Top Stories

• Lakers win their first game in the LeLuka era

• Jimmy helping take the pressure off Steph

• Adam Silver names all star replacements for Giannis and AD

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Games of the day

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

Luka Doncic had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in his Lakers debut as Los Angeles beat the Utah Jazz 132-113. LeBron James had 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, Austin Reaves scored 22 and the Lakers got their sixth straight win. Doncic played for the first time since sustaining a calf strain on Christmas. He was limited to just under 24 minutes as a precaution and was able to sit out the fourth quarter with his new team in complete control, but still had several standout moments to help the surging Lakers get their 12 victory in 14 games. Inspired by its new superstar, Los Angeles had seven players reach double figures, shot a blazing 54.3% from the floor and led by as many as 34. Lauri Markkanen and John Collins each had 17 points for the Jazz, who have dropped nine in a row on the road.

Stephen Curry scored a season-high 38 points and the Golden State Warriors pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-111. Jimmy Butler had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his second game with the Warriors. Buddy Hield added 16 points, while Quinten Post and Moses Moody added 13 each. The Bucks were playing for a second straight day after beating the Philadelphia 76ers 135-127 at home on Sunday. Milwaukee also was playing a sixth straight game without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be out through the All-Star break as he deals with a left calf strain. Damian Lillard scored 38 points for the Bucks after scoring 43 on Sunday. Kyle Kuzma scored 21 and Taurean Prince added 19. Golden State is 2-2 during a stretch of seven straight away games. Butler continues to make the transition to his new team seem easy. He scored 25 points in a 132-111 victory on Saturday.

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League News

Around the League

• Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on Team Chuck in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. Trae has earned his fourth NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging 23.5 points and an NBA-leading 11.4 assists per game in 49 games this season. Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace the injured Anthony Davis on Team Shaq in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. This is the ninth NBA All-Star selection for Irving, who is averaging 24.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field, 40.7% from three-point range and 90.1% from the free throw line in 42 games this season.

• 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. Anthony Davis (groin) will be out for a month. 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

Overtime Thoughts