標籤: drops

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabers on Sunday night, attempting to establish a 2-1 series lead at the Bell Centre.

It was another impressive game from the Habs, resulting in a 6-2 win, a win that could change the entire makeup of a playoff series.

Let’s look at the highlights!

Newfoundland Power

As we discussed in the game preview, Montreal’s depth players are doing wonders to make up for the lack of attack from the first line, and one of the most important Canadiens in that regard is none other than Alex Newhook.

The speedy winger scored his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at the end of the first period. It was also an important goal as the Habs were the better team in the first period, but were at risk entering the first intermission with a goal deficit.

Newhook gets the bell center bumpin 🚨

Sabres-Canadiens all set deal on ESPN and the ESPN app 👀 pic.twitter.com/0jHSHEaOqo

– ESPN (@espn) 10 May 2026

star power

Another topic we discussed in the preview was the possibility that Juraj Slafkowski or Cole Caufield would find their offensive rhythm, making the Habs a team that no longer relies solely on first-line or depth players, but on both.

They are a dangerous team, especially in the playoffs.

On that note, Caufield scored his second springtime goal after a tremendous deke by phenom Lane Hutson, giving the Canadiens a nice 2-1 lead.

Cole Coffield scored after a great layup by Lane Hutson. #GoHabsGo Up 2-1. pic.twitter.com/0V4tKkOsd3

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

You could argue that the Canadiens were robbed of a third goal when Philippe Danault was accused of interference on Lyon without any evidence.

The puck definitely went into the net. pic.twitter.com/DTzfp8Zodf

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

back to depth

Rather than rest on their accomplishments, the Habs continued to press the game, resulting in a 3–1 lead when Joe Veleno beat his opponent to set up Zachary Bolduc for his second goal of the playoffs.

Once again, depth players made significant contributions, which is a recurring theme for the Canadiens.

Joe Veleno -> Zac Bolduc.

3-1 #GoHabsGo. They dominate this game. pic.twitter.com/TXqdm5IiSh

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

Dobe’s Revenge

At this point in the game, the Sabers decided to increase foul play, culminating with the apparent intent to injure netminder Jacob Dobbs.

Beck Malensteen skated into Dobbs without attempting to make a break, however, the Canadiens goaltender simply shook off, and managed to stay in the game.

Beck Malensteen ran him at full speed in an attempt to injure Jacob Dobbs.

No attempt to stop.
He got a 2-minute penalty. pic.twitter.com/OOXGECxjl0

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

The Canadiens only got a two-minute power play due to a dirtbag play, but that was long enough for Slafkowski to tip in a Hutson point shot, giving the home team a 4–1 lead.

You’ll notice that Dobbs made sure to thank the Sabers for the opportunity to score on the man advantage.

laugh out loud

Dobbs takes a little skate to thank the Buffalo bench after Slafkowski powerplay goal.

Classic. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/fjOyWZMyWn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

icing on the cake

To put a nice mark on the entire team effort, Dach restored Montreal’s three-goal lead midway through the third period.

At a glance, it might not have seemed like a very important goal, but it came after a push by Buffalo that resulted in some high-danger chances. Dobbs was up to the task, but it couldn’t be denied that the pressure from the road team was mounting.

Jacob Dobbs made some key saves and then Kirby Dach took the lead with his fourth playoff score. #GoHabsGo 5-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/T1Mt7LrGU2

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

perfection

The Sabers got their goal with about five minutes remaining in the third period, which was a logical choice given the 5–2 scoreline.

However, Newhook managed to foul out Rasmus Dahlin shortly after, securing another two-goal game for the Newfoundlander. As an added bonus, his mother was in the crowd to watch her son steal the show at the Bell Center.

Alex Newhook’s mom was in the crowd to watch her son score two goals in a row #GoHabsGo.

Bonus: Dobbs’ premature celebration at the end, haha pic.twitter.com/t5rI5p0QQj

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Sabers at the Bell Center for Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Los Angeles Lakers’ winning streak reached eight games after a 134-126 win against the Miami Heat on Thursday. The Lakers also improved to 3-0 on their current road trip, and the win was capped off by a 60-point explosion from Luka Doncic. But amid Doncic’s big game, LeBron James left his mark on the Lakers’ win with a triple double, according to Melissa Rohlin of the California Post, prompting head coach JJ Redick to drop the mic with three words.

“He’s a psychopath,” Redick said after the Lakers’ win against the Heat.

LeBron James finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, giving him his second triple-double of the season. Also impressive was the fact that the Lakers were playing the second night of a back-to-back, a game that James was initially listed as questionable to play in.

He shot 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes of play. James had another incredible performance in the Lakers’ win against the Houston Rockets last night, when he dropped 30 points while missing only one shot (13 of 14).

Earlier this season, when James returned to the Lakers’ lineup after missing the first 14 games of the season due to a nerve injury, he was missing both games of a back-to-back set. But that’s where he’s been for most of the season since the New Year as the Lakers continue to battle for playoff position in the Western Conference.

James was selected for his 22nd consecutive All-Star appearance, however, his streak of 21 consecutive All-NBA team finishes ended as he did not reach the league’s 65-game mandate to be eligible for postseason honors.

