Luka Doncic scored 32 points as the Dallas Mavericks battled to a series-tying 96-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in a tense NBA Western Conference playoff duel.
Slovenian star Doncic combined with Kyrie Irving for 55 points to ensure that Dallas will head back to Texas with honors even at 1-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Doncic and Irving formed a sublime double act in a hard-fought fourth quarter, orchestrating a crucial 14-0 run that effectively took the game away from the Clippers, who had downed Dallas in a 109-97 win in game one on Sunday (all times US).
After trailing for most of the game, the Clippers threatened to snaffle another precious home victory after opening up a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
But the Doncic-Irving axis helped the Mavs regain control to set up a deserved win.
Doncic finished with 32 points, nine assists and six rebounds while Irving contributed 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“We had to make some noise in the second game, you know, first game wasn’t our best game,” Doncic said.
“So we had to come out here and prove that we can play with them,” Doncic added, before saluting the contribution of Irving.
“It’s amazing having him on our team,” Doncic said. “It just helps me a lot. A great guy and just happy that he’s here.”
James Harden and Paul George led the Clippers scoring with 22 points each.
LeBron walks out of post-game presser | 01:00
Meanwhile Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Phoenix Suns 105-93 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA Western Conference playoff series, while Indiana roared back to beat Milwaukee 125-108 and square their best-of-seven duel at 1-1.
McDaniels led a balanced Minnesota offensive effort that saw all five starters finish in double digits as the third seeds moved to within two wins of a series victory.
But it was the Timberwolves defense who turned the game in the home side’s favour, shutting down Phoenix in the second half to frustrate Suns stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
A torrid night for Phoenix ended with Booker fouling out in the fourth quarter while the Suns also were handed an injury scare, with Grayson Allen hobbling off in the third quarter after rolling an ankle.
Booker said the team was struggling to unite when things went against them, emphasising the need to communicate.
“Just talking to each other, holding each other accountable,” he said.
“We’re all trying to fight out there and so far this series, once it has turned to s**t, we’ve kind of separated instead of being together and that’s everybody, top to bottom.
“We got to figure it out.”
But Booker had a message for Suns fans, declaring: “Don’t count us out.”
It means Suns coach Frank Vogel will have his work cut out for him when the series heads to Arizona for game three on Friday.
The Timberwolves will go into that fixture brimming with confidence after restricting Phoenix’s offense to 42 second half points.
Minnesota scored 31 points off 20 Phoenix turnovers while the Suns took just two points from the Wolves 14 turnovers throughout the game.
“We’ve had issues with that throughout the course of the year, taking care of the basketball and it reared its head again tonight,” Vogel said.
“They’re an elite defensive team, probably the best defensive team in the league that we’re playing against.”
McDaniels led the home side’s scoring with 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley added 18 apiece.
Anthony Edwards finished with 15 points, eight assists and three rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 12 points.
“We got a lot of guys who can put the ball in the basket,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “We’re really making the right plays right now.”
– SIAKAM SPARKS PACERS WIN –
In Milwaukee, Pascal Siakam poured in 37 points to guide the Pacers to an impressive series-leveling win over the Bucks.
Siakam finished with 11 rebounds and six assists while Myles Turner added 22 and Andrew Nembhard 20 as the Pacers claimed a deserved win.
“He just doesn’t get rattled,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Siakam. “He plays the game at his pace. He was excellent tonight.
“He’s a unique player. His experience shows and he had a lot of big, big plays for us tonight… his experience in the playoffs is invaluable. He’s a guy that players look up to.”
Milwaukee started brightly, with Damian Lillard once again taking on the lion’s share of the scoring duties in the absence of the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But Lillard’s 34 points were not enough to keep the Pacers at arm’s length. Indiana took the lead just before half-time and finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, leading by 23 points at one stage.
“Give them credit, their pressure forced us into taking tough shots,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.
“They pushed us around. I thought they were the more physical team tonight.” Game three in the series takes place in Indianapolis on Friday.
The NBA’s play-in tournament is here, with the possibility that one of the league’s superstars in LeBron James and Steph Curry could not feature in the playoffs.
But before eight teams from the Eastern and Western Conference try to keep their championship hopes alive, foxsports.com.au has assessed just how much pressure every franchise is under heading into the postseason.
Factoring in expectations, recent playoffs success and failure along with the state of their salary cap and impending contract calls, each team was rated from 1 to 10.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Boston Celtics — 10/10
It seems like the majority of people have locked in the Celtics for the Finals, such is both their dominance in the regular season and the sorry state of the rest of the Eastern Conference. But there still are a few sceptics, wary of backing Boston in too strongly considering what has happened the past few years. Namely, blowing a 2-1 lead against the Warriors in the 2022 Finals and then falling to the Jimmy Butler-led Heat in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. This is a different Boston team with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis while someone like Derrick White has been a genuine difference-maker at stages this season. It makes it that much harder for teams to game plan around simply getting the ball out of either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown’s hands. It makes the Celtics, who finished the season No.1 in offensive rating and No.2 in defensive rating a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. But that is exactly the reason why there is so much pressure to go all the way this time around. How Tatum performs in particular will help answer whether the supermax he is poised to sign this summer, which could be worth over $300 million, is worth it.
The Celtics need to make the Finals. Sean Gardner/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
2. New York Knicks — 4/10
The injury to Julius Randle was a gut punch that makes it hard to envision them going all the way to the Finals, although the Knicks have been the kind of team all season that doesn’t go down without a fight so it isn’t out of the question. Still, unlike previous years, there doesn’t seem to be the same level of expectation heading into the playoffs for New York, potentially because when healthy this team has proved it is capable of pushing any team in the NBA. It eases the pressure on the Knicks to go big-name hunting this summer too, given it is realistic that they could run it back with the same group and hope for more injury luck, otherwise Randle, Bojan Bogdanovich and Mitchell Robinson are the kind of pieces who could be central to a potential trade.
3. Milwaukee Bucks — 9/10
Fortunately for the Bucks, they were able to agree to a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the start of the season. If he hadn’t, you can just imagine how much pressure would be on Milwaukee heading into the playoffs. Still the pressure is on the Bucks to get to the Eastern Conference Finals given the starpower in their roster, headlined by Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. If not, it is likely most of the blame will fall on coach Doc Rivers, who has struggled to generate any real consistent play since taking over Adrian Griffin while it seems like he is coming under scrutiny after every press conference for dodging self-accountability in some fashion. Lillard too is under pressure to perform after being traded to Milwaukee with the hope of finally being in a position to compete for a title. The Bucks are built to win right now but with an aging roster, who knows how much longer they will be in this position, even with Antetokounmpo’s future settled.
Doc Rivers is under pressure. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
4. Cleveland Cavaliers — 9/10
Things have not been pretty since the All-Star break and entering the playoffs off a game where you were booed by your own fans isn’t exactly ideal. But that is exactly what happened after Cleveland, resting Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Caris LeVert, lost to Charlotte.
With it, the Cavs avoided a potential first-round match-up with the No.7 seed Philadelphia but now find themselves on the same side of the playoffs brackets as the Celtics. Given how the regular season finished, it is hard to see Cleveland going far in the playoffs. That is a problem given Mitchell is set to enter the final guaranteed year of his current contract next season should the Cavs not secure a contract extension for him this summer. NBA insider Marc Stein reported this month that there is a “growing belief among rival teams” that Cleveland will be “forced to trade” their superstar guard if the franchise cannot come to terms on an extension. It comes after a report from Joe Vardon of The Athletic in February on the “deep, psychological effect” Cleveland’s first-round exit against the Knicks last playoffs had on the team, adding “Mitchell’s decision on a contract extension likely [is] tied to how good he thinks the Cavs can be”. A repeat of last year’s swift playoffs failure could see Mitchell turn his attention elsewhere and could put the spotlight on coach J.B. Bickerstaff too.
5. Orlando Magic — 1/10
Sure, you never want to take for granted being in the playoffs. But the Magic have a bright future and this is only the start. Regardless of how far Orlando goes, this season was a big success and unless the Magic collapse dramatically in the postseason, there won’t be any real pressure heading into the summer.
6. Indiana Pacers — 2/10
Another team that is young and ahead of schedule. Indiana has had Milwaukee’s number this season, so it wouldn’t be a shock for the Pacers to push — and potentially eliminate — the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs. But even if they don’t, a solid enough showing where they don’t get swept should be enough to consolidate what has been a positive season for a Pacers team that booked its first trip to the postseason in four years, led by Tyrese Haliburton.
