分類: 综合

On Friday, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder faces Denver Nuggets. A highly publicized matchup Between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Tension increased between the two superstars during the game.

Since SGA was moving the ball and Jokic was protected by SGA was seen Throwing the ball to Jokic, according to ClutchPoints. As a result, they faced technical glitches.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a technical foul after throwing the ball at Nikola Jokic.

pic.twitter.com/GJR6JpV89f

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 28 February 2026

The Thunder entered the game with the best record in the NBA at 45–15 and had won six of their last 10 games. is sga defending nba mvp And is averaging 31.8 points and 6.4 assists per game.

Furthermore, he In a tight race for MVP With Jokic, according to the ESPN poll. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are 37-22 and in fourth place in the Western Conference. In addition, Jokic is averaging 28.8 points and 10.4 assists per game.

The Thunder are looking to repeat as NBA champions. Additionally, the Nuggets are looking to bounce back from a seven-game loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Despite the technical foul, SGA and Jokic have shown mutual respect in various capacities. jokic praised openly SGA capabilities in a TikTok video. Many experts are also anticipating the departure of SGA and Jokic. down to the wire In the NBA MVP.

SGA looks to become the first back-to-back MVP since Jokic in 2021 and 2022.

On Sunday, the Thunder will take the field to play against the Dallas Mavericks. After that, they will play the Chicago Bulls on the road.

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers were already in a chaotic, “Twilight Zone” matchup at Little Caesars Arena when Donovan Mitchell decided to steal the show from the sideline. With a broken scoreboard and a literal handheld air horn dictating the rhythm of the game, Mitchell provided the perfect comedy beat on an otherwise tense Friday night for the Cavs.

While participating in an in-game interview from the bench, the sidelined Cavs superstar couldn’t help but play “armchair referee.” As he watched Dennis Schroder steal and then be fouled, Mitchell took over to defend his teammate. “Look at Dennis, man. That’s foul. Sorry,” he joked. It was a rare moment of jubilation in a building that felt more like a construction site than an NBA arena.

“Look at Dennis, man. This is foul.”

-Donovan Mitchell joins the broadcast from the bench pic.twitter.com/CWlyHJK2fw

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 28 February 2026

Ultimately the jokes faded as the Pistons won 122–119 in an overtime thriller. Jalen Duren was a pass rusher, anchoring Detroit with a 33-point, 16-rebound triple-double. Cade Cunningham performed equally well, finishing with 26 points and seven assists to secure the win in front of the home crowd.

Despite Mitchell and James Harden being down, the Cavs refused to go quietly. Evan Mobley put up 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jarrett Allen’s 25 points kept them alive long enough to force a 114–114 tie at the end of regulation. In the end, Detroit’s interior strength proved too much for the shorthanded Cavs to handle in the additional five minutes.

Despite showing tremendous grit and determination, the Cavs could not overcome the Pistons, who were losing their stars.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ahead of Friday’s showdown between MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, coach David Edelman had an interesting thing to say. Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander are recovering from injuries that have kept them out of a lot of games. Many wondered whether any of them would be able to reach the NBA’s 65-game requirement to qualify for the MVP award.

For the third consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are the two leading candidates for MVP. Before Friday’s matchup, Edelman addressed the league 65-game regular-season requirement For NBA awards and how it could affect Jokic and SGA’s tight race.

“The rules weren’t made for them. They both got hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it — maybe we have to look at that. I really mean that. That’s one of the best things about both guys,” Edelman said. “When a fan buys a ticket, they’re going to play. And they’ve done that for years, and our guy’s been doing that for a very long time. Him missing a game, him missing a practice, him missing a workout, it’s really tough on that guy.

“He’s a regular-based player, which is good for our game, good for the fans, and Shai is the same way. That’s one of the most impressive things about both guys. So, when both guys get hurt, I don’t look at it as a comfort. I think there’s a difference, and I know why the rule is there — it’s to clean things up. It makes sense to me and to the fan.”

While the 65-game rule forces teams to play their stars regardless of their record, Nuggets coach David Edelman understands the importance of fans attending games. He doesn’t think this rule should apply to guys like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, who rarely miss games intentionally.

“It’s the worst when your bus is parking, and you see kids in jerseys, and they show up, and that guy doesn’t play,” Edelman said. “I look at it both ways, but in the spirit of the game, I think Shai and Nicola have been great for the league over the years. I hope that’s taken into account as we move forward.”

David Edelman’s strong opinion on SGA and Jokic’s MVP race in relation to the NBA’s 65-game rule: “The rule wasn’t made for them. They both get hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it – maybe we have to take a look at that…

There is a difference and I know why the rule is… pic.twitter.com/IWRsNt7krz

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return for Nuggets

After missing the past nine games, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns from an abdominal injury for Friday’s contest against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. It’s always must-see TV when Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are going at it.

After last year’s Western Conference Semifinals best-of-7 series, where the Thunder and Nuggets played Game 7 at Paycom Center, this should be another playoff-like intensity with SGA and Jokic taking center stage.

Friday night at Little Caesars Arena was already headed toward “weirdest of all time,” but things escalated from technical chaos to sideline drama. While the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers were busy navigating a broken scoreboard and a handheld air horn, some fans in the front row decided to test Dennis Schroder’s patience, and they lost.

The veteran guard, who has been a steady force for the Cavs since arriving via trade, found himself at the center of a heated exchange during the second half.

While the specific “dis” remains secret, it was enough for the officiating crew and area security to intervene. After a brief discussion near the baseline, security escorted a group of fans out of their seats. Schroder, never one to shy away from a verbal debate, seemed unfazed while guiding the offense through the strangest environment of the NBA season.

A fan was kicked out of Cavs-Pistons because of something he said to Dennis Schroder.pic.twitter.com/gvOOIH0dV7

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 28 February 2026

Before the ejection and power surge that broke the arena buzzer, the game featured some legitimate heavyweight basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers were forced to lean heavily on their frontcourt with both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden sidelined.

Evan Mobley played massive minutes to keep Cleveland in it, finishing regulation with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Merrill also stepped up in a big way and finished the fourth quarter with 20 points while knocking down key shots.

The Detroit Pistons, on the other hand, continued to rely on their young core. Jalen Duren was an absolute force in the paint, scoring 33 points and 16 rebounds. Cade Cunningham nearly equaled that scoring output, dropping 25 points of his own, while dishing out seven assists to keep the Pistons’ offense fluid despite the lack of a working game clock.

When the “manual” air horn was sounded to end the fourth quarter, the score was stuck at 114–114. We’re headed for free basketball in Detroit.

NBA games are usually decided by the person who puts the ball in the hoop the most times, but Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, the biggest opponent wasn’t a player; It was a bad buzzer. During the third quarter between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers, a sudden power surge caused a continuous, loud horn sound, halting the action.

Players and fans sat in awkward positions for about 20 minutes as ground technicians struggled to silence the noise. The glitch did more than just block the sound; This wiped out game clocks and shot clocks, forcing officiating crews to take more manual measures.

To keep the game going, arena staff eventually resorted to hand-held air horns to signal the end of possessions and quarters. It was a scene more reminiscent of a local rec league than a professional NBA environment, but officials had to make it work.

A horn delay? 📣

This is what’s currently going on with Cavs-Pistons 🔊

(via @omarisankofa)pic.twitter.com/D4QVx9G2HL

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 28 February 2026

Despite the “Street Ball” atmosphere, the stakes remain incredibly high. The Detroit Pistons entered the night 43-14, trying to tighten their grip on the top seed in the East. They currently hold a slight lead in a game that has become an entirely defensive situation. Jalen Duren has been a monster for Detroit, taking advantage of a Cleveland Cavaliers frontcourt that has been working overtime.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling hard without their primary star power. Donovan Mitchell is out with a groin strain, and the team just announced that James Harden is out with a fracture in his right thumb. In his absence, Evan Mobley has stepped up as a playmaker, keeping Cleveland within striking distance despite the lack of a functioning scoreboard.

As we approach the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the score is tense at 96-91 in favor of the Cavaliers, but the way this night has gone, anything can happen.

Between the manual air horn blasts and the lack of a game clock, this game has officially gone off the rails. One thing’s for sure: Whoever walks away with a win tonight will have earned it in the strangest atmosphere of the season.

When the Golden State Warriors traded for center Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks, they were getting a versatile big man with the ability to score inside and out. The questions surrounding Porzingis’ acquisition were not about him on the court, but off it.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Kristaps Porzingis was reportedly battling postural tachycardia syndrome, a condition that causes increased heart rate, dizziness and even fatigue when going from lying down or sitting to standing. Symptoms of POTS, which are caused by a lack of blood flow to the eardrum when a person stands, may also be relieved by sitting or lying down.

Porzingis had lost 14 consecutive games for the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA trade deadline for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

Since the trade, Porzingis has played in only one of a possible eight games for the Warriors. He was able to make his Dubs debut on February 19 against the Boston Celtics, where he scored 12 points in 17 minutes of play, but subsequently missed three consecutive games due to illness.

According to head coach Steve Kerr, however, Kristaps Porzingis is not dealing with POTS. Kerr recently spoke with Willard and Dibs, a Bay Area radio show that airs weekday afternoons, and that’s where he revealed that Porzingis isn’t working out with Potts at all.

“When I heard about the trade, I read about his POTS diagnosis and then called Onsi Saleh, who was with us, he’s Atlanta’s GM now and he’s a good friend of mine,” Kerr explained. “I called him and said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ And he said it’s not really Potts. It wasn’t Potts.’ So that was some of the misinformation that was out there.

“I don’t know if anyone asked him about it, but the bottom line is that whatever was bothering him in Atlanta, that was keeping him out, had nothing to do with last week’s illness. He was just sick. As you guys know, there’s a lot going on and he was quite sick, losing a lot of fluids and infectious substances, so we kept him at home, but he’s doing much better now.”

Kristaps Porzingis is believed to have been dealing with POTS for several months and it has led many to question what is really left in his NBA career. But Steve Kerr says the Warriors got confirmation that Porzingis is not dealing with POTS ahead of the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks.

“I don’t really know what’s out there,” Kerr said. “All I know is that we had internal discussions and I’ve talked to Kristaps and he told me he’s feeling good and we didn’t go into depth about his illness in Atlanta, but I got confirmation that it wasn’t Potts, but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out and sometimes it happens, even in this modern age where we have a lot of answers, we never have all of them. Sometimes just mysterious things happen.”

As of Friday night, Porzingis is listed as “doubtful” to play in Saturday night’s game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers due to illness. While Stephen Curry is listed as out with “runner’s knee,” Draymond Green is listed as “probable” after missing the Warriors’ last game.

Porzingis has played in only 18 games so far this season between the Hawks and Warriors, averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three.

If you close your eyes and listen carefully, you can almost hear the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme coming through your speakers again. NBC Sports is emphasizing the nostalgia factor, announcing a special “throwback” broadcast for the upcoming March 3 NBA matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers.

For one night only, the league is taking a trip back to the 1990s, and honestly, it couldn’t be a better time for fans feeling the fatigue of the modern streaming maze.

The network is reuniting the heavy hitters who defined the era of basketball television. Bob Costas will lead the play-by-play, joined by the legendary Doug Collins and the “Czar of the Telestrator” Mike Fratello. The trip down memory lane doesn’t stop at the booth either.

Jim Gray has returned to the sidelines, while Hannah Storm, Isiah Thomas and PJ Carlesimo will handle studio duties. To complete the vibe, the broadcast will include graphics packages and tape elements from the 1995–96 season.

While the presentation is old school, the talent on stage is the definition of new age. This matchup holds significance far beyond the broadcast booth. We all remember when Joel Embiid dropped a career-high 70 points on rookie Victor Vembanyama two years ago, but the landscape looks very different now.

Victor Wembanyama enters this contest averaging 23.7 points and a league-leading 11.2 rebounds per game, leading a San Antonio Spurs team that has remarkably won 11 straight games.

The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, are finding their rhythm at the right time. Joel Embiid has scored at least 25 points in 12 consecutive games, and Tyrese Maxey is on pace to set a franchise record for career three-pointers.

The 76ers currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 33-26, looking to keep their three-game winning streak alive against a dominant Spurs team. It will be a trip to see the game’s most modern unicorn framed by classic NBC aesthetics. Whether you’re there for the Wembanyama Blocks or Bob Costas’ storytelling, Tuesday night viewing is essential.

The Nike Air Jordan Retro release calendar will continue throughout 2026 as fans have several highly touted releases to look forward to in the coming months. Jordan Brand and Nike are bringing back the OG retro sneakers in unprecedented numbers, offering reimagined takes on some of the classics that made the Jumpman an icon. The Air Jordan 4 “Bred” is next up after last being seen in the 2024 “Reimagined” series.

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

The Air Jordan 4 silhouette was introduced in 1989 following Michael Jordan’s first MVP season. Looking to make a statement with the debut of his signature sneaker line, Nike designer Tinker Hatfield has designed a hybrid-based sneaker with several cutting-edge design elements not seen on previous sneakers. The shoes were an instant hit and remain a particularly popular silhouette in the numbered series.

Seeing retro returns in 1999, 2008 (Countdown Pack), 2012, 2019, and a “reimagined” leather look in 2024, the familiar “Bred” (meaning, black and red) continues to hold up as one of the best colorways to release. Early reports and mock-ups suggest that the 2026 release will stay true to the OG release of the ’90s.

Air Jordan 4 and “Wide” (2026)

BREAKING: 2026 “Bred” Air Jordan 4 Expected To Feature OG White Edges On The Upper + MJ Face Box Packaging! 👀

📝: @zSneakerHeadz @sneakermarketero @sneakerfiles pic.twitter.com/XP1ARFlYhq

– zSneakerHeadz (@zSneakerHeadz) 25 February 2026

Nike Air Jordan 4 “Bred” 🌹

• $220
• household size
• 27 November

– True-to-OG. ’89 size
– White upper edge like the 1989 pair
– Michael Jordan Face Packaged in Box

limited stock pic.twitter.com/nrcE0iQL17

– Overnundr (@Ovrnundr) 27 February 2026

The 2026 Air Jordan 4 “Bred” will bring back the 1989 look 👀🔴 pic.twitter.com/bI5ZBciIuo

– Insane Sneaker™ (@insanesneaker) 26 February 2026

The fan-favorite Air Jordan 4 “Bred” scheduled for 2026 will now feature the OG specs from the original pair released in 1989. The shoe will follow the same OG shape with black nubuck panels along with subtle white contrasting edges. The classic Black/Fire Red/Cement Grey/White ensemble will also return with the classic Nike Air branding on the back heel.

An added bonus: Nike plans to bring back the 2001-2005 Jordan “Face” box, a touch of nostalgia for fans who remember stacking sneaker boxes emblazoned with Jordan’s face.

The Air Jordan 4 OG “Bred” is expected to release on November 27th, 2026 at a retail tag of $220. The shoes will be available on the Nike SNKRS app and will come in a full family of sizes with adjusted pricing, but early reports indicate that stock will be extremely limited in nature. Be sure to stay on top of our sneakers news for more updates closer to release day!

KNThe Cleveland Cavaliers will need less time for their showdown against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday as star guard James Harden has been sidelined with a thumb injury, according to the team. Harden was the Cavs’ major trade deadline acquisition in hopes of making a jump in the East standings and making a push into the postseason.

James Harden initially suffered the injury during the Cavs’ win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, and has been sidelined since. Shortly after the Cavs traded for the former All-Star guard, the team won five consecutive games before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder last weekend.

The Cavs lost 118-116 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday with Harden out due to injury. Overall, the Cavs have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and are currently in fourth place in the East standings. They are 37-23, and only a half-game behind the No. 3 Knicks.

Since the deal, Harden has appeared in seven games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists with splits of 49.4 percent shooting from the field, 48.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line. It’s a small sample size, but if those field goal and 3-point shooting percentages hold up, they’ll be career highs for the 17-year veteran.

Before the trade, Harden had spent the previous three and a half seasons playing for his hometown LA Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers at the beginning of the 2023–24 season.

The Charlotte Hornets are suddenly in the mix for a spot in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament, and their resurgence in the standings is the result of a collective effort from the stars to the coaching staff. However, on the court LaMelo Ball, Kon Nueppel and Brandon Miller are leading the way for the Hornets.

Since January 3, the Hornets have won 18 games, the most in the NBA, and are the fourth-winningest team in the NBA with their 18–8 record, trailing only the Detroit Pistons (18–5), San Antonio Spurs (18–7) and Cleveland Cavaliers (17–7).

Since the beginning of January, LaMelo Ball (99), Kon Nueppel (92), and Brandon Miller (90) rank first, second, and third in the NBA in total three-pointers made, which shows how impactful these three players have been for the Hornets.

The Charlotte Hornets are 17-2 this season, including their first five…

– LaMelo Ball
– Con Knuppel
– Brandon Miller
– Miles Bridge
– Moussa Diabet

In the 270 minutes these five have shared the floor this season, the Hornets have an offensive rating of 137.0 and a defensive rating of 106.5… pic.twitter.com/L3u3u105SU

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 27 February 2026

Additionally, the Charlotte Hornets are 17-2 this season with a starting five of LaMelo Ball, Kon Nueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate. In the 270 minutes these five players have shared the floor this season, the Hornets have an offensive rating of 137.0 and a defensive rating of 106.5, meaning they have outscored opponents by 30.5 points per 100 possessions.

This includes wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. Charlotte is also currently the last team to defeat the Spurs, going 11–0 in the month of February.

The Hornets’ only two losses in the opening five have come against the Detroit Pistons by six points and against the LA Clippers by eight points.

Entering March, the Hornets have the 12th toughest remaining strength of schedule with an average opponent winning percentage of .502. Some of their toughest remaining games include three games against the Boston Celtics, two games against the New York Knicks, one game against the Detroit Pistons, and one game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Brandon Miller is the Hornets’ scoring leader, averaging 20.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three.

Kon Nueppel is averaging 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Charlotte, while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 44.2 percent from three and 89.8 percent from the free throw line.

LaMelo Ball is averaging 19.4 points with 4.8 rebounds and a team-high 73 assists per game, while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three.

Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are likely the early favorites to win this year’s NBA Rookie of the Year award. With the Dallas Mavericks set to play the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, March 3, we could have a potential showdown between the two rookie events.

However, according to Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Sports, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd suggested that Flagg not participate in that contest. If that’s the case, the 19-year-old rookie is likely to miss at least the team’s next three games.

When Kidd was asked if Flagg would be available for the Mavericks’ game against the Hornets, he said, “Probably not.”

The Mavericks have been playing without Cooper Flagg for the past five games, his sixth consecutive missed game on Friday when Dallas faces the Memphis Grizzlies. He recently had a walking boot removed, indicating progression of a sprain in the middle of his left foot. However, Flagg remains out of the lineup.

When healthy, Flagg has been solid for the Mavericks in his rookie year. Through 49 games played, the former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 48.2% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the three-point line.

He is in direct competition with Kon Knueppel for the Rookie of the Year award, as the Hornets’ star has become an instant star for the club. Knueppel, who was Flagg’s teammate in college at Duke, averaged 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest. He also has a 49.1% field goal percentage and 44.2% three-point percentage in 59 games played.

Cade Cunningham is having arguably the best season of his career so far, as he leads the Detroit Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference through 57 games. Shaquille O’Neal believes Cunningham deserves the MVP award because he is playing so well. Even higher than Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

During a segment on “ESPN Tip-Off,” Shaq believed the 24-year-old guard is one of the most “complete” players in the league at the moment. The former veteran center turned NBA analyst likes the way Cunningham plays and believes he deserves the MVP trophy for helping make the Pistons a true contender once again.

“I watched [Cunningham] Play the next day, and he has a complete game,” Shack said. “He does everything right. More often than not, he gets everything right all the time. The way he plays, his speed, how he’s playing, and [the Pistons] Found that form. Kenny, you know what I’m talking about. Like, ‘We’re on a mission this year.’

“[Cade] Fixes everything. “Not right most of the time, but he gets everything right all the time.”@SHAQ Discusses why he thinks Cade Cunningham should be MVP

Watch Cavs-Pistons All-Access at 7 ET on ESPN and the ESPN App 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8x6AlpxB1V

– ESPN (@espn) 27 February 2026

The fifth-year veteran earned his second All-Star award this season, as he has been one of the most efficient players in the league so far. Through 51 games played, Cade Cunningham has averaged 25.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists (career-high), and 1.5 steals (career-high) per contest, while shooting 45.9% from the floor and 33.9% from beyond the three-point line.

Cunningham and the Pistons reached the playoffs last season, but were ultimately eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round. This was the first playoff appearance for the franchise since the 2018–19 season. This year, Detroit is playing like they have something to prove, and the performance of Cade Cunningham is playing a big factor in their success.

After spending several years on an NBA roster on a two-way contract, the Indiana Pacers rewarded Quenton Jackson by signing Quenton Jackson to a standard three-year deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Jackson began the season on a two-way contract with the Pacers and the team was impressed with his performance.

With the signing of Quenton Jackson to a regular contract, the Pacers’ roster has now reached 15 standard contracts. The team now has an open two-way contract space, with rookie forward Taillon Peters and second-year guard Ethan Thompson also on two-way contracts.

Jackson has played a key role for the Pacers this season, appearing in a career-best 30 games, including 10 starts, in just over 17 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 9.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while splitting 48.9 percent shooting from the field, 40.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81 percent shooting from the free-throw line. His field goal percentage and 3-point percentage are also career highs.

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jackson signed with the Washington Wizards during training camp. He did not make the final roster, but later returned to the team on a two-way contract for the 2022–23 season. Jackson’s next stop in the NBA was with the Chicago Bulls ahead of the 2023–24 season, but he was waived before the start of the year.

He was playing in the G League when the Pacers first signed him to a two-way contract during the second half of the 2023–24 season. The Pacers re-signed him to a two-way contract later that year, and he has been with the team ever since.

With heavy speculation regarding the Los Angeles Lakers and superstar LeBron James, sports analyst Colin Cowherd gives a candid opinion about the relationship between the team and the player. As Cowherd has criticized the Lakers for certain areas in the past, he would make an interesting comparison between the situation of the franchise and the Hollywood business.

It cannot be denied that James is in the final stages of his career; Whether this season is the final one or not, it’s happening sooner rather than later. Cowherd mentioned James being 41, how some statistical categories reflect his age, and how the star’s initial move to Los Angeles was a “Hollywood marriage” and how it is ending with a focus on Luka Doncic.

“LeBron [James] “The 41-year-old is averaging the fewest minutes of his career, the fewest points per game since his rookie season, and he’s the second-slowest player in the entire league,” Cowherd said. LeBron dominated the NBA for 21 years. 22 years on, it’s all dried up. Let’s be completely honest about LeBron and the Lakers. It was always a Hollywood wedding, of two hot stars. And you know what happens in Hollywood; One of the stars eventually starts dating someone younger. That’s Luca.”

LeBron and the Lakers are headed for a Hollywood divorce @colincowherd pic.twitter.com/VHpimdYaet

– The Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) 27 February 2026

Still, James is averaging 21.5 points, seven assists and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, and while other seasons have been better in the past, some could argue that this year is still impressive, considering his age. Whatever the case, there’s no doubt the Lakers have found the next face of the franchise in Doncic, who is leading the league with 32.7 points per game while averaging 8.6 assists and 7.8 rebounds on 47 percent shooting from the field.

After this, James and Los Angeles looked to lead the team to as much success as possible with a 34–24 record, which would put them in sixth place in the Western Conference.