After the win against the Heat, the Lakers improved to 45–25, two full games ahead of the No. 4 Minnesota Timberwolves. The team will visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday before concluding their road trip with games against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been in a state of struggle lately, having lost four of their last five games following Sunday’s big loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a particularly bad game for big man Rudy Gobert, who was .23 and scored only two points in the loss.

However, despite that setback, Gobert remains arguably the second most important player on Minnesota’s roster behind Anthony Edwards due to his continued defensive excellence.

Recently, the Frenchman got 100% real on whether he envisions retirement in the near future, and what he hopes to accomplish before it’s all said and done.

“I think it’s still a long way off. Yeah, I think it’s still a long way away,” Gobert said, according to Prime Video Sports France on YouTube. “…For now, I’m really focused on the present moment. To be an NBA champion, that’s a goal – yes, champion. Best defender in history, four times.”

Gobert is actually already one of the best defenders in league history, having played a host of elite saves during his tenure with both the Minnesota and Utah Jazz. His offensive skills, or lack thereof, have caused headaches for both fans throughout his career, but that still doesn’t diminish how incredibly important a player he has been to many successful teams.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will have to do some soul-searching if they want to realize Gobert’s championship dreams, as the team has now lost four of its last five games, and all four losses have come in unexpected ways.

Minnesota’s offense has been sporadic during the skid, and it’s safe to say that Gobert likely isn’t the solution to that problem.

The Timberwolves next face off against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening.

After watching San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama turn in another impressive performance in a 115-102 win against the Charlotte Hornets, Keldon Johnson had an announcement about his teammate. With all the hype about Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, Metta World Peace believes Wembanyama can score 101. The veteran defender would probably agree with one of Wembley’s teammates.

Johnson labeled Vembanyama best and most valuable player In the NBA, per NBA Prime.

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.”

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.” ???

Keldon Johnson botching the Wembley interview is everything 😆 pic.twitter.com/bKL4NamFnY

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

Vembanayama led the Spurs with 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 5-10 from deep, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals. Keldon Johnson’s 13 points led the Spurs’ bench, and De’Aaron Fox added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

While Wembanyama is a favorite to win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, he is behind Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic for MVP.

Victor Wembanyama’s MVP, DPOY dreams after Spurs win

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama discusses the MVP and DPOY awards after Saturday’s win against the Hornets. Making his goals clear, Vembanyama Expected to win both awards for the 2025-26 season, he said during his postgame interview with NBA on Prime.

“Right now I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to stay in good spirits from now until the end of the season.”

Wembley:

“Right now I’m taking a lot of care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to keep my spirits up from now until the end of the season.” pic.twitter.com/0otDre8gp1

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 March 2026

The Spurs will face the Clippers on Monday.

Anthony Edwards stole the net with a stellar performance in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 127-117 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

Edwards is playing the sixth season of his NBA career with the Timberwolves. He has exceeded expectations as the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, shining as one of the best young stars the league has to offer.

Edwards continues to improve in Year 6 as he has kept the Timberwolves in a strong playoff race. In Minnesota’s game against Golden State, he dominated the entire 37 minutes of action.

Edwards produced a stellar stat line of 42 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. He made 13 of 22 shots from the field, including 4 of 9 from beyond the arc and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.

Anthony Edwards puts on a show to lead Timberwolves to victory 🔥

🐜42 points
🐜8 rebounds
🐜5 Help

🐜13-in-22 FG
🐜4-in-9 3pt
🐜10 out of 12 feet pic.twitter.com/385xsI6GOd

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 March 2026

Anthony Edwards, how the Timberwolves played against the Warriors

Anthony Edwards was too much for the Warriors to handle, leading the Timberwolves to a solid win on the road. Golden State was competitive despite missing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but Minnesota beat them with a remarkably efficient offense.

Seven players, including Edwards, scored in double figures for Minnesota in the win. Rudy Gobert came in with a strong performance of 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. He shot 5 of 5 overall and 8 of 10 from the charity stripe. Jaden McDaniels was next with 15 points, Naz Reed and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 12 points, Bones Hyland had 11 points, while Julius Randle provided 10 points and four rebounds.

Minnesota improved to a 41–26 record on the season and finished sixth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Timberwolves will remain on the road awaiting their next matchup. They will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder as tip-off takes place on March 15 at 1 pm ET.

MIAMI – It’s been days since Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo made history by scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, causing a lot of buzz in the sports world. As much as there is a part of the debate that questions the ethics of the 83 points scored by the Heat captain in Adebayo, no one can take away that historic night from the big man, as he spoke about the future of this type of game.

Speaking after Miami’s 112-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, extending the team’s winning streak to seven, he would talk about the attention he is getting because of his 83-point outing, the second-highest scoring game in history.

Having only surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points in 1962 and Kobe Bryant’s 81 points in 2006, Adebayo may be feeling like he doesn’t think “anyone will ever do that again.”

“I mean, you’re surrounded by eyes, because everybody wants to see if you can do it again, which is crazy, because I don’t think anybody will do it again, but you just have to turn the page,” Adebayo said after recording 21 points and eight rebounds against the Bucks. “You see people yelling 83 at you, and you just start living in the moment. And then, usually when you get into the game, you kind of forget where you are and lose yourself throughout the game.”

