In the countless NBA games I have covered over the years, I have never been to one where seemingly no media members were actually watching the game on the court, which is exactly what I saw in the second half of the 76ers’ blowout of the Clippers at the Intuit Dome Monday night.

That's because Chris Mannix had broken the story that the Clippers were in advanced talks to trade James Harden to the Cavaliers. Everyone scrambled to chase that story, the game itself became secondary. By Tuesday night, that trade was completed.

Who are the winners and losers from this deal? Let's break it down, starting with reminding ourselves of the trade itself.

Cleveland receives: James Harden
LA Clippers receive: Darius Garland, 2026 second-round pick

Winner: James Harden

There is no way this trade happened without Harden's agents talking to the Cavaliers about future paydays. Because that is what this is really about. In the next 48-72 hours, there will be a lot of spin about Harden going to a team where he could help a team compete for a title, but don't be fooled: this is about the money. It's always about the money.

Harden has a player option for $42.3 million next season, with only $13.3 million of that guaranteed. Harden talked to the Clippers about where they were headed as an organization, and whether they would guarantee his full salary for next season, plus talk extension after the season. That's not where the Clippers are — they are an older team that isn't a contender, and they weren't going to commit to paying Harden. The Clippers are looking to pivot away from the Harden/Kawhi Leonard era over the next couple of years and did not want to discuss an extension.

That led both sides to talk trade. This was mutual, not animosity-filled; both sides wanted to get the other something that worked for them. They found it.

This summer, expect Harden to get some kind of extension.

Winner: Cavaliers offense

Last season, the Cavaliers had the best offense in the NBA and it wasn't close. This season, the Cavaliers' offense is down 4.1 points per 100 possessions from a year ago and ninth in the league. Most of that drop-off can be attributed to Garland battling toe injuries dating back to last season, which required surgery. A season ago, it was Garland taking on more of the offense, which allowed Donovan Mitchell to pick his spots and be more efficient. This season, it's back to being the Mitchell show.

Harden is instant offense, even at age 36. He is averaging 25.4 points per game, can still get to the rim or hit a step-back 3-pointer, and he is instantly the best passer on the Cavaliers roster. He can take some of the scoring load off Mitchell and give Cleveland another shot creator that defenses have to worry about.

How Harden likes to play — he holds the ball for an average of 6 seconds every time he touches it, the longest in the league — differs from the ball movement and tempo coach Kenny Atkinson wants in the Cleveland offense. That said, great players figure out how to make it work, and Harden and Mitchell are great players. The Cavaliers' offense just got better.

Loser: Cavaliers in playoffs

Harden has had some spectacular playoff games, but also some spectacularly bad nights at the worst time. The most recent example: Last season, in Game 7 against Denver in a hard-fought series, Harden had seven points on 2-of-8 shooting and was a non-factor. There have been too many of those nights in the playoffs.

Cleveland made this trade because they realize their window is now — the East is wide open this year, they have been better with Garland off the floor. Harden is a more durable player who should bolster their offense. All of that is there to set up a deep playoff run, and I just can't trust Harden in a seven-game series anymore. Cavaliers fans should hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not.

Probably Winner: LA Clippers

Usually, when a team trades for an All-Star 10 years younger than the guy they sent out the door, that is an automatic win. There are two reasons I made this only a probable win for the Clippers.

1) Darius Garland's health. Hopefully, the Clippers can get him the rest or treatment or medical specialists he needs to heal the toe issues that have plagued him since last season. Garland should get healthy and be better at some point, but this has dragged on long enough to give us pause. The Clippers need him to get right.

2) What is the Clippers' long-term plan? Trading for the 26-year-old Garland is a step toward reshuffling the deck, getting younger, and pivoting to whatever comes next. Except we don't know what that will be. Nobody does. I like this trade for the Clippers, but it's one piece in a much larger puzzle, and I need to see more of it put together before I fully trust this as the right move.

Winner: Family trees

Winston Garland, Darius Garland's father, used to play for the Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard was snubbed.

He deserved to be an All-Star — he has played like a top-10 player in the league this season, averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game, along with 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a league-leading 2.1 steals per game. He's missed fewer games this season than other All-Stars such as Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama. The coaches screwed up by not voting him an All-Star reserve.

