 percent (31.8 percent 3-pointers) in January, and Johnson his playmaking improved From the beginning of the campaign.

Trey Johnson playmaking. pic.twitter.com/dO3qrXzjNM

– Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) 13 January 2026

Johnson was the Wizards’ reward for tanking last season, when they were led by veteran guard Jordan Poole and a rookie Alex Sarr. They received the No. 6 overall selection in the draft lottery, the lowest selection they would receive after finishing with the NBA’s second-worst record (18–64). They missed out on star prospects Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, but Johnson’s deadeye shooting and promising playmaking could make him a potential upper-tier player in his own right once he reaches his peak.

Meanwhile, acquiring Riley was the result of last season’s Marcus Smart trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis traded a 2025 lottery-protected first-round pick to Washington to absorb the unwanted salary of Smart, who moved up to the No. 18 overall selection after clinching a playoff berth by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 120–106 in their second play-in tournament game. The Wizards then moved up to No. 21 on draft night and selected Riley.

To increase their floor in the lottery and take advantage of cap space in trades, Washington added two building blocks to a young core that includes Sarr, second-year wing Keyshawn George, second-year guard Bub Carrington and third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly. In addition to developing those players this season, it acquired stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Young will make his Wizards debut on Thursday at home against the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, Washington is on track to retain their 2026 lottery pick as they have the NBA’s fourth-worst record (16-44) with 22 games remaining. It would have to finish with a bottom-four record to guarantee a selection in a class featuring superstar prospects like BYU’s AJ DiBuntsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’ Darin Peterson.

It’s been a tough road for long-suffering Wizards fans. The team has not had a winning season since 2017–18, and has finished bottom every year since general manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger took over in the 2023 offseason. But Washington will finally be ready to win next season, and it’s partly due to the development of Johnson and Riley.

Danny Wolf makes hilarious confession to Will Riley

Riley had a career day in Washington’s 127–113 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on February 7, scoring 27 points (10-19 FG, 4-6 3-point) with three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 45 minutes. The Wizards used an eight-man rotation full of backups, as it was in their best interests to lose against fellow bottom-feeders like the Nets, but the native Canadian’s performance was another step forward.

Brooklyn rookie Danny Wolf talked to ClutchPoints about the relay postgame.

I asked Nets rookie Danny Wolf for his thoughts on fellow rookie Will Riley, who scored a career-high 27 points for the Wizards today (thread):

“Obviously he’s a talented player. To his credit, he played 45 minutes tonight, which is not easy to do in the NBA…He has a lot of things to offer…” pic.twitter.com/f9kVJ2jwgB

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 7 February 2026

“Obviously he’s a talented player,” the former Michigan Wolverine said. “To his credit, he played 45 minutes tonight, which is not easy to do in the NBA… He has a lot of tools. He frustrated us when he was at Illinois. He’s a good player.”

Wolf was not lying, as Riley and the Fighting Illini defeated the Wolverines 93–73 on March 2, 2025. The latter averaged 13 points (6-12 FG, 0-4 3-point) with four rebounds and five assists and later won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Riley has shown his proficiency as a jumbo shot creator this season, and his improvement as a spot-up from long range bodes well for his future. The 6-foot-9, 180-pounder could stand to add some muscle, which would help him dominate inside defenders. But the Nets game and his general ascent in February showed what he can already do with extended playing time.

The Wizards have a road date with the Orlando Magic next Tuesday.

Nikola Jokic continues to rewrite the NBA record books at a pace that truly feels illegal. During the Denver Nuggets’ stunning 128-125 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night, the Serbian center officially tied the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mark, and he did it in almost halftime.

Entering the contest at the Delta Center, Jokic was just one game shy of breaking the record for most games with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in NBA history. After a hard-fought 36 minutes on the floor, he walked away with exactly 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. This performance is the 322nd 20/10/5 game of his career, which brings him level with the captain.

The most astonishing part of this achievement is not just the output, but also the efficiency. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar needed 1,560 games to set that mark. Jokic has reached this peak in only 792 games. While Jamal Murray made headlines on the night with a big 45-point explosion, including eight triples and the go-ahead free throw, Jokic’s steady hand kept the Nuggets afloat as they held off a late Jazz rally.

Despite the depleted roster, Utah didn’t make it easy. Keyonte George exploded for 36 points and nearly forced overtime, but Jokic remained composed under pressure. Despite five fouls late in the fourth quarter, he managed to secure the board and hit two clutch free throws with six seconds remaining to seal the win.

Denver has relied heavily on its superstars this season and Jokic has not disappointed. He currently leads the league in rebounds and assists, looking like the favorite for another MVP trophy. Now with the record tied, all eyes are on Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. If history is any indication, Jokic won’t be tied down for long.

The Denver Nuggets had quite a scare against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Monday. Luckily, Jamal Murray put on his superhero hat and led them to a hard-earned 128-125 win.

The Nuggets snapped their two-game skid and improved to 38–24, including 22–12 on the road.

Murray looked like a secret member of The Avengers, scoring 45 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 8 of 13 from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

his brilliant performance was not lost On Nuggets coach David Edelman, as shown in video posted by AltitudeTV.

“Jamal was really special. I mean, 45 points on 19 shots,” Edelman said.

“Jamal was really special. I mean, 45 points on 19 shots.”

Coach Edelman is reflecting on tonight’s win and Jamal Murray’s performance. 👇
Watch the full interview at https://t.co/FkAXlCYDGb pic.twitter.com/9wza1qSYym

– AltitudeTV (@AlteachTV) 3 March 2026

This was not the first time Edelman had praised Murray. When the prolific guard dropped a season-high 52 points in December, Edelman was adamant that Murray was “above average,” underscoring the fact that he is largely underappreciated by fans.

The 29-year-old Murray has had a stellar campaign, including earning his first nod to the All-Star Game. His pairing with Nikola Jokic remains one of the most lethal in the NBA, and the Nuggets will go as far as this pairing will take them.

Meanwhile, Edelman praised his players for maintaining composure despite a tough challenge from the Jazz, who lost 18–43.

“I don’t know, I think people judge wins these days. I don’t. Wins are wins. Losses are losses. We would have beaten OKC (Thunder) if (Alex) Caruso missed that three, we lost tonight, what’s the difference? We’re just trying to win, get ourselves to a good place. I’m proud of the guys for sticking with it. There was no nervousness,” Edelman said.

The Nuggets return to action on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The LA Clippers entered Monday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors hoping to win their second consecutive game. However, more importantly, the Clippers were preparing for the debut of new guard Darius Garland.

Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the NBA trade deadline in a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Cavs, Garland has been out since January 16 with a sprained right toe. After undergoing evaluation with his new team, the Clippers decided to hold Darius Garland out during the 2025 offseason due to some residual pain in his surgically repaired left foot.

The Clippers only had two games in the last week of February, giving them three practice days. Those days were used to scrimmage and push forward Darius Garland into five-on-five action with his new teammates.

With 3:20 remaining in the first half of his first game with the Clippers, Darius Garland came off the bench and scored his first bucket. Pull-up three-pointer Going left.

Darius Garland’s first basket as a member of the LA Clippers. pic.twitter.com/sMRLqhLBKg

– Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) 3 March 2026

Garland finished the first half with five points, one assist and three turnovers, while shooting 1-of-3 from the field, all three-pointers and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

The Warriors led 56-42 at halftime. Brandin Podziemski led the way for the Warriors with 20 points, four rebounds and one assist on 8 of 12 shooting from the field. Moses Moody was the only other player in the game in double-figure scoring with 10 points.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with eight points, five rebounds and two assists, while Kris Dunn added seven points and three rebounds.

The Houston Rockets earned a hard-earned 123-118 win against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Center on Monday, with Kevin Durant and Alpern Sengun doing most of the damage.

What was supposed to be a one-sided affair for the Rockets turned out to be a tight contest as the Wizards played hard with a scrappy group of role players.

However, Washington will finally get a star when Trae Young makes his debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Young missed most of the season due to an MCL injury.

