nba

LeBron even has handshakes for the photographers

[Associated Press] Victor Wembanyama makes his case for NBA’s MVP Award: “My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league… Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC”

[Charania] The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Cam Thomas just weeks after signing him, sources tell ESPN.

[Injury] Moses Moody with a gruesome non-contact knee-injury.. GRAPHIC

[Highlight] Announcer right before the Spurs Heat game: As great as Wemby is, he has never scored 83 in a game

[Highlight] Nick Nurse shouting at the refs (about OKC): “They are NOT perfect. They are not perfect. They foul too! They foul too, though!”

The spurs have won 22 of the last 23 games Wemby has played

Ausar Thompson on what it’d mean for him if the Pistons clinch the 1st seed in the East: “I want the biggest thing… Woah! Woah! My fault. I want to win a championship.”

Derrick White clears the record and says he indeed does NOT believe in the moon landing: “I don’t think we did. I’m a non-moon landing guy. We probably did, but I don’t think we did…I have other conspiracies, but I don’t know if this is the right time to bring them up”

[Highlight] Jared McCain hits back-to-back threes in his Philadelphia return! Tyrese Maxey’s expression says it all:

[Post Game Thread] The Detroit Pistons (52-19) hold back the Los Angeles Lakers (46-26), 113-110.

[Highlight] The full Victor Wembanyama sequence from the 2nd quarter, where he comes up with an incredible block, tosses a lob to Carter Bryant, and forces a timeout from Miami after back-to-back slam dunks.

The Dallas Mavericks are eliminated from playoff contention

[Highlight] Victor Wembanyama makes Norman Powell touch earth and then dunks home his own miss

[Amick] League executives do not believe LeBron James will return to the Los Angeles Lakers after this season. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are viewed as his top landing spots.

Ime Udoka rips his team: “Poor start. Disrespected the game. Not prepared from the get go. Just non-aggressive. Following them around and watching them shoot … Weren’t prepared to play at all.”

Victor Wembanyama in a dominant win against the Heat: 26/15/4 and 5 blocks in 26 minutes, +18 on the night

[Highlight] Joe Mazzulla assaults Derrick White

[Injury] Moses Moody is taken out on a stretcher after a gruesome non-contact injury, after stealing the ball from Cooper Flagg in a clutch moment in OT, and during a wide open layup (with replays). Including reactions by players, fans and announcers. NBC and Warriors commentaries

Zach Lowe discussing Wemby: “I don’t know that any statistical system can quantify what he is doing on every single possession defensively… He’s the most dominant defensive player I’ve ever seen.

[Highlight] Evan Turner on Spo campaigning for Bam to win DPOY: We need a best friend, a girlfriend, a homie, a lawyer, finance adviser that supports us the way Spoelstra supports Bam Adebayo

[Charania] Former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz is signing a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors, Raymond Brothers of I Am Sports & Entertainment tells ESPN. Fultz joins Toronto for his ninth NBA season after spending time with the Raptors 905 G League team.

[Highlight] Wemby blocks Norman Powell’s reverse layup from the other side of the rim

Carter Bryant jumps as high as Daryl Morey was when he traded McCain and blocks Pelle Larsson (Replays in the comments)

[Tom Orsborn] Wemby states his case for MVP:

[Highlight] Daniss Jenkins goes 4-4 at the line in the final minute and drills the game-winner to cap his career-high 30-point night for the Pistons. Detroit’s fourth win in a row snaps the Lakers’ 9-game winning streak.

Scottie Pippen in new Mr. Pibb advert: “When something has been considered second-best for so long, we just blindly accept it as gospel….A decade-long plot built on marketing, social media and multi-part documentaries.”

Jalen Williams goes for 18/4/6 in return from injury against the 76ers

The Thunder and Spurs are a combined 31-3 since the all star break

Ace Bailey continues his growth with an efficient game: 37 points on 11-21 shooting, 7-10 from three, 8-8 free throws, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

The Mavericks have been eliminated from the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since trading Luka Doncic.

[Post Game] Victor Wembanyama in the win tonight vs Heat: 26 points, 15 rebs, 4 asts, 5 blks, on ¹¹⁄₂₂ fg shooting

[Highlight] Jalen Duren locks up Luka Doncic, who has to take a very difficult turnaround 3-point attempt to tie the game, and he airballs it - Pistons win.

With a replay

[Charania] Mexico’s Karim Lopez – the No. 11 prospect on ESPN’s Big Board – has declared for the 2026 NBA draft and is projected to become the first first-round pick of Mexican descent.

[Highlight] Daniss Jenkins answers back with a clutch fadeaway over Austin Reaves to give the Pistons the lead (with replays). He also sinks the two clutch free throws. NEW CAREER-HIGH 30 points to Jenkins (previous was 26)

Moses Moody leaving the American Airlines Center after his non contact knee injury

[Charania] The NBA has informed teams that the league is projecting a \(165 million salary cap for 2026-27 -- \)1M lower than previous outlooks due to a reduction in local media revenue. Minimum salary (\(149M, tax level \)201M, first apron (\(209M, second apron \)222M) also $1M lower each.

Oklahoma City Thunder announce arena-naming rights partnership with Continental Resources, a global leader in fracking and petroleum extraction.

Spencer Jones made a LinkedIn post about having two game winners hit on him in the same week

VJ Edgecombe despite the loss: 35/6/4 on 62.5 TS%

[Highlight] Sengun with the poster on Leonard Miller

[Post Game Thread] The San Antonio Spurs (54-18) defeat the Miami Heat (38-34), 136-111 behind a dominant Wembanyama 2 way performance

Toumani Camara in a win against the Nets tonight: 35 PTS | 9-11 3PT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL

[Post Game Thread] The Oklahoma City Thunder (56-15) defeat the Philadelphia 76ers (39-32), 123-103.

[Highlight] Rockets announcer Craig Ackerman calls Şengün dunk “frame-mogging after some jester gooning”

[Highlight] Harper bullies Herro

[Highlights] Victor Wembanyama manges to save the long pass with his right hand, passing to De’Aaron Fox in the corner, who then drives and lobs it to Wemby, who dunks it with the same right (with replays). Spurs and NBC commentaries

Lakers color commentator Stu Lantz laughing at game winners while the play-by-play guy goes nuts, 31 years apart.