Titans

Titan Gym

From a mid-season blockbuster swap involving two disgruntled stars, to rumors that a former No. 1 overall pick wants a change of scenery in only his third season, the topic of player empowerment is front and center in the NBA. &nbsp;
Superstars wanting off their team isn't a new concept. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar forced a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. In recent years, superstars demanding to be dealt is so common that the term &ldquo;player empowerment&rdquo; established itself in our NBA lexicon.&nbsp;
But this season feels different, in that it is rife with unique trade demands. Like Ben Simmons' refusal to play a single minute for the Philadelphia 76ers while requesting a trade, with a whopping four years left on his contract. Or James Harden asking off of his second team in as many years. Even the Zion Williamson situation &mdash; rumored to be disgruntled in New Orleans after playing a total of 85 games &mdash; is unprecedented. With every new trade demand, it feels like stars are pushing the limits and boundaries of player empowerment.
Either the NBA's Mercury is in retrograde or we&rsquo;re witnessing the dawn of a new era.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Player empowerment&rdquo; was popularized in 2010 after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh conspired to play with each other in Miami. Suddenly, players realized they could control their own destiny and team up to form super-teams.
Since then, player empowerment has largely come to mean trade demands from superstars. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Many executives have decried it as ruining the league's parity and even the sanctity of the game. &nbsp;
"Player empowerment is a catchall for the fact that the league has done a terrible job of empowering teams, the players have all of the leverage in every situation. I think it's the worst thing that ever happened to professional sports on all levels," an anonymous NBA general manager <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/07/lebron-james-agent-is-transforming-the-business-of-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Isaac Chotiner of The New Yorker</a>.&nbsp;
Many fans view it as a win for laborers.&nbsp;
The NBA is, after all, the most progressive sports league. However, without even touching the racial undertones that weave throughout the narrative about the league, it is easy to see why the masses support the players. Fans have watched players lose the battle over the means of production &mdash; from owning 57% of league revenue in 2005 down to only 50% today &mdash; so witnessing players gain autonomy over their playing career by stripping control from owners is celebrated as a nice consolation prize.&nbsp;
As we become inundated with debate over the merits of player empowerment, we&rsquo;ve seemed to skip over what the term actually means and how it actualizes itself in the league.&nbsp;
There is no denying that some players have power and some of those players have controlled the make-up of the league for over a decade. The issue is that player empowerment is a term that poses as the league's players uniting, but instead, it is merely a select few exercising their power over everyone else.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s break this down.&nbsp;
Were the Los Angeles Lakers' young core of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart empowered when Anthony Davis forced his way to Los Angeles? Not likely.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s also impossible to imagine all six of Jarrett Allen (Brooklyn to Cleveland), Taurean Prince (Brooklyn to Cleveland), Caris LeVert (Brooklyn to Indiana), Rodions Kurucs (Brooklyn to Houston), Dante Exum (Cleveland to Houston) and Victor Oladipo (Indiana to Houston) felt empowered after being forced to uproot themselves midseason during a pandemic because Harden wanted to join the Nets.&nbsp;
Framing the whims of a small few that can disrupt the lives of many as player empowerment feels disingenuous. A better term would be &ldquo;superstar entitlement.&rdquo;&nbsp;
With the knowledge that player empowerment really means superstar entitlement, it&rsquo;s easy to understand how empowerment stories are often framed as prima donnas throwing tantrums until they get their way.
But maybe it should be framed as superstars earning power through loss of salary.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
With the advent of max salaries, stars are never fairly compensated. The bigger and brighter the star shines, the more they lose out &mdash; with their play forever eclipsing the money they make. Ergo, player empowerment is less about empowering all or even most players and more about compensating superstars in a salary-cap league.&nbsp;
Heliocentric is another popular term in our NBA vernacular; we&rsquo;ve heard the term &ldquo;heliocentric offense,&rdquo; and we&rsquo;ve heard stars described as heliocentric. But it&rsquo;s also a term that can refer to the league itself.&nbsp;
To briefly go back to the 1500s and Copernicus &mdash; heliocentrism is a cosmological theory that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun. And in the NBA, everything revolves around certain stars. The bigger and brighter the star, the stronger their gravitational pull &mdash; the LeBronicus Theory, if you will.&nbsp;
Superstars wield more power than ever. They influence nearly every aspect of an organization &mdash; from coaching hirings and firings, to player personnel and roster construction.
The Harden-for-Simmons swap is an interesting case to dissect, because it centers around two stars whom everything doesn&rsquo;t revolve around.&nbsp;
On one side, there&rsquo;s Harden, whose status as a heliocentric star diminished as soon as he left Houston for Brooklyn. And on the other side is Simmons, a player who could never cement himself into anything more than a secondary star in Philadelphia.
Though both players had leverage, Harden had more because of the status of his contract. Neither were in a place to force their teams to bend to their will &mdash; at least not in the same way Harden was able to back when he told Houston they had a problem.&nbsp;
In Brooklyn, Harden <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33259122/james-harden-wants-trade-philadelphia-76ers-formally-request-deal-due-concern-public-backlash-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly never voiced his desire to leave</a>, and 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey threatened to hold out on trading Simmons for the duration of his contract.
&nbsp;"You're going to think I'm kidding, I'm not. This could [go on for] four years... We're in the prime of Joel's career... Either Ben Simmons is playing for us, or we have to get back a difference-maker," Morey said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-theme="dark">
Morey on his timeline: "You're going to think I'm kidding, I'm not. This could (go on for) 4 years. ... We're in the prime of Joel's career...Either Ben Simmons is playing for us, or we have to get back a difference maker."
&mdash; Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekBodnerNBA/status/1451288448875343872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

It wasn't Simmons' refusal to play games or Harden&rsquo;s pouting that forced their teams&rsquo; hands.&nbsp; It was that Embiid&rsquo;s play pressured Morey to make a deal, and Kevin Durant <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2953512-inside-kevin-durants-role-in-brooklyn-nets-james-harden-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly wanted one too</a>.&nbsp;
Ultimately, the deal came down to what was best for the biggest stars. While James and Ben were the players who used their leverage to request out, Durant and Embiid &mdash; being the heliocentric star of their respective teams &mdash; made the final call.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17432379_lg.jpg" alt="" width="695" height="464" />
What Harden lost in star power in moving to Brooklyn, KD gained by doing the same. Though Durant&rsquo;s play has always been stellar, it&rsquo;s clear he has more power within the Nets' organization than he did with the Warriors. It was Durant, after all, who <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2953512-inside-kevin-durants-role-in-brooklyn-nets-james-harden-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly requested Kyrie Irving be allowed to play road games</a> despite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nets-say-kyrie-irving-cant-play-or-practice-with-team-while-unvaccinated" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the stance Sean Marks and the Nets took</a> earlier in the season.&nbsp;
Who has power and how much they have is determined by a number of variables, like their standing in the league, their standing on their team, their health, the length of their contract and market size, etc. And this list of powerful players is still arguably fewer than 10 names long in any given season (with some variance).
The variables at play that make Durant&rsquo;s star shine brighter with the Nets than with the Warriors are as simple as the fact that there's another superstar in Golden State &mdash; and he was there first and couldn&rsquo;t be eclipsed.
Of course there are titans like LeBron James, who can completely shift the paradigm of the league with a flippant comment &mdash; like over All-Star Weekend when he hinted at a possible return to Cleveland.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The door&rsquo;s not closed on that&hellip; &nbsp;I&rsquo;m not saying I&rsquo;m coming back and playing, I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t know what my future holds. I don&rsquo;t even know when I&rsquo;m free.&rdquo; James <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lebron-james-on-cleveland-return-the-doors-not-closed-on-that" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Athletic</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
LeBron is back in Cleveland this weekend. His picture is on the building again. At first he said he hasn&rsquo;t thought about returning to play for the Cavs, but then we kept talking. &ldquo;The door&rsquo;s not closed on that,&rdquo; he said. LeBron had a lot to say today. <a href="https://t.co/cdg8RIoxZb">https://t.co/cdg8RIoxZb</a>
&mdash; Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByJasonLloyd/status/1495148179410591745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

LeBron&rsquo;s comments dominated the news cycle over the league&rsquo;s busiest weekend, and that's in large part because he will be a free agent in 2023. James signs short-term deals to maximize his leverage even though it means leaving long-term NBA money on the table.
Player empowerment isn&rsquo;t limited to team decisions &mdash; the NBPA also caters to the stars. With recent negotiations featuring superstars at the helm, contract negotiations often prioritize their needs.&nbsp;
Take for example the 2017 CBA. Superstar and NBPA president Chris Paul managed to help push forward the NBA supermax deal, given to players who have either won an MVP award, a Defensive Player of the Year award or earned an All-NBA selection in the previous season &mdash; or two of the previous three. The NBA supermax allows these stars to earn massive five-year deals with a starting salary of up to 35% of the cap.
Paul also helped change the "over-36" rule that prevented players from signing multi-year deals if they are to turn 36 or older over the course of the contract to "over-38." Not lost on anyone, Paul was set to be a free agent the summer of 2017, and pushing the rule back two years would have positively affected how much and how long he could have signed for.&nbsp;
In any collective bargaining, there&rsquo;s a give and a take &mdash; so both parties can walk away feeling like winners. So as collective bargaining agreements continue to reward those at the top, that leaves little for the rest.&nbsp;
Now, let's take a look at punishments. More often than not, disciplinary action comes in the form of fines. Technical fouls, for example, come with a fine of $2,000 for a player&rsquo;s first five offenses.&nbsp;
On Jan. 25 this season, the Sixers faced the New Orleans Pelicans. Embiid and rookie Jose Alvarado got into it and were each assessed technical fouls. That means Alvarado, who earns $462,629 this season, and Embiid, who's making $31.58 million, are meant to pay the same amount. Though Embiid generously offered to cover the fine for Alvarado, the benevolence of stars shouldn&rsquo;t make up for this obvious imbalance.&nbsp;
Fines are meant to disincentivize players from committing offenses, but when by setting these as a specific dollar amount as opposed to a percentage of their salary, they disproportionately&nbsp;hurt the lowest earners. And consequently, they allow the elite to do as they please.&nbsp;
Calling out NBA officials comes with a hefty $25,000 fine &mdash; this would be astronomical to rookies like Alvarado, but not to a superstar like Embiid who has been fined for doing just that. In Feb. 2019, Embiid told reporters the "referees f**king sucked" after a missed call in a close loss to the Boston Celtics. Though the fine undoubtedly hurt his pocketbook, it was a calculated risk he and other high earners like him have the freedom of taking.&nbsp;
From afar, superstar entitlement looks like stars picking their teams; a closer look unveils real inequities like financial penalties and disproportionate representation at the top of the players' union. A more granular look reveals that every scenario and every superstar is unique.&nbsp;
There is, however, one constant amidst the chaos in understanding power dynamics in the league, and that&rsquo;s team control. The NBA draft, rookie contracts, restricted free agency and good old-fashioned trades are just some of the ways in which teams have maintained ultimate control. The difference is when teams wield their power, it&rsquo;s not much of a news story.
We clutch our pearls at Kawhi Leonard demanding a trade but not at the Raptors for sending out DeMar DeRozan. We expect teams to make moves to better their situation, yet players who have become brands in their own right aren&rsquo;t given the freedom to do the same.&nbsp;
Any team would be over the moon to have a superstar play for them &mdash; we recognize this and they recognize this. So, they aren&rsquo;t going to sit back and wish upon a star for a trade. They ask, and if they're good enough, teams will acquiesce. It is a star-driven league, after all. So, we can&rsquo;t be surprised at who's steering the ship. And I&rsquo;d argue it&rsquo;s high time for the rest of the league to just grab on to their seats and hold on, because the era of player empowerment has only started taking off.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Imman Adan details what "player empowerment" in the NBA truly entails and how it's been framed incorrectly.

The truth about 'player empowerment' in the NBA

The continuous struggles of the Los Angeles Lakers didn&rsquo;t come to an end when they faced the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The Lakers lost 111-104 in yet another disappointing fashion, and much of the blame was once again directed toward Russell Westbrook.&nbsp;
While it is undeniable that Westbrook is in quite a bit of a shooting slump, the unexpected happened when he was benched in the fourth quarter during their final push to win the game.
"[I was] playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game," Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said following Wednesday's loss when asked about Russ not being on the floor to finish the contest.
Speaking with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday morning, Westbrook reacted to Vogel's choice.
"Surprised, yes," Westbrook <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33115018/russell-westbrook-disagrees-benching-remains-undeterred-helping-los-angles-lakers-win-long-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in the exclusive interview</a>. "I was disappointed I didn't go back in, but I'm more disappointed that we lost the damn game... I want to be able to be on the floor to help my teammates and be able to help our team win in games like that &mdash; but that was a decision that was made."
Westbrook went on to reflect on the Lakers' status at the moment, and being considered a disappointing team.
"Ultimately, you have to be okay when sh** doesn't go well, and I'm okay," Westbrook <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33115018/russell-westbrook-disagrees-benching-remains-undeterred-helping-los-angles-lakers-win-long-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in the interview</a>. "I've done everything that's been asked of me here [in L.A.], and I'll continue to do so and ride this out as long as we can toward our ultimate goal &mdash; and that's to win a championship... We obviously haven't been fully healthy, but I'm committed to making this thing work. The communication is there with everybody in the organization to make this thing work, to make this team we all want it to be in the future.
"I have accepted everything that has been asked of me and tried to do it to the best of my ability," <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33115018/russell-westbrook-disagrees-benching-remains-undeterred-helping-los-angles-lakers-win-long-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he continued</a>. "I'm not the ultimate decision-maker of if it's working, or if it's not working. I'm okay with sacrificing some of the things that I've been able to do in this game to win, because that's the most important part of this game. I've done everything they've asked me to do to this point."
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
With much of the chatter the past couple of days being centered around criticisms of Westbrook and calls for him to be moved by the Feb 10. trade deadline and run out of L.A., I wanted to have a more nuanced discussion on the topic.&nbsp;
On The Collision: &ldquo;Where Sports And Politics Collide,&rdquo; me and my co-host Dave Zirin had an <a href="https://archive.wpfwfm.org/mp3/wpfw_220120_100000collision.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-depth discussion about Westbrook</a>, and if the criticism he's been receiving this season has been warranted.
Etan Thomas: Okay, so Russell Westbrook was benched in the last five, six minutes of the game. They lose to the Indiana Pacers. There&rsquo;s been an ongoing criticism of Westbrook's play for a while now. What&rsquo;s your assessment of Westbrook in the midst of all of this criticism?
Dave Zirin: "The first thing we have to recognize is that Russell Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and arguably the most dynamic point guard of his generation and, in my opinion, a top-five all-time point guard in the NBA. He is a titanic talent, the likes of which you get once in a generation. It is also true that while it may be a dream for Russell Westbrook to go home to Los Angeles &mdash; played at UCLA, play for the Lakers &mdash; there's a historical error happening here.
Etan:&nbsp;Break it down for me.&nbsp;
Zirin: "I don't think it's a good spot for him, and ironically, right across town I think if he was on the Clippers, he'd already be being celebrated as an MVP candidate there."
Etan: Oh really?
Zirin: "Factor it all in, like Kawhi being hurt, Paul George being hurt. Because for Russell Westbrook to be Russell Westbrook, he needs to be able to cook. He needs to be able to do the Russell Westbrook things that he does, and there's probably one player in the entire NBA who is so good all around that it sort of upsets the balance of what makes Westbrook, Westbrook, and that's LeBron James.
"I love LeBron, I respect LeBron, but look at LeBron's career. It's like he needs a certain type of player and a certain mindset around him to be the LeBron who we want to see and who can thrive. And Russell Westbrook, that's less his game; [he doesn't do] spot-up three-pointers, 3-and-D, a lot of defense. I don't think it's a very good fit at all, the two of them, from everything I'm watching. Russ looks at times tentative, but then he'll pull something out of the bag and dunk on Rudy Gobert, almost from the foul line right in the middle of the game.&nbsp;
"So all the athleticism is still there. All the amazingness is still there, it's just he needs the opportunity to make it happen, and right now it's not happening. But it's not that he's terrible. I'm looking it up right now. He's averaging 18.5 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists. For a lot of players, that would be a dream season. For Russ, it's significantly down."
Etan: I understand what you're saying as far as the cohesiveness between him and LeBron, but it's almost as if Westbrook has to be the scapegoat because they're not going to blame LeBron, they're not going to blame Anthony Davis. So the only other person to be able to blame for the Lakers not achieving the level that everybody thought that they would achieve so far is Westbrook.
Zirin: "Yeah, which to me just also an incredible advocation of leadership with the Lakers, and that's the other thing that's going on here. There have been a lot of leaks to the media that are clearly coming from inside the Lakers that are, I think, meant to undermine the presence of Westbrook on the team and Frank Vogel's coaching. Vogel could be gone at the end of business [this week], for all we know. The rumors are that hot and heavy, but I don't think Frank Vogel's necessarily done anything "wrong." But I do think that for the benching of Westbrook...
"And let me say something about this too, for people who didn't see the game [Wednesday] night. With about eight minutes to go, [Caris] LeVert &mdash; who's a really good player, big, athletic &mdash; beat Westbrook off the dribble and hit a layup. Big deal, it happens. A member of the L.A. coaching staff leaked to the media that [that particular play] is what soured Vogel on Westbrook; they had told him to guard LeVert a certain way and it didn't happen, and that's why he was getting pulled from the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The play that got Russ benched <a href="https://t.co/yONE54ZTCW">pic.twitter.com/yONE54ZTCW</a>
&mdash; Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersDailyCom/status/1484178684697137154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