Durant, who cheered the Wizards as a child, expressed his excitement over Young’s return. He said that the pairing of Young and Anthony Davis should do wonders As for Washington, who has long been a cellar-dweller.

“He (Young) is dynamic. A guy that can create for everybody, score for himself. He’ll make the game easier for everybody else on the floor. He’s a true point guard. Right now, they’re doing it by committee, so with him being there, it will make everybody’s mind and their game easier, and they can just settle into their roles,” Durant said in a video on the Space City Home Network.

“I’m excited for the hometown team. I’m also excited for Eddie to wear the jersey and represent the city. I see bright things in his future.”

Kevin Durant on Wizards:

“(Trey will make the game easier for everyone else on the field. I’m excited for the hometown team, excited for Eddie to also wear the jersey and represent the city. I see bright things in his future.” pic.twitter.com/Ae58p7yClt

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 3 March 2026

The Wizards acquired Young and Davis at the trade deadline. When both are healthy, they can provide true two-way production and make the Wizards competitive immediately.

The starting unit of Young, Davies, Bilal Koulibaly, Kishawn George and Alex Sarr has the right mix of experience, youth, strength and agility. They can also be skilled on both ends.

The fresh start could also be good for Young and Davis, who have a combined 14 All-Star Game appearances.

What’s going on in Milwaukee? Over the past few games, Kyle Kuzma has been a solid role player for the Milwaukee Bucks. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Kuzma played nice complementary basketball in place of the star. With Antetokounmpo returning against the shorthanded Boston Celtics, the former NBA champion was expected to go to the bench.

In fact, Kuzma went to the bench to start the Bucks’ game against the Celtics. However, Kuzma never left the bench during the game, not logging a single minute of action in their loss to a Boston team without Jaylen Brown. When asked why he was benched, head coach Doc Rivers said that he had decided not to play forward according to Eric Nehm.

Although Kuzma has not had a good game this season, the forward has been playing better in the last four games. He was averaging 16 points per game over the last four games, along with nearly four rebounds and only three assists. With the Bucks shut out for most of the game, it’s curious why Rivers decided not to give the forward a chance to perhaps contribute.

Over the last three games, the Bucks have lost a total of 78 points. This is a worrying trend, especially as they have been on a comeback trail and have won eight of their last ten matches. Rivers said this when asked about the sequence of defeats.

“I don’t care about the points. I just care about how we’re playing. We’ve been playing great, and we’ve kind of lost our way and I think that’s on both sides. I think offensively, we had a great rhythm and we’ve done that in spurts the last three games, but we haven’t been able to sustain it.”

The Bucks next face the Atlanta Hawks on March 4.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to action for the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at Fiserv Forum after missing their last 15 games with a calf injury.

However, his return was not enough to help the Bucks against the Boston Celtics, as they suffered a lopsided 108–81 loss. They suffered a straight defeat and fell 26-34.

In 25 minutes, Antetokounmpo finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds, two assists and a block, with coach Doc Rivers being extra careful with the two-time MVP’s playing time.

The 31-year-old forward admitted that he is trying remove rust From his long layoff.

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm,” Antetokounmpo said in a video posted by ESPN. “It’s been six weeks of not playing, and it’s the second time I’ve actually played against contact. I think the more I stay in shape, the more I’ll be able to help my team, the more I’ll be able to help my team.”

“I think right now, I’m in a place where I’m trying to figure myself out. I’m figuring out how I can fit in with the team.”

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm.”

Giannis reveals what he wants to do to get it #box back on track #scared deer pic.twitter.com/uQSglDf0LL

– ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) 3 March 2026

It was a curious comment from the former Finals MVP, as the Bucks have clearly built the roster around him. However, Antetokounmpo admitted he hasn’t spent a lot of time on the floor with Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and midseason additions Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng.

Antetokounmpo, who was at the center of trade rumors, has missed a career-high 29 games this season because of a calf injury.

At the time of writing, it is unclear whether he will be fit for their next game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

The Houston Rockets’ Monday night contest against the Washington Wizards proved to be much tougher than anticipated, especially as the Wizards were deliberately looking to lose games to gain better lottery odds. The Rockets won by only five points, 123–118, and they suffered an early exit from Amen Thompson, who left after about four minutes in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury.

Houston’s depth was already quite shaky, and Thompson’s early departure made things worse for the team. But when a man goes down, there’s an opportunity for someone to step up, and that’s exactly what Reed Shepard did.

Shepard did not have good shooting nights; He went 7-18 from the field and just 4-11 from beyond the arc. But the Rockets made up for it with their disruptive ability on defense, playmaking and stat sheet-stuffing tactics.

He swiped the ball six times on the night, blocked two shots, recorded 10 dimes and pulled in seven boards and in doing so, he became the fourth sophomore in NBA history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks in a single game, joining Larry Bird, Alvin Robertson and Alexander Volkov as the only ones to do so, according to StatMuse.

Reed Shepard is impressing Rockets brass

The Rockets’ competitive identity is built on grit and defense, and Shepard appears to be the antithesis of such an identity, as he plays with a more free-flowing style and steals numbers despite not being the most dominant on defense. But Shepard is stepping up on that end of the floor, and it will be important for him to earn more minutes under head coach Ime Udoka.

With Thompson facing a potential multi-game absence due to ankle trouble, Shepard could be in for a strong finish to the 2025-26 campaign.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo recently expressed his frustration with always being in the play-in tournament. It seemed like a warning to his teammates, and possibly, also a well-intentioned appeal to coach Erik Spoelstra.

Although only time will tell if Adebayo’s message works, the Heat recorded an impressive 115-105 win against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Spoelstra made the right decision to employ a zone defense, making life difficult for the Rockets.

The Heat are 5-5 in their last assignment, improving to 32-29.

In a report by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Spoelstra admitted he has a love-hate relationship with zone defense. However, he stressed that at the end of the day, it’s all about effort, as cliché as it sounds.

“No matter what the plan is, I always go back to it. It’s about being committed to doing the hard work,” said the three-time champion coach.

“We were really driving down the field, taking away airfields, and struggling to challenge shots at the rim. In a lot of these losses over the last three months, we’re just giving up shots at the rim and threes.”

The 55-year-old Spoelstra is considered one of the most brilliant strategists in the NBA, and he knows his willingness to do less glamorous things on the field will set him apart from the competition.

The Heat held the Rockets to only 43% shooting from the field, including 9 of 36 from three-point territory. He also hit the Rockets inside, scoring 66 points in the paint.

Miami has been in the play-in tournament for the past three seasons, including advancing to the NBA Finals in 2023.

While the headlines from the Houston Rockets’ 123-118 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday focused on Trae Young’s bizarre “zero-second” ejection, the real story for basketball purists happened after the final buzzer. Kevin Durant, despite a grueling 37 minutes, stayed on the field at Capital One Arena to mentor one of the league’s newest faces.

Durant was seen pulling Wizards rookie Keyshawn George aside for a lengthy conversation after the game. The 14-time All-Star appeared to be giving the 22-year-old pointers about his positioning and shot selection, demonstrating once again that he is truly a student of the game who never misses an opportunity to coach the next generation.

KD loves basketball. Even after playing 37 minutes, he is still giving the other team’s youngsters pointers that they can use for the rest of their careers. pic.twitter.com/HvUUvyak7m

– Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) 3 March 2026

On the court, Durant was his usual efficient self. “Slim Reaper” finished the night with 30 points and 7 rebounds. He led a Rockets attack that benefited a Wizards team that was clearly upset by the early-game scuffle between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason. While Alpern Sengun dominated on the interior with 32 points and 13 rebounds, Durant provided a steady veteran hand that kept Houston in control in the second half.

For George, the mid-court readout was probably the highlight of a tough night for the Wizards. The rookie finished with 16 points and two assists in 22 minutes of action, struggling against Houston’s length at times. Getting a private masterclass from one of the greatest scorers in NBA history is a rare perk of the job, and it’s a testament to Durant’s enduring love for the game.

The Wizards will need George to apply that knowledge quickly. Washington continues to slide toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with the Rockets improving to 38–22. They’ll look to bounce back on Thursday against the Utah Jazz, hopefully with Trae Young actually on the floor this time.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night to face a Los Angeles Lakers team that has won each of its last three games. They have overturned a three-game losing streak on the back of some extremely impressive shooting and will look to extend their run against New Orleans.

For the Pelicans, a lot depends on the status of Zion Williamson, who claimed in his recent interview with ESPN that he is expected to play after recovering from an ankle injury. However, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints, this has proven enough to change his status to ‘doubtful’.

The Pelicans say Zion Williamson (right ankle sprain) is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Lakers.

He recently told ESPN that he “hopes to be back” for the L.A. matchup. pic.twitter.com/XUxZMjPaEm

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Williamson suffered the injury during Friday’s win over the Utah Jazz and had to sit out Sunday’s 137-117 loss to the Clippers, a loss that snapped New Orleans’ four-game winning streak. Despite recent improvement, the Pelicans continue to struggle.

They are 19-43 for the season and are in 13th place in the Western Conference, ten wins away from the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers and need a turnaround in fortunes to reach the postseason.

Zion Williamson’s injury status vs. Lakers

While the questionable tag is a concern, Zion himself expects to play, and barring any late incidents, fans can expect him to at least be involved off the bench.

Speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Monday, Williamson said,

“I look forward to being back tomorrow against the Lakers.”

Before suffering an ankle injury, Zion was in the midst of his most durable stretch as a professional, playing a career-high 35 consecutive games. On the season, he is averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting over 58% from the field overall.

Despite this, the Lakers (36-24) have found their rhythm and enter the night as winners of two straight blowouts. They have won nine of the last 10 meetings against New Orleans and are looking for another straight win at home.

pelicans injury report

Zion Williamson (sprained right ankle): Questionable

Trey Alexander (G-League Two-Way): Out

Hunter Dickinson (G-League Two-Way): Out

lakers injury report

nobody

They’re really playing the blues before the basketball game on Beale Street. Ongoing discomfort and a process to address a talar bone strain have soured another Zack Eddy season, leaving fans wondering what will happen in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies still have an investment in the 7-foot-4 Canadian as part of the future core, but the scouting department’s priority is identifying a frontcourt insurance policy as the NCAA March Madness ramps up.

Eddy played only 11 games of the 2025–26 season, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks before suffering an ankle strain reaction. Everyone expects him to be back in the production lineup for at least 65-80 games next season. However, this is asking a lot considering AD’s career highs in on-court mileage. Shooting Floor The same applies to identifying front-court pieces with modern NBA production demands. Memphis should try the same.

Ade Mara has a 7-foot-3 frame that would theoretically pair well with Ade, but Michigan’s paint hub has made just two three-pointers total in college and is hitting below 50% from the free-throw line. This combination clogs the vacancy to the point where few NBA rosters can productively absorb him. The same logic disqualifies Taris Reed and Flory Bidunga. Henry Vissar is a legitimate second-round name, but Kleiman’s Grizzlies are not in a position where a developmental gamble meets the urgency of the current rebuild.

Chris Cenac Jr. is crowned champion

Houston’s other freshman phenomenon is starting to heat up again. While the Kingston Flemings are getting lottery teams in the Space City, New Orleans native Chris Cenac Jr. is a player a championship team is hoping to steal. Four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala made headlines by predicting that the 19-year-old would be the first overall pick in this draft. He is ranked 13th to 22nd overall on the consensus major boards. It’s a perfect fit for the Grizzlies.

Cenac’s defensive rebound percentage (26%) ranks him second among all freshmen, ahead of Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Nate Ament and Hannes Steinbach. He ranks in the 97th percentile in at-rim efficiency, boosted by 30 highlight dunks. Elite mobility, with the ability to switch to the perimeter and guard guards, is evident in high-major games. His length and vertical pop are serious rim protector traits that will be massive. Blocking shots and disrupting passing lanes should be no problem on the first day of NBA training camp.

Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds, Senac (9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) is a mixture of Herb Jones and Anthony Davis. That’s the roof. Natural fluid athleticism is rare for a player his size, and he has increased confidence in taking jumpers, including from beyond the arc, which could make him a modern stretch in the NBA. His floor is still higher than all the other big men not selected in the top five in the last five drafts.

It’s all about landing spots, and the Grizzlies have a great rookie role in Cenac as Ade’s sidekick. Kelvin Sampson said before the season that Cenac would be a pop man rather than a roll man, able to spot spots in transition, handle the ball and pass. The results have been substantial but certainly not shocking. There are concerns about his lack of signature skills and occasional inconsistency in performance, especially in rebounding.

ClutchPoints watched the game sitting next to the NBA decision maker and Cenac was boxed out twice in one half by the smallest player on the court. Three-point shooting (32.9%) seems to be maxed out given the free-throw (61.1%) numbers. Houston is working to break those bad habits and increase accuracy before the conference tournament begins. The Grizzlies should reap those awards for the rest of the decade.

hannes steinbach is a star

Admittedly, Hannes Steinbach is not as athletic as Cenac. However, the most decorated frontcourt freshman in the Big Ten is not on a tournament team, which is either the saddest story of March or the most convenient situation for lottery-bound organizations to do their homework. For a quick update on the Portal Era, the 19-year-old went through the Wurzburg Baskets youth program and has Basketball Bundesliga experience, but he wanted to test the NCAA waters this season.

Averaging a double-double at 18.2 points (33.3% 3PA) and 11.4 rebounds per game he was already climbing high on draft boards, so coming to the states was the right call. Even without real perimeter help and playing through frequent double-team looks, he leads the Big Ten in rebounding and has recorded 11 double-doubles. This is high-floor production the Grizzlies can use immediately. Averaged 17.4 points and 13 rebounds to lead Germany to a silver medal at the FIBA ​​U19 World Cup last summer, reflecting that championship mentality.

Tuomas Isalo would love to have reliable rebounding, high effort level and above average skills for a big man. Steinbach can be deployed everywhere and expect to be successful as a rookie, and has more progression as a shooter (71.1% FTA). Footwork, internal strength, touch, decision making, tested internationally, all the boxes are checked. Scouts view him as one of the safest bets among the bigs for a reason, even if it’s hard to envision an All-NBA upset.

Patrick Ngongba II needs time

The skilled finishing around the rim, solid vision and steady defense that fills Patrick Ngongba II’s stat sheet (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists) draws praise from scouts. If the Grizzlies get a chance to bring the Duke star to FedEx Forum, Ja Morant will be happy to throw passes like Nikola Jokic. Ngongba II was limited as a rookie due to a lingering foot injury, averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.6 minutes, but those numbers have bounced this season (1.7 steals/block). The NBA front office believes his exponential growth trajectory is just starting to build momentum.

Nongba II will be a more reliable rim protector and better assist protector than the New Orleans Pelicans got in Yves Missy. His court-reading and instinctive adjustments to connecting with the team are far ahead of most teammates. Memphis may get a glimpse of Marc Gasol during Summer League action.

However, the 20-year-old has an extensive history of foot injuries. Ngongba II originally had two screws inserted in his right foot in high school, and last summer he was seen in a boot on his left foot. Between injuries and lack of shooting, the Grizzlies will need their second first-round selection (from Orlando).

As March Madness approaches and scouting intensifies, the discovery of the Jack Eddy insurance policy is likely to become one of the defining stories of this rebuild. The Grizzlies probably don’t know yet what their next core looks like, but the path almost certainly passes through the frontcourt class of the 2026 draft.

It doesn’t look like the debate between NBA eras will be ending any time soon. Everyone from fans, media, and the players themselves have pondered why one era is better than another. Former NBA player Jeff Teague was one of the most recent voices to join the debate, citing Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as the main reason why someone like Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird would have no problem in today’s game.