7. Philadelphia 76ers — 6/10
An Eastern Conference Finals appearance has eluded Philadelphia for some time now, with the Sixers qualifying for the playoffs for six straight years without ever making it past the semifinals. With that in mind, there is always going to be some level of pressure on the 76ers and specifically reigning MVP Joel Embiid to prove they are genuine contenders. However, Philadelphia’s decision not to chase a big name before the trade deadline means the Sixers are loaded with ammunition to go star chasing in the summer. With that in mind, the 76ers have room to improve next season, especially if Embiid can stay healthy. Of course, if Philadelphia somehow didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament or was eliminated in the first round it would be a massive disappointment. But the silver lining of what is to come in the summer would at least help ease some of the pain.
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Joel Embiid is back but the 76ers have to first make it out of the play-in tournament. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
8. Miami Heat — 5/10
Surely they can’t do it again? This Heat team doesn’t look to have the consistency the make another unlikely run to the NBA Finals after a regular season that never really hit any heights. Of course, you can never rule out the possibility of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ taking over, and it hadn’t helped the Heat either that they dealt with lingering injuries that tested their guard depth. Ultimately, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of external pressure on Miami to replicate last year’s magical run, but just how far the Heat go could have implications on Jimmy Butler’s future with the team. The 34-year-old, who has two years and $100 million left on his current deal, is eligible for an extension this summer. To a similar extent, the Heat — should they make it to the playoffs — will also get an extended look at whether the Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier combination will work moving forward after injury-interrupted seasons.
9. Chicago Bulls — 1/10
Perennial play-in tournament contenders and nothing more. This is what the Chicago Bulls are right now and that doesn’t look like changing after another middling season. There is little pressure on Chicago because, frankly, there aren’t really any expectations on this Bulls team to do much in the postseason. Instead, the bigger priority for Billy Donovan needs to be working out what this team looks like moving forward given the development of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, especially when considered alongside the headache that is Zach LaVine’s contract and where potential free agent DeMar DeRozan fits in the timeline.
10. Atlanta Hawks — 1/10
Like the Bulls, there isn’t much pressure on Atlanta given the fact the Hawks also finished the regular season with a losing record and hence shouldn’t really be a threat to do anything in the playoffs. With such low expectations comes an opportunity to overachieve or, at worst, only further push the front office towards trading either Dejounte Murray or Trae Young in the summer. It seems to be the direction the franchise is heading, with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting the Hawks are “likely” to trade either of their star guards this offseason.
Boban hits God status after free chicken | 00:30
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Oklahoma City Thunder — 2/10
Like the Magic, Thunder fans can just enjoy the fact they find themselves in this position, sitting on top of the Western Conference with a young core that will only get better and a multitude of draft picks to build on this season’s success. Unlike Orlando there are more expectations that come with finishing the top seed and a potential first-round match-up against the Lakers would be particularly tough. But even if the Thunder went out in that scenario, it would at least help crystallise the changes OKC needs to make in the offseason, should the size mismatch be exposed.
2. Denver Nuggets — 7/10
A similar situation to the Celtics, although to a lesser extent given Boston’s record is far superior and the Western Conference is much more competitive. With that in mind, it would hardly be shocking to see the Nuggets rolled in the semifinals. Still, the assumption for most of the regular season has been that the Celtics and Nuggets are on a Finals collision course and anything less than that would be a disappointment for last year’s reigning champions.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves — 6/10
After making a blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert, things didn’t go to plan for Minnesota last season, struggling for chemistry before drawing the unfortunate straw of having to play the eventual champions Denver in the playoffs. This season though things are different and with that comes higher expectations. It is not championship-or-bust as the Timberwolves have young players in Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to build their future around, but they at least need to show they are heading in the right direction. That makes the semifinals a bare minimum, although the Conference Finals are a realistic goal too.
The Timberwolves have a future with Anthony Edwards. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
4. Los Angeles Clippers — 9/10
After giving up assets for James Harden, the Clippers are light on for future draft capital should this version of the team not go deep into the playoffs and, potentially, win a title. That has to be the goal after all, with Harden the third best player on a roster that features Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. George could become a free agent this summer and a standout postseason run would put him in a strong position to either leverage the Clippers for more money or become the hottest available name on the market. Regardless of which decision he makes, Los Angeles can’t take for granted the position it finds itself in right now, entering the playoffs with all four of its star players healthy. With an aging roster and limited draft capital to work with, there is plenty of pressure on the Clippers to make it count now. In a stacked Western Conference though, the path to a title is tricky.
5. Dallas Mavericks — 6/10
There is always a decent level of pressure when you have Luka Doncic. He alone has been enough to single-handedly win Dallas games before, although this time around the Slovenian superstar has plenty of help in the form of Kyrie Irving and trade deadline additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. It only adds to the pressure for the Mavericks to at least get past the first round of the playoffs, having made genuinely positive moves to bolster their roster and build around Doncic with the goal of taking a swing at the title. The Mavericks ended the regular season with a 16-2 record to wrap up the fifth seed before resting their stars. It also means there will be high expectations for a deep playoff run, although the pressure isn’t as high given they have key players under contract for a few years to come while Gafford and Washington will have the summer to further integrate themselves into the team.
6. Phoenix Suns — 10/10
Well, avoiding the play-in tournament was definitely a step in the right direction because not even making the playoffs in the first place would have been an abject failure for the Suns. Still, Phoenix enters the postseason as one of the most under-pressure teams after going all-in once again last year in a trade for Bradley Beal. Like the Clippers, the Suns have traded away most of their future draft capital, not owning or controlling a first-round pick until 2031. Adding depth to the roster next season will also be tough as Phoenix is over the second-apron ($182.5 million of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement), meaning the Suns don’t have access to the Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual Exception and will only be able to add free agents through minimum contracts.
Grayson Allen has just signed a new four-year contract extension. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
There is at least now the guarantee of sharpshooter Grayson Allen staying put after news the Suns have extended him on a four-year deal worth nearly $70 million.
Royce O’Neal is another key piece Phoenix could lose and, again, only be able to replace with minimum players. ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown in March that the reality of the salary cap puts “tremendous pressure” on the Suns to pay those players and keep them. “Suns owner Mat Ishbia has operated with a relative disregard for the new salary cap realities of the NBA, essentially in a championship or bust mentality over the next couple of years,” Wojnarowski said. This year’s playoffs could go a long way to deciding whether it works out or not.
7. New Orleans Pelicans — 5/10
The Pelicans have to be one of the most confounding teams in the league right now. At one point this season they looked like pushing for the top seeds in the Western Conference but dropped four straight games in early April before suffering a 124-108 loss to the Lakers on Monday. A win would’ve kept New Orleans out of the play-in tournament but now the Pels need to go about it the hard way. If anyone is under pressure entering the postseason it is Zion Williamson, who has never played in a playoff game and will be looking to rebound from the disaster that was New Orleans’ in-season tournament thumping at the hands of the Lakers. It will also be interesting to see how the Pelicans deal with their lack of elite center play against the top teams and what impact it has on the future of Jonas Valančiūnas, who is headed towards free agency. With all of that in mind, New Orleans still looks like a playoff team but not a genuine contender and if there is any question mark it is less on the team’s biggest names and more on coach Willie Green and his rotations.
8. Los Angeles Lakers — 5/10
LeBron James could become a free agent this summer, although the focus for the Lakers superstar has always been getting the chance to play with son Bronny. With that in mind, even if Los Angeles doesn’t replicate last year’s playoffs run or crashes out of the play-in tournament, results alone won’t be the only determining factor in James’ decision. The other question mark for the Lakers is what they do with D’Angelo Russell, who has a $18.69 million player option for the 2024-25 season, which he would surely decline given the level he has been playing at. Complicating matters is the fact The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported multiple sources believe the Lakers will go “third-star hunting” this summer. All of this is to say it will be an intriguing summer for the Lakers and perhaps a deep playoff run could convince the front office a third star isn’t necessary, or alternatively postseason results may only highlight shortcomings in the roster that make another high-level scorer a must. Either way, there will always be some level of pressure on the Lakers given the James factor and their popularity in the league, but it isn’t championship-or-bust as has been the case in the past.
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Where will LeBron James play in the 2024-25 season? Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
9. Sacramento Kings — 3/10
The Kings were one of the fairytale stories of last season. But that was last year. Now they have somewhat regressed while the rest of the Western Conference has improved, meaning the Kings may not even make it to the playoffs this time around. Again, there isn’t too much pressure because this is a young team who weren’t really widely expected to build on last season’s success. In fact, most people seemed to be tipping them to fall back a bit. That in itself is a problem though and speaks to the fact Sacramento at this stage looks like a solid play-in tournament team who could snag a first-round series but not much more. Whether that prompts the front office to make a big swing in the postseason remains to be seen. But a swift exit this year should at least prompt the Kings to consider what the ceiling is for the roster as currently constructed.
