分類: 综合

The historic rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics took center stage at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, ending with a disappointing 111-89 loss for the home team. While the game remained competitive for three quarters, Boston fell behind in the final frame, with Jaylen Brown delivering a 32-point masterclass. The Lakers’ frustrations were further compounded when the team was whistled for three technical fouls, penalizing Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and coach JJ Redick for arguing officiating decisions. Even Luka Doncic, who finished with a modest 25 points, mocked the situation after the game, noting that if he had not been the one receiving the technical, the officiating would have actually been questionable.

The tension centered on a few specific non-calls that left the Lakers coaching staff looking for answers. According to a post from Oh No He Didn’t on X, JJ Redick addressed three technical fouls by highlighting the missed goaltending call on a LeBron James layup.

Redick said Celtics center Neemias Queta used a “stealth” strategy that stunned him. Redick said, “They missed an obvious LeBron layup, which was scored off the backboard, and Cueta stuck his whole hand, I can’t jump that high, so he stuck his whole hand through the rim.”

The coach said he would seek clarification on the legality of the move, joking that “Honestly, it’s a great way to defend floaters.” A separate video surfaced that shows Redick attempting to mimic the reach by holding the rim himself to emphasize the point.

Wow, I didn’t know JJ could jump like that, hahahapic.twitter.com/ccdLWEt7wh

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 23 February 2026

Despite the officiating play, LeBron James gave high praise to Jaylen Brown’s ability to keep the Celtics afloat during Jayson Tatum’s absence. James acknowledged that Brown is playing with a chip on his shoulder after the Boston roster was revamped in the offseason.

While James pointed to past friction, particularly Brown’s viral Summer League comments about Bronny James, he said their relationship remains civil and respectful.

For the 34-22 Lakers, the focus now turns to controlling their emotions and finding more offensive consistency as they look to move on from this bitter loss in the rivalry.

The Los Angeles Lakers decided to commemorate the extensive NBA legacy of Pat Riley by unveiling a statue of him before their game against the Boston Celtics. As part of his speech, Riley made sure to encourage the Lakers to “kick some Boston.”

However, with the game going the other direction, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had a funny reaction when he learned what Riley had actually said.

“Did he really? It’s awesome,” Mazzulla responded with a smile on his face, clearly pleased with his team’s day of work, according to a clip posted on

Joe Mazzulla was upset that he missed telling Pat Riley that he wanted to beat the Celtics:

“that’s awesome.” pic.twitter.com/hzfBgwPgBw

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 23 February 2026

According to a clip on X by Oh No He Didn’t, Riley initially said, “Time to kick some Boston ass.”

Pat Riley: “It’s time to kick some ass in Boston”

celtics vs lakers tonight hahahahapic.twitter.com/VdjsW50kbL

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 22 February 2026

Of course, it was the Celtics who did this instead of the Lakers. The 111–89 victory was defined by a two-man offensive explosion from Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard, who combined for 62 points and 16 assists.

Brown, who also earned MVP endorsement from LeBron James after his performance, returned with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Pritchard returned with 30 points on 10-14 shooting with a total of six three-pointers. The Celtics held the Lakers to 39.1% shooting and just 30% shooting from three, despite the Lakers starting Big 3 of LeBron, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

And while the game was largely one-sided, the outcome brought some historic positives for James. The 41-year-old became the first player in NBA history to surpass 43,000 regular season points in his 1,600th career game.

Still, Luka Doncic top-scored for the Lakers, scoring 25 points and five rebounds, while Reaves finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Despite this, the Lakers suffered from an overall poor shooting night, going just 66.6% from the free throw line, and they had only themselves to blame for the loss.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard earned high praise from an Orlando Magic player after Sunday night’s 111-109 loss, with Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. calling him “the best player in this league.”

Leonard put in a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 14 of 25 from the field, 2 of 7 from 3-point range, and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.

After the game, Carter reflected on the challenge of defending Leonard.

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. Again, he gets his spots whenever he wants. Very calm, very collective. He never feels like he’s rushed or sharp at all. Very strong defensively, guards, most guys on the court. So he’s one of those guys you try to block throughout the game, make it tough, make everybody tough for him and then late in the game as we “Try to take the ball out of his hands, force someone else to beat us. So I think we did a really good job in that period and it was definitely something we can learn from going forward.”

Wendell Carter Jr. called Kawhi Leonard “the best player in the league”

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. He finds his spots when he wants to… He never feels rushed or rushed.” pic.twitter.com/cpxRg2ggPM

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 23 February 2026

Leonard consistently controlled the pace, scoring from his favorite midrange spot and attacking mismatches without rushing. Despite Orlando’s late-game adjustments, the two-time Finals MVP repeatedly created separation and forced defensive turnovers.

Clippers fall short despite Kawhi Leonard’s 37-point performance vs. Magic

As Carter said, the Magic changed their tactics at the last minute and tried to take the ball out of Leonard’s hands. On the Clippers’ final possession, Leonard completed a pass to Benedict Mathurin for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the rim and went wide, setting up Los Angeles’ second consecutive loss and leaving the Clippers down 27–30.

Mathurin contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench. He shot 7 of 16 from the field, 1 of 5 from beyond the arc and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line in 30 minutes.

For Leonard, the performance continued what has been one of the most productive scoring seasons of his career. In his sixth season with the Los Angeles Clippers, the 34-year-old has averaged 28 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals per game in 44 appearances. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and a career-high 90.5% from the free-throw line, while logging 32.8 minutes per contest.

Orlando improved to 30–26 with the narrow win, concluding the second night of a back-to-back on a four-game Western Conference road trip. Carter finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes, helping solidify the interior while the Magic weathered Leonard’s scoring bursts.

The Clippers will try to bounce back on Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-25) at 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video as part of a three-game homestand.

The Orlando Magic continue their road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) on Tuesday at 7:30 pm PT, keeping the momentum going after enduring a 37-point outing from Leonard.

On Sunday evening, the Charlotte Hornets got back in the win column with an easy win over the Washington Wizards. It was an epic game for point guard LaMelo Ball, who scored 37 points in the win on an absurd 10-of-15 from beyond the three-point line.

At one point in the game, Ball hit four consecutive threes in a span of 99 seconds, and on the next Hornets possession, team announcer Eric Collins was openly eager for the star point guard to launch another one.

However, the ball passing the ball finished To teammate Brandon Miller, who turned it to Josh Green for an open three from the corner, which found the bottom of the net.

LaMelo Ball hits four consecutive 3s in just 99 seconds (with replays)

The Hornets’ announcer, Eric Collins, tells him to take the other 3 but he does not.

lamello-crazy

I think the world’s a better place when LaMelo isn’t driving

Bub Carrington was also injured and… pic.twitter.com/SNWspQOi0n

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 23 February 2026

Collins has long been known for his enthusiasm on the air, which has drawn mixed reactions from fans across the league. However, his passion for Hornets basketball cannot be denied, and his sentiment of launching the ball three times in a row seems to be shared by everyone else on the arena.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are now 27-31 on the season, getting close to the .500 mark after some tough losses at home in the last week or so.

While his driving skills leave a lot to be desired, Ball has been playing some of the best basketball of his career for the Hornets over the past month, leading the team to a recent nine-game winning streak and a return to postseason status in the Eastern Conference.

Of course, there is still much to be sorted out during the season, and the Hornets’ schedule will see an increase in strength compared to the rest of the campaign.

However, for now, Charlotte fans will have to be happy with what they are seeing from their budding young team.

The Hornets next face off against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday evening.

Julius Randle had a tough performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Minnesota Timberwolves star forward had an uncharacteristically quiet game on Sunday night. He had 18 points in the game, but he was quiet everywhere else, too. He recorded 15 points, and what’s even more worrying is that he only had three boards and three assists.

For a player who serves as the center of attack and the lead defender, this is an unacceptable performance. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has an explanation for why Randle’s play was so bad today.

“Finch said Julius Randle was “pretty seriously screwed” tonight,” John Krawczynski reported on X. “Only 3 boards and 3 assists from him.”

Randle was -20 in his 31 minutes of action against the 76ers, and made only one of his five three-point attempts. The former All-Star was largely ineffective for the Timberwolves in the game, as they struggled to gain momentum. Minnesota lost to Philadelphia 135–108, despite Joel Embiid missing the game for the 76ers and star guard Anthony Edwards scoring 28 points.

The Timberwolves were also playing with key players. Star center Rudy Gobert was out against the 76ers with a suspension after committing his seventh flagrant foul a few days earlier. Meanwhile, Sixth Man of the Year contender Naz Reid is also out with injury. Philadelphia’s physicality forced the shorthanded Wolves into 21 turnovers, Randle forced two while Edwards forced seven.

“They were good physically, they’re good defensively, they’re super hands-on, they’re active in gaps,” Finch said. “We struggled in the game. We got into traffic, we didn’t get the ball early. All those things that happen when you play in a rush.”

The Wolves’ record is now 35-23. Despite the loss, losses to the remaining Western Conference contenders meant the Timberwolves were still within striking distance of the third seed and still in control of the sixth seed in the conference.

After the Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers by 54 points last Friday, the team would be unable to muster a 128-117 win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. As there is some concern for the Nuggets following their loss to the understaffed Warriors, head coach David Edelman will point to an interesting aspect of the opponent’s injury report.

Just before tip-off, which was at 12:30 p.m. local time, Golden State announced that Green was a late scratch due to lower back tightness. This prompted the Warriors to go with Al Horford, who scored 22 points in his highest-scoring game as a team member, leading Edelman to admit how “confused” it was to see a late injury to Green.

“That was confusing,” Edelman said, via ESPN. “I think that’s why we report the injury. Obviously, the game plan was very different.”

The loss was a painful one for Denver, as they were missing Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, who is still out, Golden State’s top four players, Kristaps Porzingis and Green due to a season-ending injury. Although this was Denver’s third road game in four days after the All-Star break, it can’t be denied that the team won’t use this as an excuse.

What Warriors had on Nuggets to Nikola Jokic became real

Jokic, who himself is recovering from injury, had a great game where he recorded 35 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals and two blocks. However he also acknowledged, via Sports Illustrated, that Golden State had “better energy”.

“They had better energy, and since I (dunked in the fourth quarter), I think the score was tied, I missed a three, they made a three, I had a turnover, they made like a six, went on a 7-0 quick run, and they were up 13, 11 or whatever. So we couldn’t really find an open shot; they were finding open shots, they were making like they made the whole game,” Jocic said.

At any rate, Denver will look to bounce back in its next game on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals in a difficult 2024–25 campaign, where he suffered an Achilles injury that caused him to miss the current season. Despite this, things have taken a bit of a turn for the worse as the two-time All-Star has now been diagnosed with shingles, a viral condition which is expected to keep him away from the team for a period of ‘two to three weeks’.

“It’s a very painful thing. He’ll probably make a full recovery. “He was visiting us in DC and had some weird symptoms. It’s a unique case, a unique situation … but he’s always in a good mood, so he’ll get through it,” head coach Rick Carlisle said of Haliburton’s situation, according to IndyStar.

Carlisle spoke about Haliburton’s importance to the team and claimed that for the Pacers, “it’s extremely difficult to try to survive at a high level without a guy like that.”
Indiana entered the week with a 15-43 record and only had one player in Pascal Siakam averaging over 20 points per game.

The Pacers have been effectively stripped of their offensive engine. Apart from being the best playmaker on the Haliburton team, he was always capable of scoring from any range at any point.

In his absence, Indiana has pioneered its ‘team-first’ system with Benedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard averaging nearly 17 points per game. While the latest diagnosis has no impact on Haliburton’s overall timeline, the 25-year-old is undoubtedly going through a painful period.

The Pacers are in 15th place in the Eastern Conference and are on their way to being a lottery pick, and are probably already looking ahead to next season, with Haliburton also ready to return. Currently, they are going through a three-game losing streak and will next face the Philadelphia 76ers.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers suffered their second consecutive loss with a close home loss to the Orlando Magic. It was a tightly contested game throughout, but ultimately, the Clippers fell when Benedict Mathurin’s last-second shot to win the game hit the back of the iron and fell out.

After the game, Kawhi Leonard, who passed out to Mathurin for an open look, had a supportive message for the Clippers’ recent trade acquisition from the Indiana Pacers.

According to Joe Lynn of Sports Illustrated on Twitter, “Ben got wide open. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it. But that’s basketball. Things happen. We took a good look and he’ll be ready next time.”

Mathurin also got 100% real insight into the missed shots, as well as what it means to have someone like Leonard in his corner.

“It was great to have that experience. Obviously I wish I had made that shot, but there’s nothing I can do except work on it more… It means a lot. In my opinion, [Kawhi] He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. So for them to come out to show love and support and show that there’s a lot more ahead of me – for a guy who’s made a lot of shots, it was great to see,” he said.

The Clippers have now lost two straight games following their recent win over the Denver Nuggets, but they are still comfortably in postseason position in the Western Conference, sitting five games above the Memphis Grizzlies for the final play-in spot.

Mathurin was acquired from the Pacers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac as part of the Clippers’ trade deadline fire sale, in which they sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.

The Clippers next play on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The rigors of the NBA rookie season can exhaust even the most prepared first-year players. However, for New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derrick Queen, the physical demands are matched by a growing appreciation for the All-Rookie opportunity in front of him, even when it comes in the middle of the night.

Queen has been one of James Borrego’s key players during an injury-plagued season. However, the physical impact of playing over 1000 pre-All-Star games after a few months of some off-season rehab work isn’t really taking effect yet.

Queen shared, “I feel good. I was just thinking about it. I forgot all about the three months I was out.” “I actually woke up at midnight thinking about it. I’m (somewhat) excited for the opportunity to perform.”

The excitement of finally being on the floor, of finally getting a chance to prove myself in the league, has completely overshadowed the memory of the downtime. When Queen was asked to pinpoint his favorite moment so far, the play that injected some joy into a losing season, he didn’t select a poster highlight or a career-high scoring night. Instead, the rookie chose a moment of pure basketball intelligence.

