The Sacramento Kings have lost six of their last seven games, and they’ll have a tough time getting back on track in tonight's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That said, Maxime Raynaud has stepped up big for Sacramento, and my Kings vs. Timberwolves predictions expect that strong play to continue despite his team's struggles.

Here are my best NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Sunday, December 14,

Kings vs Timberwolves prediction

Kings vs Timberwolves best bet: Maxime Raynaud Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists (-110)

Maxime Raynaud has stepped up for the Sacramento Kings in Domantas Sabonis' absence, posting at least 22 PRA in four straight games and five of his last six.

With Sabonis out again tonight, Raynaud is in line for another start, which should lead to another productive showing.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are middle-of-the-pack in points allowed in the paint per game this season, but over their last 10, they've surrendered the seventh-most paint points.

Though the Wolves sport a formidable defense, Raynaud has performed well against the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, and Houston Rockets — proving he can post strong numbers against strong opposition.

The big man should be heavily involved tonight as he takes on Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt. Expect him to clear this combo line for a fifth straight contest as a struggling Sacramento squad gives him plenty of run.

Kings vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Rudy Gobert has recorded 10 double-doubles this season, and he's done so in two of three matchups with the Kings. Sacramento has allowed the most points in the paint and the fifth-most rebounds per game.

Minnesota is just 9-16 ATS, and the Wolves are 0-3 ATS across their last three games as double-digit favorites. Sacramento covered as double-digit underdogs in its previous matchup with Minnesota.

Kings vs Timberwolves SGP

• Maxime Raynaud Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Rudy Gobert double-double
• Kings +12.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Big men balling

Julius Randle is averaging 23 points per game this season, and he's scored at least that many in 13 of 25 appearances. That includes seven of 12 games at home.

Kings vs Timberwolves SGP

• Maxime Raynaud Over 21.5 points+rebounds+assists
• Rudy Gobert double-double
• Kings +12.5
• Julius Randle Over 22.5 points

Kings vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Kings +12.5 (-105) | Timberwolves -12.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Kings +475 | Timberwolves -650
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5

Kings vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Minnesota Timberwolves have hit the team total Over in 30 of their last 46 home games (+11.70 Units / 22% ROI).  Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Kings vs Timberwolves

Kings vs Timberwolves latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The final for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup is set, with the New York Knicks representing the East... and the San Antonio Spurs in the West, following a shocking upset of the heavily favored OKC Thunder in the semifinals. 

The opening odds for the final had the Knicks favored, but follow for the latest Emirates NBA Cup odds right up until tip-off on Tuesday, December 16.

2025 NBA Cup odds

Opening NBA Cup Championship odds

• Spread: Spurs +2.5 | Knicks -2.5
• Moneyline: Spurs +110 | Knicks -130
• Total: Over 227.5 | Under 227.5

NBA Cup groups

The league's 30 teams will all compete in randomly drawn groups for the opening round, divided by conference, as listed below: 

East Group A	East Group B	East Group C
TOR 🥇(4-0)	ORL 🥇(4-0)	NYK 🥇(3-1)
ATL (2-2)	BOS (2-2)	MIA 🥈(3-1)
CLE (2-2)	DET (2-2)	MIL (2-2)
IND (1-3)	PHI (1-3)	CHA (1-3)
WAS (1-3)	BKN (1-3)	CHI (1-3)

---

West Group A	West Group B	West Group C
OKC 🥇(4-0)	LAL 🥇(4-0)	SAS 🥇(3-1)
PHO 🥈(3-1)	MEM (3-1)	DEN (2-2)
MIN (2-2)	LAC (2-2)	HOU (1-2)
UTAH (1-3)	DAL (1-4)	POR (2-2)
SAC (0-4)	NOP (0-4)	GSW (1-3)

🥇: Group winner
🥈: Wild Card

NBA Cup explained

Group Play

Each team will begin the tournament in one of six groups, divided by conference and randomly drawn from tiers based on the previous season's record, to ensure relative competitive balance.

Within each group, all teams will play regular-season games against each other on designated Tournament Nights from October 31 to November 28: Every Friday and also Tuesday, November 25, and Wednesday, November 26.

The records in those games determine who advances to the Knockout Round.

Knockout Round

The Knockout Round is comprised of eight teams, which begins on December 9-10:

• The winners of each of the six groups
• A wild-card team from each conference (the second-place team with the best record)

The Knockout Round is a single-elimination bracket. Teams in each conference with the best record will get home-court advantage in these matchups.

The semifinals and finals take place in Las Vegas on December 13 and 16, with the winner of each conference facing off for the NBA Cup.

Teams that make the knockout round will be awarded portions of an as-of-yet undisclosed prize pool, increasing the further they make it. A Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team will also be awarded after play has concluded.

Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA Cup MVP odds
• NBA odds
• NBA picks
• NBA player props
• Best NBA betting sites
• Today's NBA matchup info

Understanding NBA Cup odds

Sportsbooks will post odds for the NBA Cup during the prior offseason. These odds are adjusted throughout the season as players switch teams, show steady improvement, or are injured. Sportsbooks will also adjust the NBA odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.

NBA Cup odds will usually look like this:

• Los Angeles Lakers +1,300

This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $1,300 if the Lakers win the tournament. If it's close to the end of the tournament and the NBA has a particularly dominant team, you might see a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds. 

• Denver Nuggets -180

This means you have to bet $180 to win $100 on a Nuggets tournament win.

Above we have listed the American odds. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool. And don't forget to check out our NBA forum if you're interested in chatting with other basketball bettors about NBA odds. 

Popular NBA futures markets

• NBA championship odds
• NBA MVP odds
• NBA Rookie of the Year odds
• NBA Most Improved Player odds

2025 NBA Cup MVP odds

Read our full NBA In-Season Tournament MVP odds analysis to learn more.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Today in Boston Celtics history, Jamel Thomas debuted for the stored franchise in 1999. An alumni of Providence College, Thomas was not picked up by any ball club in the 1999 NBA Draft despite his well-known sterling familial basketball pedigree.

Part of a notable basketball clan that was made up of his brother, Sebastian Telfair, and cousin Stephon Marbury, the Celtics saw potential in the Brooklyn, New York native, and inked Thomas to his first NBA contract on Dec. 13, 1999. The 6-foot-6 wing only had a three-game stint with the Celtics, though. His first game was a 117-88 drubbing by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thomas produced 4 points, 2 assists and a rebound in just over 8 minutes of playing time. The New Yorker hit 2 of his 4 field goal attempts, of which none were 3-point attempts, and did not get to the line -- but he also did not foul or commit a turnover.

The trio of games Thomas played for the Celtics did not evidently inspire confidence. The former Providence standout was waived on Dec. 23, 1999.

Historic milestones

It was on this date in 2005 that the Celtics held the Indiana Pacers to 71 points in an 85-71 win. The 71 points was one of the lowest point totals in modern NBA history.

Boston was led by Paul Pierce's 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and Mark Blount's 22 points and 5 boards.

Rest in peace

Today is also the date former Boston big man John Mahnken left us in 2000. Born in 1922 in West New York, New Jersey, Mahnken played his NCAA ball for Georgetown, serving in the Army in the World War II. He played for a number of BAA (a precursor league of the NBA) teams before he was traded by the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) to Boston in 1950.

He played four seasons for the Celtics with a brief stint in-between with the (defunct) Indianapolis Olympians before retiring in 1953, averaging 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Finally, 14 years earlier in 1986, former Celtic Dick Mehen passed away. The Tennessee grad was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1922, and signed with the (defunct) Toledo Jeeps of the National Basketball League (NBL - a precursor league of the NBA, not to be confused with today's NBL of Australia) after going undrafted in the 1947 BAA Draft.

Mehen played for that team, the (defunct) Waterloo Hawks and the (also defunct) Baltimore Bullets before he was dealt to Boston for Kenny Sailors and Brady Walker in 1950. The West Virginian played seven games for the Celtics, averaging 6.3 points, 3.7 boards and 1.6 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Thomas debut; Cs hold Pacers to 71; Mehen, Mahnken pass

After five losses in their last six games, all of which came on the road, the South Bay Lakers returned home to face the Rip City Remix, a team they defeated 141-130 nearly a week ago in Oregon.

At the UCLA Health Training Center, the Lakers were red-hot offensively early. They scored 41 points in the first quarter and held the lead for most of the first half en route to a 76-68 halftime lead. But afterward, South Bay went into a drought and got caught up in a dogfight.

With 2:50 to go in the fourth quarter, it trailed 117-108, and despite scoring six points in a row to make things interesting, it ended up on the wrong side of a 122-116 decision.

Power forward Drew Timme led South Bay with 27 points on 11-of-18 field-goal shooting, to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Wing Kobe Bufkin scored 18 points and guard Chris Mañon contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

Bronny James made an appearance for South Bay, and he made four of his 10 shot attempts and three of his eight 3-point tries. He finished with 11 points, six assists and two rebounds.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: South Bay Lakers recap: G League Lakers fall short to Rip City

Grabbing Jalen Williams' intentionally missed free throw, Alex Caruso flew to the rim. He grabbed the offensive rebound and flung a desperate heave as the final one second ticked away. No luck. For the first time in over a month, the reigning NBA champion was on the wrong side of a final score.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a frustrating 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Their trip to Las Vegas ended after a couple of days as they lost in the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals.

Some in-game gamesmanship occurred before we even started. For the first time in his career, Victor Wembanyama came off the bench. He missed 12 straight games with a calf strain and was on a minutes restriction, but not starting was a curveball everybody whiffed on.

The Thunder took advantage early. Playing with their ideal starting lineup for the first time since the 2025 NBA Finals, they had a 12-4 lead three minutes in. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nailed a signature baseline jumper. Everything went smoothly. They had a 31-20 lead after the first quarter.

And no Wembanyama, either. A surprising decision. But he eventually checked in to start the second quarter. As expected, he completely changed the dynamics. He got it within four points by himself. That turned this into a new ballgame.

After a short first substitution, the Thunder got their lead back up. Caruso's second-chance layup created a 47-31 lead with a little under four minutes left. It felt like they were on the verge of blowing it open. But then Wembanyama checked back in and took over.

Everybody knows what he does on both ends of the floor. When healthy, he's one of the five best players. His presence also rubbed off on the rest of his teammates. The Spurs returned to hitting on their outside shots. Soon after he checked in, San Antonio scored the final 13 points of the first half.

The Thunder only scored 18 points in the second frame. They entered halftime with just a 49-46 lead. The final four minutes went about as disastrously as you could imagine. The Spurs were right back in it. A surprise considering how the game first played out.

After the break, the Spurs' momentum carried over. It didn't take long for them to score 10 straight points in the opening stages of the third quarter. Devin Vassell knocked down an outside jumper to put the Thunder in a 62-56 deficit with a little under eight minutes left in the third frame.

For the first time in forever, the Thunder were punched in the mouth. The offense bogged down. It was the ugliest it's looked since the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander calmed things down a little, but San Antonio's role players were better than OKC's. The Thunder were in a 78-77 deficit after the third quarter. That meant more crunch time.

The 2025 NBA Cup delivered. Bring up the logistical nightmare it is, but the Thunder and Spurs went back and forth as they seesawed the lead. Chet Holmgren went after Wembanyama a couple of times. And vice versa. That's the matchup everybody wants to see, considering their not-so-subtle rivalry.

Knocking down an outside jumper, Williams gave the Thunder a 101-100 lead with a little under three minutes. And then Wembanyama took over. Carefully monitoring his minutes, the Spurs were able to play their franchise superstar for most of the final frame. He hit an unreal jumper and swished in a pair of free throws.

Down 105-101 with a minute left, the Thunder couldn't answer. Too many missed shots and turnovers finally caught up to them. The final 24 seconds turned into a game within a game. The Thunder intentionally fouled to keep their slim hopes alive. The Spurs did the same to stiff-arm them on the scoreboard. OKC's 32 points in the final frame weren't enough.

After all that, the Thunder couldn't muster up one last good look. Time ran out on them. The buzzer sounded as the Spurs walked away with their biggest win of the season. Comes with the territory as the reigning NBA champion who is in 70-win talks.

The Thunder shot 41% from the field and went 9-of-37 (24.3%) from 3. They shot 24-of-27 on free throws. They had 20 assists on 38 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points and five assists. Holmgren finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Williams also had 17 points and seven rebounds. Alex Caruso tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein totaled 10 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, the Spurs shot 41% from the field and went 13-of-42 (31%) from 3. They shot 24-of-32 on free throws. They had 21 assists on 37 baskets. Four Spurs players scored double-digit points.

Wembanyama had an awesome 22 points and nine rebounds. Vassell had 23 points and five rebounds. De'Aaron Fox finished with 22 points and four assists. Stephon Castle tallied 22 points and six rebounds.

Well, this is the formula to beat the Thunder. If you can ugly up their offense, you have a chance. The Spurs did that with the NBA Cup stakes on the line. Poor outside shooting and uncharacteristic bad ball security slowly made OKC look human for the first time in a while. Any hopes of an NBA Cup were quickly dashed away.

If you're the Thunder, this is just the first of three matchups in two weeks with the Spurs. Two more upcoming dates centered around Christmas will let them get their revenge. It'll be exciting to see how they adjust as Wembanyama has turned into one of the NBA's best players who is uniquely impossible to defend against. The NBA schedule-makers will get their money's worth in those contests.

Let's look at Thunder player grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: B

As Holmgren set a screen, Gilgeous-Alexander found himself up against Wembanyama. Going with his usually reliable stepback 3-pointer, his attempt clanked at the front of the rim. The seven-footer contested his jumper just enough.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting, five assists and four rebounds. He shot 1-of-7 from 3 and went 4-of-4 on free throws.

Usually the NBA's most efficient scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander looked more human in this matchup. Sure, he still had above-average efficiency, but not at the marks that have him in the same conversations as Wilt Chamberlain. The Spurs forced him to settle for several jumpers. And with the right mix of perimeter defenders, they made him earn his buckets.

This is probably the most uncomfortable Gilgeous-Alexander has looked in a while. The superb ball security wasn't there either, with five turnovers. That's the other layer of his superpowers that don't get as much shine as his scoring ability. Castle did an excellent job at keeping up with him. San Antonio swarmed him every time he had the ball in his hands.

The NBA's league leader in clutch buckets was jettisoned into the background. This time, it was Wembanyama's turn to get the oohs and aahs from both the Las Vegas crowd and the Amazon broadcast. By the end, it felt like a San Antonio home game.

The Thunder needed more out of Gilgeous-Alexander. He usually delivers when needed. But when you combine his off-night with the rest of the roster not really showing up, you get this result. Alas. That's part of the NBA's ebbs and flows.

Shai with the block and the score 💪 pic.twitter.com/cUW2Upudm0

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Tre ball 👌 pic.twitter.com/lUbnTYb4I4

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

How does he do it 😳 pic.twitter.com/SE7G0bSSoQ

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Shai slams it home

Your @OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/nbtHl2Tgpj

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Chet Holmgren: B

Going at Wembanyama, Holmgren drove to the rim. He planted his feet and went with the turnaround jumper. Let's just say things didn't go well. He had his shot loudly rejected. That's the play that will make the rounds on social media, but don't let one bad play wash away everything else he did.

Holmgren finished with 17 points on 3-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds. He shot 1-of-3 from 3 and went 10-of-12 on free throws. He also had one block.

Instead of feeding into his rivalry, Holmgren played winning basketball. He helped the Thunder build up an early advantage. And when the offense dried up, he was the only other consistent scorer who helped Gilgeous-Alexander put up points. His in-game process was awesome.

But then a poor fourth quarter kinda soured things. He only scored four points and he went to the free-throw line plenty of times. A couple of critically missed free throws hurt OKC's percentages to pull off a comeback. Getting blocked by Wembanyama punished the 23-year-old for the tunnel-vision shot in an offense that couldn't get going.

You can criticize Holmgren for his poor second half, but several other Thunder players deserve a larger slice of the blame pie for this loss. It was a poor finish, but he was also one of the main reasons why they were even in that position to begin with.

Chet gets down the court and to the RACK‼️😤 pic.twitter.com/56rjFZ1BsV

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Jalen Williams: C-minus

Leading the fastbreak, Williams bulldozed to the basket, but his layup attempt didn't even reach the air. On the next possession, he went one-on-one with Castle. He got his spot in the elbow, but his mid-range jumper bounced off the rim. That about summed up his night.

Williams finished with 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 5-of-6 on free throws. He also had four steals.

The Thunder needed more from Williams. He only had seven points through three quarters. His drives to the basket resulted in several makeable misses. I guess that's what happens when you have to be paranoid about Wembanyama's presence. The jumper also didn't fall — which was the story for everybody in an OKC uniform.

As awesome as Williams is, he occasionally has duds like these. They get magnified when the rest of the team doesn't pick up the slack. Usually thriving in them, the bench lineup minutes were awful. He couldn't get it going as Wembanyama took over the game.

Let's see how Williams responds, but this was a bad game from him. Nobody among OKC's star trio had a stellar performance. At least not to their championship-level standards. They'll get a chance to sit on this loss for four days and see how they can solve San Antonio's defense.

The kind of cookies you can only get in OKC 🍪 pic.twitter.com/Tpyx5ZQ5va

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Right on target 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Q7HvQSNfK9

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Alex Caruso: A-minus

After Ajay Mitchell intercepted Castle's pass, Caruso was ahead in the fastbreak. A cross-court pass landed in his hands. As soon as that happened, he flew off the court. A rare one-handed dunk had the entire OKC bench hyped. You don't usually see those anymore from the 31-year-old.

Caruso finished with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and three assists. He shot 1-of-3 from 3. He also had three steals.

It came in a loss, but this was one of Caruso's best games of the season. And it shouldn't be a shock to see it happen under the national spotlight. This is about as close as you'll get to the playoffs with the NBA Cup. All of the glitz and glamor involved is duplicated from that environment.

Going back and forth, Caruso almost carried OKC to the finish line. He had seven points in the fourth quarter. Needing to get stops, he was the one on Wembanyama despite the significant size difference — a la Nikola Jokic in last year's playoffs.

If Caruso had better luck, a couple of near-plays in the final moments could've added to his mythos. The first was on a ball that went out of bounds after he committed a foul in the final seconds. If nothing was called, that could've been OKC possession. The second was on the final play as he somehow managed to collect a missed free throw and put up a wild shot attempt.

This is why you brought over Caruso. When there are high stakes involved, he's one of the five players the Thunder trust the most. Even if those consequences feel artificial in the NBA Cup, he doesn't need much convincing to go all out.

Wave after wave of offensive intensity 🤝 https://t.co/aHBXW7WhXCpic.twitter.com/I1CzWPaqTy

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Don't stop working 💪 pic.twitter.com/aASpSbGpjE

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

ALEX. CARUSO. pic.twitter.com/2TMOwJELxz

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

THIS ENERGY 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5zDzFYjPVT

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Highlights:

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Wembanyama too much in Thunder's 111-109 loss to Spurs

Is LeBron James playing vs. Suns tonight? Final status for Lakers star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Less than two weeks after their first meeting of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are set to go head-to-head again on Sunday night.

The Suns won the first meeting between the two teams by a score of 125-108, so the Lakers will be looking for some revenge this time around. Luckily, they’ll have their future Hall-of-Famer available for the game.

LeBron James will play vs. Suns on Sunday night 

LeBron James, who has been dealing with various ailments throughout the season, isn’t listed on the official injury report for the contest, so he should be good to go. On the season, James is averaging 16.5 points, 7.6 assists and 6.0 rebounds per performance in just eight appearances. 

But, while James will be available for L.A. against Phoenix, a few other players won’t be. Austin Reaves, Maxi Kleber and Bronny James have all been ruled out of the game. Reaves, who has been a huge factor in L.A.'s early-season success, is expected to miss a week of action with a calf strain. 

Meanwhile, the Suns will be without Jalen Green and Isaiah Livers. Star guard Devin Booker is also listed as questionable for the contest. 

Heading into the game, the Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 17-7 record while the Suns sit seventh at 14-11. Since they're in the same division, the two teams will play two more times this season after Sunday, including once later this month. They'll also play in late February. 

What Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after Spurs loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw its 16-game winning streak end in Saturday night’s 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder held a 49-46 lead at halftime, but were unable to hold off the Spurs, who had four players score 20 points or more.

“When you play close games, you’re not going to win them all,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “I thought we put ourselves in a tough position there, playing from behind down the stretch.”

Oklahoma City gave up 65 second-half points in Saturday’s loss. The Spurs made 13 3-pointers and had 40 points in the paint.

“Sometimes it comes down to make or miss plays,” Daigneault said. “We made some good passes out of double teams and stuff like that, so I thought our offensive attacks were okay. We didn’t get a ton of stop down at the other end.”

Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 29 points on 12/23 shooting. He also added four rebounds and five assists but also had five turnovers. Daigneault said the Spurs did a good job defending Gilgeous-Alexander.

“There was a lot of controllable stuff we can learn from that game that wasn’t where we’d like it to be,” Daigneault said.

The Thunder struggled from 3-point range, shooting 9/37 (24%) from behind the arc.

“It wasn’t our sharpest night,” Daigneault said. “Certainly, our attacks weren’t as sharp as they’ve normally been.”

It was the first loss for the Thunder since a 121-119 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 5.

Marc Stein: The Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs hang on to win 111-109 ... dropping the Thunder to 24-2 and bringing a halt to OKC's 16-game win streak. Either San Antonio or New York will be the NBA's third NBA Cup champion.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs shock OKC in Victor Wembanyama's return, will face Knicks in NBA Cup final

Knicks coach Mike Brown puts Jalen Brunson in MVP talks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Knicks powered past the Orlando Magic 132-120 on Saturday night behind a dazzling performance from guard Jalen Brunson.

Brunson posted 40 points, four rebounds and eight assists against Orlando. He shot 16/27 (59.3%) from the field and went 2/5 from 3-point range. Knicks head coach Mike Brown had high praise for his star point guard after the win.

“When you have an MVP of the league candidate in Jalen Brunson… he makes the game easier for everybody,” Brown said. “That’s what MVPs are supposed to do.”

Brunson’s now averaging 28.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game this season. He’s shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.6% from three. The win over the Magic was Brunson’s first 40-point game this season and fourth straight game with at least 30 points.

The Knicks, who’ve won five consecutive games, are second in the Eastern Conference at 18-7, trailing only the Detroit Pistons.

“When you’re first or second in either conference and you’re putting up the numbers he’s putting up, his name his name has got to be one of this first names.”

While Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic are considered the frontrunners for the award, Brown believes Brunson hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves.

“Every time I hear somebody bring up conversation about MVP, you see a lot of other great candidates that are well deserving,” Brown said. “But I don’t ever hear Jalen’s name.”

Brunson and the Knicks will look to win the franchise’s first NBA Cup championship on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Many people were concerned about the Los Angeles Lakers' defensive shortcomings coming into this season, and Wednesday's 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs was a reality check about how serious those shortcomings are right now.

In that loss, the Lakers gave up 27 fast-break points and allowed the Spurs to shoot 17-of-38 from 3-point range. It was a constant string of transition opportunities, dribble penetration and 3-point attempts for San Antonio, and Los Angeles was caught flat-footed against that type of attack.

Veteran guard Marcus Smart told the media what happened when the team held a video session on Friday to go over its defensive breakdowns against San Antonio.

"Nobody likes to go watch film after you get your ass kicked. It's tough, 'cause the film never lies. It exposed us a lot, which we already knew….The scouting report against us is we're not guarding people. And if we want to be great in this league and do what we're trying to do, you have to be able to guard."

Right now, the Lakers rank 21st in defensive rating, 23rd in fast-break points per game allowed, 25th in opponents' points off turnovers per game and 27th in opponents' 3-point shooting percentage. Expect other teams to give the Lakers a steady diet of transition basketball and dribble penetration until L.A. does something to prevent opponents from excelling in those categories.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Marcus Smart talks about Lakers' defensive video session on Friday

Who beat the Thunder this year? How one of NBA's worst teams upset Oklahoma City originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have started the 2025-26 NBA season on a historic pace.

The Thunder are 24-1 and on pace to win well over 73 games, which would break the NBA record for victories. Their average point differential is plus-17.4, which would be another NBA record. Oklahoma City has the league's No. 1 defense by defensive rating, and its dominance has allowed reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to rest half of the game he's appeared in.

However, OKC isn't perfect.

MORE: SGA makes his feelings clear on breaking the 2015-16 Warriors 73-9 record

Who beat the Thunder this year?

The Portland Trail Blazers are the reason the Thunder aren't undefeated this season.

As the Thunder face the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday night, Gilgeous-Alexander and company will put their win streak on the line against the Spurs, who can look to the Blazers' example for clues on how to take apart the Thunder's death machine.

On Nov. 5, the Thunder rocked up to the Moda Center in Portland for the second night of a back-to-back with travel. The night before, Oklahoma City had defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-107, while the Blazers had been idle after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers two nights earlier.

Guard Lu Dort was ruled out for the game in Portland, while Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams did not play through injury, either. 

Even still, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder raced out to a 20-point lead over the Blazers after one quarter, only for Portland to battle back for a 121-119 victory.

Deni Avdija scored a team-high 26 points, hauled in 10 rebounds and finished one assist shy of a triple-double. Jrue Holiday added 22 points, while Jerami Grant came off the bench to add 20.

It remains the Thunder's only loss; Oklahoma City has won its past 16 games. The Blazers have struggled since, with a 9-16 record overall that has Portland on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff picture.

More NBA news:

• Mark Daigneault reveals the secret behind OKC's chemistry
• Huge Giannis Antetokounmpo update gives Knicks, Lakers fresh trade hope
• When is Wemby back? Spurs' Victor Wembanyama reaches important milestone in calf injury return
• Jeff Teague wants Raptors to trade for Anthony Davis for the most disrespectful reason
• Aces' A'ja Wilson answers the question everyone's asking about Bam Adebayo relationship

Jason Beede: FINAL: Knicks 132, #Magic 120 Jalen Brunson notches 40 points in the 12-point win over Orlando as New York advances to the Cup championship. Jalen Suggs scored 26 but just 1 after halftime when dealing with a sore left hip.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Knicks advance to NBA Cup final behind Jalen Brunson's 40-point game

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 14th of 15 players who wore the No. 33 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State forward alum Chris Wright. After ending his college career at Dayton, Wright went unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until until he signed with the Dubs in 2011.

