nba

[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”

LeBron even has handshakes for the photographers

[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] Wembanyama dominates with 26 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 lob dunks in 26 minutes

[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

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

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:

The Dallas Mavericks are eliminated from playoff contention

[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.

[Highlight] Joe Mazzulla assaults Derrick White

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

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.”

NBA players with the most career losses (LeBron isn’t even close to the top)

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

[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

[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.

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

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

[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

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

[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.

[Tom Orsborn] Wemby states his case for MVP:

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

[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.

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

[Highlight] Alperen Sengun records 33/13/10 triple-double with 2 STL and 2 BLK on ¹⁶⁄₁₉ shooting

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

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.”

[The Athletic] Glenn Rivers on why Cam Thomas fell out of favor with the Milwaukee Bucks: “There are things that we don’t need to talk about. That’s not anybody’s business.”

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

[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

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

There are only two players who currently top 5 in both RPG and BPG: Victor Wembanyama & Donovan Clingan

[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)

Maxime Raynaud post-ASB (16 GP):

17.9 PPG on 65.1% TS, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG

22yo 7-footer with a ton of offensive skill (Brett Usher via X)

[Highlight] Sengun with the poster on Leonard Miller

[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.

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

[Highlight] Harper bullies Herro

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