Bam Adebayo is in the spotlight after scoring 83 points on Tuesday:

“You’re surrounded by eyes because everyone wants to see you do it again, which is crazy, I don’t think anyone will do it again, but you just have to turn the page…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/FzvEX9T8I3

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

Heat’s Bam Adebayo on ’emotional rollercoaster’

While Adebayo celebrates scoring 83 points despite the polarizing reaction from the Heat center, he will talk about continuing the performance as he leads the team to wins.

“An emotional roller coaster, and understand why,” Adebayo said. “But obviously to be able to move on to the next game, get a win, and approach it in a different way. It wasn’t 83 tonight, it was 21, so if anyone is upset? I don’t care, but we got the W, that’s all that matters.”

Bam Adebayo speaks on the “emotional rollercoaster” of the past few days.

“It wasn’t 83 tonight. It was 21, I don’t care if anyone is upset, but I got the W, so that’s what matters…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/jRqOAAoOZmZ

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

Adebayo and Miami now look to extend their win streak to eight as they visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers continued to move forward and won their fourth consecutive game with a 142-130 victory against the Chicago Bulls. The story of the night was Luka Doncic who dropped a career-best 51 points for the Lakers in the win. After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick commented that Doncic’s recent games were not being discussed enough.

“He’s playing as good as any other player in the NBA right now, and I think that’s probably not being talked about,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “But I’m going to talk about it.”

Once Luka Doncic reached 51 points, at the end of the fourth quarter, the Lakers committed an intentional foul to take him out of the game. He finished just one assist shy of a triple double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. He shot 17 of 31 from the field, 9 of 14 from the 3-point line, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Early in the game, Doncic talked some trash with Bulls young gun Matas Buzelis, a conversation that seemed to infuriate him. For Redick, one of the most impressive things about Doncic is his ability to stay focused between these little one-on-one battles.

Luca has words for Matas Buzelis after stepback trey

Doncic is one technical away from automatic suspension.pic.twitter.com/cMpQDODafo

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

“It’s a unique quality. It’s not just the fact that he reacts to any kind of rude behavior or trash talk, but that he can broadcast it,” Redick said. “He can channel that while also doing all the other things that need to be done. That’s obviously reflected in his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers.”

Over the last 10 games, Doncic has 22, 41, 26, 28, 27, 27, 44, 35, 31 and now 51 points. The Lakers have gone 7-3 in that span with a few wins against very good teams in the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. As the Lakers have climbed up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, Doncic has begun to garner MVP buzz again.

This season, he leads the league in scoring (32.5 points), field goal attempts (22.0), 3-pointers attempted (3.8), 3-pointers attempted (10.4) and free-throw attempts (10.2). He is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Lakers have just one home game remaining, with another big test with the Denver Nuggets coming to town on Saturday. They then took the field for six games before returning home to conclude the month.

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 153–128. It was a bad night for the Wolves defense, as they allowed Kawhi Leonard to torture them for 45 points. After the game, Anthony Edwards spoke honestly about Leonard and his position in the NBA.

“With all sincerity, Kavi [Leonard] When healthy, he could be one of the best players to ever play the game. I think many of his teammates feel the same way about him. If he’s healthy (100%) Kawhi is unstoppable.”

-Anthony Edwards

(via @timberwolves)
pic.twitter.com/XEeP4kUbCH

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 12 March 2026

Edwards was amazed at Leonard and his ability to do anything to help the Clippers win. That was more than evident in this game, as the superstar helped the Clippers take a 38-27 lead after the first quarter. It was still a 12-point game in the third quarter. Still, the Clippers blew everything out of the water in the fourth and Leonard helped them get there. The situation got so bad that a fight broke out on the court between the Clippers and Timberwolves.

Edwards bounced back from a poor game against the Lakers, leading the Wolves with 36 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. However, no other starter scored above 11. Naz Reed had 18 points off the bench.

The Wolves shot 59.7% from the field, including 44% from the three-point line. However, they allowed the Clippers to shoot 63.4% from the floor, including 51.4% from beyond the arc. The Wolves turned the ball over 21 times, giving the Clippers many opportunities to take advantage.

Leonard’s 45 points came on 15 of 20 shooting, including 6 of 9 from the triple. Darius Garland helped with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Benedict Mathurin had 22 points off the bench on 5 of 10 shooting.

The Wolves fell in the standings for the second consecutive day, falling to sixth place in the Western Conference. They are 40-26 as they prepare for their next game, which will be against the Golden State Warriors on Friday in San Francisco.

ATLANTA – At the end of a close game, sometimes you just need your star player to take the lead. Jalen Johnson, who has been a star for the Atlanta Hawks all year, came on late in the fourth quarter to lead his team to a 125-116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

It started with a three-pointer midway through the fourth that gave the Hawks their largest lead of the game, eight points. Down the stretch, he drove past Kelly Oubre Jr. and dunked over him and Dominic Barlow.

Jalen taking over in the fourth 💥 pic.twitter.com/Yq3bMvDKC1

– Atlanta HaWWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) 8 March 2026

With less than two minutes left, Adem Bona became his next victim, as he went behind him and got to the rim to complete a one-handed dunk.

