NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Player Movement & Transactions
Banned NBA player Jontay Porter is joining the upstart USBL's Super Hawks after being banned for life from the NBA in 2024 for gambling violations. Former Virginia coach Tony Bennett has joined the Lakers as NBA draft adviser to GM Rob Pelinka. The Hawks acquired Jonathan Kuminga from Golden State, where he had been riding the bench for months.
Team News & Injuries
Cavaliers guard James Harden suffered a non-displaced thumb fracture and is out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks. Hawks All-Star forward Jalen Johnson exited Tuesday's win over the Wizards after just 5½ minutes with a left hip flexor injury. The Pelicans celebrated Dejounte Murray's return from a ruptured Achilles, with Murray scoring 13 points in his comeback game.
League Developments
Suns owner Mat Ishbia is offering $1 million to winners of All-Star Weekend events when Phoenix hosts next year to attract more star players. Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen confirmed that GM Rob Pelinka will remain in his role, flanked by Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi. Former Virginia coach Tony Bennett joined the Lakers as NBA draft adviser.
Game Results & Analysis
The Lakers lost to the Magic 110-109 on Tuesday after a botched final play between Le Bron James and Luka Doncic failed to produce a quality shot. The Cavaliers beat the Knicks, with coach Kenny Atkinson noting the "renewed confidence" James Harden has brought to the team. The Hawks won their game with Kuminga's strong debut performance.
Awards & Standings
MVP odds have tightened between Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver's Nikola Jokic, with both at risk of not qualifying for the award. The NBA Power Rankings show where all 30 teams landed coming out of the All-Star break, with questions about whether the Wolves will rise in the standings.
Player Performance
Zion Williamson is finding the ability to stay on the court consistently, addressing previous durability concerns. Dejounte Murray made a successful return from his Achilles injury, scoring 13 points in his first game back. Jonathan Kuminga shined in his Hawks debut after months of limited playing time in Golden State.