10. Golden State Warriors — 3/10
Another team, like the Lakers, who are under pressure primarily on name value and nothing else. It is clear that the Warriors are in a transitional period and coach Steve Kerr has accepted it too, giving the team’s younger players like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski a chance to push for more minutes while experimenting at times with Klay Thompson’s role. If anything, the pressure is on Thompson to prove he can still be a difference maker as the Warriors prepare to make a call on his future with the team. Maybe this is the last time we see Thompson, Draymond Green and Steph Curry on a court together in Golden State colours. Even if that is the case though, it no longer seems like that reality would be the undoing of Golden State or leave the Warriors in a worse position than they find themselves in right now. In fact, it was only once Kerr embraced youth that the Warriors started to improve and there are no indications at this stage that Curry is unhappy or wants out of Golden State if there is no playoff run this year.
A shoving match between Draymond Green and Desmond Bane led to a bigger kerfuffle during the second quarter as the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 137-116.
It was the latest exchange that Green has found himself a part of this season, though it was far less controversial than previous instances.
The whole fracas started after an exchange between Green and Santi Aldama under the basket, which led to Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins trying to have a word with a referee at the next stoppage of play.
Green got too close to Jenkins for Bane’s liking and tried to push him away, and that ignited the drama further and led to the Warriors’ Gary Payton II attempting to pull Green away as other players and officials tried to get in the middle of the situation.
At some point, Payton and Green got pushed into Jenkins, who had his back turned while re-engaging with the referee, sending the Memphis coach to the floor.
Green and Bane were each assessed technicals, and the situation cooled down from there.
The two were even seen shaking hands moments later in a show of respect for one another.
Draymond Green and Santi Aldama went at it. (Photo by EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
It has been an interesting season, to say the least, for Green, who was suspended twice this year for physical altercations on the court.
In November, he was banished by the league for putting Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves in a headlock.
In December, he was suspended indefinitely by the NBA after he hit Jusuf Nurkic of the Suns with a spinning back fist.
The NBA cited his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” as the reasoning behind the hefty ban.
Green entered Wednesday night’s game averaging 8.8 points per game, 7.1 assists and 6.0 assists.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
Celtics beat Bucks to extend winning run | 01:12
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics held off a late fightback from the Milwaukee Bucks to win 122-119 in their top-of-table Eastern Conference clash.
Boston had looked to be cruising towards their seventh straight victory after dominating Milwaukee for long periods at the TD Garden.
Exploiting the absence of injured Bucks talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics surged into a 21-point lead late in the third quarter after Milwaukee had closed to within five just after half-time.
But a blistering fourth quarter performance by Milwaukee — who outscored the Celtics 36-21 in the final frame — set up a nerve-shredding finale before Boston squeaked home.
“It was ugly,” Tatum admitted.
“We didn’t play the way we wanted to in the fourth quarter, and they went on a run.
Tatum scored 31 points as the Celtics held on for a narrow win over the Bucks. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“No lead is safe in the NBA. But a win is a win and we’ll take it.”
Boston improved to 55-14 with the victory, leaving them a hefty 11 games clear of the second-placed Bucks.
The Celtics now need just three more wins to be assured of top seeding and home court advantage through the playoffs.
Even allowing for the fourth quarter wobble, few would bet against them returning to the NBA Finals in June after a performance which once again showcased their balanced offence.
Five Boston players finished with double-digit points tallies, including Derrick White (23), Jaylen Brown (21) and Kristaps Porzingis (17). Payton Pritchard added 19 off the bench.
“We’ve just got a really complete team,” Tatum told ESPN.
“We’ve been playing great all season, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Tatum said.
“I like the way that we’re trending, but we’re just focused on getting better every single day.
“We’re not looking to the playoffs. We’ve got a game on Friday against Detroit — and that’s the mindset that we’ve got to have.”
With Antetokounmpo absent, Milwaukee’s challenge was spearheaded by Damian Lillard, who finished with 32 points while Bobby Portis added 24 off the bench.
In other games on Wednesday, Kevin Durant surpassed Shaquille O’Neal to move into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102.
Kevin Durant moved into eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list thanks to his 22-point haul against the Sixers. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Durant, eight points behind O’Neal’s tally of 28,596 points before the game, drained a jump shot in the third quarter to move past the former Los Angeles Lakers icon.
“Well deserved,” O’Neal said in a video message to Durant. “It doesn’t stop here … If anybody was gonna pass me, it was definitely gonna be you.” Durant finished the night with 22 points, while Grayson Allen led the Suns scoring with 32 points including nine three-pointers.
In Cleveland, the Miami Heat produced a barnstorming finale to pip the Cavaliers 107-104.
Miami led for most of the game but Cleveland crept into a four-point lead with 1min 34sec remaining in the fourth.
The Heat’s Terry Rozier rattled off nine points in the closing stages including a crucial 26-foot three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to restore Miami’s advantage and see the visitors home.
Rozier finished with 24 points while Jimmy Butler led Miami’s scorers with 30. “That’s the most important thing, just getting the win,” Rozier said. “My teammates and coaches do a great job of reminding me daily, night-in, night-out, who I am and just to be that. Happy we got the win.” Miami improved to 38-31 with the victory and sit in seventh place in the East. Cleveland remain third in the table at 43-26.
The Sacramento Kings eased past the Toronto Raptors 123-89, while the Indiana Pacers swatted aside Detroit 122-103.
Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City breezed past the Utah Jazz 119-107, with Chet Holmgren (35) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31) combining for 66 points.
Kyrie Irving stunned the Nuggets with one of the game-winning shots you will see, sinking a left-handed 20-foot floater shot at the final buzzer to give the Dallas Mavericks a 107-105 home victory over Denver.
The clutch Irving shot snapped the Nuggets’ five-game win streak, with coach Michael Malone conceding Denver had little chance of defending it.
“Hell of a shot by Kyrie. Give him all the credit,” Malone said.
“If a guy’s going to beat us making a left-handed, off-handed hook shot from the elbow, yes I did [like our defence].”
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Denver’s Jamal Murray scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and sparked a 20-4 Nuggets run that gave Denver a 105-102 lead on a Murray 3-pointer.
NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, the Slovenian guard who had 23 of his game-high 37 points in the first half, answered on a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to lift the Mavericks level and Murray missed Denver’s last shot to set up Irving’s game-winner.
Irving finished with 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Dallas improved to 39-29, seventh in the Western Conference.
Murray led Denver with 23 points while two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who fell to 47-21 and out of a share of the West lead with Oklahoma City.
Irving wasn’t the only player to call game though, with Bam Adebayo’s 30-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer giving Miami a 104-101 victory at Detroit. Adebayo finished with 20 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
Miami’s Duncan Robinson, who scored a game-high 30 points, became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 3-pointers, hitting the milestone on Sunday in his 343rd game, seven fewer than the old mark set by Buddy Hield of the Bahamas.
The Mavericks celebrate after Kyrie Irving made a last-second game winning shot. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesKyrie Irving came up clutch. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ron Jenkins / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
DAME COMES UP CLUTCH IN WIN OVER SUNS
Damian Lillard delivered with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to a hamstring injury, scoring 31 points and distributing 16 assists in Milwaukee’s 140-129 NBA triumph over Phoenix.
Bobby Portis added 31 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the host Bucks, who improved to 44-24 and tightened their grip on second place in the Eastern Conference.
Lillard, the first player in club history with 30 points and 15 assists in the same game, praised Portis and others for stepping up with Greek superstar Antetokounmpo sidelined.
“It was huge,” Lillard said.
“One of our biggest strengths is our depth. Bobby Portis is a starter on any other team but for our team he knows what his job is.
“Down a guy like Giannis, you know everybody is going to have to step their game up. We’ve been in this situation a couple of times this year and every time he has come through and delivered.
“I knew I wouldn’t have to come out and overdo it. Feed him. Feed everybody else, pick my spots and be aggressive.”
Lillard had 14 points and 12 assists in the first half as Milwaukee took an 82-60 halftime edge, the Bucks matching an NBA record held by the Suns and Utah Jazz by sinking 18 first-half 3-pointers.
Damian Lillard stepped up. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Portis had 25 first-half points on 10-of-13 shooting, going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc as the Bucks went 24-of-41 from 3-point range overall.
“It’s fun after all the work you put in,” Portis said.
“Just having good teammates and coaches that believe in you. We go through this marathon 82-game season together and try to build great camaraderie and chemistry.”
Lillard made 10-of-19 shots from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and all seven free throw attempts. His efforts included a buzzer-beater from the mid-court logo to give the Bucks a 109-94 lead after three quarters.
“Keeping their defence honest,” said Lillard.
“They probably thought with Giannis out, I was going to just try and force it. I just took advantage of what their defence was doing. They overhelped. I was making the simple plays. Guys made shots.
“It makes their defence push and choose. I was able to take advantage of it. When we play that way, we play our best — and I think I play my best.”