His stay with the team lasted until he signed with the Toronto Raptors in 2012.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Wright wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history - No. 33 - Chris Wright (2011-12)

Dalton Johnson: Draymond Green is not on the injury report, indicating he’ll return for the Warriors tomorrow night in Portland @nbcswarriors.bsky.social. Al Horford remains OUT, but nobody else is on the injury report

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dalton Johnson: Draymond Green is not on the injury …

With the Sacramento Kings currently sitting at No. 13 in the Western Conference, postseason almost out of the picture, and internal pressure mounting, the franchise appears closer than ever to a rebuild. If that reset comes, rookie center Maxime Reynaud stands as the most compelling piece to build around.

While Sacramento has not officially committed to a rebuild, it is looking increasingly likely that this will be the outcome. With recent speculation mounting, the Kings have the perfect candidate to center an impending rebuild around.

Special Skillset

Reynaud is a seven-footer out of Stanford who was drafted with the 42nd pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, and since getting more minutes, he has looked like a bright spot for Sacramento.

What makes Reynaud so good is not only his height. His 7-foot-3 wingspan allows him to defend well under the rim, and his footwork is also notable, as evidenced by his ability to switch on smaller forwards with ease on the defensive end of the ball.

Sacramento’s current roster complicates his early integration, as Domantas Sabonis remains the offensive hub.

The Kings finished second in team handoff frequency last season, and this handoff-heavy style forces the team into a specific play style that limits the offense. 

Why Is Reynaud the Future?

If the Kings stay committed to Sabonis, Reynaud becomes a luxury developmental piece. But if the front office decides a significant overhaul is necessary, Reynaud immediately becomes the blueprint.

Offensively, Reynaud’s potential expands even further. His ability to operate as a dribble-handoff threat mirrors aspects of Sabonis’ game but with more vertical pop and smoother shooting indicators. 

NBA front offices increasingly prioritize bigs who can play in space, stretch to the elbows, and facilitate the offense. Reynaud fits that mold. Scouts noted during pre-draft evaluations that his decision-making under pressure was among the most advanced in his class.

The Kings must also consider the free-agency market. Sacramento has historically struggled to attract top-tier free agents, and trading core veterans often produces mixed returns. 

Building around a cheap, high-upside center provides financial stability and timeline flexibility, two things the franchise has lacked since the early 2000s. Reynaud represents a rare chance to reshape the organization’s identity around a modern big.

There is no guarantee that Reynaud becomes a star, and the Kings should not force a rebuild purely for the sake of doing so.

But as teams across the league experiment with young cores, such as the reigning champions in Oklahoma City, who had an average age last year of 24.2, the second youngest in the league, in contrast to Sacramento, which ranks third oldest with an average age of 28.2. Sacramento risks falling behind if it clings to a flawed roster out of comfort. Should the Kings choose to reset, Reynaud offers the clearest sign of being a long-term piece for this team.

The post Maxime Reynaud Should Be the Centerpiece of a Kings Reset appeared first on The Lead.

Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker participated in a second straight practice Saturday, Dec. 13, heading into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center.

"Responding well," Suns coach Jordan Ott said after Saturday's practice about Booker, who has been sidelined with a right groin strain. "That's encouraging. No issues. Practiced today. We'll just see exactly how it responds. Every day it's a little bit more, but it seemed to be pretty good."

Booker showed even better movement during media viewing after Saturday's practice and has made major progress from how he looked after Wednesday's morning shootaround at Oklahoma City.

The Suns won't have a shootaround Sunday due to the 6 p.m. start.

Devin Booker (right groin strain) for 3 off movement.

Moving much better.

Has missed last three with injury. #Sunspic.twitter.com/FvyvQvi10G

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 13, 2025

"Still you go through the night, see how he responds," Ott said. "There's always that check-in whether we have shootaround or not with all of our guys. We'll continue to see how he progresses, but he looked pretty good when he was out there. That part was really good."

Booker missed Phoenix’s past three games with a right groin strain he suffered in the first quarter of a 125-108 victory Dec. 1 over the Lakers in Los Angeles.

"Looks good, getting back to it day-by-day," Suns forward Ryan Dunn said about Booker after Saturday's practice. "He's been helping off the floor a lot with us so that's been good, but he's taking his time, getting ready for whenever he gets back."

The Suns (14-11) are 1-2 without Booker, the team’s leading scorer at 25 points a game.

"Responding well. That's encouraging. No issues. Practiced today. Just see exactly how it responds."

Suns coach Jordan Ott on Devin Booker (right groin strain) heading into Sunday's game vs Lakers.

Has missed last three games with injury.

"If Book is able to play, that… pic.twitter.com/CqcYxgYtS8

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 13, 2025

"If Book is able to play, that changes some of the dynamics of it all," Ott later said about facing the Lakers. "That's a good thing to add to our group. Gives us confidence anytime we see him out there with our group."

Phoenix is 3-5 in its past eight games.

The Lakers (17-7) are 2-3 in their past five games after their seven-game winning streak was snapped by the Suns.

This matchup was added so that both teams, which lost in the NBA Cup quarterfinals Dec. 10, would have an 82-game schedule.

The Lakers are fourth in the West while the Suns are seventh.

Defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder pummeled Phoenix, 138-89, in handing the Suns their largest margin of defeat ever in the history of the franchise.

“Definitely don't like how that game went, especially for this team, the whole Valley Nation, but we can't dwell on it,” Suns guard Jordan Goodwin said after Friday’s practice. “We still got the Lakers here in a couple of days. So we're trying to get that one.”

The Suns will have had three days between the Thunder game and Sunday's matchup against the Lakers.

"I needed this," Dunn said. "We were on the road a little while. We had some great games, played in some good environments. The whole month of December, we were basically on the road basically the whole month."

Then again, losing to Oklahoma City by an insane 49 points has the Suns itching to play again.

"Normally you do, but when you get your ass kicked, you don't," Suns guard Collin Gillespie when asked about getting some rest. "You want to get back out there."

The San Antonio Spurs took down the Lakers, 132-119, in Los Angeles to reach the NBA Cup semifinals Dec. 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas to take on the No. 1 seeded Thunder.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Devin Booker trending toward return at home against the Lakers

K.C. Johnson: Clean L2M report from Bulls-Hornets, including Zach Collins' legal contest on Kon Knueppel's 3-pointer, originally called a foul before video review overturned call.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: K.C. Johnson: Clean L2M report from Bulls-Hornets, …

Duane Rankin: "I think we're holding our own. The competition out here is stacked from the first seed to the 15th seed." Ryan Dunn as 23 of Phoenix's 25 games so far have come against Western Conference opponents. The Suns (14-11) are 13-10 in those games. #Suns

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Duane Rankin: "I think we're holding our own. The …

The Pacers have downgraded Andrew Nembhard (left calf soreness) and Tony Bradley (left quad strain) to questionable for Sunday's game against Washington.

HoopsHype

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Pacers have downgraded Andrew Nembhard (left calf …

Dan Woike: A couple of notes from Lakers practice today. - The Austin Reaves calf strain is minor, and Redick says he expects him to be out a week. Injury happened before SA game at some point. - A lot of talk about trying to re-establish better defensive habits and not given to the team simply being a lousy defensive team. - Jared Vanderbilt said he's eager to try and help solve some of the defensive issues. TBD whether he gets that chance. - Marcus Smart praised Adou Thiero's defensive potential, said he's a willing learner. - Redick said Thiero, because of the knee issues, is still on a minutes restriction. Also said no rookie in history of the NBA has been good off-ball defensively.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Austin Reaves' calf strain considered minor

Dave McMenamin: Jarred Vanderbilt on whether there was a direct conversation from the coaching staff that he would be out of the rotation: “Kind of here and there, I guess” On being back in the rotation: “It was a surprise” On how he’s handling all this: “I’m good … supporting the team”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dave McMenamin: Jarred Vanderbilt on whether there was …

Dave McMenamin: “This is my job. I'm not gonna just say, 'Oh, we're not going to be a good defensive team.' No. We're gonna scrap and claw and do everything we can to turn us into a good defensive team.” - JJ Redick on LAL’s recent defensive struggles

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dave McMenamin: “This is my job. I'm not gonna just …

Joey Linn: The Clippers canceled practice today and just did film. Ty Lue said the decision was because certain players couldn’t practice, but he wouldn’t say who. “I can’t say. I don’t think I can say that.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Joey Linn: The Clippers canceled practice today and …

Justin Russo: Derrick Jones Jr. has progressed to some 3-on-3 work, Tyronn Lue said today. When asked if Jones was ahead of schedule in his recovery, Lue answered in the affirmative.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Justin Russo: Derrick Jones Jr. has progressed to some …

Sean Highkin: Latest injury updates from Tiago Splitter: Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III are both likely going to be available to play tomorrow vs. Golden State. Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle both improving and doing more but won’t be ready tomorrow. Scoot Henderson is doing more and improving but still hasn’t been cleared for full contact yet.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Sean Highkin: Latest injury updates from Tiago …

When the NBA Cup launched in 2023, it was far from a finished project. Several players were ignorant of the tournament’s rules, the special courts were polarizing in both form and function, and it didn’t even have a proper name. It was called the NBA In-Season Tournament before the league renamed it the NBA Cup last year and added the Emirates airline as the title sponsor. But there’s been virtually no change with the NBA Cup format between Years 2 and 3. While there are still sporadic issues with the NBA Cup court design, the tournament is here to stay. It looks like a permanent fixture on the NBA calendar, as Adam Silver’s vision is finally falling into place.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: When the NBA Cup launched in 2023, it was far from a …

There’s another upside. For some teams and players, the games have turned into a dry run for the playoffs. “It’s good prep for the postseason,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said last year ahead of the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas. “It’s obviously heightened stakes than a regular season, 82-game season, and it’s good to get reps in games that mean a little bit more and have stakes to it.” Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder lost in the NBA Cup final, but he would eventually lead Oklahoma City to the 2025 NBA championship, securing regular-season and Finals MVP in the process.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: There’s another upside. For some teams and players, …

“It definitely helped,” Gilgeous-Alexander told Andscape about the Cup loss earlier this month. “Losing in general helps all the time. It’s easy to learn from losing. It definitely just showed us the formula for losing. The way we played that night, we didn’t give what the game required, and it showed us that.” Magic guard Desmond Bane, who was fined $35,000 earlier this week for unsportsmanlike conduct when he threw a ball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby, summed up the benefits of the NBA Cup on Wednesday after Orlando defeated the Heat to advance to the semis. “That’s huge, man. I just lost $35,000. I gotta go get it back somehow,” Bane said. “But I’m excited. Great opportunity for us to play some meaningful basketball early in the season.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “It definitely helped,” Gilgeous-Alexander told …

With Shai, all conversations start with his proprietary blend of bucket-getting. SGA is putting up arguably the greatest combination of volume and efficiency of the modern era. 32.6 points per game is both wildly impressive and dramatically underselling just how dang good he’s been, so let’s put it in context. To compare across years, we can look at per-possession scoring data (to normalize for pace and playing time). For efficiency, we can look at Basketball-Reference's relative True Shooting, which shows how much better a player’s TS% is compared to league average at the time. Here’s something fun. Only five players in the modern era have put up 40 or more points per 100 possessions and posted a rTS% of at least 115 (meaning 15% higher than league average):

HoopsHype

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: With Shai, all conversations start with his …

Rockets lose 2-way guard to midseason contract with team in China's CBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Rockets had a talented player on a two-way contract averaging nearly 20 points per game int he G League.

But he won't be joining them in the NBA anytime soon.

Instead, Kevon Harris has signed a contract to play in China.

NBA insider Michael Scotto reported Saturday that Harris has signed a contract with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

Harris has averaged 19.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in the G League this season.

Harris is a 6-foot-5, 28-year old guard who played his college basketball at Stephen F. Austin.

He has appeared in 36 total NBA games.

MORE: Caitlin Clark doubts Steph Curry's ability to make the craziest shot ever

Of those, 34 came in the 2022-23 season with the Orlando Magic. That campaign, he put up 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Harris then played two more games, and six minutes total, in the 2023-24 season with the Magic.

This contract in China is a chance for Harris likely to get a solid payday and a starring role.

At his age, he could still work a path back to the NBA if he signs in China, or he could parlay it into European opportunities in the future, too.

All that's for sure is that Harris is heading abroad to continue his hoops career.

More NBA news:

• Rich Paul makes the LeBron James trade plans clear
• Why it's time for the Pelicans to move on from Zion
• The Bucks have a looming $275 million Giannis problem
• Timberwolves want Coby White, but there's a catch
• Kevin Love put together an awesome throwback performance
• Keyonte George makes Jazz history not done since 1981

When it comes to good intel on the Boston Celtics, few out there are more trusted than the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach. And Himmelsbach just released an update on what will be the biggest story of the Celtics season, once it happens. We are alluding to the return of injured star forward Jayson Tatum, who has been quite visibly advancing in the rehab of his torn Achilles tendon sustained vs. the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.

With videos of the St. Louis native playing some (admittedly not NBA game speed) 1-on-1 at the Auerbach Center making the rounds on social media this week, a post by Tatum with an image saying "soon" has kicked up the anticipation to a near frenzy among fans. But per Himmelsbach, it might be a good idea to tap on the brakes just a bit.

"Seven months have passed since Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon during the conference semifinal series against the Knicks, and within the organization he continues to indicate that he would like to return this season," writes the Globe reporter.

"It probably falls somewhere between possible and likely, but a league source stressed that the team remains several steps away from even considering the decision," continues Himmelsbach. "Tatum must still reach several mile markers in his recovery before discussions about a return can be considered."

Knowing what we know about his reporting, it is safe to say that whenever the Duke alum returns to action, it is not going to be this week, this month, or maybe even this calendar year. But given it could still be this season, perhaps it still qualifies as "soon".

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Think Tatum is returning to the Celtics soon? You may want to think again

FullCourtPass: Carmelo Anthony believes LeBron James could lead the NBA in scoring at age 40 "If he really wanted to, he could lead the league in scoring. ... If he really said, 'Yo, this year I'ma go average 30,' he can do it in year 23."

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Carmelo Anthony: LeBron James could lead the NBA in scoring this year if he really wanted to

Michael Scotto: The Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Kevon Harris have agreed to a deal, Senior VP of @CSETalent Darrell Comer told @hoopshype . Harris was on a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets and averaged 19.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in the G League. Last season, he was G League Next Up Game MVP

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Michael Scotto: The Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Kevon …

Pistons PR: The Detroit Pistons have recalled guard Chaz Lanier from the Motor City Cruise, the NBA G League affiliate of the Pistons. In two games with the Cruise, Lanier averaged 33.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 64% from the field and 58% from 3-point range.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Pistons PR: The Detroit Pistons have recalled guard …

Mr. BuckBuck: John Hollinger: “One of the things I've been told about the [Derik Queen] trade is that New Orleans didn't even understand what it was trading. And that Atlanta had in its front office, because Atlanta had Bryson Graham in their front office who had just come from New Orleans.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mr. BuckBuck: John Hollinger: “One of the things I've …

Fourth-quarter dominance puts Cavs' Donovan Mitchell among NBA's elite in 2025-26 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coming into the fourth quarter on Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers were in a surprising 15-point hole while going against a struggling Washington Wizards team.

Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell put matters into his own hands, scoring 24 of his 48 points in the game in the final 12 minutes.

His efforts helped Cleveland squeeze past the Wizards to win the game, 130-126.

More: NBA fines Cavaliers $250,000 for Darius Garland reason

Donovan Mitchell scores most points in a single quarter this season

Donovan Mitchell's fourth-quarter display was something nobody has done this season.

It was the most points a player has scored in one quarter so far this NBA season, Sam Amico of Hoops Wire reported.

"You’re playing a team that’s 3 and whatever, and you’re down 15, you can kind of tuck your tails and kind of give in, right?" Mitchell told reporters after the game. "But we found a way."

So far in 2025-26, Mitchell is on pace for the best season of his nine-year NBA career. Through 24 games, the 29-year-old guard is posting career-highs in points (31.3), field goal percentage (50.5%), and three-point percentage (39.4%), while adding 4.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Injuries to multiple top players on the Cavaliers roster have resulted in Mitchell having to step up, and the franchise star has done just that.

There's an argument that Mitchell has entered his name into MVP talks so far this season.

In December, Mitchell is averaging 36.2 points per game. He will attempt to keep this hot streak alive while Cleveland takes on the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 14.

More NBA news:

• Concern rises for Devin Booker as Suns superstar continues absence

• Nets G Cam Thomas trends towards return from hamstring strain

• Lakers reportedly have interest in trading for one of the NBA's best defenders

• One of the most unbreakable streaks in sports history has come to an end

Danny Wolf's stock continues to rise originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Brooklyn Nets traveled to Dallas on Friday night to take on the Mavericks in a matchup that saw plenty of rookie first round picks on display. After getting off to a hot start with 33 points in the first quarter, Brooklyn trailed by four at halftime. After outscoring Dallas by six in the third, the Nets entered the fourth quarter with a slim lead.

Unfortunately though, Brooklyn's inexperience team blew another fourth quarter lead, being outscored 29-19 en route to an eight point defeat. Michael Porter Jr. led the way, scoring 34 points in 34 minutes, including six three pointers. Nic Claxton added a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds to go along with four assists, one steal and one block. Rookie Danny Wolf finished as the second highest scorer, adding 17 points off the bench on 6-for-10 shooting including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Since getting extended minutes in the rotation throughout recent games, Wolf has impressed. He's now averaged 13.5 points over his last six games, moving his season average up to 8.8 points per game. During that stretch, Wolf has shot over 45% from beyond the arc. His strongest performance came against the Milwaukee Bucks where he posted 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and one block.

Wolf and the Nets will return to action on Sunday, against those same Milwaukee Bucks. Following their matchup with Milwaukee, Brooklyn's three-game homestand will continue as the team hosts the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors.

More NBA news:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named Canada's best athlete in 2025
• Pistons' head coach forgot about Victor Wembanyama
• LeBron James' agent Rich Paul doubts Lakers can fulfill final wish for 4-time NBA champion
• Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor from ESPN insider is bad news for Knicks
• ‘I still kick myself’: Stan Van Gundy opens up about passing on Devin Booker

Michael Porter Jr. is lighting it up in the month of December originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Brooklyn Nets entered play on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks looking to improve on a 6-17 record. The Nets battled throughout the early stages of the game and took a two point lead into the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, their strong offensive output stopped there as Brooklyn scored just 19 points in the fourth quarter, after scoring 92 through the first three. Dallas on the other hand scored 29, outscoring the Nets by 10 to take an eight point victory.

Michael Porter Jr. was one of the few bright spots for the Nets, continuing his incredible scoring run in the month of December. Porter Jr. scored 34 points in 34 minutes on 12-for-20 shooting including 6-for-10 from three-point range. This marked Porter Jr.'s fourth straight game of 33 points or more. Although he's been criticized on his poor shot selection in the past, Porter Jr. has been getting quality looks and knocking them down at tremendous percentages. Thus far in December, Porter Jr. is shooting over 56% from the field and a staggering 53.5% from three-point range.

This efficiency isn't just due to low volume either. Porter Jr. has attempted 20 or more shots in every game this month and 10 or more threes in each contest.

As a result of this recent scoring surge, Porter Jr. is up to 26.3 points per game, 13th in the league and one spot behind former Net James Harden.

Porter Jr. and the Nets will have Saturday off before returning to action on Sunday at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

More NBA news:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named Canada's best athlete in 2025
• Pistons' head coach forgot about Victor Wembanyama
• LeBron James' agent Rich Paul doubts Lakers can fulfill final wish for 4-time NBA champion
• Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor from ESPN insider is bad news for Knicks
• ‘I still kick myself’: Stan Van Gundy opens up about passing on Devin Booker

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers had to battle the Indiana Pacers on Friday night without the services of star guard Tyrese Maxey who was sidelined with an illness. With that much production sitting at home, the Sixers needed somebody to step up in his place against a pesky Pacers team.

That's where Joel Embiid stepped in. The big fella served a reminder to everybody that he, in fact, can still do this as he dropped 39 points on 12-for-23 shooting with nine rebounds in a 115-105 win over the Pacers.

"Without Tyrese, I just had to do a little bit more than usual, but I think I’ve had a good three or four days," Embiid said of his performance. "Just working every day and trying to get back in a rhythm and I think that’s what it comes down to."

Maxey, watching from home, gave a big shoutout to Embiid and the Sixers on his Instagram story.

Tyrese Maxey reacts to Joel Embiid’s big game while watching from home #Sixerspic.twitter.com/wif73l6KHc

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) December 13, 2025

Embiid and Maxey have been close since the Sixers selected Maxey in the 2020 draft. With his younger teammate sidelined, Embiid wanted to make sure he put on a show for him.

"I called him after the game to check on him and see how he’s doing," Embiid stated. "We miss him, obviously. The game would’ve been much easier if he played. He’s that good. We just gotta do what he can. He deserves to get that rest and kinda reset a little bit. He’s been doing a lot for us so, hopefully, that made him happy."

As for his teammates who were on the floor with him, Embiid's performance isn't too much of a surprise. They work with him every day. So, while it has been a lot of work to get to this point, his teammates are not surprised by the results.

"I’m happy for Jo. I’m really happy for him," said rookie VJ Edgecombe. "He sold on the 40 points that I’m gonna consistently remind him about, but like I said, I’m really happy for him, man. He’s showing y’all that ain’t nothing’s wrong with the basketball. The only thing is health which is unfortunate, but he’s still a great player regardless of the different things and obstacles he has to face. He’s still a great player, still an MVP-caliber player in this league."

Paul George, another player who has had to work his way back from injury, has been in the gym with Embiid as they both work their way back from their respective knee injuries. He has seen the big fella put in the work to be in this position and he's happy to see it all paying off.

"I’m happy for him," George added. "People don’t understand how much work he does and how much goes just into his day-to-days of getting prepared and getting ready for games. I talk to him and he’s got a list of things he does. He’s a hard worker man when it comes to taking care of his body and doing whatever it takes to get on the floor and be available for us. We appreciate all his efforts and happy that it showed out and he got back to his usual self with tonight’s game."

The Sixers will take on the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday on the road to continue their season.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey, Sixers react to Joel Embiid's big performance vs. Pacers

Victor Wembanyama sets lofty ambitions for return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Despite dealing with injuries, the San Antonio Spurs have been on a roll recently. They are 7-3 in their last ten games, including a convincing road win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

With that victory, the Spurs advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. There, they'll take on the 24-1 Oklahoma City Thunder as the both teams vie for a spot in the final.

Luckily for San Antonio, they'll get an added boost to their lineup, with Victor Wembanyama set to return after being sidelined for nearly a month due to injury per ESPN's Shams Charania. Wembanyama is expected to play on a minutes restriction as he eases back from a calf strain.

Recently, when speaking to ESPN, Wembanyama showcased his determination as he anticipates returning to action. When Wembanyama was asked about the best player in the league, he had a few answers. “Jokić is the best offensive player … I don’t think he’s the best player. (It’s) between Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). When I come back to the court, it will be me."

Although these are big expectations to live up to, Wembanyama has performed when on the floor this season. In 12 games, Wembanyama has averaged career-highs in points (26.2), rebounds (12.9) and assists (4) per game. Additionally, Wembanyama is averaging over three blocks per game, leading the league by a wide margin.

If San Antonio is able to defeat Oklahoma City on Saturday, they'll play for the In-Season Tournament Championship on Tuesday. If not, they'll return to play on Thursday against the Washington Wizards.

More NBA news:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named Canada's best athlete in 2025
• Pistons' head coach forgot about Victor Wembanyama
• LeBron James' agent Rich Paul doubts Lakers can fulfill final wish for 4-time NBA champion
• Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor from ESPN insider is bad news for Knicks
• ‘I still kick myself’: Stan Van Gundy opens up about passing on Devin Booker

Victor Wembanyama is expected to return following a 12-game absence, and that’s perfect timing as Wemby’s San Antonio Spurs take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas with a trip to the NBA Cup Finals on the line.

The Spurs have been playing great basketball as of late, and my Spurs vs Thunder predictions expect the visitors to cover a large spread against the league's top team.

Here are my free NBA picks for this NBA Cup semifinal showdown on Saturday, December 13,

Spurs vs Thunder prediction

Spurs vs Thunder best bet: Spurs +9.5 (-105)

The San Antonio Spurs went 9-3 straight up across their last 12 games without Victor Wembanyama, and the superstar's return will only add to their momentum heading into this matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While OKC has been even hotter, San Antonio can keep this one close, especially in a neutral environment. The Spurs are 13-10-1 ATS, and the Thunder are just 14-11.

For as good as San Antonio has played without Wemby, his return to the court will surely be appreciated. Even if he faces a minutes restriction, Wembanyama can offer plenty on both ends with limited playing time.

The Spurs have been too good, and the Thunder have been too average ATS for this line to make sense. OKC is being overvalued here, and even though it should clearly be favored to win, it shouldn’t be given nearly 10 points.

Spurs vs Thunder same-game parlay

Oklahoma City ranks fifth in offensive rating (120.5), and San Antonio ranks sixth (118.6). The Spurs have hit the Over in three straight games and six of their last seven. The Thunder have hit the Over in five of their previous six.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the NBA's leading scorers at 32.6 points per game. He's scored at least 30 points in 19 of 24 games and at least 31 in 14 outings.

Spurs vs Thunder SGP

• Spurs +9.5
• Over 227
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Stars shine brightest

Wemby has recorded a double-double in nine of 12 games this season, and I expect him to record his 10th in tonight's win-or-go-home matchup.

