NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 7:58 AM ET
NBA Basketball
Injuries & Absence
The Golden State Warriors extended Stephen Curry's absence espn.com to 10 additional days due to a persistent right knee issue, keeping the two-time champion sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers delayed Tyrese Maxey's return espn.com by at least three weeks after diagnosing a tendon injury to his right pinkie, with the team stating he will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks. The Los Angeles Lakers continued to hold LeBron James out espn.com for a third consecutive game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to left foot arthritis and a right hip contusion. The Chicago Bulls activated Zach LaVine espn.com from the injured list, signaling his potential return to the lineup as a waiver-wire option for fantasy managers.
Off-Court Developments
Luka Dončić faced a custody battle espn.com over his daughters with fiancée Anamaria Goltes, who confirmed their separation to ESPN, while the Dallas Mavericks star received a $50,000 fine espn.com for directing an inappropriate gesture toward a game official during a recent win over the New York Knicks. The NBA halted the Atlanta Hawks' planned tribute espn.com to the city's famed strip club, citing "concerns" from across the league regarding the event's nature.
League & Historical Context
Golden State coach Steve Kerr repeatedly advocated for a shorter season espn.com, stating Monday the NBA would be better served by reducing its 82-game schedule, a sentiment echoing his prior calls for improved pace of play. The league also resolved a dispute over Terry Rozier espn.com, with the Charlotte Hornets sending a second-round pick to the Miami Heat to finalize a 2024 trade that had been complicated by Rozier's ongoing investigation.
On-Court Incidents & Milestones
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown was ejected espn.com in Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs after officials whistled him for back-to-back technical fouls. The Denver Nuggets received an apology espn.com from Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort after Dort committed a second flagrant foul on Nikola Jokic within the past two weeks.
Player Milestones
As Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closed in on Wilt Chamberlain's scoring streak espn.com, NBA stars reflected on Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game, cementing his status as one of the game's all-time greats. The Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey announced his girlfriend Myra Gordon's pregnancy espn.com, confirming they are expecting their first child.
Power Rankings & Analysis
In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets maintained their playoff positioning espn.com, while the Boston Celtics rose in the standings espn.com heading into the home stretch of the regular season. The Warriors' Curry outage espn.com and the Lakers' James absence espn.com significantly impact their playoff positioning and fantasy viability.