Daily Discussion Thread + Game Thread Index
Ernie Johnson announces below that this will be his final season as host of Inside The NBA
[Charania] Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has sustained a left hamstring strain and will miss time, sources tell ESPN. Pacers doctors and Haliburton are now gathering a clear timeline.
John Wall says he still texts his mother every morning and night and has continued to pay her phone bill to keep her number active since she passed away in 2019 - “It helps me. I know she can’t respond, but I can still send my messages and know that nobody else has her number.”
[ESPN/Slater] Porzingis hasn’t returned to the facility and the organization shifted his official status from out with “general illness” (as they’d listed during his absences last season) to “not with team,” a purposeful change. This can no longer be described as an excused absence for the center.
Draymond says NBA players should get therapy: “It helps your temperament. It helps you in decision making. It helps you in patience. It helps you have grace. And so I think ultimately it does because it makes you a better person. Being a better person is 1000% going to make you a better player.”
[Charania] No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa will make his NBA debut for the Washington Wizards tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.
Reminder: The Warriors and Hawks do not believe Porzingis really has POTS
Rookie Mikel Brown Jr posted to social media after committing a late game mistake that cost the Brooklyn Nets the game against the Celtics in overtime: “THAT ONE IS ON ME BROOKLYN! IMMA SHAKE BACK I PROMISE YALL DAT💯”
In a French-language interview, Wembanyama says he’s trying to simplify his game, quoting Bruce Lee:“I fear not the man who has practiced a thousand kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times.”
[OC] OKC currently has 72.6% of the salary cap tied up in injured players, by far the most in the NBA
[Highlight] Dame Time in Los Angeles as Damian Lillard hits triple to put Blazers up 6 with 42.8 left in the 4th vs the Lakers!
[Highlight] Darius Acuff falls to the floor on defense and stays there until the ball comes his way… jogs away when he doesn’t get it
79 players are listed with an injury or illness on today’s 2:30 PM injury report, for games that are on tonight’s schedule. That’s approximately 15% of the NBA.
Ben Simmons was asked to practice free-throws during the Hawks playoff series but canceled the session: “Sometimes I need my space. That’s just how I felt at the time. When you got 100 people trying to give you advice it’s kind of tough.”
[Highlight] Jayson Tatum wins the game for the Celtics at the buzzer!
[Stein] Luka Dončić is out tonight for the Lakers with back tightness on the second night of a back-to-back.
[NBA] Kia Rookie Ladder: Cameron Boozer grabs No. 1 spot in debut Top 10 ranking
[Highlight] The ref tells Wemby to get the ball for him
Postgame following the Knicks win: “You said the first few weeks of the season, you’ll learn who you guys are. Who are you?” Jalen Brunson: Uh, we’re the Knicks actually”
The Boston Celtics are the only team in the league that has had 11 players play in all of their games so far this season
[Post Game Thread] The Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) defeat the Los Angeles Lakers (3-1), 136-129.
[highlight] derrick white is surprised at mvp chants for him from celtics fans
[Charania] Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN.
[Windhorst] On potential OKC trades: “And this is one thing I’ve talked to executives about, and I don’t mean to be cryptic, but I’m being cryptic… if they’re going to acquire a player, would not be a surprise, if they acquire a player they’ve already had.”
[Dua] Pelicans and Dejounte Murray want to work together to “find him a better situation.” Jordan Poole is “open to opportunities elsewhere.” Teams are continuing to monitor Herb Jones; Pelicans still asking for around 2 first-round picks. Warriors recently inquired about Yves Missi.
Bill Simmons once again checking and talking about the Kings sub here on Reddit
Luka Doncic in the Loss against the Trailblazers: 41 PTS | 12⁄22 FGS | 6⁄15 3PTS | 11⁄13 FTS | 5 REBS | 9 ASTS | 1 BLK | 74% TS
Sports anchor goes on a rant about Nikola Jokic not wanting booing fans to come back
Nikola Jokic in 2021, asked about if the boos from Heat fans bothered him “I played in Serbia, brother. I played in Serbia, so. I wish you guys could feel that”
Ernie Johnson Announced He Is Retiring from Inside the NBA After This Season
[Highlight] Julius Randle receives flopping technical 5 seconds after the fact
[Slater] “The Warriors feel part of the reason for their 37-45 failure a season ago was a woe-is-me attitude about the schedule and injury misfortune, team sources said, so they have taken a purposeful no-excuse approach this regular season.”
Portland’s new big 3 in a win against the Lakers: Ja 23 points on 9⁄13 FG, Dame 21/5/4 on 5⁄12 FG, Deni 23/4/9 on 8⁄15 FG
Tim Connelly on Anthony Edwards injury “It’s not a meniscus, I don’t want to speak out of school, my liberal arts degree will screw me up. It’s just an arthroscopic clean up”
[Stein] The Wizards say Justin Champagnie underwent a surgical procedure to repair a fracture in his right foot and is out indefinitely.
[Stein] The Wizards say Justin Champagnie underwent a surgical procedure to repair a fracture in his right foot and is out indefinitely.
Josh Hart squares up ready to throw hands against Detroit
For all the consternation about his poor start. Victor Wembanyama has a preposterous +44.5 on/off through his first 3 games
Mitchell Robinson parks in the loading dock for TD Garden because his truck is too big for the garage
[Charania] The Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 11 are retiring the No. 1 jersey of Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history at 5-foot-3. Bogues spent 10 of his 14 NBA seasons in Charlotte (1988-1998) and is the franchise leader in assists, steals and minutes.
Jayson Tatum after being asked about Jaylen Brown’s latest comments “Listen, I’ve said my piece. I’m not making any more comments”
[Highlight] Ja Morant gets called for a flop technical, minutes after teammate Toumani Camara was also called for one. Scott Foster nodding, “okay”
Call Ja. Call Ja.
Reggie Miller has to be taken off air
[Haberstroh] ESPN, The Ringer and CBS Sports all left Ty Jerome off their Top 100. Advanced metrics, though, saw him as a Top 10 player. The most underrated player in the NBA? Ty Jerome makes a strong case
[Highlight] Brian Scalabrine: “If I was doing PR work for Jayson Tatum I would remind everybody who led the league in turnovers last year”
Jalen Brunson in the first half: 11 Points on 1⁄10 FG and 9⁄10 FT
[Highlight] Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. hits the game-tying three with 1 second remaining!
[Post Game Thread] The Boston Celtics (3-1) defeat the Brooklyn Nets (0-4) in overtime, 125-124, behind Jayson Tatum’s 40-point performance and game-winning buzzer-beater