During a recent episode of the Club 520 podcast, Jeff Teague expressed his belief that Larry Bird will be as impactful as he was when he suited up for the Celtics, due to the perceived perception of Nikola Jokic and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic not being very athletic to speak of.

“Sometimes I’d watch older guys play, and I’d think, ‘He’s not athletic, he’s not like that.’ But then when I watch Jokic, it seems like he’s moving around, he makes it look so easy,” Teague said. “If Larry Bird played right now, Luka and Jokic would just be hanging out. Larry Bird would have averaged 30, 10 and eight.”

Teague clarified his ‘wandering’ comment a bit more, saying he meant that Jokic and Doncic don’t rely on athleticism to be truly great, they use skill work.

In any case, Bird is already considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He played for 13 years in the NBA with the Celtics before injuries derailed his career. He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships, won three MVP awards, was the 1979–80 Rookie of the Year, and was named an All-Star in all but one season.

He has career averages of 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals on 49.6 percent shooting from the field, 37.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 88.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Trae Young era has already begun for the Washington Wizards – sort of.

Young has yet to see action on the field as a Wizard, but now he’s part of the story of Monday night’s game between his Wizards and the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena in Washington.

That’s when he was surprisingly ejected from the contest amid a heated moment on the court between Washington guard Jameer Watkins and Rockets forward Tari Eason in the third quarter.

Apparently, Young, who was not in uniform, entered the courtroom, while Watkins and Eason joined him.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Due to lower body (knee and quad) injuries, the 27-year-old Young has not been eligible for games with the Wizards since Washington acquired him via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

But he is close to debuting with Washington. He is reportedly expected to play his first game as a Wizard this coming Thursday in a home game against the Utah Jazz.

Although the Wizards are literally headed for the lottery, that obviously won’t stop the former Oklahoma Sooners star from playing this week. That said, Young is unlikely to get heavy minutes immediately in his return, as he needs more time to shake off the rust amid a lengthy absence from the court.

Young has only played 10 games so far this season, during which he has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting just 41.5 percent from the field.

There was a new face for the Washington Wizards as they hosted the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena on Monday. However, WNBA star Angel Reese may be quite familiar with them.

His brother, Julian Reese, made his debut for the Wizards after spending the season with the Capital City Go-Go’s in the G League.

He started the game but could not score. first bucket Till the third quarter. It was certainly memorable as he did it against two-time All-Star Alpern Sengun.

Julian Reese made his presence felt inside as he got a chance to drop in for his first NBA bucket. pic.twitter.com/aP0Us17ajI https://t.co/jywZiRlzFf

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

The Wizards lost to the Rockets, 123–118. The 22-year-old Reese finished with two points, four rebounds, three steals and four turnovers in 28 minutes.

Although there were obvious nerves, he showed some potential to be a contributor, especially on defense, given his size and length. Perhaps he could take advice from his older sister on how to improve his rebounding.

The elder Reese, who is dating Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., expressed how thrilled she was for her younger brother when he signed a contract. two-way contract With magicians. He went undrafted out of Maryland in 2025.

“My baby brother. Ouch, I’m so proud of you! Your journey has never been easy, and you’ve always stuck to your path! Let’s go, JuJu!” Reese, 23, wrote on X.

My dear brother🥺oops, I’m so proud of you! Your journey was never easy and you always stayed the course! Come on JuJu! 🥳🙏🏽 @reese10julian https://t.co/6b6OloTHeo

– Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) 28 February 2026

They were born only a year apart, so it’s no surprise that they have a close relationship. Basketball is in his blood, as both his parents played professionally overseas.

With the Wizards in tanking mode, many players have been given opportunities on the floor. In addition to Reese, guys like Will Riley, Sharife Cooper, Jameer Watkins and Jaden Hardy have enjoyed playing.

BOSTON – No matter how much the Boston Celtics have accomplished on the court this season, there will always be discussion about what’s happening off the court. or rather, Who is off the court, because Celtics fans just want to know one thing: When is star forward Jayson Tatum coming back?

While no one in Tatum’s camp has confirmed whether the six-time All-Star will return to play this season after suffering an Achilles injury in May, there are multiple outside reports speculating he will return before the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin.

A possible clue lies in the making of “The Quiet Work”, a five-episode documentary from Zero Pressure Productions (a new production company owned by Tatum), which chronicles Tatum’s recovery and eventual return to action. The existence of this short series suggests that the 27-year-old, who turns 28 on Tuesday, could be suiting up for the green team soon.

Tonight, the first episode of “The Quiet Work” airs on NBC.

Jayson Tatum and his mother, Brandi, both released official statements on the “minisodes” coming soon pic.twitter.com/4dovWaHMzV

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

And perhaps the release schedule of “The Quiet Work” confirms that theory.

Why is Jayson Tatum’s documentary ahead of schedule?

In a February 22 press release from Zero Pressure Productions and their broadcast partner, NBC Sports, it was announced that five minisodes documenting Tatum’s mental and physical journey “will air on a weekly basis.”

This was initially the case with the first two episodes, as Episode 1 was released on February 22 before the Celtics’ emphatic win over the rival Los Angeles Lakers and Episode 2 was released on March 1 before the Celtics’ Sunday night win over another rival – the Philadelphia 76ers.

There is a clear weekly pattern outlined in the press release. However, after Boston’s home win against Philly, NBC removed Episode 3 and Tatum later posted it to his YouTube account on Monday afternoon.

So, why the sudden change? If Tatum’s rehab process turns out to be true to the documentary, is it almost over?

These questions remain unanswered, but given the repeated references to a return in Episode 3 and the commercials around Boston announcing his return to action, it seems Tatum could potentially play during the 2025-26 campaign.

On the way to the game…⏳ pic.twitter.com/ICflajv7dE

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 1 March 2026

Of course, recovery is a fickle thing, especially with an Achilles injury. And while the Celtics would obviously love to have Tatum back in the lineup, they’ve won enough that they don’t need to rush the process. Boston is now 40-20 overall, in second place in the Eastern Conference, and just two wins off last season’s pace, when Tatum was healthy and the Celtics were loaded with talent.

In Tatum’s absence, Celtics star Jaylen Brown has taken up the load. He became an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career this season and led the Sixers with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes on Sunday.

“I think we did a good job of being unselfish and playing Celtics basketball,” Brown said after Boston’s 40th win. “I think we’re starting to figure it out. Tonight was a team win. Everybody did their job. When you’re doing that, it makes you more dangerous.”

Although the Celtics have overachieved beyond most pundits and pre-season projections, they are still a team with a missing piece. They won’t be full on Monday night when they face the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, but maybe they can be full again before March ends.

If you’re wondering who Cedric Maxwell was referring to, @SeanGrandePBP He said he was pointing at Jayson Tatum and saying, “You’re next.” https://t.co/5rALcdYw3a

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 2 March 2026

The LA Clippers are set to take on the Golden State Warriors on Monday night for the second night of back-to-back sets. It will also mark the Clippers debut of guard Darius Garland.

Garland was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers during NBA trade deadline week, bringing him to Los Angeles and sending James Harden to the Cavs. But Garland missed last month’s trade as he worked to recover from toe problems in both feet.

After weeks of running and rehab, Darius Garland will make his Clippers debut against Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors. But what’s a bit surprising is that Garland won’t start in his first game.

“The thought of bringing him off the bench so he doesn’t have to play with Kawhi [Leonard] “So he can find his own rhythm, his own timing and just try to run everything through him,” head coach Tyronn Lue said in his pregame media availability on Monday. “Just being aggressive, getting our tempo up, so that’s kind of the thought process behind bringing him in off the bench. It’s to try to get him going at a faster pace than he’s been. So he’ll keep doing that until we get his minutes up and then obviously he’ll be our starter.”

Between offseason foot surgery and a sprained right toe, Garland has played in a total of 25 games this season, which is why the Clippers have been so cautious about slowly bringing their prized guard back.

In addition to coming off the bench, Garland will face a minutes restriction for the foreseeable future until Garland gets into game shape and the Clippers become comfortable with his return to competition.

