NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Game 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. The Cavaliers beat the Knicks with renewed confidence since adding James Harden, according to coach Kenny Atkinson. The Pelicans celebrated Dejounte Murray's return from a ruptured Achilles, with Murray scoring 13 points in his comeback.
Player Performances
Jonathan Kuminga shined in his Hawks debut after months on the Warriors' bench, while Jalen Johnson exited early with a left hip flexor injury after just 5½ minutes. CJ Mc Collum replaced former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher in the Hawks' starting lineup. Coby White is set to make his Hornets debut against his former Bulls team.
Team News
Lon Rosen confirmed Lakers GM Rob Pelinka will remain in his role under the new business operations president. Rick Carlisle questioned the NBA's process for fining the Pacers $100K for violating player participation policy, claiming the league didn't consult team doctors or players. Shaedon Sharpe was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
League Updates
Trae Young returned to Atlanta for the first time since being traded to the Wizards, receiving an honor from the Hawks. Anfernee Simons aggravated a fractured left wrist and the Bulls haven't provided a timeline for his return. ESPN insiders broke down where all 30 NBA teams stand coming out of the All-Star break in their latest power rankings.
Behind the Scenes
Nike began creating a global campaign featuring the black mamba in late 2002, presenting it to an NBA superstar who wasn't Kobe Bryant. The secret history of the black mamba campaign reveals interesting behind-the-scenes details about one of basketball's most iconic nicknames."