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• KAT returns to help Wolves beat Hawks

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• NO GAMES TONIGHT

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Games of the day

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

The Timberwolves welcomed back All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 11 points after missing 18 games following surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee. Rudy Gobert had 25 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks. Gobert went 10 for 10 from the field, including eight dunks, and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Wolves recovered from blowing a 17-point third-quarter lead. Minnesota is even with Denver and Oklahoma City atop the conference with one game to play. The Timberwolves hold head-to-head tiebreakers over both teams, but the Thunder would win a three-way tiebreaker for the top spot. So, a victory by Minnesota over Phoenix and a loss by either Denver or Oklahoma City would lock up the top seed for the Timberwolves.

Victor Wembanyama had 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who are last in the West. The Spurs avoided matching the worst record in franchise history (20-62 in 1997). Wembanyama slammed the ball onto the court and screamed in celebration after what he later called “maybe the biggest win of the season.” Jamal Murray had 35 points and Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which led 76-53 early in the third quarter and still had a 17-point advantage early in the fourth. The Nuggets (56-25) fell out of sole possession of first place in the West and into a tie with Oklahoma City and Minnesota. Because of tiebreakers, the Thunder were first, the Timberwolves second and and the Nuggets third heading into the final day of the regular season on Sunday.

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League News

Around the League

• Kyrie Irving and Kristaps Porzingis have been named Players of The Week for Week 24.

• After yesterday’s full slate of games, here’s how things have stacked up. The #1 seed out West will be decided on Sunday, with the Thunder owning the tiebreaker over Denver and Minnesota in case all 3 finish with the same record. Philly and Miami both have a chance to climb out of the Play-In thanks to Orlando’s recent slide (4-6 in the last 10). If Orlando loses and Miami or Philly wins then things will get shaken up. Milwaukee and New York are tied at 49-32, so either of them have the chance to end up as the #2 seed. Phoenix and New Orleans are only separated by 1 game, so if New Orleans loses and Phoenix wins Sunday, New Orleans will fall into the Play-In and Phoenix will get to avoid it.

• Injury Updates: Giannis Antetokounmpo (achilles) will miss the rest of the regular season. Julius Randle (shoulder) is out for the season. Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell will both miss the rest of the season. Malik Monk (knee) will miss 4-6 weeks. Kevin Huerter (shoulder) is out for the season. LaMelo Ball (ankle) is out for the season. Brandon Ingram (knee) will miss at least 1 week. Ausar Thompson (blood clot) is out for the season. Christian Wood (knee) underwent surgery and will be out multiple weeks. Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) sustained a fracture and will be out for the season. Alperen Sengun (ankle and knee) is out for the season. Saddiq Bey (knee) tore his ACL and is out for the season. Benedict Mathurin (shoulder) underwent surgery and is out for the season. Ben Simmons (back) is out for the season. Josh Richardson (shoulder) had surgery and will be out for the season. Scottie Barnes (hand) underwent surgery and will be out at least 2 weeks. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) will miss at least 2 more weeks. Marcus Smart (finger) will be out 1 more week. Gabe Vincent (knee) will be out at least 1 more week. Tari Eason (leg) had surgery and will be out for the season. Patrick Williams (foot) had surgery and will be out for the season. 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 News

• Jrue Holiday agreed on a 4 year, $135M contract with Boston. The Free Agent market is still deep with vets like Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel, Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers, 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.

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NBA MVP Race

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.6 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9 apg

His case: Jokic ranks first in total plus-minus (664), second in total assists (691), third in total rebounds (954) and fifth in total points (2,048). The vet also ranks among the top 10 in a few hustle stats as well.

Then, take a look at statistics like true shooting percentage in clutch situations (69.8%) in evaluating Jokic’s case, or player impact estimate. Jokic checks most of the boxes, and, if the Nuggets win out, his case becomes even more airtight.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

Season stats: 30.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.2 apg

His case: Tough decision here, given all the momentum Luka Doncic generated with wins and eye-popping numbers while Gilgeous-Alexander missed six of OKC’s last nine games. SGA has still played three more contests than Doncic, leading a team of virtual unknowns into Western Conference contention.

Despite the injury’s absence, Gilgeous-Alexander’s smoothness was displayed in Wednesday’s win over San Antonio. The two-way star has scored 66 total points in two outings since returning to the lineup.

3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 33.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 9.8 apg

His case: That Doncic thrived during a chaotic season in Dallas shouldn’t be overlooked with the Mavericks winning 16 of their last 18 games, including Wednesday’s 111-92 triumph at Miami. Doncic lit up the Heat for 13 points in the first quarter en route to a 29-point night.

There’s no disagreement here if you’ve got Doncic at No. 2. He’s trekked a tougher road while cranking out more production than Gilgeous-Alexander. But he also plays alongside a future Hall of Famer, too.

 4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

Season stats: 30.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.5 apg

His case: Like Doncic, Antetokounmpo has excelled despite adverse circumstances, flashing mind-boggling efficiency while averaging more than 30 points, 11.5 rebounds and a career-high 6.5 assists. He’s out for the remainder of the regular season due to a left soleus strain.

But let’s hope the eight-time All-Star returns for the start of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo started fast in Tuesday’s win over Boston before suffering this latest injury late in the third quarter.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 26.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg

His case: Maybe Anthony Edwards or Jalen Brunson belong in this spot. But it’s tough to downplay Tatum’s impact on a team that has been historically dominant this season. Boston locked up No. 1 in the Eastern Conference and the NBA a while ago and the maturing Tatum is the main reason for that.

Say what you want about the supporting cast. But Tatum has knocked down more 3-pointers (1,239) than any player before his 26th birthday (March 3) while ranking fifth in regular-season victories (327) over that span.

The Next Five

6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week’s ranking: No. 6)
7. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last week’s ranking: No. 9)
8. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (Last week’s ranking: unranked)
9. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: unranked)
10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 7)

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Fantasy Leaders

Rudy Gobert makes his Top 3 debut

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.