Spurs vs Thunder SGP

• Spurs +9.5
• Over 227
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama to record a double-double

Spurs vs Thunder odds

• Spread: Spurs +9.5 (-105) | Thunder -9.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Spurs +350 | Thunder -450
• Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227

Spurs vs Thunder betting trend to know

The San Antonio Spurs have hit the game total Over in 43 of their last 69 games (+14.40 Units / 19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Thunder.

How to watch Spurs vs Thunder

Spurs vs Thunder latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. It will be the first matchup of the season between the squads. This is also the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals.

The Thunder (24-1) have won a franchise-record 16 in a row. They destroyed the Phoenix Suns in a 138-89 win to advance in the NBA Cup on Wednesday. They led by as many as 53 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points and eight assists in three quarters.

Meanwhile, the Spurs (17-7) had an easy 132-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday to go to Las Vegas. Stephon Castle went off for 30 points and 10 rebounds.

This is the healthiest the Thunder have been all season. Only three names are absent. Isaiah Joe (knee soreness) is out. Nikola Topic (testicular surgery) is out. Thomas Sorber (torn ACL) is out.

Same with the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama (calf strain) is probable. David Jones Garcis (G League two-way) is questionable. Harrison Ingram (G League two-way) is out. Riley Minix (G League two-way) is out.

Tipoff from Las Vegas is set for 8 p.m. CT.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Full injury report for Saturday's Spurs vs. Thunder matchup

Victor Wembanyama should provide a boost for the San Antonio Spurs as he's expected to make his return Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinals.

Wembanyama did not play Wednesday in the Spurs’ 132-119 road victory in the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. With the victory, the Spurs advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals, where they will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters there’s a chance that Wembanyama could return against the Thunder. His potential availability would be beneficial to the team and improve its chances of beating the defending NBA champions and reaching the tournament final.

Wembanyama has missed the past 12 games due to injury.

Here's the latest update on Wembanyama's injury status:

Victor Wembanyama injury update

The Spurs are expecting Wembanyama to return to action. On the injury report released Friday, Dec. 12, the Spurs upgraded him to probable for the team’s NBA Cup semifinal against the Thunder. He has not played since San Antonio's game against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14. 

Despite his absence, the Spurs have gone 9-3 in the 12 games that he's missed.

"There was no reason to take an inconsiderate risk. ... I (had) to trust the process a lot. Because it wasn't always painful," Wembanyama said when talking about his recovery process on Friday. "It was almost never painful or even uncomfortable."

Who is Victor Wembanyama's backup on Spurs' depth chart?

Luke Kornet was tabbed as the primary replacement for Wembanyama, as he has started 11 of the past 12 games. Kornet is averaging 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16 games played this season.

Victor Wembanyama stats

Wembanyama has averaged 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4 assists in 12 games played this season, career highs in all three statistical categories. He's also averaging 3.6 blocks per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama injury update, Spurs vs Thunder NBA Cup status

Lakers' Austin Reaves injury update is bad news for Los Angeles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t ended the week on a positive note. 

In addition to falling to the San Antonio Spurs by double digits on Wednesday night, the franchise learned that one of its stars is dealing with a new injury. 

Austin Reaves, who’s slated to enjoy a career year with the Lakers, received an unfortunate injury diagnosis on Friday night that’ll negatively impact the 27-year-old guard and the Lakers. 

“Austin Reaves has a mild left calf strain, per the Lakers," ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on X/Twitter. "Will be reevaluated in approximately one week."

Under McMenamin’s social media post, Dr. Evan Jeffries, a doctor of physical therapy, provided Reaves and the Lakers with a potential return timeline based on the extent of his lower-body setback.

"Likely why the last two games he hasn’t looked like himself,” Jeffries stated. “Sounds like a grade 1 calf strain, so likely will need around two weeks to recover.”

Losing Reaves for multiple weeks wouldn’t be ideal for Los Angeles. While Luka Doncic won’t slow down anytime soon and the Lakers should expect LeBron James to continue shaking off the rust following his lengthy early-season absence (sciatica), life without Reaves wouldn’t be simple to navigate. 

Reaves’ ability to put defenders in jail in pick-and-roll scenarios before drawing fouls, finish unorthodox runners in the lane, and get hot from beyond the arc has enabled him to take the next step in his development. 

The undrafted 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 27.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, connecting on 50.3% of his field goals and 36.9% of his triples in 21 contests. 

Hopefully, for the Lakers’ sake, the Oklahoma product rejoins Doncic and James on the hardwood soon.

More NBA: Bombshell Klay Thompson trade report is good news for Stephen Curry, Warriors

After a five-game absence due to a quad injury, Steph Curry made his highly anticipated return to the lineup on Friday night at Chase Center. The All-Star point guard showed no signs of rust, going to work early against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Curry tallied 10 points in the first frame on his way to a game-high 39 points. Curry recorded 39 points on 14-of-28 shooting from the field with six made 3-pointers to go along with five assists and five rebounds against the Timberwolves. Yet, it was not enough to answer the short-handed Timberwolves.

With Anthony Edwards sidelined, the Timberwolves spoiled Curry's fiery return with a 127-120 win over the Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco. The Timberwolves and Warriors battled all night in a game that featured 27 lead changes, the second most of any game in the NBA this season. However, it was the Timberwolves that had the final say.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors clung to a three-point advantage to start the final frame. However, a scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter flipped the lead back in favor of the Timberwolves. The Warriors went ice cold for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves went on a 17-0 run to take a 10-point lead with under six minutes remaining in the game. Yet, the Warriors weren't done.

Golden State quickly erased Minnesota's advantage behind Curry, De'Anthony Melton and Moses Moody. After a deep Curry 3-pointer, the Warriors stole the lead back from the Timberwolves with two minutes on the clock.

Over the final two minutes of the game, the Warriors went cold again, scoring just five points after Curry's go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:09 on the clock. As the Warriors struggled down the stretch, former Warriors Donte DiVincenzo made a pair of 3-pointers to swing the game back in favor of the Timberwolves and seal the game, 127-120.

DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert all tallied 21 or more points against the Warriors. Naz Reid tallied 18 points off the bench in Minnesota's 127-120 victory over the Warriors.

Quinten Post continued his impressive sophomore season for the Warriors, scoring 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field with four made triples to go along with six boards and three asissts.

Jonathan Kuminga went his second straight game without playing a minute for the Warriors. Seth Curry and rookie Will Richard also didn't crack the rotation on Friday night.

The Warriors tough defense that has only allowed over 100 points once in their last six games was leaky on Friday, allowing 127 to the Timberwolves without Edwards. Golden State's defense has only allowed 127 or more five times on the season.

The Warriors will now get Saturday off before traveling to Portland for the start of a mini two-game road swing. The Warriors will meet the Trail Blazers on Sunday at 6 p.m. PT.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Timberwolves spoil Steph Curry's return in back and forth battle

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to walk away with a 115-105 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night thanks to a big performance from Joel Embiid. The big fella had 39 points on 12-for-23 shooting along with nine rebounds and three assists. It was a performance the Sixers desperately needed with Tyrese Maxey sidelined with an illness.

VJ Edgecombe added 22 points and five assists, Paul George added 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Dominick Barlow had 10 points and eight rebounds. Quentin Grimes added 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win over the Pacers:

Embiid comes alive

The Sixers needed Embiid to have a big game. Yes, he has been bothered by a ton of injuries. It's fair to wonder if he can do this on a consistent basis, but those questions and wonders are for a later date. For now, it's time to appreciate what Embiid was able to do on the basketball court on Friday night. He looked like himself again. He was going to work in the post. He was attacking the basket. He was getting to the free-throw line. He was talking trash. Overall, he just looked like the Embiid of old. At least, for one night.

"He worked at it this week a lot," said coach Nick Nurse after the win. "I think the practices helped. His own individual work away from practice certainly helped which is a great sign that he's doing that and feeling good or better-ish to do some of that. I think that was it. I think, again, I keep saying, he's best when he's driving. I thought he drove it a lot to draw the fouls early. That puts them in a tough situation with how to play him. Probably the best thing about it all was, 39's great, but it came in a lot of different schemes they threw at him. I thought he really read the different stuff pretty good most of the night."

Edgecombe sets the tone

With Maxey sidelined, the Sixers needed the guards to step up and produce. That meant more opportunity for Edgecombe to step in and give the team some good production from the perimeter. He scored 14 of his 22 in the first quarter to set the tone for Philadelphia and make sure the offense got kickstarted. He shot 6-for-10 from the floor and 7-for-10 from the foul line which is a good sign for the Sixers. On top of all of that, he didn't commit a single turnover. If he's able to keep this type of performance going, then he and the team will be in great shape.

"He was great tonight," Nurse said. "I just think he got himself mentally prepared to understand he needed to provide kind of a complete package tonight. He got aggressive early. Some of the stuff we tried to polish up got him some baskets early. Some execution out of some press breakers and things like that, that we've been working on. I think that got him going. I love the pull-up 3s in transition. That just shows how confident he's playing. Those look awesome. When we get that fully integrated into his mindset, I think that's a huge weapon. But he guarded good, he took care of the ball, he ran the team good, and he obviously got us off to a great start in that first half with 18 big ones."

George as a point forward

The Sixers needed some ball-handlers on Friday with Maxey sidelined and George stepped up in a big way. Obviously, Edgecombe did a great job, but the Sixers put the ball in George's hands and the 9-time All-Star handled business. He scored 23 points in 8-for-17 shooting, 4-for-7 from deep, and had six rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes on the night. Sure, he had four turnovers, but the Sixers generally got good shots all throughout the night when the ball was in his hands.

"I think, again, he's showing that he is a guy who can score and create his own shot. Both from 2 and from 3," Nurse explained. "Again, if he's gonna sneak in a few drives--which he had late--again, it's gonna make it all the tougher if he can score from all three levels, but I thought he did a good job of just, again, settling things down. He's an experienced player, he's got the ball in his hands, and it just comes down to make the right read. If there's nothin there, you gotta go to work and score a big bucket. He looked pretty good tonight."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following home win over Pacers

Regardless of what happens, there will be a new NBC Cup champion.

After the Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural event in 2023 – then called the NBA In-Season Tournament – and after the Milwaukee Bucks won it last season, the NBA Cup trophy will now go to one of the four semifinal teams: the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both East and West games will take place Saturday, Dec. 13 in Las Vegas, with the final set for Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Here’s everything you need to know about the two matchups in the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals: the Orlando Magic vs. the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder:

NBA CHAMPS: Insane stats show just how dominant Thunder are this season

Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks preview

It’s mid-December and these two teams might already be tired of one another.

Saturday’s showdown will mark the fourth matchup between these two teams, and, interestingly, all of them have come in the last month. The Magic won the first two contests, though New York took the more recent meeting, 106-100, on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Knicks are playing their best basketball of the season, having won eight of their last nine. During this recent stretch, Jalen Brunson has been stellar, averaging 28.2 points and 5.7 assists per game over that stretch.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges have also produced big games over this recent stretch, though New York’s most promising development has been the return of forward OG Anunoby, who had missed nine games with a hamstring injury. Since his return, Anunoby has helped spark intense defensive effort from the Knicks, who have allowed opponents to score just 104.3 points per game in that span.

While New York got healthy, Orlando will be without one of its stars.

Forward Franz Wagner suffered an awkward fall during this most recent loss against the Knicks Sunday and was later diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain that will likely sideline him for at least a couple of weeks.

While the Magic won their following game, Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Miami Heat, Wagner leads the Magic in scoring (22.7 points per game), so Orlando will need to adjust.

The good news for the Magic is that guard Desmond Bane, after a slow start to the season, has picked up his scoring; over his last six games, he has produced three separate 37-point performances.

This matchup, however, will be strength on strength, and could very well be a future preview of a playoff showdown. The Magic rank sixth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.5), while the Knicks rank second in offensive rating (121.8).

∎ Prediction: Knicks win, 116-107

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder preview

The Thunder are the best team in basketball. The Spurs, with their core of young talent, might be the squad to eventually contend with Oklahoma City, in what could be a blossoming rivalry in the West.

But, right now, it’s the Thunder who are dominant. They have sprinted out to a 24-1 record and are on pace to obliterate the single-season record for scoring margin – which they set last season.

Because late leads have been so out of hand, reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has sat more fourth quarters (13) than ones he has played (11). Despite that, he’s averaging 32.6 points per game, which is second best in the NBA.

Yet, the wild thing is that the Thunder’s preferred starting lineup still hasn’t played a single minute this season, as Jalen Williams missed extended time before his return Nov. 28, and center Isaiah Hartenstein is currently out.

For the Spurs, it’s a different story. The team is expected to have star phenom Victor Wembanyama back from a left calf strain, as San Antonio upgraded him to probable on the injury report that dropped Friday, Dec. 12.

Wembanyama has missed the last 12 games with the injury, but the Spurs have been steady – if not stellar – in his absence. San Antonio has gone 9-3 in that span, and guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have been the catalyst in getting the Spurs to push tempo.

It will be interesting to see if San Antonio opts to keep that strategy now that Wembanyama is expected back. The main issue, however, is that the Thunder are not only the best defensive team in basketball – and by a wide margin – but they also excel in transition, clogging lanes.

San Antonio, though, presents unique matchup problems for Oklahoma City. Chet Holmgren will likely be tasked with defending Wembanyama, though it will take an overall concerted effort. This could very well be a preview of the Western Conference finals.

∎ Prediction: Thunder win, 109-108

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks, Magic, Thunder, Spurs play in NBA Cup semifinals. Who wins?

Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace off injury report for Spurs clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are simply steamrolling any and every team that comes their way, and their incredible 24-1 start to the 2025-26 season will be put to the test in the semifinal of the NBA Cup on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. That is shaping up to be an incredible matchup between two of the best young teams in the NBA, and with Victor Wembanyama set to return from a calf injury, the Thunder may be heading for their biggest test of the season yet.

But the Thunder seem to know the gravity of this matchup, as they have a key player set to return from injury as well as they look to go all the way and win the NBA Cup crown. Isaiah Hartensteinwill be returning from a calf injury of his own after a six-game absence (if his absence from the injury report is any indication), as pointed out by NBA insider Marc Stein.

Moreover, ace defender Cason Wallace, who currently leads the NBA in total steals and steals per game, will be present for that ever-important matchup against the Spurs. Wallace did exit OKC’s blowout win over the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals of the competition after suffering a blow to the head, but it’s a good sign for the reigning champion Thunder that they’ll be bringing their strongest squad against the Spurs.

Thunder bring healthy roster in NBA Cup semifinals vs. Spurs

Isaiah Joe will not be present for the Thunder on Saturday against the Spurs, but for the first time this season, they’ll be bringing their strongest starting five together on the court. Jalen Williams suffered a delay to the start of his season after undergoing wrist surgery, while Hartenstein recently sustained a calf strain. Meanwhile, Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort have routinely missed time after picking up knocks here and there.

This Spurs team is not to be taken lightly, but the Thunder have no reason to fear any team.

Related: Why Thunder’s Chet Holmgren is excited to face Victor Wembanyama, Spurs in NBA Cup

Related: Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals NBA Cup ‘hunter’s mentality’

Why Jazz’s Will Hardy kept Keyonte George in vs. Grizzlies with 5 fouls appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In a contest against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, Keyonte George was on fire. He scored 39 points on 12-20 shooting from the field as he made mincemeat of a Grizzlies defense that was scrambling for ways to slow down the nascent Utah Jazz guard.

But the Jazz found themselves in a pickle in the fourth. George, at the 7:10 mark of the fourth quarter, was whistled for his fifth foul of the night. Nonetheless, head coach Will Hardy decided to keep George out on the court and it paid off, as he didn’t pick up his sixth foul and even scored 12 points in the fourth to ward off a potential comeback from the Grizzlies.

“Playing with five fouls, and they’re trying to put him in everything defensively, you’re in a hard spot. We had to adjust the coverage to try and protect him a little bit,” Hardy said, via JP Chunga of Jazz.com. “When you have five [fouls], people are going to try and step in and take charges. So I think he showed a lot of maturity in terms of keeping himself out of some tough spots where the whistle can go against you.”

Keyonte George has made the leap for the Jazz

George has become a long-term keeper for the Jazz after it had looked as though his standing as a starting point guard for his team was going to be in question. He’s averaging 22.9 points per game for Utah, looking like the kind of point guard every team needs nowadays — someone who can score from the perimeter and make his teammates better.

The Jazz may be in the middle of a rebuild, but they have been hell-bent on building winning habits under Hardy. Hardy is one of the brightest coaches in the association, and he’s been crucial to the development of the team’s key players — including that of George, who has blossomed into a quality young point guard in Year 3 of his career.

Related: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant chasedown block has Memphis fans going wild

Best starts in NBA history: How Thunder's 24-1 record compares to 2015-16 Warriors, others originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• What was the best start in NBA history?
• Longest undefeated starts to an NBA season
• Best starts in NBA history with 1 loss
• Best 25-game starts in NBA history
• Thunder record vs. 2015-16 Warriors
• Thunder 2025-26 start by the numbers

The Oklahoma City Thunder are redefining what dominance looks like in the NBA.

After winning 68 regular-season games in 2024-25, featuring the league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, then winning their first-ever NBA title in June, Mark Daigneault's unit has somehow improved so far in the 2025-26 campaign. Not only have the Thunder cemented themselves as the team to beat this season — they're blowing opponents out on a nightly basis.

With Gilgeous-Alexander once again leading a deep group of two-way contributors, Oklahoma City is off to one of the best starts to a season in NBA history. In fact, no team has ever been better through 25 games, and the Thunder are attempting to push the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the longest one-loss stretch to open a season.

Here's a look at where the Thunder fit into the best starts to a season in NBA history.

MORE:Ranking the greatest Thunder players in history

What was the best start in NBA history?

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors have the best start in NBA history by various standpoints — most notably, they own the record for most consecutive wins to open a season. Steve Kerr's squad opened the season 24-0 before losing its first game, and the Warriors went on to win 73 games in 2015-16.

Those 2015-16 Warriors are also tied for the best 25-game start in NBA history (24-1) and own the best overall one-loss stretch to open a season, going 29-1 before losing their second game.

MORE:Every NBA Finals MVP in history

Best starts in NBA history

There are plenty of ways to define the best "start" to a season, depending on how many games you use. Here's a breakdown of a few different benchmarks to open an NBA campaign.

Longest undefeated starts to an NBA season

In terms of the most consecutive wins to open an NBA season, or the best possible starts without a loss, the 2025-26 Thunder won't fall close to the top of the list due to their November loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. They started 8-0 before their first loss.

The longest undefeated stretch to open a season belongs to the 2015-16 Warriors, who went 24-0 before a loss to the Bucks. In 2024-25, the Cleveland Cavaliers tied for the second-best unbeaten start at 15-0.

Here are the longest winning streaks to open a season:

MORE: NBA Finals records — Most points, rebounds, assists, more

Best starts in NBA history with 1 loss

In terms of one-loss stretches to open an NBA season, the 2025-26 Thunder have been tracking to compete for the new league record. Through 25 games, Oklahoma City sits at 24-1, seeking to tie or surpass the 2015-16 Warriors' record of 29-1 through 30 games. Golden State lost its 31st game that season to fall to 29-2.

Here are the longest one-loss stretches to open an NBA season:

MORE:Meet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's family tree, including his Olympian mom

Best 25-game starts in NBA history

The 25-game mark is often used as a point for record comparison, as it's around one-third of the way through the NBA's 82-game season. No team has ever been unbeaten through 25 games, but two have had just one loss: the 2015-16 Warriors and 2025-26 Thunder. 

Here are the best 25-game starts in NBA history.

MORE: What to know about NBA on NBC's 'Roundball Rock' theme song

Thunder record vs. 2015-16 Warriors

This section will be updated through the Thunder's start.

MORE:Revisiting the most wins in an NBA season

Thunder 2025-26 start by the numbers

+437

The Thunder have a point differential of +437 through 25 games, which is by far the best in NBA history.

Oklahoma City has outscored its opponents by a total of 437 points, surpassing the 2007-08 Celtics (+380) and the 2015-16 Warriors (+375) for the best 25-game mark ever. On average, the Thunder are beating opponents by 17.4 points per game so far — OKC also set the full-season record for largest average scoring margin in 2024-25 at 12.9 points per game, but it's on-pace to break that this season.

78-4

Through 25 games, the Thunder aren't just on pace to break the NBA's single-season wins record. They also have some wiggle room in the final two-thirds of the season.

Based on a .960 win percentage so far in 2025-26, Oklahoma City is on pace to win 78 games in the regular season, which would set the new league record by five games. 

1,189

According to ESPN, the Thunder have gone 72-10 over their last 82 regular season games, dating back to the 2024-25 season. In that span, they've outscored opponents by 1,189 points — which is the best point differential over any 82-game span in NBA history. 

MORE:Which NBA teams have won the most championships?

Thunder upcoming schedule

Here's a look at the Thunder's next five games.

MORE:How Seattle's Rashard Lewis trade turned into SGA, Jalen Williams, more

Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise raised Dennis Johnson's jersey up to the rafters, honoring the pair of NBA titles and seven seasons the San Pedro, California native played for Boston. An alum of both Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine -- Johnson graduated from the former, a junior college, to the latter -- the combo guard was picked up with the 29th overall pick of the 1976 NBA Draft by the (then) Seattle SuperSonics (now, Oklahoma City Thunder).

DJ (as he was often called) played for that team and the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in 1983, winning a title with the Sonics in 1979. The Celtics acquired Johnson for Rick Robey and draft assets, quite a steal in retrospect. The Californian retired at the end of the 1991 season when the Celtics did not offer him a new contract and began working with the team as a scout. He accepted a position as one of the team's assistant coaches in 1993, which he would remain until 1997.

Johnson continued as an assistant or interim head coach or scout until his passing in 2007. As an additional, posthumous honor, he was admitted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 -- rest in peace.

Debuts

It was also on this date in 2003 that former Boston big man Kendrick Perkins played his first game as a Celtic.

It was in a 105-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Gund Arena and saw Perkins play a mere 28 seconds of garbage time, far too little time to record anything to his stat line. Mercifully it was not indicative of his later career.

Birthdays

Today is also the birthday of Celtics short-timer Charles Claxton, father of current Brooklyn Nets big man Nick Claxton. He came into this world in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1970. The undrafted Georgia alum played a total of three games for Boston in the 1996-96 NBA season, averaging 0.7 points and rebounds per game.

Claxton shares that birthday with former Celtics floor general Andre Turner, born this day in Memphis Tennessee in 1964. Oddly enough, Turner also just played three games as a Celtic before being waived in 1986.

Historic milestones

On this date in 1961, Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain hung 52 points and 30 rebounds on the Celtics at the old Boston Garden playing for the (then) Philadelphia (now, Golden State) Warriors. As was often the case with Chamberlain, the Celtics still came away with the 123-113 win with only two other of his teammates scoring in double figures after Wilt's dominant play took them out of the game.

In a 109-97 win over the (then) Seattle SuperSonics on this day in 1989, Boston Hall of Famer Larry Bird scored a triple-double nearly as impressive as Wilt's big game. The Hick From French Lick dropped 40 points, 11 boards, and 10 assists to get the win for the Celtics.

A triple-double of similar impact was had by Boston legend Antoine Walker on the same date in 2002 in a 115-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Employee No. 8 logged 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to come 7 points shy of Bird's feat on the same day 13 years earlier.

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Finally, it was also on this date in 1965 that Boston signed big man Woody Sauldsberry as an unrestricted free agent in what would prove to be the last stop of his NBA career.

The Texas Southern product played 39 games with the team for the rest of the season, logging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: DJ jersey retired; Perkins debut; Claxton born

If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to secure some sort of upgrade on the trade market — and that doesn't necessarily mean trading for someone such as Giannis Antetokounmpo — they will, in all likelihood, have to give up some sort of draft capital in order to seal the deal.

Right now, according to NBA rules, the only future first-round draft pick they can offer in a trade is either their 2031 or 2032 selection. Once the new league year begins this summer, they will be able to offer their 2031 and 2033 first-rounders, as well as the player they will take in the first round of the 2026 draft.

For a while, the Lakers' future first-round draft picks were seen as having plenty of value on the open market across the league because of the uncertainty about how much winning they would be able to do in the coming years. But the arrival of Luka Doncic, as well as the sale of a majority share of the franchise to Mark Walter, has changed that, per Dan Woike of The Athletic.

"According to league sources, that future Lakers pick, which could be in 2031 or 2032, is less valuable than it was viewed both before the Luka Dončić trade and since Mark Walter’s acquisition of the franchise," Woike wrote. "The belief is that since Walter has proven to be an effective owner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that he and whoever he entrusts the franchise to will, at minimum, keep it from the kind of freefall that would truly make that future first-round pick less of a lottery ticket."

At the very least, it doesn't appear as if Doncic will leave the Lakers the next time he can opt out of his contract, which will be in 2028. As a result, it seems as if, at an absolute minimum, they will be a play-in team, if not a playoff team, for the next several years.

Other than future first-round picks, Los Angeles lacks tradable assets, unless it decides to make Austin Reaves, who is arguably playing at a superstar level, available in trade discussions. Reaves is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent this coming summer, although many expect him to stay put.

Forward Rui Hachimura, who is playing well so far this season, could be seen as moderately valuable, but he's in the final year of his contract. The team's other expiring contracts — guard Gabe Vincent and big man Maxi Kleber — are marginal players who may not crack the rotations of many other teams.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: Lakers' future first-round picks have become less valuable

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.

During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.

In November 2020, weeks after winning the NBA championship, the Lakers sent aging 3-and-D wing Danny Green and Jaden McDaniels, whom they had just taken in the first round of the draft, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for point guard Dennis Schroder. Schroder was entering his eighth season in the league and had established himself as a speedy facilitator who could score and defend, and he had just finished second in the balloting for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists a game, but he was nearing the end of his contract, and he left a bad taste in the mouths of some Lakers fans by publicly campaigning for a large contract extension.