NBA Hall of Famer Ben Wallace supports the comparison between himself and Isaiah Stewart, further validating the young forward’s emergence during the Detroit Pistons’ standout season.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill, Wallace addressed several parallels between his Hall of Fame career and Stewart’s evolving role in Detroit’s frontcourt.

“I definitely see it,” Wallace said.

Stewart, 24, is having one of the most accomplished stretches of his career. In 48 games and 13 starts, he has averaged 10 points, 5.1 rebounds, a career-high 1.7 blocks and 1.1 assists, while shooting 54% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range in 23.3 minutes per game. His impact has helped Detroit reach an NBA-best record of 43–14.

Comparisons focus primarily on defensive intensity and physical presence. Despite being undersized for a traditional center, Wallace made his legacy as one of the league’s most dominant defenders. A four-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Star, Wallace anchored Detroit’s 2004 championship team and became synonymous with the franchise’s gritty identity. His rebounding, rim protection and tireless energy defined the era of Pistons basketball.

Isaiah Stewart credits Ben Wallace’s path for growing mutual respect

Stewart acknowledged the connection.

“He paved the way for us guys to be smaller,” Stewart said. “I’m trying to live up to that and keep my name in this organization in a positive way.”

According to ESPN, the mutual respect between the two goes beyond public comments.

Watching the respectful exchange, a source who knows Wallace well summed it up:

“Ben looks at Stewart like a proud father.”

As Detroit continues its rise to the top of the standings, Stewart’s development remains central to the team’s identity. Wallace’s endorsement reinforces the belief that Stewart’s defensive growth and physical style is up to the standard set by one of the franchise’s most iconic players.

As the NBA regular season heads into its final stages, one name that has emerged as one of the candidates for the league’s MVP award is Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham. The Pistons have been one of the best teams in the league all season, with Cunningham as their top player. According to ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill, it’s a big reason why Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff believes his star should take home the NBA’s top honor.

Bickerstaff said, “The best player on the team with the best winning percentage, to me, is the guy who deserves to be MVP.” “He doesn’t take up nights or time or possessions defensively. He’ll run his 25 and make his teammates better.”

Cade Cunningham certainly has a big case for the MVP award, and JB Bickerstaff is right to campaign for his player. Cunningham has taken a huge step forward this year as the driving force behind the Pistons’ success. The team is currently 43–14 and in first place in the Eastern Conference standings. To put it in perspective, the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics are five and a half games behind them.

As Bickerstaff noted, the Pistons’ 75.4 winning percentage is the best in the league, just ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose 45-15 record puts them at a perfect 75 percent.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cunningham is in his fifth season in the NBA. He was selected for his second consecutive All-Star appearance. He has played just over 34 minutes per game in 51 games this year.

Cunningham averaged 25.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocked shots with splits of 45.9 percent shooting from the field, 33.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

As Miami Heat star Norman Powell returns from Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 124-117, the team has received an important injury update on the All-Star guard. While the Heat star is dealing with a serious groin injury, an MRI revealed the severity of the problem, as well as how much time he will miss.

Powell will be out for Saturday afternoon’s match against the Houston Rockets after an MRI revealed he has a Grade 1 strain, as he will be considered “week-to-week” by the team. The week-to-week label is more important than the “day-to-day” label as other players have been considered in the past.

Looking at this upcoming week, after Saturday’s game, Miami will have four games and Powell will be at risk of missing all of them due to a groin strain. Powell played only 10 minutes in Thursday’s loss, missing the game with a groin injury after he entered the game questionable with the issue before being upgraded to “available.”

“We’ll have to evaluate it when we get back to Miami,” Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said via video from the team’s YouTube page after the loss. “It wasn’t that he couldn’t [play]This was a slide against [Tyrese] Maxi, and he took it too far. So that’s what he’s dealing with, and we’ll just have to see what it is.”

Heat’s Tyler Herro likely to fill void left by Norman Powell

Powell has been Miami’s leading scorer with 22.5 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three-point range, making the 32-year-old a first-time All-Star. For most of the season, he served as the top offensive guard due to Tyler Herro missing significant time.

Now the roles will be reversed, with Herro coming off the bench since returning from a rib injury, one would imagine he has been included in the starting lineup, although the ongoing injury issues with the team have been frustrating.

“It’s obviously very difficult,” Herro said. “We just want to stay healthy, keep people healthy, pray for Norm. I hope he’s OK.”

It remains to be seen how long Powell misses time for the Heat.

The Phoenix Suns have been without Devin Booker for the past four games as he deals with a hip strain injury he suffered during the team’s 121-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 19. However, his latest update suggests that he may make a comeback soon.

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, reports indicate the 29-year-old guard is expected to return the first week of March. Booker could return for either Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings or Thursday’s contest against the Chicago Bulls.

“Devin Booker is recovering from a hip injury and is poised to return after a four-day break – possibly Sacramento on Tuesday or Chicago on Thursday.”

This is very good news for the Suns team, which is firmly involved in the Western Conference. As of Friday, Feb. 27, Phoenix owns the No. 7 seed. Booker returning to the lineup should give the team what it needs to compete in the final stretch of the regular season.

The 11-year veteran has been the face of the franchise this season. Although many believed the Suns could potentially struggle, Phoenix has actually been incredibly competitive. Especially when Devin Booker is on the court. In the 44 games he has played, Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the three-point line.

After defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 on Thursday, the Suns will not play again until Tuesday’s game against the Kings. Phoenix gets three consecutive days off, giving Booker and his teammates plenty of time to rest and prepare for Sacramento.

SAN FRANCISCO — After missing the past three games due to illness, Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis is headed in the right direction ahead of the Dubs’ matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following the Warriors’ Friday afternoon practice, Steve Kerr gave a positive update on the big man’s status.

“Kristaps felt better in practice today. It’s the first time he’s done anything since his illness,” Kerr said. “He would be suspicious [for the Lakers game]”

It’s been a rough start to the Porzingis era in Golden State. After his mixed debut against the Boston Celtics, in which he scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes of action, health has once again proven to be a hindrance for the big man. Before the Denver game, the first game Porzingis missed during this period, Kerr said that Porzingis’ illness was so severe that he could not leave his hotel room. And last week, Porzingis remained at the bay to recover as the Dubs went on the road for a quick back-to-back.

With the disease rearing its head, Porzingis’ medical history with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) certainly comes to the forefront of speculation. In the past, Porzingis has struggled with POTS’ chronic symptoms, primarily an increased heart rate that later leads to dizziness and extreme fatigue.

However, the Warriors have not officially linked this particular disease to that specific condition. Details about Porzingis’ symptoms and the specifics of his illness remain scarce and vague. Still, this is an ailment that Golden State knew about when they traded for him and were confident they could manage.

So far, health has hampered Porzingis’ start in Golden State, but hopefully they can get him back against the Lakers.

Draymond Green injury update

As for other injury updates, Kerr said Draymond Green was able to participate in practice and he expects to be available against Los Angeles after lower back pain sidelined him against the Memphis Grizzlies.

But the problem with Green, lately, has been when he’s been available and on the court. Whenever Green takes the field, his decline in offensive performance has a negative impact on the rest of the team. In the last two games he has missed, the Warriors have scored more than 120 points. And in the last two games, they have decided not to finish with him; They have managed to pick up some close wins over the Phoenix Suns and Grizzlies.

On the season, when Green is on the floor, the Warriors are 4.3 points worse per 100 possessions, which is in the bottom 22nd percentile among players at his position. For a player who had historic on-off, positive plus/minus in his heyday, the situation he is in now is a far cry from his peak.

It’s a problem of which Kerr is acutely aware. Last week, he said it was up to him and the coaching staff to put him in the best position to succeed. After practice, Kerr talked about how they can find a rhythm with him out there.

“We have to read the situation. New Orleans, we found more rhythm in the second half with Dre than we did in the first, and so it’s some type of sets we can call,” Kerr said. “We’re doing some of our off-ball things. And then some adjustments that he’s going to have to make without Steph, and those are all things we talked about internally and with the whole group.”

The Detroit Pistons have a league-best record of 43-14 and are 5.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. After years of disappointing play since winning championships in the early 2000s, the Pistons are finally back on top of the league. There is a very good chance that the Pistons will represent the East in the NBA Finals this June.

Star center Jalen Duren believes the Pistons can win the championship now. He has an omnichannel mindset that he shared in a recent article for Endscape.

“To some people, it may seem crazy, but we want to win championships. We don’t want to wait. We feel like we have the people. We have the coaching staff. We have the mentality, the playing style, to do it. And we’re trying to get it done.”

The Pistons are loaded with talent. They have six players averaging double figures in scoring, with Cade Cunningham leading the way with 25.4 points per game. Duren is at 18.2 and adds 10.6 rebounds. Cunningham is second in the league in assists with 9.8 assists per game.

Detroit has nearly locked up the top seed in the East. That won’t happen for a few more weeks if they continue to play at the same level throughout the season. The next four games are not easy as they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers twice, Orlando Magic twice and San Antonio Spurs. Three of those four are on the road, as these next four games will be a big test for them in what will almost feel like a playoff series.

We’ll see if the Pistons come close to winning a championship in 2026.

Having additional frontcourt depth, especially in exchange for an upcoming playoff run, is never a bad thing. The San Antonio Spurs bolstered the frontcourt depth on their roster on Friday with the signing of veteran big man Mason Plumlee to a remaining season contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Mason Plumlee originally signed a 10-day contract with the Spurs, and his new contract came just as the 10-day contract was about to expire. The Spurs’ roster now stands at 15 standard contracts and three two-way contracts.

Plumlee entered the free agent market after being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He began the 2025–26 season with the Charlotte Hornets, but was included as part of the multi-team trade that sent Ousmane Dieng to the Chicago Bulls.

The Thunder then needed a roster spot to complete a trade agreed upon with the Philadelphia 76ers involving Jared McCain, and Plumlee was the casualty.

Plumlee, the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, is in his 13th season in the league. Before signing with the Spurs, he had appeared in 14 games with the Hornets, including two starts, playing a little over eight minutes per game. He averaged 1.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while splitting 75 percent shooting from the field and 66.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Plumlee began his NBA career with the Brooklyn Nets, and has also had stints with the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, and Phoenix Suns. As far as the Spurs’ current depth chart, Plumlee would appear behind Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo in terms of centers. He is yet to feature in a game for Spurs.

As part of a three-team trade back at the deadline, the Phoenix Suns acquired Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony from the Milwaukee Bucks. While Coffey has been a part of the Suns’ rotation since his arrival, that is not the case for Anthony. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, a move toward removing Cole Anthony from the roster was always under discussion for the Suns, and according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the team finally did it on Friday.

Cole Anthony did not join the Suns’ roster after the deadline, and the move allows him to clear waivers by the March 1 buyout deadline and potentially be picked up by another team. Siegel suggests another team could bring Anthony in via a 10-day contract or for the remainder of the season, but there are also some foreign teams that have expressed interest in him. However, at this time, it is likely that he will continue to pursue another NBA opportunity.

With the Suns now having an open roster spot, two-way contract guard Jamari Bouya is a candidate to be converted to a standard deal. The Suns also signed Haywood Highsmith to a contract after acquiring him from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month.

Anthony was selected 15th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. He played for the Magic for five seasons before being included in the team’s offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Grizzlies waived Anthony before the start of the season, and he signed with the Bucks.

Anthony appeared in 35 games for the Bucks at a rate of just over 15 minutes per game. He averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists with splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 30.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 61.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

When the 2026 offseason arrives, the future of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will be up in the air. The 23-year-old veteran has not yet decided how long he wants to continue playing until his current contract with the Lakers expires. Of course, if James wants to continue his career he can always re-sign with the Lakers. But count former Laker Byron Scott as someone who doesn’t believe it should be that way.

