[Leigh Ellis] asked Kevin Durant, who is currently 6th all-time in scoring, if he thinks he could catch Kareem and end up 2nd. (He did the math to show him what he needs)
Derrick Rose says he doesn’t want the Bulls to give him a statue after seeing Dwyane Wade’s statue
[Charania] Denver’s Nikola Jokic – out since Dec. 29 with a knee injury – plans to return tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at home, sources tell ESPN. Jokic now is in position to also play in Sunday’s showdown vs. Oklahoma City in Denver and be eligible for the season awards.
[Grange] Anonymous NBA exec says he wouldn’t trade Scottie Barnes for Giannis: “One guy is 31 and he’s going to want that extension and the other is 24 and you have him for four more years after this one. Is Giannis going to be the better player over those years? I don’t know about that.”
[Highlight] Caleb Martin goes up for a pathetic dunk attempt instead of throwing the lob pass to a wide-open Coop that would’ve given him a 50-piece. He then promptly gets benched by Kidd. (time-stamp: 5 min. left to go in the 4th)
Despite the loss to Charlotte, Cooper Flagg— at 19 years and 39 days old— becomes the youngest player in NBA history to score 45+ points: 49 PTS │ 10 REB │ 3 AST │ 20-29 FG │ 3-5 3P │ 6-6 FT
[Windhorst] The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a team that has surfaced in trade conversations ahead of the deadline: “Here’s an interesting name: Isaiah Hartenstein. He’s got a team option next year for $29 million. I’ve actually heard the Oklahoma City Thunder’s name in some trade chatter.”
[Fedor] The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers are discussing a trade that would have Cleveland send De’Andre Hunter to LA in exchange for Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht.
[Barry Jackson] “The Heat could have been able to make easily the best offer for Giannis (4 firsts, Ware, Herro, 1 other player) if the NBA had simply done the right thing and given the Heat its pick back for being the victim of what would be a crime in any other real-life transaction. “
The Denver Nuggets close out their stretch without Nikola Jokic with a 10-6 record
[Highlight] Donte DiVincenzo puts the clamps on SGA to force a turnover
[Charania] Denver’s Nikola Jokic – out since Dec. 29 with a knee injury – plans to return tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at home, sources tell ESPN. Jokic now is in position to also play in Sunday’s showdown vs. Oklahoma City in Denver and be eligible for the season awards.
With their loss tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder can no longer tie the Chicago Bulls 72-10 record
With Nikola Jokic’s return tonight, he will have missed only 16 games, 2 games shy of being ineligible. Jokic is now firmly back in the MVP race.
The OKC Thunder have lost 4 of their last 7 games.
[Post Game Thread] The Minnesota Timberwolves (30-19) defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder (38-11), 123-111.
The Celtics are 6.5 points per 100 possessions better with Jaylen Brown off the court vs on the court this season. This would be the worst on/off differential for a top-5 MVP in recorded league history (going back to 1996-97 when plus-minus records begin)
[Highlight] Eric Collins on Cooper Flagg in the clutch: “Let him shoot a 3, go for it.” Flagg hits the clutch 3 to tie the game -Collins: “OH MY GOODNESS”
[Highlight] Luka after falling off the raised board in Cleveland last night: “WHO THE F*CK MADE THIS FLOOR GODDAMMIT”
[Urbonas] Lakers center Jaxson Hayes closes in on acquiring Slovenian citizenship
[Post Game Thread] The Phoenix Suns (29-19) blowout the Detroit Pistons (34-12), 114-96 as Dillon “The All-Star” Brooks explodes for a career high 40pts/8reb/4ast and primary defense
Jamal Murray stats without Nikola Jokic: 27.8 pts, 8.3 ast, 4.2 reb on 50/41/87 shooting splits
[Highlight] Cooper Flagg drains the 3-pointer to tie the game for the Mavericks. He has 49 points, the most ever by a Mavericks rookie.
[Highlight] Kon Knueppel (career-high 34 PTS) and Cooper Flagg (career-high 49 PTS) combine for 83 points, the most of any two opposing rookies in over 50 years. They are the first pair of opposing rookies from the same college to each score 30+ in the same game.
Joel Embiid continues his domination with another monster performance in double-digit comeback 76ers win: 36 minutes played, 37 points (13-21 FG; 10-13 FT), 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, +9!
The Thunder and Hornets are both 14 and 10 in their last 24 games
[Highlight] Cooper Flagg scores 49, but it’s Kon Knueppel’s deflection and drive to the basket that wins It
Kon Knueppel in the win against Mavericks: 34 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 8-12 3P
Tim MacMahon on conversation with Nico Harrison following Luka Doncic calf strain: “If you want to complain about his conditioning then put your name on it, because I’m tired of taking all the heat. What are you gonna do about it? ‘If I gotta trade him, I’ll trade his ass’”
[Post Game Thread] The Charlotte Hornets (21-28) defeat the Dallas Mavericks (19-29), 123-121.
Mark Aguirre was overcome with emotion when a reporter asked what it meant to have his best friend, Isiah Thomas, here for his jersey retirement.
Aguirre broke down in tears and Thomas immediately rushed to comfort him and also asked Rolando Blackman to join him.
[ESPN] “In October, Kawhi invited a group of 30 local high school students to Intuit Dome for a guided mindfulness event, featuring gentle yoga and a sound bath. “If you practice this every day,” he told the kids as he demonstrated a reverse warrior yoga pose, “those aches and pains will go away”.”
[Slater] Raptors still interested in Domantas Sabonis
Jaylon Tyson: “I was cut my 9th grade year, I was told I wasn’t athletic enough… I’ll never let nobody say that about me ever again.” -Donovan Mitchell: “Michael Jordan got cut too.” -Jaylon Tyson: “I’m not Michael Jordan.”
Cleveland has their floor as a unique home hazard to players. If your team can install one appropriate unique hazard, what would your team install?
[Neubeck] Spoke to a league source this morning who completely shot down the idea that the Sixers would trade VJ Edgecombe in any move, including in speculative deals people are talking about for Giannis. Should go without saying, but he’s part of the foundation in Philly.
Dillon Brooks’s night is done with a 40-piece: 40 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
DUKE ROOKIES BATTLE: Cooper Flagg Today: 49 POINTS, 10 REBOUNDS, 3 ASSISTS on 20-28 shooting, 3-5 from 3 and a +3 in 38 minutes. Kon Kneuppel had 34 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists on 10-16 from the field, 8-12 3 PT FG shooting and 6-6 from the line.
Did we just get an all-time rookie vs rookie matchup with Cooper Flagg vs Kon Knueppel?
[Highlight] The Sixers execute the PERFECT INBOUNDS PLAY and Tyrese Maxey hits the game-winning buzzer-beater!
Scottie Barnes on DPOY: “I feel like I don’t really get the recognition that I deserve yet. I’m gonna keep being me. I feel like nothing’s really changed with the way I’m playing defensively out there on the floor but it just comes into more like once we start winning games which we’re doing now”
[Charania] Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks with a right hamstring strain, sources tell ESPN. Gordon re-aggravated the previous hamstring injury he sustained in late November.
Michael Porter Jr. against the Nuggets tonight: 38/10/3, 13-18 FG, 7-15 3P, 2 steals, 2 blocks
[Yahoo Sports] - JJ Redick, Lakers take issue with Cavaliers’ raised court after Luka Dončić injures leg: ‘Absolutely a safety hazard’
Joel Embiid: “Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax past couple of years… I don’t know what they’re gonna do… we’ve got a good group of guys… the vibes are great… In the past we’ve been I guess ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving because I think we have a chance.”
Collin Gillespie: “We have two all stars on our team. This man’s [Dillon Brooks] an all star. Get your phones out, start voting”
[Vardon] One day after Lakers star Luka Dončić narrowly avoids serious injury, NBA and Cavs agree to look for solutions to Cleveland’s unique, potentially dangerous court design
[Stein/Fischer] Sacramento’s conversations on a Keon Ellis trade have only intensified with Cleveland joining the large group of teams vying for the in-demand swingman.