Schroder left L.A. as a free agent in 2021 and signed with the Houston Rockets for one year and $5.9 million, which wasn't exactly what he had in mind in terms of salary. He returned to the Purple and Gold for the 2022-23 season and put up 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game while playing a key role in their run to the Western Conference finals.

He again departed that offseason, this time to join the Toronto Raptors. This season, Schroder is a member of the Sacramento Kings, and at age 32, he continues to be as productive as he has always been.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 17 — Dennis Schroder

Jazz's Keyonte George makes Utah basketball history not done since 1981 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Keyonte George was absolutely hooping on Friday night for the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz needed every bit, too, in a fun 130-126 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The final stats for George:

• 39 points
• 6 rebounds
• 8 assists
• 2 steals

That's a stat line that hasn't been done for the Jazz in a long time.

According to StatMuse, the last time it happened for Utah with a 39-6-8-2 game like this was 1981 for Adrian Dantley.

MORE: Caitlin Clark doubts Steph Curry's ability to make the craziest shot ever

The 39 points marked a career-high for George, too.

The 2023 No. 16 overall pick is proving this season that he's got a long-term NBA future as a potential star.

Before Friday night, he was averaging 22.2 points and 6.7 assists per game this season. He's also shooting better than 90% at the foul line.

The 6-foot-4 22-year old looks like he'll be a cornerstone for the Jazz as they move forward.

And on Friday night, he may have played the best game of his career.

Well, so far. George is just getting started.

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• Why it's time for the Pelicans to move on from Zion
• The Bucks have a looming $275 million Giannis problem
• Timberwolves want Coby White, but there's a catch
• This G League team scored 174 points in a regulation game

The Brooklyn Nets (6-18) went into the mini-break due to the NBA Cup having won three of his last four games so they came into Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks (10-16) feeling good about themselves. Brooklyn also was able to get healthier over the course of their break, but it wasn't enough for them to get a win in Dallas against Anthony Davis and company.

The Nets lost to the Mavericks 119-111 despite the fact that forward Michael Porter Jr. continued his excellent play that could potentially get him into the All-Star Game. Porter had 34 points and four rebounds while rookie forward Danny Wolf had 17 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench for a Brooklyn team that needed someone to step up.

Mavericks center Anthony Davis has mostly kept in check through the first three quarters, but he turned his game up a notch in the fourth quarter, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks. Rookie forward Cooper Flagg didn't disappoint either as he had 22 points and eight assists of his own. Here are the Nets player grades following Friday's loss at the Mavericks:

Egor Demin: D

Demin struggled mightily in this one as he couldn't find his way on the offensive end, either shooting the ball or passing it when it was time for him to make a play. Demin will have games like this where he struggles to make an impact on either end of the floor, but that is part of the growing pains of being a rookie in the NBA, especially one as young as he is.

Terance Mann: B+

Mann has mostly bee taking a backseat to Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton within the flow of the offense over the past few weeks, but he did a good job of being aggressive on the offensive end in this one. For the majority of the season, Mann has been used as a secondary playmaker, especially as Egor Demin learns how to play point guard in the NBA, but his steadiness on the offensive end was encouraging to see.

Michael Porter Jr.: A

At this point, everyone is taking notice of how well Porter is playing and even with teams trying to pressure him on the catch, he still finds a way to elevate over his opponent. What has been nice to see from Porter during this recent stretch of play is his ability to move without the basketball and/or taking the least amount of dribbles possible to get to his sweet spots on the floor.

Noah Clowney: C-

Clowney had an up-and-down kind of game against the Mavericks as he did some success scoring the ball, but the defensive end of the floor seemed to be his weak spot. Granted, few players are able to limit Anthony Davis on their own, but Clowney had trouble boxing Davis out or preventing him from getting into this body, but he will learn how to deal with players like that as time goes on.

Nic Claxton: B+

Depending on who was out on the floor, Claxton had to spend some of his time guarding Davis and that proved to be a tougher matchup for him as well. Claxton did a good job of holding his own for the most part and he still found ways to make an impact against Davis while still providing the all-around ability that Brooklyn has been getting from him this season.

Ziaire Williams: C-

Williams struggled shooting the ball in this one as the Mavericks did not give him many open looks from behind the three-point line. Williams has not been one of the better shooters in the league during his time with the Nets, but the good news is that he still kept his intensity on the defensive end of the floor, something that head coach Jordi Fernandez wants to see from him in every game.

Danny Wolf: A-

Wolf saw plenty of minutes off the bench due to his ability to affect the game in multiple ways, including his shooting from three-point land. Wolf has been showing recently that he is the most ready of all the rookies to contribute to the winning and he is also doing it with the confidence that many saw from him during his time at the college level.

Day'Ron Sharpe: C+

Sharpe struggled to finish at the rim against the length of the Mavericks, but he also found a way to get to the free-throw line thanks to his general presence in the paint. Sharpe did a good job rebounding and showing off his passing chops in a fast-paced matchup and his minutes backing up Claxton were crucial to the Nets being competitive in Dallas.

Tyrese Martin: B

Martin has had some rough performances over the past couple of weeks as he couldn't find his touch shooting the ball, but that was not the case against the Mavericks. Despite Dallas being one of the better defensive teams in the league in terms of defensive rating, Martin found a way to make an impact on the offensive end throughout his minutes on the floor.

Drake Powell: F

Powell didn't play much in Dallas as he had trouble getting anything going on either end of the floor and it became clear early on that he just didn't have it. Powell will have plenty of chances to learn on the floor, but in a winnable game against the Mavericks, Fernandez decided to go a different way with his rotation.

Nolan Traore: F

It wasn't clear whether Traore would be getting minutes against the Mavericks, but when he came in to begin the second quarter, the coaching staff showed that he was getting another chance. However, Traore was unable to show anything similar to what he has been doing in the G League, but the hope is that this trial run will last longer than one game.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets player grades: Michael Porter Jr. drops 34 in loss to Mavericks

All of the talk is about 73 wins. But in order for the Oklahoma City Thunder to break that legendary record, they likely need to grab another on the way — 33.

That's how many games in a row the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers won. As you can imagine, that's the longest win streak in NBA history. We're a Isaiah Joe smaller shoe size away from that being a louder talking point as the Thunder sit at 24-1.

But for now, the Thunder have a 16-game win streak. That's an OKC record. They beat last year's 15 in a row as they went a historic 68-14 en route to an NBA championship.

In Las Vegas for a second December, the Thunder hope to cross off another bucket list item — an NBA Cup. They finished just shy of that feat last year when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2024 NBA Cup finals. Down to four teams, they will face the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals.

As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prepares for that, he was asked about that secondary NBA record. Funny enough, he had zero clue about it. To the point that he had to ask the reporter for the fact.

"Wow, that's a lot more games to win. Yeah, we are so far from that — it's like you said, I didn't even know, so that hasn't even come close to creeping in my mind," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "But hopefully we get there. That's the goal."

Quite the NBA Cup Media Day. For the first time, Gilgeous-Alexander explicitly acknowledged the dragons the Thunder are chasing. It's one thing for the outside world to talk about it. But it's another level for the reigning MVP to do so.

We'll see if they can get to that point. Under this hypothetical, the Thunder can tie the Lakers when they visit the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Jan. 15. They can break the record at the Miami Heat on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Funny enough, the 2025 NBA Cup championship wouldn't count towards the record. As the Thunder learned that season, their loss to the Bucks was invisible in the record books. That's how they set an NBA record with a 29-1 record against the East last year.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chasing '71-72 Lakers' 33-game win streak?

Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points to lead the 76ers to 115-105 win over the Pacers on Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia and Rick Carlisle was denied on his first attempt at 1,000 career coaching wins.

The Pacers fell to 6-19 after winning four of their previous six games. The 76ers improved to 14-10.

Former Pacers All-Star Paul George added 23 points, six rebounds and five assists for the 76ers. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe added 22 points. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points. Point guard Andrew Nembhard had 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell scored 15 points off the bench and Ethan Thompson had 12.

Here are three observations.

Joel Embiid was too much

Joel Embiid has played in just 68 games over the last three seasons since winning the 2022-23 MVP award due to numerous injuries but mostly his knees. Heading into Friday's game, he had made just nine appearances this season and still hasn't played in more than two consecutive 76ers games. He made just 4 of 21 field goal attempts in his last game, a loss to the Lakers on Dec. 7.

But Embiid has usually found a way to dominate against the Pacers, and on Friday night he put together a vintage performance, overwhelming Pacers defenders in the paint but also getting loose from outside. He scored 15 points in the second quarter alone including a critical 3-pointer just before halftime.

In the second half, the Pacers knew he was coming but still couldn't stop him as he added 20 points on 6 of 13 shooting to go with seven rebounds. He finished with 39 points on 12 of 23 shooting to go with 13 of 18 shooting at the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds and three assists.

Pacers collapse in final minutes

The Pacers rallied back from an 11-point third quarter deficit to not only make it a shot-for-shot game but to take a two-possession lead at 100-95 with a Pascal Siakam floater with 8:24 to go in the fourth quarter. However, the 76ers outscored them 20-5 the rest of the game to put it away.

After Siakam's field goal, the Pacers made just one field goal -- a 3-pointer from Jay Huff with 2:36 to go in the period. By that point, the 76ers were already up 108-105 and the Pacers didn't put up a further fight. The Pacers ended up 5 of 20 from the floor in the fourth quarter including 1 of 8 from 3-point range in the fourth and posted 0.74 points per possession.

T.J. McConnell strong in return to Philly

Trips to Philadelphia are always meaningful for T.J. McConnell, who spent his first four professional seasons with the 76ers, a team with which he endured one of the worst seasons in NBA history and also one of the most heartbreaking Game 7 losses of all time against the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals. He played motivated Friday with one of his best performances in a trying season.

McConnell scored 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting, dished out five assists and recorded two steals.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sixers vs Pacers: Joel Embiid with 39 points, Rick Carlisle stays at 999 wins

Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points to lead the 76ers to 115-105 win over the Pacers on Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia and Rick Carlisle was denied on his first attempt at 1,000 career coaching wins.

The Pacers fell to 6-19 after winning four of their previous six games. The 76ers improved to 14-10.

Former Pacers All-Star Paul George added 23 points, six rebounds and five assists for the 76ers. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe added 22 points. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points. Point guard Andrew Nembhard had 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell scored 15 points off the bench and Ethan Thompson had 12.

Here are three observations.

Joel Embiid was too much

Joel Embiid has played in just 68 games over the last three seasons since winning the 2022-23 MVP award due to numerous injuries but mostly his knees. Heading into Friday's game, he had made just nine appearances this season and still hasn't played in more than two consecutive 76ers games. He made just 4 of 21 field goal attempts in his last game, a loss to the Lakers on Dec. 7.

But Embiid has usually found a way to dominate against the Pacers, and on Friday night he put together a vintage performance, overwhelming Pacers defenders in the paint but also getting loose from outside. He scored 15 points in the second quarter alone including a critical 3-pointer just before halftime.

In the second half, the Pacers knew he was coming but still couldn't stop him as he added 20 points on 6 of 13 shooting to go with seven rebounds. He finished with 39 points on 12 of 23 shooting to go with 13 of 18 shooting at the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds and three assists.

Pacers collapse in final minutes

The Pacers rallied back from an 11-point third quarter deficit to not only make it a shot-for-shot game but to take a two-possession lead at 100-95 with a Pascal Siakam floater with 8:24 to go in the fourth quarter. However, the 76ers outscored them 20-5 the rest of the game to put it away.

After Siakam's field goal, the Pacers made just one field goal -- a 3-pointer from Jay Huff with 2:36 to go in the period. By that point, the 76ers were already up 108-105 and the Pacers didn't put up a further fight. The Pacers ended up 5 of 20 from the floor in the fourth quarter including 1 of 8 from 3-point range in the fourth and posted 0.74 points per possession.

T.J. McConnell strong in return to Philly

Trips to Philadelphia are always meaningful for T.J. McConnell, who spent his first four professional seasons with the 76ers, a team with which he endured one of the worst seasons in NBA history and also one of the most heartbreaking Game 7 losses of all time against the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals. He played motivated Friday with one of his best performances in a trying season.

McConnell scored 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting, dished out five assists and recorded two steals.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sixers vs Pacers: Joel Embiid with 39 points, Rick Carlisle stays at 999 wins

After a five-day break, the Detroit Pistons put together one of their best two-way performances of the season at Little Caesars Arena.

They blew out the Atlanta Hawks, 142-115, to improve to 20-5. The 27-point margi was their biggest of the season ad came by forcing 17 turnovers in the first half and asserting their will on the defensive end. The Pistons finished the night with 27 points off 20 Hawks turnovers and a 30-7 lead in fastbreak points, all while shooting 58.2%.

TRADE WINDS: Why Detroit Pistons are unlikely to trade for Mavs star Anthony Davis

Eight Pistons scored in double figures – the most since a January 2023 game – led by Isaiah Stewart's 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Cade Cunningham had 15 points, seven assists, two blocks and two steals, and Duncan Robinson also had 15 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 22.

Pistons take control in third quarter

The Pistons' bench rose to its feet in anticipation as the five on the floor — Stewart, Ron Holland, Javonte Green, Jaden Ivey and Caris LeVert — moved on a string defensively, denying the Hawks every open lane and shot they tried to generate.

The possession ended with a missed contested corner 3 from Mouhamed Gueye with 24 seconds remaining on the clock, a fitting way to cap a dominant third quarter in which the Pistons dismantled Atlanta's offense. They outscored the Hawks 35-19 while holding them to 6-for-22 shooting (27.3%) and 0-for-11 shooting from 3. The Pistons also tallied five steals in the stretch, for eight points scored off turnovers.

It allowed them to take full control of the game after leading by nine points at halftime. They stayed hot after shooting 53.3% in the first half, knocking down 14 of their 24 attempts in the third (58.3%) with nine assists and three turnovers to lead by 25, 104-79, going into the fourth. That momentum carried into the final period, with a 3-pointer from Green pushing their lead to 35, 129-94, with under six minutes to play.

Ivey gets extended run in second half

The fourth-year guard has been on a minutes restriction since making his season debut Nov. 22. On Friday, he played a season-high 18:42, including significant minutes in the second half after logging just 3:48 in the first half.

It was a solid two-way performance for Ivey, who finished with 10 points, four assists and two steals. He made a nice hustle play late in the third period, saving the ball and knocking it off of a Hawks defender to save the Pistons from committing a turnover. Ivey had eight points on 4-for-5 shooting in the fourth quarter, settling into a rhythm as the Pistons pushed their lead past the 30-point threshold.

[ MUST WATCH: Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] 

Follow the Pistons all year long with the best reporting at freep.com/sports/pistons.

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons hammer Atlanta Hawks, 142-115, at LCA

After a five-day break, the Detroit Pistons put together one of their best two-way performances of the season at Little Caesars Arena.

They blew out the Atlanta Hawks, 142-115, to improve to 20-5. The 27-point margi was their biggest of the season ad came by forcing 17 turnovers in the first half and asserting their will on the defensive end. The Pistons finished the night with 27 points off 20 Hawks turnovers and a 30-7 lead in fastbreak points, all while shooting 58.2%.

TRADE WINDS: Why Detroit Pistons are unlikely to trade for Mavs star Anthony Davis

Eight Pistons scored in double figures – the most since a January 2023 game – led by Isaiah Stewart's 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Cade Cunningham had 15 points, seven assists, two blocks and two steals, and Duncan Robinson also had 15 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 22.

Pistons take control in third quarter

The Pistons' bench rose to its feet in anticipation as the five on the floor — Stewart, Ron Holland, Javonte Green, Jaden Ivey and Caris LeVert — moved on a string defensively, denying the Hawks every open lane and shot they tried to generate.

The possession ended with a missed contested corner 3 from Mouhamed Gueye with 24 seconds remaining on the clock, a fitting way to cap a dominant third quarter in which the Pistons dismantled Atlanta's offense. They outscored the Hawks 35-19 while holding them to 6-for-22 shooting (27.3%) and 0-for-11 shooting from 3. The Pistons also tallied five steals in the stretch, for eight points scored off turnovers.

It allowed them to take full control of the game after leading by nine points at halftime. They stayed hot after shooting 53.3% in the first half, knocking down 14 of their 24 attempts in the third (58.3%) with nine assists and three turnovers to lead by 25, 104-79, going into the fourth. That momentum carried into the final period, with a 3-pointer from Green pushing their lead to 35, 129-94, with under six minutes to play.

Ivey gets extended run in second half

The fourth-year guard has been on a minutes restriction since making his season debut Nov. 22. On Friday, he played a season-high 18:42, including significant minutes in the second half after logging just 3:48 in the first half.

It was a solid two-way performance for Ivey, who finished with 10 points, four assists and two steals. He made a nice hustle play late in the third period, saving the ball and knocking it off of a Hawks defender to save the Pistons from committing a turnover. Ivey had eight points on 4-for-5 shooting in the fourth quarter, settling into a rhythm as the Pistons pushed their lead past the 30-point threshold.

[ MUST WATCH: Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] 

Follow the Pistons all year long with the best reporting at freep.com/sports/pistons.

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons hammer Atlanta Hawks, 142-115, at LCA

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra sends message to struggling Nikola Jovic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s been a tough season for Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic, and he’s seen his playing time decrease as a result.

This season, Jovic is averaging just 7.6 points, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting under 40 percent from the floor, and less than 30 percent from beyond the arc as he has seen his playing time go down over the course of the season. After his return from a right hip injury, Jovic has been out of the Heat’s rotation over the last few weeks. 

Head coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about what message he has sent to Jovic since his demotion from the rotation. Once a promising young piece for Miami, Jovic now finds himself racking up DNP’s night in and night out. 

“Just stay with it, and each day, like today, is an opportunity for him to get better…he’ll get his opportunity again,” Spoelstra said to Zachary Weinberger of Clutch Points. 

Jovic will look to work his back into Spoelstra’s circle of trust as the Heat try to get back on track during their recent rough patch. After a strong start to the season, the Heat will look to pick up the pace once again heading into the new calendar as they aim to get back to the postseason in 2025-26. 

More NBA news:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named Canada's best athlete in 2025
• Pistons' head coach forgot about Victor Wembanyama
• LeBron James' agent Rich Paul doubts Lakers can fulfill final wish for 4-time NBA champion
• Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumor from ESPN insider is bad news for Knicks

ESPN Reporter Says Spurs Staying the Course Despite Blockbuster Trade Rumors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Antonio Spurs have an embarrassment of riches in young talent.

The team has built an exciting core led by All-Star big man Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle.

Their development throughout the season positioned them as one of the best teams in the Western Conference, boasting a 17-7 record after knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers to head to the Semi-Finals of the NBA Cup.

Though rumors have swirled about the Spurs' possible swing for the fences in the trade market, possibly to acquire a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, the organization appears committed to its young core.

Spurs staying course

On the Hoop Collective Podcast, ESPN NBA Reporter Tim McMahon revealed that the Spurs don't intend to include their young stars, Castle or Harper, in a possible trade.

"As you go into the trade machine over the next couple months here, don't bother putting Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle in any trades. If that means you can't come up with things to get some huge blockbuster done for the Spurs, I would say, 'yeah, that's right.' Those guys are going to be in San Antonio for a long, long time. I think they've got this generation's version of Duncan, Parker, Ginobili," McMahon Said.

More NBA:Spurs finally get concrete return date for Victor Wembanyama

Despite having the necessary assets to pull off a massive trade, the Sours are staying the course with their current core.

Castle has taken a significant leap in his second season with the Spurs, posting 18.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 7.3 rebounds so far this year.

Meanwhile, rookie point guard Dylan Harper, despite missing some time with a calf injury, remains one of the most electric rookies in the 2025 Class whenever he is on the floor.

For now, the Spurs are focused on internal growth rather than chasing a blockbuster trade.

From your perspective, when you look at Riccardi, Finley, Kidd, is there a preference there with how Dumont would value their opinions? Grant Afseth: I don't know if Jason Kidd's opinions value like clear cut more than everybody else. But I do know from a basketball standpoint, his opinions are valued quite a bit by the ownership group. And I know, Mark Cuban is providing input as well. I don't want to make that sound like Mark Cuban's the GM by any means, or Jason Kidd the GM or whatever. But I just know that while they're getting through this, it's really, really important that the head coach has alignment on what they're doing on the basketball court. So by default, you're going to have to rely on like not only is he respected, but you are by necessity going to have to get through, the season with his input value very heavily. So I think that's, probably, like, I don't want to say like he's clear cut, like more important voice wise than the interim GM, but his basketball input is very heavily valued.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jason Kidd's basketball input is 'very heavily valued' for Mavs

I know you mentioned Patrick Dumont has final say, but is there a clear hierarchy of who runs the team right now? Grant Afseth: But from my understanding I think there's kind of a collection of voices, right now, I think Jason Kidd is somebody that I would definitely look at as someone who has influence on these decisions. Like Patrick Dumont leans on him, like, I think there's, like, almost like, I guess you could say I don't this is a great comparison, but it's almost like a basketball cabinet, if you will, or Council of Multiple Voices.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: I know you mentioned Patrick Dumont has final say, but …

The Mavericks’ potential trade candidates have remained consistent — including a willingness to entertain offers for Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and D’Angelo Russell — but the team is not aggressively shopping those players, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com. The internal view is that any deal must clearly improve Dallas’ long-term outlook, whether through added flexibility, future assets, or a cleaner roster fit.

Dallas Hoops Journal

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Mavericks’ potential trade candidates have …

In contract discussions with the Jazz, Kessler sought upwards of $120 million in total compensation for a long-term contract extension, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com, but Utah was unwilling to commit to that price range. “There was a clear gap in talks between Kessler and Utah,” one source said.

Dallas Hoops Journal

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Walker Kessler wanted up to $120 million for extension

Mike Curtis: Jason Kidd began his pregame press conference with a statement on his former teammate Jason Collins, who is battling Stage 4 brain cancer: "Just want to give a shoutout to Jason Collins. A teammate of mine. A friend of mine. I actually coached him in Brooklyn. Our prayers go out to him & his family. He's going to fight & beat this, just knowing the person he is. Our prayers go out to Big J."

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Jason Kidd began his pregame press conference with a statement on his former teammate Jason Collins, who is battling Stage 4 brain cancer:

"Just want to give a shoutout to Jason Collins. A teammate of mine. A friend of mine. I actually coached him in Brooklyn. Our prayers go out…

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) December 13, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mike Curtis: Jason Kidd began his pregame press …

Dan Woike: Lakers say guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a mild left calf strain. Reaves will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Austin Reaves will be re-evaluated in one week with calf strain

December in Las Vegas. The Oklahoma City Thunder are back for a second straight year as they headline the NBA's extravaganza. They will face the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals.

One of the last items left on their bucket list, the Thunder hope to cross off an NBA Cup championship. They finished just shy last year when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the secretive 83rd game of the regular season.

The NBA Cup is Adam Silver's brainchild. It's his most daring idea yet as he hopes to build up early momentum in the regular season marathon. Through three years, there have been mixed results of indifference or hatred from teams and fans across the league.

But one thing that hasn't been lost among NBA players is the grand prize. The winner will see each player paid $530K. The runner-up will see each player paid $212K. The semifinal losers will see each player paid $106K.

That might be pocket change for NBA superstars, but nobody in the history of currency has turned down free money that comes with games that already count toward the regular-season standings. Preparing to face the Spurs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander revealed what he did with last year's earnings and what he'll do this year.

"My wife donated the money last year. I have no plans this year, but I'll figure it out," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I'll do something in the holiday spirit with it, though, for sure."

Gilgeous-Alexander received $206K for last year's runner-up finish. It was really the only thing the Thunder didn't accomplish in one of the most dominating seasons ever that featured a 68-win campaign and an NBA championship.

Considering Gilgeous-Alexander just signed a supermax extension this past offseason and has endless amounts of endorsement money, giving back sounds about right for the reigning MVP. He's done countless hours of community work over the years.

And if you're a cynic, it doesn't hurt that it also gets him some good publicity points for the average NBA fan, too.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander donated 2024 NBA Cup grand prize money

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 13th of 15 players who wore the No. 33 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State big man alum Mikki Moore. After ending his college career at Nebraska, Moore went unselected in the 1997 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until until he signed with the Detroit Pistons in 1999.

Returning to the G league briefly, he then played for the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, the G League again, the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets, and Boston again before he signed with the Dubs in 2009. His stay with the team lasted until he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Moore wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 4.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history - No. 33 - Mikki Moore (2010-12)

While the Golden State Warriors are welcoming back Stephen Curry to the rotation after a five-game absence due to a quad injury, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be without their star guard when they come to Chase Center on Friday night.

Prior to Friday's contest, the Timberwolves ruled Anthony Edwards out for the game against the Warriors due to right foot soreness. Along with Edwards, the Timberwolves will be without veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. against the Warriors.

Via @anthonyVslater on X:

Anthony Edwards has been downgraded to out tonight for the Timberwolves. No Edwards and Mike Conley for Minnesota, no Draymond Green and Al Horford for the Warriors.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 12, 2025

The Warriors will also have a pair of core pieces missing against the Timberwolves on Friday. Veteran frontcourt big men Draymond Green (personal reasons) and Al Horford (right sciatic nerve) have been ruled out against the Timberwolves.

Without Green and Horford, the Warriors will need to lean on Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the frontcourt against Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert on Friday night.

The Warriors will host the Timberwolves at 7 p.m. PT at San Francisco's Chase Center.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Injury Report: Anthony Edwards (right foot soreness) out vs. Warriors

Landing in Las Vegas, the Oklahoma City Thunder hopes their stay spans nearly a week. They punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals. They will face the San Antonio Spurs as the in-season tournament winner will see each player receive $550K.

Before the Thunder and Spurs play each other on the national stage, they talked to the national media present for an NBA Cup Media Day.

Mark Daigneault, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams talked in the press conference room. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell all talked elsewhere with other media members.