Jalen Johnson y’all pic.twitter.com/UbOitpTQPm

– Atlanta HaWWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) 8 March 2026

After every one of those shots, he made sure to let the crowd – and the 76ers – know that he kicked it up a notch. The younger generation can call it aura farming. Some people would even say that he was locked in that part. As for Johnson, he says this is nothing new for him, and it led to him finishing with 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

“I feel like I’m always off,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “Obviously, when the pace is up, you come in and you’re running. There are a lot more emotions going on than at the beginning of the game. So maybe the emotional part of it feels more like a trap.”

Johnson has shown what he can do in these moments at the end of games. Whether it’s hitting a clutch jump shot, making the perfect pass, or outrunning the opposition, he knows how to break down defenses using his skills.

“He’s making the right play, and sometimes the right play is hitting Dyson a little bit [Daniels]. Sometimes it’s just coming to the rim. And sometimes when people are messing with you it takes your jumper. I think he did all those things, and he did them really skillfully. I think it’s one of his best games,” Quin Snyder said.

Even his colleagues were impressed by his work.

“It was amazing,” Nichelle Alexander-Walker said. “Just aggression, he played with determination. Going downhill, didn’t calm down. It was very timely and at a time when we needed it. He just kept rolling, and we were all behind him.”

The Hawks didn’t get off to a good start and had to prepare to get to that point. They surrendered 73 points and committed 19 turnovers in the first half. The second half was completely different, as they held the 76ers to 43 points and turned the ball over 10 times.

“It was about taking people out of their rhythm,” Alexander-Walker said. “We’ve worked up to this point to become a better team competitively and just defensively. I thought we took a step back in the first half, but then we made up for it quickly, and we were able to adjust right away.”

“It was a good halftime,” Johnson said. “Guys talked, and we knew we’d eventually get on our run. We came out of the gate, and we came out aggressive and swinging. We laid the tone in those first few minutes of the third quarter for how the rest of the game was going to be.”

Once the Hawks found their rhythm in the fourth, the ball was passed to Johnson and out of the way. Unfortunately, the 76ers didn’t get the memo.

“I just knew what to expect from them, being an aggressive defensive team, and I tried to match that as best I could and let things fall in there,” Johnson said.

With this win, the Hawks have won six games in a row, and have an opportunity to extend that streak next week with the Dallas Mavericks.

Although he left the Alamo City on strained terms, Kawhi Leonard has largely been a supporter of the San Antonio Spurs since the 2018 trade that sent him to the Toronto Raptors. After a 116–112 loss, in which his Los Angeles Clippers blew a 25-point lead, Clough didn’t hesitate in praising the organization he helped win an NBA title in 2014.

After their first meeting of the season, ClutchPoints asked Leonard if he thought the young Spurs were ahead of schedule.

“Obviously, probably no one thought they’d be this good so quickly. But, they have great individual players, a great coaching staff. The organization has always known how to win basketball here. So, they’re putting everything together,” the seven-time NBA All-Star responded.

Los Angeles’ leading scorer then fouled out his Spurs counterpart.

“This team; the league is young. So it’s all about speed and run and if you have a shooter at the five, like Wembey or anybody who can shoot threes and block shots, your chances of winning are even greater.”

“…Probably no one thought they’d become so good so quickly… They have great individual players, great coaching staff. The organization always knows how to win…
They’re just putting it all together…”⬇️

-Talked to the poet about what he thinks #spurs are ahead of schedule#porvida pic.twitter.com/IYX2uDbPBa

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 7 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 in just 22 minutes, but the 2023 first overall draft pick wasn’t the only standout spurt to earn praise from the 34-year-old star.

“[Stephon] Cassel is playing very well, had a great rookie year and has taken a step forward this year and gotten better. I like what he’s doing on the court. He is getting better. “It’s fun to go out there and compete against younger guys, giving us some advantages here and there,” Leonard said of San Antonio’s star guard.

“When you’re trying to win a game, you’ve got to play on both ends of the floor,” the two-time NBA champion said.

Leonard finished with a game-high 30 points for a Clippers team that advanced from play-in contention in the Silver and Black.

“You never know. Nobody can say if they are ahead of schedule or not, you just have to see how it all plays out,” the former Spur concluded from ClutchPoints about the team finishing second in the Western Conference.

“We’ve been steady, but you’ve got to give the Spurs credit,” Leonard added. “They’re a great defensive team, they have some great individual defenders. Wembey is unbelievable and he made us miss shots.”

Kawhi Leonard downplays constant ridicule from Spurs fans

Leonard, once considered the next face of a proud franchise, was essentially forced out of San Antonio when he requested a trade following a lengthy controversy centered on an injury that led to a strained relationship. Since then, the 2011 first-round pick has often been criticized when he won Finals MVP in 2014.

Leonard said the boo birds don’t bother him.

“As soon as the game starts, you hear that. But after a while, you hear the cheers and I get a lot of love whenever I walk around town. So, like I said before, it’s a competitive fan base, so they’re not going to be on the court cheering for you to score. But after the game, it’s all love.”

Some, perhaps many, fans in San Antonio would not agree. However one thing is certain. Leonard doesn’t mind showing these Spurs love.

The Sacramento Kings’ season has tested everyone in the locker room, and veteran guard Malik Monk is now speaking openly about the frustrations surrounding the team. After another tough loss, Monk offered a brutally honest reflection on where things stand. Sacramento continues to search for answers under head coach Doug Christie, but the reality of this season has become impossible to ignore. With the Kings sitting at 14-50, the worst record in the league, emotions are running high inside the locker room.