Adam Silver corrected that, naming Leonard to the All-Star Game in an announcement on Tuesday.

The reason was that 16 USA players were needed for this year's USA vs. World format (more on that below), and there were just 15. It's also a nice touch that the Clippers now have an All-Star for the game to be played on Feb. 15 in their home building, the Intuit Dome.

Here is how the All-Star Game players shake out in the USA vs. World format:

USA players: Stephen Curry (Warriors), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Jalen Johnson (Hawks), Norman Powell (Heat), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Jalen Duren (Pistons), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Chet Holmgren (Thunder), Kevin Durant (Rockets), Devin Booker (Suns), LeBron James (Lakers). Leonard has now been added to this group.

World players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks, but he will miss the game with a calf strain), Luka Doncic (Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks), Pascal Siakam (Pacers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers).

Leonard was asked about his All-Star snub after the Clippers ugly loss Monday night to the 76ers, and he was gracious. He said he always wants to be named and is honored because it's a recognition of all the work he put in to reach this level, but that all the players who were named also were great players who put in the work, so he had no hard feelings.

Now he can just join them.

All-Star Game format

This year, the NBA All-Star Game returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock — and it falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That was a perfect setup for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game format, a USA vs. World showdown that fans and players have been asking for.

The 24 All-Star players will be divided into three teams, two USA teams and one world team. Those three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. Each of the three teams will have a minimum of eight players (if the USA or World teams are short on players, the league office will select one or more players to reach the required number).

At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title.

The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, an earlier time than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

How to watch NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers came out like a distracted team on the second night of a back-to-back. The Philadelphia 76ers came out red hot behind All-Star Tyrese Maxey, knocking down 3-pointers like they were shooting in an empty gym.

The result was the 76ers racing out to a 13-2 lead less than four minutes in — and their lead was never in single digits the rest of the night.

Philadelphia's lead ballooned up to 23 points, and while the Clippers made some runs, Maxey and Joel Embiid always had an answer. The result was a comfortable 128-113 win by the 76ers to start their West Coast Road trip. Maxey led the way with 29 points.

During the game, news broke that James Harden was pushing for a trade out of Los Angeles, and the Clippers were in talks with the Cavaliers about a possible deal to bring All-Star guard Darius Garland to LA. Harden was not in the building for this game, missing his second consecutive game for what the team listed as "personal reasons."

When asked if the rumors might have been a distraction to his players, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he didn't know. To a man, the Clippers players said they knew nothing about it until after the game.

"It's a surprise…" Kawhi Leonard said. "Respect his decision, or whoever's decision it is. That's still gonna be my boy. Trust the front office."

The Clippers looked like a distracted team to start the game, not to mention one on a back-to-back (they played in Phoenix the night before) and one without its starting point guard. Philadelphia came out hot and raced out to a 16-2 lead, and everything snowballed from there.

By the end of the first quarter, Philly had doubled up the Clippers 38-19 behind 16 from All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey didn't score in the second quarter and Leonard scored 13 in the frame, but the Clippers could not get stops or close the gap, and the 76ers still led by 19 at the half, 72-53.

The 76ers' tradition of struggling in the third quarter continued, and the Clippers found their sea legs, closing the gap to 11 points for a moment. Still, the game never felt in doubt — every time the Clippers got close, the 76ers answered. Sometimes emphatically.

Two-way player Dominick Barlow had a career-high 26 points for the 76ers — 11 in the first quarter — along with 16 rebounds, and helped set the tone. Joel Embiid scored 24 points with five rebounds.

"It was good, everyone contributed, Dominick Barlow was great, Tyrese [Maxey] was great," Embiid said postgame. "The rest, everybody did their job, that was good to see."

Leonard led the Clippers with 29, while Jordan Miller scored 21 off the bench for LA.

Leonard and the Clippers face the Cavaliers on Wednesday, in a game that suddenly became a lot more interesting.