Here's what the Thunder had to say on Friday, Dec. 12:

Mark Daigneault talking at the NBA Cup press conference pic.twitter.com/29qGYONrk1

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA talking about the NBA Cup pic.twitter.com/FQmtG0MmgL

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA on winning the NBA Cup: "It would be phenomenal."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA on sitting out 4Qs and if he thinks about it: "Now I am because you asked the question. But genuinely, no. It's such a long season... I think every minute I can steal out there for the bigger and best moments, that's all I think about for sure."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA said his wife, Hailey Summers, donated his NBA Cup grand prize money last year. Said he'll do the same this year

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA on if breaking the 73-win record would mean anything to him: "Absolutely. Winning matters."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

SGA was asked about the 1971-72 Lakers' 33-game win streak. Didn't know that was the NBA record lol: "Wow. That's a lot more games to win. We're so far from that... Hopefully, we get there. That's the goal."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

Jalen Williams talking at the NBA Cup presser pic.twitter.com/f4QLD5JmmK

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

Jalen Williams said he invested/saved his NBA Cup grand prize money from last year with a smile lol: "My financial team is going to watch this, so."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

Jalen Williams on the NBA Cup grand prize: "J-Will reminds us of the exact dollar amount every single day."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

Jalen Williams on Wemby: "He's kinda like in his class of his own. The little fundamental spots and being in the right spots are heightened when playing against someone like that. Another one is like Giannis."

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

Jalen Williams on Nikola Topic’s testicular cancer diagnosis and how he’s remained active in the gym: “He’s been really strong about the situation. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself.” pic.twitter.com/V8dWdgrAIs

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 12, 2025

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2025 NBA Cup Media Day: What OKC Thunder said ahead of semifinals

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla isn't afraid to admit that he doesn't have all the answers. And when the Celtics were in dire straits during the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, the young skipper swallowed his pride and turned to NBA veteran Blake Griffin for help.

In an exclusive interview with Celtics Wire, Griffin remembered when the C's were down 3-0 to the Miami Heat and only one loss away from being swept, in embarrassing fashion, for the first time since the 2014-15 postseason. Boston had just been blown out in Game 3 in Miami and desperately needed a change.

Mazzulla offered one by telling Griffin — a six-time All-Star who'd been in the league for over a decade but with the Celtics for one season — that he should lead the next film session. Almost three years later, Griffin hasn't forgotten that gesture.

"He called me and asked me to run the next film meeting, and the coaches left (the meeting)," Griffin recalled in an interview for Wayfair. "And so that was kind of an example of our relationship, I think. In that short amount of time, in eight months, he really put a lot of trust in me and I tried to sort of be an extension of him within the team."

Whatever Griffin and his fellow players discussed in that meeting must've been productive, as the Celtics earned double-digit wins over the Heat in Games 4 and 5 to make the series 3-2. Boston even prevailed in Game 6 thanks to a thrilling buzzer-beater from guard Derrick White to further extend its playoff dreams.

However, the do-or-die Game 7 didn't go as planned. Celtics star Jayson Tatum tweaked his ankle almost immediately after the game started and Boston lost 103-84, falling short of becoming the first team in NBA history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

Regardless of the unfortunate result, Griffin appreciated Mazzulla's vote of confidence.

"What I was really impressed by with him is his lack of ego," Griffin said of getting to know Mazzulla. "Or not lack, everybody has an ego. But his ego doesn't get in his way. I think he really puts that to the side, and he really is a sponge, and he's hungry to learn."

Blake Griffin shares a story about Joe Mazzulla’s karate and praises his authenticity for how he gets players to buy in pic.twitter.com/1Hl07DHHp4

— SleeperCeltics (@SleeperCeltics) December 6, 2025

Although Griffin spent just one season with Mazzulla, it didn't take long for him to realize the then first-year head coach was not like others he'd played for — in a good way.

"I remember the first day coming and sitting down in his office, and him just kind of walking through, 'Hey, you're not gonna play every game,' you know, he's kind of sort of setting up how he saw my role on the team and as an older guy, that was super refreshing," Griffin said. "Because a lot of times coaches will come in and sort of tell you everything you want to hear and maybe not shoot it straight with you. So, my relationship with Joe was that from day one. I felt like I could go to him and talk to him about anything."

Since Griffin's retirement, Mazzulla led the Celtics to a championship in 2024 and another playoff run in 2025, albeit a less successful one. As for this season, the Rhode Island native has helped the C's exceed expectations without star forward Jayson Tatum healthy.

The undermanned Celtics are currently 15-10 overall and in third place in the Eastern Conference through 25 games. Mazzulla is a big reason why Boston is off to a hot start, according to Griffin.

"Times like this are when coaching staffs really get put in the spotlight," he stated. "But I think what you're seeing is the brilliance of Joe, and not only Joe, but his coaching staff."

The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 contests and while they don't have an abundance of talent, they often make up for that with effort. Simply put, they're humble and hungry, reminding Griffin of a certain someone:

"I think you're just really seeing Joe's personality shine through on this team," he said.

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3 

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Joe Mazzulla wasn't afraid to swallow his pride and lean on Blake Griffin

Things just got significantly more interesting in the NBA Cup West semifinal.

The San Antonio Spurs are expecting to have phenom Victor Wembanyama back in action for their game Saturday, Dec. 13 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In an injury report issued Friday, Dec. 12, San Antionio upgraded Wembanyama to probable as he contineues to recover from a left calf strain.

This provides a massive boost to San Antonio (17-7), which is looking to upset the defending NBA champions, who have raced out to a historic 24-1 start to the 2025-26 season.

Wembanyama missed has missed the last 12 games for San Antonio, after the Spurs announced Nov. 17 that an MRI revealed a left calf strain diagnosis. Wembanyama suffered the injury during an NBA Cup Group C game against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14. He finished the game but the Spurs lost by one point.

CHAMPS: Insane stats show just how dominant the Thunder are this season

NBA teams have been cautious this season with calf strain injuries, opting to rest players for extended time out of fears that the injury could potentially be a precursor to more serious ailments, like Achilles ruptures.

Despite missing their star player, the Spurs went 9-3 in the 12 games Wembanyama was out. San Antonio relied on its speedy guards De’Aaron Fox, last year’s Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and this year's No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper to push the ball in transition and get easy buckets.

Wembanyama, 21, is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds (ranked first in the NBA), 4.0 assists and 3.6 blocks per game (also first).

San Antonio is currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference, though it has the same record as the Los Angeles Lakers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Antonio Spurs reveal injury update on star Victor Wembanyama

Utah Jazz's G League team scored 174 points in a game that didn't even go to overtime originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

That can't be right, can it? Does that say 174 points? And no overtime?

Yep, that's exactly right. The Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, put up a 174-spot in 48 minutes on Thursday night against the Rip City Remix in a 174-146 win over the Portland Trail Blazers' affiliate.

That's 3.625 points per possession for Salt Lake City.

Pretty much all the stats are remarkable, but here are a bunch that caught the eye:

• Shot 57% from the floor as a team (62-for-109)
• Those 109 shot attempts equate to more than two shots in every minute of action
• Went 18-for-41 from 3-point range (44%) and 18-for-24 at the line
• Elijah Harkless led the way with a relatively tame 34 points (13-for-21 FG, 4-9 3FG, 4-5 FT)
• John Tonje had 29 points, and Sean East II had 22 points
• Oscar Tshiebwe had 20 points and 22 rebounds (12 of them offensive)
• They had four other players in double figures
• Four players had at least five assists
• In the second and third quarters combined, they had 100 points (52 and 48)

MORE: This Warriors news leak about a Draymond-Giannis trade is hilarious

The crazy thing about it is that those shooting percentages aren't otherworldly, just very good.

These were two teams just getting up and down and putting up shot after shot after shot.

It might be tough to replicate such a style for a full season, although the '7 Seconds or Less' Suns would like a word.

Fans certainly got their money's worth if they like buckets.

More NBA news:

• Rich Paul makes the LeBron James trade plans clear
• Why it's time for the Pelicans to move on from Zion
• The Bucks have a looming $275 million Giannis problem
• Timberwolves want Coby White, but there's a catch

There’s no better way to start your weekend than by watching some NBA hoops with some slam dunk NBA player prop bets.

With seven games on the schedule, there are no shortage of options and I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite three.

Those include a play on Pascal Siakam who is trying to do it all for the Pacers these days, as well as projecting a big night for Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert.

Check out those and more NBA picks for Friday, December 12 below.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Pascal Siakam	Over 3.5 assists	<<+100>>
Santi Aldama	Over 3.5 assists	<<+135>>
Rudy Gobert	To record double-double	<<+180>>

Prop #1: Pascal Siakam Over 3.5 assists

+100 at bet365

It’s a tough season for the Indiana Pacers. Coming oh so close to an NBA championship, and then injuries and free agency basically put the brakes on any sort of repeat performance. 

But Pascal Siakam is still out there grinding for the Pacers. The three-time All-Star is averaging 24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season, and he’ll keep grinding when the Pacers visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

The 76ers enter this Eastern Conference matchup at 13-10 and they very much feel like a middling team this season. Some days they look great. Others not so much.

They rank 14th in the NBA when it comes to defensive rating, but one way to really burn them is by passing the ball. The Sixers rank 21st in opponent assists per possession.

Siakam has an assists prop of 3.5 with the Over at even money. He’s topped that number in three of his last five games. And you can expect that the Sixers will do their best to get the ball out of the hands of the Pacers best all-around player as much as possible. But here's hoping Siakam uses that to his advantage by finding open teammates.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana, NBCSP

Prop #2: Santi Aldama Over 3.5 assists 

+135 at bet365

The Utah Jazz defense is bad. Like non-existent bad. So much so, there’s even value to be found in a struggling offense like the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Jazz enter this game surrendering more than 125 points per game this season while ranking next-to-last in defensive rating. Only the Washington Wizards are worse in both categories. So, it’s no surprise that making the extra pass can be extremely effective against them.

Utah enters this Western Conference clash allowing the fourth-highest opponent assists per possession in the NBA and now face a Grizzlies team with the third-highest assist rate in the NBA.

That has me looking at the assists prop for Santi Aldama. His number is set at 3.5 for this matchup with the Over at enticing plus money.

The playmaking power forward is averaging 3.0 assists per game this season and has upped that number to 4.1 over his last eight games, dishing out four or more dimes seven times during that stretch.

I’ll happily back Aldama to do it again at +135 with this juicy matchup.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KJZZ, FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis

Prop #3: Rudy Gobert double-double

+180 at bet365

The nightcap of Friday’s NBA schedule is a good one with the Minnesota Timberwolves traveling to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors.

Both teams are a little banged up heading into this game. Anthony Edwards is questionable for T-Wolves, while Draymond Green and Al Horford have been listed as out for the Dubs.

Green and Horford being out might not be great when having to go against T-wolves big man Rudy Gobert. The seven-foot Frenchman is averaging 11.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season and could face little resistance with those guys sidelined.

The Warriors already ranked 22nd in rebounding rate, and 24th in opponent rebounds per game, while also ranking 17th in opponent points in the paint.

Gobert has nine double-doubles this season and four in his last nine games and at +180, I love the value for him to get his 10th against the Warriors tonight.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBA TV

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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Lakers must fix Austin Reaves-LeBron James on-court issues or risk season-long struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are going through some growing pains this season, which is typical for most teams at some point. However, they remain in a solid position in the jam-packed Western Conference, and LeBron James is getting his wish of being on a contending team.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” James' agent Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

Before James returned, Austin Reaves was lighting it up, including in the first five games of the season.

“34.2 PPG. 10.0 APG. 1.8 SPG. 52.5 FG%. 38.5 3P%. 89.7 FT%. That's what the Lakers' Austin Reaves is averaging in 5 games this season. No one else in NBA history has put up those numbers or better over any 5-game span in a single season,” Opta Stats posted.

Now, with James back, Reaves is struggling to adapt to his new role.

“Before Wednesday’s game, LeBron and Reaves had a negative-1.1 net rating when sharing the floor. Both players want to get going with Luka on the bench, but they are struggling to find the balance. Reaves has struggled in the last three with James playing better,” LakeShow Life’s Tyler Watts wrote. “The Los Angeles Lakers can’t compete with the best teams without an elite Austin Reaves. He is struggling when playing next to LeBron James, and the two stars must solve the problem ASAP. They have defensive issues and are not getting Reaves going offensively. Fans should be watching this issue closely. Hopefully, it gets resolved quickly, but the fix may not be that simple.”

Reaves and Doncic are the future in LA, so some adjustment on the offensive side of the ball is necessary. Reaves has traditionally been the third option, but with James taking a backseat, he is now the second.

That is a significant change, but he still has to share the ball with two other primary ball handlers. There is plenty of season left, but if this isn’t corrected soon, the problem could linger for quite some time.

For quite some time now, the Warriors have been open about their desire to acquire the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III. But if they’re going to use Kuminga to do that, then it would be helpful to know how, if at all, the Pelicans value the Warriors’ 23-year-old forward. For the time being, the feedback is mixed on that front. ’Tis the season for smokescreens, after all. Yet this part is indisputable when it comes to the Warriors’ side of the equation: These past six weeks have not been kind when it comes to Kuminga’s value. After the first six games of the season when Kuminga was receiving rave reviews, he has returned to the rollercoaster existence that embodied the vast majority of his first four seasons.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Warriors open about their desire to trade for Trey Murphy

No story about trade targets is complete without discussing Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga. Never mind that he’s not eligible to be moved until Jan. 15. There are Kuminga-related dynamics worth analyzing in the here and now — some familiar, and some not so much. The Kings are widely expected to revisit their offseason interest in Kuminga, and it remains to be seen if that’s the case for teams like Phoenix and Chicago that have been intrigued by him before. But the New Orleans Pelicans, in many ways, are front and center in this discussion.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: No story about trade targets is complete without …

Grizzlies PR: The @memgrizz have assigned Brandon Clarke to the @MemphisHustle . Clarke will be recalled to the Grizzlies following the Hustle's practice today.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Brandon Clarke assigned to G League, could be nearing season debut

Is Joe Embiid playing tonight vs. Pacers? Game status for 76ers star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a tough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last weekend, the Philadelphia 76ers will look to bounce back when they host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in what will be the first battle between the two teams on the season.

As has been the case for basically every game for the Sixers this season, Joel Embiid’s availability is in question heading into the contest. Embiid has appeared in just nine games so far this season after undergoing a knee procedure over the offseason. The good news for Sixers fans is that Embiid should be good to go against Indiana.

Joel Embiid ‘probable’ to play against Pacers

Embiid is listed as “probable” for the game against Indiana, and thus should be good to go barring any late setbacks. His final game status will be announced at some point prior to tip time.

This story will be updated. 

The last 25 years have been revolutionary in the NBA, with the century starting off much more big-man- and paint-focused before basketball transitioned into the pacy, three-point-centric, explosive game that it is today.

With the first quarter of the 21st century just about wrapped up, we thought it would be a fun time to take a look back at the last 25 years of the NBA and rank its Top 25 players.

We think you know who will finish this exercise ranked first overall, but we did have some very tough decisions to make in the rest of the list, including in the Top 5.

As always in these rankings, we put a lot of stock in the full body of work, so don't be surprised to see active NBA megastars with extremely high peaks not even make the list. They just have not been around long enough.

We're sure none of our decisions will spark any sort of push-back, but either way, below, check out how we ranked the Top 25 NBA players of the last 25 years.

25. Tony Parker

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, three All-NBA 2nd Team selections, six All-Stars, one Eurobasket gold medal

21st century regular season ranking: 10th in assists, 21st in scoring, 53rd in steals, 196th in rebounds

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 3rd in assists, 6th in scoring, 18th in steals, 48th in rebounds

Now that he's been retired for a few years, it almost feels like French basketball legend Tony Parker has become underrated, something we can't allow to happen, as Parker is one of the most storied floor generals of this century.

Parker earned MVP votes separately seven times, peaking in 2011-12 when he finished fifth in the vote, a campaign that saw him earn 2nd Team All-NBA honors after putting up 18.3 points and 7.7 assists per game for a San Antonio Spurs team that went 50-16, a 62-win pace extrapolated over an 82-game schedule. 

Parker also won Finals MVP in 2007 after putting up 24.5 points and 5.0 rebounds on 56.8 percent shooting in a four-game sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the championship series.

Parker’s quickness, shiftiness laterally, shooting ability on midrange pull-ups and his tear drop floater made him the head of the Spurs dynastic machine of the early 21st century, and although San Antonio boasted strong rosters at the time, we don’t think they have as much championship success without Parker’s play at point guard.

24. Chris Bosh

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, one All-NBA 2nd Team selection, 11 All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 30th in rebounds, 34th in scoring, 48th in blocks, 135th in steals, 210th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 39th in blocks, 49th in rebounds, 69th in scoring, 89th in steals, 191st in assists

Hall of Fame big man Chris Bosh was ahead of his time, a mobile frontcourt player with switchability on defense, who could shoot off the dribble, drive, hit threes and even create plays for others.

Bosh is best remembered for his time with the Miami Heat, where he won two championships, but Toronto Raptors-era Bosh was a different beast, capable of unreal highlights on a nightly basis:

2010 Chris Bosh tape pic.twitter.com/RUoggwkgVP

— Hoops (@Hoopss) November 27, 2025

Over his last five seasons in Toronto, Bosh averaged 22.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 50 percent shooting from the floor. And just imagine how those numbers would have looked if the big man had extended his range out beyond three even sooner. 

Before issues with blood clots unfortunately cut his career short by his age-31 season, Bosh was launching four threes a game over his last two campaigns, hitting them at a respectable 39.7 percent clip, and looking like the prototypical modern big man who would have thrived in today’s game.

Nevertheless, Bosh was one of the top players of this century, and rightfully earned his spot in the Hall of Fame soon after his retirement.

23. Dwight Howard

Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, four All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one Olympic gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 1st in rebounds, 2nd in blocks, 20th in scoring, 48th in steals, 235th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 4th in rebounds, 6th in blocks, 33rd in scoring, 62nd in steals, 155th in assists

For a time, Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard was without question the best center in the NBA, a double-double machine with unreal explosiveness and strength, as well as elite finishing ability near the rim. 

Howard was such a game-changer that he helped lead a not-loaded Magic squad to the 2009 NBA Finals. Using Howard’s unreal gravity as a roller to the basket, then-Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy created a one-in, four-out system that was far ahead of its time, one that featured four floor-spacers and Howard (or underrated backup big man Marcin Gortat) on the floor at all times. 

Opponents had the unenviable task of either letting Howard set a screen and roll hard to the basket without much help (a losing proposition considering Howard’s finishing ability), or crashing down to help and leaving a reliable three-point shooter like Rashard Lewis open from beyond the arc. 

Even despite Howard’s offensive limitations outside of the paint, that style of basketball could have had success even in today’s NBA. 

Howard earned five straight 1st Team All-NBA appearances from 2007-08 through 2011-12, a stretch that saw him also win three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards and average 20.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. 

Howard then did well in his progression from superstar to star role player, helping the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship in 2019-20 as a complementary piece.

22. Pau Gasol

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, four All-NBA selections, six All-Stars, two Olympic silver medals, one World Cup gold medal, three Eurobasket gold medals 

21st centuryregular season ranking: 4th in rebounds and blocks, 17th in scoring, 49th in assists, 205th in steals

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 8th in blocks, 11th in rebounds, 29th in scoring, 34th in assists, 96th in steals

Speaking of the Lakers, Spanish superstar Pau Gasol was a transcendent European player, one of the best ever to come from overseas and suit up in the Association. We have Gasol as the sixth-best international NBA player of all-time, a just ranking considering how good he was in his prime.

Gasol was so smooth for a big man, a 7-footer with great length who could glide to the basket and finish over tough contests, and over either shoulder, at that. He also had a fantastic face-up game centered around a reliable midrange jumper, giving him versatility on offense as a post and face-up player that made him extremely difficult to defend. 

Gasol also handled the shift in pressure from being the focal point of the Memphis Grizzlies early in his career to entering the bright lights of Los Angeles to team up with a late-prime Kobe Bryant, joining a squad with championship-or-bust expectations, just fine. 

Gasol’s addition in Los Angeles gave Bryant one of the best Robins ever, as the Lakers would go on to reach three NBA Finals in a row, winning back-to-back rings in ‘09 and ‘10. 

The big man’s game would age quite gracefully, too, as Gasol achieved All-Star honors for the final time in 2015-16, his age-35 campaign. At that ripe old age, Gasol would defeat Father Time one last time, averaging 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 blocks on 46.9 percent shooting from the floor. 

Gasol is one of just two players 35 or older in league history to put up at least 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a season, along with the unforgettable Charles Barkley. And the Spaniard did it while chipping in a couple of blocks nightly, too.

All in all, Gasol was a special player.

21. Paul Pierce

Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, four All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars

21st centuryregular season ranking: 10th in scoring, 20th in steals, 39th in assists, 41st in rebounds, 98th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 10th in scoring, 16th in rebounds and steals, 26th in assists, 36th in blocks

Earning league MVP votes five times in his career, Pierce was a 2nd Team All-NBAer once and 3rd Teamer three times. He also won Finals MVP in 2007-08, no small feat considering he was competing with two all-timers, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, for the distinction.

In the ‘08 Finals, a four games to two series win over Bryant and the Lakers, Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals on 39.3 percent shooting from three, providing the Celtics with timely offense as a go-to scorer and playmaker. 

Pierce, standing at 6-foot-7 with broad shoulders and a heavy frame, was a load to defend, boasting smooth off-the-dribble shooting from three and the midrange, as well as possessing the strength to get through defenders and finish around the basket. He also had crafty instincts as a bucket-getter, providing star-level scoring ability. 

Over a seven-year stretch from 2000-01 to 2006-07, Pierce was a statistical monster, averaging 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per contest, great marks for a low-scoring era. His numbers then took a slight dip once the Big Three formed in 2007-08, but even then, Pierce handled the slight change in role well, which helped Boston experience a whole lot of team success.

20. Damian Lillard

Top accolades: Seven All-NBA selections, nine All-Stars, one NBA Cup, one Olympic gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 13th in scoring, 15th in assists, 88th in steals, 164th in rebounds, 319th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 39th in assists, 42nd in scoring, 81st in steals, 251st in blocks, 296th in rebounds

A member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Damian Lillard hasn’t quite been the same since leaving the Portland Trail Blazers, enduring two tough (albeit still All-Star-level) seasons in Milwaukee before blowing out his Achilles.

Now back in Portland, Lillard has a chance to continue adding to his legacy once he returns to full health.

As is, though, Lillard will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when it’s all said and done, as he’s got seven All-NBA teams under his belt, including once as a 1st Teamer and four times as a 2nd Teamer, no small feat considering some of the all-time great lead guards Lillard has shared an era with.

Lillard is lacking in the team hardware department, but it’s hard to fault him for that, as the Blazers didn’t exactly load up the roster around him during his previous stint there. Even then, Lillard went to the playoffs eight times with the Blazers, even averaging 34.3 points and 10.2 assists in the 2021-22 postseason (which lasted six games for him and Portland). 

If Lillard didn’t play at the same time as the player coming up fifth in this very ranking, we might look at his career even more fondly, as Lillard might have been seen as the player who changed the game with his bombastic, deep-range three-point sniping. He also might have enjoyed more team success if not for that player and the super team that was built around him.

19. Carmelo Anthony

Top accolades: Six All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars, three Olympic gold medals

21st centuryregular season ranking: 5th in scoring, 26th in rebounds, 33rd in steals, 74th in assists, 92nd in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 32nd in scoring, 56th in steals, 69th in rebounds, 101st in assists, 188th in blocks

One of the top members of the NBA’s legendary 2003 draft class, Carmelo Anthony, like Lillard, lacks in the team hardware department but was individually a brilliant player and an unforgettable talent.

Anthony’s face-up game was second to none, strengthened by a menacing jab step and a ridiculously quick jumper, as well as a high release point on that J. Anthony was also quite strong, giving him the ability to back down smaller defenders and score on them near the paint, or hit them with counter fadeaway jumpers. Anthony also had deep range on his three-point jumper, making him an overall menace on the offensive end.

You can just ask the Charlotte Hornets’ 2013-14 team about that.

Anthony was also a monster in FIBA play, in large part thanks to the competition’s shorter three-point line, winning three gold medals with Team USA, the second-most ever. He also ranks third all-time in Olympic scoring for Team USA. 

Despite Anthony’s ridiculous talent on the offensive end, he did have flaws as a player, particularly as a playmaker and defender. Hence, why he doesn’t rank higher on this list.

But overall, he was one of the best scorers, and players, of his era, all of which took place in the 21st century.

18. Russell Westbrook

Top accolades: One MVP, nine All-NBA selections, nine All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal

21st century regular season ranking: 3rd in assists and steals, 7th in scoring, 16th in rebounds, 180th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 9th in assists, 13th in scoring and steals, 24th in rebounds, 124th in blocks

Standing at 6-foot-4, Russell Westbrook made the seemingly impossible possible on a nightly basis. Before the NBA turned into a frenetic up-and-down stat fest, Westbrook was putting up unheard-of numbers for his era, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for an entire season. And Robertson did it in a far quicker, less talented era of the Association.

Westbrook played with relentless energy, almost to a fault, as he’d take too many bad shots, turn the ball over a bit too much and struggle as a shooter. Even then, it was hard not to love the passion he played with, often putting his body on the line to earn his team extra possessions during random January contests, all while rebounding at a better rate than some centers… as a point guard.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double four separate times, led the league in scoring twice and in assist average three times, all while missing the playoffs just four times in his career, even after a Top 4 finisher in this ranking abandoned the Oklahoma City Thunder for an annual playoff rival. He is also the highest-rebounding guard in league history, a truly ridiculous feat when you sit down and think about it.

All in all, Westbrook did and does have his flaws as a player, but he’ll be in the Hall of Fame as soon as rules allow for it, and it’ll be a beyond-deserved honor, as he was one of the most exciting, passionate players the NBA has ever seen. 

