NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Game Results & Highlights
The Lakers suffered a heartbreaking 110-109 loss to the Magic after a botched final play between Le Bron James and Luka Doncic failed to produce a quality shot. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers beat the Knicks with coach Kenny Atkinson noting the "renewed confidence" James Harden has brought to the team. The Hawks secured a win over the Wizards with Jonathan Kuminga shining in his debut after months of riding the bench in Golden State.
Player Performances & Injuries
Hawks All-Star forward Jalen Johnson played only 5½ minutes before leaving Tuesday's win with a left hip flexor injury. Bulls guard Anfernee Simons aggravated a fractured left wrist that he suffered while with the Celtics, and the team did not offer a timeline for his return. Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe was diagnosed with a stress reaction of the left fibula and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
Team Updates
The Pelicans celebrated Dejounte Murray's return to action Tuesday, when he scored 13 points in his comeback from a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The Hawks have removed former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher from the starting lineup in favor of veteran CJ Mc Collum. Coby White is set to make his Charlotte Hornets debut on Tuesday night against his former Bulls team.
Front Office Moves
New Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen made it clear that GM Rob Pelinka will remain in his role and be flanked by Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the NBA did not speak with team doctors or players before issuing a $100K fine for violating the league's player participation policy, a claim the NBA has disputed.
Other Notable Stories
Trae Young, who is recovering from a sprained right knee and quadriceps contusion, returned to Atlanta on Tuesday night, his first appearance in his longtime home since he was dealt to the Wizards. NBA insiders break down where all 30 teams land coming out of the All-Star break in the latest power rankings. In late 2002, Nike began creating a global campaign featuring the black mamba -- and presented it to an NBA superstar. That star was not Kobe Bryant.