NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Game Results & Standings
Exhausted Wemby espn.com said he had "zero left" physically after the Spurs stunned the Clippers with a 116-112 comeback win, overcoming a 25-point deficit. The Nuggets lost Jamal Murray to an ankle injury in their game against the Knicks espn.com. The Lakers will be without LeBron James (elbow) and Deandre Ayton (knee) for Friday's matchup against the Pacers espn.com. Ausar Thompson left Thursday's Pistons-Spurs game with a sprained right ankle and didn't return espn.com. Ja Morant remains sidelined for at least two more weeks as he recovers from an elbow injury espn.com.
Player Injuries & Returns
Celtics center Nikola Vucevic espn.com underwent surgery on a fractured ring finger and will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. The Warriors are reckoning with the future as a mysterious illness continues to sideline Kristaps Porzingis after his February debut espn.com. Cooper Flagg returned from an eight-game absence due to a midfoot sprain, scoring 18 points in the Mavericks' 115-114 loss to Orlando espn.com. Trae Young dazzled in his Wizards debut with 12 points despite limited playing time espn.com.
Coaching & Strategy
Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Clippers star Paul George's ability to sell fouls to referees, saying "SGA probably does it better than anybody in the league" espn.com. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein exited OKC's win over the Knicks with hip and calf injuries respectively espn.com. Draymond Green received an encouraging text from Stephen Curry before the Warriors' OT win in Houston espn.com.
Legal & Off-Court News
A federal judge issued a $1 million civil judgment against NBA free agent Malik Beasley in a contract dispute with his former agency espn.com. Alexander Esteban Huaiquil Chavez pleaded guilty in a case involving burglaries of athletes' homes across the United States espn.com.