NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Injury Updates & Returns
Nuggets star Jamal Murray espn.com left Thursday's game against the Knicks with an ankle injury and is set for testing Saturday. The Lakers will be without LeBron James espn.com and two big men - Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber - for Friday's game against the Pacers after Ayton suffered a knee injury Thursday night against the Nuggets. 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. 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.
Notable Performances
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. In his Wizards debut, Trae Young espn.com thrilled the D.C. crowd with 12 points, proving he's the type of player the team hasn't had since John Wall. Cooper Flagg espn.com returned to the Mavericks' lineup Thursday after missing eight games with a left midfoot sprain, contributing 18 points and six assists in a 115-114 loss to the Magic.
Team News
Celtics center Nikola Vucevic espn.com underwent surgery to repair a fractured ring finger on his right hand and will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. The Warriors continue to reckon with the future as a "mysterious" illness sidelines Kristaps Porzingis espn.com, who made his debut on February 19 and hasn't played since. In the hours leading up to Thursday's overtime win in Houston, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry espn.com sent Draymond Green an encouraging text message.
Legal & Off-Court
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, a member of a theft group comprising Chilean nationals that burglarized the homes of athletes across the United States in 2024, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property.
As the season nears its conclusion, analysts are examining Jayson Tatum's espn.com return to Boston after his devastating Achilles injury and how it could shift the NBA's balance of power. Meanwhile, speculation continues about which players fantasy managers should keep, with Nikola Vucevic espn.com, Miles Bridges and others facing questions about their value heading into the stretch run.