Top Stories

• Trae drops 30/20 on LA

• Celtics beat Bucks in thriller

• Ant gets the Wolves on track against GSW

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Games of the day

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

Trae Young hit a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left in overtime and the Atlanta Hawks held on for their sixth straight win, beating the slumping Los Angeles Lakers 134-132. Young scored 31 points to offset a huge night by the Lakers' Big Two. LeBron James scored 39 points and Anthony Davis had 38, but it wasn't enough to prevent Los Angeles from taking its third straight loss and seventh defeat in nine games. James had a chance to win it for the Lakers, but his long 3-pointer clanked off the rim. With the score tied at 119, the Hawks had the final possession of regulation. Young’s 3-pointer was blocked by Max Christie and James collided with Davis going for the loose ball, sending the 39-year-old to a knee in pain. After hobbling to the bench, James was back on the court for overtime.

Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Bucks 111-105 in Khris Middelton's season debut for Milwaukee. