NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Injury Updates
Ja Morant will miss at least two more weeks as he recovers from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. Cooper Flagg was cleared to return after missing eight games due to a left midfoot sprain. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein exited Wednesday's win over the Knicks with injuries and will be reevaluated Thursday.
Legal & Contract News
A federal judge in New York issued a $1 million civil judgment against Malik Beasley in a contract dispute with his former agency. Jayson Tatum's return from a devastating Achilles injury could shift the NBA's balance of power with weeks left in the season.
Player Analysis
Mike Brown praised Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his ability to convince referees he's getting hit, calling him the best in the league at drawing fouls. ESPN's All-Contract Team features Brunson, Avdija, and Johnson as top performers without max or rookie deals.
Draft Prospects
ESPN examined nine key questions for the top freshmen in the 2026 NBA draft class, including Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson.