Top Stories

• Houston continues their improved play

• Pelicans get their 10th win of the season

• Phoenix makes a trade

• NBA All Star 2025 voting is live!

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Games of the day

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

Jalen Green scored 34 points, Alperen Sengun had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 128-108. Green, who hit six 3-pointers, continued his recent scoring surge. He is averaging 32 points in Houston's last six games, including a career-best 42 points against Memphis on Monday. Fred VanVleet added 16 points, eight assists and three steals for the Rockets, who beat Denver for the fifth time in six meetings. The Nuggets were without two of their five leading scorers in reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic (right elbow inflammation) and Aaron Gordon (right calf injury). Jamal Murray and Christian Braun each scored 22 point for Denver, which had 18 turnovers in the loss, including five apiece from its starting backcourt of Murray and Russell Westbrook.

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.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

League News

Around the League

• The Hornets have agreed to trade Nick Richards and a future second-round pick to the Suns, in a deal reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Phoenix will send Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte in the exchange. The Suns deepen their depth by adding Richards, who is expected to serve as a backup center. The 7-footer is averaging 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in nine starts with the Hornets this season. Selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, Richards has spent his 4-year career in Charlotte. Okogie has appeared in 25 games for the Suns this season with one start. The 27-year-old guard is averaging 6.0 points and 3.0 assists in 2024-25.

• 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. 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.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

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

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Fantasy Leaders

Mark Williams makes his Top 3 debut

Overtime Thoughts