This week's NBA Power Rankings will lean heavily into talk about the NBA trade deadline on Thursday (Feb. 5, 3 PM ET), but there's more going on than just rumors.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(39-11, last week No. 1)
The team that could put together the best offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo — or anyone else — likely will be quiet at the trade deadline. They may look to add a little depth along the front line, but think small moves, not big. OKC's dominant win over Denver on Sunday on NBC and Peacock was a stark reminder of why they don't need to do anything at the trade deadline — 29 other teams are chasing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.

2. Detroit Pistons

(36-12, last week No. 3)
Detroit is heading into the trade deadline with the same attitude Oklahoma City had a couple of years ago: We know we may need to add to our roster to contend for a title, but we want to see what this group can do on its own, first. Expect a quiet deadline, but depending on how the playoffs go, this could be an interesting summer in the Motor City. Congratulations to J.B. Bickerstaff, who will be coaching his first All-Star Game this year, and two of his players — Cade Cunningham and deserving reserve Jalen Duren — will join him in Los Angeles.

3. San Antonio Spurs

(33-16, last week No. 5)
Much like Detroit, San Antonio is happy to take this core into the playoffs and see what their young stars can do. That said, the Spurs are looking for more shooting, and if the right deal pops up, they could act — this team is not lacking for picks or young players to make a deal. Coach Mitch Johnson will be in Los Angeles coaching his first All-Star Game. It will be interesting to see whether he is handed the World team featuring his star, Victor Wembanyama.

4. Houston Rockets

(30-17, last week No. 2)
Houston will be without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams for the rest of the season, and with that could be looking to add a floor general point guard or some more size on the front line at the trade deadline. Of the teams in the top five of this ranking, the Rockets could be the most aggressive, but with Kevin Durant in the fold, they are as "win now" a team as it gets. Durant will be in Los Angeles for his 16th All-Star Game, but for my money, Alperen Sengun was the biggest snub out there. He deserved a spot more than LeBron, going just on play the past year.

5. New York Knicks

(31-18, last week No. 9)
Winners of five in a row and it's all about the Knicks' defense — this team has given up less than a point per possession over its last five games. Coach Mike Brown said after the win Sunday over the Lakers that they had simplified some of their defensive rotations, and that seems to have really worked for this squad. The Knicks are in a million trade deadline rumors, but if Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying put for now (as it increasingly appears he is) then New York may ride with this core to the playoffs — and defending like this the Finals are within reach.

6. Boston Celtics

(31-18, last week No. 4)
The fact that this is in now way a "gap year" for the Celtics — whether Jayson Tatum returns or not (and if he has any questions or doubts, he should not) — has the team on the hunt for a center who can help out Neemias Queta and Luka Garza in the playoffs. The centers the Celtics want (hello, Ivica Zubac) are not available, but there are plenty of bigs on the market who can provide some front-line depth. Daniel Gafford would be the best fit if they can pry him out of Dallas, but Day'Ron Sharpe from Brooklyn could also be in play.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

(31-19, last week No. 12)
Minnesota has found itself in the middle of the Antetokounmpo trade rumors — reportedly, he likes the idea of playing next to Anthony Edwards (who wouldn't) — but that seems a long shot at the deadline. The more likely trade is for a point guard who can help them at a position of need, and the Bulls' Coby White would be the best fit on the board. It has been a roller coaster January for the Timberwolves: They won 6-of-7, then lost five straight, and now have won four straight, including a big win over the Thunder last week. The best test this week comes on Sunday against a hot Clippers team.

8. Phoenix Suns

(30-20, last week No. 8)
Phoenix is no one-man show: It went 3-2 the past couple of weeks without Devin Booker, and that included wins over Detroit and Cleveland. Phoenix is 4-5 without Booker this season, which is a far cry from last season when it won just one game without him. Booker was rightfully voted an All-Star by the coaches. While the Suns were at the heart of trade rumors the past few deadlines, they seem to be sitting this one out.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

(30-21, last week No. 7)
The Cavaliers are 13-5 in their last 18 and are doing it without Darius Garland and now Evan Mobley — but now help is on the way in the form of Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder. This trade was a huge win for the Cavaliers: They got rid of De'Andre Hunter's contract and saved money (more than $45 million in salary and taxes) while adding better perimeter defense and shooting in Ellis, and some point guard depth (and defense) with Schroder. Count the Cavaliers out in the East at your own risk.