17. Anthony Davis

Top accolades: One NBA title, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, 10 All-Stars, five All-Defensive selections, one NBA Cup, two Olympic gold medals, one World Cup gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 5th in blocks, 21st in rebounds, 23rd in scoring, 56th in steals, 177th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 20th in blocks, 46th in rebounds, 54th in scoring, 83rd in steals, 128th in assists

With better injury luck, 2012 No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis would rank higher on this list, as his mix of skill and physical traits is borderline generational. After all, how many almost 6-foot-10 big men with 7-foot-6 wingspans have wing-like skills as ball-handlers, shooters and drivers to the rim? 

Davis’ quickness is otherworldly for a frontcourt player, as are his defensive instincts, and when you couple that with his length, you get an all-time defender like the former Kentucky standout. 

Davis has made 1st Team All-Defense three times and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting once. 

He’s also an elite scorer thanks to his quickness and explosive finishing ability around the rim, while boasting a reliable midrange jumper. 

Davis proved to be an elite Robin for the No. 1 player on this list in the duo’s 2019-20 championship run, though, truth be told, he did leave something to be desired during his time as a Batman in New Orleans. 

Regardless, Davis has been a fantastic scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker in the NBA, and clearly one of the best players since 2000-01.

16. Allen Iverson

Top 21st century accolades: One MVP, five All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars

21st centuryregular season ranking: 26th in steals, 37th in scoring, 50th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 49th in scoring, 53rd in assists, 115th in steals, 247th in rebounds

A cultural icon as well as one of the most rambunctious, high-level scorers of the early 2000s, Allen Iverson made a huge impact both on and off the hardwood.

What’s it say that Iverson ranks this high on a list of the top players of the 21st century, when one of the top highlights of his career came against the great Michael Jordan during his rookie campaign in 1996-97?

If we were taking his full career into account, Iverson might rank higher on this list. In the ‘90s, he averaged 24.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.1 steals, earning All-NBA honors twice, including once as a 1st Teamer, while finishing Top 7 in the MVP vote twice and leading the league in scoring once. 

Still, Iverson was even better in the ‘00s, winning league MVP honors in 2000-01, the same year he dragged a weak Philadelphia 76ers roster to the NBA Finals. This century, Iverson led the league in scoring three times, as well as in nightly steals three times. Iverson also led the NBA in free throw attempts twice this century, as his quickness, craftiness and unpredictability made him a nightmare to stay in front of for defenders.

Iverson’s game didn’t age all that well, and he didn’t handle the transition from superstar to role player with the most aplomb. But even then, Iverson was an unforgettable talent and a true trendsetter in multiple ways, not just as a basketball player.

15. Steve Nash

Top accolades: Two MVP awards, seven All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars

21st centuryregular season ranking: 4th in assists, 52nd in scoring, 143rd in steals, 216th in rebounds

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 7th in assists, 30th in scoring, 111th in rebounds, 120th in steals

A two-time MVP, Steve Nash was a brilliant playmaker with fantastic shooting ability, another player almost ahead of his time. If anything, Nash should have been boisterous with his field-goal attempts, because a guy with his level of shooting touch should have been launching double-digit threes nightly. Instead, Nash never averaged even five three-pointers per contest.

Even so, Nash made history, which has him as the only player ever with four 50/40/90 seasons. The next closest players, Larry Bird and another guy coming up on this list, have just two apiece. 

Nash was also a fantastic, crafty and flashy passer, a maestro running the pick-and-roll, and a player who would often create many points by leading the Phoenix Suns in transition. He was also a deadly pull-up shooter from the midrange, making him very difficult to defend when running those sets.

Nash’s 7-Seconds-or-Less Suns never even got to the Finals, but those squads were still unforgettable, and it was mostly thanks to Nash’s style of play. 

Nash led the NBA in nightly assists five times in his career, and ranks fifth all-time in dimes at 10,335.

14. Kawhi Leonard

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, six All-NBA selections, six All-Stars, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, seven All-Defensive selections

21st centuryregular season ranking: 30th in steals, 53rd in scoring, 112th in rebounds, 138th in blocks, 149th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 9th in steals, 11th in scoring, 13th in rebounds, 35th in assists, 42nd in blocks

Like Davis, Kawhi Leonard could rank way higher on this list if he had better injury luck in his career. But Leonard’s constant injury troubles really hampered his place historically, as the two-way wing has only played over 70 games in a season just twice in his career. 

Regardless, when he’s been out there and healthy, Leonard has been a monster, and on both ends of the floor. Blessed with quick feet laterally, enormous hands and a strong frame, Leonard was one of the best wing defenders in the league at his prime. The former San Diego State standout earned Defensive Player of the Year honors back-to-back seasons in ‘15 and ‘16. 

Leonard also did well to develop his offense, becoming a crafty midrange assassin, one who could get buckets in a variety of ways. He’s also a very effective shooter from beyond the arc, giving him a variety of ways to get efficient buckets.

At his best, Leonard had a four-season peak from 2016-17 and 2019-20 in which he averaged 25.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 37.5 percent shooting from three. That stretch saw him earn All-NBA honors three times, once as a 1st Teamer, lead the Toronto Raptors to a championship and earn Finals MVP, his second such award, cementing him as one of the best players ever, not just of this century.

13. Shaquille O'Neal

Top 21st century accolades: Three NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars, two All-Defensive 2nd Team selections

21st century regular season ranking: 23rd in blocks, 58th in rebounds, 83rd in scoring, 276th in assists

Playoffs ranking: 4th in blocks, 8th in rebounds, 17th in scoring, 62nd in assists, 144th in steals

Legendary center Shaquille O’Neal is arguably the top example of how us only taking into account only 21st-century production for this exercise can hurt some of these players, as O’Neal would rank far higher if we included what he did in the ‘90s.

From 1992-93 to 1999-00, O’Neal won one MVP award, made two 1st Team All-NBAs and averaged 27.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 blocks on 57.7 percent shooting from the floor. In the 2000s, though, O’Neal averaged just 20.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, albeit with three Top 3 MVP finishes, six 1st Team All-NBAs and three NBA championships, two of which earned him Finals MVP honors.

Had O’Neal’s game aged a bit better, he’d rank higher on this list, but considering that by 2006-07, his output had fallen off a cliff, the fact that O’Neal’s six-season run from ‘01 to ‘06 was so strong that he still earned a lofty place in this ranking just shows his level of greatness.

O’Neal was by far the best player on the Lakers teams that won championships to start the century, and that played a solid secondary role during his late-prime in Miami in the mid-2000s, more than enough to land him in the Top 15 of this ranking.

12. James Harden

Top accolades: One MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 11 All-Stars, one Sixth Man of the Year award, one Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 5th in assists, 6th in scoring and steals, 47th in rebounds, 86th in blocks

Playoffs ranking: 4th in steals, 5th in assists, 8th in scoring, 20th in rebounds, 43rd in blocks

Perhaps one of our hotter takes in this article, we have James Harden outside of the Top 10 here. But considering his consistent playoff drop-offs, can you blame us? It’s not even that Harden has never won a championship, but he never reached the Finals as a team’s top option. Harden’s only Finals trip came in 2012 as a member of the Thunder, with Westbrook and a player coming up later on this list as the team’s focal points. 

Harden’s career regular-season numbers - 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists per game on 43.9 percent shooting - noticeably outpace his playoff averages of 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 42.5 percent shooting.

But that’s enough about Harden’s flaws, because he’s still a future first-ballot Hall of Famer despite his lack of playoff success.

Harden was an unstoppable force in his prime, enjoying a three-year stretch from ‘17 through ‘20 in which he won MVP once and finished Top 3 in the vote two other times, after averaging 33.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.9 steals on 44.5 percent shooting. Harden’s 36.1-point-per-game average in 2018-19 remains the highest non-Wilt Chamberlain, non-Michael Jordan single-season scoring average ever. In fact, if we remove Chamberlain seasons, it’s the second-best scoring average ever behind only Jordan’s 37.1 points per game in 1966-77. 

Harden’s step-back jumper was lethal, he’s very difficult to stop driving left and his playmaking was also fantastic. Harden also had an innate ability to draw fouls, which helped him greatly in the regular season but would actually hurt him in the playoffs when referees’ whistles would get tighter. That would at least partly explain his drop-offs in the postseason.

Even so, Harden is firmly in the conversation for being a Top 5 shooting guard ever, as he is and was one of the most efficient high-volume scorers the league has ever seen.

11. Chris Paul

Top accolades: 11 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Stars, seven All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two Olympic gold medals

21st centuryregular season ranking: 1st in assists and steals, 12th in scoring, 62nd in rebounds, 391st in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 2nd in assists, 3rd in steals, 15th in scoring, 44th in rebounds, 177th in blocks

One of the greatest floor generals the NBA has ever seen, we also had to make the tough decision with Chris Paul to leave him out of the Top 10 here, though it’s not a knock on him - this century is just loaded with all-time talents.

Paul ranks No. 2 all-time in assists with 12,552, trailing only John Stockton, who will more than likely own that record forever. The only active player close to Paul, who you will see at the top of this ranking, is 900-plus assists behind him, so depending how many more seasons he plays, he could wind up passing him in another two campaigns. But that’s somewhat of a fat chance considering that the player is set to be 41 soon. 

Paul also ranks second all-time in steals with 2,728, again only trailing Stockton.

If Paul just had better playoff success, there’s no question he’d be in the Top 10 here, if not Top 5, as the only thing missing from his legacy is an NBA championship. Paul’s best shot came in 2020-21, when Paul and the Suns actually were within two games of a ring. Up two games to zero in the 2021 Finals, Phoenix would go on to lose four games in a row to the Bucks, and with that went Paul’s best chance at a title. 

One can’t fault Paul for the team’s shortcomings that year, though, as the former Wake Forest star averaged 21.8 points and 8.2 assists on 52.2 percent shooting from three in the Finals. 

Even so, part of Paul’s legacy will always be that he never won the big one, hence, he just misses out on a Top 10 spot in this ranking.

10. Dwyane Wade

Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Finals MVP, eight All-NBA selections, 13 All-Stars, three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, one Olympic gold medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 9th in steals, 11th in scoring, 17th in assists, 57th in blocks, 102nd in rebounds

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 5th in steals, 7th in scoring, 12th in assists and blocks, 22nd in rebounds

This probably won’t settle the debate for either firmly entrenched side of the Harden vs. Dwyane Wade debate, but in our books, Wade’s playoff legacy was enough to have him ranked higher than the bearded superstar.

Wade wasn’t just a playoff riser, however, as his regular-season legacy is also pristine, with the athletic 2-guard making a career out of elite slashing, explosive finishing near the basket and crafty midrange scoring. He made two 1st Team All-NBAs, enjoyed 13 All-Star appearances and received MVP votes seven times in his career, peaking in 2008-09 with a third-place finish, although never winning the award like Harden did.

Wade has one thing that Harden doesn’t, though, and that’s a Finals MVP award, which he earned in 2005-06, when he led the Miami Heat to a championship with O’Neal as his sidekick. In the 2006 Finals, Wade was magnificent, averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.0 blocks on 46.8 percent shooting. 

Wade might have two Finals MVPs, too, had Miami been able to seal the deal and win the 2011 championship. In the 2011 championship series six-game defeat to the Dallas Mavericks, Wade was easily the Heat’s best player, putting up 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks on 54.6 percent shooting.

Regardless, Wade won two other championships in his career and will be remembered as one of the most impactful players of his era, one who we consider the third-best shooting guard of all-time.

9. Kevin Garnett

Top 21st century accolades: One NBA title, one MVP, seven All-NBA Teams, 12 All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, eight All-Defensive 1st Team selections

21st centuryregular season ranking: 6th in rebounds, 17th in blocks, 24th in scoring, 29th in steals, 46th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 9th in rebounds, 13th in blocks, 24th in steals, 26th in scoring, 40th in assists

One of the most passionate players of all time, Kevin Garnett was so very unique, especially for his era, as he was one of the first frontcourt players who’d grab a rebound and bring the ball up himself to run the offense. That was while standing at 6-foot-11 with a supposed 7-foot-5 wingspan, possessing extremely agile feet laterally and fantastic defensive instincts, making him a monster on both ends of the floor. 

Garnett would truly do it all for the Minnesota Timberwolves, so much so that he eventually wound up leaving to have a better chance to compete for championships. Still, Garnett’s time in Minnesota shouldn’t be brushed over just to talk about his Boston days, as the power forward, who we consider the third-best at the position ever, put up jaw-dropping numbers with the Timberwolves. 

From 2000-01 to 2006-07, Garnett averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 49.3 percent from the floor. Garnett would peak in ‘04, when he won league MVP honors after averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per contest.

Garnett even led the Timberwolves for the Western Conference Finals in 2003-04 after a 58-24 regular season, where Minnesota took two games from the late-dynasty Shaq-led Lakers. Garnett accomplished that with Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell as his two best teammates, by the way. That’s not to knock those two very good players too harshly, but… yeah. Not many players could lead a roster as star-lacking as that one on such a deep playoff run, especially not in a Western Conference that used to be so competitive.Garnett and the Wolves would then miss the playoffs the following two seasons, prompting his departure, which saw him end up with the Celtics, a team that would form the original Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen, who just missed the cut for this exercise. Garnett would win a championship in 2007-08, the same season in which he won the only Defensive Player of the Year award of his career.

8. Nikola Jokic

Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, three MVPs, one Conference Finals MVP, five All-NBA 1st Team selections, seven All-Stars, one Olympic silver medal, one Olympic bronze medal

21st centuryregular season ranking: 18th in assists, 22nd in rebounds, 39th in scoring, 66th in steals, 113th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 12th in rebounds, 16th in assists, 20th in scoring, 47th in steals, 54th in blocks

A player who will very likely make a big move up these rankings over the coming years, Nikola Jokic has an absurdly loaded resume as is, and that’s with him still in his prime and showing little sign of slowing down.

Jokic is the best passing center the league has ever seen, creating wide-open looks out of thin air, and has otherworldly touch, allowing him to finish in unorthodox manners. He’s particularly unstoppable from the floater range, while also being a solid three-point shooter, who can use his high skill level to put pressure on the rim as a driver. In all, Jokic can beat defenses down in a multitude of ways, making him one of the toughest players to gameplan against.

In 2024-25, Jokic became the first center, and only the third player ever, to average a triple-double for an entire season, and he’s on pace to do it again this campaign. Since 2020-21, Jokic is putting up ridiculous numbers, to the tune of 26.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.4 steals on 58.7 percent shooting, with 38.1 percent from three. 

The advanced analytics also have Jokic on a GOAT-like pace, as the Serbian center ranks first all-time in career BPM, as well as in Win Shares per 48 Minutes. He doesn’t have to worry about adding a championship to his legacy, either, as he accomplished the feat in 2022-23, earning Finals MVP honors in the process. 

And considering Jokic’s game isn’t dependent on athleticism at all, it should age quite gracefully, giving him time to add even more to his hardware mantle. 

As is, we have him as the eighth-best center ever and as the fourth-best international player in NBA history. The scary part is: He’s still got so much left to go.

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, two MVPs, seven All-NBA 1st Team selections, nine All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one NBA Cup, one NBA Cup MVP

21st centuryregular season ranking: 16th in scoring, 19th in rebounds, 36th in assists, 37th in blocks, 67th in steals

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 14th in rebounds, 27th in scoring, 29th in blocks, 33rd in assists, 72nd in steals

A physical specimen with endless tenacity on both ends of the floor, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a historic success story, going from being a skinny, lanky kid playing in Greece’s second division to becoming a monster in the NBA, one with two MVP awards, one Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year and seven 1st Team All-NBAs, all by age 31.

Antetokounmpo is a force on offense and defense. Even in today’s shooting-obsessed NBA, Giannis has been an elite offensive player despite lacking any semblance of a three-point jumper, and that’s thanks to his size, length, athleticism and brute force attacking the basket, with many comparing him to a modern-day Shaq down low.

With a few more years at this level, Antetokounmpo should be able to move up in this ranking, although, truth be told, the Top 5 is so loaded, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to break through. At the same time, Antetokounmpo and Jokic are so good that they’re sure to make it a difficult decision in the years to come, if we were to run this exercise again. 

There has been talk lately of Antetokounmpo potentially wanting out of Milwaukee, as the team has struggled to put a contender around him since the team’s last championship run in 2020-21, and that might not be a bad idea for him, as adding to his legacy with more championship bling is the only thing he has left to do to help him move up all-time debates.

Even with his current resume, though, Antetokounmpo is one of the best ever, a player that we have ranked third all-time among international players, and 22nd overall among all players.

6. Dirk Nowitzki

Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, one MVP, 12 All-NBA selections, 14 All-Stars

21st centuryregular season ranking: 3rd in scoring, 8th in rebounds, 26th in blocks, 44th in steals, 76th in assists

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 7th in rebounds, 9th in scoring, 21st in blocks, 28th in steals, 49th in assists

German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki was another big man ahead of his time, a floor-stretching 7-footer with fantastic, tough-shot-making ability, a beautiful three-point stroke and driving prowess against slower-footed centers.

For a long while, Nowitzki was thought of as just a great regular-season player, a notion that was buoyed by the fact that the same year he won league MVP honors in 2006-07, after he led the Mavericks to a 67-15 regular season, he and Dallas lost to an eight-seed Golden State Warriors squad in the first round of the playoffs. He was also never much of a rebounder or shot-blocker, further pushing the idea that he wasn’t tough enough to lead a team to a championship.

Then 2010-11 happened.

That year, Nowitzki had a masterful playoff run, taking down the Lakers, Thunder and Heat in three straight series to win a title, cementing himself as one of the best players of all time without needing the “best players without a championship” label. In the 2011 playoffs, Nowitzki put up 27.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on 48.5 percent shooting, defeating multiple all-time legends on the way to the lone ring of his career in what is widely considered one of the best playoff runs of all-time.

Overall, Nowitzki was a true game-changer, a pioneer in the sense that he was stretching the floor from three as a big man way before that was expected out of players of his position. Without Nowitzki, it’s easy to wonder how long it would have taken for NBA bigs to transform into the versatile, guard-like players they have become today.

5. Stephen Curry

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, two MVPs, one Conference Finals MVP, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, 11 All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal, two World Cup gold medals

21st centuryregular season ranking: 8th in scoring, 13th in assists and steals, 104th in rebounds, 307th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 5th in scoring, 10th in assists, 11th in steals, 32nd in rebounds, 92nd in blocks

The player most commonly credited with changing the game into what it is today, Stephen Curry had a mind-blowing ascension, going from being the third point guard taken in the 2009 draft to winning two league MVP trophies, four championships, one Olympic gold medal, making four 1st Team All-NBAs, and leading a three-point revolution in the Assocation, one that the league will more than likely never look back from.

Curry’s bombastic, confident, accurate, deep three-point sniping was at first seen as a fun novelty before the masses realized what was happening. Now, even centers are launching multiple three-pointers nightly, and team offensive rating records are being shattered annually. 

Beyond just his three-point shooting, Curry has done great in developing his finishing around the rim, a product of his getting stronger, which has made him a more complete offensive weapon as opposed to just a three-point specialist. Curry’s improved strength also helped him after various early-career injury troubles.

Curry’s impact on offense led to a huge amount of team success for the Warriors, as the team had a 73-win campaign, and won championships both before and after the next player on this list was on the team. Even the one knock on Curry’s legacy, the fact that he had never won Finals MVP, went away after 2022 when he led Golden State to a somewhat-surprising championship, so there’s nothing anyone can really knock Curry for.

Should we have had him ranked over the next guy up? 

That’s for you all to debate.

4. Kevin Durant

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 15 All-Stars, four Olympic gold medals, one Olympic MVP, one World Cup gold medal, one World Cup MVP

21st centuryregular season ranking: 2nd in scoring, 20th in blocks, 25th in rebounds, 28th in assists, 37th in steals

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 2nd in scoring, 10th in rebounds and blocks, 17th in assists, 21st in steals

On the one hand, Kevin Durant has half of the championship hardware as Curry, as well as half as many league MVP awards (two vs. one). On the other hand, he’s been honored with 1st Team All-NBA two more times, and he’s been named an All-Star four more times.

Plus, had Durant not joined the Warriors for three years, would Curry even have four titles? After all, Durant was probably the best player on the 2017-18 and 2018-19 championship-winning Golden State squads, as evidenced by him winning Finals MVP both of those years.

It’s a very difficult call to make, but in the end, we went with Durant as the better individual player.

The fact that Durant is also the unquestioned Team USA Olympic GOAT, the player with the most Olympic basketball gold medals, and the program’s all-time leading scorer, also aided him in this debate. 

Durant is a generational talent, a once-in-a-lifetime player. How many near-7-footers possess his level of skill as a ball-handler and tough shot-maker? Not many. He's also been an impactful defender come playoff time, when it's do-or-die.

One of the best scorers in NBA history, Durant’s legacy would be looked on even more fondly had he won his two titles without joining an already-elite Golden State squad in the late 2010s. 

Either way, we’re honoring him as the fourth-best player of this century.

3. Tim Duncan

Top 21 century accolades: Four NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, two MVPs, seven All-NBA 1st Team selections, six All-Defensive 1st Team selections

21st centuryregular Season ranking: 1st in blocks, 2nd in rebounds, 15th in scoring, 67th in assists, 98th in steals

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 1st in blocks, 2nd in rebounds, 4th in scoring, 18th in assists, 26th in steals

Boasting the third-most 1st Team All-NBA appearances ever, Tim Duncan is arguably the greatest power forward of all-time, let alone of the millennium. Overall, we have Duncan ranked as the 10th-best player ever, too, an insane legacy for one player, especially one who didn’t get to the NBA until he was 21 after he spent four years at Wake Forest.

All that time in college might have helped Duncan better prepare for life in the NBA, as he was an elite player off the bat, becoming one of the few rookies ever to earn 1st Team All-NBA honors. Duncan also finished Top 5 in the MVP vote… as a first-year player.

TD may not have had the most exciting style of play (or personality), but he was unstoppable in what he did, facing up fellow bigs to knock down off-the-glass midrange jumpers or attack and finish around the basket. Duncan also had a very tidy post-game, replete with the ability to finish over either shoulder, and counter to finish over even good defending.

He was also an elite defender thanks to his strength down low and his ability to protect the basket. Duncan is without a doubt the best defender in league history to never win Defensive Player of the Year, finishing his career with 15 All-Defensive Team selections (the most all-time), eight of the 1st Team variety and seven as a 2nd Teamer.

The dictionary definition of steady, elite production and longevity, Duncan’s 19-year career is one of the most impressive the league has ever seen.

2. Kobe Bryant

Top 21st century accolades: Four NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, 11 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 16 All-Stars, eight All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two Olympic gold medals

21st centuryregular season ranking: 4th in scoring, 12th in steals, 20th in assists, 65th in rebounds, 161st in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 3rd in scoring, 7th in steals, 11th in assists, 21st in rebounds, 46th in blocks

The unforgettable Kobe Bryant was beloved by NBA fans, and still is, to this day, thanks to his exciting style of play, as well as for the number of clutch shots he made in his career. Bryant was an extremely hard-working player who didn't just rely on athleticism. He also developed a very crafty midrange game, which allowed him to hit extremely difficult shots consistently over some of the league's best defenders on a nightly basis.

The way he developed his game allowed Bryant to remain an elite player into his mid-30s. After all, when Bryant was 34 years old in 2012-13, he finished the season with 1st Team All-NBA honors and Top 5 in the MVP vote. Although the next player in this ranking might make that look easy now, we assure you, it was still an extremely impressive feat by the immortal Laker.

Bryant also deserves credit for taking part in multiple eras of championship-level play in Los Angeles. The Philadelphia native had to go from being spoiled by playing alongside O’Neal, the best center of his generation, early on in his career, to then playing on some very weak rosters before the Lakers finally acquired Gasol in 2007-08. That's when Bryant finally proved he could be the best player on a championship team, accomplishing the feat back-to-back seasons in ‘09 and ‘10, firmly cementing himself as the second-best shooting guard of all-time, and the eighth-best player ever (according to us).

Bryant’s play style was Michael Jordan-esque in his ability to hit impossibly difficult shots from all over the midrange, as well as his slashing and explosive finishing, especially earlier in his career. Bryant was also a respectable three-point shooter, one who could get hot from beyond the arc. On those nights, there was truly no stopping him. 

Bryant was also an excellent defender early in his career, one whose reputation carried him to perhaps some questionable 1st Team All-Defense selections later in his prime. Still, Bryant truly cared about defending and had the athleticism and length to make a huge impact on that end of the floor when he locked in.

One of the most popular players ever, Bryant’s legacy as a hooper will never be forgotten.

1. LeBron James

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, 13 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 21 All-Stars, five All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one NBA Cup, one NBA Cup MVP, three Olympic gold medals, one Olympic MVP

21st centuryregular season ranking: 1st in scoring, 2nd in assists and steals, 3rd in rebounds, 27th in blocks

21st centuryplayoffs ranking: 1st in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals, 3rd in blocks

A no-brainer decision here. 

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the player with the most All-Star and 1st Team All-NBA appearances ever, LeBron James is quite obviously the best player of the 21st century. Heck, we’ve had him as the greatest player of all-time for a couple of years now, too, and can you blame us?

James entered the NBA with impossibly high expectations, nicknamed The Chosen One in high school, and yet, he’s somehow managed to surpass the ridiculous hype.

Blessed with once-in-a-generation athleticism in an absurdly strong 6-foot-8 package, James didn’t just rely on his freakish explosiveness; instead, he developed his outside game to remain at an elite level even into his 40s. We’ve seen players with great longevity before, but no one comes close to James in that regard, as he finished his age-40 campaign Top 6 in the MVP vote and with 2nd Team All-NBA honors, a ridiculous feat that’s going to be looked back on even more fondly in the future.