“I’m very excited that he’s going to be on the floor,” Lue said. “Just excited for him and then to let him play. Be aggressive, try to get his air, try to get his timing down, and just play free. Just want to get him out on the floor, see what we can do, how we can change some things up, but just excited to get him on the floor.”

In his introductory press conference, Garland told members of the media that Tyronn Lue planned to use him like Kyrie Irving, and Lue confirmed those plans.

“That’s what I told him,” Tyronn Lue explained in early February, shortly after the trade. “He went back and watched a lot of film from those days. We’ll put the ball in his hands, he’s got to be able to make plays for himself and his teammates. He’s got the ability to do that.

“If you look at all the charts, he’s second in the league in pick-and-rolls and making quick decisions off plays, so he knows how to play the game. We need everything from that, his ability to score the basketball, his ability to make people better, create momentum, create momentum. He can do it all.”

In his 408 game career over seven NBA seasons, Darius Garland has averaged 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three.

Andre Drummond of the Philadelphia 76ers has been in the NBA since 2012, when he joined the Detroit Pistons as the 9th overall selection of the draft. A two-time All-Star and one of the modern NBA’s strongest rebounders, the 32-year-old is now lending his years of expertise to Stria Sport, a Chicago-based performance footwear brand founded by former collegiate athlete Eric Porter.

What’s special about Drummond’s newly formed relationship with the company is that he is leaving traditional show support behind and also signing on as a lead equity investor and creative director.

Drummond will work with Stria Sport founder Eric Porter as a “key decision maker” on product design, campaigns, partnerships and brand vision.

“I’m not just an NBA player,” Drummond says. “I’m a creative director, an owner, and it’s deeper than basketball.” https://t.co/tfRPV7JxXP pic.twitter.com/pGGNxnuZTZ

– Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) 2 March 2026

“I’m not just an NBA player. I’m a creative director, an owner, and it’s deeper than basketball,” Drummond said, according to a post on

Worn by over 100 athletes globally and the official footwear partner of the Harlem Globetrotters 100th Anniversary Season, Stria Sport has already been endorsed by professional athletes such as Bryce Cotton, Megan Gustafson, KJ McDaniels, Kiefer Sykes, Majok Deng, Rayjon Tucker and Justinian Jessup.

Drummond is set to work with founder Eric Porter as a “key decision maker” on product design, campaigns, partnerships and brand vision. Straw’s mission framework is derived from the Latin word industria, which emphasizes hard work, energy, and purposeful effort.

This philosophical branding aligns closely with competitive sports values, preparation over hype, substance over appearance, qualities that have been consistent with Drummond’s playing style over the years. The 32-year-old is seen by many as one of the most tenacious defenders of recent times, and he certainly isn’t the most attractive.

At its core, Stria Sport is athlete-founded and athlete-tested. The company was created by lifelong basketball players with decades of shoe industry experience who sought to address a persistent gap in the market: the forced trade-off between performance and aesthetics.

According to a statement from the Harlem Globetrotters, the brand’s flagship Strea Sport 107 series is specifically targeted toward basketball athletes, and focuses on lightweight construction, elite traction, responsive cushioning, and structured stability.

As the Miami Heat battle injuries ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, one player whose status is up in the air is point guard Davion Mitchell. Following the Heat’s win over the Houston Rockets, Mitchell’s injury is worth monitoring as the team looks to add more wins in the home stretch of the season, as he talked about his latest injury.

Mitchell is listed as “questionable” for Tuesday’s game against Brooklyn as he is dealing with a left shoulder injury that fans may be familiar with. The 27-year-old, who previously missed eight games in January with a left shoulder problem, suffered a hard screen during Saturday’s game-opening win over the Rockets, although he finished the contest.

He will practice partially on Monday, saying the current shoulder problem is not as severe as the one that caused him to miss time in January.

According to The Miami Herald, Mitchell said, “It’s not that bad.” “Definitely a little bit of the same pain. But definitely not as bad.”

The Heat’s Davion Mitchell is potentially changing a certain aspect

In Saturday’s win over Houston, Mitchell would record 10 points and five assists, as he has been a mainstay in Miami’s starting lineup when healthy, averaging 8.9 points and 6.9 assists per game. In addition to his point-guard abilities, he is also one of the team’s better defenders, although he was asked if he would limit himself to passing screens due to shoulder injuries.

“I try to play the same way,” Mitchell said. “I don’t try to change anything, I mean, honestly, he caught me. I’ve been looking at a screen for a minute since that injury, and it hasn’t really bothered me. This time, he caught me.”

It remains to be seen whether Mitchell will play, as he said, “We’ll see” when asked the question after Monday’s practice. At any rate, Miami will be looking for a win as Tuesday’s home matchup against the Nets will be crucial for the team with a 32-29 record, which will keep them in eighth place in the East.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls after giving positive feedback to reporters following his first two games back from an abdominal injury. Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the first leg of the Thunder’s back-to-back, which ends on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. He’ll likely be back to take on the Knicks.

Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein was added to Gilgeous-Alexander on the Thunder’s injury report as players ruled out of Tuesday’s game. Hartenstein returned from a calf injury on Friday. Both Thunder players missed overtime in Friday’s 127-121 win against the Denver Nuggets and will also miss Tuesday’s game against the Bulls due to their respective injuries.

Jalen Williams (right hamstring), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain, left ankle), and Brandon Carlson (lower back strain) are out, while Nikola Topic is on assignment with the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in Sunday’s 100-87 win against the Dallas Mavericks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander injury update after Thunder win

It was difficult for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to watch the Thunder compete against the Nuggets in overtime on Friday, even if the defending champions won. Fortunately for Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks in regulation, earning a 13-point win on the road.

After the win, a reporter asked Gilgeous-Alexander how his body was feeling after playing his first two games since returning from an abdominal injury.

“Okay,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “I ramped up the workouts before the games, I knew I was coming back. The guys who helped me with the workouts did a great job building them into game legs. So, I feel great. Cardio-wise, I don’t feel like I missed a beat.”

The Thunder improved to 47–15.

The New Orleans Pelicans have been playing some better basketball lately, Dejounte Murray recently returned from an Achilles injury and the team is slowly but surely making its way up the standings. Perhaps the most surprising development over the past few months for New Orleans has been Zion Williamson’s ability to stay on the court consistently.

Recently, Williamson got 100% honest about how he envisions the Pelicans’ identity moving forward.

“We’re building our own identity. We’ve dealt with injuries, coaching changes… despite all that, our energy is still high, we have a positive locker room. It’s ‘What’s next?’ It’s ‘How do we build from this?'” Williamson said via ESPN, per the Pelicans Film Room.

Sadly, injuries have been a major part of Williamson’s NBA story so far, with the former number one overall draft pick constantly being sidelined due to various ailments, most of which are related to his feet.

When he is on the court, Williamson remains a terror to opposing defenses, able to consistently attack the basket and finish at the rim, while also being a threat on the offensive glass.

However, persistent foot injuries throughout his career have threatened to derail the athleticism that was once his hallmark, and he has missed several seasons so far in his career.

Still, it’s certainly a positive sign that he’s able to remain on the court consistently as the calendar turns to 2025-26, though it’s unclear whether the Pelicans’ front office, who recently traded a potential 2026 lottery pick in exchange for fellow big man Derrick Queen, still views Williamson as part of the team’s long-term plans.

In any case, the Pelicans are scheduled to take the field on Tuesday evening for a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s been a tumultuous career for New Orleans star Zion Williamson. When he has been on the court, he has been dominant, but the issue has been his injuries. Since the Pelicans added Zion to the team due to his injuries, he has been in and out of the lineup and has had to deal with it constantly. He is also battling injuries at the moment and even said that the worst time of his career was missing his third season because of it.

Zion Williamson visited ESPN’s “NBA Today” and had a lengthy conversation with Malika Andrews, revealing that the hardest part of his career was missing his entire third season due to a broken foot. It was a low point because he was taking shots at about his weight from everywhere, and he wanted to focus on basketball first, but he couldn’t do that.