NBA Wrap: Jazz contain Hawks in thriller | 01:10
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, who missed 16 games with a sprained left ankle, added 22 points in his return after missing six weeks.
Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Grayson Allen added 25, Devin Booker netted 23 and Kevin Durant scored 11 points with nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Phoenix fell to 39-29, just behind Sacramento for the sixth and final Western Conference playoff spot.
Nikola Jokic bagged his 20th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets held off the Boston Celtics 115-109 in their heavyweight NBA showdown, while Dante Exum starred in a comeback win for the Mavericks.
The eagerly anticipated clash between the reigning NBA champions and Eastern Conference-leading Celtics lived up to the billing in a hard-fought duel in Denver.
Denver talisman Jokic finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists while Jamal Murray finished with 19 points and Aaron Gordon 16.
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The win gave Denver a clean sweep over Boston in their meetings this season. The Celtics, beaten by Cleveland on Tuesday, suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since early November.
Jokic meanwhile played down the significance of the result, brushing off suggestions that Thursday’s showdown could be a preview of the NBA Finals.
“We’re a long way from the finals my friend,” the Serbian said in an on-court interview after the win.
“We had a really good energy tonight…our offense was really clicking today.”
Nikola Jokic bagged his 20th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets held off the Boston Celtics.Source: AFP
Boston meanwhile were left to reflect on a loss that came despite a 41-point performance from Jaylen Brown, who shot 16-of-29 from the field.
Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points but Jayson Tatum was restricted to 15 points. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said his team’s 12 turnovers had been the difference.
“When you play against another great team, those 10-12 possessions are super, super critical,” Mazzulla said. “I think Denver did a better job of taking advantage of those than we did.”
Boston remain on top of the Eastern Conference with a 48-14 record. Denver meanwhile are third in the West at 43-20, one game back from leaders Minnesota.
In other games on Thursday, Luka Doncic completed a triple double to help the Dallas Mavericks edge past the Miami Heat 114-108.
Slovenian ace Doncic finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as Dallas staged a late rally to end their three-game losing streak.
The Mavs trailed 101-100 with just over four minutes remaining but pulled clear to clinch victory after a flurry of late three-pointers.
Australia’s Dante Exum played a big role in key moments, and finished with 13 points, four rebounds and five assists from just 17 minutes on the floor.
Exum hit a three-pointer along with Doncic and Kyrie Irving as part of a 10-run that started when the Mavs were trailing 101-100.
It was Exum who started the run with a triple that beat the shot clock.
– Wolves claw Pacers –
Doncic received scoring support from Irving with 23 points while four other Dallas players made double figures.
Terry Rozier led Miami’s scoring with 27 points.
Dallas improved to 35-28 with the win to remain in playoff contention in the Western Conference.
DALLAS, TEXAS – DECEMBER 23: Dante Exum #0 of the Dallas Mavericks brings the ball up court during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on December 23, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
In Indianapolis meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves snatched a 113-111 win over the Indiana Pacers thanks to a 44-point performance from Anthony Edwards in a see-saw battle that saw the lead change hands 17 times.
The Timberwolves looked to be cruising after opening up a 17-point lead in the second quarter.
But the Pacers chipped away at the deficit to set up a tense finish after outscoring Minnesota 34-23 in the third quarter.
Edwards was the undisputed star of the show for Minnesota, unfurling a 25-foot three-pointer to give the Timberwolves a 108-105 lead with 1:11 remaining.
Rudy Gobert finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, with Naz Reid adding 13 from the bench.
Phoenix meanwhile secured a second straight win with a wire-to-wire 120-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Arizona.
Kevin Durant was the pick of the Suns’ offensive performers with 35 points from 11-of-19 shooting.
Grayson Allen caught the eye with 26 points, including eight three-pointers, while Bradley Beal finished with 20 points.
The Golden State Warriors, who rediscovered their best form in an emphatic win over Milwaukee on Wednesday, were unable to back that victory up in their home game with the Chicago Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic both scored 33 points apiece as the Bulls held off a late Warriors rally to claim a 125-122 win.
Klay Thompson’s 28-foot three-pointer gave the Warriors a 119-118 lead with 40 seconds remaining, but DeRozan hit back with a pull-up from 17 feet to restore the Bulls’ advantage.
The Cleveland Cavaliers overturned a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to snap the Boston Celtics’ 11-game winning streak with a 105-104 victory on Tuesday.
A week after coming back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat Dallas, Cleveland conjured another remarkable late show to stun Eastern Conference leaders Boston.
Boston looked to be cruising to a 12th straight win after a clinical display left them leading 93-71 early in the fourth quarter in Cleveland.
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But Dean Wade erupted for 20 points in the final frame, draining a string of three-pointers to haul Cleveland back into the contest.
Wade, who finished with 23 points, made the winning layup with 19 seconds remaining to put Cleveland ahead after Kristaps Porzingis’s free throw had helped the Celtics take a 104-103 lead.
Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Travis and Jason Kelce after the game.Source: AFP
Boston thought they had been thrown a lifeline when Jayson Tatum appeared to be fouled as he went for a late shot.
But the call was overturned in Cleveland’s favour and time ran out to give the Cavaliers a victory made all the more impressive given the absence of key starters Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus.
“It feels good, my teammates had the trust in me to make those shots,” Wade said afterwards.
“Them just having that belief in me gave me the confidence and motivated me, and luckily they went in,” added Wade, who was congratulated at courtside by Cleveland native and Kansas City Chiefs NFL star Travis Kelce following the win.
Wade finished with 23 points, including six-of-nine from three-point range, with eight rebounds.
Jarrett Allen had 21 points while Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro added 16 points apiece.
Aussie Mills joins chip contender | 00:30
Boston meanwhile were left wondering where it had all gone wrong after an extraordinary late collapse.
“We just went cold,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought we had some good possessions where we didn’t make the shot. But credit to them — Wade played really well and they made plays down the stretch.” Tatum led Boston’s scorers with 26 points while Porzingis added 24 and Jaylen Brown 21.
The Celtics remain comfortably on top of the Eastern Conference despite the loss with a 48-13 record. Milwaukee are second in the standings at 41-21 while Cleveland are third after improving to 40-21.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 05: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Luke Kornet #40 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.Source: AFP
– DURANT SHINES IN SUNS WIN –
The drama in Cleveland was rivalled by a thrilling battle in Denver later Tuesday, where the Phoenix Suns recovered from blowing a 22-point third-quarter lead to defeat the Nuggets 117-107 in overtime.
Kevin Durant poured in 35 points for Phoenix while Grayson Allen added 28 including eight three-pointers to help the Suns over the line.
But the Suns almost blew their chances of victory after a dismal fourth quarter display which saw them shoot just five-of-24 from the field.
Phoenix rediscovered their shooting touch in overtime however, outscoring Denver 15-5 to close out the win.
“We missed like 10 straight shots in the fourth quarter … but that’s the name of the game, you just stick with it,” Durant said afterwards. “In overtime we were able to get stops, rebound and get easy shots.”
Jamal Murray topped the Denver scorers with 28 points while Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.
NBA Wrap: Slow burn Lakers silence OKC | 01:33
In other games on Tuesday, Luka Doncic put up a 39-point triple-double with 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but it was not enough to prevent the Dallas Mavericks falling 137-120 to the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers spread the scoring around in devastating fashion to overwhelm the Mavericks defence, with nine Indiana players reaching double figures.
In New York, the Philadelphia 76ers stumbled to a 112-107 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets.
In Toronto, the New Orleans Pelicans dished out a humiliating 41-point drubbing of the Raptors, winning 139-98.
Trey Murphy led the Pelicans scoring with 34 points on a night when no fewer than seven New Orleans players made double figures.
“I’m extremely proud of this group — it’s a great step in the right direction,” said New Orleans head coach Willie Green.
The Pelicans improved to 37-25 to remain in fifth place in the West.
Oklahoma City is well ahead of schedule and so is Chet Holmgren, with the rookie big man making history in the Thunder’s 123-110 comeback win over the Houston Rockets.
Holmgren came up clutch with 19 fourth-quarter points to help the Thunder secure their 12th double digit comeback having trailed by 16 at one point in Monday’s game.
The 21-year-old had 29 points (5-8 3PT), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal and three blocks in the win, becoming the first player in NBA history to record 100 3-pointers and 100 blocks in a season.
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Oh, and there are still 25 games to go and yet already the Thunder as a team have matched last year’s win total of 39 games.
Australian Josh Giddey (two points) was the only OKC starter who didn’t hit double figures on Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way on 36 points.
The much-improved Jalen Williams added 22 points while Lu Dort made a fast start on his way to 16 points after going 4-for-6 from downtown.