"LeVert in the fourth quarter [Wednesday] night went 8 of 9 with 22 points. He was cooking on everybody and to me, he's a great player &mdash; injury-plagued, brilliant player who will be a superstar and an All-Star if he gets in the right situation and gets his health on point. So it's no shame giving up a layup to Caris LeVert for goodness sakes if you're Russell Westbrook.
"But the idea that they would leak to that the press is strange. It's weird... it also doesn't quite fit because Westbrook stayed in the game another three minutes before he took him out. Then, there&rsquo;s all these leaks about how there are all these people in the front office who didn't want to bring in Westbrook, but LeBron and Rob Pelinka (who's obviously very close to LeBron) insisted upon it. So this is my belief and please Etan, please disagree with me on this.
"I think the problem at its root level... I don't think it's coaching. I don't know about the Westbrook-LeBron dynamic being able to work together, particularly without a healthy Anthony Davis to erase all mistakes with people coming towards the hoop. Now what? Can you see Russ and LeBron working with a different coaching style, format, motivation? Do you like the combo?"
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Etan: You know, we talked about this a few weeks ago with my guys from Chopping it Up with G and Z. One of the things that I suggested was having Rajon Rondo play a little bit more at the point and having Westbrook play more of the 2 and attacking, with Rondo doing more facilitating, and that didn't happen at all. I mean, Vogel didn't even play Rondo at all and they traded him to Cleveland.
So I thought that would have worked as a strategy, to be honest with you because I think that you... there are ways that you can utilize what Westbrook brings to the table. I mean, is he a spot up shooter, like you said, for LeBron to drive and then kick it out to Westbrook for the three? That wouldn't really be my strategy. Would that be a strategy if you were the coach?
Zirin: "Not at all."
Etan: Right. So I don't know if they're playing him to his strengths. But let me ask you this: What do you think about some of the people like Shannon Sharpe, who are <a href="https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1484550725061521410?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">constantly criticizing him publicly and kind of drumming up all criticism towards Westbrook</a>? Or do you think Shannon's just echoing what everybody is already saying? Not him in particular, but just a lot of the media talking heads, because I'm hearing a lot of people pile on with Westbrook. And I know the Lakers are always in the spotlight, but it's a little bit extra this year with Westbrook it seems.
Zirin: "Yeah. The Lakers are the the closest things to the Dallas Cowboys in the NBA. They're America's team. So there's a ton of focus on the Lakers at all times. And L.A. is a city that loves stars. So it's like that affects the decision-making, like Buddy Hield would have been a better [fit]... they had to choose. They were going to get either Buddy Hield, or they could get Russell Westbrook. And Buddy Hield is not... just being very frank, is not one-tenth of the player that Russell Westbrook is.
"But Buddy Hield would've been a better fit. He&rsquo;s like a 40% three-point shooter, plays defense. I think if the Lakers were the Cleveland Cavaliers, they would have said, 'Oh, of course we're [making a move for] Buddy Hield. That fits in with what we're trying to do.' But the Lakers... man, they're star-addicted. So they bring in Russell Westbrook, and Russell Westbrook in a lot of ways is like catnip for the L.A. media, and Shannon Sharpe is the L.A. media."
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17454553_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433" />
Etan: Russ was great in D.C.
Zirin: "He was amazing."
Etan: Everybody here loved him.
Zirin: "Oh, he was outstanding in D.C. I wish he was still in D.C. He was [putting up] 22/12/12 for the season. That's bonkers.&nbsp;And his stats, in terms of shooting splits, aren't really down from last year. So that's why I think it's total scapegoating. I don't think he's the best fit in LA. I think from a coaching perspective, you start [LeBron and Russ] both and you play them both at crunch time. But second and third quarter, stagger them. Stagger them in the game, [and] have Russ's team and then have LeBron's team, make it work like that."
Etan:&nbsp;So how do you think this ends?&nbsp;
Zirin: "I think Vogel gets fired, and I think somebody comes in who tries to make it work in a better way, even though I do not blame Vogel for what's happening (except for this last game, where I think he was clearly trying to throw a little mischief in the mix). I think they get someone in there, fresh start, whole new ball game. Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, make a playoff run, make it at least to the Western Conference Finals. Boom, I'm throwing that down right now."
Etan: Okay. So you have faith think it can work with Russell Westbrook? And you're not hopping off the Westbrook train or anything like that?
Zirin: "Not even a little bit. You've got to make it work. You know, it's one of those things where it's like you got to play the hand that you're dealt. Would I, as a general manager, have combined these two incredible Hall-of-Fame talents? No, I wouldn't have, but you've got to make use with the talent that you have, especially when it's talent like Russell Westbrook. And I want to say this 'til the cows come home: He's 33 years old. Anybody who saw that dunk on Gobert knows Russ has not lost a step.&nbsp;At 33. So don't give me any of this, 'Oh, he doesn't have what he [used to].' Give me a break. He's in amazing shape. He takes tremendous care of himself. Nobody's more intense. I miss him on the Wizards terribly!"
Etan: I hear you Dave, and again, I was his teammate for a year, and it was a young Russell Westbrook. I have nothing bad to say about him. I mean, the intensity that he brought every single game and the way he brought it, the passion that he brought &mdash; I thought it was absolutely amazing. I still think it's a tragedy that OKC couldn't keep all those guys together (the young Thunder all together), but that's a whole different topic. Yeah, no, what he brings, I have a lot of respect for him &mdash; both on and off the court.
I interviewed him for <a href="http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/we-matter-athletes-and-activism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my book,</a> "We Matter: Athletes and Activism." He's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/5e662a89d2e24aaf80c69de3a93a67e2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking out about Terence Crutcher</a>. He's speaking out for the community and for our people and against police brutality. He cares.&nbsp;
So just hearing people pile on him like he's almost like a cancer to the team (as far as on the court and as far as in the locker room), and the media trying to set it up like he's now going to be a problem child because he got taken out the game is ridiculous. So I'm glad that you made these points.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/violalogo1_lg.png" alt="" width="680" height="340" />
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Etan Thomas speaks with Dave Zirin about Russell Westbrook's benching on Wednesday and how he isn't solely to blame in L.A.

Russell Westbrook has unfairly been made the Lakers' scapegoat

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for February 26, 2021.
Make It Make Sense
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Hennessy becoming the &ldquo;official spirit of the NBA&rdquo; when JR Smith is out of the league seems unjust.
&mdash; refiloeseiboko (@GoldenHoops_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenHoops_/status/1364911302334947330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

A championship contender needs to sign JR Smith for the remainder of the season. It's only logical.
Actually, I&rsquo;m Okay Thanks!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Philly: look at out wonderful earned jerseys with the liberty bell on the front Lowry: <a href="https://t.co/Wxrd2cYMvs">https://t.co/Wxrd2cYMvs</a>
&mdash; Vivek Jacob (@vivekmjacob) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivekmjacob/status/1365111996740472835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kyle Lowry to Philly rumors were squashed the second they released that atrocious liberty bell jersey. The King of the North deserves better than to look like a bargain store Christmas ornament.
Invisible Shield
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Nuggets have a 3 on 1 fast break down 2 in the final seconds and **FART NOISE** <a href="https://t.co/sq7RUZU458">pic.twitter.com/sq7RUZU458</a>
&mdash; Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) <a href="https://twitter.com/fastbreakbreak/status/1365155215528312833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Nothing about this play makes sense. Every player on the floor for the Nuggets appears to just stop beyond the arc for no reason whatsoever. Had anyone attempted a rebound there would have been an opportunity to either get the rebound or possibly be fouled. I don&rsquo;t know. I've watched it about a hundred times and still don&rsquo;t understand what happened. Miscommunication? The floor was lava? Someone saw a spider?
Accurate
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Zion is like if a Gummi Bear was made out of titanium and bad intentions
&mdash; Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/YourManDevine/status/1365145917754597387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Imagine getting your entire body broken by being on the receiving end of a dunk from a man whose demeanor and appearance closest resemble a gummy bear or one of those Costco-sized teddy bears?
Are They?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
All 7 Clipper fans are real quiet right now <a href="https://t.co/XDZT59YlBn">pic.twitter.com/XDZT59YlBn</a>
&mdash; David Portillo (@D_Portillo_0) <a href="https://twitter.com/D_Portillo_0/status/1365141254829314053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

...Or do they just not take up enough space to be noticeable because you could fit the entirety of them on a school bus? How many Clippers fans, other than <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/The-Follow-Through-podcast-with-Clipps-and-Drew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our very own Clipps</a>, do you know in real life?
Couldn&rsquo;t Be Me
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I see NBA Twitter is arguing today. Not me tho my team is in last place. Y'all be easy.
&mdash; The Big Chillin' (@Kofie) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kofie/status/1364991085509029895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

~No playoff aspirations, no competitive spirit, just vibes.~
See a tweet that should be featured in Monday's Tweet of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for Feb. 26, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: All About Awareness

On Wednesday night, Jayson Tatum delivered a signature performance to steer the Boston Celtics past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-120, in a titanic clash between the No. 1 seeds in each conference.
Tatum was magnificent, pouring in 12 of the Celtics&rsquo; 16 points in overtime en route to a season-high 45 points. He shot 13-of-26 from the field, 6-of-11 from three and 13-of-14 from the free-throw line as Boston remained unbeaten at home (18-0)
Jaylen Brown added 35 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, who played without starting center Kristaps Porzingis due to a right knee contusion.
This was the second-straight ovetime game between these two teams, following a 114-109 Wolves win in Minnesota on Nov. 6.
Entering this game, the 28-win Celtics were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference while the 26-win Timberwolves were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.&nbsp;
Karl-Anthony Towns had a valiant effort for an undermanned Wolves team that was playing on the second night of a road back-to-back following yesterday&rsquo;s win at the Orlando Magic. They were without Rudy Gobert (left hip soreness) and Mike Conley (rest).
Towns registered 25 points and 13 rebounds as he started at the 5 with Gobert&rsquo;s absence, but star teammate Anthony Edwards committed two crucial turnovers in OT.
Edwards had a decent 29-point game, but this was overshadowed by his two costly mistakes that flipped the momentum to Boston&rsquo;s favor.
Boston is now 29-8, which is the best record in the NBA. Minnesota drops to 26-11, with only a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder (25-11) and Denver Nuggets (26-12).&nbsp;

The Boston Celtics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-120, in a titanic clash between the two No. 1 seeds in each conference.

Jayson Tatum shines as Celtics outlast Wolves in clash of No. 1 seeds

The NBA today announced its celebrations of the first-ever World Basketball Day.&nbsp;
Established by the United Nations on August 23 during the FIBA World Cup, World Basketball Day will be observed annually on Dec. 21 &ndash; the day Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at the Springfield YMCA in 1891.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The NBA family is thrilled to join the global basketball community in celebrating the first World Basketball Day,&rdquo; said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. &ldquo;More than 130 years after Dr. James Naismith invented the game at the Springfield YMCA, World Basketball Day is a reminder of basketball&rsquo;s ability to transcend borders, cultures and languages and unite people around the world.&rdquo;
Nearly 600 million people across the globe play basketball annually and basketball is the second-most popular sport in the world, while the number one team sport to play in the United States.&nbsp;
Alongside the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), USA Basketball and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the NBA family will honor the game and celebrate World Basketball Day through various programming such as youth clinics and respective social media campaigns &ndash; all demonstrating basketball&rsquo;s societal contributions.
This year the NBA will host the following global celebrations in observance of World Basketball Day:
Domestic
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>United Nations&rsquo; World Basketball Day Panel: As part of World Basketball Day, the Philippines will host a panel discussion to share the significance of the day and highlight the impact the game brings to everyone around the world at the United Nations on Dec 21.&nbsp; Panelists include Professor David Hollander, founder of World Basketball Day; a representative from the Philippine Embassy; John Doleva, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President; and Julius Erving, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>United Nations&rsquo; World Basketball Day Diplomats Pick-Up Games: On Dec. 21, friendly games between 30 diplomats from 20 different countries at the Vanderbilt YMCA in New York City. </li>
<li>Jr. NBA Clinic: In celebration of World Basketball Day, the Jr. NBA will host a clinic at the Harlem PAL Center, uniting 80 youth participants, ages 6-14, to learn the fundamentals of the game at the Harlem Police Athletic League in New York City.</li>
</ul>
International
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>NBA Cares Packing Project: On Dec. 15, as part of the first-ever Republika ng NBA Month, the NBA hosted an NBA Cares packing project at the NBA Community Court presented by TITAN in Mandaluyong City.&nbsp; NBA staff and partners assembled care packages for high school students from select public schools around the NBA Community Court ahead of World Basketball Day.&nbsp; Each package included a "Republika ng NBA" t-shirt, a pair of socks and slippers, Gatorade bottle, and vivo-branded backpack and water bottle. </li>
<li>NBA Basketball School Virtual Conversation: On Dec. 15, NBA Basketball School, a network of basketball development programs around the world for youth ages 6-18, held a virtual conversation with former WNBA player Mery Andrade and former NBA player Zaza Pachulia, who spoke about how basketball has positively impacted their lives, why they are excited about the inaugural World Basketball Day, and answered questions from the attendees. </li>
<li>NBA Egypt Hoops: On Dec. 21 at the Al Sadat School Gharbia in Egypt, NBA Egypt is setting out to provide public schools with the basic infrastructure which would allow students to practice and experience basketball.&nbsp; This includes installing two basketball hoops, providing three basketballs and doing basic refurbishments in some of the courts where national school competitions take place.</li>
</ul>

The NBA today announced its celebrations of the first-ever World Basketball Day.

NBA joins celebration of first-ever World Basketball Day

A former owner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texas businessman, Billy Joe &ldquo;Red&rdquo; McCombs has died at his home in San Antonio, according to a statement from his family on Monday.
McCombs was 95 and preceded in death by his wife, Charline, in 2019.
&ldquo;The entire McCombs family is heartbroken to announce that our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Red McCombs passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023,&rdquo; according to the statement that called McCombs &ldquo;a Texas icon.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Red was a visionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted our community in immeasurable ways,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;But to us he was always, first and foremost, &lsquo;Dad&rsquo; or &lsquo;Poppop.&rsquo;&rdquo;
McCombs owned more than 400 businesses during his lifetime, according to the&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.mccombsenterprises.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">McCombs Enterprises website,</a>&nbsp;and the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin is named for him.
He twice owned the NBA&rsquo;s San Antonio Spurs and between those two ownership stints owned the league&rsquo;s Denver Nuggets and later the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.
In a statement, the Vikings expressed gratitude to McCombs and condolences to his family.
&ldquo;Red embodied his famous &lsquo;Purple Pride&rsquo; phrase and remained a staunch Vikings fan&rdquo; after selling his ownership of the team, according to the statement.
Beginning as an automobile salesman in the early 1950s in Corpus Christi, Texas, he would later establish Red McCombs Automotive, a group of dealerships in San Antonio.
He later established McCombs Energy, an oil and gas industry company, and operated real estate and land development companies, cattle ranches and breeding operations. He also was a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, which later became iHeartCommunications, Inc.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called McCombs an inspiration and &ldquo;a true Texas titan across sports, media, business and philanthropy.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Red&rsquo;s determination, accomplishments and positive spirit will live forever as he embodied a relentless and passionate approach to life, relationships and community,&rdquo; Jones said.
McCombs is survived by daughters Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields and Connie McNab, as well as eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were not announced.
<div class="taboola_readmore">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="Component-dfp-0-2-62 apnews_article_midarticle_1" data-card-id="sovrn-article-midarticle">&nbsp;</div>

A former owner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texas businessman, Billy Joe “Red” McCombs has died.

Former NBA, NFL team owner, businessman Red McCombs dies

DETROIT (AP) &mdash; Antoine Davis&rsquo; journey into the NCAA record book took a fortunate turn when his father lost a job.
The Detroit Mercy guard moved in middle school from Alabama to Houston, where former NBA coach John Lucas put him through grueling daily workouts, and it changed the trajectory of his basketball career.
&ldquo;His name wouldn&rsquo;t be in the record books if I didn&rsquo;t get fired from UAB,&rdquo; Titans coach Mike Davis said. &ldquo;Moving to Houston and working out three times a day with John Lucas made him a different player.&rdquo;
Davis is the nation&rsquo;s leading scorer but that doesn&rsquo;t capture it all. Last week, he broke the Division I record for career 3-pointers with a spectacular performance. He made a personal-best 11 3-pointers in a win over Robert Morris, giving him 513 in a career few saw coming when the 142-pound son of the coach stepped on campus in the Motor City.
And after Detroit Mercy plays this Saturday in Indianapolis against IUPUI, there is a good chance that only the late Basketball Hall of Famer Pete Maravich will be ahead of Davis on the NCAA all-time scoring list.
Maravich scored 3,667 points, an astonishing total over three seasons during an era of college basketball without freshmen, shot clocks or 3-point lines. Davis is just 18 points from passing former Portland State star Freeman Williams, who scored 3,249 points in 106 games from 1974-78.
Davis set the 3-pointer mark in his 130th game, four fewer than the previous record-holder, Fletcher Magee, who played at Wofford from 2014-19. He likely will break the all-division NCAA record for 3-pointers set by John Grotberg, who made his 526th career 3-pointer in 2009 for Division III Grinnell.
He is averaging an NCAA-best 26.2 points, the first Titan to lead the nation in scoring since Spencer Haywood in 1968-69, and has scored in double figures in 130 straight games, an NCAA record.
&ldquo;Those numbers are surreal at the end of the day,&rdquo; Davis said. &ldquo;I still probably won&rsquo;t feel this until after my college career is over, probably later on down the line, but that&rsquo;s a lot of points and a lot of 3&rsquo;s made.&rdquo;
He passes, too, as evidenced by him joining Keydren Clark of St. Peter&rsquo;s as the two players in NCAA history with at least 3,000 points and 500 assists.
The Titans (7-12, 3-5 Horizon League) are ninth in their 11-team conference, though Davis is clinging to his dream of getting the program into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Davis took advantage of an opportunity to play a fifth season, an option for all athletes who were enrolled when the pandemic hit during the 2019-20 season.
Davis entered the transfer portal last spring and was tempted to leave an overlooked basketball program for a major one. Maryland, Georgetown, Kansas State and BYU all offered Davis a chance to play at a higher level.
He had the green light to go, but chose stay despite a lack of fan support at games and financial backing for the basketball program that forces his father to pay a strength coach out of his own pocket to train the slender shooter.
When Detroit Mercy celebrated Davis joining the 3,000-point club by presenting him with a ball on the court before a recent game, there were maybe 200 fans in the stands.
&ldquo;I just said to my mother, `Where are the students?&rsquo;&rdquo; Tamilya Davis said at halftime of a home game against Youngstown State, sitting on a couch in her husband&rsquo;s office under photos of former Detroit coaches such as Dick Vitale. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand it. ... There&rsquo;s no school spirit.&rdquo;
Maybe bigger crowds are in the future for Davis. The 6-foot-1 guard is generously listed as 165 pounds and his slight frame may give NBA teams pause.
His father is trying to do something about that by hiring a strength coach to personally train him.
&ldquo;To do the things he&rsquo;s done at that size and not being wiry strong, but being weak, it tells you about how skilled he is,&rdquo; Mike Davis said. &ldquo;And, how much he&rsquo;s put time into his skill set.&rdquo;
The 24-year-old Davis was born in Bloomington, Indiana, where his father led the Hoosiers to the 2002 national championship game, and became a skilled basketball player when his father was forced to find a new job a decade ago and landed at Texas Southern.
He began getting homeschooled by his mother in Houston as part of the family&rsquo;s plan to free up his day for Lucas to train him along his other clients in the league and college basketball.
The extended court time also allowed Lucas to change his shot.
Davis holds the basketball in his right hand and steadies it with his left, like many players, and yet when his right wrist flicks on a shot his left palm rotates in to face the basket in a style that&rsquo;s all his own.
Lucas groomed Davis with those long workouts while requiring him to make at least 500 shots a day while coaxing him to become more competitive.
Davis has shot up to 10,000 times in a day, according to his father, and once hoisted up 60,000 shots in a 10-day period. Against NBA players and college standouts as a teenager, Davis did full court, one-on-one drills and had 100-possession games to test his mental and physical stamina.
&ldquo;Nobody was too big in the gym to go against the younger kids, so &rsquo;Toine was going against guys like Damon Stoudamire, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley,&rdquo; Lucas recalled. &ldquo;His gift was, and is, scoring.
&ldquo;The only equalizer for size is a shot,&rdquo; Lucas said. &ldquo;If you can make shots, no matter how big or little you are, you will find your way onto the court and there&rsquo;s not too many people who can shoot like him.&rdquo;

Antoine Davis is the nation’s leading scorer, but that doesn’t capture it all

Antoine Davis on scoring binge at unheralded Detroit Mercy

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Jeremy Roach scored 16 first-half points to help seventh-ranked Duke open Jon Scheyer&rsquo;s coaching tenure with a 71-44 win over Jacksonville on Monday night.
Freshman Mark Mitchell had a team-high 18 points for the Blue Devils, who used a 25-4 run spanning halftime to blow the game open.
It was a quality start to a season of massive change for the Blue Devils, starting with Scheyer taking over for retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. Duke has 11 new players, including the nation&rsquo;s No. 1-ranked recruiting class and two power-conference transfers. The Blue Devils didn&rsquo;t have top freshmen Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead for this one as they recover from preseason injuries.
Mike Marsh scored 15 points to lead the Dolphins, who shot 34% and missed 18 of 19 3-pointers before making two meaningless 3s late.
NO. 1 NORTH CAROLINA 69, UNC WILMINGTON 56
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Caleb Love and RJ Davis scored 17 points apiece and North Carolina began a season of grand expectations by pulling away from UNC Wilmington.
Armando Bacot added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Tar Heels, who were perhaps most impressive at the defensive end. UNCW shot 29.8% from the field.
The Tar Heels, who were the NCAA Tournament runner-up in April, began the new season with the top ranking for the first time in seven years. It&rsquo;s a record 10th time that North Carolina has been ranked No. 1 to start a season &mdash; one more than rival Duke.
Trazarien White scored 19 points for UNCW, which faced a top-ranked team for the first time in program history.
NO. 2 GONZAGA 104, NORTH FLORIDA 63
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) &mdash; Drew Timme scored 22 points, Julian Strawther added 16 and No. 2 Gonzaga used a big first-half run to beat North Florida in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Anton Watson had 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals for Gonzaga, which won its 68th consecutive home game, the nation&rsquo;s longest such streak.
Carter Hendricksen scored 16 points, Jadyn Parker 13 and Jose Placer 12 for North Florida, a veteran-laden team from the Atlantic Sun Conference that returned its top four scorers from last season.
NO. 3 HOUSTON 83, NORTHERN COLORADO 36
HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; Marcus Sasser scored 21 points, J&rsquo;Wan Roberts added 12 points and six rebounds, and Houston opened the season by beating Northern Colorado.
Sasser, a preseason All-American, scored 11 points in the first half. He finished 7 of 14 from the field and made 4 of 8 3-pointers. The senior guard missed the second half of last season and all of Houston&rsquo;s run to the Elite Eight with a toe injury.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson won his 700th career game and 200th with the Cougars.
Matt Johnson II, Riley Abercrombie and Caleb Shaw each scored eight points for the Bears.
NO. 4 KENTUCKY 95, HOWARD 63
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) &mdash; Antonio Reeves scored 22 points, CJ Fredrick had 20 and Kentucky beat Howard with All-American Oscar Tshiebwe and two other players sidelined.
Tshiebwe had a procedure last month on his right knee. Point guard Sahvir Wheeler (right leg) and sophomore forward Daimion Collins (personal reasons) were also out, but the Wildcats still shot 55% against the overmatched Bison.
Jacob Toppin and freshman Cason Wallace each added 15 points for Kentucky.
Kobe Dickson scored 17 points and Elijah Hawkins had 14 for Howard, which shot 34%.
NO. 5 KANSAS 89, OMAHA 64
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Jalen Wilson had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Gradey Dick added 23 points in his debut, and Kansas began defense of its national championship without suspended coach Bill Self by routing Omaha.
Bobby Pettiford Jr. added 13 points, Dajuan Harris had 11 points and eight assists, and Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. scored 10 for the Jayhawks, who broke open a close game in the second half with two big runs.
Self served the first of a four-game punishment along with assistant Kurtis Townsend as part of the fallout from a 2017 federal investigation into college basketball corruption.
Jaeden Marshall scored 13 points and Luke Jungers had 12 for the Mavericks.
NO. 5 BAYLOR 117, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 53
WACO, Texas (AP) &mdash; Adam Flagler scored 21 points to lead six players in double figures as Baylor won the opener of its 20th season with coach Scott Drew.
Flagler, a preseason All-Big 12 pick who also was the Bears&rsquo; leading scorer last season, also had eight assists and one of his four 3-pointers started a 24-0 run midway through the first half.
LJ Cryer had 16 points and Dale Bonner, another returning guard, had 14.
Alvin Stredic scored 14 points and Terry Collins 10 for Mississippi Valley State in its first game for new coach George Ivory.
NO. 9 CREIGHTON 72, ST. THOMAS 60
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) &mdash; Baylor Scheierman made back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second half to give Creighton the lead for good.
Arthur Kaluma scored 17 points, Trey Alexander had 12 and Scheierman added 11 as the Bluejays won their 25th opener in 26 years.
St. Thomas, a Summit League member beginning its second season in Division I, gave the Bluejays all they could handle until the last few minutes. Andrew Rohde had 15 points to lead the Tommies.
NO. 10 ARKANSAS 76, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 58
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) &mdash; Trevon Brazile had 21 points and 12 rebounds in his debut as Arkansas won its season opener.
Brazile, a sophomore transfer from Missouri, scored six straight points during an 11-0 run early in the second half that gave Arkansas a 16-point lead with 15 minutes left.
Wichita State transfer Ricky Council led the Razorbacks with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting.
Grant Nelson and Boden Skunberg had 17 points apiece to lead North Dakota State.
NO. 11 TENNESSEE 75, TENNESSEE TECH 43
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) &mdash; Tyreke Key came off the bench to score 17 points and Tennessee beat Tennessee Tech in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Key, an Indiana State transfer, connected on 4 of 8 3-pointers to ignite a sluggish Volunteer offense. Zakai Zeigler scored all but two of his 12 points in the second half.
Brett Thompson led the Golden Eagles with 15 points.
NO. 12 TEXAS 72, UTEP 57
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) &mdash; Tyrese Hunter scored 18 points to lead Texas past UTEP in the debut of its new arena.
Hunter, a transfer from Iowa State, was 6-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds. Ze&rsquo;Ri Onyema led UTEP with 10 points.
Texas this season moved to the $375 million Moody Center on the edge of campus, leaving behind the old Frank Erwin Center after 45 years.
NO. 13 INDIANA 88, MOREHEAD STATE 53
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) &mdash; Preseason All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and freshman Malik Reneau each scored 15 points, helping Indiana beat Morehead State in the season opener for both teams.
The Hoosiers have won all six matchups in the series and are 26-0 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference foes.
Mark Freeman led the Eagles with 14 points, and Drew Thelwell had 11 for the OVC favorites.
NO. 14 TCU 73, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 72
WACO, Texas (AP) &mdash; Mike Miles hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining to finally put TCU ahead to stay against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which built an early 20-point lead in the season opener for both teams.
Miles, the preseason Big 12 player of the year, hit from deep beyond the top of the key for a 71-68 lead.
Emanuel Miller had 15 of his 19 points in the second half, and Miles finished with 15 points for the Horned Frogs. They returned all five starters and five other scholarship players after winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 1987.
Shaun Doss had 25 points with four of Arkansas-Pine Bluff&rsquo;s 13 3-pointers.
NO. 15 AUBURN 70, GEORGE MASON 52
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) &mdash; Wendell Green Jr. scored 16 points while K.D. Johnson and Johni Broome each had 12 to lead Auburn to a season-opening win over George Mason.
The Tigers weren&rsquo;t really challenged much in their first game since losing NBA first-round draft picks Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
Ronald Polite III led George Mason with 10 points, and Victor Bailey Jr. had nine.
NO. 16 VILLANOVA 81, LA SALLE 68
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) &mdash; Caleb Daniels scored 24 points to make coach Kyle Neptune a winner in his Villanova debut.
Neptune replaced Hall of Famer Jay Wright, who retired in the offseason. The Wildcats returned three starters (a fourth, Justin Moore, was injured) from the team that lost a national semifinal game to Kansas. Eric Dixon added 20 points for Villanova.
Daniels made his first five 3-pointers and the Wildcats used an early 10-0 run to put away their city rival and spoiled 74-year-old coach Fran Dunphy&rsquo;s return to the bench.
Josh Nickelberry scored 22 points to lead the Explorers.
NO. 17 ARIZONA 117, NICHOLLS STATE 75
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) &mdash; Azuolas Tubelis scored 23 points and Arizona went on a massive opening run to begin its second season under coach Tommy Lloyd with a rout.
Ballo scored 18 points, helping Arizona set a school record with 71.7% shooting from the floor against the reigning Southland Conference regular-season champions. The Wildcats opened the game with a 30-4 run.
Micah Thomas led Nicholls State with 20 points.
NO. 18 VIRGINIA 73, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 61
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) &mdash; Kihei Clark and Reece Beekman sparked a 15-2 second-half run, and Virginia beat North Carolina Central after blowing a 16-point first-half lead.
Armaan Franklin led Virginia with 21 points in the season opener for both teams, and Francisco Caffaro had 10.
Justin Wright scored 20 and Eric Boone had 18 for the Eagles, who used a 12-0 run just after halftime to go ahead. But Clark hit a 3 and Beekman followed with a steal and a breakaway.
NO. 19 SAN DIEGO STATE 80, CAL STATE FULLERTON 57
SAN DIEGO (AP) &mdash; Darrion Trammell hit three 3-pointers during a 29-10 run to open the second half and finished with 18 points as San Diego State beat Cal State Fullerton.
Fellow newcomer Jaedon LeDee and Lamont Butler scored 11 points apiece and Nathan Mensah had 10 for the Aztecs, who won their 10th straight season opener and their 17th in 18 seasons.
Vincent Lee scored 11 and Jalen Harris 10 for the Titans, the defending Big West Conference champions.
NO. 20 ALABAMA 75, LONGWOOD 54
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) &mdash; Freshman Brandon Miller had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his debut as Alabama beat Longwood.
Fellow freshman Rylan Griffen also scored 14 for the Crimson Tide, and point guard Mark Sears had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Jaden Bradley added 11 points and six boards.
Alabama held Longwood to 27% shooting and blocked nine shots. Michael Christmas led Longwood with 12 points.
NO. 21 OREGON 80, FLORIDA A&amp;M 45
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) &mdash; N&rsquo;Faly Dante had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Oregon opened with an easy win over Florida A&amp;M.
Keeshawn Barthelemy added 13 points for the Ducks, ranked to start the season for the ninth straight year. Will Richardson scored 11.
Jordan Tillmon and Jordan Chatman had eight points apiece for the Rattlers, who have 11 new players. Florida A&amp;M coach Robert McCullum was on Oregon coach Dana Altman&rsquo;s staff from 2014-17.
NO. 22 MICHIGAN 75, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 56
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) &mdash; Hunter Dickinson had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman Jett Howard added 21 points in Michigan&rsquo;s season-opening win.
After Purdue Fort Wayne opened an 8-4 lead, Michigan went on a 20-0 run to take control.
Quinton Morton-Robertson scored 15 points and Bobby Planutis added 13 for the Mastodons.
NO. 23 ILLINOIS 87, EASTERN ILLINOIS 57
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) &mdash; Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points and Coleman Hawkins had 23 points and 12 rebounds as Illinois cruised past Eastern Illinois.
Dain Dainja added 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Illini, who outrebounded the Panthers 53-30 in the opener for both teams.
Kinyon Hodges scored 14 points and Yaakema Rose added 10 for Eastern Illinois.
NO. 24 DAYTON 73, LINDENWOOD 46
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) &mdash; Mustapha Amzil scored 14 points, DaRon Holmes II and R.J. Blakney each had 13 and Dayton beat Lindenwood in a sluggish opener for both teams.
Dayton was without injured point guard Malachi Smith and didn&rsquo;t play particularly well until late, but it had a large margin for error against Lindenwood, which was playing its first game after moving up to Division I.
Chris Childs had 15 points for the Lions, who shot 33% from the field.
NO. 25 TEXAS TECH 73, NORTHWESTERN STATE 49
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) &mdash; Daniel Batcho had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Texas Tech rolled past Northwestern State in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Texas Tech broke it open late in the first half and led 42-23 at halftime.
Isaac Haney led Northwestern State with 16 points.

It was a quality start to a season of massive change for the Blue Devils, starting with Jon Scheyer taking over Duke's program.

Roach leads No. 7 Duke past Jacksonville in Scheyer’s debut

In the latest installment of his "Blazing the Trail" series, Mat Issa analyzes the two-way brilliance of Shawn Kemp.

Blazing the Trail: Shawn Kemp, the aerial artist

As we approach the conclusion of &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; here on <a href="http://BasketballNews.com">BasketballNews.com</a>, NBA Defensive Player of the Year award odds are next up on the to-do list. Where is the best value to extrapolate from sportsbooks? A few contenders stand out, so let&rsquo;s go ahead and examine my best bets and dark horse selection for DPOY with all odds provided by DraftKings.
Defensive Player of the Year Best Bet: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves (+450)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Rudy Gobert's 4th quarter defense vs. the Mavericks was nothing short of spectacular. <a href="https://t.co/QkJrPsn4em">pic.twitter.com/QkJrPsn4em</a>
&mdash; 𝐇 𝐨 𝐨 𝐩 𝐕 𝐞 𝐧 𝐮 𝐞 (@KGsGOAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/KGsGOAT/status/1497440528660578305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As a three-time DPOY winner, Gobert has become the crown jewel in the Association for rim-protecting excellence. Now, entering Year 10 on a new team, Gobert has the opportunity to reclaim the award with emphasis.
Alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, Gobert exits a possible rebuilding situation for a ready-made contender in the Western Conference. As Minnesota&rsquo;s enforcer on the defensive end, Gobert will put up the counting numbers and advanced metrics to once more prove his immense value in that area.
The Timberwolves were so confident paying a steep price for Gobert becuase he augments all the talent around him. Towns and Edwards will benefit, but don&rsquo;t forget D&rsquo;Angelo Russell enters a prove-it contract year as the starting point guard.
Throughout the offseason, Minnesota&rsquo;s aggressive approach has led to a deep rotation near completion. With a multitude of lineup combinations, the Timberwolves&rsquo; versatility will be on full display.
It&rsquo;s a unique fit on paper, but I&rsquo;m all-in on Gobert and his long-term fit in Minnesota. Even as the heavy betting favorite at +450 odds on DraftKings, there&rsquo;s still value to be had to cash out at season&rsquo;s end.
Defensive Player of the Year Best Bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+1200)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Bucks blitz Tatum in the pick-and-roll, he splits it. But guess who's there with the elite help defense: Giannis <a href="https://t.co/3GmaBgDL12">pic.twitter.com/3GmaBgDL12</a>
&mdash; Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1520828148534812673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Another titan in the DPOY race, it&rsquo;s never wise to rule out Giannis making an all-out push for any attainable award. Already one of the most decorated individuals in NBA history at his age, the Greek Freak feels poised to remind everyone how good he and the Bucks truly are.
It was a relatively quiet offseason in Milwaukee with the main move being re-signing Bobby Portis. The Bucks' roster is aready loaded to the gills with talent that meshes seamlessly alongside their generational superstar. Everything is setting up for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to once again finish near the top of the East while the two-time MVP puts up monster numbers along the way.
Since taking the leap to stardom back in 2016-17, Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s stocks (steals plus blocks) continue to rise. Over that span, Giannis has averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, simply dominating on both ends of the court. If the Bucks keep up their winning ways and Giannis continues on his reign of terror, there&rsquo;s no reason why he shouldn&rsquo;t become an eventual finalist for this award.
Defensive Player of the Year Dark-Horse Bet: Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns (+1400)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
A compilation of Mikal Bridges' defense on Kristaps Porzingis last night. Obviously a very draining physical matchup for him, but he battled on switches and broke up multiple possessions. Incredible job. <a href="https://t.co/NbKRnBZq4Z">pic.twitter.com/NbKRnBZq4Z</a>
&mdash; Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/scooperhoops/status/1461326352385249283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Last season&rsquo;s runner-up behind Marcus Smart checks in as this year&rsquo;s dark horse prediction. Finally, the NBA began to show respect to perimeter defenders with Smart and Bridges battling atop the DPOY leaderboard. Look for this trend to continue and maybe even become normalized. While Bridges&rsquo; status in Phoenix might remain in limbo right now due to the Suns' ongoing flirtation to secure Kevin Durant, there&rsquo;s no denying he&rsquo;s one of the best all-around wing defenders. He's able to lock up practically any scorer archetype..
Expect to see a highly-motivated Bridges entering his fifth season, one that will put even more pressure on him to become a more well-rounded pillar in the Suns&rsquo; success. While Bridges won&rsquo;t put up gaudy statistics, the eye test proved consistently there&rsquo;s not many defenders on the same tier as the 2018 No. 10 overall pick.
Assuming Phoenix stays near the top of the Western Conference hierarchy, projected at this point to run back most of their league-best rotation, Bridges&rsquo; DPOY argument is already written. If all goes to plan, Bridges will be a finalist and potentially bring the award to the Valley this time around.

Bet Week continues on as Evan Sidery provides his best wagers and dark horse prediction for 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Best bets for 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

The term "X-factor" is thrown out a lot when it comes to postseason analysis. Its usage typically has a positive connotation &mdash; a player who defies expectations and helps the squad grind out a win by doing things outside of his scouting report.
Think Derrick White, who played hero for Boston in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals by splashing in 5-of-8 threes as a 31.2% regular-season outside shooter.
Here's the reality, though: Being an X-Factor doesn't always&nbsp;correlate to team success. As Jackson Frank wrote <a href="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jordan-poole-nba-finals-warriors-celtics-analysis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this week</a>, Jordan Poole can swing the Finals in either direction. Through one game, Poole's gravitational pull certainly wasn't in the Golden State Warriors' favor.
Poole quickly rose to prominence after his debut playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, averaging 21.0 points per game on an incredible 71.5% True Shooting. His production tapered off in the following two series, though he was able to maintain his outstanding efficiency with 72.7% TS in the Western Conference Finals.&nbsp;
However, battling against the best defense in the league on the biggest stage possible could prove to be a different type of test, and we saw it unfold on Thursday night.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Poole's Finals debut didn't go as planned. He mustered just 9 points on 2-of-7 shooting, turned the ball over four times and was a minus-19 in 25 minutes.
That's right. Golden State got outscored by nearly a point a minute when Poole was on the floor. His deficiencies were highlighted tenfold by a diligent, gritty and experienced Boston team that had the scouting report imprinted on the inside of their eyelids. The Celtics' brigade of switchy swindlers quickly turned Poole's dream-like postseason into a nightmarish scenario.&nbsp;
Poole's handle, sense of wiggle, fluidity and ability to create from a standstill are all special for a player his age. Some might call it unteachable. He's Golden State's most bursty creator for a reason, a player that can generate drive-and-kick magic by simply tapping the gas and zipping past his assignment to force the defense to converge. Many times, he'll use a medley of hesitation moves, head fakes and crossovers to initiate the slightest sliver of separation.
When it works, the highlights are delightful. When it doesn't, Golden State's pitter-patter motion offense quickly slips into a morass of standing around and clock-eating isolations.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Boston was all too prepared for Poole's slippery nature, shutting off the water and turning Golden State's splashy whiz kid into a dried-up basin. The Celtics effectively let Poole dribble himself into a pretzel, flashing every And-1 move in his bag to no avail. When the Warrior guard did surge downhill, Boston quickly erased that airspace by hugging him close and pressuring his every dribble, disallowing opportunities to showcase his glitzy layup package.
Always quick to clamp down on an opponent's errors, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart each ripped away a steal against Poole when he showed his hand and made mistakes that a 20-year-old would: failing to strike from the triple-threat position in the first quarter and later foolishly attempting a spin-move in transition, both of which can be viewed in the clips below.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R9w7vqYWDLM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Scoring-wise, Poole showed a clear perturbance versus Boston's pick-and-roll defense. Unlike Stephen Curry, Poole was unable to burn Boston with pull-ups when the Celtics unsheathed drop coverage in his presence. Playing Boston's bigs higher up the floor only further exposed Poole's limitations as a lead creator.
In the second clip from the video below, he nearly gave the phrase "buzzer-beater" a new meaning by smashing the shot clock with an errant shot after Al Horford stepped forward and shaded Poole toward the help of Smart.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YMq4uz7tBgM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Shoot, even Payton Pritchard, Boston's most targetted defender in the previous three series, was able to survive in the minutes he was matched up with Poole. Pritchard has the requisite footspeed to keep tabs on Golden State's pesky lightning rod, whereas Poole lacks the core strength that normally overpowers and forces Boston's reserve guard off the floor.
Here, Pritchard does a nice job screeching over the top of Andre Iguodala's screen and rear view, contesting Poole into one of his four misses from deep on five total outside shots.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIJYMHoQ1Bo" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
One thing the Warriors should look to explore is involving both Poole and Curry in off-ball actions when the duo shares the floor. Doing so got Curry one of his cleanest looks of the game, and the same could easily go for Poole, who has shot 43.8% on catch-and-shoot playoff threes, should the roles be reversed. At the very least, using his scoring gravity away from the action is a far more prudent strategy than just spoon-feeding him a diet of pick-and-roll possessions in the friggin' Finals and hoping for the best.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szZB7-Jr5w0&amp;ab_channel=MattBrooksNBA"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/szZB7-Jr5w0" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a>
Look, it isn't inconceivable to imagine that the 22-year-old will eventually find his footing on offense; he's too gifted of a scorer to continue this type of production. What is concerning for Golden State was just how woefully underprepared Poole looked defensively on the final stage. The Warriors got eviscerated when they played Poole alongside either one of Curry (minus-13 together) or Klay Thompson (also a minus-13 together), and his inclusion in Golden State's small-ball lineup that went minus-9 in the fourth quarter was the ultimate nail in the coffin.
Poole looked overwhelmed by every aspect of the defensive side of the ball against a battle-tested Boston ball club, which, again, is understandable for a 22-year-old playing in his first Finals. His closeouts were sloppy and led to drives down the middle of the paint. Transition defense appeared purely optional. Maybe most importantly, Boston absolutely licked its chops at the thought of involving Poole in pick-and-roll actions. Tatum was able to beat Poole off the dribble and drive to the rim even with Poole in a drop. Yeah, that's how bad it was.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufgUW4O9nvU" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Poole will be an evergreen target on defense against a Boston team that hunts mismatches like the Blade Runner, and if his offensive production can't overshadow his defensive deficiencies, Poole could quickly see his role diminish. Golden State has other options on the table if the lights prove to be too bright for the wunderkind combo guard.
The now-healthy Gary Payton II is just begging for an opportunity to muck things up versus Jaylen Brown and maybe Tatum. Otto Porter Jr. is arguably due for an uptick in minutes after his strong Game 1. Heck, even Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody could be worth a look should Boston's size and athleticism continue to bewilder Golden State's elder group.
Poole's meteoric rise has been something to behold, quickly establishing himself as one of the league's brightest up-and-coming stars after a sterling postseason. Boston and its titanium defense represent a whole new challenge, and an uptick in his production could very be the catalyst to Golden State hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in a few weeks' time.
With the Warriors in a 1-0 hole, Jordan Poole is now more than ever the ultimate X-Factor. What remains to be seen is which team, Boston or Golden State, will enjoy the spoils of his output.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Matt Brooks goes in-depth on Jordan Poole's struggles in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against a stout Celtics defense.

Can Jordan Poole turn it around against the Celtics in the NBA Finals?

For the first time since the 2017-18 season, and just the second time since 2003-04, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the NBA playoffs.
In a raucous game at Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves came back from down double-digits early in the fourth quarter to gut out a defensive showcase down the stretch in a very fun (but also <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1514071151890386947?s=20&amp;t=cOTx5ha_fVET44iT43U6Yw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">very weird</a>) game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I added the Remember The Titans music to The Wolves winning the game. (Sound on) <a href="https://t.co/nYF9q9igAK">pic.twitter.com/nYF9q9igAK</a>
&mdash; Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) <a href="https://twitter.com/jga41agher/status/1514110660636033024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

First and foremost, celebrating is a good thing! I don't intend to straw-man; I'm sure it's a smaller group that's being vocal about the Wolves' post-game excitement, but it's worth hitting on. No, this team didn't win the NBA Finals and they're not on the way to doing that, but that loses the plot here. Other than maybe the Sacramento Kings, has there been a more frustratingly beleaguered franchise since the turn of the millenia?
Every turn this team has taken, including their one playoff appearance outside the Flip Saunders era, has come with consequences or at the expense of their future. I'm not a fan of the Timberwolves (or any team), but it's just awesome to see a team that has been resilient all year find their way and take the steps to be a solid team.
That's been special.
We don't need an entire halftime or postgame show clowning a team for enjoying themselves, rehashing history and talking about why a player wouldn't "make it in the 90s."
The game is different. What if we spent time talking about&nbsp;how the Los Angeles Clippers got Karl-Anthony Towns off his game? Or how KAT and the Wolves could scheme differently in the second half? I acknowledge that the TNT halftime show is not intended for me, and it did its job by drawing engagement, but if it's at the expense of the product they're dragging, what are we doing here?
JJ Redick gets it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Where&rsquo;s yours?
&mdash; JJ Redick (@jj_redick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_redick/status/1514118211674988546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The 109-104 final score is unsuitable as a descriptor of what this game was.
Let's dive in.
PATRICK BEVERLEY'S IMPACT
Early in the game, Kevin Harlan slid in that Patrick Beverley is "the most impactful player" for the Wolves right as the TNT broadcast went to commercial. I had to rewind to make sure I heard that right!
While I have to disagree with Harlan at large, my God, Pat Bev sure as heck made his case throughout the course of action.
There's a small handful of players who supersede the cliche "he-brings-energy-and-toughness-and-grit-that-can-change-the-game," emotional tropes, and Beverley continues to assert himself to that group. He does every little thing that can be done on the margins with consistency, and in a way that breeds both admiration and contention alike.
Timely tie-ups and steals, hounding switches, flying all over the place on close-outs. It cannot be undersold the amount of energy this man expended playing defense last night.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/dx9x7h" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
He even had a momentum-saving block after a missed dunk that could've shifted the game.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/isw2gj" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
And he hit perhaps the most insane "WTF" shot I've seen from a non-star player in a while. Like, what is this?! A one-legged three while falling backwards as the shot clock expires is just nutty. In an elimination game!
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ez2ynk" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
That was just a special special game from Beverley last night.&nbsp;
Whether he's the most impactful is up for debate (and probably wrong), but the impact he's had on this group is palpable and last night was a microcosm of his presence this season.
TAKING OUT TOWNS
As good of a game as it was from Beverley, it was the opposite for Karl-Anthony Towns, who fouled out with a little over half the fourth quarter remaining.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7iahtk" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The Clippers were 3-1 against the Wolves this year and they did the same things that allowed them to win the season series, putting a smaller player on KAT and bringing help late at the rim with Ivica Zubac. It's not fully on Jarred Vanderbilt, as he still played a pretty good game (particularly on defense), but part of the difficulty of having a player whose gravity comes from attacking the cracks of a defense is what happens when those gaps are tightened.
If he's in the dunker spot and KAT is driving the lane, the Clippers are okay helping off of him and mucking things up at the rim. It's also worth noting that Towns found Vando on a dump-off later in the game, and that's been part of their offense all season. This is going to be one of the very enticing chess matches to watch during the series with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Back to KAT: the Clippers played him well, but he also got in his own head and got out of his game, which was incredibly frustrating from a bystander and analysis perspective. He forced some of his attempts from outside and on drives. He felt rushed. He played into offensive fouls.
 It's okay and healthy to be emotional. Every person handles things in their own way. But teams have consistently used KAT's frustration against him. Towns has really put things together this year and shed a lot of those tendencies this season, but last night was a reversion to past years. He's the best player on this team and integral to their success, so they really need him to maintain composure again moving forward. Trying to replicate these kind of contributions up and down the roster going forward is asking for a lot. This single game is not a referendum on KAT, as he's a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/selecting-the-2021-22-all-nba-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deserving All-NBA</a> performer. Let's save the rash takes. Criticism for last night is warranted, but the overarching narratives are not.
D'LO AND ANT
D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards were fantastic last night in so many facets.&nbsp;
The Wolves came out extremely erratic and it seemed like the moment was too big for them to start the game. Their pace was quick but out of control. The defense was flying around, but almost too much.
The Clippers' defense struggled late as their offensive stagnation carried over, but the polarity of D'Lo and Ant gave the Clippers headaches throughout the night.
Russell's pacing was exquisite last night. It was by far one of the best games I've seen from him with regards to seeing the floor, picking his spots and attacking a defense. It felt like he hit every tough shot and pull-up last night, routinely never gaining separation, but it just didn't matter.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bz3rqf" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Down the stretch, he masterfully pulled Los Angeles' defense apart, using some of their switching against them and orchestrating effective offense.
While Russell picked apart with pace and rhythm, Edwards was the overhand right coming off a jab. He set up his game early with a fluid contact finish over Marcus Morris and routinely found his way into the paint last night. Clippers defenders gave him an extra foot of space to try and wall off drives annnnd it was too much.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/v6vks2" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
He got to the line six times, nailed 5-of-11 threes, and hit shots off the bounce inside the arc if given the space.&nbsp;
When he doesn't make mistakes with the ball, it is so hard to defend Anthony Edwards. Do you give up the jumpers if he's hitting them at a high clip? Do you let him glide to the rim and hope help can bother him? It's a conundrum that many teams are finding harder and harder to solve as his game rounds out. He came ready for the moment last night off rip.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
"No one can guard him, and I keep preaching that to him" Patrick Beverley credits Anthony Edwards for his patience and hard work after the T-Wolves win to advance to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> presented by Google Pixel. <a href="https://t.co/SwD25thKCO">pic.twitter.com/SwD25thKCO</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1514117290803052546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Pat's whole rant on Ant is awesome, but Ant nodding his head the whole time in agreement like, "Yeah, I know. They can't guard me," is just priceless and awesome.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
When the lights come on, I show up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thurskii?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thurskii</a>
&mdash; Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) <a href="https://twitter.com/theantedwards_/status/1514120995669524480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

QUICK-HITTERS
Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden McDaniels were so vital last night. The individual defense they played on Paul George was tremendous. He still got to his spots, but everything was well contested for the most part. He got to the line a good deal, but that happens against star players.
Last night, the Clippers were 12-of-28 in the paint with only 16 at-rim attempts and a large deal of that credit goes to that dynamic duo and their ability to crowd drives. By preventing full-on penetration, they were able to make some of the backline rotations just a little easier and cleaner for the Wolves. They went to a frontcourt of McDaniels and Vando at the 4 and 5 for a small stretch late in the game (which is not something that happened much this year) and they were able to hang tight before they brought in a true big. That was a really fun performance from them, and I can't wait to see how they perform in the playoffs.
The Clippers versus either the Pelicans or Spurs should be a fun match-up, and I can't wait to see that as well. The playoffs are almost here, and the postseason is already off to a fantastic start.

