NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Player Injuries & Returns
James Harden espn.com made a successful return for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday despite dealing with a broken thumb in his non-shooting hand. Stephen Curry espn.com will sit out at least the next five games due to his persistent right knee issue, with the Warriors announcing he hasn't yet advanced to court work in his rehab. Joel Embiid espn.com will miss at least three games with a strained right oblique, while Zion Williamson espn.com "tweaked his ankle" and left Saturday's win over the Jazz in the second quarter. Lauri Markkanen espn.com will be reevaluated in two weeks after an MRI on his hip, making him the latest Utah player sidelined by injury.
Team Performances & Records
The Celtics espn.com posted one of the best offensive performances in league history on Friday night against the Nets. The Knicks espn.com held a streaking Spurs team to just 89 points in a dominant showing Sunday. Kon Knueppel espn.com broke Keegan Murray's NBA rookie record for 3-pointers, making his 207th on Thursday night against the Pacers. Meanwhile, Mason Plumlee espn.com has signed a deal with the San Antonio Spurs for the remainder of the season.
Contract Extensions & Roster Moves
The Warriors espn.com signed starting forward Gui Santos to a three-year, $15 million contract extension on Saturday. The Suns espn.com waived Cole Anthony three weeks after acquiring him at the NBA trade deadline, as the guard did not appear in any games since the trade. The Heat espn.com announced that All-Star guard Norman Powell, their leading scorer, has a Grade 1 right groin strain and will be out for at least a week.
On-Court Incidents
Nikola Jokic espn.com angrily confronted Thunder guard Lu Dort after Dort was called for a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from Friday night's game. Jokic called Dort's play "an unnecessary move" after the guard appeared to trip the Nuggets star. Friday night's game between the Pistons espn.com and Cavaliers was delayed for 18 minutes in the third quarter by a blaring horn after a power surge caused the overhead scoreboard to malfunction.
Milestone Celebrations
Tyrese Haliburton espn.com, born on leap year, shared his appreciation for birthday wishes, noting it's "just as good" when it's not technically his birthday. LeBron James espn.com celebrated a successful father-daughter road trip as part of his 23-year career achievements. Erik Spoelstra espn.com commented on the possibility of Kevin Durant playing in the 2028 Olympics, calling it "incredible" to think of Durant on that team if he still wants to play.
Upcoming Games & Player Status
Kristaps Porzingis espn.com will miss a fourth straight game for the Warriors due to general illness. The Cavs espn.com ruled out All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden for their second straight game Friday, along with Keon Ellis and Dean Wade. Memphis Grizzlies espn.com second-year center Zach Edey is set to undergo another surgery on his ailing left ankle, with his return to be determined.
Awards & Future Outlook
Andre Snellings espn.com analyzes the NBA awards races, explaining which ones to bet on and which to avoid entirely. The focus remains on Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama as top MVP candidates as the season progresses toward its final stretch.