The latest loss came against the New Orleans Pelicans, another painful chapter in a year full of failures. That loss gave Sacramento eight losses in its last ten games. Earlier this season, the Kings suffered a 16-game losing streak that began on January 18. The slump finally ended with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on February 23, but the momentum never came.

After the game, KCRA reporter Sean Cunningham asked Monk if the brutal stretch prepared the Kings for whatever lies ahead. Months of frustration were reflected in his answer.

After the Sacramento Kings suffered an NBA-worst 50th season loss, Malik Monk told me it’s been the “craziest” season of his career and he still feels like his voice still has an impact on his team.

“Nothing can be worse than this.” pic.twitter.com/UZhNNYf7KD

– Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) 6 March 2026

The monk said, “Yes, nothing can be worse than this.” “Nothing can be worse than this. It can’t happen. So yeah, it prepares you for anything.”

Malik Monk talks honestly about Kings’ season

Monk also reflected on the locker room dynamics as the Kings head into the final weeks of the season. Despite the defeat, he believes the young players are still learning valuable lessons.

“I think the young guys are learning a lot,” Monk said. “The vets are trying to teach them. Yes, they want to learn.”

When the Kings legend was asked about his goals for the remaining games, he kept his answer simple and extremely honest.

“Get well and move forward,” he said. Then he said, “Just deal with this shit, man.”

It was not polished. It was not filtered. But it was real.

Under Doug Christie, the Kings are going through a painful rebuilding year. For Monk and the rest of the roster, the focus now turns to growth, survival and the hope that better days will eventually return.

Because after a season like this, where else can the Kings go but up?

After a 115-113 win in overtime against the Houston Rockets, it was no surprise that Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green had a lot to say after the game. Coach Steve Kerr praised the Warriors’ key players in Thursday’s win against the Rockets before Green took the stage for postgame media availability.

According to Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle, Green reflected on the importance of defeating the Rockets and winning on the road in an area with which he is very familiar.

“It’s always satisfying to win here. We’ve had great success in this building,” Green said. “In this situation, one million people are out [including star guard and Rockets tormentor Stephen Curry]…Three two-way guys playing actual minutes. And to come here and get a win, they are playing with all they have. This is one that sounds a little better than most.”

Green, who spent most of the night defending Rockets All-Star and former teammate, Kevin Durant, tallied 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Playing without the Warriors’ All-Star Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski led six Warriors players in double figures with 26 points.

Green said, “When I let Kevin get to his place tonight, I can contest all I want; you can’t do anything.” “I just try to… get them up a little bit earlier so they don’t get caught up in the situation… If you just let them ride the rhythm and don’t make them earn the right to get into that rhythm, they’ll give you 50.”

Durant finished with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. The Warriors have defeated the Rockets five times in 10 postseason appearances, including last year’s best-of-7 series, 4-3, in the opening round of the playoffs.

“Any time you can get an opportunity to go against guys like that, I’m always excited for it, because it’s special,” Green said. “How many more times do we have to do this?”

Following the Rockets’ 104–100 win against the Warriors in November, the Warriors tied their regular season series 1–1.

Steve Kerr praises Warriors’ leaders in win against Rockets

The Warriors have had some success without Stephen Curry, winning half of their last six games, including a 133-112 win against the Grizzlies and Thursday’s overtime win against the Rockets. After the game, coach Steve Kerr told Draymond Green turned the clock back In many aspects of the game, and according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, he gave credit to Brandin Podziemski.

” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.” “I thought that was Brandin’s (Podziemski) best game of the year,” Kerr said.

Steve Kerr after Houston’s win: ” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.”

“I thought that was Brandin (Podziemski’s) best game of the year.” pic.twitter.com/21oYsHOMy3

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

The Warriors will face the Thunder on Saturday at the Paycom Center.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Clippers next face Indiana on Wednesday evening.

The Los Angeles Lakers were so in control of Sunday night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings that it looked like Luka Doncic had to pull out a few tricks from the deepest recesses of his bag to entertain himself and the fans at Crypto.com Arena. With less than four minutes left in the third quarter, Doncic nailed an improbable three-pointer after a move that belongs more in streetball than in a professional basketball setting.

Doncic found himself pinned down by Kings defender Daquan Plowden and tried to hightail it to the basket. But as soon as he saw Plowden off balance, Doncic tried to step back for a three-pointer. Even he couldn’t match his speed and eventually slipped, but he still had control over the basketball. He then proceeded to dribble behind the line perform an inclined triple drill On the competition of Plowden.

“I did it on purpose. And the -1 mixtape? That’s what they were saying on the bench,” Doncic said in his postgame presser, via Khobi Price of the California Post.

Luka Doncic: “I did it on purpose. And 1 mixtape? That’s what they were saying on the bench.” https://t.co/mgJ6yaREa3 pic.twitter.com/rML58vYimu

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 2 March 2026

Doncic may have said he did it intentionally in jest, but it’s hard not to take him seriously at this point. After all, the Lakers were toying with the Kings all night, and that shot only proves that they were far ahead of them on the night.