All five of Houston’s starters also hit double figures, with Jabari Smith Jr. leading the way on 20 points to go with 17 rebounds while Alperen Sengun also had a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds).
Emotional Paolo discusses game-winner | 00:45
DOC RIVERS HAS LAST LAUGH AFTER SIXERS FANS BOO FORMER COACH
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and passed off nine assists to lead the dominant Milwaukee Bucks in a 119-98 NBA victory at Philadelphia on Monday.
New Bucks coach Doc Rivers collected a victory over his former club, the 76ers having fired Rivers last May after three seasons guiding the franchise.
Milwaukee hired Rivers, who was booed by the Philadelphia crowd, last month to replace fired Adrian Griffin.
Damian Lillard added 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while Malik Beasley added 20 points as the Bucks hit 43-of-79 shots from the floor (54.4%) and kept the Sixers to 36-of-97 (37.1%) shooting.
Milwaukee, coming off a victory on Friday at Western Conference leader Minnesota, seized a 69-48 half-time lead and stayed in command to the finish despite some second-half stumbles.
“We did a good job of just carrying over from the win we had over Minnesota,” Antetokounmpo said.
“We came out and played hard in the first two quarters. In the third quarter we were a little bit sloppy. We turned the ball over a lot of times. But going into the fourth quarter I think we did our best job just finding one another, making the right plays offensively.
“Defensively the group was there all night. They made some tough threes but whenever they were in the paint we were jumping up clean and we would get the rebound and go the other way.”
Nets sack head coach Jacque Vaughn | 00:33
The Greek star, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, hit 10-of-17 from the floor and leads the NBA with 27 30-point, 10-rebound performances this season.
Milwaukee improved to 37-21, third in the Eastern Conference, and Antetokounmpo likes what he sees from the team these days as the Bucks chase a second NBA title in four seasons.
“We’ve got to keep on playing better, got to keep building good habits and just keep playing hard,” he said.
“These last two games we’ve played them hard and that’s who we are. When we don’t play hard, we don’t look like the Bucks.”
The Sixers, playing without injured reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, were led by 24 points from Tyrese Maxey.
PHOENIX PUSH PAST LAKERS
At Phoenix, Grayson Allen scored 24 points and Kevin Durant added 22 to lead the host Suns over the Los Angeles Lakers 123-113.
Devin Booker had 21 points, Royce O’Neale added 20 and Jusuf Nurkic contributed 18 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists for the Suns, who improved to 34-24.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds while Anthony Davis had 22 points and 14 rebounds and D’Angelo Russell added 20 points.
Before playing host to Orlando later Monday, the Atlanta Hawks announced that leading scorer Trae Young has suffered a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger and will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair the injury, sidelining him for at least the next four weeks.
At 24-32, the Hawks rank 10th in the Eastern Conference.
The Phoenix Suns have produced an extraordinary fourth quarter rally to eclipse the Sacramento Kings 119-117 in Arizona.
Phoenix looked to be heading for certain defeat as they trailed by 22 points with 8min 22sec remaining.
But an incredible 32-8 run by Phoenix in the final minutes turned the game on its head to seal a remarkable comeback.
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Kevin Durant sparked the rally for Phoenix with 15 points in the fourth quarter, part of a 27-point haul. Grayson Allen led the Phoenix scoring with 29 points.
Eric Gordon tied the game for Phoenix with a three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining, before Durant hit two free throws to put the Suns 117-115 ahead.
De’Aaron Fox leveled the contest with a floating jump shot but two more Durant free throws were enough to seal victory.
Asked afterward how Phoenix had pulled off their win, Durant replied: “I have no clue. I usually know how the game formed, but this was just a blur. Everything happened so fast. I guess we were all in the zone and locked in.”
EMBIID’S CLASSY ACT AMID MVP STATEMENT AGAINST JOKIC
Joel Embiid conjured a second straight 40-point performance to outduel Nikola Jokic as the Philadelphia 76ers downed the NBA-champion Denver Nuggets 126-121 on Tuesday.
A heavyweight showdown pitting reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid against Denver’s two-time MVP Jokic did not disappoint as the two teams went toe-to-toe from the outset.
Embiid, who scored 41 points on his return from injury in the Sixers’ win over Houston on Monday, was once again in superb form, finishing with 41 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
The 29-year-old was imperious down the stretch, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Sixers transformed a six-point deficit into victory.
Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
“I’m just letting the game come to me, but the credit goes to my teammates — they put me in the best position to succeed and they trust me, that’s the key,” Embiid said after a game watched by a sellout 19,775 crowd at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
“I would not be doing what I’m doing without the trust they have in me,” Embiid added.
Embiid embraced Jokic following the final buzzer, with the two men sharing a friendly exchange after a hard-fought game.
“I just told him he’s the best player in the league,” Embiid said.
“He won a championship, and that’s the best team in the league and he’s a finals MVP. I just told him to keep going.”
The game had been finely poised at 111-111 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Embiid re-entered the fray just after Jokic checked back in from the bench, and it was the Cameroon-born power forward who ultimately seized control of the contest.
A sublime running reverse layup from Embiid put the Sixers 115-113 ahead, before a jump shot increased the Philadelphia cushion to four points with 5min 30sec remaining.
Dame Time hits ICE COLD buzzer beater | 00:45
A free throw and a 27-foot three-pointer left the Sixers 121-113 ahead, and Embiid then added a jump shot to extend Philadelphia’s advantage to 10 points at 123-113 to effectively seal victory.
Embiid received scoring support from Tyrese Maxey with 25 points — including four three-pointers — while Tobias Harris pitched in with 24 points. Kelly Oubre Jr added 11 points.
Jokic led the Denver scoring with 25 points, 19 rebounds and three assists. Michael Porter Jr. finished with 20 points and Jamal Murray added 17. Philadelphia improved to 26-13 to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing first placed Boston (31-9) with Milwaukee second in the table on 28-12.
Denver remain third in the Western Conference on 28-14, behind Minnesota (28-11) and Oklahoma City (27-12).
CLIPPERS MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST THUNDER
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Clippers continue to establish themselves as a genuine Western Conference contender after taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-117.
That was despite being without center Ivica Zubac, who will be re-evaluated in four weeks due to a strained right calf, the team announced on Wednesday.
Zubac’s chemistry with new addition James Harden on the pick-and-roll had been particularly important to the Clippers’ turnaround after a slow start to the season.
Paul George had a big game. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Mason Plumlee proved he can be a solid replacement with Zubac sidelined as he scored 14 points to go with five boards in the win.
Paul George though was the star of the night as he drained six 3-pointers on the way to 38 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Clippers did well to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 19 points, with Jalen Williams stepping up to continue his emergence for OKC with an efficient 25 points as he went 10-for-14 from the field.
We’ve just about hit the quarter mark of the NBA season.
And the fortunes of several blockbuster trades — one in season — are proving to have a key impact on the title race and campaign at large, while significantly altering teams’ fortunes.
Below are foxsports.com.au’s winners and loser from the big moves that transpired.
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PG hits scintillating GAME-WINNING three | 00:43
CELTS RECONFIGURE IN THREE-WAY PORZINGIS SWAP
Celtics receive
Kristaps Porzingis (via Wizards), No. 25 pick in 2023 Draft (via Grizzlies), 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected, via Warriors)
Grizzlies received
Marcus Smart (via Celtics)
Wizards received
Tyus Jones (via Grizzlies), Danilo Gallinari (via Celtics), Mike Muscula (via Celtics), No. 35 pick in 2023 Draft (via Celtics)
Early winner
The addition of Porzingis to the Celtics has made the now title favourites even stronger and unlock a new level of Joe Mazulla’s side in the Jayson Tatum-Jalen Brown era. Having Porzingis at centre as a genuine floor spacer provides line-up flexibility and lanes the C’s haven’t had before, while the maligned Latvian big man has averaged a cool 18.9 points on 54 per cent shooting from the field, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Health is clearly the main concern with Porzingis — and he’s currently sidelined with a calf injury — but having him available at the business end of the season is clearly more important.
Early loser
Both Memphis and Washington have come away worse for wear. While the 5-14 Grizzlies can at least put their issues down to the absence of stars — including to Smart — they’re actually trying to contend, whereas the 3-15 Wizards are effectively in tank mode, even if J0nes has underwhelmed at his new side, and they could yet flip the guard for a long-term asset. So looking at it from a wider lens — and not necessarily a knock on Smart — Memphis has been the loser. And in Jones the Griz at least had a known quantity who knew how to run their system whenever Ja Morant was out. Memphis was of course simply trying to take itself to the next level to contend in the Western Conference, and while there’s ample time to turn things around, it’s been a grim first quarter of the season for the franchise.
