NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Injury Updates & Player News
The Suns suffered a major blow when Dillon Brooks espn.com broke his left hand in Saturday's game against Orlando and is expected to miss an extended period. This comes on top of Devin Booker espn.com being sidelined for at least a week with a right hip strain he suffered against the Spurs on Thursday. Jalen Green espn.com provided some positive news for Phoenix by hitting a 3-pointer from the right corner at the buzzer to give the Suns a 113-110 double-overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
The Bulls will be without Jaden Ivey espn.com for at least two weeks because of soreness in his left knee. Meanwhile, La Melo Ball espn.com says he feels "blessed" to be uninjured after being involved in a two-car crash in Charlotte.
Stephen Curry espn.com will be re-evaluated again in 10 days for a persistent right knee injury, sidelining him for at least another five games. The Warriors' struggles continue as Kristaps Porzingis espn.com made his debut in his first game since Jan. 7, opening slow but making an impact in his 17 minutes, scoring 12 points in a 121-110 loss to the Celtics.
Cade Cunningham espn.com made his MVP case by erupting for 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in a decisive 126-111 win over the Knicks. The Pistons' star performance highlighted the competitive nature of the league as teams push for playoff positioning.
Team Moves & League News
The Lakers confirmed to ESPN on Saturday that they are planning ticket price increases espn.com for the 2026-27 season. They also added longtime Los Angeles Dodgers executive Lon Rosen espn.com to their front office in the latest significant change for the 17-time NBA champion organization following its sale last year.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder espn.com will open the post-break portion of the schedule without injured stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg espn.com will sit out the team's first game back from the All-Star break at Minnesota on Friday night because of a left midfoot sprain. Flagg's debut jersey has already made history, selling for $1 million, a record for a collectible of the Mavericks rookie.
Commissioner Adam Silver informed the league's 30 general managers that the NBA plans to make anti-tanking rule changes espn.com for next season, sources told ESPN. This announcement came shortly after Suns owner Mat Ishbia espn.com sounded off on the issue of tanking, calling it a "losing behavior done by losers" and "much worse than any prop bet scandal."
Playoff Picture & MVP Race
The MVP race espn.com remains wide open with so many contenders in danger of missing the 65-game threshold, potentially taking a sharp turn. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic currently lead the update, but the competition remains fierce.
One year after a blood clot ended his season, Victor Wembanyama espn.com has the Spurs bound for the playoffs, showcasing the remarkable turnaround for San Antonio. The Celtics' Jaylen Brown espn.com is considering legal action against the city of Beverly Hills after police shut down a private event he was hosting during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Trae Young espn.com is getting closer to his Washington Wizards debut, but Anthony Davis still isn't ready for the practice court. The Lakers appear to be fully healthy for the first time in recent memory with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton all expected to play Friday against the Clippers.
De'Andre Hunter espn.com had surgery Friday to repair a detached retina in his left eye, becoming the third Kings player to undergo season-ending surgery in recent days. The Kings' injury woes continue to mount as they try to maintain their playoff position.
Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol espn.com has been chosen by Olympic athletes to represent them on the IOC executive board through the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, bridging the worlds of professional basketball and international sports governance.
As teams return from the All-Star break, analysts are examining which squads could make significant runs. From Miami's hot streak to Denver's turnaround, the post-All-Star break runs espn.com could determine playoff seeding and championship aspirations. The best ability remains availability, and while some stars are shut down, several players should feature often down the stretch.
The NBA's competitive balance continues to evolve, with Tyrese Maxey espn.com emerging as a potential top points scorer. As the regular season winds down, teams are positioning themselves for the playoffs while managing player health and navigating the complex landscape of rest and recovery protocols."