Top Stories

• #1 seed in the West takes down the #1 seed in the East

• Kings win their 8th game of their last 10

• Jimmy to return to Heat

• NBA All Star 2025 voting is live!

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Games of the day

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

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points and eight assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 in a matchup of teams with the best records in the NBA. The Western Conference-leading Thunder and the East-leading Cavaliers now have matching 34-6 records. The Cavaliers won the first meeting 129-122 on Jan. 8. In the rematch, the Thunder handed the Cavaliers their worst loss of the season. Lu Dort scored a season-high 22 points and Jalen Williams added 19 for Oklahoma City, which won its fourth straight. Darius Garland had 20 points and nine assists for Cleveland, and Jarrett Allen added 13 points. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland’s top scorer, was held to eight points on 3-for-15 shooting. The Cavaliers led 12-10 before Oklahoma City took over. The Thunder closed the first quarter on a 22-2 run to take a 32-14 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the opening period. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points in a three-minute stretch late in the first half to help the Thunder take a 75-49 lead at the break. The Thunder matched a season high for points in a quarter with 44 in the third to take a 119-81 lead.

Dejounte Murray scored 30 points, Trey Murphy III had a controversial block of Spencer Dinwiddie's layup for the lead with 4 seconds left and the New Orleans Pelicans outlasted the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks 119-116. Murphy had 24 points and 10 rebounds, capped by game-sealing free throws with 2 seconds left, but video replays made his block look more like a goaltend that wasn't called. The ball appeared to hit the glass before Murphy touched it, but the Mavs were out of timeouts and could not challenge. Javonte Green added 13 points to help New Orleans (10-32) take its third victory in four games after winning just five of its first 33. Daniel Gafford scored a career-high 27 points on 12-of-13 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for Dallas, which played without top two scorers Luka Doncic (left calf) and Kyrie Irving (back), as well as usual starting center Dereck Lively (right ankle). The Pelicans played without Zion Williamson (left hamstring), who was rested after playing Tuesday night in Chicago. Jaden Hardy scored 21 points and Dinwiddie finished with 20 points for Dallas (22-19), which has lost three straight and eight of 10.

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League News

Around the League

• Jimmy Butler is expected to play for Miami again tonight when they host the Denver Nuggets , a game that would be his first since the Heat confirmed that he wants a trade and that they are trying to accommodate that request. Butler was suspended by the Heat for their most recent seven games, the team citing conduct that they deemed detrimental to the team. Miami went 3-4 in those contests. And when the suspension was issued, it wasn’t clear if Butler would play for Miami ever again. But with no trade in place, and evidently without one in the foreseeable future, either, the Heat did not list Butler on their injury report for the game with the Nuggets. If he’s not on that list, it means the Heat expect Butler to play. Butler was not with the team on its six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland and then Los Angeles for games against both the Clippers and Lakers. The Heat did not practice Thursday and were planning a walk-through Friday afternoon before the Denver 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. Chet Holmgren (hip) suffered a fracture and will be out 6-8 weeks. 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. Franz Wagner (oblique) has a tear and will be out at least 4 weeks. Luka Doncic (calf) will be out at least 2 weeks. Larry Nance Jr (hand) will be out indefinitely after surgery. Jared McCain (torn meniscus) 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.

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NBA MVP Ladder

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 31.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals

His case: What a remarkable past few weeks, past month and season for Gilgeous-Alexander. He came close to beating both the defending champion Celtics and East-leading Cavaliers this past week. Both games were thrillers and he played very well.

There’s nothing more Gilgeous-Alexander could do to overtake Jokić than that. If anything, the gauntlet has been thrown and the bigger question is whether Gilgeous-Alexander can fend off Jokić, who will not go quietly, from this point forward. This race will be fascinating to watch, and fun, too.

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 31.5 points, 13 rebounds, 9.7 assists

His case: Before missing a pair of games with illness, The Joker had back-to-back stunning 40-pieces against the likely front-runner for Kia Defensive Player of the Year (and fellow Kia MVP Ladder rung-holder), Victor Wembanyama.

Jokić remains a high-level consistent performer for the Nuggets, and if Denver has finally turned the corner on their season, which appears to be the case, then he’ll have another strong case for a fourth MVP.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 31.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists

His case: Antetokounmpo has been a bit slow to return from knee issues that flared right after the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game, but his B-game is better than many other players’ A-games.

He outclassed Wembanyama in their Wednesday matchup — his iso-defense on Wemby was a much-replayed highlight — which proved that Anteokounmpo can rise to the occasion no matter the opponent.

4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 25.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4 blocks

His case: He went for 35 points and 18 rebounds and then 20 points and 23 rebounds the next night against the former No. 1 player on the ladder. Those games against the Jokić stamped Wembanyama as a serious candidate.

Upcoming is a pair against Anthony Davis and the Lakers, which means Wembanyama once again will be tested by one of the league’s best big men. The good news is Wembanyama seems up to the challenge and desires to measure himself against All-Stars and MVPs, because he sees himself in their class one day — if he isn’t already there.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 28.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists

His case: He remains a steady presence on the ladder because of his consistency, durability and impact. There’s no question Tatum is why the Celtics enjoy a high view in the East, even with their depth.

That said, Tatum slipped on the Ladder this week because when the lights were bright in Oklahoma City, he was outplayed by Gilgeous-Alexander. His block of a Tatum fourth-quarter layup proved to be the momentum-changer.

The Next 5:

6. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

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Fantasy Leaders

SGA and JDub are the latest teammates in the Top 3

Overtime Thoughts