NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Player Health and Personal News
Lakers star Luka Dončić espn.com revealed he's in a custody battle over his two daughters following his separation from fiancée Anamaria Goltes, while facing a $50,000 fine espn.com for directing an inappropriate "money" gesture toward a referee during Sunday's win over the Knicks. The 76ers' Tyrese Maxey espn.com suffered a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger that will sideline him for three weeks, though his girlfriend Myra Gordon announced espn.com they're expecting their first child. Meanwhile, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray espn.com was listed as questionable for Monday's game against Oklahoma City with an ankle sprain.
Team Performance Updates
The Lakers secured a 110-97 victory espn.com over the Knicks without LeBron James, who was ruled out due to an elbow injury before the game. Jayson Tatum espn.com scored 20 points including a crucial 3-pointer with 1:59 remaining as the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference showdown. The Pistons, meanwhile, are facing their first real adversity espn.com after dropping their fourth consecutive game to the Heat, while Heat center Bam Adebayo espn.com joined Dwyane Wade as the only players in franchise history to reach 10,000 points with the team.
League Business and Controversy
The NBA halted the Hawks' tribute espn.com to Atlanta's Magic City strip club, citing "concerns" from across the league about the planned celebration. The Hornets sent a second-round pick espn.com to the Heat to resolve a dispute over Terry Rozier being under investigation during a 2024 trade. Golden State coach Steve Kerr espn.com reiterated his call for the league to shorten its 82-game schedule, arguing that reducing games would benefit player health and the quality of play.
Player Incidents and Reflections
Thunder wing Luguentz Dort espn.com apologized to Nuggets center Nikola Jokic after committing a second flagrant foul on him in two weeks, this time in the fourth quarter. As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander approaches breaking Wilt Chamberlain's longest 20-point scoring streak, NBA stars have been reflecting espn.com on the Hall of Famer's "mythical" legacy and its place in modern basketball history.