10. Denver Nuggets

(33-17, last week No. 6)
Nikola Jokic is back — and back to putting up MVP-level numbers every time he steps on the court. However, a loss Sunday to the Thunder is a reminder that the margin for error for this team is slim if the goal is to get back to the Finals, and Denver remains without three starters: Anthony Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson. Don't expect any big trade deadline moves, at most, there is something on the fringes to add depth. Things don't get easier this week on the road against Detroit and New York.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

(29-19, last week No. 13)
It's the worst kept secret in the league that the Lakers are looking for wing defenders and depth at the trade deadline and Sunday's loss to the Knicks was a perfect illustration of why: Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia are the Lakers' best perimeter defenders, JJ Redick needs them on the court, yet they combined to shoot 2-of-13 (15.4%) from 3-point range. Keon Ellis is off the market, but the Lakers are still looking for help at the trade deadline (Sacramento flipping De'Andre Hunter is not out of the question).

12. Golden State Warriors

(27-23, last week No. 11)
No team is pushing harder to make the Antetokounmpo trade happen before the deadline than the Warriors — their potential offer of four first-round picks, Jonathan Kuminga and matching salary might be the best deal on the table. That said, if it happens, the deal likely sends Draymond Green out of town, not the injured Jimmy Butler. If the Antetokounmpo deal does not happen, Golden State will be looking for a smaller trade (possibly including Kuminga) to acquire a player who can create shots and help make up some of what they lose without Butler.

13. Philadelphia 76ers

(27-21, last week No. 14)
The Paul George 25-game suspension doesn't change much in Philadelphia, really. They will miss him (they are 6.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court), but he'll be back March 25 and rested for the playoffs. This roster without George will be put to the test on a five-game road trip through the West, starting Monday against Paul George's old team, the Clippers. The biggest highlight of last week for the 76ers? Easily Tyrese Maxey game-winner against Kings (give Nick Nurse some love for a high-level play call).

14. Toronto Raptors

(30-21, last week No. 10)
Toronto has the mix of contracts and picks to make any deal, which is why they constantly get mentioned as a team lined up to take a big swing at Antetokounmpo, or Anthony Davis (who very likely isn't getting traded in the coming days), or any other potential star. Will they? Probably not, although don't be shocked if they take a flier on a young player with potential that another team is ready to walk away from. Scottie Barnes is headed to Los Angeles as an All-Star and it's well deserved — Brandon Ingram has a legitimate case as a snub.

15. Miami Heat

(27-24, last week No. 15)
Miami gets mentioned as a place on Giannis Antetokounmpo's list of places he wants to go (as much as we really know anything about that "list"), but good luck putting together a trade at the deadline that makes any sense for the Bucks. Milwaukee wants picks, Miami does not have enough of them. The Heat face some big decisions about where the franchise is headed, but they don't have to face those at the deadline. Congratulations to Norman Powell, a deserving All-Star reserve who has proven over the past couple of seasons that he can play at this level.

16. Charlotte Hornets

(22-28, last week No. 20)
There is no hotter team in the NBA — winners of six in a row, the Hornets are 1.5 games behind the Hawks for the final play-in spot in the East (and just two games back of the No. 9 seed Bulls). Charlotte has been on the fringes of trade talks — they are willing to be a third team to help facilitate a deal, and some teams have checked on the availability of wing Miles Bridges — but most likely, this is a quiet deadline in Charlotte.

17. Los Angeles Clippers

(23-25, last week No. 16)
No Clippers made the All-Star team for a game about to be played in their building in less than two weeks — and Kawhi Leonard is the biggest snub on the board. James Harden had a case, too, but Leonard has been playing at an All-NBA level this season (27.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with elite defense) and deserved to be in the game. As for the trade deadline, the Clippers do not want to take on long-term money in any deal, but if they can find some affordable guard help, they might jump at it.

18. Orlando Magic

(25-23, last week No. 19)
Orlando needs to add shooting. Desperately. They may not want to make a big move at the trade deadline, but maybe they can find a shooter another team is ready to move on from and take a flyer on someone like Dalton Knecht? Franz Wagner would have been an All-Star the way he was playing, but he is sidelined with another injury. The good news is Jalen Suggs is back in the rotation. Orlando has a chance to get its season rolling in the right direction starting Thursday, when it begins a winnable four-game homestand (the Jazz, Nets, and two against the Bucks).

19. Chicago Bulls

(24-26, last week No. 17)
The Bulls have already done a smart bit of business at the trade deadline, acquiring Dario Šarić and getting a couple of second-round picks for their trouble (while waiving Jevon Carter). Chicago could be a seller at the trade deadline with a lot of teams interested in guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu (who made his case with a very strong game against Miami last week, scoring 29 points).

20. Atlanta Hawks

(24-27, last week No. 23)
Atlanta made its big deadline trade and pivot a while ago, sending out Trae Young. It also traded away wing Vit Krejčí — who they didn't need anymore since getting Corey Kispert in the Young deal — and acquired the injured but promising Duop Reath from Portland. We'll see if they have another deadline move. While, in theory, the Hawks could make one of the best Giannis Antetokounmpo offers, it would have to involve All-Star Jalen Johnson, and Atlanta wants to build something organic with the guys they have, not make a splashy all-in move.

21. Portland Trail Blazers

(23-27, last week No. 18)
The Trail Blazers trading for Vit Krejčí was clearly only the first domino — other trades are coming. The question is what. Portland is a popular third team in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade constructions because it controls future Milwaukee picks, but most of those trades shortchange Portland. Expect the Blazers to do something before Thursday afternoon. Also, congratulations to Deni Avdija on his first All-Star selection, it is well deserved.

22. Dallas Mavericks

(19-30, last week No. 21)
There will be no big Anthony Davis trade (at least not until the offseason), but don't expect the Mavericks to be quiet at the deadline. There are a lot of teams calling about big man Daniel Gafford and wing Naji Marshall. What the Mavericks want back is simple: players and picks on Cooper Flagg's timeline. He is the future, the Mavericks are and should be building around him.

23. Memphis Grizzlies

(18-29, last week No. 22)
Jaren Jackson Jr. was snubbed by the All-Star voters, but that does not mean that Memphis is going to trade him. While the Grizzlies were working the phones and finding no serious market for Ja Morant — that Morant-to-New Orleans-for-Jordan-Poole-and-Dejounte-Murray rumor was never real — Jackson was the player other teams wanted to talk about. Memphis wants to keep the former Defensive Player of the Year. Look for a quiet trade deadline in Memphis, unless you ask about their owners' business dealings.

24. Milwaukee Bucks

(18-29, last week No. 24)
Every eye in the league is trained on Milwaukee, and a whole lot of other potential trades are hung up because teams are holding onto their players and picks just in case they need them in an Antetokounmpo deal. If — as league sources have consistently told NBC Sports is going to happen — the Antetokounmpo saga drags out into the offseason, it will impact the trade deadline as some teams keep their powder dry to take their chances in the offseason. Expect the Milwaukee front office to try to come up with one more "mortgage the future" trade this summer to bring in a star, keep Giannis happy, and get him to sign that max extension next October, even if getting him to agree to that seems like a long shot.

25. New Orleans Pelicans

(13-38, last week No. 25)
Joe Dumars was not making Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones available unless there was a "Desmond Bane-sized package" coming back to New Orleans. There wasn't. There are no Zion Williamson talks (again, the market for his services is nowhere near what the Pelicans would want in return). That doesn't mean it's going to be a completely quiet trade deadline in New Orleans, there is a lot of chatter about big man Yves Missi being on the move. Still, the real decisions about this franchise's direction were pushed back into the summer.

26. Indiana Pacers

(13-36, last week No. 29)
One of the hot trade rumors of the past week is about the Pacers sending wing Bennedict Mathurin out in a deal, with a number of teams at least testing the waters. Indiana is also looking for help at the center spot, with rumors of them talking to the Nets about Day'Ron Sharpe and the Pelicans about Yves Missi. Congratulations to Pascal Siakam, who was named an All-Star reserve for the East — he deserves it, but there was a lot of speculation that the team's struggles would hold him back. The coaches saw through that and voted for him.

