NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Injury Updates
Nuggets star Jamal Murray espn.com left Friday's game against the Knicks with an ankle injury and is set for testing Saturday. Celtics center Nikola Vucevic espn.com fractured his right ring finger and will miss approximately a month, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Deandre Ayton espn.com left Thursday's loss to the Nuggets with a knee injury, while LeBron James complained of a sore elbow afterward and said he wasn't sure of his status for Friday's game against the Pacers. Pistons forward Ausar Thompson espn.com left Thursday's loss to the Spurs in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle and didn't return.
Game Highlights
Victor Wembanyama espn.com said he had "zero left" physically but was all smiles after the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit to stun the Clippers 116-112. Trae Young espn.com dazzled in his Wizards debut, thrilling the D.C. crowd with 12 points in limited time and proving he's the type of player Washington hasn't had since John Wall. Cooper Flagg espn.com returned to the Mavericks' lineup after missing eight games with a left midfoot sprain, scoring 18 points and adding six assists in a 115-114 loss to the Magic. The Warriors espn.com surprised in overtime as Stephen Curry sent Draymond Green an encouraging text before their win in Houston.
Player Availability
The Lakers espn.com will be without LeBron James and two big men - Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber - against the Pacers on Friday. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant espn.com will miss at least two more weeks as he recovers from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. Kristaps Porzingis espn.com remains sidelined by a "mysterious" illness that has kept him out since his February 19 debut with the Warriors. VJ Edgecombe espn.com will miss Wednesday's game against Utah with a low back bruise.
Legal & Off-Court News
A federal judge in New York issued a $1 million civil judgment against NBA free agent Malik Beasley espn.com in a contract dispute with his former agency. Alexander Esteban Huaiquil Chavez espn.com pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property for his role in a theft group comprising Chilean nationals that burglarized the homes of athletes across the United States in 2024.
Notable Quotes
Knicks coach Mike Brown espn.com said after his team's loss, "SGA, he's a tough cover, and he does a great job of convincing the referees -- probably better than anybody in the league -- that he's getting hit." Stephen Curry sent an encouraging text to Draymond Green before the Warriors' overtime win in Houston, with Green later saying, "Keep going."