James’ one knock is his “lack” of championship hardware (as if four rings and four Finals MVPs is something to scoff at), but had Durant not taken the somewhat easier route and joined the Warriors in 2016-17, James would very possibly have another title or two on his resume. No one was beating a Durant-Curry tandem those years, not even a player as transcendent as James.

Either way, James’ longevity and resume were enough for us to consider him the GOAT, making it an easy decision for us to tab him as the greatest player of this century, too.

We highly recommend you add HoopsHype as a preferred source on Google. You just have to click here.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 25 greatest NBA players of the 21st century: The HoopsHype list

Caitlin Clark stands out at Team USA camp for a surprise reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Anticipation continues to grow over Caitlin Clark's debut with the United States national women's basketball team.

While the general consensus is that Clark will be part of Team USA at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Clark can actually debut much sooner for the national team.

Clark has been invited to a three-day training camp this weekend in Durham, North Carolina -- where she is one of 18 players taking part in the initial preparations for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany next fall.

An injury-plagued 2025 season with the Indiana Fever may leave Clark with something to prove as she fights to make the cut for the World Cup, which tips off on Sept. 4.

And in the first hours of this weekend-long training camp, Clark is starting to demonstrate that her injury woes are behind her.

🇺🇸🏀 pic.twitter.com/t4VvWBDLpN

— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) December 12, 2025

A video posted by Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile shows Clark (#17 in red) moving quickly and decisively on defense. Most importantly, Clark showed off some nice lateral movement that would have been harmed by her nagging groin strain -- the injury that shut her down for 2025 after just 13 games played.

Everyone knows what Clark can do with the basketball in her hands. The Fever point guard is a two-time All-Star due in large part to her shooting and playmaking qualities.

But showcasing a hunger and a drive on defense will get Clark closer to the national team debut that she covets in 2026.

More WNBA news:

• A'ja Wilson reveals what bothered her about Caitlin Clark's WNBA emergence

• Fever's Sophie Cunningham's free agency could be interrupted by WNBA expansion draft

• Sky's Hailey Van Lith on precipice of being cut loose ahead of pivotal WNBA offseason

• Caitlin Clark salary breakdown reveals how underpaid she is in the WNBA

• The reason why Caitlin Clark fans are mad at USA Basketball again

How many games has Wemby missed this season? Spurs' Victor Wembanyama dangerously close to 65-game threshold originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama continues to recover from a calf strain that has cost him nearly a month of action.

The general consensus is that Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are making a prudent, sensible decision that prioritizes the player's long-term health -- especially after a blood clot limited him to only 46 games played last season.

This approach seems likely to maximize the window in which the 7'5'' unicorn can contribute to the Spurs' resurgent championship ambitions.

However, Wembanyama has missed the past 12 games -- half of San Antonio's season to date -- while recovering from this soft tissue injury. Even as Wemby works toward a potential return against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday night, it means he is getting dangerously close to not meeting the NBA's 65-game threshold to qualify for major end-of-season awards.

If Wembanyama misses five more games between now and April, he will be ineligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

In addition, Wembanyama would remain ineligible for a supermax contract extension, which could see him make an estimated $65 million per year when signed.

Wembanyama will have to meet the 65-game threshold either this season or next to quality for the lucrative supermax extension. That would tack on an additional $50 million to the rookie extension he already is likely to sign with San Antonio.

More NBA news:

• When is Wemby back? Spurs' Victor Wembanyama gets encouraging calf injury return update

• Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis finally team up in wild ESPN trade idea

• Anthony Davis trade talks hinge on $275 million contract decision

• Kendrick Perkins rips Giannis Antetokounmpo, labels him a 'coward'

• Did Giannis Antetokounmpo get traded? Why Spurs fans think Bucks star is changing teams in fake viral post

The Brooklyn Nets (6-17) have had a few days off thanks to the NBA Cup changing the schedule of every team that didn't make it to the tournament, giving them a chance to rest and heal. After their break, Brooklyn's season continues with a matchup at the Dallas Mavericks (9-16) on Friday and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place!

The Nets come into this game following a 119-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 6 in which they began the game with an 11-point lead and never looked back. Forward Michael Porter Jr. continued what could be an All-Star season by dropping 35 points, nine rebounds, and three assists while center Nic Claxton notched his second triple-double of the campaign with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The Mavericks enter this matchup after a 122-109 win over the Houston Rockets on Dec. 6 in which Dallas used a huge 37-20 burst in the third quarter to blow the game open. Center Anthony Davis led the way for the Mavericks with 29 points and eight rebounds while rookie Cooper Flagg had 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists along with two steals and two blocks.

The Lines, Courtesy Of BetMGM

• Point-spread: Nets (+7.5)
• Money-line: Nets (+260)
• Over/Under: 221.5

Notable Injuries

Nets: OUT: Haywood Highsmith (knee), Cam Thomas (hamstring), Tyson Etienne (G League), EJ Liddell (G League), and Ben Saraf (G League).

Mavericks: OUT: Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), and Dereck Lively II (foot). DOUBTFUL: Daniel Gafford (ankle). AVAILABLE: Cooper Flagg (thumb).

Advice and Prediction

The Nets have had some time off to refine how they want to play moving forward and what kind of rotation head coach Jordi Fernandez wants to see on the floor. With Brooklyn recalling rookie guard Nolan Traore, it seems like Fernandez wants to see Traore as the backup to rookie Egor Demin and see how that works against a Mavericks team trying to make due without Kyrie Irving.

The Mavericks have not had Irving take the floor yet this season and in the meantime, they have been experimenting with rookie Cooper Flagg at point guard while seeing if others can fill the void in the meantime. Rookie Ryan Nembhard has been a pleasant surprise for a Dallas team that is still bringing veteran D'Angelo Russell off the bench and forward Anthony Davis has finally been able to play after missing much of the beginning of the season.

The Nets and Mavericks rank towards the bottom of the league in offensive rating, but the defensive side of the ball and the pace of play is where one begins to see the differences between these teams. While Brooklyn also ranks poorly in terms of defensive rating and in pace, Dallas is on the opposite end of the spectrum by performing as one of the best and fastest teams in the NBA.

Prediction: Mavericks 115, Nets 110

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets at Mavericks betting preview: Prediction, point spread, odds

The Oklahoma City Thunder are back in Las Vegas for another December trip. They punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals with a blowout win over the Phoenix Suns. They will now face the San Antonio Spurs with a spot in the championship game on the line.

Out East, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks will square off. The NBA Cup might be NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's most bold idea yet. Three years in, and it's produced mixed results. At best, it's a novel accolade to have. At worst, it's a schedule hindrance for teams that reach this point.

Nonetheless, the Thunder will get a chance to add another trophy to their stacked trophy case. But should they go all out? Here are five reasons why OKC should care about the NBA Cup:

Cross off bucket list

Not even two decades into their existence, the Thunder have experienced every possible high. They've had three MVP winners in their history and won an NBA championship last year. Between that, there's a long list of decorated players with All-Star and All-NBA nods.

The one thing they haven't done yet, though, is win the NBA Cup. The in-season tournament is only three years old, but the Thunder will get a chance to collect the trophy after falling just shy last year.

That could be another bucket list item this group can cross off. The Thunder have accelerated from a rebuild to an all-time team. Adding more to their mythos, a second championship banner drop this season would be unprecedented.

Last year revenge

As said, the Thunder fell just shy of an NBA Cup championship. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in last year's final. And while the 83rd game was invisible to their record, it had to have stung as a competitor to lose by double-digit points and only put up 81 points.

Especially to a Bucks team that turned out to be a disaster. If you reach the championship game, you might as well go all out. The Thunder have had a difficult time finding bulletin board material this season as the reigning NBA champion that everybody picks to repeat.

This could be the rare case where they do get some extra motivation. We'll see how much the NBA Cup matters down the line, but for now, they should try to win it just so they can say they completed that task like getting a 100% completion rate in a video game.

A step closer to a triple crown

After one of the greatest seasons ever, the Thunder have one-upped themselves. What they've done through the first quarter of the season is NBA history. They're tied with the 2015-16 Warriors for best record through 25 games at 24-1.

Except this time, it's a little more impressive. A plus-17.4 point differential is a gaudy number. No other team has dominated on the scoreboard as loudly as OKC. They've had more total minutes this season with a 20-plus point lead than trailing. Read that again.

That Golden State squad had an NBA-record 73-9 record. Noise that OKC can break that only grows louder. If they can also win the NBA Cup and another Larry O'Brien trophy within the same season, that'll be a triple crown year that no other team has come close to pulling off.

Money

Money makes the world go round. The NBA Cup's grand prize is a financial one. The winning team sees each player on the roster receive $530K. The runner-up gets $212K per player. The semifinal losers get $106K per player.

That's a decent chunk of change for these NBA players. Even those on supermax contracts. Chet Holmgren has embraced the cash on the line. Last year, Jaylin Williams' egging on his OKC teammates to go all out was one of the Las Vegas storylines.

While fans likely don't care if millionaires get an extra half-million in time for Christmas, NBA players certainly do. Which should segue over to a competitive atmosphere that resembles closer to a playoff game than your average regular season outing.

No games off

No championship hangover in OKC. If anything, the Thunder woke up extra early to go jogging. They're off to a historic start that has many wondering if they're the next NBA dynasty. While those talks are a bit premature, how they've handled business so far has been impressive.

The Thunder are the NBA's best defense. They beat you up at all three levels. If you're nonchalant with the ball, they'll rip it away from you. There are no weak points on this OKC roster you can attack. That type of floor eliminates the risk of a scheduled loss or bad-effort performance.

It's a contagious attitude throughout the roster. If the Thunder bring their regular level of energy to Las Vegas, then the NBA will be happy with what they show on the national stage, as it hopes the NBA Cup can become a cultural fixture for future generations.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Why OKC Thunder should go all out for 2025 NBA Cup

Warriors' Stephen Curry injury update is good news for team moving forward originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Golden State Warriors have been without Stephen Curry for their past five contests due to Curry dealing with a quad contusion. He suffered this injury on November 26 against the Houston Rockets and was expected to miss a few weeks.

They currently have a 13-12 record, are 9-7 when Curry plays, and are 4-5 when he doesn’t. However, Anthony Slater of ESPN recently reported that Curry was a full participant in practice on Wednesday for the first time since sustaining this injury.

Curry has missed a total of nine games this season and is one more minor injury away from not meeting the threshold to qualify for postseason awards. Curry would have to play in 49 of the Warriors' 57 remaining games, which may be a challenge due to his lengthy injury history, not only this season but throughout his career.

Combining that with his age and workload, he is meant to carry for the Warriors; he may be cutting it close. Thankfully for the Dubs, guys like Pat Spencer and De'Anthony Melton have proved they can support the team while he is out.

Curry has shown no signs of slowing down at 37 years old and is averaging 27.9 points per game so far this season in just 31.1 minutes per game, which would be the lowest since the 2011-2012 season if you eliminate the 2019-2020 season, where he suffered a season-ending injury.

Steph seems to be close to a return, and it couldn’t come any sooner for the Warriors.

More NBA: Warriors predicted to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, cut ties with $111 million superstar

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic makes basketball never done in NBA for third time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Nikola Jokic has done it again. 

The 6-foot-11 Denver Nuggets superstar continues to make basketball history that the NBA has never seen before. 

On Nov. 29, Jokic passed Wilt Chamberlain for the most games ever with 25 points/10 assists on 100% field goal shooting. On Dec. 1, the three-time MVP became the first player since 1996-97 to record 15+ points, 9+ rebounds, and 6+ assists in a quarter.

On Thursday, Jokic achieved another historic NBA feat.

“Nikola Jokic has the most games in NBA history with 30/10/5 on 80%+ field goal shooting,” Real Sports stated on X/Twitter after Jokic’s 36-point, 12-rebound, and eight-assist performance against the Sacramento Kings. 

Jokic has started December with a bang. The former second-round pick is averaging 30.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game. Unsurprisingly, the Nuggets are 4-1 to begin the new month and have won three of their last five games by double digits. 

Additionally, Jokic is undoubtedly improving his odds of securing his fourth MVP award, as his numbers stack up well against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. 

Jokic’s diverse skill set makes it challenging for opponents not only to prepare for him on film but also to match up with him adequately on game day. 

The 30-year-old NBA champion can locate cutters with either hand, dominate in the low post, direct traffic, and score on the perimeter with the best of them, explaining why he’s on a historic run during the early portion of the 2025-26 campaign.

More NBA: Lakers have major Austin Reaves, LeBron James problem, writer believes

For NBA legend Chris Paul and WNBA star Paige Bueckers, game recognizes game.

Paul is a 20-year NBA veteran whose career at the professional level has been marked by rewriting history books and accumulating accolades. During his career, which spans seven franchises, Paul has earned 12 NBA All-Star nods, 11 total All-NBA Team selections, and a Rookie of the Year award. He also led the league in assists for five seasons and steals a whopping six times. Bueckers, just finished her rookie year in the WNBA and has already ripped pages out of history books, too. Following her first season as a pro, she walked away with an All-Star selection, an All-WNBA Second Team nod, and a Rookie of the Year trophy. She was also top 10 in the WNBA in points, assists and steals per game, with her points and assists averages landing her among the best rookies in league history.

Ballers typically recognize and want to connect with other ballers. So, it makes perfect sense that Bueckers recently joined Paul's snack brand Good Eat'n as an equity partner. It's the first time a WNBA player is taking an equity stake in an NBA player's food business. As part of the deal, the Dallas Wings guard launched a new snack called "Ragerz". Paul told For The Win he's grateful for the chance to partner with Bueckers, but that it wasn't the goal to be the first duo to create a deal of this kind.

"It's all about connecting people, right? Connecting people and giving people an opportunity. The WNBA has been special to me," Paul said. "Anything to support women and what they're doing ... It was like, [Bueckers] deserves it, right? She deserves it. The platform, the stage ― all these different things."

For The Win recently sat down with Paul and Bueckers to discuss their one-of-a-kind partnership, the Wings securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft and advice the NBA veteran would give the WNBA hooper as she heads into year two.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Why was it important for both of you to partner together?

Paul: I was a fan ... I pay attention to culture. I pay attention to energy and the way ― you know that old saying, "You don't always remember people, but you remember how they made you feel?" So I'm on social media, too. I see Paige showing up for people at different events, and I think she has been an amazing connector. She looks like she has fun while she's doing all these things ... I wanted to reach out to her and see if she wanted to be a part of our company, and that was honestly the premise. To be able to do the business and to get a chance to know her on a personal level has been dope.

Bueckers: Everything ... I'm a fan first. I really live basketball, and I was telling him ever since I was young. The first sort of [touch point] was Lob City. So, 2K I'm playing with [Chris Paul] and Blake Griffin and all those people, and just watching and being a fan of basketball. Just loving the way he plays. But, to his point, who he is off the court, I've only heard great things about him. For me, learning how to become a leader ― a lot of his character traits and his attributes of holding people accountable, holding everybody around him to a high standard and wanting to be a part of a winning culture and not really caring.

For me, it was about caring and valuing a lot of other people's opinions rather than just caring about winning. So I think learning and watching him and how he leads and how he competes, and his longevity, too. That's something I want for my career, to be able to have sustained excellence. I think there's no better formula than him, and for him to want to invest in women's sports and me. I thought it was a great moment and, to do it through a great tool like food. Food insecurity is a huge thing that I wanna address and be a part of my foundation and helping, giving back. So I thought this is a great opportunity.

Where did the "Ragerz" name come from, and what inspired it?

Bueckers: I'm like a little bit of a mild spice person. So I like the flavor. I like the spicy lime, the chili flavor. It's like a little bit of "rage" in your mouth, and just like the spice, obviously ... It was definitely a collab.

What advice would you give Paige in year two of her WNBA career?

Paul: It's crazy to think about after my rookie year, I won Rookie of the Year, and I'm sure Paige can tell you, it's a huge adjustment going from college to the pros cause everybody's so elite. I think the biggest thing that I tried to focus on between my first and my second year is I definitely wanted to get stronger. I want to get stronger because the point guard position back then was Baron Davis trying to post me up every game, Gilbert Arenas trying to post me up every game. So, I wanted to get stronger. I watched a lot of film, just so the game could slow down for me. So, my advice would just be to continue to develop and work ethic ― what you already do ― but just keep watching, learn whatever the offense is as much as you can. You just get more confident the more you play.

What were your instant thoughts seeing the Wings get another No. 1 draft pick?

Bueckers:Just a lot of excitement. Obviously, as a team and an organization, you don't wanna continue to keep getting number one picks because that means you're not winning. We want this to be a stride in the right direction and continue to keep getting better, have a great first pick, and then just continue to build off that. As good as it sounds, you don't want to keep mounting No. 1 picks. It's just exciting for the future.

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If you could redo Paige's "Paige Buckets" nickname, what would you give her?

Paul: [smiling] Oh, that's easy. "Paige Ragerz". That's easy. No, it's, it's funny, man, cause when we shot this little spot commercial, we got a chance to spend a lot of time together that day. Paige, whether she knows it or not, she got like an old soul, you know what I mean? Even to hear her answer just now when you asked her that question, that was a great answer. You've been media trained and all that for a long time ... I am older, so I've got a chance to watch and see clips of her when she was in high school.

You get a chance to see people evolve, and what you learn in this world more than anything is, some people aren't really ― what they say? "Never actually meet your heroes or people that you're fans of?" So I've lived long enough now that I've met a lot of people that I'd be like, "Damn, I wish I never knew them." But I can honestly say watching Paige and watching her play and watching her hoop and seeing her, and now getting a chance to know her, she did not disappoint. So, it's dope, and the nickname [is] definitely "Paige Ragerz." "[Paige] Buckets" works too because it's so close to her name. So, that's what it's gonna stay.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chris Paul gives Paige Bueckers sage advice, nickname in interview

Today in Boston Celtics history, the team traded champion Celtics center Glen Davis and forward Von Wafer to the Orlando Magic for power forward Brandon Bass in 2011. Davis had been picked up by the Seattle Supersonics with the 35th overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft before being traded to the Celtics with Ray Allen for Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and draft assets that same evening, winning a title in his first season in the league. Wafer signed with the team as a free agent after having been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 39th pick of the 2005 Draft.

By the time of the trade, Wafer had already played for a number of teams around the league, including the Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets. Wafer put up 3.2 points per game in the single season he played for Boston, and Bass -- an alum of LSU -- would also play four seasons with the Celtics, recording 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

Davis averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game with the team over four seasons.

Transactions

Another trade occurred on this date as well, that which sent Celtic guard Tony Kappen to the (now defunct) Pittsburgh Ironmen for wing Moe Becker in Boston's inaugural season of 1946-47 in the newly-formed Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league to the NBA).

Kappen had come to the Celtics a free agent as there hadn't yet been a draft and played just 18 games for the franchise in which he averaged 4.1 points per game. Becker would play even fewer -- just six games -- over which he logged 2.2 points per contest.

Debuts

Finally, it is also the date that former Celtics guard Jerome Anderson made his debut for Boston in 1975. A former West Virginia Mountaineer, Anderson had been taken by the Celtics with the 53rd pick of the 1975 NBA Draft and played his first minutes with the team in a 130-108 blowout of the (then) Washington Bullets (now, Wizards).

The Mullens, West Virginia native scored 6 points in as many minutes, hitting both of his field goal attempts and two free throws for a solid inaugural outing.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Boston trades Davis, Wafer for Bass; deals Kappen for Becker

Best players of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nikola Jokic	51.80	36 pts · 12 reb · 8 ast · 2 stl · 14-16 FG
2	Bobby Portis	35.68	27 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 11-13 FG
3	Kyle Kuzma	31.41	31 pts · 6 reb · 0 ast · 1 blk · 13-17 FG
4	Kevin Porter	31.20	18 pts · 13 ast · 10 reb · 1 stl · 6-10 FG
5	Amen Thompson	30.91	20 pts · 9 reb · 8 ast · 1 stl · 8-12 FG
6	Trey Murphy	30.81	24 pts · 6 reb · 4 ast · 3 stl · 10-14 FG
7	Bryce McGowens	28.90	23 pts · 7 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 8-11 FG
8	Ivica Zubac	28.87	33 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 blk · 13-14 FG
9	Derik Queen	24.33	17 pts · 7 ast · 5 reb · 2 stl · 8-12 FG
10	Alperen Sengun	22.89	22 pts · 15 reb · 5 ast · 4 stl · 9-22 FG
11	Peyton Watson	22.07	21 pts · 2 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 7-10 FG
12	Jonas Valanciunas	18.41	15 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 7-7 FG
13	Kawhi Leonard	18.17	24 pts · 9 reb · 4 ast · 5 stl · 9-22 FG
14	Jeremiah Fears	18.14	19 pts · 7 reb · 4 ast · 1 stl · 9-14 FG
15	Saddiq Bey	17.92	15 pts · 8 reb · 5 ast · 0 stl · 5-14 FG

* (RAT) Global Rating, which measures performance based on individual and team stats. You can check season rankings here.

Worst players of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nique Clifford	-6.17	2 pts · 4 reb · 0 ast · 4 tov · 1-8 FG
2	Sam Hauser	-5.45	0 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 tov · 0-10 FG
3	Gary Harris	-0.30	0 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 1 tov · 0-3 FG
4	Derrick White	1.21	11 pts · 3 ast · 2 reb · 4 tov · 3-12 FG
5	Anfernee Simons	2.11	7 pts · 2 ast · 0 reb · 0 tov · 2-9 FG
6	Jerami Grant	2.18	16 pts · 5 reb · 1 ast · 3 tov · 6-19 FG
7	Nicolas Batum	2.82	6 pts · 3 reb · 2 ast · 2 tov · 2-5 FG
8	Myles Turner	2.93	4 pts · 3 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 1-6 FG
9	Caleb Love	3.29	9 pts · 4 ast · 1 reb · 2 tov · 4-9 FG
10	Josh Minott	4.40	7 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 1 tov · 2-4 FG
11	John Collins	4.57	9 pts · 2 ast · 0 reb · 2 tov · 3-7 FG
12	Spencer Jones	4.97	2 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 0 tov · 1-1 FG
13	Hugo Gonzalez	4.99	6 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 0 tov · 2-5 FG
14	Kris Murray	5.57	7 pts · 9 reb · 1 ast · 2 tov · 2-6 FG
15	Kris Dunn	6.31	9 pts · 6 ast · 1 reb · 3 tov · 3-7 FG

* Minimum 15 minutes played

Breakout players of the day

	PLAYER	DIFF	STATS
1	Bobby Portis	27.85	27 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 11-13 FG
2	Kevin Porter	26.44	18 pts · 13 ast · 10 reb · 1 stl · 6-10 FG
3	Bryce McGowens	25.69	23 pts · 7 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 8-11 FG
4	Kyle Kuzma	21.84	31 pts · 6 reb · 0 ast · 1 blk · 13-17 FG
5	Trey Murphy	18.17	24 pts · 6 reb · 4 ast · 3 stl · 10-14 FG
6	Jordan Poole	15.65	22 pts · 3 ast · 1 reb · 1 stl · 8-19 FG
7	Nikola Jokic	15.37	36 pts · 12 reb · 8 ast · 2 stl · 14-16 FG
8	Derik Queen	14.94	17 pts · 7 ast · 5 reb · 2 stl · 8-12 FG
9	Ivica Zubac	14.68	33 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 blk · 13-14 FG
10	Amen Thompson	12.79	20 pts · 9 reb · 8 ast · 1 stl · 8-12 FG
11	Peyton Watson	11.02	21 pts · 2 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 7-10 FG
12	Jeremiah Fears	9.78	19 pts · 7 reb · 4 ast · 1 stl · 9-14 FG
13	Jonas Valanciunas	9.75	15 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 7-7 FG
14	Sidy Cissoko	9.29	20 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 1 blk · 8-12 FG
15	Jalen Pickett	8.90	6 pts · 5 reb · 4 ast · 2 stl · 2-6 FG

* (DIFF) Difference between last game and 2025-26 Global Rating (minimum five games played)

Bombs of the day

	PLAYER	DIFF	STATS
1	Derrick White	-15.08	11 pts · 3 ast · 2 reb · 4 tov · 3-12 FG
2	Kevin Durant	-12.91	16 pts · 3 ast · 1 reb · 5 tov · 5-14 FG
3	Sam Hauser	-12.28	0 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 tov · 0-10 FG
4	Deni Avdija	-10.92	16 pts · 6 reb · 6 ast · 2 tov · 5-15 FG
5	Jerami Grant	-10.41	16 pts · 5 reb · 1 ast · 3 tov · 6-19 FG
6	Payton Pritchard	-9.98	11 pts · 7 ast · 5 reb · 0 tov · 4-14 FG
7	Anfernee Simons	-8.83	7 pts · 2 ast · 0 reb · 0 tov · 2-9 FG
8	Nique Clifford	-8.69	2 pts · 4 reb · 0 ast · 4 tov · 1-8 FG
9	Myles Turner	-7.51	4 pts · 3 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 1-6 FG
10	Jamal Murray	-7.06	11 pts · 9 ast · 3 reb · 1 tov · 4-13 FG
11	James Harden	-6.49	22 pts · 7 ast · 3 reb · 4 tov · 7-18 FG
12	Jaylen Brown	-6.36	30 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · 4 tov · 10-17 FG
13	DeMar DeRozan	-5.55	11 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 0 tov · 4-7 FG
14	Neemias Queta	-4.66	9 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 3-6 FG
15	Reed Sheppard	-4.60	10 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 1 tov · 4-9 FG

* (DIFF) Difference between last game and 2025-26 Global Rating (minimum five games played)

Best rookies of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Derik Queen	24.33	17 pts · 7 ast · 5 reb · 2 stl · 8-12 FG
2	Jeremiah Fears	18.14	19 pts · 7 reb · 4 ast · 1 stl · 9-14 FG
3	Maxime Raynaud	8.46	15 pts · 9 reb · 1 ast · 1 stl · 7-13 FG
4	Micah Peavy	6.71	5 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 2-3 FG
5	Hugo Gonzalez	4.99	6 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 1 stl · 2-5 FG
6	Caleb Love	3.29	9 pts · 4 ast · 1 reb · 0 stl · 4-9 FG
7	Javonte Cooke	-0.63	0 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 0-1 FG
8	Kobe Sanders	-1.08	0 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
9	Nique Clifford	-6.17	2 pts · 4 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-8 FG

* You can can check season rankings here.