Luka Doncic, Lakers bring good vibes

The Lakers have been a little inconsistent lately, and considering Deandre Ayton isn’t very happy with his role for the team, the vibes haven’t been too spotty. But this win over the Kings at least helped boost the morale of the entire team, and Doncic’s And-1 mixtape-esque shot served to further unify the team.

The Lakers will look to continue their winning ways on Tuesday when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at home.

Spurs rookie Dylan Harper is not enjoying the best statistical season by an NBA rookie. not by a long shot. But, thanks in part to Stephen Cassel and De’Aaron Fox – as well as Victor Wembanyama – he is enjoying one of the most successful seasons by any standout rookie. By a long shot.

Harper shared, “With three dynamic guards, we’re hard to figure out. I think when Fox and Steph start playing, we’ve got the two best guards in the NBA.” “And I think when I come off the bench, I think it’s another weapon that we have. So, I think it opens up the door for everybody, including Vick. And I think when Vick has that much pressure and two guys go at him, it opens up the world for us.”

Harper is seventh on the team in scoring with 11 points per game. Playing 22 minutes per night, the second overall pick of last summer’s draft is seeing the floor significantly less than Cassel and Fox. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.6 points in 29.7 minutes, while Fox, a two-time NBA All-Star, is scoring 19 points per night in a team-leading 31.6 minutes of action.

Harper praised his other teammates, saying, “I think we can all score from everywhere. That’s the beauty of this team. We can all dribble the ball.”

Harper added, “We have a group of ball handlers and a group of scorers. So, every night is going to be a big night.” “As a collective group, just coming forward and helping as much as we can, it’s great for us.”

Victor Wembanyama praises Stephen Cassel

Although all are dynamic offensively, Harper, Castle and Fox each have an aspect of their game that they do better than the other two. Fox is the best scorer of the three. Harper may be the best at getting to the rim. And Castle is easily the best defender of the group.

“He has understood his role very well,” Wembanyama said. “The level he’s playing at is really unseen for a second-year player and how it fits into our game plan.”

Nicknamed “Area 51” as an allusion to their jersey numbers and Wembanyama’s ‘alien’ nickname, Wembanyama and Cassel are one of the most lethal defensive combinations in the NBA.

“I know we make it difficult, we make it uncomfortable for people to play against us,” Wembanyama said. “That’s the goal because a guy has to dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then make a shot against some of the best rim protectors; it’s very tough.”

Dylan Harper overwhelmed by Spurs success

While Cooper Flagg and Kohn Knueppel lead the Rookie of the Year discussion, Harper will likely be playing even if he doesn’t play this spring.

“It feels great,” Harper said of the Spurs’ success. “I think this is the most wins I’ve had in a long time. So, to have this win streak and keep it going and not take teams for granted, I think, is huge for us.”

Thanks to former Rutgers stars, Fox and Cassel, the Spurs are currently seeded second in the West. Their position at the top is much closer to the Oklahoma City Thunder than the teams behind them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers resume the regular season this Friday against the LA Clippers, they will get good news on the injury front. Lakers head coach JJ Redick noted during team practice on Thursday that Austin Reaves, who has returned this month from a calf injury, is no longer on minutes restriction. Reaves’ return to the lineup has been a big boost for the Lakers, and not just for his on-court play, but for his leadership as well.

Going back to last season, Redick has challenged Austin Reaves to take on a more leadership role with the Lakers. After Thursday’s practice, Reeves talked about that ongoing development, and how interesting it has made becoming a leader.

“He [JJ] “Before last year and before this year, we had some meetings over the summer and he challenged me to get better in that aspect,” Reeves said. “I think it’s an opportunity to really connect with everyone on the team. And learn not only about his basketball game, but as a person.”

“We’ve got a great group. Everyone loves being with each other. We’ve got some interesting people, Luca [Doncic] Being one of them,” Reeves joked. “But it’s fun getting to know these people and building real relationships. So when it comes to the court, they really trust what I do and what we do as a team.”

Reeves returned to the Lakers’ lineup at the end of the Grammys road trip during their win against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2. After such a good game by his standards, he looked like the player who was in All-Star contention earlier this season when he scored 35 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Since his return he had been on a minutes restriction, meanwhile coming off the bench. But now that the ban has been lifted after the All-Star break, it is possible that he returns to the starting lineup against the Clippers.

Reeves has appeared in a total of 28 games so far this season, averaging a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals while splitting 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

In his most recent game, in a win against the Dallas Mavericks just before the break, he finished with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.

The San Antonio Spurs began the All-Star break leg with the second-best record in the NBA’s Western Conference standings. As one of the few veterans in the team’s rotation, De’Aaron Fox doesn’t worry about the road to the playoffs for the Silver and Black.

“Every game matters a little more, especially when you’re talking about seeding and how close West is. It’s going to be fun.”

“Every game matters a little more, especially when you’re talking about seeding and how close West is. It’s going to be fun”⬇️

-De’Aaron Fox w/#spurs Scheduled for the post-All-Star break portion of the year

Coverage offered by Superior Tax Service: https://t.co/nfxcO81b4O#porvida pic.twitter.com/JjDzsuq1ty

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 18 February 2026

Following his second career All-Star Game appearance, Fox is one of the few Spurs to have previously qualified for the NBA Playoffs.