“When we played Portland, at halftime we were talking about kicks and how we didn’t have to take extra dribbles,” Queen said. “The kicks are open, and they were pressuring us. I got the ball, took a dribble, then passed it to (Sadiq Bey), and he made a three. It was a good pass.”

In a league often obsessed with dunks and isolation scoring, Queen’s favorite play was a simple swing pass resulting in a three-pointer. It was a play born of a halftime adjustment. That’s the only thing the Pelicans are excited about. Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver invested in a man who appreciates playing the game the right way.

Between midnight revelations about her own resilience and the satisfaction she finds in making the right read at the right time, Queen appears to be settling into her rookie season with a quiet confidence. The minutes are accumulating, the lessons are accumulating, and for now, the former Maryland student is excited for the opportunities to come, one sleepless night at a time.

The Miami Heat defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 136-120 in their performance on Saturday night, as the team looks to continue their three-game winning streak heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. As the Heat look to avoid the play-in tournament and climb the Eastern Conference standings, the team gets important injury updates for Tuesday.

Miami practiced on Monday before the trip, with all but Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic practicing, as both missed Saturday’s aforementioned win over the Grizzlies. According to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, Mitchell is dealing with an illness as Jovic suffered a lower back injury, the severity of which he will see a doctor to check.

“It remains to be seen if he will travel with the team to Milwaukee today for tomorrow’s game vs. the Bucks. Jovic went to see a doctor for his back today,” Chiang, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

Mitchell has been a mainstay in the Heat’s starting lineup as the primary point guard, while Jovic has typically come off the bench but has struggled for most of the year. The news of Miami’s recovery following the return of star Tyler Herro is stinging, as Norman Powell reiterated after Saturday’s win that the team is “starting to buy into the collective effort.”

“I think obviously we finally got healthy, we didn’t have [Mitchell] Tonight, but I think this is the healthiest we’ve been all year, and we just want to keep that chemistry and do all the little things to help us get out of these games and not have any slipups and continue to focus on our goal of getting out of the play-ins. [tournament]Powell continued.

Norman Powell was asked about the Heat winning three consecutive games for the first time, and while he joked about it being a shot (laughs), he explained how the team is “starting to buy into the collective effort” and the goal of getting out of the play-in tournament: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/5WOEXWbFUw

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

In any case, it remains to be seen what the situation is with Michel and Jovic.

LOS ANGELES – Former Boston Celtics legend and current Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has a unique perspective. He is one of 42 players to wear the green and white And Purple and gold in his NBA career. He is one of the few players to play for and against Celtics head coach Joe Majulla.

That potential inside information didn’t help the Lakers when they hosted the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, as Boston left L.A. with an emphatic 111-89 win over its hated rival. However, this helped Smart come to a conclusion that others eventually began to understand as well: Mazzulla is one of the top minds in the association.

“Joe’s a great coach,” Smart said in the locker room before the second meeting of the season between the Celtics and Lakers. “And he’s been on the team, he’s watched these teams in the past, and he’s had a chance to take notes from there and make his adjustments. So, Joe is doing a really good job.”

Before Mazzulla was a head coach winning a ring and multiple 60-plus seasons, he was an assistant coach with the Celtics. And while he was largely unknown in the basketball world before Green became the team’s head coach in 2022, Smart isn’t surprised by what he’s been able to accomplish in Boston, especially this season when the Celtics were expected to struggle without star forward Jayson Tatum.

“I mean, for me personally, I’m not surprised,” Smart said. “They’ve got a lot of great players there. These guys have been playing together for a while… I definitely think they’re doing what I expected them to do, but it’s fun to watch.”

Smart’s comments came shortly after the Celtics continued their winning ways, completing a season sweep of the Lakers for the first time since the 2022–23 campaign (Smart’s final season with the C’s) and holding their historical foes to their worst offensive output of 2026.

After the 22-point win, the Celtics are 37–19 overall, an impressive 19–10 on the road, and in second place in the Eastern Conference. What they’ve been able to do with Tatum’s rehabilitation from a torn Achilles and several starters missing last season is quite impressive.

What JJ Redick had to say about Joe Mazzulla’s ‘phenomenal’ season

Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick said as much, pointing to Mazzulla’s role in the success.

“I think that’s what — there’s a handful of coaches that I think are doing tier-one jobs this year,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “And whoever is in that group of coaches is really doing a phenomenal job.”

JJ Redick on the job that Joe Mazzulla has done with the Celtics this season:

“I think what is — I think there are some coaches who are doing a tier-one job this year. And Joe is in that group of coaches, he’s really doing a phenomenal job.” pic.twitter.com/1c66auE6A1

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

While Smart and Redick, whom Mazzulla tried to hire in Boston several times, both share a relationship with the Celtics captain, their admiration is genuine and not tainted by a personal relationship. They’re just two basketball experts who have an understanding of why Mazzulla is a candidate for true Coach of the Year.

But, in Mazzulla’s mind, the Celtics haven’t accomplished much.

When asked how to summarize the Celtics’ 2025–26 season, he said after the game, “The story isn’t done yet.” “We’re just a result of what we do yesterday and what we do the next day…We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

Joe Mazzulla asked if he was angry, tired or pleased by the praise the Celtics received for their extreme accomplishments:

“Season’s 82 not 55… You can’t get stuck in what you’ve done in the past, whether it was good or bad.” pic.twitter.com/9lOWZNxzhg

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

The next chapter in the Celtics’ unfinished story will feature Tuesday night’s showdown with the Phoenix Suns, who in some ways are Boston’s Western Conference counterpart, given their surprising 33-25 record.

As always, Mazzulla will use this matchup as an opportunity to improve regardless of the outcome.

“Don’t overreact to a good win or a bad loss and be better in the next game,” Mazzulla reiterated.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is still out for a few more days as he recovers from the knee injury that has kept him out since before the All-Star break.

Curry missed all of his games in February after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury, leaving the Warriors without another star.

Curry’s health has been a concern for the Warriors over the past few seasons, as the 37-year-old guard’s body is breaking down due to his heavy mileage. Retirement may not be too far away for the two-time MVP.

Despite this, NBA insider Mark Spears claimed on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that Curry is still interested. to suit again For Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Steph Curry is still interested in making his second Olympic appearance. He’ll be 40 at the time, but look, he’s a shooter. He’s the greatest shooter of all-time. Why wouldn’t you want that on your roster?” Spears said.

“He hasn’t come out yet. Let’s just say that.”

Mark Spears: “Steph Curry is still interested in playing in his second Olympics. He’s not out, let’s just say that” 👀 pic.twitter.com/cIqfLC0fSe

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 24 February 2026

Curry ultimately made his Olympic debut in Paris 2024, helping Team USA win the gold medal, highlighted by his stellar performance in the final against host nation France.

Curry has often said that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He confirmed on Team USA teammate LeBron James’ “Mind the Game” podcast that he’s not closing the door on playing in the Olympics again, especially since it will be played on home soil.

If he does indeed suit up in Los Angeles, Curry would banner a roster that could include Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, among others.

Once Evan Mobley put together an All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the standard was set. Teammates, coaches, fans and the media were talking about the seven-foot-tall player all summer long and tossing his name into MVP conversations without hesitation. So, in turn, any lack of meeting those expectations is considered a failure by some, and perhaps, based on how steadfast the praise was at last year’s All-Star Game and Mobley’s own words, that’s justified.

Now that Darius Garland is in Los Angeles, it appears the microscope has zoomed in a lot on the 24-year-old forward. People crank that dial when the Cavs lose, and especially on national television.

Although he had a catch-and-drive dunk and a jump hook, Mobley missed a few threes in the final 3:20 of the game when his team was still within striking distance. And despite holding Chet Holmgren to an average scoring game, OKC’s power forward grabbed 15 rebounds compared to Cleveland’s two. They weren’t face-to-face every minute of the game, but that’s a worrying discrepancy.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had all 13 offensive rebounds from Sunday.

Where do you think the fault lies? pic.twitter.com/eXb19FU7GD

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 23 February 2026

Mobley deserves criticism for that part of the contest. Even if he’s out of position on most Cavs possessions due to the switch-heavy scheme defensively, recording two total rebounds at that size is absolutely unacceptable. Track the ball and catch it. When you have it in your hand, be strong with it, hold it high, and don’t let the opponent take it away from you.

Should he really be to blame for most of the Thunder’s extra chances? No, there were three examples, maybe fourWhere Mobley could have done a better job on the defensive glass was unrelated to the back-iron misses that found OKC’s perimeter players away from the paint.

• At 7:26 of the second quarter, he hung up on Jaylin Williams to make sure he didn’t miss a three; However, when Jared McCann’s floater went haywire, he waited too long to mingle with his teammates, who should have done so themselves due to the 3-on-2 advantage.
• Similarly, at 9:19 of the fourth, Mobley did not want to let a red-hot Cason Wallace get a free look in the left corner, so he tried to set up a contest time on Holmgren through the middle while driving; This forced a miss that rolled off the rim, but neither he nor Donovan Mitchell came up with it.
• Although with a strong position, Mobley was outclassed by Hartenstein at the 2:30 mark of the final frame, allowing Lou Dort to push him back to the top of the floor.

Evan Mobley’s frequently changing Cavs responsibilities

Let’s step away from the rebounding thing for just a minute and turn to Mobley’s extensive offensive game. The Cavs put the ball in his hands early in a point-forward type role in the first few weeks of the year. It was experimental because that’s what you do in the regular season. He was bringing it up and getting started, and when he didn’t have it, he was pulling up the floor. It was more dribble drives, separation, self-composition and kicking out than off-ball work.

Then, as the campaign progressed, Cleveland wanted to put Mobley in a better position to succeed with less management, as in 2024–25. That meant using him as a mid-floor hub, putting him in screens-and-slips, and getting him close to the bucket. Mobley burst onto the scene in early December and recorded four consecutive double-double performances before going down with a left calf injury. He was sidelined for five short games, then returned at Christmas.

After finding his footing again, Mobley enjoyed a solid month of January, including his best game of the season. He scored 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks in 35 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. He did not turn it over even once and walked out of the field after scoring 13 runs out of 24. Unfortunately, after another solid performance in Game 2 of the home-and-home series with the Orlando Magic, Mobley experienced more pain in the same calf. He missed the entire season through January 28 during the NBA All-Star break.

Returning to a very different team, James Harden is now their point guard, which changes the calculus for what Mobley needs to do. At best, on this team, he is the third scoring option. It was different a few months ago, so there needs to be an adjustment on his (and Harden’s) part.

Jarrett Allen is already the quintessential pick-and-roll partner for Harden, so where does that leave Mobley? Well, for one, Cleveland needs to get him into the dunker spot right this very moment. He should have plenty of opportunities to capitalize on the seriousness he possesses as both a ball-handler and roller. In particular, alley-oops from Harden or Allen should be common.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Mobley’s popping could also be used as a weapon. They sure as heck aren’t shooting the three well right now, which may be due to a lack of lift from the shin, but he’s still a confidently capable mid-range shooter. If opportunities arise, he will have to take them. Atkinson also sees opportunities to quickly find mismatches at small forwards and guards in double-big lineups. When that happens, Harden can be counted on to feed him.

We’ll also see Mobley without Harden and Allen on the floor with Mitchell. The staggering choice allows for optionality in terms of style of play. Both of them had a lot of success last year and a good chemistry has been established between them, which will give both of them a chance to be as successful as ever. Adding Schroder to that mix also helps as his downhill nature forces defenses to stop the ball.

painting the whole picture

Many people are casually leaving out Mobley’s defensive skills when evaluating his game. Being a top-tier tackler who shuts down driving lanes, runs to the corners to compete, and replaces all shots in a single possession doesn’t make a highlight reel unless you’re a coach. It’s a tough business to be in, as in that department, Mobley is one of them. Find another player his size who covers as much ground, switches seamlessly, and recovers just like him.

Sadly, making lots of money also comes with noise. Mobley has had a poor offensive season, and it shows in his season-long production numbers. Does this mean that he has performed well as a basketball player? no way. He will turn 25 in mid-June. Given Cleveland’s push and pull with his offensive responsibilities, a troublesome calf that kept him out twice, and readjusting to life with a new floor general, it’s understandable that Mobley doesn’t have everything figured out at this point.

However, the Cavs have exaggerated the timeline. He was originally crowned after an undefeated extension of the trade-deadline. Garland, his old core four two-man-game partner, has moved to the West Coast. The Giants are in the building now, hardening the locker room significantly so the team can really prepare for the playoffs.

Expectations are sky-high for this fresh-wine-and-gold group, so anything less than greatness will receive a scathing response, whether that’s warranted long-term or a momentary reaction in the heat of battle. That means Mobley will have to quickly adapt to what is being asked of him and take on a role that has once again changed.

Whether that’s fair or not, that’s just the reality of the situation.

The Indiana Pacers have fully embraced their plan for the remainder of the season: developing young guys and losing enough games to retain the lottery pick they hope to have in May. Unfortunately, this means a lot more injury updates for guys like Pascal Siakam.

Indiana currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-43, one game behind the Brooklyn Nets, who have a record of 15-41. The only team worse than the Pacers right now is the Sacramento Kings, who have a record of 12-46.

With Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers scheduled, Pascal Siakam is listed as “questionable” due to a left wrist sprain. This is the first time Siakam has been listed with an injury in recent weeks as his availability alternates between active and inactive for the Pacers.

Siakam missed the first game of the All-Star break due to personal reasons, and was changed for the second game after the break in the management of his left hamstring injury. He played in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, recording 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes of play in a 134–130 Mavs victory.

The Pacers have every incentive to lose as many games as possible over the remainder of this season. The Pacers traded their 2026 first-round draft pick to the LA Clippers with protection if it falls to 1-4 or 10-30. So if the pick falls 5-9, this would be considered the Clippers fully loaded draft and potentially the best one ever when it is all said and done.

This selection was part of the package that Indiana sold to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac. In the deal, the Pacers traded Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks to Los Angeles for All-Defensive center in Zubac.

In 52 games played so far this season, Siakam has averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three. Siakam was named to his fourth NBA All-Star team this season despite the Pacers’ poor record, which highlights how good he is.

The Atlanta Hawks are still figuring out what exactly they are after reshaping their roster, but the early returns since acquiring CJ McCollum show that Quin Snyder’s developed offensive hierarchy is starting to yield results. The Jalen Johnson-led team has won two of its first three games following the NBA All-Star break and is on a relatively improving schedule. From February 23 to March 30, the Hawks play only five road games. Of the 14 domestic contests during that span, seven rivals are already focused on improving their NBA Draft Lottery odds.

Winning the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed and avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament altogether after trading Trae Young is still a long shot. Still, a new starting lineup of Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu has provided offensive balance without sacrificing too much defense. McCollum is the only real goal-pointer, but the other four are doing a good job of protecting the rim and keeping opponents out of the paint. For example, the ninth-ranked Hawks (28-31) have shown improvement in points allowed in the paint over their last five games.

This shows that this team is still playing with pride and commitment to improvement. Given the schedule, the win is a must. Snyder really believes they can pull off some postseason upsets, especially if McCollum performs well in some key games.

“We’re in a little bit of a battle. We’ve played without a point guard this season, and we’ve played without a pure center this season. So the influx of a guy like C.J. who gives us another ball handler, another pick and roll player can be really valuable to everybody,” Snyder explained. “We’re going through the process of integrating those guys, and we’ll keep grinding.”

Although the offensive hierarchy is still a work in progress, Snyder is measuring success beyond the win column.

“I’m really more focused on how we’re playing, how we’re growing and how we’re coming together,” Snyder said. “We want to win every game, but to a certain extent. Whenever your team changes you have to face some difficult situations. Hopefully, we will play in such a way that we can repeat it and be successful.”

The Hawks, no longer employing Young, are operating without a single traditional floor general. Instead, Snyder has distributed playmaking duties throughout the roster, a change he described as born out of circumstance. What has emerged is a multi-lead approach to playmaking that distributes creation across the roster rather than routing everything through a single lead guard.

CJ McCollum helps Hawks

A 22-year-old Australian has been the most visible example of that development. Originally acquired for his defense, Dyson Daniels has become the primary ball handler due to circumstance and according to Snyder, he has embraced the challenge.

Snyder said, “Necessity can be the mother of invention.” “Dyson has really grown into that (point guard) role, which has been great to see him progress. He’s making plays for other guys, handling the ball and guarding that position. (Daniels) has really taken on that role for us and grown as a player.”

Johnson has been allowed to stick to what’s comfortable, with great success. Thankfully, the Hawks already have their own young face of the franchise, share a clear development plan, and now know how to best utilize future MVP-caliber talent.

“Jalen, again, is unique in his ability to pass and handle the ball, especially in the open court. (Johnson) isn’t in a position where we’re asking him to run the team, but there’s a lot of things we do where he’s the starter with the ball,” Snyder admitted. “We’ve put him in pick-and-rolls like any other player. That’s a big key for us. That versatility with multiple players and multiple playmakers is something we really value for us and we try to take advantage of that. Jalen is at the top of that list.”

The result is a crime without rigid hierarchy. Daniels organizes the attack, Johnson initiates the action from the frontcourt, and McCallum provides the scoring punch. Nichelle Alexander-Walker paints a picture of playmaking as an unconventional but effective contributor. Snyder has encouraged the 26-year-old guard to be more aggressive over the next few months.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s blocked… We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even some contested shots from three.”

With McCollum adding another reliable pick-and-roll operator and an experienced scoring option from the wing, Snyder’s rotation is generating enough offense to remain competitive, even as the roster is holding its own. With a softer schedule ahead and a newly formed offensive identity, the Hawks are betting that need-driven invention leads to the NBA Playoffs. That test will show the front office what it takes to chase a top-four seed next season.

Bill Simmons made bold comments about Steve Kerr’s coaching career with the Golden State Warriors that includes a scenario with LeBron James.

Kerr has been the head coach of the Warriors since 2014, leading the franchise to four championships and six NBA Finals appearances during his tenure. However, times have been tough since the last title run in 2022, failing to advance beyond the second round and even missing the playoffs once.

Kerr hopes to compete for another championship with Golden State, which could include an offseason move to lure James away from the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if the scenario fails to come to fruition, Simmons provided his perspective on what will happen to Kerr’s time with the Warriors.

“I think he (LeBron James) either stays in L.A. or he goes to Golden State… It’s kind of tied to LeBron. If they don’t get LeBron, I think it’s up to Steve Kerr. I don’t have any inside information, but it would be the right kind of area for him, I’ll take a year, I’ll do some media, I’ll figure out if I want to keep coaching. I’m leaving it at that,” Simmons said. Said. Mark 1:04:20 of his podcast.

Steve Kerr, what’s next for the Warriors?

Steve Kerr has accomplished a lot with the Warriors, creating the NBA’s most recent dynasty in the modern era. However, the end of his time with the Warriors may be closer than he anticipated, especially if the team is unable to land LeBron James for next season.

Golden State has a 30–27 record on the season, finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Warriors will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will face the New Orleans Pelicans on February 24, tip-off at 8 PM ET.

Two of the NBA’s top teams face off on Monday when the Detroit Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs at Little Caesars Arena.

The Pistons comfortably top the Eastern Conference with a 42–13 record, including 21–6 at home. Meanwhile, the Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference with a 40-16 slate, including 18-10 on the road.

It was a tough battle from the beginning. In the final minutes of the first quarter, Pistons forward Tobias Harris made sure to remind everyone that they don’t mess around in the Motor City.

Harris beats Dylan Harper’s defense on the break and goes ahead vicious slam There was panic over Julien Champagnie, on the bench and in the crowd.

Tobias Harris gets up and jams him! pic.twitter.com/o5oECyIxMg

– NBA (@NBA) 24 February 2026

No one expected, perhaps even Harris himself, that he would drop it.

At 33, Harris may have lost some of his athletic talent, but he has shown that his fearlessness remains intact.

Fans definitely loved his poster dunk.

“This is how you send a message with a sting,” said @amazonianrara00.

@MSBIntel said, “Tobias Harris turned that rim into his personal trampoline.”

“Tobias said, ‘Clear the runway.’ Just filed a complaint with RIM,” @mrpurpose0 wrote.

@saganjudah144 posted, “Anak T is coming with a flush.”

“Drug test awaits him at halftime,” @notyouknowsimba joked.

Harris has been a key part of the Pistons’ resurgence since joining in 2024. This is his second race at Detroit. He has provided experienced leadership and a steady presence to help develop the team’s young core.

At the time of writing, the Pistons are just two points down on the Spurs at halftime, 57-55.

Alpern Sengun delivered an incredible dunk highlight during Monday night’s clash between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.

Sengun is in his fifth year of his NBA career with the Rockets. He has become one of the best big men in the league, helping the Rockets return to relevance.

His offensive skills, especially his play-making, often come to light. What isn’t often highlighted is his dunking tendencies. That part of his game was on full display during Houston’s contest with Utah. The highlight came in the third quarter when Sengun and Kevin Durant used pick-and-roll action to go it ahead. Durant passed the ball back to his co-star, who took a euro step to get past his defender and then leapt into the air for a reverse dunk.

Alpern Sengun with Euro for the Reverse Slam 😮‍💨pic.twitter.com/0OzVBcpvl7

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

Alpern Sengun, how the Rockets played against the Jazz

Successfully completing it was a big highlight for Alpern Sengun, helping the Rockets blow out the Jazz 125-105 at home.

Perimeter shooting and rebounding made the difference in this matchup. The Rockets won both categories after making 18 3-pointers and grabbing 53 rebounds. It wasn’t the same for the Jazz as they only converted eight triples and grabbed 36 rebounds.

Six players scored in double figures for Houston in the win, including Sengun. He finished with a stat line of 16 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal on 7 of 12 shooting from the field. Jabari Smith Jr. made a splash with a performance of 31 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Amen Thompson finished second with 20 points and seven rebounds, Kevin Durant had 18 points and 12 assists, Reed Shepard had 15 points and four assists, while Terri Eason provided 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Houston improved to a 35–21 record on the season and finished fourth in the Western Conference standings. They are one game up on the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, they trail the Denver Nuggets on tiebreakers and the San Antonio Spurs by 5.5 games.

The Rockets will stay at home and await their next matchup. They will host the Sacramento Kings as tip-off takes place on February 25 at 8 PM ET.

Monday night proved to be a momentous occasion for the 2025-26 Sacramento Kings amid a dreadful campaign that has left them behind in the NBA. They had struggled, losing all of their previous 16 games against the Memphis Grizzlies, and it didn’t look like their skid was going to end anywhere given how much the team has been ravaged by injuries, most notably Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine undergoing season-ending surgeries.

Miracles do happen, however, and the Kings, after appearing as if they were destined to lose all of their games for the remainder of the season, finally got back to winning ways – winning 123–114 over the tanking Memphis Grizzlies despite being on the road. This gave the Kings only their 13th win of the season in 59 matches, and required an incredible team effort to end their misery.

In a season that’s straight out of their worst nightmare, Kings fans are simply turning to humor to deal with the horrors of their team – with newly signed Killian Hayes being the butt of jokes aplenty.

“We’re on a 1 game win streak, we’re so far behind 😭,” @PlayoffKings hilariously commented.

“The Sacramento Kings win? In this economy?”. X user @compSciMatt wrote.

@yhmzotf said, “Killian Hayes is changing the Sacramento Kings.”

@sosynoidFr added, “Killian Hayes has won 100% of his games with the Sacramento Kings.”

@Pdmwoz reported, “Killian Hayes signed with the Kings and won his first game after 17 losses. Coincidence? I think that’s greatness 🔥✌🏼.”

Will the Kings’ ineptitude be rewarded with a draft-day award?

The Kings have the worst record in the NBA, but with the lottery odds the league has used the past few seasons, that’s no guarantee.

Still, even if the Kings end up with the first overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, they would be better off not making the mistake of settling for a fit instead of selecting the best player available on the board.

The role of point guard in the NBA has changed markedly in the modern game, with the true point guard becoming almost a rarity. Combo guards like Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic are prototypes for point guards in today’s NBA. Chris Paul, who recently announced his retirement, revealed his preference for who he would like to run.

During a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, ‘7 PM in Brooklyn,’ Chris Paul said he would take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Luka Doncic, who he would like to play point guard in the NBA.

“We’ll be on the road, watching the game, but that [Shai] I would like to go to the gym. Loves going to the gym, will do all the work and takes care of his body. And I think the year we played together, they also started to see that defense matters,” Paul said. “You don’t have to be a lockdown defender or anything, but when you’re playing defense for your team, your teammates just want to see that starter really try to play defense.”

“When I was in Houston, Steph [Curry] He wasn’t the greatest defender back then,” Paul continued. “But now, Steph, he’s up the D. He plays really good defense. I have a lot of respect for Steph, Shai and all these guys who at least put in the effort on the defensive end because that’s part of it and that’s what your teammates want to see.

Defense is clearly the deciding factor for Paul in terms of who is the better option at point guard between Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.

With six weeks remaining in the regular season, James Borrego is making a final case to remove the interim tag. For better or worse, as the rookie-led New Orleans Pelicans embark on a crucial post-All-Star Game stretch, the acting head coach knows exactly where the front office’s magnifying glass will be focused. Any shortfall means being in the news for all the wrong reasons after the 82-game task is complete.

Borrego, replacing Willie Green, will have to show he can solve two persistent issues that have plagued the Pelicans this season. Slow starts and inconsistent clutch production have been an issue for too long given the top-level talent available. Players have to close out games, but the coaching staff is ready to make a plan at the starting point.

“It’s a responsibility when you try to get your team off to a good start and set the tone for the night. We haven’t done that (this season), but that’s the goal, we have a job ahead of us,” Borrego said. “We have explored some other areas of development, but the beginning is extremely important. We have our eye on that and will make appropriate adjustments.”

The Pelicans are 24th in the standings based on first-quarter scoring alone and 18th in first-quarter points per game. Borrego’s group is winning only 27% of the time in the first quarter. Unfortunately, after hosting the Warriors on February 24, New Orleans embarks on a six-game road trip. The end of the season is more difficult. Seven of the team’s last 10 games are underway, culminating with facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 12.

If the team can even get 10 wins over the final six weeks of the season, Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver will probably give Borrego an honest chance at a full season. However, a slow start and inconsistent clutch production will leave the front office with no choice but to look to outside options.

LOS ANGELES – During the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-122 win against the LA Clippers on Friday, Marcus Smart didn’t attempt a shot until the fourth quarter. When he finally got a chance to shoot the ball, he hit some clutch shots to stop the Clippers, going 3-4 in the final period. And for Smart, getting players into their roles is vital to the Lakers’ success.

After Lakers practice on Monday, Marcus Smart acknowledged that it’s not always easy to get players to buy into roles, especially when shot attempts and playing time are involved.

“Just understanding the game. Understanding what the game requires and how the game flows. Sometimes you might get a shot, maybe not. You might get more shots than last night, Smart said. “And in minutes, you might get more minutes than last night, you might not. It just depends on the game.”

“And it sucks sometimes because we’re competitive,” Smart added. “We want to win and we want to always be there to help our team. But you have to take advantage of whatever the game requires and understand what the game is giving you.”

Without Smart’s contributions, the Lakers cannot win that game against the Clippers. And before the team’s game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about the sacrifices Smart has made as the fifth starter who won’t necessarily get as many shots playing with other starters.

“I think it’s important to embrace how smart it is,” Redick said. “I think it’s all on the line for all of our guys, in some ways, we’re going back to free agency stuff and having a lot of guys with uncertain futures, I think that’s something we’re going to have to deal with all season. But it’s on the line, we just have to play the game. The game will dictate how many shots you get.”

Smart was one of the Lakers’ major free agent acquisitions in the offseason. He signed a two-year contract that includes a player option for the next season. He has appeared in 46 games, including 39 starts, at a pace of just over 28 minutes per game.

He averaged 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 39.8 percent shooting from the field, 32.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Now that the Lakers have a solid full rotation, Redick appears to have settled on Smart as the eventual starter alongside LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

With the NBA now regularly hosting regular season games in cities such as Paris, London, Mexico City and Berlin, conversations about potential European leagues or expansion franchises internationally are gaining momentum. In particular, the NBA’s ongoing effort to bring regular season basketball to international territories may rely on Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks for support. Australian and inventive head coach Quin Snyder fully agrees, lobbying for more European and Austrian-based regular season games around the NBA All-Star break.

For Snyder, the initiative comes handy in an industry that has become increasingly global. The NBA’s efforts to strengthen ties with international markets is a positive development for all.

“I think (the NBA Europe project) is great,” Snyder told ClutchPoints. “The league is global and has players from all over the world. So playing in Europe, whether it’s in London, Paris or Berlin, there are games everywhere right now. You hear a lot about European players watching the NBA before they come here, and I think more and more American kids are exposed to basketball internationally.”

Snyder pointed to the long pipeline of European talent entering the league as evidence of basketball’s growing international roots, while influence flows in both directions.

“You usually see an increase during the World Cup or the Olympics,” Snyder said. “The more the game expands internationally, the better it is for everyone in the NBA. So, there are a lot of benefits from teams and players going out there. Whether it’s cultural benefits or raising awareness about other parts of this world that we live in.”

As decision-makers look to take advantage of the game’s global momentum, the increase in support reflects a growing sentiment among coaches and players that the league’s future success depends largely on its ability to think beyond the boundaries. For Snyder, the strategy is straightforward; The more the NBA invests overseas, the stronger the league will be domestically.

In a potential NBA Finals matchup, the Detroit Pistons will face the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. At the time of publication, the Pistons were trailing by double digits midway through the fourth quarter. But Pistons big man Jalen Duren had the highlight of the night in the NBA by throwing down a poster dunk over Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Bread-n-butter play for Pistons leads to a Duran poster at Wembley pic.twitter.com/r0FUiipnED

– Esfandiyar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) 24 February 2026

The play occurred early in the fourth quarter when Cade Cunningham took a hand-off from Jalen Duren, saw Duren hiding in the dunker spot and as he stepped up he hit him with a pass and threw a poster dunk on the unsuspecting Victor Wembanyama. This was an impressive feat considering Wembanyama’s length and size and his reputation as one of the best defensive players in the league.

The No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, this season has been a coming-out party of sorts for Duren. He was recently selected to the first All-Star appearance of his career, and his play has been a big reason why the Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Coming into Monday’s game, Duren had appeared in 45 games for the Pistons, a little over 27 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 17.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while splitting 63 percent shooting from the field and 73 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Pistons are looking to avoid breaking their five-match winning streak in the match against the Spurs. They are currently 42–13 and are on top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Sacramento Kings star point guard Russell Westbrook always plays at 100 mph.

During the first quarter of Sacramento’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum in Memphis, the former NBA Most Valuable Player’s offensive play claimed a victim in the form of a Flor Bear.

While bringing the ball up the court, Westbrook was hit by Memphis guard Scottie Pippen Jr. and fouled. This sent Westbrook to the sideline, where he inadvertently stepped on a drink (probably beer). The sheer force of Westbrook’s speed caused the drink to spill over him and onto the floor, delaying the game as it took some time to clean up the mess on the court.

Meanwhile, Westbrook took a seat at courtside as things settled down. He can also be seen asking for a towel to wipe the drink from his body.

Russell Westbrook spikes courtside fan’s drink at Kings-Grizzlies 💦😭pic.twitter.com/ERpobw8ZdE

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

Symbolically speaking, that drink could represent the type of season Westbrook and the Kings are having. Sacramento has been consistently pursued by teams heading into the 2025-26 NBA campaign.

In fact, the Kings entered Monday on a terrible losing streak, as they have lost 16 consecutive games. With a 12-46 record heading into Grizzlies games, the Kings are the worst team in the league at the moment based on the standings.

However, Sacramento’s record won’t be a factor in how the 37-year-old Westbrook, who is signing a one-year deal with the Kings, performs in every game, as he can be expected to continue playing like everything is on the line.

One of the moves made by the New York Knicks at the NBA trade deadline was to send Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Dellen Terry. The Knicks then sent Terry to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Jose Alvarado. It’s been a few weeks since the trade, but Guershon Yabusele still has love for his former Knicks teammates.

After the Knicks game against the Bulls on Sunday, Gershon Yabusele met with some of his Knicks teammates like Josh Hart, Ariel Huckporty, Jordan Clarkson, Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara and Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

Yabusele reposted the video shared with his former teammates on social media with the words ‘my brothers’ and a pair of emojis.

Yabusele was widely touted as a great free agent signing by the Knicks in the offseason, but he was never able to find consistent minutes in the rotation this season, and a trade was always a possibility.

Since the agreement, he has seen an increase in his playing time and role with the Bulls. He has appeared in seven games, including five starts, with just over 25 minutes per game. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists with splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 43.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, Yabusele began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He played two seasons with the Celtics before moving overseas. He will return to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024–25 season.

It seems like just a few years ago San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson was a wide-eyed rookie out of Kentucky. Now, he is Spurs’ longest-tenured player, providing toughness and leadership.

They proved it again when they visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.

Things turned sour in the second quarter when Pistons guard Cade Cunningham knocked Spurs guard Stephen Cassel to the floor. Johnson came forward and nudged Cunningham, saying a few words to him.

Pistons center Jalen Duren entered the field and pointed the finger at Johnson. Luckily, before it escalated further, cooler heads prevailed. full dispute. Johnson and Duren were both whistled for technical fouls.

Keldon Johnson and Jalen Duren received technique after this conversation

Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul for the initial push on Stephen Castle.

pic.twitter.com/ClIliygbSP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

As expected, tensions were high between the two top NBA teams, especially since it was their first meeting.

While Spurs have other players older than him, the 26-year-old Johnson has taken on a big brother role on the team. He has taken Victor Wembanyama under his wing, even shaving his head, to help his young teammate develop and transition to the NBA.

Johnson has progressed in coach Mitch Johnson’s first full year, averaging 13.4 points, 54.5% shooting and 5.7 rebounds off the bench. He is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

At the time of writing, there is still a close battle between the Spurs and Pistons in the third quarter.

Cassel had 12 points, two rebounds and seven assists, while Johnson had six points and two rebounds.

For Lakers guard Marcus Smart, the best is yet to come for his team, as he offered an optimistic outlook in practice on Monday. While coach JJ Redick took responsibility for the Lakers’ offensive shortcomings, Smart identified the bigger picture for Los Angeles.

Smart believes in the Lakers have enough talent According to Khobi Price of the California Post, he said, he is looking to reach his full potential, and he is confident he will find his stride between now and the end of the regular season.

“We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We’re not healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to get the pieces to the net. You have to stay healthy. Different lineups in the game, but I think it’s going to help us in the long run because we’ve got to see different lineups — guys in different spots and different roles that they’re not used to. We definitely have some work to do.

“Everyone knows that. But we’re hanging in there. The goal is to have everyone in this league coming in at the right time, and getting ready to play the best basketball you can play.”

Marcus Smart explained how good the Lakers are and how close the group is to its best version: “We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We haven’t been healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to net the pieces.” pic.twitter.com/2xlR7CE262

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

Marcus Smart and the Lakers scored a season-low 89 points in their blowout loss to the Boston Celtics (111-89) on Sunday.

JJ Redick takes responsibility for Lakers’ offensive shortcomings

Blamed head coach JJ Redick for the Lakers’ inability to find their offensive rhythm in a 22-point loss to the Celtics. After Lakers forward Rui Hachimura discussed his failed offense, Redick took responsibility.

As for the Lakers head coach, he has to prepare his team to be ready to take on an elite defense like the Celtics, as Redick said, he failed to do soAs noted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters, and we just got there [execute],” Reddick said. “I took ownership of it. We have our counters for deep decline. We have to do a better job…we noticed that today. Our lowest potential assist games are against deep downs, so I have to do a better job.

JJ Redick’s response when asked about the Lakers’ ball movement, and whether the lack of it makes them more predictable on defense:

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters and we just get [execute]…I took ownership of it. We have our counters for depth… pic.twitter.com/wwfRZ1OAXl

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

The Lakers will host the Magic on Tuesday.

It cannot be denied that the San Antonio Spurs have an elite talent in Victor Wembanyama. Everyone knows this, and he constantly reminds the NBA world what an incredible player he is.

He did it again in the first quarter of Monday night’s showdown between his Spurs and the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, when he made a big defensive play to deny the home team a bucket from deep.

With 1:49 left in the first period and 2.1 seconds remaining on the Pistons’ shot clock, Detroit forward Ronald Holland II received an inbounds pass and looked like he was open for a 3-pointer from the right side. However, Vembanyama used his mobility, athleticism and length to not only trouble Holland but also block his shots.

And with that shot rejection, Wembanyama has finally checked all the boxes when it comes to recording a block against every NBA team.

Victor Wembanyama refuses to give Ron Holland a corner 3

This is Wembley’s first interception on any Pistons player in his career.

The Spurs star has now recorded a block against every team in the NBA!pic.twitter.com/GWtvttyd3L

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

The 22-year-old Vembanayama is undoubtedly one of the best – if not the best – defensive players in the NBA. He can defend all positions and is a legitimate threat to protect the rim. A two-time NBA block leader, Wembley entered the Pistons game leading the league with 2.7 blocks per contest in the 2025–26 regular season.

With his rare blend of size, length and agility, two-time NBA All-Star Wembanyama is a capable defender near the rim or outside the perimeter, which he clearly demonstrated with that block on Holland, who likely would have missed that shot if another player was guarding him.

After the Orlando Magic bounced back from a double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns with a two-point win (111-109) over the LA Clippers, Anthony Black discussed the keys to his team securing a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. In a season where the young and up-and-coming Detroit Pistons sit comfortably at the top of the standings, the Black and Magic are looking to build on their appearance in the play-in tournament last season.

The Magic finished with a .500 record (41–41) in 2024–25, seventh-best in the Eastern Conference. Black says the league can expect the Magic to perform best brand of basketball “Amid the final stretch of the regular season,” he said, according to ESPN’s NBA Today.

“You know, just being consistent in the way we play. Just the energy that we bring every night, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Black said. “Just making a push. We hope to play our best basketball this season. Just figuring it out.”

“You know, just being consistent in the way we play.”

Magic guard Anthony Black on what the team needs to do to become a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference pic.twitter.com/iaky7roadM3

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 23 February 2026

Anthony Black scored 11 points in the Magic’s win against the Clippers. All five starters reached double figures, including Paolo Banchero (16 points) and Wendell Carter Jr. (15 points), with Desmond Bane scoring 36 points.

Paolo Banchero reveals Magic’s biggest issues after Suns loss

After bouncing back with a hard-fought win against the Clippers, the Magic could bring back Jalen Suggs for Tuesday when they take on the Lakers. Magic forward Paolo Banchero highlighted his team’s shortcomings in Sunday’s double overtime loss, which were also evident in Sunday’s win against the Clippers.

Banchero said, “I wasn’t on the ball so my focus was on protecting the inbounder. I didn’t really look too much, just turned my head and the ball was in the air.”

“I don’t mean ideal, but [I] Thought we played hard, I didn’t think we made enough plays down the stretch they did – a little more than we did and yes, definitely a little bit of a loss. Now! [a] Tough game.”

Tuesday’s match against the Lakers will conclude the Magic’s four-game road trip.

Rich Paul was quiet when Max Kellerman blasted Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.

Paul and Kellerman took part on the February 18 episode of the Game Over podcast. The latter didn’t stop Doncic, calling out the Lakers star for constantly complaining to officials, while making bold comments about him and Boston Celtics head Jaylen Brown.

“Every single trip down the floor, you’re complaining to the refs. Luka, every single trip down the floor, you’re complaining to the refs. Even when he hits shots. No, you’re not going to get another one. And it can’t be that the refs blow every call on Luka Doncic,” Kellerman said at the 18:08 mark.

“Rich, you and I both saw it last night. Jaylen Brown is better than Luka Doncic. Better player, I’d like to have him on the team. If I had to start a team, I’d like to start it with Jaylen Brown.”

Paul responded, “Jaylen Brown is a very good player,” as Kellerman quickly responded, “He’s better than Luka.”

Luka Doncic, what’s next for the Lakers

It’s clear that Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the entire NBA. However, his tendency to make too many mistakes and complain to officials may present a flaw in his on-court mentality.

Doncic is going through his seventh season in the league, his second with the Lakers. He is playing at a high level, producing 32.8 points, 8.5 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game in 44 appearances. He is shooting 47.1% from the field, including 35.5% from beyond the arc and 77.6% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles has a record of 34–22 on the season, finishing fifth in the Western Conference standings. They have the tiebreaker advantage over the Minnesota Timberwolves and are ahead of the Phoenix Suns by two games. However, they trail the Houston Rockets by 0.5 games and the Denver Nuggets by one game.

The Lakers will prepare for the final game of an eight-game homestand. They will host the Orlando Magic as tip-off takes place on February 24 at 10:30 PM ET.

Despite high expectations heading into the 2025-26 campaign, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins doesn’t see a deep playoff run for the Houston Rockets. Head coach Ime Udoka calling out the Rockets’ Amen Thompson is another example of the issue that has plagued Houston’s season, preventing the team from reaching its full potential.

Perkins doesn’t expect this from the Rockets make it out he said about the opening round of the playoffs, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“The Rockets are going home in the first round,” Perkins said. “Number one, they lack high basketball-IQ. Number two, they’ve lost their identity defensively. They used to be a defensive-minded team. I don’t know what happened. Number three, they play individual, selfish basketball.”

Without a fluid offense, the Rockets would not be able to advance to the second round. And for Perkins, Thompson isn’t the only Rockets player with a selfless approach to the offense.

Perkins said, “There are times when you look at Amen Thompson. He wants to be one-on-one. Show the world he can go get buckets.” “There is no structure to his crime – it’s the same with Sengun.”

“They play personal, selfish basketball…they’ll [Houston Rockets] Will be sent home in the first round. “I guarantee you that.”

Kendrick Perkins doesn’t think the Rockets will make it out of the first round of the playoffs 😳

(via @FirstTech)
pic.twitter.com/koTVUHsw02

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

However, above all, what bothers Kendrick Perkins the most is that the Rockets did not try to make a deal for Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline.

Ime Udoka calls out Amen Thompson of Rockets

If it’s not Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant’s social media accusations, it’s coach Ime Udoka’s call to Amen Thompson that had the Rockets in the news last week. According to Kelly Echo of The Athletic, Udoka said he stopped moving when the ball got into Thompson’s hands.

“The ball stopped moving, started getting a lot of separation. Same story – we’ve lost too many games like that. I’m telling Amen and Reed to be more demonstrative and get us into our sets; this is not the time to freestyle. Turnovers hurt, but bad offense hurts just as bad.”

The Rockets will look to bounce back from a 108-106 loss to the Knicks when they host the Jazz on Monday.

With the NBA playoffs far out of reach and the NBA Draft Lottery the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has transferred his message to the young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourself. The Jazz want their players to be decision-makers, independent thinkers who are able to direct their own careers. Speaking after the All-Star break, Hardy presented a philosophy that stands in stark contrast to the hyper-structured world of modern NBA player development.

The Jazz, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one of the league’s worst records, are succumbing to the realities of a rebuild. Victory is rare. Minutes are plentiful for the young core. They need to figure out who has the ability to gain control instead of just following orders.

“With all of our young players, we’re encouraging them to be independent thinkers about their careers, about their development,” Hardy said. “It’s about who they want to be as a person, where they want to be as a player, because I think in today’s world, we have a lot of personal trainers. We have strength coaches, and the staff has grown up as well.”

The alternative, Hardy warned, is a dangerous inaction.

“So it can be easier for the players,” Hardy admitted, “if they want, check their phone, look at the schedule that’s set out for them. They come into the facility and take what they should be taking for breakfast. We say here are the vitamins you should be taking. They go into the weight room, and it’s two sets of something with eight reps each. We go on the court and tell them where to shoot. They can go all day without having to make decisions for themselves.”

Hardy believes that hand-to-hand existence poses a long-term risk. One day, the structure disappears. Come free agency, a trade means joining a new team, or life after basketball will have to be considered. The players discover that they never learned to pilot their ship.

“It can be a slippery slope,” Hardy said, “because there will come a day when they realize they have no control over what they’re doing.”

Hardy was careful not to suggest a single solution. He acknowledged that agency is not something every young player is ready to embrace immediately.

“I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but we have to encourage all of our athletes to think about it,” Hardy shared. “As you move along in your process, some people may feel like taking on that agency. Some people may not want to take on that agency because they’re not sure what to do with it.”

In a season defined by accusations of tanking (earlier this month the Jazz were fined $500,000 by the NBA for resting healthy players, which the league deemed harmful), Hardy’s approach has doubled as both practical and philosophical. With little to lose in the standings, franchises can afford to experiment, fail and adjust players on their own terms. The goal is not to produce more losses, but to create more self-reliant professionals who will eventually thrive when the franchise fights again.

It remains to be seen whether every player embraces the freedom. Hardy acknowledged that some people would crave the comfort of a printed program. However, in a rebuild where the future is more important than the present, the Jazz are betting that the people who step up and make their own decisions will be the ones who will matter most when the tank eventually ends.

The Golden State Warriors got back into the win column with an impressive win over the Denver Nuggets at home on Sunday afternoon. Despite trailing for much of the second half, the Warriors were able to turn up the heat late and ultimately win 128–117 despite Stephen Curry being out of the lineup.

Recently, ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins raised eyebrows during his appearance on the Road Trippin’ Podcast when he said the Warriors should give up in 2025-26 and shut down Curry for the remainder of the season due to Draymond Green’s lack of production in the recent game against the Boston Celtics.

Now, Green himself has responded to those comments on The Draymond Green Show, produced by Audacy.

“We played great players, and we got clips of them. So you know, bad plays are going to happen every once in a while,” Green said. “…Be careful listening to the little kids out there who are trying to make it, because it’s garbage a lot of the time… You know how to have a bad game. I can promise you, Big Perk. I don’t care where you were at the end of your game.”

In fact, Perkins had several bad games toward the end of his playing career. Meanwhile, Green has seen a steady decline in production over the past few seasons, but he is still one of the smartest players in the game today, and remains a staple of the Warriors’ defense.

At this point, it’s hard to envision the Warriors competing for anything meaningful this season, even if Curry returns fully healthy, as Jimmy Butler is already out for the remainder of the season, and trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis is already dealing with an illness.

However, at this point, it doesn’t seem like the Warriors are seriously considering following Perkins’ advice and locking up their franchise leader.

The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to get back fully healthy for the first time in a long time, as Jonathan Kuminga’s status has been upgraded ahead of their matchup against the Washington Wizards. Kuminga has been dealing with a hamstring injury since his time with the Golden State Warriors and then joining the Atlanta Hawks and has yet to make his debut with his new team.

With Kuminga now being listed as questionable against the Wizards, it’s a good sign that he’s close to returning to the court.

Last week, the Hawks noted that Kuminga was making good progress from his bone bruise and would be re-evaluated in a week, with an update on his condition.

Kuminga was seen hitting some shots during the Hawks’ practice, which was a good indication of where he can be when he gets on the floor.

Adding Kuminga to the Hawks’ rotation could help improve their wing rotation, and his skill set could open things up for the rest of the team as well. His ability to drive and get into the lane will be key for the Hawks, whether he’s making shots or finding opposing teammates on kick-outs.

The Hawks recently made a lineup change, inserting C.J. McCollum into the starting lineup and moving Zachary Risacher off the bench. Head coach Quin Snyder said after their win against the Brooklyn Nets that the Hawks are better statistically when McCollum is on the floor with Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, which proves why they made the move.

With Risacher being a wing, it will be interesting to see how those minutes off the bench are allocated when Kuminga is healthy, and if he can be on the floor at the same time.

Does anyone else still have Olympic fever? With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming to an end, meaning there will be no more afternoon curling tournaments, all of our attention is now focused on the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles, California. After seeing Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry win gold medals in France, could we see these three stars lead Team USA once again?

The spectacle dominated headlines and the basketball world in 2024. There was nothing better than watching these three greats win gold medals in France, and now, USA Basketball can do the same on home soil in two years.

“Golden Dagger!”

Steph Curry This is absolutely ridiculous. 🤯#parisolympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/8hIN8tgmfK

– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) 10 August 2024

However, with the 2024 Olympics over, it looks like this will be the last time we see LeBron, KD, and Steph playing together on the court. James told reporters he would be “watching from Cabo” and Curry said he “highly doubts it.”

After all, they are in the final stages of their respective careers, and it’s reasonable to believe that James won’t be in the NBA by the time of the next Olympics.

It’s never too early to consider what the future of USA Basketball will look like, especially now that Durant is hinting at playing in Southern California in two years, shortly after the conclusion of all winter programs in Italy.

Kevin Durant won’t close the door to the 2028 Olympics

When the 2024 Olympics ended and Team USA, led by Durant, James and Curry, won gold medals, everyone’s attention immediately turned to what the future of USA basketball would look like.

Cooper Flagg, who had not yet been drafted, was a popular choice for many to be one of the next to follow in the footsteps of the greats before him. Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker, two other key contributors to the 2024 Olympic team, were also early selections to become the team’s principal “captains”.

Maybe it’s the Olympic love in the air from this year’s Winter Games, but it doesn’t seem like there will be any major changes or a changing of the guard for Team USA just yet, especially after Durant made clear his stance on playing in Los Angeles to ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill.

“You guys, the media, have speculated,” Durant told ESPN about the story of Paris being the veteran athlete’s last Olympic race. “Where did that narrative, the last dance thing, come from? I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t playing. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

As far as actually playing, Durant’s answer was simple.

“Yeah, I want to play,” Durant said. “Today, yes, I feel like I’m going to put my name in that hat.”

Well, that settles the matter. Kevin Durant, who will be 39 years old and set to turn 40 in the summer of 2028, wants to play for the Stars and Stripes in the 2028 Olympics. Assuming he’s healthy and obviously doesn’t change his mind, Durant will be the team captain and take one of the 12 coveted roster spots to defend the gold medal in front of the American faithful.

Durant is very proud of American basketball and made his stance on USA vs. the World clear to ESPN.

“I don’t like to talk about the United States versus the European style of how you approach the game,” Durant explained. “‘France is coming for you.’ really? We beat up those boys.”

Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been the faces of basketball’s rapid evolution around the world, but USA Basketball continues to dominate on the world’s biggest stage every four years. Once again, Team USA will enter the 2028 Olympics as the favorites to win the gold medal, and Durant is ready to make that dream come true once again.

Whether Curry will join them is still a big question mark.

Will Stephen Curry join Kevin Durant in 2028?

Before 2024, Steph Curry has experienced basically everything possible in a Hall of Fame career.

He broke the league’s all-time 3-point record, won four NBA championships, led the league in scoring twice, won two MVP awards (one of which was the first unanimous selection), and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. But the one empty spot in Curry’s massive trophy cabinet was an Olympic gold medal.

Although he played for Team USA at the World Cup, Steph actually pushed to play in the 2024 Olympics, and he was one of the leading voices along with LeBron and Durant to get the best on this roster.

“Personally, it’s something I haven’t been able to experience: being an Olympian,” Curry told Endscape ahead of the 2024 Olympics. “Hopefully we win a gold medal. At this point in my career, it gives me a chance to be present in the moment and enjoy playing basketball. It’s a pure expression of the game.”

The United States won the gold medal as Curry expected, and he was the main reason the team defeated France in the gold medal game. If not for Curry’s heroics and iconic shots from the perimeter, Team USA would not have won the gold medal.

“It was the most surreal feeling, especially the way it ended,” Curry told The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II after the 2024 Olympics. “I felt like a kid again. A 12 out of 10 experience.”

If Curry had so much fun playing in Paris and winning a gold medal, what will it be like to play in Los Angeles and do it again next to Durant? Although LeBron will most likely not be on the team, there is a roster spot for Steph if he wants.

He will be 40 by the time the next Olympics begins, which is why it is too early to speculate about whether Curry will actually consider playing in the 2028 Summer Games. Ultimately, this will be a decision based on Steph’s overall health that year and where he is in his career, especially with the finish line on the horizon.

Durant clearly wants to play, and his words show he wants Steph out there with him, too. For now, we’ll assume that both of these legends will take the United States off their chest at least one more time, leaving 10 spots open for the remaining pool of American players.

Prediction of remaining players of 12-man Olympic roster

If we assume both Durant and Curry will lead Team USA at the 2028 Olympics, who else will be on this roster?

Edwards and Booker, as mentioned earlier, will hold their spots as long as they are healthy. Both stars played integral roles following Curry and Durant in Paris, and they will likely play bigger roles as they enter the primes of their respective careers in 2028.

Flagg is another safe choice, as he’s coming off his third NBA season and is better than ever. After practicing with Team USA in 2024, everyone involved with the program was already raving that he would one day lead the Americans.

Another guard who will likely receive one of the first calls up to play in Los Angeles is Cade Cunningham. Not only has he established himself as one of the best players in the East with the Detroit Pistons, but Cunningham has turned himself into a legitimate MVP candidate. Between his playmaking and scoring abilities off the dribble, Cunningham is the perfect guard for Olympic play.

This leaves six more spots open, some of which need to be filled with frontcourt talent.

Bam Adebayo is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, and is considered one of the best defensive centers in the world. He will be 31 by the time the next Olympic Games begin, and Adebayo will likely be the starting center for the Americans.

Even with the addition of Adebayo, USA Basketball will need even more height to match Wembanyama and other tall European players, which makes Chet Holmgren a viable option to make his Team USA debut after playing in the FUBA Under-19 Championship.

There is a very clear rivalry growing in the NBA between Holmgren and Wembanyama, and the Oklahoma City Thunder big man is one of the best rim protectors in the world.

The final center spot shouldn’t go to anyone other than Jalen Duren right now. In his fourth NBA season, Duren has become an All-Star big man with his toughness in the paint on both ends of the floor. Duran’s athleticism is evident when watching the international game, especially with his pick-and-roll connection with Cunningham.

There are three spots left, and with Erik Spoelstra replacing Steve Kerr on the sideline, he will want a strong, two-way player on the wing. Enter Jaylen Brown, who has already declared himself the best two-way player in the world and has taken his game to new heights since winning the 2024 Finals MVP.

Brown can score and defend like a top-10 player in the world, which is why he would be one of the key names on Team USA’s roster if the Olympics were starting right now.

Needing at least one more wing who can defend and score, Scottie Barnes stands out. Not only is Barnes viewed as one of the best all-around defenders in the league, but he serves as a “point forward” who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. With his quick instincts as a defender and ability to push the pace, Team USA will have the youth and athletic ability needed to keep up with the rest of the world.

And eventually, one spot is left, and it becomes very difficult to choose from all the remaining talent.

Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum were both on the 2024 Olympic team, but both players suffered major Achilles injuries in the 2025 playoffs. Jalen Johnson and Jalen Williams are two young forwards on the rise, but are they ready to help the country win a gold medal? Then there are All-Stars like Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey who will compete for spots.

If the Olympics were today, I would give Mitchell this last spot for two major reasons: dynamic scoring and perimeter shooting.

We saw how important it was for Curry and others to hit threes in the big time in the 2024 Olympics, and Mitchell is sixth in the NBA with 667 threes over the past three years. He is one of the best offensive players off the dribble in the NBA, and Mitchell’s unselfish play will be needed on this team.

So this is our initial projection for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics:

• Guard: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell
• Wing: Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes, Cooper Flagg
• elder: Bam Adebayo, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren

Of course, this is not the official Team USA roster, and we’re likely to see some big changes over the next two years before the Summer Games in Los Angeles. Who knows whether Curry will actually play, and health could clearly impact the status of any player competing for a USA Basketball roster spot.

Needless to mention, this year’s 2026 NBA Draft class has a chance to be one of the most historic in league history. Darin Peterson, Cameron Boozer, AJ DiBantsa, Caleb Wilson and Kingston Flemings, among others, could easily make their mark on the NBA like Flagg and earn their spots on the Olympic team.

After all, age matters in the Olympics, and the roster is usually made up of players in their mid- to late 20s. Obviously, the 2024 Olympics was a unique event, because the average age of the new-age “Dream Team” assembled by James, Durant and Curry was 30.1 years old.

The Team USA roster in 2028 will be much younger, faster and more athletic. If Durant and Curry are to lead this team and defend their gold medals one last time, we should expect to see a group of 12 players that resembles the fantasy team assembled above.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics over, the countdown to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles has officially begun.

When Zion Williamson’s highly-touted New Orleans Pelicans began the season, Karlo Matkovic was not included as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physicality and an infectious team-first mentality, the young big man has put James Borrego in a welcome dilemma.

Matkovic’s steady growth from a fringe option to a reliable contributor has complicated lineup options, especially with multiple productive big men competing for minutes.

Matkovic is flirting with 10-point and 10-rebound nights more often, while shooting 46% from 3-point range (1.2 attempts per game). As of February 23, he has had at least two blocks in three of his last eight games. It is impossible to ignore the 24-year-old Croatian’s recent performances.

“He’s making it hard for me,” Borrego told ClutchPoints. “It’s hard to decide who we’re going to play with, who we’re not going to play with. We have a lot of guys that are playing well in the front court with (Derrick Queen, Yves Missy) and Carlo. (Kevon Looney) is a professional and he’s been there; then there’s also (Zion Williamson). Still, Carlo continues to impress on me through his effort, his physicality, his size and his ability to be a two-way player. Keeps pressing. Offensively, (Matkovic) plays with great pace, gets up the floor and can make threes.

However, what separates Matkovic from a typical young player fighting for minutes goes beyond the box score. Borrego has been particularly impressed with what the big man brings to the less measurable areas of the game.

“It’s all the intangibles, too. (Matkovic) doesn’t care if he scores or gets credit. That’s what you want to be as a team,” Borrego said. “Carlo is a team-first person.”

Matkovic’s emergence has largely come through consistent energy and reliability rather than headline-grabbing stat lines. Borrego suggests that that selfless character did not happen by accident.

Borrego admitted, “Somewhere at home, someone taught him well; he was raised well. He was coached well, and he has a sense of selflessness and a sense of team that I really like.” “It reflects in his play, and he continues to play with great confidence.”

Matkovic was not projected to be a regular part of the rotation when the season began. Yet every time he steps onto the floor, he gets another chance… and then another.

The Pelicans are crazy about Karlo Matkovic

Confidence, in fact, has been one of the most visible developments in Matkovic’s game as the workload has increased. The more he plays, the more natural he looks in an NBA setting.

“As you said, (Matkovic) looks more comfortable with more minutes,” Borrego acknowledged. “He’s earned it. It’s not been given to him. He wasn’t projected to start this season, but we put him in there. I trust him and believe in him. He knows that, and I don’t see him losing.”

Matkovic, the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has offered an intriguing blend of modern big man skills. At 6-foot-10 with legitimate shooting range, he adds a cool, unselfish credibility that coaches want. If the Pelicans don’t pick up the $2.2 million club option, at least one team will value those attributes in free agency this summer.

Borrego doesn’t hide how much he values ​​that last part. In a league where egos can derail the locker room, Matkovic’s willingness to do the dirty work without needing the spotlight has made him a favorite of both the coaching staff and his teammates. The coach’s “difficult” decision is unlikely to be easy.

As long as Matkovic continues to bring the same effort, physicality and team-first mentality every night, the rebuilding Pelicans will need to keep finding ways to get him on the floor because right now, giving up on him feels like the wrong choice in both the short and long term. In a league always looking for shooting, size and unselfishness, Karlo Matkovic is proving to be a rare combination of all three. And he’s making James Borrego’s job extremely difficult in the process.

Victor Wembanyama became the first casualty due to injury, hurting his chances of winning the NBA MVP award. Nikola Jokic then missed 16 games, putting him on the verge of exceeding the 65-game minimum. Now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is struggling with injury, which could end his hopes of winning MVP for the second consecutive time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star has missed seven consecutive games after suffering an abdominal injury suffered on Feb. 3 against the Orlando Magic. When the Thunder announced this injury, it was said that their MVP award would be reevaluated after the All-Star break.

Initially, there was hope that Gilgeous-Alexander would be cleared to return for the team’s first few games after the All-Star break, but nothing has been said. With five of their next six games remaining, will SGA return from his injury during the Thunder’s upcoming road trip?

Since suffering this injury, the Thunder have gone 4-3, and got a much-needed key win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The game was Gilgeous-Alexander’s seventh consecutive missed game and his ninth overall absence this season.

This means Gilgeous-Alexander can only miss a maximum of eight more games to remain eligible for end-of-season honors and awards. Although he is still in good shape, the situation could change quickly if the reigning MVP is unable to return to the court this upcoming week.

This year’s race for the NBA MVP award hinges heavily on who can stay healthy, as almost all players in the top five of these rankings are close to the maximum of 17 allowed absences to remain eligible.

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

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 42 games, 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 58.4 FG%, 42.1 3P%

In his three appearances since the All-Star break, Jokic has averaged 29.7 points, 15.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. These are MVP-like numbers for the three-time MVP, despite the Denver Nuggets losing two of those games.

The argument for the MVP award right now seems to center on availability, as Jokic has played 42 games compared to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 49 games. Has Jokic performed enough in his short appearances to justify winning the MVP award over Gilgeous-Alexander, whose team is still the best in the NBA?

This is definitely a big debate that many don’t have an answer to at this point, and that’s the main reason why Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury return is so important to the MVP race.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 49 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 55.4 FG%, 39.0 3P%

There is still no update on when Gilgeous-Alexander can return to the court. Until then, the MVP race is in a holding pattern of sorts, as four or five more missed games would put him on par with Jokic in terms of missed time.

Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander still ranks second in the league in scoring, and the Thunder (44–14) have the best record in the NBA. He may be No. 2 in the NBA MVP rankings right now, but it’s really a 1A and 1B situation between him and Jokic.

With seven weeks left in the regular season, no player is a wrong answer for MVP.

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 49 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.3 FG%, 33.8 3P%

What Cade Cunningham has accomplished for the Detroit Pistons this season is remarkable. Not only do the Pistons have the best winning percentage in the league at the moment, but Cunningham leads the league in total assists, and the only player with more assists per game is Jokic.

In his first game after the All-Star break, Cunningham had a stellar performance against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons’ All-Star recorded 42 points for his third 40-point performance of the season, and he also added 13 assists and eight rebounds to his name.

Since the All-Star break, Cunningham has had back-to-back double-doubles with 13 assists. He is firmly holding the No. 3 spot in these MVP rankings.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 42 games, 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 51.1 FG%, 35.7 3P%

Wembanyama has overtaken Luka Doncic to take the No. 4 spot in the NBA MVP rankings for a few reasons. In addition to the San Antonio Spurs catching the Thunder for the best record in the NBA, Wembley has been on a hot streak recently.

Since his impressive 40-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Los Angeles Lakers before the All-Star break, Wembanyama has averaged 23.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor in his last three games.

Spurs are undefeated in this region, and Wembanyama has led his team to eight consecutive wins. This is the longest active winning streak in the NBA.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 44 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.1 FG%, 35.5 3P%

There’s no denying that this has been the second-best season of Luka Doncic’s career after finishing third in MVP voting during the 2023-24 season. Doncic is not only leading the league in scoring, but he is also leading the league in 3-pointers made and attempted per game, as well as free throws made and attempted per game.

Offensively, Doncic is off right now, and the only word to describe his game right now is dominant.

However, Doncic’s ceiling has largely been set in the NBA MVP race this season. He can’t overtake Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander as long as their teams lead the West standings, and Cunningham has himself locked into the No. 3 spot for now.

Between Wembanyama and Doncic, the Spurs star has the upper hand in both head-to-head and overall impact on his team’s championship aspirations this season. Doncic has missed 12 games this year, meaning he will need to stay healthy this year to qualify for awards and honors.

just missing the cut

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

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

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

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

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Unranked last week]

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

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Utah Jazz have suffered several injuries over the past few weeks, and they have just announced another injury, as Jusuf Nurkic will miss the remainder of the season.

“BREAKING: Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkic will have nose surgery on Wednesday, knocking him out for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me,” Haynes wrote on Twitter.

Nurkic has missed the last few games due to injury and will be out for the season. The Jazz had announced just over a week earlier that Jaren Jackson Jr. would miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his left knee to ensure his long-term health.

The Jazz have been a topic of discussion for the past month due to accusations of tanking, and Nurkic’s recent news probably doesn’t make those claims any better. The Jazz were fined for sitting Jackson and Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter of one of their games earlier in the month, but head coach Will Hardy said they were under a minutes restriction.

The league may have thought differently, as they are trying to land teams throwing games for the purpose of better draft positioning in the future.

All 30 general managers were recently sent a memo detailing how the NBA plans to make changes to the anti-tanking rule for next season, including first-round picks being protected for only the top-4 or top-14+, lottery prospects being held at the trade deadline or at a later date, and other scenarios.

The Jazz are currently 18-39 and 13th in the Western Conference standings, and with recent injuries, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them continue their decline as the season continues. This will help them get better chances at the top picks, which can help them build their team with more exceptional talent.

As Quin Snyder’s upstart Atlanta Hawks navigate the post-Trae Young era and jockey for a spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference play-in tournament, Nickell Alexander-Walker has emerged as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout has also rewritten the story of his career. Alexander-Walker is no longer just a rotational piece, he’s posting amazing statistics that will make even the most optimistic front-office executives do a double take.

The 27-year-old guard is no longer a filler piece hidden on the sidelines. NAW is a primary option, a go-to scorer, and quickly becoming one of the most compelling breakout stories of the NBA season. With career-highs averaging 19.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals, Alexander-Walker is in line for some NBA Most Improved Player votes.

Snyder saw the surge coming, but it all started with trusting him to make the right decisions, even if it meant extra attention.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s guarded.”

Alexander-Walker is also shooting 37.2% from three-point range on 8.2 attempts per game. This amount is almost double with almost the same efficiency despite increase in other responsibilities. Hawks GM Bryson Graham, who was with the New Orleans Pelicans at the time of Alexander-Walker’s draft, bet that all the extra shooting work would eventually prove beneficial somewhere.

Snyder said, “I think we saw it early in (Alexander-Walker’s) career, and now you can tell where it came from. It’s the person he was, the competitor he was. I think at Minnesota, he really established himself as a defender and a knockdown three-point shooter, especially from the corners. We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even Even some competitive shots from three, I think, his confidence motivates him.”

That’s exactly the aggression the Hawks need when navigating the treacherous waters of the play-in race. With the stakes increased in each game, Snyder has found a reliable scoring option that can stretch defenses to their breaking point.

However, what makes Alexander-Walker especially valuable in Snyder’s system is his unorthodox approach to playmaking. He’s not a traditional point guard who dominates the ball, yet NAW is creating offense in ways that keep defenses off balance. Jalen Johnson appreciates someone else stepping in to ease the offensive load.

As far as Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s late 20s trajectory? Well, he arrived in the NBA with a defined skill set, worked to expand it, and now finds himself in a system that actively encourages him to do more. The Hawks took note of Alexander-Walker’s best performances and then leveraged him. Shoot the three in dispute. Get down. trust yourself. It’s the perfect home for their prime years.

And by almost every measure, they have responded. Whether that translates into a play-in berth or perhaps something else, will define the rest of this season. But Alexander-Walker’s success has already answered a question that had been pending for years. What can one become if one has the right environment and the right sound in the ears? The answer, it turns out, is a 20-point scorer on a playoff team.

The Orlando Magic (30-26) once again listed Jalen Suggs as questionable ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22), but the nature of his injury designation changed into a development that could impact his availability.

According to the team’s latest injury report, Suggs’ condition changed from back spasm to a back strain. While the guard remains questionable, the updated diagnosis represents a more defined injury classification as Orlando prepares to kick off its four-game road trip following the All-Star break.

Suggs has missed the Magic’s last two games due to being ruled out shortly before tip-off in each contest. Orlando pushed the Phoenix Suns to double overtime without him before responding with a narrow 111–109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The team has managed to hang on during his absence, but his two-way presence remains a key component of the rotation.

The 24-year-old guard has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, four rebounds and a career-high 1.9 steals per game in 34 appearances this season. Suggs, a former All-Defensive Second Team selection, is shooting 44.2% from the field and 32.8% from 3-point range, while logging 26.5 minutes per contest.

Jalen Suggs injury update adds uncertainty to Magic-Lakers showdown

The designation of a back strain typically indicates a more structured recovery timeline than a strain, although the Magic have not provided additional details regarding severity. The team continues to evaluate Suggs on a game-to-game basis, and his availability against the Lakers will likely depend on pregame warmups.

Orlando enters Tuesday’s contest looking to carry over the momentum gained from its win over the Clippers. The matchup marks the final stop of the Magic’s four-game Western Conference swing before returning home.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 34-22 and remain firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture. With both teams dealing with injuries late in the season, roster availability could play a significant role in determining the outcome.

As for the Orlando Magic, the update to Jalen Suggs’ injury designation does not change his official status. However, a change in tension from the Cramps adds further uncertainty as the team attempts to finish their road trip on a strong note.

The Dallas Mavericks are scheduled to face the Brooklyn Nets on the road Tuesday, but that could be up in the air. Following the team’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, the Mavericks stayed overnight in Indiana due to severe weather storms that hit the New York area. Although nothing has been announced yet regarding the games, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg’s Jimmy Fallon Show appearance is in doubt.

Cooper Flagg was scheduled to appear on the Jimmy Fallon show on Monday night during the Mavericks’ visit to New York before their game against the Nets. But according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, his appearance was canceled because the team could not travel to New York after the Pacers game.

It is currently unknown whether Flagg’s appearance on the show will be rescheduled. The Mavericks have already made their only trip to Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, and this is their only trip to see the Nets.

In any case, Flagg’s pending appearance on the show is proof that he is one of the rising faces of the NBA. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has been one of the frontrunners for the flag league’s Rookie of the Year award. His only competition is Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel.

Flagg is currently dealing with a foot injury, and has not played since the Mavericks season resumed after the All-Star break.

He has appeared in 49 games this season, a little over 34 minutes per game. Flagg averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 48.2 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Mavericks are currently 20-36, and are in 12th place in the Western Conference standings. Their win against the Pacers on Sunday broke their 10-match losing streak.

The New Orleans Pelicans have been very healthy the past few weeks, and they could be getting some more reinforcements soon. Dejounte Murray, who has not played since last year due to his Achilles injury, could return in the Pelicans’ next game, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.

“Dejounte Murray says he believes tomorrow will be his first game back from his Achilles injury,” Guillory, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

Murray continues to improve, and will now bring some much needed guard help to the roster. Jordan Poole was inserted back into the rotation just two games ago after multiple DNPs, and rookie Jeremiah Fears has taken over the majority of the minutes as he has been the starter for most of the season.

The Pelicans will likely bring Murray back slowly, but it wouldn’t be surprising if, at some point during the second half of the season, he ends up in the starting lineup. With no first-round pick for next season, the Pelicans have no reason to tank, so they will try to win as many games as possible. They have talent, but they haven’t been able to get it together this season, which is why they finish bottom of the Western Conference.

It’s been a good run of games for Zion Williamson, and it might be the healthiest he’s had in a long time. Unfortunately, Trey Murphy III has missed the last few games due to injury, but head coach James Borrego is optimistic he won’t be out long.

If the Pelicans can get a stretch of games where everyone is healthy, it will be interesting to see how many wins they can rack up before the end of the season.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann cried when Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey traded him. The news came as a shock to the second-year guard, who celebrated his 22nd birthday in a city he never thought he’d call home. Still, McCann has shined since joining the Thunder. Amidst an increased role due to a plethora of injuries, he has been a constant source of inspiration off coach Mark Daigneault’s bench.

McCann is averaging 14.0 points on 50.0% shooting, including 50% from deep on 9 of 18 attempts, along with 3.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes over his last four games with the Thunder. He scored 10 points to go along with a season-high 21 points in a 105-86 win against the Brooklyn Nets, including a pair of threes, three rebounds and a steal in Sunday’s 121-113 win against the Cleveland Cavs.

Without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe joined the Thunder’s starting lineup, while McCann and Jaylin Williams combined to lead the bench with 20 points. Against a healthy Cavs team led by All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden, Joe’s 22 points, including six threes and a career-high five steals, led the Thunder to victory.

After the win, Joe explained how the addition of McCann has opened up creative opportunities for the Thunder’s offense, which is finding ways to win without three of its top four scorers.

“It puts the defense in a dilemma whether to help or not, and it kind of creates driving lanes, even when they went box-and-1, and they made that run, we were still getting really good looks,” Joe said. “I think Lou got some wide-open shots – Jay-Will, Chet. The shots didn’t fall, but given that severity, we just try to find ways to either get looks, take shots, and a lot of times it creates opportunities for other guys, and creates other opportunities for everybody else.”

Joe is 33 of 65 (50.8%) from deep in February, including 18 of 31 in his last four games. The Thunder have won four of their last five tries without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Mitchell. Meanwhile, the Sixers are leading 1-4.

Jared McCann felt ‘all the emotions’ after trade with Thunder

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was confident about trading Jared McCann to the Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick and two future second-round picks. While the 76ers had a bit of a logjam at the guard position, as rookie VJ Edgecombe took over a dominant role over McCann, many fans felt it was too early to give up on the second-year guard.

Moray felt differently and wasn’t afraid to say itAs they did, according to NBC Sports Philly.

Morey said, “I’m pretty confident we were selling high. Obviously, time will tell, but the only other high point, and we weren’t looking to sell, I would say frankly.” “Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him, and you can say, yes, it’s because he’s a good player. I agree with that. We thought this return was above what we could have gotten, for the future value to our franchise. So the only high point would have been his performance last season. But otherwise, we think we’ve done well this time.”

“I’m pretty sure we were selling high” 😐

Daryl Morey explains why the Sixers pulled the trigger on trading the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jared McCann. pic.twitter.com/DM6qJyzmPk

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 6 February 2026

McCain couldn’t believe it. He revealed how he found out about his trading days after the deal was made.

“We were all on the bus to the airport, and I just got a call. I had no idea. I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen. There was nothing, and I got the call, and just went and told everybody. I went to Tyrese [Maxey] First of all, and it was very emotional,” McCain said.

However, his confidence never wavered after the 76ers said a hollow goodbye to Daryl Morey after trading McCann before this year’s deadline.

McCain said, “I allow myself to feel all the emotions. It’s natural. Give myself grace through the process.” “But you move fast. I got to L.A. and then had to come straight here. It’s a little bit of both. It’s a balance you have to work on.”

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently suffered a blowout 111-89 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics, a defeat that exposed both emotional and tactical weaknesses. While the matchup remained competitive for three quarters, Boston took complete control in the final frame fueled by a 32-point performance from Jaylen Brown. The frustration in Los Angeles reached its peak when coach JJ Redick and players Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart were all charged with technical fouls for controversial umpiring.

Redick was particularly vocal about a missed goaltending call involving Celtics center Neemias Quetta, who reportedly reached through the rim to block a LeBron James layup. Even Luka Doncic, who struggled for 25 points, said with a smile that substituting was obviously problematic, even if he was not penalized the most.

The loss to a major rival highlights a troubling trend for the 34-22 Lakers. According to Jovan Buha at X, the Lakers have really struggled against teams with a .600 win% or better (top 10 teams by record).

They are 4-11 against them, with three of their wins coming in the first two weeks of the season (twice over Min and once over SAS). 10 out of 11 losses have been by double digits.

This lack of competitiveness against the league’s elite raises significant questions about their ceiling as a championship contender, as it appears they are missing the “punch” needed to trade with top-tier talent.

Amidst the struggles on the court, the evening became a moment of reflection for LeBron James, who watched the team unveil a statue of legendary coach Pat Riley. James expressed his “huge respect” for Riley, whom he worked under with the Miami Heat.

Acknowledging the “Showtime” architect’s extensive impact on the game as both a coach and executive, James said that although it is human nature to think about his past “what could have been”, he remains focused on the present.

As the Lakers move forward, they will have to find a way to translate that respect into results against top-tier opponents if they hope to capture another banner.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the loss column with a crushing home loss to the Boston Celtics. Luka Doncic put 25 points on the board in this one, but he wasn’t particularly efficient in getting there, shooting 9-22 from the field and dishing out just three assists.

Doncic was seen raising his hands and complaining to the referee throughout the evening, as well as apparently flopping in an attempt to get a call, which was widely mocked on social media.

Recently, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a noted Celtics fan, reflected on the play.

“The foul nonsense is the worst it’s been in a while,” Simmons said, according to “It’s so bad that even LeBron is like, ‘Wow, this guy really sucks at calls.’ But I don’t think it helps them.”

James has been known to commit a foul or two during his illustrious career, but even his antics have never come close to the acrobatic routines that Doncic displays in an attempt to draw calls on a nightly basis.

This issue has been noted for Doncic dating back to his days with the Dallas Mavericks, as has his tendency to constantly argue with referees, and at some points, it threatens to eclipse the talent he is able to achieve on the basketball court, which he does not need to rely on foul play to generate.

Meanwhile, Lakers fans’ concerns about Austin Reaves’ ability to perform against good defense were proven justified by his performance on Sunday night, as well as the team’s lack of viable perimeter defenders.

Los Angeles is currently 34-22 on the season, and will have to fight to stay in the top six of the West during the season.

The Lakers will next take the field against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 10:30 PM ET.

On the same night that the Los Angeles Lakers honored Pat Riley with a statue for his time with the franchise, they recalled LeBron James’ days with the Miami Heat. Hall of Fame center Chris Bosh expressed his displeasure over James’ departure. Maybe Riley did the same, still wondering what if? LeBron, Bosh and Dwyane Wade won two championships in four seasons before LeBron signed with the Cleveland Cavs in 2014.

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Riley believes James could lead the Heat to a third title.

Riley, 80, said when asked what James’ four-year tenure with the Heat meant to him during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sunday, “I thought with the Big 3 – Dwayne, Chris Bosh and especially LeBron – we finally put together what I thought could be a dynasty.”

“It was. Four consecutive trips to the finals, two world championships. It was an incredible run. And as a coach and someone who really thought about building that special team and built it, I saw something that could last for eight to 10 years.”

Nevertheless, Riley understood James’ decision to return to Cleveland, which ultimately led to the Cavs winning their first championship in franchise history.

“I get it,” Riley said of James’ decision to leave the Heat, adding that she now feels at peace with the way things are going 12 years after James’ departure. “Business in the NBA is business in the NBA. Players have opportunities to go elsewhere; he went to Cleveland and won a title there. So I wish him all the best.

“But I’m going to be selfish here and say I wish I had him for the next six or eight years. It would have been great. But we’ll never know, right?”

James will win his fourth title in 2020 and his first with the Lakers.

LeBron James is considering leaving the Heat

All-Star LeBron James honored Heat president Pat Riley, who led the Lakers to four championships from 1982 to 1988 as head coach. From his front-office position, Riley, who led the 2006 champion Heat to a title as coach, wanted James to lead his team to at least three championships.

James discussed his time with the Heat when a reporter relayed Riley’s comments, as noted by the Miami Herald.

Asked about Riley’s comments, James told reporters in Los Angeles on Sunday, “I never said I’d go there for four years and decide to go somewhere else.” “That’s the way the cards were played. But, yes, it’s human nature to look back and say what could have been. But that’s part of life. I thought the four years we had, obviously, were great.

“We managed to win two championships, unfortunately we lost two of them. But a lot of good memories, a lot of good times there. It will be interesting to see what could have been.”

The Lakers lost to the Celtics 111-89 on Sunday.

The Boston Celtics came out of the All-Star break with another blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday as they continued their West Coast trip. The win came as the team awaits further updates on injured star Jayson Tatum, who many doubt can return any time soon this season.

However, one person who thinks the Celtics can reach their goal this season regardless of whether Tatum is in the lineup is former ESPN big man Kendrick Perkins, who recently took to First Take to express his thoughts.

“They can go to the NBA Finals without [Jayson] Tatum. … They’re the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have no expectations,” Perkins, formerly of First Take on X, said via Twitter.

Perkins also said that Boston has “the best two-way player in the game in Jaylen Brown, because no other player in the league is doing what he is doing in terms of being top five in scoring and top five defensively in opponent field goal percentage.”

In fact, Brown is getting it done on both ends of the floor this year, although fans of Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama and many other players will strongly disagree with Perkins’ assessment.

Still, at this juncture, the Celtics are starting to look like a real threat even without Tatum in the lineup. There is a theory that Tatum’s hasty return this season could actually work against Boston’s 2025-26 plans, considering the team’s rhythm would be at least temporarily disrupted, and the fact that the star would have a lot of rust to shake off. Tatum also has not distinguished himself as a postseason performer so far in his career, which continued last year against the New York Knicks.

In any case, the Celtics’ road trip continues on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

At this point in the season pregame routine logistics such as shooting groups, meals and training table times are largely set. The NBA trade deadline has passed, rosters are largely set, and young players from lottery-winning teams have found their way to each zone. For example, Cody Williams is starting to establish himself as one of the Utah Jazz’s favorites in 2026. It’s easy to see why Will Hardy is leaning into everything going into year two.

It all starts with the soundtrack. About an hour before tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams sat in the visiting locker room with headphones on and props to match the gospel night theme. This felt right for the night. It turns out that part of the ritual is never the same twice.

“I can’t do the same thing before every game,” Williams told ClutchPoints. “I have to change it.”

However, unlike his new teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., who once served as the designated locker room DJ on Beale Street, Williams isn’t going to be commanding the team’s aux cord. Even joking suggestions are being kept to a minimum until Jackson Jr. returns from knee surgery.

“I don’t have nothing for (Jarren Jackson Jr.) right now,” Williams admitted. “I don’t have the power to play music, so I just sit here and listen to it. In fact, most people have their headphones on before the game.”

What plays through those headphones depends entirely on the moment.

“It depends on the mood,” Williams shrugged. “Before some games, I’ll put on some R&B and calm, some old school Anthony Hamilton, some gospel like Kirk Franklin. It really depends on the mood and what type of day it is. Like, how I’m feeling before that game is what I’ll play. Sometimes I’m putting on Nirvana, Green Day and a bunch of those bands.”

An eclectic mix that defies categorization traces his earliest exposure to music.

“I’ve got good taste in music,” Williams said defensively as a few teammates listened in. “My music is very diverse, shout out to my mom. She listened to a lot of old soul stuff.”

Music truly is a window into the soul; This shows how Williams carries herself. Loose, humble, down to earth, yet confident enough to be curious and make mistakes. It’s also the only way to get better at the game. However, the headphones come in for the shootaround, as Williams wants to absorb everything. It’s more important to be able to interact with coaches and cheer on teammates. Everyone knows Williams is there for them, even if his playlist is everywhere.

Those traits can’t be denied after just a few minutes with the former first-round pick, so a year three jump wouldn’t be surprising to anyone in the front office. Still, in a league known for its rap and hip-hop connections, Williams is also learning some new tunes.

“Lucki is definitely my favorite new artist,” Williams shared. “Whenever I need a new rap, I go into his catalog and listen to it.”

The 21-year-old’s support system extends far beyond her mom’s CD binders. At center stands his brother Jalen, the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star who recently captured an NBA championship.

“Thank you so much to my brother (Jalen). He’s been my best wingman and biggest inspiration through this whole thing,” Cody said. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do a trip like this without him. He’s a good punching bag. I beat him up a lot, but he gives me survival tips.”

Jalen’s rise from unheralded Santa Clara product to lottery pick to champion has provided a blueprint. Now Cody has started to find his feet. Since dropping 18 points on New Year’s Day, Williams has averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 52.5% from the field.

This recent increase in production is just part of getting comfortable at work.

“I think I’m getting a really good idea of ​​how I can impact the team as a whole,” Williams explained. And how can I be effective on the court. It’s just playing to his strengths and weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Then it’s putting a lot of pressure on the rim offensively. This way I can play in my position and help the team. I feel like I can understand my game more as the season has gone on, which is why I’ve been able to play better.

Despite increasing comfort levels, some things haven’t changed since we dreamed of this moment in childhood.

“I still get butterflies before games,” Williams admitted. “I’m so excited to go out there, to have this opportunity to live a dream. I don’t know if this feeling will ever go away, just because I really love what I do. I don’t even call it a job because it still feels like a dream. I still feel like a little kid every time I jump the ball. Everything about it is so exciting.”

For a Jazz franchise in the midst of a deliberate rebuild, that kind of enthusiasm from a young cornerstone is exactly what the organization is counting on. If the past several weeks are any indication, Chance, armed with headphones and an extensive playlist, is beginning to figure out how to turn that enthusiasm into production.

Following the fight between Memphis Grizzlies guard Scottie Pippen Jr. and Heat guard Myron Gardner over the weekend, the NBA world was waiting for some punishment to be handed down by the league, possibly in the form of a fine.

Sure enough, it was announced on Monday that Scottie Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner were both fined $35,000 for their roles in the fight between the Grizzlies and Heat, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

The incident occurred late in the third quarter of the Heat’s win against the Grizzlies on Saturday. The game was well in hand when Pippen came down the court and attempted a 3-point shot. The shot missed but Gardner came up behind him and hit his back, sending Pippen to the floor.

On the way back to the court, Pippen called Gardner out and pounced on him, causing both players to step cautiously to the sidelines. Teammates, coaches and officials rushed in and eventually separated the pair.

For Heat rookie Gardner, this isn’t his first clash with an opposing player. In November, Gardner was caught on film talking trash to Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson. Following that incident, the Heat assistant coach brought Gardner to Thompson after the game to apologize for his actions.

In the NBA’s release regarding the fine, the league acknowledged that Gardner initiated the fight by pushing Pippen from behind. Both players were eventually ejected from the game, and afterward, Pippen said he felt like it was a cheap shot.

Tuesday’s Brooklyn Nets-Dallas Mavericks matchup at Barclays Center is in question because of a historic blizzard that hit the Northeast.

Following Sunday’s loss to the Hawks, the Nets’ plane will remain grounded in Atlanta until Monday, according to league sources. Brooklyn plans to fly to New York on Tuesday morning, weather permitting.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are stuck in Indianapolis after defeating the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Blizzard traps Nets, Mavericks out of New York ahead of matchup in Brooklyn

Tuesday’s matchup will have significant implications for the NBA’s tank race.

After four consecutive losses, the Nets (15-41) have regained sole possession of third place in the draft lottery standings. They are tied in the win column and two behind the second-place Indiana Pacers (15-43) in the loss column. The New Orleans Pelicans (16-42) and Washington Wizards (16-40) are in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Meanwhile, Dallas is also fighting for a top 10 spot. The Mavericks had lost 10 consecutive games before Sunday’s win over the Pacers. Due to a leg injury, Cooper has not been able to play in the last three matches of the flag team.

Dallas currently sits seventh in the lottery standings, 1.5 games ahead of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies and 2.5 games behind the sixth-place Utah Jazz.

The Phoenix Suns received bad news last week when it was revealed that Dillon Brooks suffered a hand injury and there was no timeline yet for his potential return to the court. On Monday, following a meeting of the medical staff, it was announced that Brooks would need approximately four to six weeks to recover as he recovers from a hand injury, according to Shams Charania.

Dillon Brooks suffered a hand injury during the Suns’ win against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. He played only seven minutes before exiting the game. He finished with five points and three rebounds.

The Suns recently welcomed Jalen Green back into the lineup after missing most of the first half of the season with a hamstring injury. But losing Brooks for a long time is a big blow to a team that is trying to maintain momentum in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture.

The Suns are currently 33-25 and are in seventh place in the West standings. They are two games behind the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves and avoid the play-ins altogether.

Brooks is in his first season with the Suns after being acquired as part of the multi-team blockbuster trade involving Kevin Durant in the offseason. So far he has made an invaluable impact on the court.

Brooks has appeared in 50 of the Suns’ 58 games so far, all starts, playing just over 30 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals while splitting 44 percent shooting from the field, 34.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 85.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Orlando Magic responded to Saturday’s devastating double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns with a 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, relying on Desmond Benn’s leadership and scoring to steady the group. What Bane described as a “backbreaker” stretch during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies ensured Orlando avoided a similar decline.

Ben finished with 36 points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist while shooting 13-for-19 from the field, 4-for-6 from 3-point range and 6-for-10 from the free-throw line in 32 minutes. He posted a team-high plus-12 rating as the Magic improved to 30–26 on the season.

After the game, Ben reflected on the emotional impact of last night’s 113-110 loss in Phoenix, which ended on a buzzer-beater.

“I think it’s huge. Last night was emotional. The double overtime game, losing at the buzzer. I was telling some guys, as I remember last year in Memphis, we lost three games in a row. It felt like it was like the backbreaker of our season, just because you’re so emotional and you’re right there, but you came with us. So I’m really proud of our group. We did it the way we wanted to do it. We’re posing sitting down.” And safety, so that was good to see.

On Desmond Bain #magicalBounce-back victory #shear: :

“Last night was emotional…it felt like a back-breaking event…I’m really proud of our group that we did it the way we wanted to do it.” pic.twitter.com/Zj1MYkG4PO

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 23 February 2026

Grizzlies shape Desmond Benn’s impact with text magic

Benn’s comments referenced the tension with Memphis last season in which consecutive close losses stunted the Grizzlies’ momentum. Rather than allow history to repeat itself, he emphasized poise and defensive discipline against Los Angeles, helping the Magic avoid a potential emotional fallout.

The 27-year-old guard also addressed his development during his first season with the Orlando Magic, noting the adjustment period following his arrival.

“Yeah, I think it’s chemistry. I mean, I was like, a new member was being added to the team. We got Anthony Black, who came up and is playing a different kind of role this year. So I think everything takes time. I feel like I’m in a good place and confident in my work. [and] Just working hard.”

Bane has averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and one steal per game in 56 appearances, while shooting 48.3% from the field, 38.8% from beyond the arc and a career-high 91.3% from the free-throw line in 34 minutes per contest.

Wendell Carter Jr. says ban is ‘exactly what we need’

Teammate Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes against the Clippers, praised Benn’s consistency and approach.

“He reminds me of a lot of other guys in this league, guys who have established themselves and have the mentality that he’s going to play his game no matter what, his process is the same. Early on, he was struggling a little bit but one thing about it is he stuck to what he knows he’s good at. And now we’re seeing the benefits of trading for a guy like that. So it’s his continued advancement. It shows where he’s been in his league in terms of his performance.” One of the best conditions, shooting. [the] Three balls are out here to facilitate playmaking. Like, he’s exactly what we need. So he’s one of those guys, since the Portland game, it’s kind of like that time when the needle has started to trend up and he’s been climbing steadily.

#magicalWendell Carter Jr. on the influence of Desmond Bain:

“We’re looking at what it would be like to make a trade for a guy like that…he’s exactly what we need.”

He has been called “one of the best in the league at his position”. pic.twitter.com/mjICKCa7US

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 23 February 2026

Since the Magic’s 110–106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on December 23, Ben has increased his production to 21.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 51.8% from the field, 41.9% from 3-point range and 90.4% from the line in 34.4 minutes. Those numbers put him in the 50-40-90 range in that segment.

Orlando concludes its four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) on Tuesday night at 10:30 PM ET. With momentum regaining momentum after a narrow loss, Benn’s experience and recent surge is helping the Magic advance in the second half of the season.

There are conflicts at the end of the game, and then a complete meltdown. The Brooklyn Nets fell into the latter category during Sunday’s 115-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Jordi Fernandez’s team looked in control after taking a 102-91 lead with eight minutes remaining. The Hawks defeated the Nets 24–2 to end the game during their worst collapse of the season.

Brooklyn shot 1 of 15 from the field with five turnovers during the decisive period of the game.

“Unacceptable,” Fernandez said. “We played well, a very good brand of basketball, staying connected, defending, taking the lead as a team with the first and second groups… but we have to find a better way to close out games. I have confidence in the starters. I know how good they are, and that’s not what I want from them. We played a very good game until 5:30, and then it goes away. So, it’s tough because wins matter in the NBA. You have to compete and play to win. “It happens, and it didn’t happen.”

After a solid start, Brooklyn’s rookie backcourt of Nolan Traore and Egor Demin has struggled. However, Sunday’s collapse highlighted the late-game shortcomings of Michael Porter Jr. as the Nets’ No. 1 option.

Michael Porter Jr. disappeared during Nets vs. Hawks horror collapse

Porter posted 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting with six assists and two turnovers in three quarters. However, he was invisible in the final frame, going scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting with no assists as rookies Demin and Traoré handled most of Brooklyn’s on-ball responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Hawks star Jalen Johnson took the lead down the stretch, scoring 14 of his 26 points in the final frame on 6-of-8 shooting.

While Porter has long fueled the Nets’ offense, he has struggled as a closer. In 65 clutch minutes this season, the star forward has shot 12-of-38 (31.6 percent) from the field and 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) with two assists and four turnovers.

Porter’s limitations as a ball-handler and self-creator have been most apparent during tight games, when defenses are most busy and primarily switching. Without a high-level shot creator behind them, Brooklyn’s offense has fallen short when it matters most.

The Nets have posted the league’s worst clutch record (5-19) and second-worst clutch offensive rating (96.0).

After encouraging early performances, Traore and Demin also lost on Sunday. Over the course of three quarters, Traoré scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting with five assists and two turnovers. Demin had 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four assists and zero turnovers.

However, the rookie duo shot 0 of 7 while committing four turnovers in the final frame.

“You go through experience, and you learn,” Fernandez said of Traore and Demin’s late struggles. “Some rushed shots and turnovers… you’ve got to learn how to stay composed. You’ve got to learn how to get everybody involved [the right] Locations, how to take good shots, and we didn’t do that. So that’s the next game.”

While Sunday’s loss undoubtedly stung Brooklyn’s locker room, it continued the team’s lead in a tightly contested tank race. After four consecutive losses, the Nets have regained sole possession of third place in the draft lottery standings. They are tied in the win column and two games behind the Indiana Pacers in the loss column, who are in second place.

If the season ended today, Brooklyn would have a 14.0 percent chance of finishing No. 1, a 52.1 percent chance of finishing in the top four, and a 93.0 percent chance of finishing in the top six. The third lottery slot cannot fall below the seventh pick.

LeBron James expressed strong support for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown as an NBA MVP candidate after the Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-89 on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

Brown led the way with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes. He came close to a triple-double while guiding a Boston team that had been without Jayson Tatum due to a torn Achilles since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2025.

After the game, James questioned why Brown’s name is not mentioned more often in the MVP conversation. He pointed out that Brown is averaging around 30 points per game and suggested that the MVP discussion can sometimes turn into a popularity contest.

“With this whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name isn’t even being discussed,” James said of Brown after Sunday’s game. “Like, nobody gave him a chance to start the season. And what’s his average, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I’ll tell you.”

Brown later returned the praise while speaking to reporters after the game. He stressed that he was interested in both criticism and praise, although he presented his case for the award in his own way.

“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play on both ends of the court. I’m available night in and night out, which is hard to do. I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play with confidence, things that don’t always show up on analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every night. So I’m grateful.”

to jaylen brown @ramonashelburne LeBron talks about James Brown’s MVP case after the Celtics’ win over the Lakers:

“Just come with the same mentality I’ve had since day one. Don’t let the praise or warmth or criticism make or break you. Just come out and be Jaylen… pic.twitter.com/bCN0IofO70

– Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) 23 February 2026

He called it an honor to receive recognition from James, whom he described as arguably the best player of all time. Brown, who won Finals MVP in 2024 after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, said he feels grateful every day.

“It’s an honor to play in the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. It’s an honor to have LeBron, who is arguably the best player to play the game, give me a lot of praise. So, I’m just grateful. I wake up every morning and am grateful (and) humbled.”

Even without Tatum and after trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason, Boston is 37-19 and in second place in the East. What many thought would be a reset has turned into a serious race for the conference crown.

Brown is a big reason for that. He ranks fourth in the NBA with 29.2 points per game, while he has career averages of 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Brown is fourth in the league in scoring this season.

Meanwhile, the last two MVP winners, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, have largely controlled the MVP conversation.

There are plenty of games left, and the MVP race is almost certain. The door isn’t locked, but Brown still has ground to cover if he wants to kick it open.