During a recent appearance on Los Angeles radio station Power 106, Scott talked about why he thinks LeBron James should not be included in the Lakers’ future after this season.

Scott said, “Coming from one of the greatest players to ever play the game, I thought it was ridiculous that it’s harder to play now than it was then.” “I’m a fan, but I don’t mince words. I think this should be his last year here. You don’t have to go home, but you have to get out of here.”

Looking at Scott’s comments, it seems like his argument is based more on emotions rather than James’ talent and fit with the current Lakers team. It doesn’t look like the debate between players and fans over the strength of the era will end any time soon.

What is not debatable is how the Lakers’ acquisition of James helped bring the franchise out of irrelevance following Kobe Bryant’s retirement. After signing with the Lakers as a free agent in the 2018 offseason, James led the organization to its first championship in a decade and helped keep the Lakers a relevant playoff contender in the following years.

This season, James has appeared in 40 games, a little more than 33 minutes per game. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals on 49.8 percent shooting from the field, 29.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 74.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Fellow Serbian basketball product and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic discusses Nikola Topic’s debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of Friday’s matchup at Paycom Center. Topic addressed the media for the first time since being diagnosed with testicular cancer last week. Jokic was thrilled to see Nikola begin his NBA career after such a scary setback.

jokic discussed the topic recent return With the Thunder, according to DNVR Nuggets.

Jokic said, “Of course, I played with him a little bit when he was with the national team. He’s a really good guy – really talented.” “He is the future of Serbian basketball. He is fighting for something that is probably more important – the most important – and he won it.”

Nikola Jokic on Nikola Topic:

“He is the future of Serbian basketball.”

“He’s fighting something that’s probably more important – most important – and he won it.” pic.twitter.com/EZyDAQcusL

– DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) 26 February 2026

Joc calling Topic the future of Serbian basketball is an eye-opening compliment, considering the Thunder rookie’s career is just getting started. He has also made impressive starts in leading the Thunder to wins against the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavs amid the absence of All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After losing their last nine games, SGA will look to bounce back for Friday’s contest against the Nuggets.

The defending champions fell to 5-4 without Gilgeous-Alexander. Topic averaged 3.2 points on 43.8% shooting, including 40% from deep, 2.0 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 10.6 minutes in five games for the Thunder.

Thunder appoint Nikola Topic to G League amid SGA withdrawal

The Thunder signed Nikola Topic on Friday to join their G League affiliate, the Blue. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the last nine games, the Thunder decided Topic’s time would be better suited to getting more reps with the Blue.

The Thunder’s G League affiliate is in the midst of a four-game home stand at Paycom Center. Following Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets, the Thunder will embark on a three-game road trip.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Memphis Grizzlies without their star players for the sixth consecutive game.

“The Mavericks say Cooper Flagg will miss his sixth consecutive game tonight due to a left medial sprain. Memphis is at Dallas for the second straight home game night. This will be Flagg’s 10th game this season he has missed,” Steen, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

It’s uncertain when Flagg will return to action, and the Mavericks may want to be cautious with his injury. During the All-Star break, Flagg was seen in the boot, which raised many eyebrows. Steen reported at the time that the Mavericks were fortunate that his injury was only a midfoot sprain.

“Cooper Flagg was seen with a boot on his left foot at Duke’s home game against Clemson on Saturday, but league sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas feels fortunate that Flagg’s MRI results last week revealed only a left foot sprain,” Stein wrote. “It is still not known exactly how long the 19-year-old will be sidelined, but the Mavericks are relieved that the injury is not more serious.”

Flagg had started to fire before he was hit and it was clear he was figuring things out. The Mavericks made some moves at the trade deadline that indicated they were ready to move forward with Flagg as the future of the team, and it seemed like he was ready for the moment.

It doesn’t seem like the Mavericks are too concerned about Flagg’s injury, and there should be a chance he returns at some point this season. For now, players like Najee Marshall, Klay Thompson, Brandon Williams and others will have to step up.

The San Antonio Spurs have built one of the most dangerous defenses in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama’s MVP-level play has garnered the most attention. However, Stefan Kassel’s emergence as one of the league’s top on-ball defenders is a specific compliment to the French superstar.

“[Stephon] Understand your role well. “The level he’s playing at is really invisible for a second-year player,” Wembanyama said of Castle’s defense. “We make it uncomfortable for guys playing against us. That’s the goal. To dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then hit a shot over some of the best rim protectors, it’s very hard.

The Spurs have the NBA’s third-best record (43–16) amid a league-best 11-game winning streak. Cassel’s two-way contributions during his second season have sped up San Antonio’s deadline.

The 21-year-old has put in solid offensive performances, averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 assists on 46.7 percent shooting in 49 appearances. However, Cassel’s success in an expanded defensive role has been the catalyst behind his impact.

Stefan Cassel blossoming as defensive stopper with surging Spurs

San Antonio has tasked Cassel with guarding the league’s top scorers on a nightly basis. The 6-foot-6 guard has faced challenges and led a defensive unit with Wembanyama that ranks third in the NBA.

According to CleaningTheGlass, Cassel posted a -4.7 defensive rating swing (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a player on versus off), the sixth-best mark in the NBA among guards playing over 1,000 minutes. The Spurs have posted a 109.3 defensive rating with him and Wembanyama.

st anthony MVP candidate placed Cade Cunningham scored 16 points on 5-of-26 shooting during Monday’s 114-103 win over the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham shot 3 of 13 (23.1 percent) with two turnovers when defended by Cassel.

“[Stephon] “The potential for that was shown last year,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said, adding that he had some good moments defensively. This year, we’ve obviously increased the interrogations, which has increased their opportunity to guard the big scorers and ball-dominant guys in this league. And I think he has proved his capabilities. I think he needs to continue to move the ball in other ways. But I think he’s as good on the ball as any player in the league.”

Stephen Cassel’s defense on Cade Cunningham during the Spurs’ win over the Pistons

(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)pic.twitter.com/4B5kblpddQ

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 24 February 2026

With Castle and Wembanyama already wreaking havoc on opposition attacks, Spurs have another potentially elite on-ball stopper in rookie Dylan Harper. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, with a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan and above-average athleticism, the No. 2 draft pick has caused problems for opposing ball-handlers at only 19 years old.

Harper is learning on the job while supporting Castle.

“The biggest thing about Stephon is he’s a competitor. I already saw it when I got to San Antonio,” he said. “No matter what the circumstances or who he goes up against, he’ll compete. On the biggest stages, all the work he’s put in is showing. He’s physical [at the point of attack]With the elite wings and other defenders, and then you have Victor and Luke. [Kornet] Down on the shore, it’s like choosing your poison. You have to either shoot this pull-up or kick it out.

The Spurs are currently tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third-best odds (+950) to win the title, trailing only the Denver Nuggets (+600) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+135). Wembanyama, Castle and Harper will still be on their rookie contracts next season.

The Atlanta Hawks experienced a sharp increase in ticket prices after announcing their upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion in collaboration with Magic City.

According to Yahoo Sports, the average list price for the Hawks’ March 16 home game increased nearly 300 percent after the team announced the partnership on social media.

Yahoo Sports shared on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“The Hawks and Magic City are teaming up for the ultimate collaboration

Average list price increased 300% after team’s social media announcement”

The promotion, called “Magic City Night”, is scheduled for the time when Atlanta hosts the Orlando Magic. The franchise also unveiled co-branded merchandise, including a hoodie with the Hawks’ logo emblazoned with the Magic City name on the chest. The collaboration quickly generated national buzz and was widely discussed on social media platforms.

The Hawks and Magic City are teaming up for the ultimate collaboration

Average list price increased 300% after team’s social media announcement pic.twitter.com/Xr6xxOdkit

– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 27 February 2026

Former Hawks guard Lou Williams – widely known by his nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” – publicly expressed his support for the partnership during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back. Williams, who previously played in Atlanta and has a long association with the Magic City, called the collaboration an authentic reflection of the city’s culture.

His association with the venue dates back to 2020, when his “Lemon Pepper Lou” nickname was popularized due to a visit to the Magic City during the NBA’s Orlando Bubble due to quarantine protocols and referencing the club’s signature wings. Williams later adopted this nickname as part of his personal brand.

Atlanta (30-31) is currently ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and entering the promotion with a three-game winning streak. Whether driven by curiosity, cultural significance or social media momentum, the Hawks’ announcement has translated into immediate market impact, with ticket demand soaring in the wake of the Magic City collaboration.

The Miami Heat’s frustrations grew after another disappointing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 124-117, on Thursday night, an outing that also featured the absence of a key player. Heat star Norman Powell will leave the 76ers game due to a groin injury, head coach Erik Spoelstra has given some insight on the issue.

Powell only played 10 minutes, where he scored only three points to go along with three rebounds and two assists, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, making his presence felt. He came into the game with “right groin soreness” on the injury report, placing him doubtful for the contest, although he was later made available.

Miami will now be at home for three games, with all eyes on his health as Spoelstra described how he “aggravated” the injury.

“We’ll have to evaluate it when we get back to Miami,” Spoelstra said, according to The Miami Herald. “It wasn’t that he couldn’t [play]…He took it out of proportion. So that’s what he’s dealing with, and we’ll just have to see what it is.”

Powell passed all protocols and testing to play Thursday because the groin injury had “aggravated over time,” as Starr said in that morning’s shootaround.

Heat’s Norman Powell on ‘really disappointing’ injuries

With the Heat’s loss to the 76ers, the team has 22 games left to turn the season around and avoid the play-in tournament, with Powell playing a key role in bringing the aggression to an extraordinary level. Although Tyler Herro returned and recorded 25 points and seven assists, Powell has been vital to the team as he has been dealing with back injuries as well as groin injuries.

Powell says injuries have been “really frustrating”, although the way he acknowledges this is that with many players, niggles and injuries happen, showing that they have “a very high pain tolerance.”

It remains to be seen what Powell’s status will be in Miami’s next game on Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

The Miami Heat lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 124-117 on Thursday night, stopping the team once again in its main goal of climbing the standings to avoid the play-in tournament. There’s no denying that Heat star Bam Adebayo is sick and tired of being in the play-in tournament, as he made his thoughts known after the loss; However, this may be unavoidable.

Miami is very familiar with the play-in tournament, having finished as the eighth seed the past three seasons, and the team is looking to finish at least sixth to avoid it altogether. However, with 22 games left, time is running out to make a significant play this time around, with Thursday being a prime opportunity.

A win against the 76ers would have given the Heat a tiebreaker that could have implications for the postseason, with Philadelphia being the sixth seed and Miami being the eighth. The setbacks are having an impact on the team, as shown by Adebayo’s comments where he is fed up with being in the tournament and how the team is better than him.

via video from HeatCulture on Twitter, Adebayo said, “I don’t want to be in that situation anymore.” “We’re better than we’ve been in the play-ins the last four years.”

Bam Adebayo is completely fed up with being in the play-ins:

“Yeah, I don’t want to be in this mess anymore. We’re better off than we have been in the play-ins the last 4 years.”

“See if we can string together some Ws.”

I haven’t seen Bam so bloated in a minute… https://t.co/YxJ3nssPZi pic.twitter.com/2VLElOb0bx

– 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙡𝙩𝙂𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) 27 February 2026

Coming off a loss to the 76ers, Miami shot themselves in the foot in the first half, as Philadelphia got everything they wanted. Adebayo criticized the team’s effort, saying they “didn’t work hard enough.”

“I mean, I don’t know how to explain the effort. You could obviously see we weren’t trying hard enough to get guys off the line, take a lot of attempts,” Adebayo said after recording 29 points and 14 rebounds on Thursday, with video via Heat Nation on the X.

Bam Adebayo on Miami’s effort:

“We didn’t work hard enough, brother. I mean, I don’t know how to explain effort.”