Williamson explained, “The hardest point was when I missed my sophomore year because of a broken foot. … There was a lot of criticism about my weight, my care about the game. … I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”

Williamson was actually experiencing the healthiest time of his career, playing 35 consecutive games and 45 games overall this season. Still, he recently sprained his ankle during Saturday’s win over the Jazz. Despite being healthy, he is averaging 21.5 points while tying his career low with 5.8 rebounds per game.

In his career, Williamson has played 259 matches, while losing a total of 296 matches. Now, that number is about to increase following his latest ankle sprain.

It’s also worth noting that he’s in the third season of a five-year, $197.2 million deal with the Pelicans. He is making $39.4 million this year and is set to make $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million for the 2027-28 season.

Interim coach James Borrego said Williams has an ankle injury, but there was no immediate information on the severity of the injury.

“Hopefully, it’s nothing serious, and we’ll have him back there soon,” Borrego said.

The transition from starter to reserve can be a tough adjustment for anyone, especially for a rookie point guard on a 19-43 rebuilding team. Unfortunately for Jeremiah Fears, James Borrego is working in a crowded backcourt while making a case to keep the full-time job. Thankfully, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole have helped the former Oklahoma player find value in a new perspective as the New Orleans Pelicans move into the final stretch of an otherwise lost season.

With Murray and Trey Murphy III healthy and available, Fears couldn’t complain about being the odd man out. However, after making 44 starts in 62 games, it meant learning a new rhythm and routine. What’s important to having a strong All-Rookie season?

“Being able to make adjustments on the fly, getting out there, getting a feel for the game early. Seeing my first shot, letting my teammates continue to lift me up,” Fears confessed. “Credit to them, credit to the coaches for trusting me and making the right plays. I had too many turnovers (against the Los Angeles Clippers), but I’ll definitely watch film and try to learn from it.”

Learning some lessons that provide a ray of hope moving forward is all that is left for the Pelicans. DeAndre Jordan has served as the bench coach for three young veterans who have come in and out of the lineup. Yves Messi, Karlo Matkovic and rookie Derrick Queen have taken it in stride with an eye on development and the next impressive game.

Instead of getting angry, Fears took the advice of two guards who started their careers on the bench. Those bonds have helped the rookie deal with everything that comes with being a professional.

“Talking to Dejounte, talking to Jordan Poole. Just asking questions, continuing to learn and they’re giving me some really good advice in the game of basketball, on and off the court,” Fears shared. “So, to be able to take the advice they give me and continue to translate them to the court.”

The most important advice is to stay true to yourself during difficult times. Authenticity and heart are everything at this level. Fear has to direct the flow in some ways, go with it in others, until it finds what works.

“Just keep playing my game. I think that’s huge. They’re telling me to keep playing my game, do what I do to be the point guard on the floor,” Fears explained. “You have to be able to talk, lead your teammates, put them in the right positions and most importantly continue to play my game. And I think listening to them and listening to the advice they’re giving me, I’m doing that every game. I think it’s working for me.”

The Pelicans have won three of their last five, but with the Western Conference playoff picture out of reach, the focus remains on development. Regardless of the final record, Fierce finally looks ready to run the show. Until then, winning a sixth Man of the Month award should be a goal. Borrego understands this well. Showing his ability to come off the bench while leaning on vets or yelling at them will be a major storyline in the final weeks of the season.

The Dallas Mavericks have been playing without their standout rookie star Cooper Flagg for the past seven games. Flagg had earlier suffered a left foot sprain during a match against the Phoenix Suns on February 10.

However, he is now expected to get a chance to play against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday after being listed as ‘doubtful’ on the official injury report. According to a post on X by Mark Stein, the flag’s status has been upgraded to ‘Out’.

The Mavericks have officially listed Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) as questionable for Tuesday’s game against fellow Rookie of the Year top contender Kon Nueppel in Charlotte.

Doubtful has been at least one step above the flag’s outright OUT classification for the last seven games. https://t.co/0cHy8vHhWb

– Mark Stein (@TheSteinLine) 2 March 2026

“The Mavericks have officially listed Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) as questionable for Tuesday’s game against fellow Rookie of the Year top contender Kon Nueppel in Charlotte.
Suspect is at least one step above the outright OUT classification of flag for the last seven games,” he wrote.

In his absence, the Hornets’ Kon Knuppel has undoubtedly stepped up to the plate with his best run of the year. Before his injury, Flagg was averaging 20.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc over the course of 49 games.

He has emerged as one of the few bright spots for Dallas in a season that looks unlikely to reach the playoffs. The Mavericks currently sit in 12th place in the jam-packed Western Conference with a 21-39 record, a far cry from their 50-32 season during the 2023-24 campaign.

They have also suffered other major injuries, with Kyrie Irving and Derek Lively II out for the season while PJ Washington recovers from an ankle problem.
“Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has already announced that Flagg ‘probably won’t’ play in another Rookie of the Year contest against the Hornets’ Kon Nueppel on Tuesday in Charlotte… but stay tuned,” Stein previously reported.

The Mavericks have gone 2-5 without the flag and will face the Orlando Magic after their performance against the Hornets, which may be a more plausible point for their comeback.

With the Miami Heat’s win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, the team will be looking to pick up some wins in the home stretch of the season, although Nikola Jovic looks to be absent for the foreseeable future. As Heat young forward Jovic has been working to turn his season around, a back injury has been another setback in a disappointing year.

Jovic has missed the last four games of the season with what is being called “low back injury management,” after already being listed for Tuesday’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets as he will miss more time. The 22-year-old will let you know how he feels.

According to The Miami Herald, Jovic said, “My back doesn’t feel good.” “The scans show I’ve got some swelling, and one of my veins doesn’t look right right now.”

The 2022 first-round pick will miss some early season time due to a back injury, but he downplayed that as a direct correlation.

“I was worried, but I don’t think it’s the same thing,” Jovic said. “The way my back is structured, I just have to manage it in the way I prepare for things and the way I prepare for games, practices and everything. I have to make sure it’s always ready for any type of intensity that I put it under.”

Heat’s Nikola Jovic now dealing with year-ending back injury

While Jovic received a $62.4 million contract extension with the Heat that ran for four years, the team saw enough year-to-year improvement in the player to warrant the deal.

However, this season has been a reality check, as he has averaged 7.5 points while shooting 37 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from deep in 17.6 minutes per game, the lowest of his career since his rookie season.

“I felt like it was that moment where I hadn’t played very much, and even though I hadn’t played it was still getting worse,” Jovic said. “I just had to stop because when it bothers you outside of basketball and starts bothering you doing regular things in life, I feel like the decision has come to, I can’t do it anymore.”

It remains to be seen how much time Jovic misses with the Heat at 32-29, leaving them in eighth place in the East ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Nets.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania: Tyus Jones, the Denver Nuggets have been trying to add some guard depth to their team since the trade deadline, and they were finally able to pick up someone who can help them for the remainder of the season.

“Free agent guard Tyus Jones has agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Kevin Bradbury of Lift Sports Management told ESPN. An experienced point guard and ball handler to fill a Nuggets backcourt need,” Charania, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

The Mavericks waived Jones last week after signing Ryan Nembhard to a two-year contract.

To begin the season, Jones was with the Orlando Magic after signing with the team during the offseason, and was considered a key player coming off the bench. This did not go well for the Magic and he was eventually traded to the Charlotte Hornets. Jones was then moved to the Mavericks.

Jones will now be part of a team competing in the Western Conference and finishing in the top five in the standings. They have lost their last two games to teams ranked above them, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, and that could be a cause for concern considering there are only so many games left in the season.

The Nuggets have had to deal with injuries to their key players throughout the season, with Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson currently sidelined. When they are fully healthy, there is no doubt that they are one of the better teams in the league, and they are still capable of sticking with what they have.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two players who have jockeyed for the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings all season, have played two games against each other so far this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and SGA claimed the first matchup, setting up a highly anticipated game between these two foes on Friday.

