Top Stories

• JJJ hits game winner vs Spurs

• Pelicans crush Heat

• Cavs are dangerous despite injuries

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Games of the day

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

Once again Wemby did everything in his power to get the Spurs a win, but they fell short again. He finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 3 blocks. Devin Vassell added 27 and some clutch shots down the stretch. Jaren Jackson Jr had 28 points, including the game winner with just 2 seconds to go. Wemby had a shot to win it from nearly halfcourt at the buzzer, but the attempt didn’t even draw iron. This game means literally nothing except possibly moving the lottery odds, cause both teams are nowhere near the playoff race.

The Heat got blown out by New Orleans in a game where Zion scored just 4 points, but CJ McCollum dropped 30. Last time these two teams faced off, Jimmy Butler and Naji Marshall got into it, and Jimmy’s postgame comments, guaranteeing Miami would win the next matchup, did not hold up today. The Pelicans likely used it as fuel, as even without Brandon Ingram and Zion having a 4/5/4 statline, New Orleans still won by 23. Jimmy only managed to score 17 points, as he continues to not take the regular season seriously. Miami will need him to turn into playoff Jimmy sooner rather than later though, as they’re currently in the Play-In as the 7th seed.

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League News

Around the League

• Jalen Green and Jalen Brunson have been named Players of The Week for Week 21.

• The Cavaliers, despite constant injuries to 3 of their 4 best players, are continually finding ways to win. Despite the loss to the Wolves last night, they’re sitting at the #3 seed with a 1 game lead on Orlando, while only being 2 games out of catching Milwaukee at 2nd. Jarrett Allen has been the most consistent and available player for Cleveland, playing in 64 of a possible 70 games so far this year. Donovan Mitchell has only played in 49, Darius Garland has played in 45, and Evan Mobley has played in 38. When all 4 are healthy however, they have a top 5 offense and defense, so they can be a real threat to anyone if they’re firing on all cylinders. The question remains, with 12 games left, will the Cavs get healthy and make a run? And if this is another disappointing ending to a season, does Donovan Mitchell resign or move on in free agency?

• Injury Updates: Brandon Ingram (knee) will miss at least 2 weeks. 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 likely 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. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) underwent surgery and will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. Evan Mobley (ankle) will miss at least one more week. Josh Richardson (shoulder) had surgery and will be out for the season. Russell Westbrook (hand) underwent surgery and is expected back by next week. Scottie Barnes (hand) underwent surgery and will be out 3 weeks. Trae Young (hand) had surgery and will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) will miss “several weeks”. Joel Embiid (torn meniscus) will be out for 1-2 months. Julius Randle (shoulder) will be out 1-2 more weeks. Marcus Smart (finger) will be out 1 more week. Gabe Vincent (knee) will be out at least 1 more week. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) underwent surgery and will be out 2-3 weeks. 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 Moves

• Tom Thibodeau is close to an extension with the Knicks. 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. There are a few younger names on the market, like Kevin Porter Jr and Darius Bazley.

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NBA MVP Race

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 9 apg

His case: Maybe Jokic does have eyes in the back of his head. As long as the 29-year-old keeps dropping triple-doubles like the one orchestrated Thursday in a quality win over the Knicks, he’ll remain so far ahead of the field he won’t be able to see it in the rearview anyway.

The 30-14-11 performance against New York, snapped the Knicks’ four-game winning streak and came on the heels of a 35-point, 16-rebound gem in a gritty road win at Minnesota.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 30.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.4 apg

His case: Extended his franchise record of 30-point games on Wednesday to 50 (an NBA-high) with 31 points against Utah. The 25-year-old scored 20 of those points in the second half, as Oklahoma City captured its third-straight win and 13th in its last 16 outings.

A three-game road trip starting Friday at Toronto, followed by matchups at Milwaukee and New Orleans which should test the young team’s mettle as it fights to stay atop the Western Conference.

T-3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

Season stats: 30.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.4 apg

His case: Antetokounmpo appears to be losing some ground after missing two games dealing with a left hamstring issue. The 29-year-old returned Thursday and contributed to Milwaukee’s 115-108 win against Brooklyn.

He scored 21 points with nine rebounds and five assists in the victory. But the Bucks are currently riding the hot hand of Damian Lillard, who has averaged 31 points and 11.3 assists over the team’s last three outings.

T-3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

Season stats: 34.1 ppg, 9 rpg, 9.8 apg

His case: Doncic produced perhaps the ugliest triple-double of the season Tuesday in San Antonio, shooting 6 of 27 against the NBA’s 28th-rated defense. But this is all about winning, and the 25-year-old keeps delivering on that front.

Doncic scored 34 points with nine rebounds Thursday against Utah to push Dallas into sixth in the West. He just needs to maintain the momentum. Doncic needs just four more 30-5-5 games to tie Oscar Robertson for the most such outings in a single season.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 27.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.9 apg

His case: The savvy 25-year-old put up a couple of 30-point showings this week to increase his 30-point games total to 25, which is tied for sixth in the NBA. Tatum scored 23 points in Wednesday’s first half against a shorthanded Bucks squad missing Antetokounmpo.

Of the top five MVP candidates, Tatum holds the lowest usage percentage (29.6%) outside of Jokic (28.7%). Still, you can’t discount his contributions to Boston’s double-digit game lead in the East.

THE NEXT FIVE

6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week’s ranking: No. 6)
7. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Last week’s ranking: No. 7)
8. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 8)
9. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 10)
10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last week’s ranking: unranked)

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Fantasy Leaders

Tyrese finally broke out of his slump

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.