The Wolves are in the playoffs for the second time since 2004, earning their postseason trip after a terrific play-in performance.

NBA Play-In Tournament: Takeaways from Wolves-Clippers

With the NBA regular season drawing to a close, it is only fitting to give it a proper sendoff.
Every season somehow feels a little bit longer than the last in an endearing way. Each year, I find so many new things within the game and its minutiae that starts to stick with me more sporadically. It's arguably my favorite part of basketball: the sheer volume and variance that comes with it. I love finding the little things in a long and tough regular season.
Learning the game, tracking the tendencies of players and indulging in their progressions over the course of 82 games is why I cover the NBA. It's just awesome. As the MVP debate and other awards discussions have ramped up, it has made me contemplate what has transpired throughout the course of the regular season.
Watching Nuggets/Grizzlies on Thursday night, a game much less close than the final 122-109 score indicates, I was constantly reminded of how fun and joyous basketball is. Sometimes I need to zoom out and stop analyzing so I can just breath it all in. And man, Bones Hyland put on a S H O W during the 3rd quarter.
He finished with 16 points and 7 assists while canning four triples, but it was the sheer energy he played with that made me crack a smile and eventually wake my dog up with a look of bewilderment on his face.
If you somehow missed this game or this moment, please prepare yourself:
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/5sxx14" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
This man <a href="https://youtu.be/vS1ZohQziGY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NARUTO GLIDED</a> after throwing a tight wrist pass!
This is the funniest moment of the NBA season, hands down.
Shoutout to Bones, who has been awesome and a huge part of the Nuggets' stellar play in 2022 (Denver is 31-17 in the calendar year).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Bones Hyland since March (19 games) 13.8 ppg on 66.5% TS 4.5 apg 42.7% from deep on 5.8 per game
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MSchindlerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSchindlerNBA/status/1512743868084764675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He's played himself onto the All-Rookie 2nd Team without a doubt.
But again, it's not neccesarily the efficacy of play or how good a guy is. A blowout game shouldn't be that fun to watch, but I was glued to that 3rd quarter as Denver put together a sublime run speerheaded by Hyland. It really made me stop and appreciate just how enjoyable and fruitful this season has been on many fronts. There's joy in the game, and you often don't have to search for it. It's in the little moments.&nbsp;
Another thing that's really stood out as the season has wound down: injuries suck. This seems obvious, but it's felt ever apparent as some teams have struggled down the stretch. Sustainability is so difficult, and the teams that show bright flashes early in the season and struggle to replicate them perhaps put into even better perspective how impressive the great teams are.
Prior to injuries to Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, the Warriors were on a similar pace as the outstanding Phoenix Suns. Had those players been healthy all year, who knows how different things might have been in the Western Conference?
In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers were a top four seed and looked ripe to lock in a playoff spot, but injuries had other plans. We don't know for sure what the team looks like with Collin Sexton fully healthy. Losing Ricky Rubio (who was playing so well) opened up another crack in guard depth which they eventually made numerous trades to pave over. Jarrett Allen's injury sent them reeling defensively, and they just haven't really been able to recover since.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Another example is Chicago, who after losing Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball experienced massive ramifications to the defensive structure they built. I'm not in the locker room, and I don't have insider knowledge, but I don't neccesarily feel as though their defense is a chemsitry problem. Once something breaks, it becomes so hard to fix it on the fly in the regular season. Their defensive intensity died down as their stalwart guards were sidelined, and it became increasingly apparent how bereft of defensive stops the roster was without them. We've seen this in teams before. Injuries happen, teams try and keep fighting through, but the results aren't there. Then you're stuck with a mid-20's defense, and even when players do return, it is so hard to rectify.
None of this is to belittle the Bulls and Cavs (and so many more teams who got nipped by the injury bug), but rather to keep in mind that a season isn't singular. It feels like there are countless seasons within a season.
Consider everything that has changed in the last six months. Kemba Walker was an Eastern Conference Player of the Week! The Washington Wizards started the season 10-3, flirted with the one seed and looked like a defensive titan! The Boston Celtics were dead in the water, and a mainstay in discourse was, "When will the Jays be broken apart?"
The Indiana Pacers used the word '<a href="https://twitter.com/PacersJJ/status/1512167562045448210?s=20&amp;t=weBMT23qBZdCokwnhQFSHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebuild</a>' for the first time maybe ever in relation to their direction. The Thunder were one of the best defenses in basketball prior to the All-Star Break. After their atrocious first month-and-a-half, New Orleans still managed to make the play-in!
Milwaukee and Atlanta combined for double the losses I thought they'd accrue this year. The Raptors went from, "They could be interesting next season," to, "I do not want to face them in the playoffs," all over the course of a few months.
The growth that happens in season matters, and on a grand scale, it might not be remembered at large in 4-5 years when someone goes on Basketball Reference and looks back on the 2021-22 season. Yet, that's kind of what makes the regular season so enjoyable and enticing. It's all building toward something, though in the moment, we're not always sure what that something is. I love that. So yes, I'm ready for the playoffs, but this has been just a stellar year, and one I won't forget!
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

It's easy to appreciate the joy and endurance of the 2021-22 regular season prior to the NBA Playoffs.

Appreciating the NBA regular season

This year&rsquo;s MVP race has been a rollercoaster ride all season long. It started with lofty preseason expectations for Luka Doncic, and then an early Stephen Curry takeover was eventually derailed due to the Warriors&rsquo; countless injuries. More recently, we&rsquo;ve seen a historic battle ensue between three of the most special international players in modern NBA history: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Any one of them could be named this year's NBA Most Valuable Player.
When examining the numbers for Jokic, Embiid and Antetokounmpo in their back-and-forth race over the last month, it&rsquo;s absurd how dominant they truly have been:
Jokic: 32.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks; 68.8 TS%, 33.2 USG%
Embiid: 33.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.6 blocks; 61.4 TS%, 38.5 USG%
Antetokounmpo: 31.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks; 65.2 TS%, 33.9 USG%
Thanks to these three titans, this year's MVP race has been among the most enjoyable in years. Many years, the MVP is all wrapped this late in the spring, but the 2021-2022 season saw truly nip-and-tuck moments occur that helped bend the direction of who could capture the crown. Even this late in the process, there was national surge toward Devin Booker, who certainly deserves his flowers. However, these three generational big men have been incredible on a nightly basis. One of them will almost certainly win the award, and if justice is served, that person will be Nikola Jokic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Nikola Jokic score 38 points, 18 rebounds highlights vs. La Lakers! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAPRIL032022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAAPRIL032022</a>. <a href="https://t.co/gV9U41DAKr">pic.twitter.com/gV9U41DAKr</a>
&mdash; NBA BASKETBALL (@DejoseMark) <a href="https://twitter.com/DejoseMark/status/1510854793459286017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Another virtuoso performance by Jokic on Thursday night &mdash; 35 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists on 16-of-24 FGA &mdash; officially pushed me to 100% confidence that he should be chosen for the accolade. What Jokic has done all season, carrying a short-handed Nuggets team without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., is nothing short of incredible. With even more defensive focus thrown onto Jokic&rsquo;s plate, he&rsquo;s continued to excel and stuff the stat sheet with authority. Even within the wild, resurgent Western Conference, Jokic is keeping Denver above water all by himself.
Incredibly enough, Jokic is putting up even better traditional and advanced metrics than he was last season's MVP campaign, when he had more help around him. A head-to-head comparison of Jokic&rsquo;s last two seasons speaks volumes to the true caliber of player we are witnessing in Denver.
2020-21 Jokic: 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists; 64.7 TS%, 8.8 VORP, 29.6 USG%
2021-22 Jokic: 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists; 66.1 TS%, 9.8 VORP, 31.9 USG%
What Jokic is accomplishing is pure sorcery, continuing his surge to being the curveball star within the Association. Jokic's archetype is rare: A non-explosive, slower-paced big man who is a special passer that can run an offense around him,. As a former second-round pick, Jokic singlehandedly changed the Nuggets&rsquo; long-term trajectory overnight. Now, he&rsquo;s on the verge of becoming a back-to-back MVP.
In the process of doing whatever he wanted on the court Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies, even after Jaren Jackson Jr.&rsquo;s elbow caused a deep head cut, Jokic showcased exactly how valuable he is. Whenever Jokic went out of the game, Denver folded, nearly blowing two double-digit leads in short order. The Nuggets are not at a level right now to survive without Jokic, especially since the other two-thirds of their offensive production are on the sidelines indefinitely.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Becoming the first player in NBA history to amass at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season, Jokic&rsquo;s all-around brilliance simply can&rsquo;t be denied anymore. A generational talent who is one of the most special offensive weapons in the NBA, Jokic instantly takes average ceilings to elite.
Many have tried to drum up narratives away from Jokic, but honestly, he was the right one to push all along. As the most valuable player, Jokic proves on a nightly basis how the entire operation sinks or swims based on his performance. More often than not, it leads to jaw-dropping production and a Nuggets victory.
Nine players in the NBA carry at least a +60% True Shooting percentage on a +25% usage rate. Here&rsquo;s how they rank from highest TS% to lowest:
<ol>
<li>Nikola Jokic: 66.1 TS%</li>
<li>Karl-Anthony Towns: 64.0 TS%</li>
<li>Kevin Durant: 63.5 TS%</li>
<li>Giannis Antetokounmpo: 63.2 TS%</li>
<li>LeBron James: 61.9 TS%</li>
<li>Joel Embiid: 61.2 TS%</li>
<li>Zach LaVine: 60.4 TS%</li>
<li>Trae Young + Stephen Curry: 60.1 TS%</li>
</ol>
Whether it be on-court value or diving into the advanced metrics, there are few, if any, flaws to the argument for voting Jokic as the 2021-22 NBA MVP. If anything, this year&rsquo;s production has vaulted Jokic into all-time historic territory.
Jokic might not be the flashiest superstar, but don&rsquo;t take his greatness for granted. There's a good chance that his greatness is about to be rewarded with an MVP trophy for the second year in a row.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

In a historically-close MVP race, here's why Nikola Jokic deserves to win the award once again.

Why Nikola Jokic deserves back-to-back MVPs

Every day,&nbsp;BasketballNews.com&nbsp;gives you NBA betting analysis before tip-off. Make sure you subscribe to our daily podcast &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zNxt0NQXPmKuryAdz89m0?si=1038d121100444fd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a>&nbsp;or wherever you listen to podcasts. This season, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; is up thousands of dollars on PrizePicks.
<iframe src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=BNI2854733706" width="100%" height="200" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Without further ado, let&rsquo;s dive into our favorite NBA betting plays for Monday's slate.
Philadelphia 76ers (-3) vs. Denver Nuggets
Who&rsquo;s ready for this clash of titans on Monday night when Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic square off in Philadelphia? These are the two leaders in the razor-thin MVP race at the moment. Which player will lead his team to victory? Expect both Embiid and Jokic to go off, but James Harden feels like the trump card here. If Harden gets going alongside Embiid, it&rsquo;s going to be hard for Denver to keep up without giving Jokic some reinforcements. Betting big on Embiid and Harden, we feel confident locking in the Sixers to cover the 3-point spread.
Pick: Sixers -3
PrizePicks Power Play: Joel Embiid over 30.5 points, Nikola Jokic over 26.5 points, Will Barton over 14.5 points, James Harden over 9.5 assists
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-3)
Minnesota continues to fly under the radar with its improvements as of late. Not only are the Timberwolves an elite offense when firing on all cylinders, but head coach Chris Finch has this group locked in defensively as well. San Antonio is a feisty team from a betting perspective, but we feel very confident wagering on the red-hot Timberwolves to keep up their momentum. Lock in Minnesota and don&rsquo;t think twice about it as a best bet of the day.
Pick: Timberwolves -3
PrizePicks Power Play: Karl-Anthony Towns over 23.5 points, D&rsquo;Angelo Russell over 18.5 points, Jakob Poeltl over 9.5 rebounds, Dejounte Murray over 9 assists
Utah Jazz (-2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks
How will the Bucks rebound after an embarrassing blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors? They'll make the trek to Salt Lake City to square off with a well-oiled machine in the Jazz. This game could go either way, but we&rsquo;re forecasting a monster outing from Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Giannis is able to get Rudy Gobert in early foul trouble, it&rsquo;s hard to imagine Utah keeping up here. Bet big on the Bucks&rsquo; bounce-back win because it&rsquo;s rare to see Milwaukee fall into the same hole two games in a row.
Pick: Bucks +2
PrizePicks Power Play: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 29.5 points, Donovan Mitchell over 25.5 points, Rudy Gobert over 12.5 rebounds, Jrue Holiday over 6 assists
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Make sure to <a href="https://app.prizepicks.com/sign-up?invite_code=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out PrizePicks</a> and use the promo code NEWS when you sign up, and they'll instantly match your deposit up to $100! Also, make sure to listen to "Nothing But Bets" for daily betting analysis on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3rnooUvIsHtvykhPY9Ddt8?si=36d61d2c59a44523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Who are the best bets for tonight's NBA games? Which players should you target in daily fantasy? We've got you covered!

