NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Player Injuries Update
Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis espn.com will miss a fourth straight game on Saturday night due to general illness. 76ers star Joel Embiid espn.com will miss at least three games because of a strained right oblique, the team announced Saturday. Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen espn.com will be reevaluated in two weeks after an MRI on his hip Thursday, sources told ESPN, making him the latest Utah player sidelined by injury. Heat guard Norman Powell espn.com, the team's leading scorer, has a Grade 1 right groin strain and will be out for at least a week, the team said Friday. Cavs All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden espn.com each missed their second straight game Friday, with Keon Ellis and Dean Wade also ruled out.
Contract Moves & Roster Changes
The Warriors espn.com signed starting forward Gui Santos to a three-year, $15 million contract extension on Saturday, sources told ESPN. Spurs center Mason Plumlee espn.com has signed a deal with San Antonio for the remainder of the season, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN. Suns guard Cole Anthony espn.com was waived Friday by the team, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, after the guard did not appear in any games since being acquired at the NBA trade deadline.
On-Court Drama
Nuggets star 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 for appearing to trip Jokic, who called the play "an unnecessary move." Celtics espn.com posted one of the best offensive performances in league history on Friday night against the Nets. Anthony Edwards and Desmond Bane espn.com were each fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing the ball into the stands in recent games.
Milestone Achievements
Knicks forward Julius Randle espn.com is being projected to finish in the top, while Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton could crack the top, according to ESPN's Eric Karabell. Warriors rookie Kon Knueppel espn.com broke Keegan Murray's NBA rookie record for 3-pointers, making his 207th on Thursday night against the Pacers.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra espn.com says it's incredible to think of Kevin Durant on the 2028 Olympic team if Durant still wants to play. Lakers center Deandre Ayton espn.com and Los Angeles are entering the most crucial stretch of the season as they try to solve their role-player dilemma. Warriors coach Steve Kerr walked back comments about Porzingis' diagnosis, clarifying the center's illness status.
Off-Court News
NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh espn.com said he's "lucky to be alive" after a recent health scare that resulted in him waking up "covered in my own blood." Friday night's game between the Pistons and Cavaliers espn.com was delayed for 18 minutes in the third quarter by a blaring horn after a power surge caused the overhead scoreboard to malfunction.