Top Stories

• Anthony Edwards has scored 90 points in 2 days

• All Star teams drafted

• Trade deadline has passed

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Games of the day

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

Anthony Edwards had 41 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Houston Rockets 127-114. One night after scoring 49 points in a win over Chicago, Edwards dominated the game early and late. He scored 18 points in the first quarter and 16 in the fourth, which began with Houston leading by six. Rudy Gobert had back-to-back dunks to start the quarter before Edwards took over with three 3-pointers as Minnesota outscored Houston 35-16 over the final 12 minutes. Jaylen Clark scored a career-high 17 points for the Timberwolves while Naz Reid had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Green led Houston with 28 points. Alperen Sengun had 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets, who lost their fifth straight.

LeBron James had 42 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers blew most of a 26-point lead before hanging on to beat the Golden State Warriors 120-112. Austin Reaves scored 23 points and Gabe Vincent hit five 3-pointers for the Lakers, who have won four straight and 10 of 12. Los Angeles also won its second straight with Luka Doncic watching from the bench. Stephen Curry scored 37 points for the Warriors, but James came out on top in their latest duel. James scored 18 points in the second quarter while the Lakers surged ahead, but Golden State began a 32-12 rally right before halftime. Curry scored 22 points in the second half. Curry went 13 of 35 from the field and hit six 3-pointers. His 20 3-point attempts matched the fifth-most in his career. He trimmed LA’s lead to 109-104 with 3:40 to play, but James hit his sixth 3-pointer with 1:08 left. Jimmy Butler joined the Warriors in Los Angeles shortly after the NBA approved the trade sending him from Miami to Golden State for a package headlined by Andrew Wiggins. Doncic got a massive ovation when introduced before the game. He is expected make his debut Monday. New Lakers center Mark Williams hasn't arrived.

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League News

Around the League

• In yesterdays NBA All-Star Draft, Inside the NBA commentators Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith each selected eight players from the pool of 24 players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. Team Shaq consists of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Jaylen Brown. Team Kenny Consists of Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, and Tyler Herro. Team Chuck consists of Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Pascal Siakam, Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Donovan Mitchell. There a 3 clear themes here, with Shaq having the old stars, Kenny having the new ones, and Chuck having the international players. These 3 teams will be joined in the 4 team tournament by the winner of the rookie vs sophomore rising stars game.

• Injury Updates: James Wiseman tore his achilles and will be out indefinitely. Taylor Hendricks (leg and ankle) suffered a fractured fibia and dislocated ankle and will be out for the season. Isaiah Jackson (achilles) will be out for the season. DeAnthony Melton (ACL) underwent surgery and will be out for the season. Grant Williams (ACL) suffered a tear and will be out for the season. Larry Nance Jr (hand) will be out indefinitely after surgery. Jared McCain (torn meniscus) will be out for the season. Brandon Miller (wrist) will be out for the season. Donte DiVincenzo (toe) will be out indefinitely. Jalen Johnson (shoulder) will be out for the season. Dejounte Murray (achilles) will be out for the season. We wish all these guys speedy and successful recoveries.

• Trade Updates: The Miami Heat traded Thomas Bryant to Indiana for a 2nd round pick. The Brooklyn Nets traded Dennis Schroder for DeAnthony Melton. The Lakers traded D’Angelo Russell to the Nets for Dorian Finney Smith. Phoenix traded Josh Okogie for Nick Richards. Dallas traded Luka Doncic and Maxi Kleber for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. The Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs and received Zach Lavine from Chicago in a 3 team trade. The Clippers traded PJ Tucker and Mo Bamba to Utah for Drew Eubanks. The Kings traded Cidy Cissoko to the Wizards for Jonas Valanciunas. New Orleans traded Daniel Theis to OKC. Milwaukee traded Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. The Heat traded Jimmy Butler to Golden State for Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, a 1st round pick, and Andrew Wiggins. Toronto traded Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, and a 1st round pick for Brandon Ingram. Atlanta traded DeAndre Hunter to Cleveland for Caris Levert and Georges Niang. The Clippers traded Kevin Porter Jr for Milwaukee’s MarJon Beauchamp. The Clippers also traded Terrance Mann and Bones Hyland for Atlanta’s Bogdan Bogdanovic.

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NBA MVP Ladder

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 32.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6 assists

His case: Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh off a pair of 50-point games and is the only player to post multiple 50-point games this season. For such a high-volume shooter, his efficiency is impressive (52.8%).

Remember: he’s among the steals leaders and helps inspire OKC’s opportunistic defense. Plus, he has worked much of the season without the aid of a talented big man Chet Holmgren.

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 29.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.1 assists

His case: He’s averaging a triple-double and remains among the league leaders in those three statistical categories. As the season progresses, his staying power will prove a strong argument for him to rise to No. 1. It’s close between him and Gilgeous-Alexander.

Strange thing, though: Denver has lost three straight despite “The Joker’s” dominance. He’ll need his team to perform better to strengthen his case.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 31.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists

His case: “The Greek Freak” and his high-level consistency rolls on. His three most recent games captured the essence of his season: 39 points and 12 rebounds against the Blazers, 35-18 against the Jazz and 36-13 against the Clippers.

The Bucks lost two of those games, although that certainly wasn’t Antetokounmpo’s fault. What Milwaukee does, or doesn’t do, at the trade deadline could determine its East seeding.

4. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 24.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists

His case: Towns has been steady all season and wears the unofficial title as Best Center In The East, partly because of his stellar play and, to be fair, partly because former Kia MVP Joel Embiid has struggled with injuries and absences.

Towns and the Knicks managed to handle Jokić and the Nuggets on Wednesday.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 26.7 points, 9 rebounds, 5.4 assists

His case: Tatum remains one of the premier players in the league, all while doing so for an elite team. That said, his play of late has also reflected that of the Celtics as both appear to have hit a wall.

Tatum is averaging 24 points, eight rebounds and 5.4 assists in January, a bit of a decline from previous months. He’ll need to elevate his play to remain in the top five.

The Next 5:

6. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

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Fantasy Leaders

LeBron is 40 still doing this

Overtime Thoughts