(via @darkobasketball) pic.twitter.com/REQYiSSRi8

— 𝙀𝘼𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙂𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) 27 February 2026

Bam Adebayo explains where the heat has been “steady”

Although the Heat had to play without Norman Powell for a portion of the game after he left with a groin injury, the game showed another worrying trend that has affected the team. Since Miami was on a three-game winning streak prior to Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, not making a field goal in the final six and a half minutes of the game would result in the team losing.

Thursday was a similar day, with the Heat having a much better second half in erasing Philadelphia’s 17-point lead, even after Miami took the lead, the team was held scoreless for almost the last three minutes of the outing. Another frustration that Adebayo expressed was how “stagnant” they were.

“We became stagnant offensively,” Adebayo said, according to The Miami Herald. “We ran a certain play over and over again, and we stayed consistent.”

Another area the team needs to figure out is how to capitalize in clutch time, because when Powell was not in the game, players like Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and especially the returning Tyler Herro needed to come up big. Looking at the team’s production on both sides of the ball, the offense has been up and down.

After taking the league by storm with a 14–7 start, showcasing a new fast-paced style of play, it did not result in a league-top offense.

While Miami leads the league with 104.9 possessions per 48 minutes, the team ranks 15th in offensive rating (114.0), while the Heat are fifth in defensive rating (111.6).

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra admits need to do better

As the Heat look to continue to challenge themselves throughout the remainder of the season, it may be hard for a fan to believe that this team can put it all together and reach the sixth seed. In addition to the numerous injuries the team has gone through throughout the season, especially to Herro, head coach Erik Spoelstra is also looking to balance the youth movement on the team and get them playing significant minutes.

It can’t be denied that the one player people are pointing towards is Kel’El Ware, who is the breakout star among Miami’s youth, as he only played 12 minutes. The Heat are 1-9 when Ware plays less than 15 minutes, with other young players getting up-and-down minutes like Kaspars Jakuccionis, Myron Gardner, Keishad Johnson and Nikola Jovic, something Spoelstra will admit the team needs to get better at.

“I’ve got to do a better job with this group,” Spoelstra said, via the Miami Herald. “We have the potential that we can see. We have the explosiveness, we have the defense. It’s a matter of continuity. And that’s what I’m here for, to help bridge that with the veterans, to help our continuity.”

“But also to hold youth accountable,” Spoelstra continued. “And we have more of them than we have in recent history, but also develop them and give them confidence. And it’s a nice balance. But again, that’s what I came here for. I want to take that challenge, and I want to get better with it.”

While Spoelstra was candid, Adebayo was also quick to point out that coaches are “trying” to adjust to the younger players’ play.

“He’s trying,” Adebayo said. “I wouldn’t say he’s fully adjusted, but he’s trying. He’s trying to adjust, he’s trying to work it out, he’s trying to figure it out. The greatest part of it is that he’s trying it out. Because we all know our coaches. If something doesn’t work, he’ll fix it right away. So it’s good that he’s trying to work on it.”

The Heat’s young status has been a balancing act

It’s been a balancing act for Spoelstra, but he has repeatedly said he’s not in the business of gifting minutes to young players. This is evident in how much time has been given to Pelle Larsson, who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup recently, and Jaime Jacquez Jr., who has been the team’s undoubted sixth man.

“We won’t prioritize anything more than winning,” Spoelstra said. “Winning will be the ultimate thing. Take it or leave it, like it or not, that’s what the Miami Heat are about. We’re competing to win. You’ve got to earn your minutes. We’re not gifting minutes to anyone. We have more young players playing in the rotation than we have in a long time, and that’s the balance I’m pursuing.”

“Develop these players, give them confidence, but also hold them accountable to our standard,” Spoelstra added. “The standard is not going to change, and we think players improve fastest when there is accountability to win, when they are not just free minutes being gifted to someone.”

As mentioned, Miami has a lot of work to do with 22 games left in the season, and although it is very possible for the team to make a run and reach that coveted sixth seed, the Heat have not shown much promise to do so at this point. However, since the team has proven the doubters wrong in the past, Miami has been given another chance to rewrite the story.

Although the team has played very well on the road. In fact, no team has played more on the road than the Heat at this point, as the roster now gets an extended stretch at home, making it a prime opportunity to turn the season around.

“It’s very important,” Jacquez said. “We got seven points out of eight at home. It will be a good time for us to go strong and win some games.”

At any rate, the Heat are 31-29, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as they return home to face the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

The Atlanta Hawks’ unexpected collaboration with the Magic City garnered national attention this week, and former NBA guard Lou Williams fully supports the partnership.

Williams spoke during Friday’s episode of Run It Back and called the partnership a real celebration of Atlanta culture.

“We’re working on some details, but I’m in full support of it. Shout out to my good people and my relationships in the Magic. I love that Atlanta is embracing some of our culture in the city. It’s a nice link… I know a lot of people won’t understand it. A lot of people don’t understand it, but I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. That’s what we do in Atlanta. I know some of these. Y’all’s imaginations.” Wild, but that’s what we do in the city. So shout out to my good people at Magic. I love seeing them come together and see them on this stage.

The Hawks unveiled the collaboration on Thursday, revealing “Magic City Monday”, a themed promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the broadcast set for NBCSN and Peacock. The team also revealed a co-branded hoodie featuring the Magic City name across the chest next to the Hawks’ logo.

“I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. …I know you all have imaginations running wild.”

Lou Williams on the Hawks are paying homage to Atlanta’s famous strip club ‘Magic City’ when they host Orlando next month.

(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/OGPxM2OHyR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

‘Lemon Pepper Lou’ legacy resurfaces as Hawks lean toward Atlanta culture

The pairing has attracted additional attention due to Williams’ own history with the club. He earned the nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” after a widely publicized incident during the NBA’s 2020 COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, when he left the restricted environment to visit the Magic City and was photographed with rapper Jack Harlow before returning. The league imposed a quarantine on Williams, costing him his time with the Los Angeles Clippers at the time, and fans began referring to him by the nickname tied to the club’s signature Lemon Pepper Wings. Williams later adopted the phrase, even securing a trademark on “Lemon Pepper Lou” as part of his personal brand.

On the court this season, Atlanta (30-31) is ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks picked up their third consecutive win on Thursday with a 126-96 win over the Washington Wizards and will look to continue their momentum when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) on Sunday at 6 pm ET.

Whether celebrated or criticized, the Hawks’ partnership with the Magic City has thrust a local cultural touchstone into the national spotlight, with Williams emphasizing that the move reflects something authentic about Atlanta.

The Denver Nuggets will travel to Paycom Center on Friday to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, and come into the game with a win over the Boston Celtics. The Thunder lost to Cade Cunningham’s Detroit Pistons last time out, but are counting on the return of powerhouse Shai Gilgeous-Alexander himself.

The same can’t entirely be said for Jamal Murray, who is listed as questionable on the official injury report. Murray is dealing with a serious illness that forced him out of Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics.

And while the Nuggets are short on personnel, the same is true for the defending champions. Despite SGA being removed from the injured list, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, Brandon Carlson and Ajay Mitchell are out.

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Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Thunder

The Nuggets will hope that Murray can fight the disease. Murray lasted just eight minutes and scored two points, before being shut down completely for the evening.

After the win, Nuggets head coach David Edelman painted a grim picture of his point guard’s health, revealing that the team medical staff had aggressively treated the illness before the game, but to no avail. Edelman said, “He looked terrible. They gave him all the medications. It didn’t help. All kinds of physical things were happening.”

Murray averaged 25.1 points, 7.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting a highly efficient 48.3% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range. Plus, the nuggets are already spread thin.

They will be without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, both of whom are out with right hamstring strains, and join players like Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett are listed as questionable, while Julian Strother is likely to play despite a sprained toe.

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

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

thunderbolt injury report

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

New York Knicks’ reigning ‘Clutch Player of the Year’ Jalen Brunson has already established himself as a top talent in the NBA, earning the title of captain and playing on the most famous arena in the world. However, long before Brunson became King of the Big Apple, he had a stellar career as one of the best high school basketball players in the state of Illinois. Continuing his recent Nike Kobe PE series, Brunson pays homage to the Stevenson Patriots with the Nike Kobe 4.

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

Jalen Brunson hails from New Jersey, but moved during his youth and attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Brunson’s accolades all four years have been high, including Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year (2014, 2015), three-time All-State selection, McDonald’s All-American (2015), Illinois Mr. Basketball (2015), and leading Stevenson to its first boys basketball IHSA 4A state title.

Honoring his illustrious career as a Stevenson Patriot, Brunson launches a new Nike Kobe 4 PE sneaker in the color scheme of his alma mater. Brunson notably decided to forgo his own signature sneakers with sponsor Nike and instead has an endless supply of the late great Kobe Bryant’s signature sneakers at his disposal.

Brunson’s new Nike Kobe 4 PE (Stevenson HS)

Good luck to the 2015 IHSA State Champs.

Jalen Brunson looks back at his days at Stevenson High School in Illinois for his latest Nike Kobe 4 PE, inspired by the team’s colors. pic.twitter.com/v0zPRZ626L

– SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) 24 February 2026

First Look: Jalen Brunson Shares His Nike Kobe 4 Protro “State Champs” PE 🏆 @jalenbrunson1

Inspired by his Stevenson Patriots winning the Illinois state title in 2015. pic.twitter.com/4Y5HdFUJKx

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 24 February 2026

Appearing in a predominantly White base above the iconic Nike Kobe 4, we see prominent hits of Yellow across the front medial and outsole, along with a plastic heel support. The toe, tongue, side panels, sockliner and rear half of the midsole are dressed in clean white, contrasted by forest green flywire on the side panels. The Nike Swoosh comes in a Shiny Metallic Green colorway framed by Gold and matching Black Mamba logo on the tongue.

Enhanced details include Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 embossed in leather on both heels as well as Bryant’s signature in green on the rear heel support. The finishing touch comes in the form of a tab on the inside of the tongue that reads ’15 State Champs’, modeled after the championship banner that Brunson helped raise in 2015.

While it is still unknown whether or not this sneaker will be released to the public, Jalen Brunson has already made a splash in-game and we have seen a steady rhythm of his actual player exclusive releases to the public. Keep it locked to our sneakers news for more updates on when we can see these.

The Los Angeles Lakers finally find themselves in another tough game, this time against the Phoenix Suns. They lost their matchup earlier in the week against the Orlando Magic after a poor final game between Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Against the Suns, they had a chance to win again with the final possession, but Austin Reaves was not able to capitalize.

The Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games, and they are trying to get back on track during the second half of the season. After the game, Doncic explained what the team needs to do to get back in the win column.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously, we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. “We just have to have the mentality of trying to win every game,” Doncic said.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. We just have to have the mentality to try to win every game” – Luka Doncic on what the Lakers, who have lost 5 of 7, need to do to get on track pic.twitter.com/Bjbd9nJutO

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 27 February 2026

Head coach JJ Redick offered another perspective on the recent loss, and he knows the spotlight is weighing heavily on them, just because of who they are.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register.

The Lakers have also been healthy this stretch, which perhaps makes things more disappointing for them. The last two losses are nothing to be too concerned about as they have come down to final possession, but they are games they definitely want to win.

The Lakers are now 34-24 and in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, and there is a possibility they could fall in the play-ins. There is still enough time in the season for them to work hard and register some wins so that they can secure a comfortable place in the top six.

The Orlando Magic lost 113-108 to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night after giving up a 19-point lead in the second half, but Desmond Benn’s historic February continued despite the loss.

Ben scored 30 points in 38 minutes, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. He shot 12-for-19 from the field and 6-for-10 from 3-point range, without attempting any free throws, finishing with a team-high plus-9 rating.

After the game, Magic writer Josh Cohen wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Ben had entered rare statistical company.

“In the month of February, @OrlandoMagic’s Desmond Benn became the sixth player in @NBA history to score over 250 points, while shooting over 59 percent from the field overall and over 49 percent from 3-point range (min. 10 3-point attempts).”

@OrlandoMagicDesmond Benn became the sixth player @nba History of scoring over 250 points while shooting 59-plus percent from the field overall and 49-plus percent from 3-point range (minimum 10 3-point attempts) in the month of February. pic.twitter.com/LdpCQZ7eXZ

– Josh Cohen (@Josh_Cohen_NBA) 27 February 2026

Cohen said Benn joins Kevin Johnson, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns and John Collins as the only players to accomplish the feat in February.

Desmond Benn’s historic February puts him in line with LeBron James, Kevin Durant

The milestone puts the Orlando Magic guard alongside two of the most prolific scorers of the modern era in LeBron James and Kevin Durant, underscoring the efficiency of Bane’s month-long span. Durant, who powered Houston in Thursday’s matchup, scored 40 points with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. He made 14 of 28 shots from the field and converted all 10 of his free throws in 40 minutes.

In 11 games in February, Ben has averaged 24.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per contest. He is shooting 59.1% from the field and 49.3% from 3-point range during that span, while logging 33.9 minutes per game. His 84.3% mark from the free-throw line reflects the scoring balance that has fueled Orlando’s offense all month.

On the season, the 27-year-old guard is averaging 20.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 48.6% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc in 58 games. He is converting a career-high 91.4% of his free-throw attempts in 34.1 minutes per night.

Despite Benn’s efficiency, Orlando couldn’t stop Houston’s late push. The loss dropped the Magic to 31–27 as they continued a four-game homestand.

The Magic will try to regroup on Sunday when they host the NBA’s top team Detroit Pistons (43-14) at 6:00 pm ET. While there was a setback against Houston, Benn’s historic February production places him among elite company and provides Orlando a steady offensive anchor heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The Orlando Magic continue their chase for the NBA Playoffs as they currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite all the ups and downs of the season so far, franchise star Paolo Banchero remains their consistent leader on both ends of the floor. Always paying attention to details, Banchero’s latest Air Jordan 4020 PE sneakers may have a hidden meaning originating from the pre-game ritual.

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

The Magic’s Paolo Banchero will be the first to admit that stretching before any basketball activity is non-negotiable. He described suffering from a shin sprain as a junior and how it hindered his play until he met a trainer who taught him a stretching routine with rubber bands. Despite it being difficult at first, Banchero continued the routine and eventually saw his shin sprain disappear. He has since incorporated the routine before all basketball activities.

“Since then, I’ve never stopped doing it, and now I can’t workout, I can’t exercise without doing it, it energizes my body. I think just being in my shape, being flexible and being able to go in different directions and things, that’s all important.”

Banchero’s Air Jordan 4020 PE

Paolo Banchero launches a new Air Jordan 4020 PE inspired by his training band pic.twitter.com/JM4Ra5tiAo

– Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) 23 February 2026

Paolo Banchero Air Jordan 4020 PE pic.twitter.com/AUOyKz4bKq

– Midoriman☘️ (@midorimanbb) 24 February 2026

Signed as a Jordan Brand athlete, Banchero is always first in line to rock his PE (Player Exclusive) featuring the latest Jordan technology. Recently seen in the Air Jordan 4020, the sneakers perfectly match the vibrant green of the rubber bands used by Banchero during his routines. Painted in a clean white and neutral gray base, we see green on the rear heel, outsole, and most notably the oversized strap along the midfoot.

Making a splash in the new PE, Banchero averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists en route to a 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Clearly, both the pre-game stretching and the sneakers paid off, but we’re not sure if this colorway will release to the public yet or remain exclusive to the former Rookie of the Year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had been moving forward for the past few weeks with the new additions they acquired at the trade deadline, and then James Harden went down with a thumb fracture.

A few days later, Keon Ellis suffered a finger injury, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

“Cavs guard Keon Ellis has a dislocated solar plate of his left index PIP joint. He will be treated and continues to be evaluated, but like James Harden, he is listed as questionable and will be game-to-game,” Seagal, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

It seems like the injury may require surgery at some point, but as of now, there have been no new reports on what the Cavs plan to do with the situation.

“Very often, this injury is described by basketball players as a ‘jammed finger.’ An avulsion fracture means that a small piece of bone has broken off from the bone of the main index finger. These types of injuries usually eventually require surgery to repair,” Siegel wrote.

Ellis was part of the deal with Dennis Schroder when he was traded to the Sacramento Kings for De’Andre Hunter. With Harden’s injury, there was a good chance Ellis would see some minutes, but with both of them sidelined, other players will have to step up.

If Ellis does have to have surgery, it’s uncertain how long he’ll be sidelined, but there’s a good chance it could be for a while. The Cavs would probably like to avoid this, but if there is no other option, they may have to play most of the season without him.

The good news is that it looks like Max Strus may be back on the court soon, as he took part in his first contact practice since his injury.

Victor Wembanyama has a chance to become the NBA’s youngest-ever MVP during his third season. While he feels the success of the San Antonio Spurs is his strongest argument, he knows he must step up his individual performance to differentiate himself.

“I know I’m in the MVP conversation. Of course, that’s one of my goals,” Wembanyama said after Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I think the main argument for this is the team’s success. That’s always the first thing. But I also know that I need to push a little harder during the last part of the season to win awards.”

Wembanyama’s two-way play has led San Antonio to the NBA’s third-best record (43–16), just 1.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot. The Spurs are on an NBA-best 11-game winning streak in February.

Victor Wembanyama is making an MVP case as he leads the Spurs’ rise in the NBA standings

Wembyanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .501/.347/.815 shooting splits in 45 appearances. He and Nikola Jokic are the only NBA players to average marks on such efficiency.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama has solidified himself as the NBA’s top point guard while anchoring a San Antonio unit that ranks third in the NBA. The 22-year-old leads the league with 3.8 steals (steals + blocks) per game, which is 0.8 ahead of the next highest player (Scotty Barnes: 3.0). According to CleaningTheGlass, he has posted a -10.6 defensive rating swing (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a player on versus off), the league’s second-highest mark, trailing only Rudy Gobert (-12.7).

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said there was no doubt that Wambanyama had an MVP-level impact.

“He is a great facilitator to help his team win [as anybody],” Johnson said. ”The individual stuff that is identified as the best or most valuable is offense, defense, boards and everything that falls in between. He is at the forefront for [each of] They. And there are other guys in the league who do that, too. I haven’t delved into it, but I definitely think it’s in the conversation. It would be difficult for anyone to make a logical argument as to why he is not in that conversation.”

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Wembanyama currently has the fourth-best MVP odds at +2500, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-250), Nikola Jokic (+400) and Cade Cunningham (+850). The French superstar can only miss three more games to maintain his eligibility for the award.

PHOENIX – Before Rasheer Fleming’s NBA campaign began, there was one player he wanted to protect.

“LeBron James,” Fleming said emphatically during a Phoenix Suns fan event before the season started.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix have met three times, Fleming has never had a chance to guard James or Doncic. He has spent those games either with the Valley Suns (Phoenix’s G-League affiliate) or playing trash.

Due to frequent injuries, he has seen his workload increase. Being mostly a defender, his offensive game has increased rapidly.

He may not surprise anyone yet, but confidence is building. Fleming’s athleticism, wingspan and defense make him a worthy addition to the rotation.

The emerging offensive game—and the 3-point shot in particular—has intrigued fans as well as the Suns’ coaching staff.

Head coach Jordan Ott matched Fleming up against Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard on Tuesday, where the latter shot 1 of 11 from the field.

Two days later, the coach spoke about the rookie’s responsibility to guard “some of the best players in the world”, in reference to James and Luka Doncic. The starry nature was not disturbing him at all.

“I think later,” Fleming said when asked about matching up with James and Doncic. “Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I’m too competitive to focus on it.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming if he gets starstruck in the middle of a game or does it happen after.

He’s been guarding Luka Doncic regularly and had his eye on LeBron James tonight.

“I think later. Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I also… pic.twitter.com/KVcKFD89Wx

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 27 February 2026

Suns teammates see Rasheer Fleming’s emerging potential

Fleming has all the tools to become an elite NBA defender. But an elite offensive player? Apart from his colleagues, this thing has not come to the mind of many people.

He has been hired for Valley Sons, and is reaping the rewards of his labor. There can be slight fluctuations between G-League and NBA games, sometimes on the same day.

But it’s all part of the process and Fleming took it seriously. Since the start of the new year, his work ethic and commitment to being prepared has paid off.

In the second half, Ott replaced the starters with the second unit, of which Fleming was part. He hit two 3-point shots and fired up the Phoenix crowd.

His aggressive play further increased his influence.

While he sat on the bench cheering, it was another game for Fleming in the eyes of Colin Gillespie, who raved about his rookie’s potential for about 30 seconds after the game.

“We always tell him he doesn’t know how good he can be,” Gillespie told reporters.

“He can be so, so good. I don’t even think he’s (close to) his ceiling. He probably doesn’t even know what the ceiling is. I don’t even know what his ceiling is. He still has a lot to discover offensively, but defensively, just on the ball, his length, deflections. He does everything.”

With injuries plaguing the team, this could be a legitimate opportunity for Fleming to fully integrate himself onto the Phoenix Suns roster.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) are set to host the Denver Nuggets (37-22) for a blockbuster Northwest Division clash on Friday night at Paycom Center. Denver comes in with the NBA’s No. 1 offense (120.7 offensive rating), while Oklahoma City faces the league’s toughest defense (106.4 defensive rating).

However, all eyes are on the Thunder’s superstar point guard, who has been sidelined ahead of the All-Star break. And well, OKC fans will be happy to know that Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is completely off the official injury list for the defending champions, which means he is set to make his return after already being cleared.

OKC still has injury concerns as Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Thomas Sorber and Brandon Carlson are still out. The same is true for the Nuggets, who still have Jamal Murray listed as questionable along with several names on the injury list.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, after missing the Thunder’s last nine games due to an abdominal strain. His comeback is not only important for the Thunder, but also for his own personal appreciation.
The reigning MVP has only six games remaining under the NBA’s minimum 65-game rule to remain eligible for season-ending awards. And given his staggering averages of 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds, he is once again an MVP contender.

Shai will be facing off against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is currently a triple-double threat averaging 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.4 assists. In their only previous meeting this season on February 1, Gilgeous-Alexander torched the Nuggets in the Mile High City, posting 34 points and 13 assists on 68% shooting to lead the Thunder to a 121–111 win.

thunderbolt injury report

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

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

Giannis Antetokounmpo is working his way back onto the court for the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a calf strain injury last month and it looks like he’s making real progress. It is still uncertain when he will return to the court, but head coach Doc Rivers noted that he has been playing 4-on-4, which he thinks is a good sign.

Rivers was recently asked about Antetokounmpo’s return, as some clarification was needed on whether he could return, even though he didn’t specifically need to play 5-on-5 to be cleared.

“Guys, it’s not a rocket science thing. Like, we do 3-on-3, 4-on-4, sometimes we do 5-on-5, sometimes we don’t. And it doesn’t really matter,” Rivers said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

Rivers was then asked what Antetokounmpo needed to do to get cleared, and he gave a very strange answer.

“To be honest, I have no idea. Maybe I should ask and I can give you information, but I know he’s close. I don’t think he’s as close as yesterday, but he’s getting close and he looks great. And that’s all I know. I can tell you what my eyes see and he looks good,” Rivers said.

It almost feels as if Rivers is keeping it a secret as to how close Antetokounmpo may be to a return, but even he doesn’t really know and is leaving it up to the training staff.

The good news is that Antetokounmpo is making progress, and they are able to win games without him. The goal is for the Bucks to try to climb up the standings so they can possibly get into the play-ins, but they either have to play for about two months, or face losses to the teams above them.

Ultimately, they can focus on what they can do, while also hoping that they get their star player back as soon as possible.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is having another stellar campaign, once again showing why many consider him the face of the NBA.

