Top Stories

• Paolo games Pistons

• Celtics beat Knicks

• Wolves beat Nets

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Games of the day

Last Night’s Top Games! (link to the box scores of every game from yesterday)

At least the Pistons are competitive now? That’s the only takeaway from their games lately, it took a ridiculous off balance and-1 game winner from Paolo Banchero to beat them last night. Jalen Duren continues to impress, being one of the best rebounding teenagers the NBA has ever seen. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are a dynamic backcourt, and with recent additions such as. Quinten Grimes, the only way to go is up.

Celtics-Knicks was the battle of the JB’s, and although Brunson outplayed Brown, the Celtics got the win. New York is struggling without Randle and Anunoby, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. When they’re at full strength, New York’s defense is no joke, as even currently they have the 3rd best defense in the league. They’ll be a tough opponent for anyone come playoff time, even if it is the league best Celtics.

Minnesota bounced back in a rough way against Brooklyn, with the game being close throughout the first 3 quarters. They managed to go on a big run in the 4th, led by Ant and KAT. Rudy Gobert was out with an injury he sustained in Friday’s loss against the Bucks, but even without the DPOY favorite, the Wolves took care of business. The biggest event of the night however, was Dennis Schroder pulling a Miles Bridges and taking offense to a last second shot to avoid a shot clock violation. Mike Conley took a 3 with the shot clock winding down to avoid a turnover for the team, and Schroder shoved him in the chest as he shot it. Jaden McDaniels stepped in for his teammate, and after the shoving match, McDaniels, Schroder, Finney-Smith, and Alexander-Walker all ended up with technical fouls. Mike Conley’s career long streak was saved, as recently it was brought to light that in his 17 year career, he hasn’t received a SINGLE technical foul.

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League News

Around the League

• Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell have been named Players of The Week for Week 16.

• There were only 3 games last night, overall a pretty dry night for hoops. Today though, there are 11 games, with 4 of them being nationally televised. Starting the day we have Bucks/Sixers at 1pm ET on ABC, and although we’ll be missing the usual Giannis/Embiid matchup, it’ll still be a fun matchup between Maxey and Dame. Next its Lakers/Suns at 3:30 ET on ABC, and that’s a matchup between KD and LeBron which is always primetime. Later in the day at 7pm ET on ESPN between Denver and Golden State, and that’s always a chess match between Draymond and the Joker. Finally, rounding out the slate we have Kings/Clippers at 9:30 ET on ESPN. The star power will be in full effect in that game, assuming everyone is healthy, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Clippers guard Fox and Sabonis.

• Injury Updates: Patrick Williams (foot) had surgery and will be out for the season. Dyson Daniels (meniscus) will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. OG Anunoby (elbow) will miss 2+ weeks. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) will miss “several weeks”. Joel Embiid (torn meniscus) will be out for 1-2 months. Julius Randle (shoulder) will be out 2-3 weeks. Desmond Bane (ankle) will miss 3-5 weeks. Marcus Smart (finger) will be out 3 weeks. Chris Paul underwent surgery on his left hand and will be returning soon. Gabe Vincent (knee) will be out at least 3 more weeks. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) underwent surgery and will be out 2-5 weeks. Zach LaVine (foot) underwent surgery and will be out for the season. Robert Williams underwent knee surgery and will be out for the season. Ja Morant had surgery on a torn labrum and will miss the rest of the season. We wish all these guys speedy and successful recoveries.

Front Office Moves

• Miami signed Delon Wright. The Free Agent market is still deep with vets like Nerlens Noel, DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers, Montrezl Harrell (he’ll be out for a few months), and John Wall ready to contribute to winning or to mentor young guys. Joe Harris, Victor Oladipo, and Killian Hayes were all cut or waived by their teams and are available to be signed. There are a few younger names on the market, like Kai Jones (yikes), Kevin Porter Jr (yikes again), Sharife Cooper, and Darius Bazley.

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NBA MVP Race

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.1 ppg, 12 rpg, 8.9 apg

His case: They’ll say the sky is falling in Denver with the club mired in just its second three-game losing streak of the season. Against Sabonis and the Kings last Wednesday, Jokic snapped a 15-game run of games with 20 points or more.

The two-time MVP failed to post a double-double for just the ninth time this season while finishing 0-of-6 from 3-point range. Jokic needed the break.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.5 apg

His case: The first-time All-Star starter owns the MVP momentum going into the break having spoiled Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando jersey retirement night last Tuesday with a 32-point effort in a 127-113 Oklahoma City victory.

The 25-year-old reeled off 13 points during a dominant five-minute stretch in the third quarter of that game. Second in the league in points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks No. 1 in steals (115) and is just 14 points from passing Giannis Antetokounmpo (1,662) for the league lead in total points.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.4 apg

His case: Antetokounmpo goes into All-Star break tracking toward becoming the first player in NBA history to average 30-plus points on 60% shooting in a season. But overall, the two-time MVP and the team need this time away to work on getting everyone on the same page.

Milwaukee’s 113-110 loss at Memphis last Thursday demonstrated the choppy waters the Bucks continue to navigate in the wake of the firing of first-year coach Adrian Griffin and the hiring of Doc Rivers.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

Season stats: 34.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 9.5 apg

His case: Named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Mavericks to a 4-0 week in which he averaged nearly a triple-double, Doncic led his team to two more victories going into the break.

Circle the calendar for what should be a fun matchup coming out of the break on last night against Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns, followed by a four-game road trip.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 27.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.8 apg

His case: Kawhi Leonard is breathing down Tatum’s neck for this spot. But the 25-year-old lit up Brooklyn for 31 of his 41 points last Tuesday in the first half, dialing up his third 40-point game of the season and 25th of his career.

Tatum torched the Nets again the next night, combining with Derrick White for 47 points in a game that all of Boston’s starters sat in the fourth quarter.

The next five

T-6. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Last week’s ranking: No. 6)
T-6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week’s ranking: No. 7)
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (Last week’s ranking: No. 9)
9. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 8)
10. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (Last week’s ranking: No. 10)

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Fantasy Leaders

Duren is the youngest player to make multiple appearances

Overtime Thoughts

Hoopgrids

Hoopgrids is a daily basketball trivia game. You cross match each category to find a player that fits both. The rarer the player, the lower the score. The goal is to get the lowest rarity score possible.