Best Bets: BasketballNews' picks and fantasy advice for 3/14/22

Every day, BasketballNews.com gives you NBA betting analysis before tip-off. Make sure you subscribe to our daily podcast "Nothing But Bets" on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3rnooUvIsHtvykhPY9Ddt8?si=36d61d2c59a44523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts. This season, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; is up hundreds of dollars on PrizePicks.
<iframe src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=BNI9450048707" width="100%" height="200" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Without further ado, let&rsquo;s go ahead and dive into Thursday&rsquo;s slate of games.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat (-5.5)
This feels like the perfect opportunity for Miami to make a lasting statement around the Association before the All-Star break. Flying way under the radar right now, the Heat sit atop the Eastern Conference standings as a legitimate Finals threat. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo should be able to produce big-time against the Hornets&rsquo; inconsistent defense. Hammer the Heat here, especially with the spread at only -5.5.
Pick: Heat -5.5
PrizePicks Power Play: Jimmy Butler over 22.5 points, Terry Rozier over 20.5 rebounds, Bam Adebayo over 12 rebounds, LaMelo Ball over 6 rebounds
Brooklyn Nets (-4.5) vs. Washington Wizards
We&rsquo;re forecasting fatigue to play a factor in this matchup, especially after the Nets&rsquo; jaw-dropping 28-point comeback win over the New York Knicks yesterday. Washington has been in a complete spiral, but the more well-rested Wizards could keep this one closer than many expect. We&rsquo;re going to lock in the Wizards to cover the 4.5-point spread, mainly because of that aforementioned comeback from Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Pick: Wizards +4.5
PrizePicks Power Play: Kyle Kuzma over 22.5 points, Patty Mills over 13 points, Corey Kispert over 12.5 points, Andre Drummond over 11.5 rebounds
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Dallas Mavericks (-2.5)
Are you really going to bet against Luka Doncic putting on a show in the Mavericks&rsquo; last game before All-Star weekend? I didn&rsquo;t think so. Expect Doncic to pour in the points with ease as Dallas gets a much-needed victory. New Orleans is a very scrappy team, especially after the CJ McCollum trade, but we&rsquo;re favoring Luka magic to reign supreme on Thursday night in the Bayou.
Pick: Mavericks -2.5
PrizePicks Power Play: Luka Doncic over 30.5 points, Brandon Ingram over 21.5 points, Jonas Valanciunas over 10.5 rebounds, Jalen Brunson over 4.5 assists
Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5) vs. Philadelphia 76ers
This is going to be the game of the day. Who&rsquo;s ready for a clash of the titans between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid? Arguably the two leading candidates for Most Valuable Player right now, both superstars will put on a show for the national audience. However, in this one, we&rsquo;re leaning towards hammering Milwaukee as the favorite. Although Embiid will still put up his monster numbers, who&rsquo;s going to step up alongside him without James Harden?
Pick: Bucks -6.5
PrizePicks Power Play: Joel Embiid over 31.5 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo over 29.5 points, Khris Middleton over 18.5 points, Mattise Thybulle over 2.5 blocks/steals
Los Angeles Clippers (-11) vs. Houston Rockets
Houston almost pulled off a massive upset on Wednesday when it played the league-leading Phoenix Suns. Now, on the second night of a back-to-back, it&rsquo;s hard to envision the young, inexperienced Rockets keeping this one close against a tough Clippers team. Los Angeles, of course, is without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but the team continues to fight and stay afloat. We&rsquo;re betting on L.A. to not only win, but to do so in emphatic fashion.
Pick: Clippers -11
PrizePicks Power Play: Marcus Morris over 17.5 points, Jalen Green over 14.5 points, Ivica Zubac over 9.5 rebounds, Jae&rsquo;Sean Tate over 6 rebounds
&nbsp;
Make sure to <a href="https://app.prizepicks.com/sign-up?invite_code=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out PrizePicks</a> and use the promo code NEWS when you sign up, and they'll instantly match your deposit up to $100! Also, make sure to listen to "Nothing But Bets" for daily betting analysis on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3rnooUvIsHtvykhPY9Ddt8?si=36d61d2c59a44523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Best Bets: BasketballNews' NBA Picks and Fantasy Advice for 2/17/22

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson will take flight in the 2022 AT&amp;T Slam Dunk on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.&nbsp; A first-time champion will be crowned as Anthony, Green and Toscano-Anderson are set to make their event debuts, and Toppin returns for his second appearance after finishing as the runner-up last year.&nbsp;
AT&amp;T Slam Dunk is part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.&nbsp; All-Star Saturday Night will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States at 8 p.m. ET.&nbsp; Throughout the broadcast, TNT will feature a special AT&amp;T 5G Legends Cam, powered by AT&amp;T 5G, to spotlight some of the biggest NBA stars throughout history.&nbsp;
Additionally,&nbsp;<a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/warnermedia-kids-family-teams-nba-and-turner-sports-cartoon-network-special-edition" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/warnermedia-kids-family-teams-nba-and-turner-sports-cartoon-network-special-edition&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1644457979485000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3jF1Khfb_atbhiSDPsFsRy">Cartoon Network will air</a>&nbsp;a special superpowered&nbsp;Teen Titans Go!&nbsp;edition of the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. ET.&nbsp; The half-hour special will feature colorful commentary from the Teen Titans and surprise appearances by additional cartoon stars from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios.
Anthony, who was also selected to play in the Clorox Rising Stars during NBA All-Star 2022, is averaging 17.7 points, 6.0 assists and 5.9 rebounds in his second NBA season.&nbsp; The 6-3 guard leads the Magic in scoring and assists.&nbsp; Anthony, the son of former NBA player and current Turner Sports analyst Greg Anthony, was selected by Orlando with the 15th&nbsp;overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Green, a Rising Stars selection, ranks fifth among NBA rookies in scoring at 14.4 points per game.&nbsp; The 6-4 guard was selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after playing with NBA G League Ignite for the 2020-21 season.&nbsp; Ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the Class of 2020, Green was the first player to join Ignite.&nbsp;
Toppin, a 6-9 forward, competed in AT&amp;T Slam Dunk as a rookie last season.&nbsp; He is averaging 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.5 minutes in his second NBA season.&nbsp; After being named the 2019-20 consensus National Player of the Year at the University of Dayton in Ohio, Toppin was selected by the Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Toscano-Anderson is in his third NBA season, all with the Warriors.&nbsp; The 6-6 forward has two years of experience in the NBA G League, where he first earned a spot with the Santa Cruz Warriors as a tryout player in October 2018.&nbsp; He has also played professionally in Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela.&nbsp; Toscano-Anderson, who played four years at Marquette University from 2011-15, is set to become the fourth player not selected in the NBA Draft to compete in the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk since 2000, joining Chris Andersen, Derrick Jones Jr. and Jamario Moon.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
AT&amp;T Slam Dunk&nbsp;is a two-round competition.&nbsp; Five judges will score every dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, resulting in a high score of 50 and a low score of 30.&nbsp; The judges will be announced at a later date.&nbsp;
All four competitors will get two dunks in the first round.&nbsp; The two players with the highest combined score for their two dunks will advance to the final round.&nbsp; The two finalists will then get two dunks in the final round.&nbsp; The dunker with the highest combined score for his two dunks in the final round will be crowned the 2022 AT&amp;T Slam Dunk champion.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For each scored dunk in both rounds, each player will be limited to three attempts to complete his dunk.&nbsp; An attempt is defined as the player controlling the basketball and moving it toward the rim.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://pr.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2022/02/2022-ATT-Slam-Dunk-Rules.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pr.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2022/02/2022-ATT-Slam-Dunk-Rules.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1644457979485000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3OJglG_WpuuVEfUN7q2eS5">Click here</a>&nbsp;for a complete explanation of the event rules.

Cole Anthony, Jalen Green, Obi Toppin and Juan Toscano-Anderson will compete in this year's Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend.

NBA officially announces Slam Dunk Contest participants

Mat Issa compares seasons of past star big men to the campaigns that Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are putting together in 2021-22.

Measuring Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid's seasons vs. historic NBA bigs

Can we please skip to May already and press play on a seven-game series between the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals?
Even without two of the most important players on both sides Tuesday night &mdash; Klay Thompson is scheduled to make his season debut later this month, potentially against Phoenix on Christmas Day; Devin Booker left the game early with a hamstring injury &mdash; these two well-run organizations put on a masterclass showcase of how to play high-level basketball on both ends of the court.
With the world witnessing basketball nirvana firsthand, the clash more than lived up to the high hopes placed upon this showdown before tip-off. Back-and-forth, Phoenix and Golden State continuously traded haymakers early on. Beautiful movement to find an open shot. Counters on defense to counteract the counters from the offense. An excellent chess match ensued between head coaches Monty Williams and Steve Kerr. Mikal Bridges <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/suns-win-over-warriors-another-crescendo-moment-for-their-incredible-rebuild" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put the clamps on Stephen Curry</a>, further stamping his case as a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year Candidate.
Ending in a 104-96 victory for the Suns, tying a franchise record for consecutive wins with 17 (and Thursday's win over the Detroit Pistons broke that mark and set a new record at 18), it had me leaving the Footprint Center wanting more of this matchup. 
This first battle between two titans in the NBA ending in this manner shouldn&rsquo;t come as a surprise. Throughout November, both were firing on all cylinders. Golden State and Phoenix finished with the best net ratings (Warriors as a plus-14.6; Suns as a plus-11.6). Also, each side finished in the top-four in offensive and defensive efficiency (Warriors were No. 1 in Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating; Suns were No. 4 in ORTG, and No. 2 in DRTG).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Luckily for us, these two teams face off again Friday night, this time in San Francisco on the Warriors&rsquo; home court. Even without Thompson and Booker for Friday&rsquo;s showdown, it&rsquo;s still going to be another must-watch prize fight.
When looking through the current West's hierarchy, there&rsquo;s no argument to be made against Phoenix and Golden State as the clear top-two. Already, there&rsquo;s a four-game gap atop the conference between the Suns and Warriors compared to everyone else. Currently in the No. 3 slot are the Utah Jazz with a 14-7 record, then a big cluster of teams only within one-and-a-half games of each other. No surprise, but the West is a bloodbath right now, as the Suns and Warriors create their own tier of separation:
<ol>
<li>Phoenix Suns - 19-3</li>
<li>Golden State Warriors - 18-3</li>
<li>Utah Jazz - 14-7</li>
<li>Dallas Mavericks - 11-9</li>
<li>Memphis Grizzlies - 12-10</li>
<li>Los Angeles Lakers - 12-11</li>
<li>Los Angeles Clippers - 11-11</li>
<li>Minnesota Timberwolves - 11-11</li>
<li>Portland Trail Blazers - 11-12</li>
<li>Denver Nuggets - 10-11</li>
</ol>
Maybe the regular-season machine, a.k.a. Utah, begins to knock at the door of Phoenix and Golden State soon once it gathers more momentum, but the Jazz's inconsistencies are much more prominent compared to the top two seeds. Luka Doncic or LeBron James could push their teams up another level, but can either be trusted in a seven-game series right now deep in the playoffs? That&rsquo;s doubtful a quarter of the way through the season.
After that, it&rsquo;s fair to wonder who else could challenge the Suns and Warriors atop the West. It&rsquo;s a huge credit to the two best clubs in the conference, continuing to create distance with sheer force and dominance rarely seen simultaneously.
(Beneath those 10 teams are the bottom-feeders creating distance in the opposite direction, which shouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise based off preseason expectations: Sacramento Kings (9-14), San Antonio Spurs (7-13), Oklahoma City Thunder (6-16), New Orleans Pelicans (6-18), Houston Rockets (5-16).)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Right now, the West is a two-team race for conference supremacy between Phoenix and Golden State. And who can&rsquo;t wait for them to square off, once each side is healthy (presumably), headlining the Christmas slate?
What we saw on Tuesday night in the desert was a showcase of the two best teams in basketball. It was elite play on both ends of the floor with a beautiful pizazz of notching together dominant performances. I'm still wanting more, but I, and the world, won't have to wait long.
We'll probably see a repeat of that in Round 2 at the Chase Center, and an encore on Christmas Day in Phoenix during Round 3.
One-fourth of the season is over, and if the current Western Conference shuffle through the season is any indication, basketball fans are going to get what they deserve on the biggest stage: a long series between Phoenix and Golden State with a Finals berth at stake.

After a showdown on Tuesday and a rematch coming Friday, Phoenix and Golden State are establishing top-dog status.

Suns, Warriors already creating considerable distance in West

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and the team he led to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season put their hands together in the middle of a huddle at the end of practice and counted off, &ldquo;1-2-3! Together!&rdquo;
Lingering outside the huddle, holding a basketball and looking uninterested was the $147 million puzzle piece in Ben Simmons. With Simmons focused and engaged, the Sixers are again a team to beat in the East this season.
But the Sixers open the season Wednesday in New Orleans with no guarantee that Simmons will play. He has practiced twice with the Sixers since ending his holdout. Meanwhile, the Sixers hold out hope the three-time All-Star guard wants to suit up again.
Simmons has dominated the headlines in Philadelphia since his baffling offseason trade request and then mystifying decision to report, showing up without warning last week.
He declined to talk to the media for the second straight practice on Monday -- the Sixers say he&rsquo;s scheduled for Tuesday -- and maybe then he can start to explain why he wanted out of Philadelphia. And now that he&rsquo;s back, how long does he plan to stay.
Tyrese Maxey ran the offense with the first team in the portion of practice open to the media, and Simmons mostly stood in a corner stretching or dribbling the basketball. He played defense on one drill, then walked off the court without saying a word to a teammate.
Rivers said he had no idea if Simmons will play Wednesday.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re just going to take our time,&rdquo; Rivers said Monday. &ldquo;When it comes, I&rsquo;ll make that decision. I&rsquo;m just going to wait and see and watch. The spirit has been so good. We&rsquo;re just going to keep going.&rdquo;
Simmons, the No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft, was paired with Joel Embiid as the franchise cornerstones as the Sixers chase their first NBA championship since 1983.
Simmons, though, took the brunt of the blame for the top-seeded Sixers&rsquo; second-round exit in last season&rsquo;s playoffs. He shot 34% from the free-throw line in the postseason and was reluctant to attempt a shot from anywhere on the floor late in games. That led to him spending critical minutes on the bench.
He&rsquo;d be the only missing starter from last season&rsquo;s run to the Eastern Conference's top seed. Embiid, Danny Green, Seth Curry and Tobias Harris form a solid first four. Sixers President Daryl Morey has fielded offers for Simmons, but has yet to find a package to his satisfaction for the enigmatic guard.
WHERE&rsquo;S THE BEEF
Embiid, the NBA MVP runner-up, will have to limit the trash talking with Andre Drummond to practices this season. Drummond played for the Detroit Pistons and engaged in some physical and social media battles with Embiid through the years. That&rsquo;s on hold for now after Drummond, a two-time All-Star, signed as Embiid&rsquo;s backup. Embiid once accused Drummond of being unable to play defense. Drummond chirped Embiid wasn&rsquo;t worthy of his time until he could stay healthy for an entire season.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re in the NBA. At the end of the day, what kind of beef can you really have?&rdquo; Drummond said.
But he has to adjust to life as a reserve for the first time since he was a rookie with Detroit in 2012-13.
Drummond, a four-time NBA rebounding champion, is a significant upgrade from last season over the aging Dwight Howard. Drummond said there&rsquo;s no issue with Embiid.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re two competitors that love the game of basketball,&rdquo; Drummond said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re like titans. We just clash. We play hard against each other. I have no animosity toward him, nor does he.&rdquo;
MISSING HIGHLIGHTS
The Sixers edited Ben Simmons out of the in-game highlight films shown during preseason games. Depending on the what happens the next couple of days they may need to call the editor back for some last-minute splicing before Friday&rsquo;s home opener against Brooklyn.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Tyrese Maxey enjoyed the cameo role he shot over the offseason for the Adam Sandler movie &ldquo;Hustle.&rdquo; He &ldquo;had a blast&rdquo; playing, well, a basketball player in the movie that filmed all over the city.
Maxey didn&rsquo;t get to share any scenes with Sandler, though, or play with him during off-hours pickup games.
&ldquo;I heard he can pass the ball pretty well,&rdquo; Maxey said.
The Sixers need the same out of Maxey, who averaged eight points in averaging 15.3 minutes last season. He is close with Simmons and may start in his spot on opening night. Shake Milton, the other point guard, is out with an injury, and Isaiah Joe may see more playing time. Seth Curry could even run the point in Simmons&rsquo; place.

Ben Simmons has dominated the headlines in Philadelphia since his baffling offseason trade request and mystifying decision to report.