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment. And, even with that, they say they don’t do it, but the games are operated a little differently, especially as you get closer to the playoffs,” Fox said. “It’s going to be an adjustment. I think our coaching staff has put us in a good position to not let that mess up the way we play because we want to be able to be a physical team and continue to play fast and continue to blow the whistle.”

De’Aaron Fox likes the way the Spurs approach All-Star Weekend

The Spurs returned to play after the break on their longest actual winning streak of the season. Although they are credited with winning eight consecutive games in December, this includes a loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals, which does not count towards the records of the participating teams. That blowout came to New York between three and five game wins.

Spurs won their last six matches ahead of the league’s mid-February tradition.

Fox said, “It was a stretch that we felt was really important, to be able to go into the All-Star break with some momentum and we did a good job of that.”

“We played eight games,” the ninth-year veteran said. “We talked about an eight-game season. Over the last eight games, we were 7-1, so going into the break with that type of momentum, it’s the first time a lot of our guys are playing meaningful basketball after the break. So, all of these games mean a little more.”

Former Fox and Sacramento Kings teammate Harrison Barnes, who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors and is now in his 14th NBA season, is the team’s only rotation player with more than six seasons in the league.

Fox said, “There’s got to be a mental part of the game because everyone is going through it physically. But if you can keep your mind in the game and stay focused over such a long season, it helps you more than just being physically prepared for it.”

At 38–16 for the year, the Spurs are closer to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the standings than they are to the Denver Nuggets, who are in third place in the West. This is the stark reality of the opportunity facing the Foxes and Spurs.

“For us, I think people are ready and I think people are definitely excited for it.”

Lonzo Ball’s first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers was cut short as the team traded him to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team deal. The Jazz eventually waived him, allowing him to become a free agent.

Ball said he understood the Cavaliers’ decision to fire him, but he responded to the statement by saying he was playing terribly.

“I don’t think I’m playing as bad as people are saying. I know I’m the scapegoat right now. But look, it comes with the name and it comes with what they brought me in for,” Ball said on the “Ball in the Family Podcast.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m playing great. But for me, I’m really just missing shots. People always say, ‘25% shooting.’ Okay, let’s actually take the percentage and talk about what it is. It is a four shot game. Sh***y, but I promise we’re not winning or losing games in four shots.”

How’s Zoe been playing lately… real breakdown 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/uKl8G56lvH

– Ball in the Family Podcast (@ballinthefampod) 17 February 2026

The 28-year-old Ball seemed like a perfect fit for the Cavaliers when they signed him in the offseason. His unselfishness, playmaking and defense were qualities that coach Kenny Atkinson praised. But alas, it was not to be.

In 35 games for the Cavaliers, Ball averaged 4.6 points on 30.1% shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes off the bench.

Ball continued, “Can I play better? Yes. Am I playing too bad? I don’t think I played well.”

Ball, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, has struggled to find his rhythm after missing two seasons due to a knee injury.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in signing Ball.

On Sunday evening, the NBA All-Star Game took place from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, home of the Clippers. Although he was voted in as the starter, Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry was unable to participate in the festivities due to his recovery from a knee injury, although that didn’t stop him from hitting a spectacular trick shot before the game started.

Curry is approaching the age of 38, but is one of the best players in the NBA today, and recently, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal had some high praise for the future Hall of Famer.

In a segment done with overtime, O’Neal was given photos of several NBA legends and asked to speak about when he saw a better player than Curry. Despite seeing pictures of several all-time greats, O’Neal did not speak during the entire segment, including none other than himself.

Finally, the big man ended it by saying, “Steph is the GOAT,” according to Overtime on Instagram.

O’Neal has long been known as one of Curry’s most vocal supporters across the NBA media landscape, a stark contrast to his frequent criticisms of big men in the league today.

In a vacuum, it makes sense that O’Neal would be impressed by Curry’s ability to shoot the ball from long range, given his struggles to hit shots from outside the paint, and one also has to appreciate the longevity of Curry, who is playing at a level somewhat equivalent to his prime as he approaches 20 years in the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Warriors shook things up a bit at the recent NBA trade deadline by trading for Atlanta Hawks big man Kristaps Porzingis, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to propel them out of the West into contender status.

The Warriors next play against the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Anthony Edwards always believes that he is the best player on the court at all times, no matter who he is sharing the hardcourt with. The Minnesota Timberwolves star loves to snatch the chains from other stars he competes against, and that’s what helped Team Stars reach the NBA All-Star Game crown.

Edwards scored a total of 32 points in three games, including eight in the Stars’ 47–21 win over the Stripes, and that was good enough to crown the Timberwolves star as All-Star Game MVP.

Going up against players like Kevin Durant, with whom he has had a friendly rivalry over the past few seasons, and LeBron James, both of whom he played with on the gold medal-winning Team USA in 2024, lit a fire Under the Timberwolves star, as was obvious.

“I want to cook them every time,” Edwards said in his interview after receiving All-Star Game MVP honors.

When Ant was being protected by LeBron and KD
“I want to cook them every time”😭 pic.twitter.com/cPeZgyX9Ij

– 𝗠𝗔𝗟 (@MindOfBron) 16 February 2026

In fact, the Timberwolves star did his fair share of the cooking, as a few of his buckets in the All-Star Game final caused much of a rift between him and Team Stripes. Now all that’s left is to keep cooking whoever comes after the season.