Once again, the Thunder were victorious over the Denver Nuggets, winning 127–121 in overtime. Although Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in the game for his league-leading 22nd triple-double of the season, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who grabbed the headlines with 36 points in his first game after suffering an abdominal strain before the All-Star break.

It was a big game for Gilgeous-Alexander to get back into action, but this head-to-head matchup against the three-time MVP certainly mattered to the defending league MVP. Besides being a chance for the Thunder to extend their lead in the Western Conference standings, it was a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to prove that he should win back-to-back MVP awards.

Well, after another strong performance against Jokic and the Nuggets, the Oklahoma City star is back in the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

There are two more showdowns left against these two MVP candidates, and these battles will undoubtedly carry equal importance in helping determine this year’s MVP. However, there is still an outside chance for others to steal the first-place votes.

Cade Cunningham is having a great season and has extended the Detroit Pistons’ lead to the 1st-seed in the East. Jaylen Brown has led the Boston Celtics to the second-best record in the East without Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers.

And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, who continues to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are just three games behind Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in the West standings, and who has dominated Oklahoma City this season.

Can any of these other MVP candidates surpass Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander over the next several weeks? This is where the MVP rankings currently stand, now that SGA is back on top.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 51 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.1 FG%, 38.1 3P%

*Only a maximum of 6 more games can be left to remain eligible.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed nine consecutive games before returning against Jokic and the Nuggets on Friday night, meaning he is only allowed to miss six more games for the remainder of the season to remain eligible for season-ending honors and awards such as MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not look stiff at any point in this game, as he made 12 of 29 shots from the floor and scored 36 points, while also recording nine assists. He followed that performance up with another 30-point performance on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, leading Oklahoma City to two consecutive wins.

The Thunder are now three games ahead of the Spurs for the 1-seed in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander has moved closer to history with his two big-scoring performances since returning from injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 123 straight games, meaning he is three games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive games with 20-plus points.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 45 games, 28.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 57.0 FG%, 40.1 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

As good as Jokic’s numbers may look, he hasn’t looked like himself since returning from his hyperextended left knee.

In the 13 games that Jokic has played since returning from a knee injury, the Nuggets star has averaged 26.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Obviously, these are MVP-like stats, but what stands out is his 4.1 turnovers per game during this span.

Jokic’s efficiency has declined, his shooting splits have decreased, and turnovers are a concern. Needless to mention, Denver is not playing well overall and is now down to the 5-seed in the Western Conference.

These are the main reasons why Jokic has fallen behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race.

3. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 53 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Besides Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, if there is another player who needs to be voted for MVP this season, it has to be Cade Cunningham. Aside from the “feel-good” story with the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham has arguably been the best full guard in the league this season, making a greater two-way impact than Gilgeous-Alexander.

Only Jokic has provided more assists than Cunningham this year, and what the Pistons’ star has done to lead his team to the top of the East standings is remarkable. Not only is he doing this with his scoring, but Cade has set a tough standard for how the Pistons will play every night.

He doesn’t back down from any opponent and Cunningham takes on his opponent for the full 48 minutes and puts all the pressure of the game on them. It’s what’s allowed Jalen Duren to have a breakout All-Star campaign, and it’s what’s allowed this young Pistons team to suddenly go from being the favorite to make it to the NBA Finals in the East.

Between rarely missing a game and being on the team with the best winning percentage in the entire NBA, Cunningham is definitely in the MVP race with SGA and Jokic. Quite honestly, if you look at the MVP race from the perspective of a player who has exceeded expectations at the top of the league, Cunningham Is MVP. If you ask JB Bickerstaff, he’d agree.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 46 games, 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 50.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 4 more games to remain eligible.

Since the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama has averaged 19.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. His plus-minus stats over his last six games are among the best in the league, but Wembley’s MVP case has unfortunately come down to where the San Antonio Spurs finish in the West standings.

Should the Spurs move on from Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, it would be difficult to deny Wembley the MVP award as he will have the numbers and best record in the NBA to back it up.

However, for the moment, what Gilgeous-Alexander has done with the best record in the West is surpassing Vembanyama’s success. While many would argue that this is an individual award that should be given to the league’s best player throughout the season, team success always plays a role in the race for this award each year.

This season is no different, and while Wembley can increase his MVP odds by racking up his playoffs in the stretch run of the season, the Spurs will still need to pass the Thunder in the standings to win the MVP.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 48 games, 32.5 points, 8.6 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

The only MVP case for Luka Doncic at this point might be that he leads the league in scoring, and his nearly triple-double numbers are the best of his career. While both of those things may be true, one can’t argue with Doncic being ahead of any of the other four players in the MVP rankings.

Not only is Doncic behind the level of play of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, but expectations for both Cunningham and Wembanyama make more sense in this race as well. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been playing well recently and are in danger of falling into the play-in zone of the West standings.

Very few players have won the MVP award while their team was not at the top of the league standings, and those who did had historic seasons that will forever be remembered in NBA history. That’s not the case with Doncic this year.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 8 last week]

8. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers [Ranked No. 7 last week]

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

The Washington Wizards pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the trade deadline when they acquired star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. Young has yet to make his Wizards debut as he continues to recover from injury, but that’s about to change this week.

Trae Young is on track to return from injury and make his Wizards debut on Thursday for the team’s home game against the Utah Jazz, the star guard announced via his podcast, ‘From the Point.’ Young had been battling knee injuries this season, and was already sidelined when the Hawks traded him.

Young has been limited to only 10 games this season, and the last time he suited up for the Dawgs was on December 27 when he played a little more than 31 minutes in the Hawks’ loss against the New York Knicks. Since then he has missed 29 consecutive games.

In the 10 games that Young appeared in this season, he averaged 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.0 steals, including 41.5 percent shooting from the field, 30.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 86.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Young played his entire career so far with the Hawks. Now in his eighth season in the NBA, the four-time All-Star is hoping to be part of the Wizards’ turnaround after a rebuilding few years.

Young wasn’t the only big acquisition the Wizards made at the deadline. The team also acquired star big man Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks, who complemented Young with an elite threat in the paint and around the basket. With the Wizards’ current young core, the team appears poised to take a step forward next season.

Few eras of sneakers redefined a genre like Nike Basketball did during the 2010s, promoting the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant all at the peak of their powers. Debuting at the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend, the Nike Basketball “Galaxy” Pack remains one of the most iconic sneaker drops in history. Recently, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers paid homage to the iconic colorway with his Nike LeBron 23 PE.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game was iconic in many ways, but it’s arguably one of the most nostalgic moments for sneakerheads due to the slate of heavy-hitting releases at the time. Silhouettes like the Nike Kobe 7, Nike LeBron 9, Nike KD 4 and the “Galaxy” Nike Air Foamposite created a frenzy fueled by a classic All-Star Game featuring the NBA’s best.

The Nike LeBron 9 “Big Bang” particularly made an impression, opting for a bright safety orange scheme reminiscent of a space suit minus the distinctive galaxy print. The sneakers are revered as one of Nike basketball’s greatest creations, so LeBron James himself paid homage to the iconic sneaker with an inspired colorway with his current Nike LeBron 23.

Nike LeBron 23 “Big Bang”

☄️ @KingJames Nike LeBron wears a 23 inspired by his “Big Bang” 9 worn in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/J3ypXTa8VE

– NBA Kicks (@NBAKicks) 1 March 2026

LeBron debuts the Nike LeBron 23 “Big Bang” PE against the Warriors this weekend ☄️

Did they do Ozzy justice? 🤔

Our description: https://t.co/3OaAtQtJud pic.twitter.com/J5P4yJILsj

– Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) 2 March 2026

The latest “Big Bang” LeBron 23 PE offers the same cues as the LeBron 9 original, namely an all-over dark orange colorway, which is complemented by light orange piping along the main panel. The LeBron 23 also features an icy translucent outsole mimicking the original release. The main difference comes from the space gray Nike Swoosh on the LeBron 9, which is traded for a black Swoosh with the same gray outline on the updated LeBron 23.