Although he has scoffed at the label, Edwards cannot ignore the impact he has had on the league, especially among fans. Edwards’ charming style and colorful personality have made him a very popular player in his generation.

The 24-year-old Edwards has also matured over the years, understanding the game better and accepting that he needs to become a complete player, not just a scoring machine.

Former NBA star Blake Griffin pointed out people have ignored Edwards’ defensive skills.

“Offensively, he’s getting better and better every year, and it shows. But one thing I don’t hear talked about enough is how good a defender he really is. He’s not a target guy. You don’t think about putting him into a ton of work. You avoid him. He’s second on the team in steals, fourth in deflections,” Griffin said on NBA on Prime.

“He’s really a guy that’s doing it on both ends of the floor, which is huge for a team.”

“He’s really a guy that’s doing it on both ends of the floor.”@blakegriffin23 On the defensive growth of Anthony Edwards 🐜 pic.twitter.com/reOavxKkny

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 27 February 2026

Griffin, who was also a very popular player, also noted the importance of Edwards’ fun-loving attitude. Even when he is on the court, he likes to chat around and joke, which motivates him to play more.

Griffin said, “The other thing I love about Ant is that he plays the game of basketball and really lives it. It’s contagious to a team, and that team carries that personality.”

Edwards, who recently won his first All-Star Game MVP, has often been praised for his work ethic and stubborn attitude to join the NBA’s elite.

He has led the Timberwolves to a 36-23 record – fifth in the Western Conference – entering their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Thursday.

The Miami Heat will try to beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday without their top scorer, as Norman Powell was forced to exit early with a groin injury.

Powell, who was a late addition to the injury report, finished with three points on 1-5 shooting, three rebounds and two assists.

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the 32-year-old Powell was bothered by a groin injury before the game, but decided to recover anyway.

“Norman Powell (right groin strain) is treated for the rest of the night. He was questionable with a groin problem and tried to play through it, but his night was over after 11 minutes,” Chiang wrote on the X.

The Heat will have to be more creative offensively to fill the void left by Powell, who is averaging 22.9 points on 47.5% shooting.

It would be a huge blow to Miami if Powell is sidelined for an extended period of time, especially as the playoffs approach.

Powell is having the best year of his career, earning his first nod to the All-Star Game and the Heat were right to sign him in the offseason. Many were confused as to why the Los Angeles Clippers let him walk after a breakout season.

If he remains out in the coming days, the Heat have enough depth to cover him. Tyler Herro’s recent return from a rib injury was also timely.

At the time of writing, the Heat are trailing the 76ers by a slim margin in the fourth quarter.

The Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game losing streak on Thursday and they have a lot to thank Royce O’Neal for. O’Neal broke the tie by hitting a dagger 3-pointer with one second remaining in the fourth quarter to give Phoenix a 113–110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Suns played brilliantly in that game, leading to a wide-open try from deep by O’Neale, who finished the game with 13 points.

It all started with Grayson Allen attacking the Lakers’ defense, and when everyone’s attention was on him, he threw the ball to Collin Gillespie, who immediately passed the ball to O’Neal. Without hesitation, former Baylor Bears forward O’Neal launched a shot from behind the arc that found nothing but the bottom of the net.

Royce O’Neale leads with less than a second left 😳🍿

pic.twitter.com/LbNWE9B86Q

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

There was still time left on the clock after O’Neal, but the Lakers could not convert a bucket after the timeout, as Austin Reaves missed a last-gasp 3-point attempt from the corner.

O’Neal finished his evening with 13 points with three triples, while Allen and Gillespie provided 28 and 21 points, respectively, for the Suns, who won despite missing star shooting guard Devin Booker and forward Dillon Brooks.

That shot from O’Neal also summed up the Suns’ unselfishness in the contest. He had 22 assists on 40 field goals and also hit a total of 22 3-pointers on 50 attempts from deep. It seemed a little easier for Phoenix to make outside shots from deep against the Lakers’ defense.

The Eastern Conference was supposed to be the land of opportunity this season, and while teams like the powerhouse Detroit Pistons and the rising Toronto Raptors have certainly taken advantage of it, the Miami Heat (31-29) appear to be stuck in no man’s land. Erik Spoelstra’s team is currently set to compete in the NBA Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Bam Adebayo has a lot going for him. He expressed his displeasure after Thursday’s 124-117 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

After recording a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds, according to the HeatCulture “We’re better than we’ve been in the play-ins the last four years.”

While the Heat are respected for their toughness, professionalism, and togetherness, their renowned culture has resulted in only one playoff win in the past two years. Injuries certainly led to the disappointing finish, but it is becoming clear that Miami no longer has the firepower to compete in the East, perhaps not even in the weakened state it currently stands without Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.

“Yeah, I don’t want to be in this crap anymore. We’re better off being in the play-ins the last 4 years… win some games… see if we can string together some WS.”

Bam Adebayo on elimination in play-in tournament 🗣️pic.twitter.com/PaFyUTuCUR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

If the Heat are forced to go to the play-in round once again, their chances of making a deep run in the postseason will certainly diminish. Yes, the team has had success at this before, reaching the NBA Finals after starting as the No. 8 seed, but Jimmy Butler is no longer in South Beach (nor is he healthy). The organization needs to take a hard look at itself and initiate significant changes, as this is clearly not the Miami that was swimming in praise a few years ago.

Perhaps a return to the Kasia Center will turn the team’s fortunes around. After consecutive losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and 76ers, the Heat will play eight of their next 10 games at home, starting with Saturday night’s showdown with the Houston Rockets. They can only hope that the long-awaited change will come during this crucial period, as the playoffs are fast approaching.

“Win some games,” Bam Adebayo said. “Be in our environment, be in our habitat, where our fans are cheering for us and see if we can string together some Ws.” Miami is eighth in the East and two and a half games behind Philly for the coveted No. 6 slot.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Miami Heat 124-117 on Thursday night. In the win, Maxey led all Sixers players with 28 points, although was a poor 9 of 25 from the floor. Nevertheless, the 76ers guard made history by surpassing Allen Iverson for most triples made in franchise history.

Entering the game, he had made 882 triples in his career, three less than Iverson. He knocked down five of them in the win, making 5 of 12 from deep, including four in the first quarter.

After the win, Maxey shared his thoughts on surpassing Iverson.

“Honestly, it’s just a blessing. I’m so happy, man. I’m blessed,” Maxi said humbly.

“I thank God. I thank the 76ers organization for preparing me, trusting me and believing in me… I’m grateful to my coaches, Doc [Rivers], [Nick] Nurse, she gave me a lot of confidence.

“Last but not least are my teammates, man. Everyone… I yelled to Tobias. [Harris] First. My freshman year, he told me I was a great shooter, even though I wasn’t shooting as well as I wanted to. Finally, Joel [Embiid]. He had been thinking about me shooting 10 threes a game since my sophomore or sophomore year. I appreciate.”

After a few relatively steady years in Philadelphia, Maxey has taken off like a rocket this season. He is averaging better than 29 points per game, which is good enough for fourth in the NBA. But he has become more than just a lethal scorer.

The 76ers guard averages nearly seven assists, four rebounds and, perhaps most impressively, two steals per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss after falling 113-110 to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Royce O’Neal was the unlikely hero for the depleted Suns, draining the game-winning three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Lakers had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Austin Reaves missed his last-gasp attempt from deep. They fell to 34-24, while the Suns improved to 34-26.

Lakers coach JJ Redick once again cited a lack of defensive effort as a big factor in their latest loss, The Athletic’s Dan Woik reports.

“JJ Redick talked about the Lakers limiting their shooters not in terms of shots but in terms of attempts. The Suns took 50 (three-pointers). Said that’s the part that ‘hurt us a lot,'” Woik wrote on the X.

The Lakers shot a better 51% from the field compared to the Suns’ 46%. However, Phoenix had 11 more three-pointers, going 22 of 50 from long range.

Los Angeles is allowing 36.5 three-point attempts this season.

The Purple and Gold still failed to get the job done, even though Phoenix played without its top two scorers, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, due to injuries.

Since being hired by the Lakers last season, the 41-year-old Redick has repeatedly emphasized the importance of running backs on the defensive end. They are giving up 115.9 points on 48.7% shooting this season – both in the bottom half of the league.

The Lakers came back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to give them a win against the Suns.

Luka Doncic had a game-high 41 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Reeves and LeBron James combined for 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

DeAndre Ayton had another disappointing game with two points and four rebounds.

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton tempted the basketball gods and karma when he reportedly complained that the team is trying to turn him into a version of lob threat/rim-runner Clint Capela. Less than 48 hours later, he had to pay a heavy price for those alleged locker-room comments. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft scored two points on 1-3 shooting with four rebounds and a steal. He was -24 on the court against the Phoenix Suns, as LA lost 113-110 at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Royce O’Neal deserves the spotlight after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with less than a second left on the clock, but the public is focusing most of its attention on Ayton. In the Lakers’ second consecutive disastrous loss, he disappeared against his former team and was force-fed a bigger slice of the modest pie. His performance tells the story effectively, but fans are expressing their opinions on the matter.

NBA fans flock to the Lakers’ Deandre Ayton

Chris Walder of Odds Shark posted on X, “Deandre Ayton said the Los Angeles Lakers were trying to make him Clint Capela, and in his first game after those comments, he started playing like Kwame Brown.”

For those wondering, Capela recorded four points, six rebounds, three assists and four blocks in just 17 minutes of action as the Houston Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic on the same night as Ayton’s loss.

@BeenHim16 declared, “On everything I love, if Deandre Ayton wasn’t 7 feet tall, he would literally be my DoorDash.” @jeff_on_sports commented, “The Deandre Ayton signing is going exactly like the haters said it would.” “Finally earned the #1 pick for the Suns,” @The_MilesFiles quipped. “Their best player tonight.”

Ouch. Ayton has experienced some good moments while wearing the purple and gold – totaling 21 points and 13 boards on Tuesday vs. the Magic – but his first season in L.A. has not gone as fans expected. The 27-year-old entered the Suns clash averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 49 games. Fans criticize him, but when at his best he can be a real difference maker.

Ayton has averaged a double-double for his career, so he should have the ability to make a consistent impact. However, Lakers and NBA fans aren’t seeing it. After this difficult run in Phoenix, the Bahamian has reached a crucial point in his Los Angeles tenure. He could allow himself to be filled with conflict and subsequent ridicule, or he could use this low point as motivation for the remainder of the campaign.

Which path will he take?

ATLANTA – It was all about Trae Young when the Washington Wizards faced off against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. It was Young’s first time in Atlanta since being involved in the trade, and he was given a proper standing ovation throughout the night for everything he had done for the franchise over the past eight years.

Two days later, the Wizards faced the Hawks again, but this time, it was the two guys who were traded for Young: CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Both played well in the rematch and helped the Hawks win 126–96.

After the game, both players spoke about their time with the Wizards, and each gave different expressions on how they felt about the experience.

Kispert was drafted by the Wizards with the 15th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He had been with the team since then before being traded to the Hawks in January.

“I spent my entire career competing against these guys in practice,” Kispert told reporters after the game. “And doing it in a different uniform feels weird now, especially two days ago. Today felt a little more normal. I have incredible relationships with the guys on the other side. I felt like it was seeing old friends that I’ve missed since the trade.”

Kispert was able to see the growth and development of the guys who are still on the team, and it felt like a bittersweet moment for him to play against them and have a good game.

McCollum, on the other hand, was traded to the Wizards last offseason and only played with the team for a few months. Ironically, his best game as a Wizard was in November against the Hawks, when he scored 46 points. This is probably the only thing he remembers from that stint.

“It was just another game,” McCallum said. “I was there for 120 days, but it was a great time. I enjoyed my time there. The organization was great to me. The staff was great, the front office, the players, but I’ve moved on, and I think they’ve moved on too, and I wish them all the best, but just one more game that we needed to win.”

