NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Injury Updates & Player Status
VJ Edgecombe espn.com will miss Wednesday's game against Utah with a low back bruise suffered by the 76ers' star rookie a night earlier on a hard fall. Harrison Barnes espn.com missed his first game since 2021 because he woke up from a pregame nap with a sore left ankle, ending his iron man streak. Stephen Curry espn.com will sit out at least the next five games because of his persistent right knee issue, the Warriors announced Sunday.
Coaching News & Controversies
A number of prominent basketball coaches espn.com, including Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers, signed a public letter released Wednesday contending that political interference in universities threatens to undermine collegiate athletics. JJ Redick espn.com called his testy bench exchange with Luka Doncic over the weekend much ado about nothing, saying he didn't understand why it went viral.
Player Moves & Team Updates
The Nuggets espn.com are bolstering their backcourt depth with the addition of free agent veteran point guard Tyus Jones. The Thunder espn.com signed former Iowa forward Payton Sandfort to a two-way contract, waiving guard Buddy Boeheim. The Cavaliers espn.com have racked up the best record in the NBA since January, adding an 11-time All-Star to their roster.
Legal & Off-Court Developments
Prosecutors espn.com said on Tuesday that they expect to extend formal plea agreements to 12 of the 31 defendants in the federal case into rigged poker games involving Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones. Billups espn.com faces potential decades in prison after connections to Mafia-affiliated poker games and illegal gambling emerged following his Hall of Fame NBA career.
Player Spotlight & Personal Stories
Victor Wembanyama espn.com visited Alaska to see the northern lights after the All-Star break. The Spurs star espn.com expressed gratitude to the public for its help in finding a longtime friend of his who had disappeared after being dropped off at a Chicago airport. Tyrese Haliburton espn.com has spoken about being born on a leap year, sharing that it's "just as good" when it's not technically his birthday.
Game Action & Performances
James Harden espn.com, still dealing with a broken thumb in his non-shooting hand, made a successful return for the Cavaliers on Sunday. The Knicks espn.com held a streaking Spurs team to just 89 points in a dominant showing Sunday. Trae Young espn.com, who is set to make his Wizards debut Thursday vs. Utah, was ejected for leaving the bench in Monday's loss to Houston.
League Analysis & Future Outlook
ESPN analyst Zach Kram espn.com explores the Western Conference's recent dominance and how the East's underrated strength could surprise in the postseason. The most intriguing games left for all 30 teams espn.com are being analyzed as six weeks remain until the playoffs. The Thunder espn.com have clinched the first postseason spot in the 2025-26 NBA postseason tracker.