NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Player Injuries & Returns
Cavaliers guard James Harden espn.com will miss Wednesday's game against Milwaukee after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb. The injury occurred during Tuesday's matchup against the Knicks. Meanwhile, Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray espn.com made his long-awaited return from a ruptured Achilles tendon, scoring 13 points in his comeback appearance. The Bulls' Anfernee Simons espn.com aggravated a fractured left wrist and faces an uncertain timeline for his return.
Team Moves & Coaching Changes
The Lakers espn.com added former Virginia coach Tony Bennett as an NBA draft adviser to president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. New Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen confirmed that Pelinka espn.com will remain in his role, supported by Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi. The Hawks espn.com made a significant lineup change, removing former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher from the starting lineup in favor of veteran CJ Mc Collum.
Game Highlights & Results
The Pistons espn.com pulled off an upset against the Thunder, who were without their top six scorers. In Sacramento, Russell Westbrook espn.com scored 25 points as the Kings snapped a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak with a 123-114 victory over the Grizzlies. The Spurs espn.com continued their strong play, winning their ninth straight game by defeating the Pistons in what coach Rick Carlisle called a potential NBA Finals preview.
All-Star Weekend & League News
Suns owner Mat Ishbia espn.com announced a $1 million prize for winners of All-Star Weekend events when Phoenix hosts next year, hoping to entice more star players to participate. The NBA fined Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner $35,000 each for their on-court scuffle over the weekend. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle espn.com questioned the NBA's process for issuing a $100K fine to the team for violating the league's player participation policy.
Player Performances & Milestones
Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga espn.com shined in his debut after months of riding the bench in Golden State. The Pelicans celebrated Murray's return, with teammates noting he "didn't miss a beat." Hawks All-Star forward Jalen Johnson espn.com left Tuesday's win over the Wizards with a left hip flexor injury after playing only 5½ minutes.
Off-Court Developments
Banned NBA player Jontay Porter espn.com is planning to play for the upstart USBL's Super Hawks while awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a federal charge related to gambling. NBA legend Marques Johnson espn.com celebrated another year with his annual birthday dunk. Former NBA guard Patrick Beverley had charges dismissed when a grand jury returned a no-bill in his assault case.
Future Outlook & Analysis
The MVP race has tightened considerably, with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander espn.com and Denver's Nikola Jokic at risk of not qualifying for the award due to potential rest days. ESPN insiders analyzed where all 30 teams stand coming out of the All-Star break in their latest power rankings. Our NBA experts also evaluated draft, free agency, and trade options for the league's 10 worst teams heading into the stretch run.
International & Legacy Stories
Kevin Durant espn.com told ESPN he plans to play in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, while lamenting critics of U.S. basketball. A fascinating piece revealed the secret history of Kobe Bryant and the black mamba campaign, showing that in late 2002, Nike initially presented the concept to another NBA superstar before Bryant.