[Charania] Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte –before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.
[Highlight] Chaotic ending between Warriors vs Suns game.
In a close game between the Jazz & Hawks Lauri Markkanen got subbed off with 17 minutes left on the game and never got back to the court
New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud on Adam Silver’s role in CBA negotiations: “We will not fucking move until you move. If the pressure is on Engelbert, on Adam Silver, on everyone in that front office, do your job and pay your players, your people, your workers.”
Jock Landale drove 5.5 hours to score 26 points in his Hawks debut
Tyrese gets emotional about the McCain trade: “He was a little brother to me dawg, like the first real rookie-vet to me. I hope he succeeds and he has a fan and brother in me for life. I woke up this morning and realized damn I’m not gonna see JMac downstairs anymore”
Michael Porter Jr. talks about when he accidentally leaked Adam Silver’s number on Snapchat as a rookie: “I’m thinking I’m getting kicked out the league… They had me walk up there in front of all these guys and apologize. That was the most embarrassing time of my life.”
Cooper Flagg over the last 4 games: 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists on 64.1% True Shooting percentage
[Post Game Thread] The Charlotte Hornets (24-28) defeat the Houston Rockets (31-19), 109-99 to win their 8th straight game.
[Ellis] Kevin Durant shows his respect for Hawks rookie Asa Newell after betting that Newell wouldn’t hit a three
[Highlight] Reaves plays perfect defense to avoid Embiid’s rip-through attempts and forces a turnover
Cooper Flagg against the Spurs: 32/6/4 on 14-27 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT with two steals and three blocks–this makes him the first teenager with 30+ points in four consecutive games, passing Cooper Flagg’s record of three
Jock Landale on opting to drive to Atlanta from Memphis rather than fly: “I kind of said, if I’m looking to play that next night, I want to get there as soon as possible. So I loaded up the truck and hit the road.”
KD says he doesn’t want wear Thunder or Warriors Jersey at Hall of Fame induction
[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (31-19) defeat the Philadelphia 76ers (31-22), 119-115 behind an Austin Reaves masterclass 35/6/2 on 87% ts in 25 minutes!
Nikola Vucevic will be playing against the Miami Heat tonight for the 4th time this week
James Harden had interest in getting traded back to Houston, but they showed little interest, per @ramonashelburne
[Smith] The fact that Boston went from miles over the second apron to completely under the luxury tax in two transactions windows (offseason and trade deadline) AND have maintained being a playoff team is remarkable. Incredible work on the part of everyone involved. Gap Year Schmap Year.
[Highlight] Lebron With A POWER Slam in transition!
Raptors GM Bobby Webster on CP3: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. Chris Paul’s probably one of my favorite players ever… it’s a weird thing to trade for him… he’s at this point in his career… we’ll waive him here at the appropriate time.”
The Charlotte Hornets beat the 31-18 Rockets, bringing their win streak to 8, which is their largest win streak since 1999
[Charania] BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN.
[Highlight] LeBron shows off his bag
[Jones] BREAKING: Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson has suffered a grade 2 left hamstring strain and is expected to miss extended time, League Sources tell The Athletic. Watson had been a breakout star for the Nuggets. This adds to their injury misfortune.
Giannis Antetokounmpo after the end of the trade deadline on Instagram: “Legends don’t chase. They attract 💯😎
[Spence] Anthony Davis will wear No. 23 for the Washington Wizards, according to the Monumental Sports broadcast. 23 years ago, Michael Jordan was the last player to wear 23 for the Wizards. Look at how the stars aligned.
[Highlight] Austin Reaves takes the grenade from Kleber and sinks the deep 3 to beat the clock
[Charania] The Brooklyn Nets are waiving Cam Thomas, allowing the scoring guard to enter free agency, sources tell ESPN. The Nets made the decision to allow Thomas to find a new home.
[Post Game Thread] The Washington Wizards tanksquad (14-36) defeat the Detroit Pistons (37-13), 126-117.
[Charania] Free agent guard Jevon Carter has agreed to a deal with the Orlando Magic for the rest of the season, Mark Bartelstein and Reggie Brown of @PrioritySports tell ESPN.
The Amen Thompson at PG experiment for Houston should end and will limit how far the Rockets go.
[Highlight] Final minute of Warriors/Suns: Melton with an acrobatic layup to tie the game, Moody blocks Gillespie, Santos lays it in in transition to give the Warriors the lead, Brooks bricks a potential game-winner, and the Warriors get a layup at the buzzer after a mad scramble for the rebound
[Post Game Thread] The Golden State Warriors (28-24) come back to defeat the Phoenix Suns (31-21), 101-97.
KIA MVP Ladder (Feb. 6 Update) — 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2. Luka Dončić, 3. Nikola Jokić, 4. Cade Cunningham, 5. Victor Wembanyama, 6. Jaylen Brown, 7. Donovan Mitchell, 8. Anthony Edwards, 9. Jalen Brunson, 10. Tyrese Maxey
[Charania] The Pacers are sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick to the Clippers for Zubac and Kobe Brown, sources tell ESPN.
[Highlight] With seemingly no space, Reaves creates space with his shoulder to launch an audacious heat check
[Haynes] Memphis Grizzlies have waived guard Eric Gordon after acquiring him from the Philadelphia 76ers.
So the Sixers actually did just trade McCain to get under the tax
[Charania] Just in: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Homecoming for the Pelicans guard.
[Charania] The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.
[OptaSTATS] Austin Reaves is only the 4th player in NBA history to average 25/5/5 on 50% FG & 2.5+ 3PM. Only 3 others in NBA history have done that in a season: Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
[Highlight] Edgecombe makes an absolutely ridiculous inbound steal and instant 3 pointer to cut the lead to 3 with 33 seconds left
[Charania] The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.
Within the past month, the Charlotte Hornets have won against 5 of the top 6 teams in the Western Conference
[Slater] Steve Kerr to ESPN on Jonathan Kuminga “He needed the runway to make more mistakes…It was very tough not being allowed to make those mistakes.
Ime Udoka was asked about Alperen Sengun getting hunted on defense in pick and rolls in the last two games: “It’s been the case since I’ve been here. So no different there.”
With the Charlotte Hornets defeating the Houston Rockets tonight, they have won 8 games in a row for the first time in 26 years and the first time in the 21st century
Victor Wembanyama is now the leader in total blocks and the first player to reach 100 blocks this season. He passed Jay Huff tonight, who’s just one block short of the threshold.