The final detail, and perhaps the most notable, comes in the form of the tongue logo, which is the same logo Nike Basketball designed for the 2012 All-Star Collection. Whether or not this pair will release to the public is still undecided, but fans can expect a potential release as both Nike and LeBron James have been generous with the drop so far.

In his second game back from an abdominal injury, All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 100-87 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Gilgeous-Alexander guided the Thunder to a 16-point comeback in a 127-121 win against the Denver Nuggets on Friday before his team won in overtime.

In Sunday’s game, Gilgeous-Alexander followed up his 36 points in 34 minutes against the Nuggets with a 30-point performance against the Mavericks in Sunday’s win, and gave an update on the injury to reporters during his postgame media availability.

“Okay,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “I intensified the workouts before the games, I knew I was coming back. The guys who helped me with the workouts did a great job building them up to game legs. So, I feel great. Cardio-wise I don’t feel like I missed a beat.”

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in 33 minutes.

Mark Daigneault on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Thunder win

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault spoke to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about his minutes restriction ahead of his return in Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets. Capping Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of scoring 20+ points in 126 consecutive games, Gilgeous-Alexander equaled Chamberlain’s 59-game record of 20+ point games.

Daigneault discussed Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak as evidence of his continued vision for the Thunder.

Daigneault said, “There’s really no difference in his game, home or street. I think some people reach a certain level.” “It’s his ability to perform consistently in all environments. We’ve had a lot of guys like that in his role, but he’s definitely one of them.”

Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 123 consecutive games.

The Atlanta Hawks caused quite a surprise when they announced plans to host a Magic City themed promotion during one of their home games. Magic City is a famous strip club located in Atlanta that regularly attracts celebrity visitors. But not everyone is in favor of the Hawks’ promotion, including San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Kornet.

Luke Cornett, who runs a public online blog while playing for the Spurs, wrote a new post this week explaining his reasoning for why he thinks the Hawks should cancel their Magic City promotion night.

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night-only collaboration to celebrate the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home games against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Cornette explained the potential dangers of working in such an industry, and suggested that the Magic City was not the type of family-friendly business the NBA should be promoting.

The Hawks’ Promotional Night is currently scheduled for March 16 during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic. Ticket sales for the game have reportedly increased, and the team has already begun selling promotional merchandise.

While Cornette may be against the idea, there are others, like former NBA player Lou Williams, who expressed his support for the effort.

Although the Heat are still in contention for a playoff or play-in birth, Dan Le Batard is ready to have conversations around Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra is currently the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, having coached the Miami Heat since the 2008–2009 season. His tenure has come with immense success: two championships with the Big Three Miami Heat and six trips to the NBA Finals, including the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 seasons.

on the latest version of dan le batard showThe Crew chats about why the Miami Heat are stuck at the bottom of the conference. While Le Batard did not suggest that Spoelstra should be fired, he did say that the market needs to determine if there is a better hire who can do better than what Spoelstra has done.

“So unless you show me a future pop out there. Unless you have something out there where people are looking at it and saying, this is available. Oh, is Brad Stevens available, can we get him… and then all of a sudden you can flip it. In the history of South Florida sports, there has never been this kind of consistency, and I think Z and everybody here would acknowledge that while JuJu and Trista are comfortable saying, yes, SP Maybe it’s misunderstood. No one is saying SPOs should be fired. Like, there’s no one in this market saying out loud, “Get this group of people out of there,” Le Batard said.

The Heat are currently 32-29, leading the Southeast Division and currently sitting in 8th place in the playoff standings.

All-NBA talent Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been tremendous this season and is currently under consideration for the NBA’s “Clutch Player of the Year” honors. He has a disagreement with the league itself, but sponsor Adidas is supporting its star athlete by covering all his fines this upcoming season. Edwards may have broken some similar color codes when wearing his latest Adidas AE2 sneakers in wild hues.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

The adidas AE 2 first arrives in May 2025 following the hugely successful debut adidas AE 1 as Anthony Edwards has been promoting his new creation throughout the season. We’ve already seen several special colorways and concepts revealed, which Edwards often wears during games or warmups.

His latest on-foot look came against the Denver Nuggets as Edwards debuted the AE2 in arguably the most colorful scheme we’ve seen of all his signature looks to date. Initial reports indicate that black/multicolor The pair will arrive in the coming weeks.

Adidas AE 2 “Multicolor”

Anthony Edwards today in his “Multi Color” Adidas AE 2s 🎨 @anthonyedwards

🗓️ 7th March
📹 @NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/3qQRZo3sQD

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 1 March 2026

Anthony Edwards Debuts the adidas AE 2 “Black/Multi-Color” 👀 pic.twitter.com/RglG0S2kHU

– Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) 1 March 2026

Often coming in monochromatic or simple colors, this new look of the Adidas AE 2 features a predominantly black colorway punctuated by panels of neon or “highlighter” colors. We see a vibrant pink, blue, green and orange color combination along the front toe panel extending across the sneaker’s support system. The rear heel tells a similar story as mismatched laces complete the look.

The adidas AE 2 “Black/Multicolor” is expected to hit retailers on March 7th, 2026 for an estimated retail tag of $130. The shoes will be sold through Adidas and select Adidas retailers, so keep an eye out as stock may be limited!

Most of the rookies and young stars in the NBA grew up watching Kevin Durant of the Rockets as one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen. Durant essentially changed the meaning of scoring as a seven-foot player, something Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren certainly modeled his game after growing up. As a tribute to arguably his biggest influence, Holmgren will be releasing upcoming PE colorways of Durant’s signature Nike KD 18.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Upon entering the league in 2022, Holmgren signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike that includes sneaker sponsorship. While Holmgren is still waiting to make the leap into his own signature sneaker model, he has favored the Nike KD series during most of his time in the NBA. It’s fitting since both players share a similar tall frame and Holmgren has been modeling his game after Durant since playing AAU.

The Nike KD 18 serves as Kevin Durant’s latest sneaker in his illustrious signature catalog, which Nike has attempted to revive with retro releases of KD’s past sneakers this year. These upcoming Chet Holmgren PEs (Player Exclusive) will be arriving as retail releases within the coming months.

Nike KD 18 PE (Chet Holmgren)

“They’re coming in mid-March” 📆

–@ChetHomgren On the release date of his Nike KD 18 PE pic.twitter.com/0wpqzUBpS4

– B/R Kicks (@brkicks) 27 February 2026

An official look at the Nike KD 18 “Camo” PE that Chet Holmgren launched late last year 🏀

A decline is expected in March. pic.twitter.com/h89Mo3sp2h

– Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) 1 March 2026

Giving fans additional information about release dates during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, Holmgren confirmed the upcoming release of “Camo” and “Thunder & Rain” colorways of the Nike KD 18. The first to feature is a “Camo” colorway arriving on March 13th, 2026. Coyote/Security Orange-Medium Brown Outdoor-inspired attire. Based on Brown and Olive Green, we see a Real-Tree pattern across the upper and accents in the iconic Safety Orange known to all outdoorsmen.

Official Look: Chet Holmgren’s Nike KD 18 “Thunder & Rain” PE ✓️@ChetHomgren

🗓️ 13 March
📝 IO7519-500
💵$165 pic.twitter.com/09LcNMfqps

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 28 February 2026

The following “Thunder and Rain” pairing comes as a surprise Space Purple/Multicolor-Pure Purple Color scheme. Holmgren rocked these during the Thunder’s season opener against the Rockets and Kevin Durant, making these a special pair in his PE collection. The majority of the shoe is constructed in purple, with cheetah print panels on the underlying layers, giving it an undeniable Prince vibe given Holmgren’s roots in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Both pairs will be releasing alongside each other in exclusive Nike SNKRS drops on March 13th, 2026. The pairs come in limited quantities in full sizes and as Holmgren said, “Once they run out, there won’t be any more.”