Grayson Allen (via Bucks) Keon Johnson (via Blazers) Nassir Little (via Blazers) Jusuf Nurkic (via Blazers)
Early winner
A fair bit to unpack here. But any side that gets a multi-time All-NBA, All-Star guard has to be the winner, so it’s the Bucks (for now at least). Sure, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing integrating Lillard into the line-up amid a big drop off from the team on the defensive end of the court compared to having Holiday out front. But for all those concerns, Milwaukee sits third in the East at 14-6 and have claim of the league’s second-best net rating over the last 10 games. The Bucks are in the business of winning titles right now, so going all in on Lillard makes complete sense. The Suns are also a sneaky winner, with Nurkic in perhaps the ideal landing spot for his skill set as a throw in that’s proved to be an important piece — he just needs to stay healthy. Allen has also provided invaluable depth, particularly with Bradley Beal sidelined.
Early loser
The Blazers are the closest thing to a loser — not in terms of what they got in the Lillard deal, but more just from a holistic standpoint. When you trade a franchise superstar, you’re generally committing to a lengthy rebuild and accepting your current core doesn’t have what it takes to win a title, plus there’s no guarantees when going back to the draft. In terms of this deal specifically, Portland only got one first-round pick in addition to two-pick swaps, whereas the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert yielded much bigger hauls in terms of draft capital. Then there’s the DeAndre Ayton side of it, with the gun big man and former No. 1 pick still failing to live up to his enormous potential despite being in a opportunistic situation. In saying all this, the Blazers already have exciting young players in Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, so they’re well placed overall.
Ctrl+C+V for the above Porzingis point. Unlike Porzingis though, Holiday has taken more of a back seat in Boston and personally sacrificed the most of its four stars — at least offensively. No matter, the stud defensive guard remains a key piece that has it looking like the clear Larry O’Brien trophy frontrunner right now and will clearly provide a huge boost come the real stuff. He’s averaged 12.2 points, 5.1 assists and 0.7 steals per game, which would statistically be his worst season since his sophomore campaign. However the 33-year old provides elite defensively flexibility and a sturdy veteran presence, plus championship pedigree from Milwaukee.
Early loser
Can we say no one? It probably is Portland, but it’s not by a lot and more comes down to whether or not it could’ve got more for Holiday after acquiring him from Milwaukee in the Damian Lillard trade. There’s otherwise genuine concerns around Williams’ future after he suffered yet another knee injury likely to sideline the big man for the rest of this season. Missing him on the court aside — for Portland isn’t exactly trying to win games — the Blazers could’ve traded him to a contender for an asset ahead of the deadline, but that’s no longer an option really. Brogdon has been solid, but again, did they really want someone to help them now who will stand in the way of Scoot Henderson? And the picks of course compliment the Blazers’ direction.
Is Beal the piece that’s going to take Phoenix past any other team — or at least be the key factor to do so? That’s the big question here, and frankly, we still just don’t know as the star guard’s start to his Suns tenure has been ruined by injury. Considering the mega return Washington got for a player who’s never quite gotten back to his All-Star heights of several years ago and you’d have to give the Wizards the points right now. Plus Washington flipped Chris Paul for Jordan Poole (though more on the later) as another long-term piece to do add to its collection — even if he’s struggled to really ascend his game at his new team.
Early loser
To this point, it’s Phoenix, though it could change quickly. As mentioned, we just haven’t seen nearly enough of Beal yet in a Phoenix guernsey — only three times, to be specific. In fact, the team’s big three of Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have combined for a total zero regular season appearances together as Booker has also battled injury in a worrying factor. The Suns have still cruised to a nice 12-8 start to the season, and they could yet reach an even higher level when Beal returns. But the big swing move for the 30-year old hasn’t yet lived up to what Phoenix gave up. And what if Beal’s injury lingers throughout the season?
Kings topple Warriors for Group C throne | 00:57
WARRIORS LAND CP3
Warriors received
Chris Paul
Wizards received
Patrick Baldwin Jr., Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, 2027 second-round pick, 2030 first-round pick (top 20 protected), Cash considerations
Early winner
Not that the Poole-Wizards era is necessarily going well, but the Washington is at least accruing long-term assets and what it’s doing makes sense, so it’s a soft winner. And there’s the potential for him to turn things around from an individual standpoint — or the Wizards move him elsewhere. As mentioned earlier, the franchise has gone into all-out tank mode and its No. 1 ambition might just be finishing with the worst record in the league, of which it’s not far off.
Early loser
The CP3 era in Golden State is off to a rough start. Nor does it appear to be the lever the team should’ve pulled given it’s clear need for a second offensive star alongside Steph Curry as opposed to solidifying its bench, plus you’d argue it was better off with Poole to Paul, who’s already suffered his first injury setback of the season and is hard to trust to stay healthy. There’s still the potential for the Warriors to trade Paul or one or more of their young players to change up the rotation. Because right now, instead of Golden State going to another level, it seems to have gone backwards in concerning signs for Steve Kerr and company.
‘Wait a minute!’ Smith blasts ‘idiots’ | 02:01
CLIPPERS PULL TRIGGER ON HARDEN
Sixers received
Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, 2029 pick swap, (all via Clippers), 2026 protected first-round pick (via Thunder)
Clippers received
James Harden, P.J. Tucker, Filip Petrusev
Thunder received
2027-first-round pick swap (via Clippers)
Early winner
Not only did Philadelphia rid itself of the Harden drama, it gave Maxey a clear runway to be a superstar and got better in the process. Usually it’s the team that acquires the superstar in a trade that wins — and while that could yet be the case — it’s been addition by subtraction for the 12-7 Sixers to consolidate their roster with other useful pieces as well as assets they could use to acquire another star by the deadline. Some now believe they can not only compete with the likes of Boston and Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference, but could be the premier team. It’s also crucial the team keeps winning games to convince Joel Embiid to stick around long term.
Early loser
Yes, the Clippers are starting to work things out with Harden after a gloomy 0-4 start to his tenure with the team. But if it hadn’t already, LA has now gone completely all-in with this roster and has basically no draft picks remaining for the decade as a result. Even if Harden has made the Clippers a better team overall, the deal simply has to take them over the top of the likes of Denver, Phoenix and potentially Minnesota and Oklahoma City to be considered a success — or at least even with such West powerhouses. From what we’ve seen so far, that’s not the case. While it could be argued the team was already chips in during the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era, the franchise could’ve dealt both and pushed the reset button, but it’s gone all out the other way ahead of the opening of its new arena in 2024. It’s still a long season ahead though, and the Clippers are nearly back at .500, with the health of the aforementioned stars paramount to everything.
What are the Power Rankings? This is our attempt to rank every NBA team from best to worst. We take wins and losses into account, but also the quality of opposition faced and whether teams are likely to get healthier or improve going forward. It’s a little bit ‘who’s hot and who’s not’; part predictive, part analysis of what’s happened. If Team A is above Team B, we’d probably tip A to beat B at a neutral venue.
Every NBA team analysed in our Power Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS
1. BOSTON CELTICS (14-4)
Who else but? Continuing on from last campaign’s dominant regular season, the Celtics appear to have gotten even stronger with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Integrating such key pieces to a rotation can take time for teams to adjust, but not Boston, having posted a top eight offensive rating and top three defensive rating. Still undefeated at home, the Celtics’ +9.6 point differential is the best in the league. Not only do they have top-line stars, most notably Jayson Tatum, who’s having another MVP-calibre season, but Joe Mazulla’s rotation is arguably the deepest and most talented in the NBA. It’ll help them mitigate injuries (provided they don’t come at the business end of the season). Can anyone stop them? The clear best team in the league right now.
2. DENVER NUGGETS (13-6)
The reigning champs have been in cruise control in the early parts of the season, while Jamal Murray has been limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury … yet they still sit second in the West standings at 13-6 and have a top 10 offensive and defensive rating. It included a particularly strong start to the season before the Nuggets hit a lean patch, dropping four of five games as their less experience and depth compared to last season showed. But a road win over the Clippers on the second half of a back-to-back without Murray, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon displayed championship DNA at its finest and would build huge belief in the second unit and team as a whole. Jokic remains out-of-this-world good as the current frontrunner for the MVP in what’d be his third overall. Oh and they’re also the only other team still unbeaten at home.
‘Wait a minute!’ Smith blasts ‘idiots’ | 02:01
3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-4)
One of the big surprise packages so far, Minnesota is emerging as a legitimate contender before our eyes. In fact, it’s the Wolves we thought we were getting last season after three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert joined the team, as his twin tower frontcourt pairing with Karl Anthony-Towns is starting to flourish. Sitting first in the West with the best defensive rating in the entire NBA – built around Gobert, and great size and flexibility that’s really troubled opposition – the Wolves have taken the leap into the top tier of teams. Then there’s the Anthony Edwards piece, with the star guard evolving into a MVP-level superstar that plays both ends of the floor and has a certain dog and killer instinct about him that reminds you of some of the game’s all-time greats.
4. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-5)
The new-look Bucks are starting to figure things out – and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the NBA. After a slow start, Milwaukee has won eight of its last nine games and is beginning to live up to the hype after recruiting Damian Lillard to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and create one of the most dominant one-two offensive punches in the NBA. Though the Bucks have the fourth-best offence in the league, there’s still issues at the other end of the floor, with a bottom 10 defensive rating. Brook Lopez is starting to rediscover his dominant defensive form from last season, but misses having Jrue Holiday out on the perimeter, while Khris Middleton is still ramping up to full health after off-season knee surgery. If they can make improvements on the defensive end to at least be middle of the road, the Nuggets showed last season you don’t necessarily need to have an elite defence to win it all. Could they simply score their way to a title?
5. PHILADLEPHIA 76ERS (12-6)
Couldn’t have navigated the James Harden trade saga much better. It was addition by subtraction for the Sixers, with Harden’s departure paving the way for Tyrese Maxey to evolve into a superstar – even if he’s cooled off from his epic early-season heights – while Joel Embiid continues to do Joel Embiid things. The star centre has also improved as a facilitator, averaging a career-best 6.6 assists per game. Philly also added a host of handy role players in the Harden trade plus assets it could use to recruit another star by the trade deadline. They sit top four in the East and have the second-best points differential (+8.7) in the NBA, having shown a ruthlessness to really crush teams. Nick Nurse’s team has the second-best offence – playing with more movement and freedom than last season – to go with a top 10 defence. A team with all the tools to make another deep playoff run.
6. ORLANDO MAGIC (13-5)
The other shock riser – and this one has been even more unexpected – including riding a current seven-game winning streak. Orlando was seen as a fun, budding team on the rise, but not many could’ve predicted Jamahl Mosley’s side would be this good, this fast. The Magic have the third-best record in the East and their improvement has largely come behind a more robust defence – currently the second-best in the league. They simply have guys who compete hard every game like Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, while Paolo Banchero has taken his game to new heights alongside co-star Franz Wagner, an elite running partner who’s still somehow underrated. Joe Ingles has also provide invaluable leadership and stability off the bench. The Magic, who’ve taken down arguably the best two teams in the NBA in Boston and Denver, have done all of this with Markelle Fultz missing most of the season with a knee injury!
Booker torches the Garden with dagger 3 | 00:37
7. PHOENIX SUNS (11-6)
The Suns are coming. Despite Bradley Beal being restricted to three games due to a back issue and Devin Booker also battling injury, they’re still sitting in the upper echelon of the always competitive West. Kevin Durant has wound the clock back to look like… well, prime Kevin Durant, while Booker too has had some monster performances top really ascend his status to the top-line superstars. What’s also been encouraging is how recruits Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen have stepped up with more opportunities and Jusuf Nurkic might have found his perfect landing spot. It’s the defensive end of the floor where there’s still some issues, but sitting 11-6 despite their new big three having never played together yet and there’s huge reason for optimism in the Valley of the Sun.
Giddey starts for OKC amid investigation | 00:50
8. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (11-6)
Another big improver and team that looks genuinely ready to contend, perhaps slightly ahead of its time. OKC is ranked top seven both offensively and defensively and doesn’t seem to fear anyone. The impact of former Pick 2 Chet Holmgren has been significant, with the gun big man emerging as the unlikely frontrunner for Rookie of the Year over Victor Wembanyama, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be crazy good to back up his breakout 2022/23 season. Mark Daigneault is generally getting better production across the board from the likes of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, allowing him to be more flexible with his line-ups. The hovering allegations about Josh Giddey have been the only real downside amid an indifferent start to the season for the Aussie, but there’s so much to like about what the Thunder are doing. And all of this with a mountain of draft picks at their disposal to upgrade the roster when they see fit. Look out.
9. DALLAS MAVERICKS (11-6)
The forgotten contender in the arms race following last season’s big disappointment, even after they acquired Kyrie Irving. But Luka Doncic looks like a man on a mission – with a better roster around him including a barrage of three-point shooters. It’s the offensive end of the floor where Dallas has really excelled – boasting the No.3 offensive rating – while they do have a ways to improve defensively to be taken more seriously as a legit contender. But the Doncic-Irving duo has proven to be a real handful, plus in Dereck Lively II the Mavericks have a promising big man for the first time in several years. It’d be nice to see more consistency from Josh Green, though the Aussie remains an important member of the rotation and has had some bright moments.
Kings topple Warriors for Group C throne | 00:57
10. SACRAMENTO KINGS (10-7)
The beam is starting to come alight. After a 2-4 start to the campaign where the Kings looked like a big regression contender, they’ve rediscovered their spark, going 8-2 over their last 10 games including 4-2 over a recent road trip. The offence from last season is starting to come back too, led by De’Aaron Fox amid a spectacular start to the season from the star guard, who’s averaged a career-best 3.1 three-pointers per game. And Mike Brown’s team has improved at the other end of the floor to become middle-of-the-road defensively. Keegan Murray hasn’t quite taken the second-year leap in what could really propel the Kings to another level, which might be more likely to come in the forward’s third season.
11. LA LAKERS (11-8)
It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Lakers — and perhaps they’re ultimately not the contenders we thought they were amid a host of other Western Conference sides improving. While it’s still early days, LA has had issues at both ends of the floor — mainly the offensive end (ranked bottom three in three-point shooting) — as Darvin Ham works through finding his best line-ups after a few off-season changes to the roster. They’ve also been affected by injury and have struggled on the road (3-6). Beyond Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who’s still freakishly good at near age 39, there’s a lack of other consistent production, even if D’Angelo Russell has bounced back from a disappointing playoff series, while Austin Reaves hasn’t had the breakout season come expected in year three and has been moved to the bench.
LeBron suffers WORST loss in NBA career | 00:51
12. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-8)
The Cavs have overcome a slow start to the season to get on a roll in recent times, having won six of their last eight games. We frankly haven’t seen Cleveland at full strength enough yet this season to get a real grasp of where this team is at – a team that finished top four in the East last season. The core remains as talented as some of the top sides and the addition of Max Strus has been a big win to add much-needed three-point shooting on the wing. The Caves don’t really want for anything, though there’s question marks of whether the Even Mobley-Jarrett Allen frontcourt is viable long-term given the spacing issues. It comes in an important juncture and season at large for the franchise as it’ll be hoping to convince Donovan Mitchell to stick around long-term, in one of the potential trade narratives to keep an eye on.
13. NEW YORK KNICKS (10-7)
When it’s all clicking for the Knicks, they’re a strong unit. Jalen Brunson proved last season was no aberration, backing up his breakout campaign to again lead this team, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett haven’t been quite as consistent even though the latter has shown an improved three-point stroke. New York does have a top-five ranked defence and the 11th-best offence, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad has struggled against the best teams in the league. From that perspective, how far can a Brunson-Randle-Barrett trio go — even with an improved roster around them? Might be one big move away from seriously contending.
Knicks stun Heat with comeback in NY | 01:16
14. INDIANA PACERS (9-7)
With Tyrese Haliburton in this kind of form, anything might be possible. Haliburton is putting together an All-NBA level season, averaging stupidly good numbers across the board (25.9 points on 51 per cent shooting, 3.8 triples and 11.9 assists per game). It’s been key to the team’s promising 9-7 start to the season, with claim to the league’s No.1 offensive rating while averaging 127 points per game. It’s completely opened the Pacers up defensively though …and where’s Haliburton’s help coming from? Myles Turner’s minutes are down, while Rick Carlisle seemingly can’t decide if he wants to develop Benedict Mathurin as a starter or just play veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield heavy minutes, with the latter more of a win-now move. Bruce Brown has been a handy addition, but he’s more a role player than anything. Another team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.
15. MIAMI HEAT (10-8)
Another team that’s hard to figure out, albeit hampered by injuries, As if coming off an NBA Finals appearance as the eighth seed didn’t already make it tricky enough! The Heat have at least navigated the majority of the opening weeks without star guard Tyler Herro, who looked set for a huge breakout season as Miami’s leading scorer, and they’ve clearly missed his offence. The good has been good — including a seven-game winning streak and Bam Adebayo rolling in a career-best season to take on the mantle as Miami’s alpha. But the bad has been bad — opening the campaign 1-4 and currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, while there’s question marks of the team’s depth.
16. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (10-9)
One of the biggest enigmas in the NBA … are still an enigma? There’s been some good and some bad — including a five-game losing streak — and they’ve all-round just been an average side. It’s a somewhat disappointing return for a franchise that spent parts of last season as the No.1 seed in the West and could be so much more with Zion Williamson. But the former No.1 pick hasn’t yet lived up to expectations and has appeared frustrated at times with how the team is going and his role. Frankly, we haven’t seen Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on the court together enough to get a proper gauge of how good they can be. McCollum’s lung injury did open the door for Dyson Daniels to play more minutes though and show a glimpse of the Aussie young gun’s promising future.