This was the second time in McCallum’s 13-year career that he was traded. Having once been president of the National Basketball Players Association, he knows the business of the game. The business probably felt like just another day at the office to him.

“I think this game means more than that [Corey]“He was there for a long time,” McCallum said. “For me, I had a cup of coffee and tea there. I had to figure out how to get to the facility without GPS, and then I got to work.”

As far as Kispert is concerned, this was the first trade of his career and there were some emotions associated with it.

“Saying goodbye to people you’ve had relationships with for four and a half years is really hard,” Kispert said. “In the blink of an eye, I’m in a new city and playing with a new team. I felt like I’d been drinking from a fire hose for a long time.”

It’s safe to say Kispert is more comfortable a month after the trade, and he had the best game of his career tonight against his former team, finishing with 33 points. The funny thing is that no one except Kispert knew that he was close to his career high during the game.

Kispert said, “I didn’t expect anyone to know, I wanted to keep it low-key. Knock on wood kind of thing.”

For both players, they leave a situation where the organization’s focus is on developing their youth, and it was going to be a bridge year for them. Now he is with a team that is competing based on its young players. McCallum and Kispert presented two sides of the same coin, and they may be satisfied with where they are now.

There are only a few nicknames throughout sports history that immediately make you think of a specific player. Walter Payton’s “Sweetness”, Reggie Jackson, known as “Mr. October”, and the world’s worst man, John “Bones” Jones. In basketball, “The Black Mamba” has become the stuff of legends thanks to the late great Kobe Bryant. However, while Bryant made the nickname what it is today, it was almost certainly Michael Jordan who was given the nickname in 2003.

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

In a story by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, Nike’s creators originally intended to link the “Black Mamba” nickname to Michael Jordan. While Jordan is widely known as the “Black Cat” for his jaguar-like actions on the court and multiple sneaker colorways with the nickname, the Mamba concept was born while developing the Air Jordan 19 sneakers.

Michael Jordan wanted a new concept for the 19th sneaker in his signature collection, leading a design team to invent the first laceless basketball sneaker. The weave locking system resembled snakeskin, so the creative team came up with the idea of ​​branding Jordan as “The Black Mamba”.

Kobe Bryant emerging as “The Black Mamba”

As it turns out, Michael Jordan was “visibly uncomfortable” during the pitch because the creative team did not already know about Jordan’s fear of snakes. This mistake was entirely an afterthought, and Nike executives ran away from the idea for some time. That is, until Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers left Adidas and joined Nike in 2003.

The talented, yet controversial talent was then dubbed the new “Black Mamba”, an alter ego Bryant fully adopted with his mentality and play on the court. Being a fan of the “Kill Bill” films, Bryant was able to transform into the “Black Mamba” en route to winning five championship rings.

Nike Kobe Signature Line

The Nike Kobe Signature Line became a phenomenon in its own right, spanning across 12 name-bearing silhouettes and pioneering the design of some of the most popular basketball sneakers in the current landscape. Renowned Nike sneaker designer Eric Avar led the operation and really helped convey the Mamba Mentality through sneakers that would fit into that same vision.

Several designs, such as the Nike Kobe 3 and Nike Kobe 6, have taken inspiration directly from the snakes, while recent releases also carry on with the ‘Black Mamba’ moniker with an updated colorway. In the NBA today, Nike Kobe sneakers are the most worn shoes more than any other model.

passing the basketball

The Nike Kobe line not only dominates NBA footwear, but the hottest football cleats currently on the market are the Nike Kobe 6 PE sneakers—cleats that players have been wearing around the NFL. Athletes from all sports have been inspired by Kobe Bryant’s play on the court, but it is the Mamba Mentality that transcends all sports and speaks to the competitor in all of us.

Although “Black Mamba” might not have been the obvious choice for the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, they couldn’t have found a better player to represent him as the “Black Mamba” than Kobe Bryant. He retained this nickname throughout his NBA career and addressed fans as “Mamba Out” for the last time in a Lakers uniform.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third straight loss after a 113-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. The game ended much like the team’s loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday due to poor execution late in the game. When asked after the game where the Lakers’ frustration lay, Austin Reaves summed it up in just two words, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“Very high,” Reeves said during his postgame media session.

The difference between the Magic game and Thursday night was that the Lakers took the shot they wanted late in the game. Against the Magic, Luka Doncic was freed by a Deandre Ayton screen to take the potential game-winner. In a shocking moment, he passed the ball to LeBron James, who was hurried off the field.

Trailing by three against the Suns and trying to send the game into overtime, Austin Reaves ran through a series of screens to free himself in the corner for an open three. Marcus Smart found it, but his shot was a little poor.

Like the Magic game, the Lakers blew a double-digit lead in the second half, only to see the Suns come back and take the lead. When the game gets closer, all the little things add up. According to Khobi Price of the California Post, for Reaves, there were too many mistakes for the Lakers on the margin that could have changed the outcome if they had been better.

“Control the controllable things. There were some plays tonight where I thought if we were better, it could swing the game,” Reeves said. “Every possession matters. It sounds like a cliché because there are so many of them, but it can swing the game in any direction throughout the game. One little play, one little mistake can fire up a crowd, fire up a team, whatever it is. Control those possessions.”

Against the Suns, Reeves finished with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was only his third game in the starting lineup since being put on a minutes restriction following his return from a calf injury.

The Lakers’ mini road trip concludes with a visit to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. The team will then return home on Sunday evening for a second consecutive night in town with the Sacramento Kings.

Khris Middleton found himself freshman in a different area code when he was part of a three-team deal at the trade deadline that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Middleton played only 48 games for the Washington Wizards before being sent to the Mavericks. Adding offensive firepower and experienced leadership, he has been a solid contribution for Dallas.

But according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the 34-year-old forward could find himself on a different team again in the next few days.

“Chris Middleton just told @TheSteinLine “He is still considering his options before Sunday’s deadline to buy out a contract, and is deciding whether to finish out the season in Dallas or join a playoff team,” Steen wrote on Axe.

“League sources say Denver (Nuggets) and other playoff teams have expressed interest.”

with the way things are goingMavericks probably will not Qualify for the playoffs with a 21–37 record. They lost to the Sacramento Kings 130-121 on Thursday.

Steen said Dallas would be willing to agree to terms with the three-time All-Star, who won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, if he wanted a buyout.

“Middleton stressed he’s grateful for the warm welcome he’s received in Dallas, where the Mavericks — as @TheSteinLine first reported — have told the former All-Star they’ll work with him if he wants a buyout before Sunday’s deadline to be playoff-eligible for the new next team,” Stein said.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Middleton’s importance to the team, including helping Cooper flag his game and setting an example of professionalism.

Middleton had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Kings. He has scored in double figures in three of six games since joining Dallas.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a slump. They have not been in good form of late, losing their last three games and five of their last seven.

The latest was another painful incident that went down to the wire, as Los Angeles suffered a clutch 3-pointer from Royce O’Neal in a 113-110 road loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The losses are really piling up for JJ Redick’s team, making the Lakers ever-more intense spotlight.

Redick also raised the same issue after the failure in Phoenix.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.

To refresh, the Lakers were shut out by the Boston Celtics in a 111-109 loss on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, before losing 110-109 at home to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

That magical game ending made it difficult for Lakers fans to accept the loss. Then, against the Suns, Los Angeles was defeated by a perfectly executed game by Phoenix, which also featured Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.

Luka Doncic had 41 points in the loss to the Suns, while LeBron James and Austin Reaves combined for 29 points.

However, the Lakers were repeatedly hurt by Phoenix’s outside shooting, with the Suns making 22 3-pointers at an absurd success rate of 44 percent. It’s always tough to beat teams that shoot so well, but the Lakers could have gotten an even better performance from Doncic’s supporting cast, including Deandre Ayton, who scored just two points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a hot start and won 24 of their first 25 games, it seemed like it was a foregone conclusion that they would return to the NBA Finals.

But while the Thunder still have the best record in the league at 45-15, they have looked strong over the past few weeks, especially with injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

Oklahoma City is eager to defend its championship, but that won’t be the case for NBA legend Dwyane Wade, as he predicted on “The Zach Lowe Show” that the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons will face off in this year’s NBA Finals.

“I’ve watched the Spurs, I’ve watched some of their games. Even though I don’t think they should be ready, they should be a team over the next three years, but they do things sometimes. You look at their roster, you look at their players, with the right matchups, they’ll be tough to beat,” Wade said.

The Thunder have lost three times in four meetings with the Spurs this season, including the NBA Cup semifinals, in which San Antonio ended OKC’s 16-game winning streak.

As for the Pistons, Wade, who works as an analyst for NBC and Prime, said their depth will carry them to the final round.

“I watched Detroit the other night in New York without (Jalen) Duren and without (Isaiah) Stewart, and I didn’t see them lose once. I said, ‘This team is too deep.’ They know their style, they know their game, they know how to win. It’s hard when a team doesn’t have to figure it out,” the three-time champion explained.

The Thunder lost to the Pistons on Wednesday, although they were significantly weaker without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Ajay Mitchell.

Oklahoma City will have another tough test on Friday against the Denver Nuggets.

The Miami Heat put forth a great effort in the second half, but ultimately failed to get the job done and lost 124-117 to the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday.

The Heat came back from a 16-point deficit at halftime to take an 81–80 lead midway through the third quarter. The 76ers took control of the game before the Heat once again took the driver’s seat 117–116 with only 2:44 left in the final frame.

But that was the last time he scored, as Philadelphia escaped with a hard-fought victory.

As for Bam Adebayo, it was clear that he doomed himself with his poor performance in the first half.

“We didn’t play hard enough,” Adebayo said, as quoted by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

“We didn’t work hard enough, brother. I mean, I don’t know how to explain effort.”

It was not clear whether Adebayo, 28, was upset or frustrated, but it seemed as if he wanted to sound the alarm. He has always been vocal and accountable after a loss, knowing that he is the leader of the team.

The Heat, who lost 31–29, lost Norman Powell in the first half with a groin injury.

They allowed the 76ers to score 73 points in the first half, as Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Kelly Oubre Jr. were on the offensive end.

Overall, Philadelphia shot 48% from the field and scored 50 points in the paint.

Adebayo had 29 points on 10 of 20 shooting, 14 rebounds and three assists. Tyler Herro added 25 points, four rebounds and seven assists off the bench.

There is little debate that Victor Wembanyama has become one of the NBA’s top players in his third season. The 23-year-old’s stellar performances have earned the San Antonio Spurs the status of legitimate contenders. Is that enough to make him the league’s youngest-ever MVP?

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson thinks so.

“He is a great facilitator to help his team win [as anybody]” Johnson said before Thursday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. “The individual stuff that is recognized as the best or most valuable is offense, defense, boards and everything that comes in between. He is at the forefront for [each of] They. And there are other guys in the league who do that, too. I haven’t delved into it, but I definitely think it’s in the conversation. It would be difficult for anyone to make a logical argument as to why he is not in that conversation.”

Wembanyama’s two-way contributions have led the Spurs to the NBA’s third-best record (42–16).

Victor Wembanyama enters MVP conversation as he leads Spurs ascension

The French phenom is averaging 24.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .503/.353/.812 shooting splits. Offensively, he is one of six players averaging more than 24 points on 50 percent or better shooting, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Austin Reaves.

Meanwhile, Vembanyama continues to wield historic influence defensively. He leads the NBA with 3.9 steals (steals + blocks) per game, and 0.8 ahead of the next highest player (Scotty Barnes: 3.0). According to CleaningTheGlass, the Spurs allow 10.6 fewer points per 100 possessions on the court versus off, which is the NBA’s second-largest defensive rating swing, behind only Rudy Gobert (-12.7).

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Wembanyama currently has the fifth-best MVP odds at +3300, behind Gilgeous-Alexander (-190), Jokic (+300), Cade Cunningham (+1400) and Luka Doncic (+2000). The Spurs star can only miss three more games to maintain his eligibility.