Staying a Sixer: Simmons' fate looms large in Philadelphia

The NBA is already in wonderful hands, with the next generation of young stars ready to take the baton very soon. Each year, so many incredible talents join the Association and various franchises help develop them into full-fledged gems. At this point, who are the top-10 players under 25 years old?
Below is a ranking of players under age-25 based on their current standing in the league. This list doesn't factor in their upside or long-term potential, just their current contributions. If you&rsquo;re wondering where players like Devin Booker, Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell are, I excluded players who will turn 25 years old during the upcoming NBA campaign.
Without further ado, let&rsquo;s dive into the list of franchise-changing stars.
LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS MAVERICKS
Doncic is the favorite to win this season's NBA MVP award for good reason. He&rsquo;s already established himself as one of the best players in the league with an effortless, beautiful brand of basketball that allows him to fill the stat sheet. Each year, Doncic has significantly improved various aspects of his game. We haven&rsquo;t seen a prospect get off to this kind of start in the NBA since LeBron James, which puts Doncic on a generational path.
Doncic has already reached a level where he can carry his Dallas Mavericks to a playoff berth, and potentially to a top-four seed in 2021-22 with another leap. Next, he'll try to help the Mavs win their first playoff series since their championship run in 2011. The Slovenian phenom has next, and he certainly seems poised to take over the league. And while this ranking is solely based on each player's current contributions, it's wild to think that Doncic is still only 22 years old (meaning he's younger than some of the incoming rookies, including Davion Mitchell and Chris Duarte).
TRAE YOUNG, ATLANTA HAWKS
After an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, Young has reached league-wide superstardom. Everything clicked together for the Hawks when Nate McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce as head coach. Atlanta rode this momentum while Young took a leap and became one of the best point guards in the Association.
Young can go off for 30-to-40 points whenever he pleases, and his playmaking ability is reminiscent of a young Steve Nash. Young&rsquo;s trajectory is to the moon, and Atlanta gaining postseason experience with last year's deep playoff run should only help Young. This season, it'll be interesting to see how Young adjusts to the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/how-the-nba-is-trying-to-eliminate-unnatural-foulbaiting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA's new rules against unnatural foul-baiting</a> (which were added in large part due to him).
JAYSON TATUM, BOSTON CELTICS
Tatum is one of my favorite NBA betting <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/5-best-bets-on-future-nba-awardwinners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dark-horse options to win MVP</a>. Boston has built a team around Tatum that allows him to continuously produce buckets. Once the calendar hit March, Tatum averaged nearly 30 points per game with an impressive efficiency clip. Alongside Jaylen Brown, who turns 25 years old next month, Boston&rsquo;s dynamic wing duo could vault the Celtics into the Eastern Conference's second tier of contenders.
Among the young wings in the league, I&rsquo;m riding with Tatum to be the most valuable in 2021-22 and beyond. He&rsquo;s just now realizing how special of a scorer he can become in Boston.
ZION WILLIAMSON, NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Williamson has already seen immense organizational turnover around him in the Bayou State. Through it all, he&rsquo;s still showcasing superstar potential on a nightly basis. Williamson just averaged 27.0 points in his age-20 season. And with the Pelicans building a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/by-making-zion-williamsons-job-easier-the-pelicans-should-finally-have-real-playoff-potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more competent rotation</a> to space the floor, Williamson could average 30-plus points per game in 2021-22.
Williamson is a titan in the paint, and he should continue to establish his dominance throughout his career. Soon enough, New Orleans is going to become a force to be reckoned with thanks to Williamson and the rest of their young core.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
BAM ADEBAYO, MIAMI HEAT
It&rsquo;s hard to name an NBA big man who's more versatile than Adebayo. Not only can Bam score effectively around the rim with an improving range, he can also run the offense and protect the rim with the best of &lsquo;em. Adebayo already plays such a pivotal role for the Heat, and he&rsquo;s going to be a critical piece this season as they hope to make an NBA Finals run.
If Adebayo continues to develop into a more well-rounded scorer throughout his prime, he will quickly become one of the best overall bigs in the NBA. Having Kyle Lowry as his point guard will do wonders for him immediately as well.
BRANDON INGRAM, NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Ingram is flying under the radar right now, and he shouldn&rsquo;t anymore. After his first All-Star appearance in 2019-20, Ingram still flashed jaw-dropping scoring capabilities as a perfect sidekick alongside Zion Williamson.
Ingram can score from all three levels while also drawing fouls at a star-like rate. Once everything clicks together &ndash; and he if shows improved defensive acumen &ndash; he could crack the top-five of this list next season.
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Oklahoma City nabbing SGA in the Paul George trade was a franchise-altering moment for the organization. Sure, the Thunder are continuing their tanking efforts by stockpiling copious amounts of draft picks throughout the 2020s, but Gilgeous-Alexander has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young players in the NBA.
Somehow, the Thunder were floating around .500 near last year's All-Star break thanks in large part to Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s brilliance. Last season, SGA averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds while posting a 62.3 True Shooting percentage.
Gilgeous-Alexander plays a unique brand of basketball and he should only continue to improve as the Thunder&rsquo;s No. 1 option moving forward. SGA has earned his place as the face of the franchise in Oklahoma City. Now, let&rsquo;s hope the Thunder can use their draft picks and assets to surround him with talent during his prime years.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
JA MORANT, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Morant is so much fun to watch. The modern-day version of prime Derrick Rose, Morant&rsquo;s explosive scoring components bring endless amounts of energy to this new era of Memphis Grizzlies basketball. In his second season, Morant helped push Memphis to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and gave their young core some much-needed playoff experience. He can already create endless match-up problems in transition and isolation situations, and he should continue to improve as a perimeter scorer.
Morant has yet to average at least 20.0 points per game in his career, but that leap should happen in 2021-22. If the Grizzlies improve upon their impressive finish to last season, it will be in large part due to Morant taking the next step in his development.
DE&rsquo;AARON FOX, SACRAMENTO KINGS
It&rsquo;s a shame the Kings have yet to make real progress throughout Fox&rsquo;s career, because he continues to add more tricks to his bag. Last season, Fox averaged a career-high 25.2 points on a 56.5 True Shooting percentage. With some impressive draft picks in the last two years (Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell), maybe we'll finally see the Kings break their 15-year long playoff drought sometime soon.
Fox will climb this list if he works on his three-point shooting and free-throw efficiency. Thus far, Fox has shot a pedestrian 32.6% on three-pointers plus 71.8% on free throw attempts over the course of his four-year career. Even if those percentages don&rsquo;t significantly improve, Fox is already a blur in transition who continues to put up impressive outings on a nightly basis.
DEANDRE AYTON, PHOENIX SUNS
If Ayton could create for himself as a scorer, he would be much higher on this list. Although Ayton won&rsquo;t pop as a 20-plus-point-per-game big just yet, his career development is taking an interesting turn following the Suns&rsquo; improbable NBA Finals run. Playing the No. 3 role behind Devin Booker and Chris Paul, Ayton embraced doing all the dirty work &mdash; hard screens, dominating the glass, protecting the rim while staying out of foul trouble, etc.
Ayton is becoming a more valuable big in playoff situations than Rudy Gobert. Yes, that might seem like a hot take right now, but the exponential growth we saw from Ayton as a defensive anchor has changed his trajectory entirely. As one of the most efficient paint scorers to go along with elite-level defense with versatility to guard ball-handlers on switches, Ayton is the perfect center for playoff situations.
Ayton should eventually jump back into the primary No. 2 role alongside Booker as Paul ages gracefully into his new four-year, $120 million extension. In the meantime, Ayton has already thrived on the biggest stage, proving how valuable his skill set is in today's NBA. This season, Ayton will be one of the most intriguing players to follow for this very reason. And if takes a step forward with his self-creation, that would change the game again for the Bahamian big.

A new era of young stars are taking over the NBA. Which under-25 players will crack the top-10?

Ranking the top-10 players under age-25 for the 2021-22 season

Plenty of discuss on The Jump at 3 PM ET today with unveiling of Christmas Day games, including, sources say: Trae Young and Atlanta Hawks returning to play the New York Knicks at MSG. Plus, battle of the East-West titans: The Brooklyn Nets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1427648856041402378" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The NBA is releasing key schedule dates at 3:00 p.m. ET. These two are certainly marquee matchups for Christmas. The Hawks defeated the Knicks in a heated first-round series this past season. Brooklyn and L.A., meanwhile, are considered two of the favorites to win the 2021-22 NBA championship.

The Hawks defeated the Knicks in a heated first-round series this past season.

Lakers-Nets, Hawks-Knicks games to headline Christmas Day schedule

The New Orleans Pelicans have officially announced Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green as the team's new head coach in the following press release:
The New Orleans Pelicans have named Willie Green the team&rsquo;s new head coach, it was announced today by Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. Green becomes the eighth head coach in franchise history.
&ldquo;After an extensive and collaborative search, Willie stood out among an impressive group of candidates as the best person to lead our team moving forward,&rdquo; said Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson. &ldquo;We are very happy to welcome Willie as our new head coach and we look forward to working with him to guide our team on the court as we work towards bringing a championship to New Orleans.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Willie has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA. In large part, this is due to a tireless work ethic and authenticity of character,&rdquo; said Griffin. &ldquo;He brings a vast amount of basketball knowledge and experience to our team as both a coach and former player, along with exceptional leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with players, staff and fans alike. We could not be more excited to welcome Willie and his family to New Orleans.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I want to thank Mrs. Benson, David Griffin, and the entire Pelicans organization for having faith in me to lead this talented group of players moving forward,&rdquo; said Green. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a blessing and an honor to get this opportunity in a special place like New Orleans. I look forward to getting to work and immersing myself and my family into the local community.&rdquo;
Green joins the Pelicans after spending the previous two seasons (2019-21) as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. As a part of head coach Monty Williams&rsquo; staff, Green helped guide the 2021 Western Conference Champions to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. As the Suns&rsquo; defensive coordinator, Phoenix finished the regular season with the NBA&rsquo;s sixth-best defensive rating. He also served as the Phoenix&rsquo;s head coach for NBA Summer League in 2019, leading the Suns to a 3-1 record in Las Vegas.
Prior to joining Phoenix, Green spent three seasons (2016-19) as assistant coach/player development for the Golden State Warriors. While on head coach Steve Kerr&rsquo;s staff, Green helped the Warriors win back-to-back NBA Championships in 2017 and 2018 before returning to the NBA Finals in 2019. He also served as the Warriors&rsquo; head coach for NBA Summer League in 2018, leading Golden State to the California Classic&rsquo;s only 3-0 record.
Green, a 12-year NBA veteran as a player, was selected with the 41st overall pick by Seattle in the 2003 NBA Draft. He appeared in 731 regular season games (297 starts) with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, the LA Clippers and Orlando from 2003-15, and qualified for the playoffs seven times in his 12 seasons.
A native of Detroit, Green was a four-year standout at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he won Horizon League Player of the Year as a senior in 2003 and helped the Titans to two NIT appearances in 2001 and 2002, including a trip to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in 2001. Green remains fifth in program history in career points scored.
Note: An introductory press conference will be held at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Tuesday, July 27 at 11:00am CT.

Green becomes the eighth head coach in Pelicans franchise history.

Willie Green officially named Pelicans head coach

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Lou Williams was on the training table when his coach walked up to deliver some rather startling news.
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young would not be able to play Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals because of an injury.
Williams would be getting the first playoff start of his long career.
&ldquo;OK,&rdquo; he replied.
That's it.
No big deal.
&ldquo;It's not like a &lsquo;Remember The Titans&rsquo; thing happens in the locker room, I can promise you that," Williams said with a wry smile. &rdquo;That was the extent of our conversation, and then we had to get ready for the game."
Boy, was he ready.
Williams stepped into Young's enormous shoes and guided the Hawks to a 110-88 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks, evening the Eastern Conference Final at two wins apiece Tuesday night.
Williams led the way with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, dished out eight assists and had just one turnover in 35 minutes of playing time &mdash; his most extensive outing since the 34-year-old guard was acquired by the Hawks at the trade deadline.
Long one of the NBA's best players off the bench (he's a three-time Sixth Man of the Year), Williams started for the first time in the 87th postseason game of his career.
&ldquo;I haven't been able to enjoy the moment,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I'm stuck in it. I just want to ride this thing until the wheels fall off.&rdquo;
Williams never could've imagined being in this position after the Los Angeles Clippers dealt him to Atlanta for Rajon Rondo.
Williams was stunned by the trade and briefly considered retirement, even though he grew up in suburban Atlanta and had played for the Hawks from 2012-14. He was comfortable with the Clippers and considered himself a big part of their championship drive.
Now, he's two wins away from the NBA Finals with the Hawks.
&ldquo;This wasn't a team I was paying attention to,&rdquo; Williams conceded. &ldquo;With the Clippers, we were on the hunt for a championship run. I was focused solely on that. But once I was able to get around these guys, get around the organization, get a good feel for what's going on around here, I felt like there could be some great potential here.&rdquo;
Young, who has been a breakout star of the Hawks' improbable postseason run, was injured <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/all-eyes-on-trae-young-ankle-after-freak-encounter-with-ref-atlanta-hawks-nba-east-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a freak accident</a> during&nbsp;Game 3. While turning to run up court, he stepped on a referee's foot along the sideline and twisted his right ankle.
After being diagnosed with a bone bruise, Young had hoped to return for Game 4. The Hawks held off until about an hour before game time before ruling out their best player.
Williams made sure they didn't miss him a bit.
&ldquo;Lou is always the same. He's always even-keeled, steady Lou,&rdquo; teammate Kevin Huerter said. &ldquo;He's kind of a legend. He just has this way about him... He comes in here and drops 21 like he's been playing 40 minutes the whole playoffs."
Indeed, Williams brought a sense of calm to a young team that easily could've panicked when everyone learned that Young couldn't play.
&ldquo;He gives us another level of confidence in the locker room,&rdquo; said Bogdan Bogdanovic, who broke out of his series-long long slump with 20 points. &ldquo;To play the game with him is so easy. Communicating with him is so easy. He's been in the league so long. He's seen everything. He knows how to make the game easier for everyone.&rdquo;
The Hawks aren't sure if Young will be able to play Thursday night, when the series returns to Milwaukee for Game 5. Coach Nate McMillan said it will likely be a game-time decision.
If Williams gets the call for his second playoff start, he'll be ready.
Hey, he's already gone much farther than he ever could have expected.
&ldquo;Did I look ahead and say we were going to be a championship contender from day one?&rdquo; Williams asked rhetorically. &ldquo;Probably not. But we're two wins away (from the Finals) like everybody else. You've got to feel good about it.&rdquo;

Lou Williams stepped into Trae Young's enormous shoes and guided the Hawks to a 110-88 rout of the Bucks, tying the series at 2-2.

Sweet Lou: Williams shines while filling in for injured Trae Young

Twice, like a thief in the night, Lady Luck picked his pocket cleaner than even Allen Iverson could&rsquo;ve.
That fistful of rings that Magic Johnson possesses could&rsquo;ve easily been seven, but she &mdash; perhaps put up to it by the Basketball Gods &mdash; had other plans.
A five-time champion, the legendary Magic Johnson won the league's MVP award in 1989. His Los Angeles Lakers were looking for a three-peat, which seemed inevitable. They'd be squaring off against Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons in a rematch of the prior year's Finals, one in which the Lakers prevailed in seven games.
Au contraire.
After losing Game 1 in Detroit, Johnson suffered a season-ending strained hamstring in the third quarter of Game 2. The Lakers would go on to lose that one, as well as both Game 3 and Game 4 &mdash; neither of which saw Johnson take the court.
Two years later, after Michael Jordan knocked off the Pistons and ascended to the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s throne, he would see Johnson in what was the Laker legend's ninth and final trip to the championship series. Those 1991 NBA Finals should have been a clash of the titans... But Jordan&rsquo;s Bulls rolled over the Lakers in just five games.
James Worthy, the Lakers&rsquo; leading scorer that season, suffered a sprained ankle during the Western Conference Finals. It hampered him before a reaggravation caused him to check out of the series for good with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter of Game 4. The Bulls, in all fairness, led the series 2-1 at that point. But the Lakers would lose Game 4 and Game 5, the second of which was played without both Worthy and key reserve Byron Scott.
As a result of those absences, in that fateful game, the Lakers played only seven players.
Magic wouldn't see the Finals again. His 5-4 record there is pretty good, but not nearly as spectacular as a 7-2 record would have been. But that&rsquo;s okay&hellip; Injuries always have and always will be a part of the game.
Somewhere, Kevin Durant is nodding in agreement. And Kyle Lowry is raising his eyebrows and shrugging his shoulders.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
As safe a bet as there is, your last nickel can confidently be wagered on injuries playing a part when it comes to the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy. One of LeBron James&rsquo; Finals losses came without Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love by his side. Doc Rivers would quickly remind you about Kendrick Perkins&rsquo; torn ACL.
So yes. It happens&hellip;
But damn, bro&hellip; Not like this.
The 2021 NBA Playoffs &mdash; where asterisks abound.
Unlike Magic&rsquo;s first NBA Finals in 1980, and still quite dissimilar to his last one in 1991, today, the NBA is a billion-dollar business. We love the game. We watch players like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard and Durant make Herculean feats looks routine. Larger than life in every sense of the word, having an in-person conversation with an NBA superstar &mdash; no matter how long you&rsquo;ve been around the business &mdash; is pretty damn cool.
For most of us, making eye contact with LeBron or giving a fist bump to Zion Williamson is the closest we&rsquo;ll ever get to meeting a superhero. We can&rsquo;t help but wonder what it feels like to fly.
So we watch games and we buy tickets. Now, we place bets. StubHub wants in on the action, so does BetQL. And the likes of ESPN and TNT pay the NBA billions of dollars to televise everything from preseason games to the newest phenomenon: the All-Star Game Draft.
The trickle-down effect of that &mdash; thanks to a player-friendly collective bargaining agreement that usually distributes the majority of revenue to the players &mdash; is merely &ldquo;decent&rdquo; pro players becoming centimillionaires.
They employ agents, business managers, public relations professionals, bodyguards, nutritionists, strength trainers, chauffeurs and nannies. And in each their own right, NBA players have become their own economic solar systems with their own individual sets of celestial objects.
So when there&rsquo;s a work stoppage and Player X doesn&rsquo;t have the means to earn his millions, the aggregate economic impact for those within his ecosystem is catastrophic.
For that reason, as we learned in the Orlando Bubble last season, the game must go on, even if the NBA&rsquo;s players don&rsquo;t necessarily want it to.
It&rsquo;s just sad now that everyone seems to be paying the price.
The powers that be in the NBA and its players union jointly agreed to ask its workforce to play 80 regular season games and two postseasons in less than one year. For the Lakers and the Miami Heat, specifically, their 2019-20 season ended on Oct. 11, while their 2020-21 season began on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, respectively.
Neither would get out of the first round this time around. Maybe it was a coincidence, but it&rsquo;s hard to make that argument based on what we&rsquo;ve seen transpire before our very eyes.
Between then and now, scores of impact players have had their seasons derailed by injury. Without knowing better, you could believe the names to be a recital of some All-NBA teams.
Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown and Victor Oladipo never played a minute in the 2021 playoffs. Neither did Myles Turner or Gordon Hayward (whose teams didn't qualify for the playoffs but did make it to the play-in tournament, where perhaps they could've secured a spot if they were at full strength).&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16132328_lg.jpg" alt="" width="707" height="471" />
Among the difference-makers who sustained significant injuries, but played through them, are LeBron, Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal and Michael Porter Jr.
Many others weren&rsquo;t as lucky.
Anthony Davis, who officially missed only one playoff game, was essentially absent from the Lakers&rsquo; final three. Chris Paul will likely begin the Western Conference Finals on the shelf after testing positive for COVID-19, but let&rsquo;s not forget about the shoulder injury that threatened to derail the Suns&rsquo; title run before it even began. He was favoring the shoulder as recently as Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets.
Kawhi Leonard&rsquo;s season is potentially over, while many other participants in the NBA&rsquo;s Elite Eight are attempting to shake off their ailments and return to form. Entering play on June 18, James Harden, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving and even Mike Conley, in their truest forms, are still M.I.A.
Ja Morant and Devin Booker have arrived. Porter grew up. Durant returned. But we&rsquo;ve been distracted from it by the fact that many of our favorites are dropping like flies.
Thus far, eight of the 26 players selected as 2021 NBA All-Stars have missed playoff games which, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is an all-time record.
That sobering statistic led to LeBron &mdash; still the face of the NBA &mdash; <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1405236532215095301?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">going on a mini-rant on Twitter</a>, essentially wagging his finger and saying, &ldquo;I told you so!&rdquo;
James reportedly advocated for the start of the 2020-21 season to be pushed back until at least some point in January due to, according to him, fears of increased injury probabilities due to fatigue.
James obviously lost. And now, unfortunately, so has everyone else.
Superheroes they may be, but the exploitation of their talents &mdash; and our collective willingness to watch it, talk about it, and yes, write about it &mdash; is the NBA&rsquo;s business. The decision to begin the 2020-21 season days before Christmas was made with careful thought, and after balancing many factors. But for the NBA, as is usually the case, business won out.
From the beginning, it was always a zero-sum game: playing as close to 82 games as possible was the priority and completing the season with enough time to get the 2021-22 season back on its traditional schedule was necessary.
The beauty of an NBA Finals played in June has always been not having to compete with Major League Baseball&rsquo;s pennant races or with the NFL. This year in particular, the league had to consider the Tokyo Olympics, which is set to commence on July 23.
So business won out. It&rsquo;s just a shame that, in the form of their health, the league&rsquo;s players had to pay the bill.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
When the smoke clears, the 2021 NBA Champion, without question, won&rsquo;t be able to flatly lay claim to being the best team &mdash; not with so many impact players hobbling into the postseason.
What we&rsquo;ve seen this postseason in terms of injuries, is unprecedented, and even though injuries have always been a part of the game, Magic Johnson himself probably can&rsquo;t help but to be blown away.
Jamal Murray should&rsquo;ve had a chance. Kawhi Leonard&rsquo;s season shouldn&rsquo;t end with him in a suit. Kyrie Irving isn&rsquo;t supposed to be sidelined for a Game 7. Nobody ever wanted to see Anthony Davis limp off the floor, just like nobody wants to see Joel Embiid reduced to being a wounded warrior.
We now know that LeBron was right. We&rsquo;ve seen enough to say that, with confidence, the NBA returned to action much too soon. We all understand why, but in deciding to do so, Adam Silver, Michele Roberts and the powers that be decided to sigh, inhale, look up into the sky and shoot the dice.
With one flick of the wrist, they decided to take a monumental risk and bet that their players would hold up over the long haul.
Defiantly, they shook up the dice and shot. And with it all on the line, they rolled snake eyes.
In the end, they've made losers of us all.