27. Washington Wizards

(13-35, last week No. 30)
The Wizards made their bold move, trading for Trae Young — and they don't plan to sit him for the rest of the season, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports. "It's important because Trae has a decision to make. He's got the power of choice as a free agent. So you want to make sure that he's comfortable playing with the young guys, to have the opportunity to play with Alex (Sarr) and to play with Bilal (Coulibaly) and see when they move and how they fit positionally. We have a lot of questions on our team and how we play moving forward."

28. Utah Jazz

(15-35, last week No. 26)
Lauri Markkanen is not getting traded at the deadline (it looks like a quiet one overall in Utah), and the Finnish star was also one of the big All-Star Game snubs, something he talked about with Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune. "I think I've played at that level. The NBA is really talented and there are a lot of high-level players. Obviously, that is an individual goal of mine. I hope I make it and, like I said, I've played at that level."

29. Brooklyn Nets

(13-35, last week No. 28)
A few weeks ago, Michael Porter Jr. was at the top of the list of players expected to be traded at the deadline, but that has proven to be more smoke than fire, and now it looks like he will be in Brooklyn into the summer. There has been plenty of interest from other teams in big men Day'Ron Sharpe and Nic Claxton (particularly Sharpe), so don't be shocked if a deal gets done.

30. Sacramento Kings

(12-39, last week No. 27)
No team is working harder to be a seller at the trade deadline. The Kings have already traded Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder, but they are still talking to teams about Domantas Sabonis (a lot of interest) and Zach LaVine (some interest). They also could flip just-acquired De'Andre Hunter. However, there is not much of a market for DeMar DeRozan at the deadline.

The red-hot Phoenix Suns will head to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers at 11 p.m. ET in the nightcap of NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday.

This is the second of three meetings between the teams this year, and Phoenix has won six of the past nine games against Portland. These teams were longtime playoff rivals in the 1990s, playing four postseason series in that decade (Portland went 3-1) when the Blazers made the Finals in '90 and '92 and the Suns were in the '93 Finals.

In the 8 p.m. ET tipoff Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks will play host to the Boston Celtics.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games, a breakdown of the Suns-Trail Blazers matchup and the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers:

• When: Tuesday, Feb. 3
• Where: Moda Center in Portland, Oregon
• Time: 11 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Live Stream: Peacock

Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers preview:

The Suns have been among the surprise stories of the Western Conference, overcoming low expectations and a 1-4 start to become a playoff contender under first-year head coach Jordan Ott. Led by tough-nosed forward Dillon Brooks, Phoenix has relied heavily on defense and ranks highly in opponents' points per game (fifth), defensive rating (fifth), opponents' turnovers per game (third), steals per game (second) and points off turnovers per game (third).

Brooks, who was acquired from Houston in the trade for Kevin Durant, also is on pace for career bests in scoring (21.0 points per game) and field goal percentage (44.5%), scoring a career-high 40 in a home win over Detroit last week. Devin Booker leads Phoenix with 25.4 points and 6.2 assists per game but has missed the past five games with a right ankle injury.

After a strong 9-2 start to January, the Trail Blazers have struggled lately with a sputtering offense. Forward Deni Avdija has battled a recent back injury but still is enjoying a breakout season at 25.8 points and 6.8 assists per game, making him an odds-on favorite for Most Improved Player.

Portland also has benefited recently from the return from injuries of Jrue Holiday (who missed 28 games with a right calf strain) and Jerami Grant (out 16 games with a left Achilles tendinitis).

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

• Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

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The Knicks will have two All-Stars playing in Los Angeles in two weeks, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

That's not who led them to a win on Sunday — the Knicks depth was on full display. It was OG Anunoby scoring 25 to lead the New York in scoring, all while playing lockdown defense.

It was Landry Shamet coming off the bench to knock down six 3-pointers and score 23. It was Josh Hart scoring 20 on 8-of-11 shooting.

It was the Knicks pulling away in the fourth to secure a 112-100 win over the Lakers in a highly anticipated game in Madison Square Garden. That makes it five straight wins for the Knicks, who have given up less than a point per possession in that streak and have the best defense in the NBA for those five games. Coach Mike Brown said postgame that they had recently simplified some things for their perimeter defenders — so they know better where the help is coming from — and it has worked. .
The Knicks' All-Stars, Towns and Brunson, combined for 22 points on 9-of-26 shooting (34.6%), although Brunson did dish out 13 assists.

This could be LeBron's final game in Madison Square Garden, and at age 41 he still put on s a show scoring 22, including this emphatic alley-oop.

The Lakers stars showed up. Luka Doncic had a cold-blooded 30 points to go with 15 rebounds and eight assists on the night, and he was having fun early.

The Lakers' biggest challenge — on this night and too many others — was the opposite of what the Knicks faced. The Lakers are not a great defensive team (25th in the league). The trio of Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia are the Lakers' best perimeter defenders, yet they combined to shoot 2-of-13 (15.4%) from 3-point range. Their depth does not help Los Angeles nightly. It's something the Lakers are hoping to at least improve on at the trade deadline, but the kind of wing players the Lakers need are in high demand across the league.

Deandre Ayton had a strong first half for the Lakers with 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting but had just one bucket in the second half.

The NBA rumor mill does not stop for the weekend, and plenty of Giannis Antetokounmpo chatter is still going on. Here is the latest on a possible Antetokounmpo trade before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline

Warriors willing to trade Draymond Green?

If Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be traded by next Thursday's NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors — who can offer four first-round picks — are the most likely destination. To make that trade work, it was assumed that Jimmy Butler would be the big matching salary going back to Milwaukee. Because the Warriors wouldn't trade Draymond Green, right?

Wrong. Maybe. It could be the Warriors' defensive icon Green sent out if the trade happens.

Golden State would put Green in the trade if it had to, NBC Sports' Monte Poole said in an interview on 95.7 The Game in the Bay Area.

"From what I'm hearing, the only Warrior that's off the table is Steph Curry. That means Draymond Green is also available for the right package. They don't want to, but they're willing to."

Butler, who will be out until the middle of next season recovering from a torn ACL, "is unlikely" to be part of the trade, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.

Does that bother Green? Not in the least, he told Anthony Slater.

Portland interested in Giannis

If you're looking for a long shot to trade for Antetokounmpo, look to the Pacific Northwest.

Portland has reached out to Milwaukee and expressed interest in an Antetokounmpo trade, reports Stein and Fischer at The Stein Line. Yes, the Trail Blazers understand it would be an incredible long shot that they could convince Antetokounmpo to re-sign and stay with them, but Portland is expressing some interest anyway.

There has been some speculation that another team might be willing to try with Antetokounmpo what the Toronto Raptors did with Kawhi Leonard — trade for him for one season and take their chances. The difference was that Toronto was a team considered at least a fringe title contender, one that had won 50+ games in the three previous seasons and made the second round of the playoffs each time. Toronto bet that Leonard could take them to the next level — and he did, they won the franchise's lone championship. The Raptors did everything right, and Leonard still left to go home to Southern California and the Clippers.

Portland, even with Antetokounmpo, is not a contender. The Trail Blazers control some of Milwaukee's future picks, which is why they have been mentioned as a potential third team in a trade that would send Antetokounmpo to New York.

But it sounds like Portland would rather trade for Antetokounmpo themselves and try to keep him.

Will Antetokounmpo be traded before deadline?

League sources NBC Sports have spoken to consistently say to expect the Giannis Antetokounmpo drama to drag out past the Feb. 5 trade deadline and into the offseason. The Ringer's Zach Lowe, appearing on NBA on Prime, says it is more of a 50-50 proposition.

In that same discussion on NBA on Prime, Lowe said the Bucks right now are in "digest mode."

"They're not even really being proactive. They're just waiting for teams to show them on a platter, like here's what we're willing to offer you for Giannis. And teams are trying to figure out, are they listening? Are they going to come back to us and really start negotiating? Or is this something that's actually going to come in the offseason when you guys mentioned that contract extension is going to be offered to him and then more teams might join the fray."

The smart money is still on this being a summer trade — if it happens at all — but these things have a momentum of their own. It's going to be a wild few days.