17. LA CLIPPERS (8-9)
Still adjusting to life with James Harden, the Clippers might’ve worked things out. After starting the Harden era 0-5, Tyronn Lue’s side has since won five of its last seven games as it starts to move up the West standings. There were always to be growing pains with Harden and a need to fine-tune rotations, which has ultimately seen Russell Westbrook move to the bench. Well, over their last six games, the Clippers have the best defensive rating in the league, while Harden is coming off his best game yet as a Clipper with a season-high 26 points, five triples and five steals. Paul George’s hot start to the season hasn’t been talked about enough too amid the team’s struggles.
18. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-10)
It’s hard to know what to make of Golden State at times and how much we judge Steve Kerr’s team on reputation. Some predicted the addition of Chris Paul would take the Warriors to the next level, but right now they’re sitting just inside the Play-In qualification. It’s been the same story as last season — they rely too much on Steph Curry, Klay Thompson has been inconsistent and unreliable, Draymond Green has been engulfed in drama and the young players haven’t stepped up (but haven’t necessarily had opportunities to). Andrew Wiggins has meanwhile fallen off a cliff to leave a big scoring void, but Kerr doesn’t quite seem prepared yet to pass the baton to the next crop. They’ve gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and Paul has already suffered his first injury setback of the season.
Curry tops Wemby in battle of the stars | 01:11
19. HOUSTON ROCKETS (8-8)
Ime Uodka has done some sort of job in his first 16 games as Rockets coach. A team considered a potential improver looks like a genuine playoff team. It’s been a bit of a seesaw — with revolving winning and losing streaks — but this team is highly disciplined defensively, helped by the addition of Dillon Brooks, is deep and has beaten reigning champion Denver twice. Having an established point guard in Fred VanVleet has provided more overall structure and Alpereen Sengun looks like a mini Jokic in a brilliant breakout season from the 21-year old centre. And to think the Rockets tried — and failed — to land Brook Lopez in the off-season in what would’ve almost certainly prevented Sengun from doing what he’s doing now. A really impressive start in H-Town in a big tick overall. Now just to replicate their home form (8-1) on the road (0-7) — and more Jock Landale too please!
20. ATLANTA HAWKS (8-9)
One thing you can count on with Atlanta — it’s going to score in bunches. The Hawks have the No. 5 offensive rating this season while averaging 122.5 points per game — trailing only Indiana — driven by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Jalen Johnson’s emergence has offset John Collins’ departure, and so the forward’s injury leaves a big hole in Quin Snyder’s streamlined rotation — that has featured Patty Mills for all of five total minutes this season. After a promising start to the season, the Hawks have gone 2-5 over their last seven games, so they have a few things to figure out ahead of tough upcoming schedule including playing Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Denver in their next five games. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu remain locked in a minutes split at centre, but you sense it’s only a matter of time before Okongwu is given full rein.
21. BROOKLYN NETS (9-8)
The Nets have managed to keep their head above water despite battling a host of injuries to the likes of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas. Considering the amount of changes to the line-up, Brooklyn would be happy to currently be sitting ninth in the East including currently riding a three-game winning streak. The team has also had the sixth-toughest schedule in the league, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, while Mikal Bridges hasn’t quite had the breakout season some anticipated yet. With all that in mind, there’s a fair bit of upside when — or if — the Nets get fully healthy.
22. TORONTO RAPTORS (9-10)
Offence has been the main concern for the Raptors — in particular their bottom-five ranked three-point shooting. As good as Scottie Barnes has been in a breakout season from the forward, it’s hard to get a grasp of this team’s identity. One game it’s Barnes leading the charge, the next it’s Pascal Siakam, while OG Anunoby has struggled amongst it all and Jakob Poeltl has been used sparingly despite costing the team a first-round pick and getting a juicy contract extension. Could they be sellers at the deadline? Dennis Schroder has at least enjoyed a strong season as the team’s new point guard to get back to some of his best form of years past.
23. UTAH JAZZ (6-12)
Lauri Markkanen is doing everything he can, but fair to say this season hasn’t started nearly well as last for the young Jazz. You could see it going either way in Utah — but it’s been tough goings for Will Hardy and company. After struggling in the opening games before getting injured, Walker Kessler now finds himself coming off the bench, though that should change soon, while Keyonte George has moved into the starting line-up in Hardy’s bid for more playmaking and movement in that opening five. The Jazz however still have major issues at both ends of the floor, and at some stage, they’ll need to commit to a path of either competing for the playoffs or rebuilding, as right now it feels like they’re trying do both but failing to achieve anything.
24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (5-11)
Just when the Hornets were starting to turn their season around, the near worst possible thing happened – LaMelo Ball suffered another setback to his troublesome ankle that required surgery earlier this year. At full strength, Charlotte has a solid roster that could contend for the playoffs, but it hasn’t had all its key pieces on the floor together at once, with Ball central to everything. Controversial forward Miles Bridges has taken no time to get up to speed since returning from suspension, and now he and Terry Rozier in particular will need to take on a much bigger load with the Hornets’ franchise superstar sidelined for the next several weeks.
25. CHICAGO BULLS (5-14)
If it wasn’t already clear, it’s time to blow it up. Things are a mess for the Bulls right now — a team built to win now is a ways off and is sitting all the way down as the Eastern Conference 13th seed amid a five-game losing streak — including dropping eight of their last nine. If Chicago’s situation doesn’t improve, which, right now, it’s hard to see how it does, expect one — or both — of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to be wearing a different jersey by the trade deadline. At least then Chicago can start building with a new nucleus, because the current one is stuck in NBA purgatory — where no team wants to be.
26. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (5-12)
Going according to script after the Damian Lillard trade as the Blazers prioritise developing their emerging crop of youngsters including Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who should eventually take over the starting point guard job. Portland recently snapped an eight-game losing streak, with its offence the key area letting it down. Anfernee Simons having only played one game due to a thumb injury clearly hasn’t helped. Elsewhere, Aussie duo Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath are getting more opportunities in the rotation to show their worth, with the former’s defensive prowess again proving valuable.
27. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-13)
When is Ja Morant free to return again? It’s the question the Grizzlies would be repeatedly asking themselves amid a grim 4-13 start to the season as perhaps the most disappointing team. Because sure, having no Morant for over a quarter of the season is significant, but the Grizzlies have looked like a lottery team without him. It includes the Griz being ranked dead last in three-point shooting with the second-worst rated offence. Unlike Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. has struggled to step up with extra offensive opportunities. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, Marcus Smart is now sidelined for the next several weeks after suffering a nasty ankle injury. They did finally end their 0-8 winless drought at home — the last team to do so — after beating Utah on Thursday.
28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (3-14)
The Spurs are probably lucky they’re not even lower (not that there’s much scope). But it’s been the very definition of growing pains and teething issues for the rebuilding team in welcoming Victor Wembanyama into its young core despite the No.1 pick’s sensational start to his career. San Antonio is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak to sit dead last in the West, while its -12.9 point difference is the worst in the NBA. Maybe expectations were simply set too high amid the hype around ‘Wemby’ — but just because they’re not playing well doesn’t mean their future isn’t bright. The Spurs are simply in experiment and trial and error mode — so even a Play-In appearance feels unlikely right now. Devin Vassell missing five games due to an adductor injury hasn’t helped their cause.
Spurs fall short despite Wemby heroics | 00:51
29. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-15)
Not that the Wizards were expected to be any good this season, but it’s probably been even worse than imagined, with Kyle Kuzma the sole shining light. It took for Washington to play the Pistons to end a nine-game losing streak and pick up its fifth overall win nearing the quarter-way mark of the season. Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones have underwhelmed, though neither have played big minutes amid some curious rotation decisions from Wes Unseld Jr. Ranked bottom 10 at both ends of the floor, the Wizards are officially in all-out tank mode and could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
30. DETROIT PISTONS (2-16)
Perhaps the most alarming thing is that the Pistons started the season 2-1 and looked like a sneaky improver! Well, they’ve since lost 15 on the trot to hold the worst record in the NBA, with the eighth-worst defence and fourth-west offence. This is a team some thought could start climbing the standings after spending years going to the draft. But Detroit is still behind newer rebuilding teams like Portland, San Antonio and Washington, while Monty Williams can barely figure out his rotation and which players will help take this franchise forward. Having Cade Cunningham back has been important and rookie Ausar Thompson and second-year centre Jalen Duren have both impressed, but it looks set to be another long season in the Motor City — even if Bojan Bogdanovic’s imminent return will help.