Injuries have always been a part of the game, but this postseason has been different. It's obvious why, writes Moke Hamilton.

Injuries Galore: The NBA’s all-too-soon return has made losers of us all

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trae Young put an early smackdown on Philly and again rose to the occasion in the playoffs for a Hawks team that wasted no time grabbing control of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Young scored 25 of his 35 points in the first half as Atlanta shook off Joel Embiid and a hostile crowd and held on to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 128-124 Sunday in Game 1.
Embiid raised a sledgehammer as he returned from a one-game absence with a cartilage tear in his right knee. He walked out with <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/1401589614301810689">WWE star Triple H</a> to a roaring ovation.
Young and the Hawks had the Sixers down for the count from the jump.
The Sixers' rally came too late as they pulled within three with 1:01 left on consecutive baskets from Embiid. Atlanta's Bogdan Bogdanovic put his fingers to his lips and shushed the raucous crowd when he hit a 3 that sealed the win.
Going off as five-point underdogs, <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/sports">according to FanDuel Sportsbook</a>, the Hawks made 14 of their first 18 shots from the floor and were the aggressors eagerly seizing their moment on national television. Young, much like he did in five games against the Knicks when he averaged 29.2 points, thrived in the spotlight. For all the focus on Embiid, All-Star Ben Simmons and the top-seeded Sixers, Young was the can’t-miss player in Game 1 — as in, he rarely did with the ball, and all eyes were on him.
The Hawks used a 17-0 run in the first half that quickly made it a rout and Young was there shaking, saluting and toying with the Sixers and the crowd. Young bowed during the clincher to the New York crowd that had jeered him in every game. He stuck a pose in Philly — he held his right arm high and pointed toward the basket for several seconds that followed a 27-footer he buried to close the first half.
Danny Green could not hang as the primary defender on Young instead of Simmons, an NBA defensive player of the year candidate.
The 6-foot-1 Young led the Hawks to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and has craved the pressure that comes with playing big postseason games in bigger cities.
One Knicks fan spit on Young during the first-round series. In Philly, he heard “Trae is balding! Trae is balding!” chants that dimmed with each 3-pointer — he hit four 3s and had 10 assists. He waved off fans with a 3 in the third quarter that cut off a small Sixers run.
Embiid answered the will he-or-won’t he play question when he walked out for pregame introductions in matching T-shirts with the star wrestler — Triple H's D-Generation X faction was Embiid’s favorite — and had the crowd going wild as he held the sledgehammer high over his head.
Embiid did his part with 39 points. Tobias Harris had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Simmons scored 17 points and again struggled from the free-throw line, going 3 for 10.
Embiid grimaced at times and hit the floor hard when he lunged at John Collins and fouled him.
Bogdanovic and Collins each scored 21 points for the Hawks.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Philadelphia.
The Sixers made easy work Washington in five games and with home court throughout the East playoffs, a potential date with Brooklyn seemed in the cards. Sixers fans chanted “We want Brooklyn” as they wrapped a Game 5 win last week.
But they forgot about Trae.
Just 14-20 when the Hawks fired coach Lloyd Pierce on March 1, the Hawks are 33-12 since. They had the best record in the East after Nate McMillan took over, and Young said he isn’t satisfied with just one series victory.
The Sixers made them work for it in a furious fourth — but the Hawks held on and gave Atlanta sports fans something to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/atlanta-falcons-tennessee-titans-julio-jones-nfl-sports-f15932351d279ac8f2afb01e75abfa60">feel good about</a> on Sunday.
TIP-INS
Hawks: F De’Andre Hunter sat out with a sore right knee. ... Young became the second player in NBA history to score 30 points in each of his first four career playoff road games. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the 1970 Milwaukee Bucks. ... The Hawks scored a franchise playoff high for points in any half (74) and their 13 3-pointers in the first were a team record for a playoff half.
76ers: Were an awful 24 of 35 from the free-throw line. ... Missed 19 of 29 3-pointers.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Trae Young scored 35 points, and the Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 of their second round matchup vs. the 76ers, 128-124.

Young scores 35, Hawks top Embiid, Sixers 128-124 in Game 1

During the offseason, and early in the NBA season, sportsbooks get creative on futures bets. This year, oddsmakers tried to capitalize on the offseason hype surrounding the NBA teams in Los Angeles with a futures wager. Putting out a bet on LA teams is just smart business; it doesn&rsquo;t matter whether you love or hate the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers because there will always be buzz that surrounds both championship contenders.&nbsp;
Both teams were preseason title contenders, which is why BetRivers Sportsbook posted a unique proposition on whether the Lakers or Clippers would make the 2020-21 NBA Finals. The &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; option was set to -110 via an Odds Boost from -215.
The &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; option at the beginning of the season was enticing. The Lakers were the defending champions and had signed reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell to team up with their superstars in Anthony Davis and LeBron James. And, while the Clippers were coming off of a disappointing Bubble showing, they too were loaded with stars of their own in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Both teams started the season as title contenders and among the favorites to win it all.
But this is gambling, so the odds move fast. What once seemed like an inevitable Western Conference Finals clash of the titans is not a lock anymore. Fast forward a few months, and neither the Lakers nor the Nets are now favored to win the NBA title. Per PointsBet Sportsbook, the Clippers sit in sixth place to win it all at +1200, while the Lakers are in eighth at +1300 to win the championship.
As for the conference odds, the Clippers come in second (+500) to win the West, while the Lakers are two spots behind them (+650).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The first-round matchup between the Lakers and Phoenix Suns has been a rollercoaster from a betting perspective. The Lakers opened their series as high as -300 to defeat the Suns at some sportsbooks, which was then was bet down to -150 by the start of Game 1. After Phoenix took the first game, Lakers odds shortened and the Suns were even favored in some books. Then, once the Lakers started rolling, they got out to -350 before Game 3 and even -900 at some books before Game 4. But, that is when it all came crashing down. The combination of a Suns win and an Anthony Davis groin pull swung the series price once again, this time to Phoenix being favored at -175 to win the series.
The Suns now hold a 3-2 lead in the series after Tuesday night&rsquo;s drubbing, which has many fans and bettors counting out the defending champs.
&ldquo;We shifted the Lakers price out to +225 from +130 after the blowout loss last night in Phoenix,&rdquo; said PointsBet Sportsbook Analyst Michael Korn. &ldquo;That being said, with the potential of having AD back in either Game 6 or 7, we can never really write off the Lakers.&rdquo;
On the flip side, the Clippers have had the opposite ride since the playoffs began. LAC went down 0-2 to the Luka Doncic led Dallas Mavericks, and it seemed like the team was headed for another disappointing exit.&nbsp;
Since then, Luka Doncic suffered a neck injury, and the Clippers came roaring back thanks to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/kawhi-leonard-paul-george-commandeering-of-los-angeles-clippers-offense-is-yielding-results-nba-playoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonard&rsquo;s stellar play</a>. But Luka came back in Game 5 and showed his injury may not be that bad, completely dominating the game and leading the Mavs to a win at Staples Center to take a 3-2 series lead.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16197773_lg.jpg" alt="" />
&ldquo;Elsewhere in LA, we have seen the Clippers odds shift drastically over the weekend after winning games 3 and 4 in Dallas,&rdquo; Korn said. &ldquo;The Clippers got out to +800 to win the West and +1600 to win the title after dropping Games 1 and 2.&nbsp;
&ldquo;With the Lakers injury issues, combined with the Clippers evening the series [prior to Game 5], their odds have moved back into +250 and +600, respectively.&rdquo;
A heartbreaking loss in Game 5 has put the Clippers in a must-win situation, and currently a day before tip-off, the Clippers are -2 (two-point favorites) in Dallas for Game 6. Will the Clippers see themselves exiting the playoffs early for the second straight year? The Lakers, on the other hand, are hoping Davis can come back to help LeBron stave off elimination.
Will the road to the NBA Championship go through Los Angeles once again? Or will the league crown a new champion? The Brooklyn Nets are the betting favorites across all books, thanks to their star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
&ldquo;As of right now, the Clippers have a better shot than the Lakers to win the title,&rdquo; the oddsmaker states. &ldquo;Though, it does seem like we could see the NBA title winner come out of the East in the Nets/Bucks second-round series.&rdquo;
When it comes to futures liabilities, Los Angeles money isn&rsquo;t weighing down PointsBet. In fact, their book would be perfectly fine with either LA team taking the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy home with them.
&ldquo;Strangely enough, the book will have a positive result if any team from the Western Conference goes on to win the NBA title,&rdquo; Korn explained. &ldquo;The Lakers winning would be good for the book, while the Clippers winning would be great.&rdquo;
Never count out LeBron, but it&rsquo;s tough to envision the Lakers coming out of the West right now, which means it might be up to the Clippers to try to help those sitting at home with those BetRivers&rsquo; LA futures tickets.
If you are looking to get in on the action for either the Clippers or Lakers, check out BetQL and see which way <a href="https://betql.co/nba/sharp-picks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their computer model</a> is picking the games. With BetQL you can find <a href="https://betql.co/nba/odds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best bets for every game</a> on the slate and start winning more bets. As a Basketball News reader you can get access to BetQL for 30% when you use the code BBN30, check out BetQL and win the rest of your bets for the playoffs.

With both Los Angeles teams down 3-2 in their respective first-round series, what are the odds for each of the Lakers and Clippers to come out of the West?

Will the road to the NBA championship go through Los Angeles again?

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 49 points to propel the Milwaukee Bucks past the Brooklyn Nets, 117-114, in a battle of Eastern Conference titans on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo made 21 of 36 shots, including 4 of 8 three-pointers, while adding eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Khris Middleton added 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Bucks (40-24) in the win.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Giannis, KD went at it in today's Eastern Conference showdown. 🔥🍿<a href="https://twitter.com/Giannis_An34?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Giannis_An34</a>: 49 PTS, 3 BLK, W<a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KDTrey5</a>: 42 PTS, 10 REB, 7 3PM <a href="https://t.co/2ffwr3er7J">pic.twitter.com/2ffwr3er7J</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1388979020889526280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kevin Durant nearly matched Antetokounmpo with 42 points of his own. The Nets star went 16-for-33 from the floor and added ten rebounds. Kyrie Irving contributed 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Brooklyn (43-22) maintains its hold on first place in the East standings, while Milwaukee sits third. The Bucks overcame an early deficit by outscoring the Nets 34-22 in the second quarter. Both sides entered the fourth quarter tied at 90 points apiece. Durant had a chance to tie the game in the closing moments, but his long three-pointer fell short.&nbsp;
Here is the Associated Press&rsquo; game recap:
MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 49 points, Khris Middleton had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks edged Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 117-114 on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo also had eight rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. He went 21 for 36 from the field, helping Milwaukee overcome a terrific performance by Durant.
The Bucks (40-24) won for the third time in four games to pull within 2 1/2 games of the Nets (43-22) in the three-way battle for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is on top at 42-21 heading into its matchup with San Antonio on Sunday night.
Milwaukee hosts Brooklyn again on Tuesday night.
Durant had 42 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, but he missed a difficult fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, and Landry Shamet finished with 17.
Antetokounmpo finished three points shy of his career high, set against Philadelphia in March 2019.
A slick move by Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks a 117-112 lead, and Irving answered with a layup. But Durant and Khris Middleton traded 3-point misses before the final attempt by Durant.
Jrue Holiday had 18 points for Milwaukee, and Bryn Forbes finished with 12.
Antetokounmpo scored the Bucks&rsquo; first 16 points of the third quarter, and his personal streak stopped when he passed to Forbes for a 3-pointer. He had 18 points in the third, and the game was tied at 90 heading to the fourth.
Durant lifted the Nets with 13 points in the quarter, including three 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
Nets: James Harden missed his 14th straight game with a right hamstring injury, but Durant (hamstring tightness) returned after missing Friday&rsquo;s 128-109 loss to Portland. ... Guard Bruce Brown also returned after missing three games with a sore right knee. ... Coach Steve Nash said the two-game series against the Bucks is &ldquo;a great rehearsal&rdquo; for a possible playoff matchup. Nash said he didn&rsquo;t think the Nets would be keeping any secrets in the two games. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re still growing,&rdquo; Nash said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re still learning. We&rsquo;re trying to get there, let alone start hiding things.&rdquo;
Bucks: Antetokounmpo was cleared to play and started after spraining his right ankle in the opening minute of the Bucks&rsquo; loss at Houston on Thursday. He missed the Bucks&rsquo; 108-98 win in Chicago on Friday. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve put him through quite a bit of testing and work,&rdquo; coach Mike Budenholzer said. &ldquo;Giannis is very familiar with his body and these type of injuries. At some point you pass the test, you feel good, you go.&rdquo; &hellip; Donte DiVincenzo returned after missing the Bulls game because of right big toe soreness. ... Forward Bobby Portis, who posted double-doubles in the previous two games, was sidelined with a stomach illness.
UP NEXT
The Bucks and Nets conclude their two-game series in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Antetokounmpo scored 49 points, while Durant added 42 of his own.

Cal State Fullerton Titans