Most clutch players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Amen Thompson	7.63	6 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-2 FG
2	Ivica Zubac	6.48	7 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 1-1 FG
3	James Harden	2.32	3 pts · 2 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 1-3 FG
4	Alperen Sengun	2.00	5 pts · 4 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 2-9 FG
5	Aaron Holiday	1.75	1 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
6	Jabari Smith	0.50	2 pts · 4 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-2 FG
7	Bogdan Bogdanovic	0.00	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
8	Brook Lopez	0.00	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
9	Josh Okogie	0.00	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
10	Kevin Durant	0.00	0 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 stl · 0-1 FG
11	Steven Adams	0.00	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
12	Kawhi Leonard	-0.16	2 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 1 blk · 1-4 FG
13	Kris Dunn	-0.32	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
14	Nicolas Batum	-0.88	0 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
15	Reed Sheppard	-1.38	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-1 FG

* (RAT) Clutch Rating, which measures performance in the last five minutes of 4Q or OT when the score is within five points

Best international players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nikola Jokic	51.80	36 pts · 12 reb · 8 ast · 2 stl · 14-16 FG
2	Ivica Zubac	28.87	33 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 blk · 13-14 FG
3	Alperen Sengun	22.89	22 pts · 15 reb · 5 ast · 4 stl · 9-22 FG
4	Jonas Valanciunas	18.41	15 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 7-7 FG
5	Jamal Murray	15.93	11 pts · 9 ast · 3 reb · 2 stl · 4-13 FG
6	Yves Missi	12.51	5 pts · 8 reb · 0 ast · 3 blk · 2-4 FG
7	Sidy Cissoko	11.50	20 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 1 blk · 8-12 FG
8	Josh Okogie	11.06	8 pts · 3 reb · 2 ast · 1 stl · 3-6 FG
9	Shaedon Sharpe	9.98	21 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · 1 blk · 8-14 FG
10	Steven Adams	9.41	4 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 2-4 FG
11	Bogdan Bogdanovic	9.21	10 pts · 5 reb · 2 ast · 1 stl · 2-4 FG
12	Deni Avdija	8.76	16 pts · 6 reb · 6 ast · 2 blk · 5-15 FG
13	Rayan Rupert	8.71	14 pts · 6 reb · 3 ast · 2 stl · 6-11 FG
14	Maxime Raynaud	8.46	15 pts · 9 reb · 1 ast · 1 stl · 7-13 FG
15	Jose Alvarado	8.22	4 pts · 9 ast · 5 reb · 1 blk · 2-8 FG

* Includes players who represent national teams other than Team USA

Best bench players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Bobby Portis	35.68	27 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 11-13 FG
2	Bryce McGowens	28.90	23 pts · 7 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 8-11 FG
3	Jonas Valanciunas	18.41	15 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 7-7 FG
4	Jordan Poole	17.72	22 pts · 3 ast · 1 reb · 1 stl · 8-19 FG
5	Bruce Brown	13.54	8 pts · 7 ast · 5 reb · 1 stl · 2-5 FG
6	Yves Missi	12.51	5 pts · 8 reb · 0 ast · 3 blk · 2-4 FG
7	Cole Anthony	11.85	9 pts · 5 ast · 3 reb · 1 stl · 4-6 FG
8	Sidy Cissoko	11.50	20 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 1 blk · 8-12 FG
9	Tim Hardaway Jr	11.12	11 pts · 5 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 5-11 FG
10	Jalen Pickett	10.05	6 pts · 5 reb · 4 ast · 2 stl · 2-6 FG
11	Malik Monk	9.43	18 pts · 5 ast · 4 reb · 1 stl · 5-11 FG
12	Steven Adams	9.41	4 pts · 6 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 2-4 FG
13	Bogdan Bogdanovic	9.21	10 pts · 5 reb · 2 ast · 1 stl · 2-4 FG
14	Aaron Holiday	9.16	13 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 4-9 FG
15	Rayan Rupert	8.71	14 pts · 6 reb · 3 ast · 2 stl · 6-11 FG

Stats per country

	COUNTRY	STATS	PLAYERS
1	United States	660 points · 209 rebounds · 150 assists	60
	Rest of the World	289 points · 655 rebounds · 220 assists	25
2	France	55 points · 22 rebounds · 8 assists	4
3	Serbia	46 points · 17 rebounds · 10 assists	2
4	Croatia	33 points · 7 rebounds · 1 assist	1
5	Canada	32 points · 12 assists · 6 rebounds ·	2
6	Turkey	22 points · 15 rebounds · 5 assists	1
7	Israel	16 points · 6 rebounds · 6 assists	1
8	Lithuania	15 points · 6 rebounds · 2 assists	1
9	Belgium	15 points · 5 assists · 4 rebounds ·	1
10	Nigeria	12 points · 9 rebounds · 2 assists	2
11	Portugal	9 points · 10 rebounds · 0 assists	1
12	Jamaica	7 points · 1 rebound · 1 assist	1
13	Spain	6 points · 3 rebounds · 1 assist	1
14	Cameroon	5 points · 8 rebounds · 0 assists	1
15	Switzerland	4 points · 2 rebounds · 0 assists	1
16	Puerto Rico	4 points · 9 assists · 5 rebounds ·	1
17	New Zealand	4 points · 6 rebounds · 2 assists	1
18	Australia	2 points · 2 rebounds · 1 assist	1
19	Slovenia	2 points · 2 rebounds · 1 assist	1
20	Greece	0 points · 0 rebounds · 0 assists	1

* Includes players who represent national teams other than Team USA

All-Time Ranking

	PLAYER	CATEGORY	RANK	PASSED
	DeMar DeRozan	Scoring	23	Vince Carter
	Nikola Jokić	Assists	51	Chauncey Billups
	Jonas Valančiūnas	Rebounds	61	Shawn Kemp
	Kawhi Leonard	Scoring	157	Byron Scott

Sneakers

BRAND	STATS	PLAYERS
Nike	354 points · 121 rebounds · 86 assists	39
Adidas	157 points · 56 rebounds · 25 assists	12
Puma	69 points · 20 rebounds · 15 assists	4
Jordan Brand	55 points · 13 rebounds · 10 assists	4
New Balance	35 points · 13 assists · 12 rebounds ·	2
Li-Ning	15 points · 4 assists · 1 rebound ·	1
Anta	4 points · 6 rebounds · 0 assists	1
Andiem	2 points · 3 rebounds · 1 assist	1

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: HoopsHype Daily ReportHoopsHype Daily: Nikola Jokic dominates, Bobby Portis breaks out and more

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.

During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.

Jeremy Lin took the NBA world by storm midway through the 2011-12 season when he moved into the New York Knicks' starting lineup and put together an extended stretch of big-scoring games. He had gone undrafted in 2010 out of Harvard University, not exactly a high-level basketball school, and was a seemingly invisible rookie with the Golden State Warriors, but he seemingly shot himself out of a cannon with New York.

It sparked a phenomenon people referred to as "Linsanity," and even after the rest of the league adjusted to him and his production regressed to a more consistent mean, a sizable amount of the hype surrounding him remained.

In the summer of 2014, the rebuilding Lakers acquired Lin in a trade with the Houston Rockets. By now, he was straddling the line between a low-tier starting point guard and a very solid reserve point guard. He played one season with the Lakers and started in 30 of 74 games while averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 assists in 25.8 minutes a game.

He left L.A. following that season and would have short stints with the Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors before his NBA career ended. He finished with league career averages of 11.6 points on 43.3% field-goal shooting and 4.3 assists in 25.5 minutes a game.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 17 — Jeremy Lin

Two key Cavs players ruled out vs. Wizards, but there’s a positive update appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will not have Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill for Friday’s road matchup against the Washington Wizards, extending their absences and leaving the wine and gold without those two key players for the fifth straight game. Despite the team ruling them out, however, both have made progress this week.

After Thursday’s practice, Merrill was wearing a wrap partially on his right hand while going through a workout.

“Really good news,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said, glancing over at Merrill dribbling against two of his assistant coaches. “[He’s] actually shooting with his shooting hand, which is a pleasant sight to see.”

Before that, Merrill hadn’t been able to do anything with his right hand, which has been swollen and sprained since a reach-in attempt on Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in mid-November. There is nothing structurally wrong with it, but Cleveland’s swingman hadn’t been able to catch or shoot. At least now he’s showing the ability to do one of those things.

Allen only participated in half of the Cavs’ latest practice and didn’t take full-on contact. Unfortunately, that is a downgrade from Tuesday afternoon’s session where he did everything. Allen has been dealing with two separate finger injuries on each hand, with his left ring finger fractured and his right third finger strained.

In addition to Merrill and Allen, Cleveland veteran forward Larry Nance Jr. was getting shots up after practice at the near court with a wrap on his right calf.

Atkinson also spoke about Max Strus’ return status, which hasn’t changed from the three-to-four months the organization initially estimated as the recovery time post-surgery.

“Just kind of no update in terms of, ‘Hey, it’s gonna be faster or slower,'” Atkinson said. “Same timeline. I think he’s in a good way in terms of his recovery.”

Strus is making his way back from a Jones fracture in his left foot, while Merrill and Allen are inching closer to coming back to the floor.

Related: Why Kenny Atkinson called out Cavs’ best players first in tough-love film study

Related: New Cavs’ Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill injury updates emerge before Wizards game

Cavaliers injury report for Dec. 12 vs. Wizards: Jarrett Allen among four listed as out originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (14-11) will come back from their six-day break to take on the Washington Wizards (3-19) on Dec. 12.

Cleveland will hope to get the same momentum back that it had at the beginning of the season. In their past seven games, the Cavaliers have a 2-5 record.

In the Cavaliers' injury report for the contest, five players have been listed as out.

Jarrett Allen (finger) among four players listed out for the Cavaliers

According to Thursday's injury report, Cleveland listed Jarrett Allen (finger), Sam Merrill (hand), Larry Nance Jr. (calf), and Max Strus (foot) as out for Friday against the Washington Wizards.

Allen, 27, will miss his sixth straight game after suffering an injury to a finger on his right hand. It's a different setback than the fractured finger he suffered earlier in the season.

Sam Merrill will miss his 11th in a row, and Larry Nance Jr. will miss his sixth straight while continuing to recover from injuries of their own.

Meanwhile, Max Strus is yet to make his 2025-26 debut after suffering a left foot fracture back in August that required surgery. The initial recovery timeline was three to four months, so the 29-year-old has a chance of returning sometime this month.

Washington will be without Bilal Coulibaly (oblique), Corey Kispert (finger), Khris Middleton (knee), and Alex Sarr (adductor). Malaki Branham is listed as questionable while also dealing with a finger injury of his own.

More NBA news:

• 76ers injury report for Dec. 12 vs. Pacers: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and more listed

• Concern rises for Devin Booker as Suns superstar continues absence

• Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns gets positive injury designation ahead of matchup vs Raptors

• Nets G Cam Thomas trends towards return from hamstring strain

• Lakers reportedly have interest in trading for one of the NBA's best defenders

• One of the most unbreakable streaks in sports history has come to an end

Would the Boston Celtics be able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals? To be clear, even as good as the Celtics are playing right now, they likely would not stand a chance against the Thunder in a seven-game series as currently constructed, but if star forward Jayson Tatum were able to return to action playing something like his usual self by the end of the regular season, plus whatever other talent Boston could add at the trade deadline.

Could that version of the Celtics stand a chance against OKC? What about over the next five seasons? The folks behind the "New England Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Hold My Banner" show, with hosts Adam Kaufman and Ountae Campbell digging into what the future holds for Boston in terms of their contention windows.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about the Celtics, the Thunder, and hanging banners.

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Would the Celtics be able to beat the Thunder in the NBA Finals?

Bombshell Draymond Green trade update forces Steph Curry, Warriors into lose-lose scenario originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 13-12 Golden State Warriors immediately became a prospective trade destination for 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo once his reported dissatisfaction with the Milwaukee Bucks hit a new fever pitch.

For a dynastic franchise aiming to provide their 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry with a real opportunity to claim his fifth title, the idea makes plenty of sense.

Some in the NBA media sphere have even speculated that cutting ties with 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green via trade might be the only way for the Warriors to get an Antetokounmpo deal across the finish line.

According to a stern update from ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, that final note couldn't be further from the truth, as their front office has given no indication that the 9-time All-Defensive Team selection is available for trade.

"I don't know how many times we have to say it, but the Warriors WILL NOT be trading Draymond Green," Siegel shared via X/Twitter on Thursday morning.

"As we've reported, it would take Green, Kerr, and Curry all signing off on (an Antetokounmpo trade), and Green himself would need to be the one to say he wanted to be traded."

The outspoken future Hall of Famer might be safe from trade speculation for the moment.

At 35 years old, he's still proven his worth as one of the best defensive players in all of basketball while averaging 8.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists along with a 1.9 defensive box plus-minus.

With that being said, his continued presence severely decreasing the likelihood of Antetokounmpo's arrival could lead to both Curry and head coach Steve Kerr being placed in a tough position.

With regard to Siegel's update, both powerful voices in the Warriors' locker room would have to 'sign off' on the exit, creating a clear direction for blame following the franchise-altering decision.

In this spot, both Curry and Kerr won't be able to win. If the duo were to green-light the deal, they'd be severing ties with the organization's heart and soul.

On the other hand, refusing to ship Green out for sentimental reasons with a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber waiting in the wings would be met with similar outrage and disbelief.

Either way, feeling would be hurt if negotiations for a blockbuster move to land the Bucks' 2021 Finals MVP were to heat up in the future.

More NBA: 76ers injury report for Dec. 12 vs. Pacers: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and more listed

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 12th of 15 players who wore the No. 33 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State forward alum Jermareo Davidson. After ending his college career at Alabama, Davidson was picked up with the 36th overall selection of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Dubs.

The Atlanta, Georgia native played the first season of his pro career with the Charlotte Hornets after a draft night deal. He signed with Golden State the following season, his last stop in the NBA.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Davidson wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history - No. 33 - Jermareo Davidson (2007)

All signs point towards the Golden State Warriors getting their starting point guard back on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After missing the last five games due to a quad injury, Steph Curry is expected to return from his injury absence on Friday night against Anthony Edwards on Friday night at Chase Center.

Curry suffered his quad injury late in the game against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 26. Without Curry over the next five games, the Warriors posted a 3-2 record and are currently riding a two-game winning streak heading into Friday's rematch of Golden State's second-round playoff series against Minnesota from last year.

Curry was on the floor for Golden State's practice on Wednesday. Curry participated in a scrimmage on Wednesday, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.

Via @anthonyVslater on X:

Steph Curry is expected back tomorrow night. Fourteen of the Warriors’ next 20 games are at home. The schedule is spread out. Their defense is ranked third

NBA Today hit on a crucial opportunity for them to make a move in the standings pic.twitter.com/gW1w9SBwa3

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 11, 2025

In 16 games, Curry is averaging 27.9 points on 47.1% shooting from the field and 39.1% from deep to go along with four assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Curry is set to join a new-look backcourt with the recent addition of his brother, Seth Curry, along with the return from injury of De'Anthony Melton.

The Warriors are set to host the Timberwolves at Chase Center on Friday night at 7 p.m. PT.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Steph Curry (quad) expected to return on Friday vs. Timberwolves

76ers injury report for Dec. 12 vs. Pacers: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and more listed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia 76ers (13-10) will look to get back in the win column after losing a close contest to the Los Angeles Lakers (17-7) on Sunday.

Philadelphia will take on a struggling Indiana Pacers (6-18) team at home in what will be their first game of the week.

In the 76ers' initial injury report for the game, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and multiple other players are included on the list of players battling setbacks.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey listed as probable for Dec. 11 vs. Pacers

The Philadelphia 76ers reported that Joel Embiid (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (illness) are probable, Jared McCain (thumb) will be available, and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), Hunter Sallis (shoulder), and Trendon Watford (adductor) will all miss the contest.

Embiid, 31, will be in line to play in his second straight game for the first time this season. The five-day break between games could have played a role in this move; his designation is a positive sign.

Maxey, 25, came up with a sickness that seems to be a consistent pattern throughout the NBA. The extended break in between games was beneficial, and he's expected to be available on Friday.

Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. will miss his 12th straight game after a knee sprain on Nov. 14.

Hunter Sallis will miss his fourth straight with a shoulder strain, and Trendon Watford will miss his seventh while recovering from a left adductor sprain.

It's worth noting that Paul George isn't listed on the report. The 76ers will most likely have their big three (Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George) for just the third time this season.

More NBA news:

• Concern rises for Devin Booker as Suns superstar continues absence

• Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns gets positive injury designation ahead of matchup vs Raptors

• Nets G Cam Thomas trends towards return from hamstring strain

• Lakers reportedly have interest in trading for one of the NBA's best defenders

• One of the most unbreakable streaks in sports history has come to an end

Did Giannis Antetokounmpo get traded? Why Spurs fans think Bucks star is changing teams in fake viral post originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is viewed as a prime trade candidate at this point.

Maybe the Milwaukee Bucks' superstar needs to return from his calf strain injury, but it feels like a matter of when, not if, Giannis will be traded away from the Bucks.

But it hasn't happened yet.

That's despite the fact that fans are encountering all sorts of viral (but fake) rumors about a Giannis trade on social media.

MORE: This Warriors news leak about a Draymond-Giannis trade is hilarious

Did Giannis Antetokounmpo get traded?

No, Giannis has not been traded as of 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 11.

That's not to say he won't be, but he's still with the Bucks right now.

The most viral rumor involving this comes from popular parody account NBA Centel, which posted this on Thursday:

BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the San Antonio Spurs. pic.twitter.com/matuAG37Ci

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) December 11, 2025

Centel has had an eerie track record of getting news "right," just well ahead of time. So maybe the Spurs' fanbase should still be excited.

But for now, Giannis remains in Milwaukee.

One key date is coming up: Many players who signed in the offseason become eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. So once that comes, teams will be able to make fuller offers for Antetokounmpo. And maybe that's when a move will finally take place.

More NBA news:

• 3 Eastern Conference teams chasing after Anthony Davis trade
• Pelicans' Derik Queen puts up crazy numbers only done in recent NBA history by LeBron James, Nikola Jokic
• Rich Paul makes the LeBron James trade plans clear
• Desmond Bane offers $35,000 explanation for NBA Cup outburst
• Why it's time for the Pelicans to move on from Zion

Shams Charania: Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey will be re-evaluated in four weeks with a stress reaction in his left ankle. "This is a management plan to optimize Zach's long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts," Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Zach Edey will be sidelined for at least four weeks with stress reaction in ankle

Damichael Cole: Zach Edey recently told me that he was dealing with some soreness after games in his ankle, but it didn’t sound like major thing. Not sure if this is related, but this is a major gut-punch after Memphis started going on a run with Edey back.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Damichael Cole: Zach Edey recently told me that he was …

Morant, who has been dealing with a right calf strain suffered from a game on Nov. 15 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, was a full participant in a Grizzlies practice on Dec. 11. "He was able to go through the whole practice today, which is very encouraging," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said. "Now we'll see how his body responds to it, then we can make the decision."

Memphis Commercial Appeal

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ja Morant could return against Utah?

NBA Communications: The Athletic’s suggestion that an increase in games missed by star players is related to the early-season schedule is inaccurate and misleading. https://nytimes.com/athletic/6854109/2025/12/02/nba-cup-schedule-egor-demin-nets/ Here are the facts:

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The Athletic’s suggestion that an increase in games missed by star players is related to the early-season schedule is inaccurate and misleading. https://t.co/vaZbT9p1pV

Here are the facts: pic.twitter.com/OMhCqrjVz5

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Communications: The Athletic’s suggestion that an …

NBA on ESPN: Former NBA player, Jason Collins, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma this summer. Jason and his husband, Brunson, traveled to Singapore to try an experimental treatment that will give him more time. @ramonashelburne was able to sit down with him as he talks about his journey ❤️

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Former NBA player, Jason Collins, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma this summer. Jason and his husband, Brunson, traveled to Singapore to try an experimental treatment that will give him more time. @ramonashelburne was able to sit down with him as he talks about his… pic.twitter.com/WrkQesnNwJ

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA on ESPN: Former NBA player, Jason Collins, was …

Isaiah "J.R." Rider, the former Los Angeles Lakers player who now lives in Gilbert, has been arrested for violating a protective order, TMZ has reported.

Rider's son, Isaiah IV, is a 6-foot-2 freshman point guard on Gilbert Higley High's varsity basketball team.

According to the TMZ report, J.R. Rider, 54, was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with one count of interfering with judicial proceedings.

TMZ received court documents that stated, "J.R.'s wife, Vanessa, filed for a protective order back in July 2025."

In the application, the news outlet reports, she alleged Rider was aggressive on multiple occasions, including a time when she claims Isaiah said, "You're gonna get your ass slapped," adding, "Shut the (expletive) up before I kick this door down and whoop you."

The story says Vanessa said the comments were directed at both her and her 15-year-old son.

Isaiah responded to the allegations, writing, "I deny the allegations. She did this because I filed for divorce," TMZ reported.

TMZ reported that court records show Rider filed for divorce in November 2024.

According to the report, Vanessa obtained the protective order in July. It reported that J.R. couldn't have contact with her and his 15-year-old son and was ordered to stay away from their residence and his high school.

A hearing, TMZ reports, is scheduled for Dec. 17. At that time, it will be determined if the protective order should continue.

The Arizona Republic wrote a story in June during Section 7 about Higley basketball welcoming Isaiah Rider IV as an incoming freshman. J.R., a nine-year NBA veteran who starred at UNLV, attended his son's game that day and spoke to The Republic.

He said he had been taking Isaiah IV with him to Lifetime Fitness since he was 4, working with him in basketball.

"We've been at it a long time," J.R. said in that interview. "My advice is to be better than I was. Be more professional. Realize the moment that you're in and take advantage of the situation. The basketball window sometimes is short. Nothing is guaranteed.

"I try to teach him to be high character, high quality. Enjoy the game. And give him everything that I had as a player."

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former NBA player Isaiah Rider arrested, TMZ report says

This is what Giannis Antetokounmpo is discussing with Bucks' front office ahead of trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The news that Giannis Antetokounmpo was meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks' front office to discuss his future didn't stick around that long. 

That's because that very night, Giannis got hurt, what ended up being termed a calf strain.

But that, if anything, only delays the conversations. It doesn't make them go away.

So of course, everyone wants to know what's being talked about.

Spotrac's Keith Smith has provided some probable insight in a new article on Thursday.

"All of the reports are congealing around the same thing: We’re at the end of the line for Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee," Smith writes. "The discussions that the Bucks franchise player, his reps and the team’s decision makers are having are likely more about handling this exit gracefully vs trying yet again to rebuild around Antetokounmpo."

MORE: This Warriors news leak about a Draymond-Giannis trade is hilarious

The injury has delayed what many around the league seem to think is inevitable.

"Once we hit the point where it’s a known thing that Milwaukee is moving Antetokounmpo, 29 teams are going to line up their offers," Smith writes. "From there, it’s about the Bucks deciding on their post-Giannis direction, while trying to accommodate Antetokounmpo as a thank you for all he’s done for the franchise."

A Giannis trade could change the entire balance of the NBA, both now and in the future. He'd be one of the best players to ever be traded in his prime.

At this point, the Bucks are trying to do right by Antetokounmpo, but they'll also want to make sure they get the best possible value out of a deal. The time appears to be coming.

More NBA news:

• 3 Eastern Conference teams chasing after Anthony Davis trade
• Pelicans' Derik Queen puts up crazy numbers only done in recent NBA history by LeBron James, Nikola Jokic
• Rich Paul makes the LeBron James trade plans clear
• Desmond Bane offers $35,000 explanation for NBA Cup outburst
• Why it's time for the Pelicans to move on from Zion

Lakers' four-team trade proposal involving Anthony Davis lands declining Warriors guard originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Feb. 5 trade deadline is right around the corner, meaning fans should expect the Los Angeles Lakers and several other franchises to make meaningful moves. 

The Lakers aren’t opposed to bolstering their wing depth, likely making ESPN’s latest four-team trade proposal involving Anthony Davis a legitimate possibility. The massive multi-team trade idea would land the franchise a declining Golden State Warriors guard.

“Davis would be the rim threat as a roll man the Warriors have long sought,” ESPN wrote Thursday. “They could also save money this season by structuring this as a multiteam deal, sending (Buddy) Hield to a third team. In this case, he goes to the rival Lakers to supply the shooting threat they need.”

ESPN’s full trade proposal sends Davis and Mason Plumlee to the Warriors; Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks; Hield to the Lakers; and Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets. 

Hield’s trade value is as low as it could be, 25 games into the season. Considering the 32-year-old doesn’t offer much resistance on the defensive end, his three-point shooting is what helps him positively impact games for the Dubs.

When Hield isn’t on fire from deep, though, it’s challenging to justify giving him significant minutes on the hardwood. Unfortunately, Hield is struggling mightily from long range, as he’s a 30.5% three-point shooter thus far after finishing the 2024-25 campaign with a 37.0% long-range shooting percentage. 

Still, the Oklahoma product has proven he can be a lethal perimeter threat when he’s in a zone, which could compel the Lakers to complete a risky trade. 

Hield shot above 40% from distance during the first two months of last year’s season and helped the Dubs get off to a surprisingly fast start.

Time will tell if Hield emerges as a trade target for the 17-7 Lakers.

More NBA: Spurs' Stephon Castle makes basketball history never done ever before in NBA

Michael Scotto: Update: The New York Knicks say Miles McBride (sprained left ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Michael Scotto: Update: The New York Knicks say Miles …

Player listed as most likely to be traded by Warriors is obvious originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.