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards is coming for the crown

Edwards has been tough in the playoffs now, having suffered heartbreak in two Western Conference Finals. In his first WCF appearance, he ran out of steam. The following year, the Oklahoma City Thunder were formidable. But now, Edwards understands the level that is required for him to get over the hump.

Timberwolves stars raise their game when they come up against the game’s greats, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has quickly become one of them. And knowing how much he has on his shoulders, hopefully he’ll be at his best when the postseason starts in April.

Recently, the NBA world was stunned to learn that famous point guard Chris Paul will be retiring from the game in the middle of the 2o25-26 season. The news came after Starr was released by the Toronto Raptors, ending any possibility of a retirement tour he had hoped to do.

Now, Paul is reflecting on his Hall of Fame career, specifically his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, while taking a ride in a Waymo self-driving car via JD Dyer.

According to “When I think about legacy, I always say if people remember me for what I did on the basketball court, that means I didn’t do much.”

Paul actually spent the prime years of his career with the Clippers during the 2010s, although he also spent several stints with the New Orleans Hornets before that. Paul rejoined the Clippers ahead of the 2025-26 season, but was surprisingly released from the team a few months ago reportedly due to friction between him and head coach Ty Lue.

Paul previously announced that the 2025-26 season would be his last, paving the way for a Kobe Bryant-esque retirement tour, but that ended with his sudden dismissal from the Clippers.

Although his career obviously didn’t end the way he would have hoped, it will never take away from Paul’s standing as one of the greatest point guards of his generation, elevating every team he joined and coming close to winning a championship with the 2021 Phoenix Suns.

This is probably a guarantee that he will be in the Hall of Fame in his first year of being eligible.

LOS ANGELES – For the first time since 2019-20, the Los Angeles Lakers have a participant for the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in the form of big man Jackson Hayes. Dwight Howard competed in the championship for the last time in his lone season with the Lakers. Howard did not advance to the final round that season, with Derrick Jones Jr. taking home the hardware.

Jackson Hayes is the sixth Lakers player to be selected for the Slam Dunk Contest, but only Kobe Bryant has won the marquee event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Hayes is now attempting to become the second player in franchise history to bring home the trophy.

Over the past few seasons, the Slam Dunk Contest has come under increased scrutiny from fans, media, and players alike, and the contest has lost some of its luster compared to previous years. But for Hayes, he’s just trying to go out there and have fun, and try to bring excitement back to the competition.

“I want to bring as much fun and life back to this competition,” Hayes said during his media availability session. “Me and the guys were talking about it, we just want to make it a show. Just try to bring the dunk contest back in the best way possible, just go all out and have fun, and make it entertaining for people to watch.”

Hayes has wowed fans with some impressive dunks in games this season. He is good for Luka Doncic in almost every game. But the one that stood out so far this season was his Eastbay dunk, which he threw down during the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on January 26.

The inspiration for that dunk came when Hayes’ Lakers teammates made fun of him for throwing an ambiguous dunk on a fastbreak.

Hayes said, “At the beginning of the game my teammates were making fun of me. I had a fastbreak and I just did a simple two-handed dunk. Not hanging on the rim or anything, just dropping it in.” “Everyone was teasing me, they were all messing with me. I got a steal late in the game and I was just remembering the guys who were teasing me earlier and making fun of me, so I was like, ‘Okay I’ll do something.’

As far as Hayes’ production for the Lakers, he has been one of the team’s most consistent players this season with his energy and effort. He has appeared in 45 games, including seven starts, at a pace of just over 17 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 77.2 percent from the field.

Houston Rockets veteran Kevin Durant does not agree with the notion that the NBA’s All-Star Game was more intense than it is in today’s era. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green criticized the new format of the All-Star Game, as the association attempts to make its signature event more competitive after weak reactions in recent years.

As for Durant, he does not agree with the story of how competitive the All-Star Game was for the NBA during the 1990s and 2000s, and He explained the reason Saturday during All-Star media day.

“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the older generation is talking about the intensity of it,” Durant said. “I don’t know if I saw it or not, you know?”

“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the intensity the older generation is talking about. I don’t know if I’ve seen it before.”

– Kevin Durant 🗣️pic.twitter.com/d4Y66J7yfw

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

The NBA’s new USA vs. World format will feature three teams – Team World, USA Stars and USA Stripes – each with eight players, competing in a round-robin tournament.

Kevin Durant will play for the USA Stripes team alongside LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James and New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, as well as Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell. Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors and De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs are replacing injured All-Stars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and first-time All-Star Jamal Murray will play for Team World. Alperen Sengun of the Rockets, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks and Victor Vembanyama of the Spurs are also on the team, as well as first-time All-Star forwards Danny Avdija of the Portland Blazers and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers.

Kawhi Leonard hopes players ‘compete’ in All-Star Games

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard thinks the All-Star Game will be competitive this season. However, for Leonard, how game starts “It’s important,” he said, according to NBA on Prime Insider Chris Haynes.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”

Met up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday. Many topics were discussed, including whether people would work hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU

– Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 14 February 2026

Leonard will play for the USA Stripes team.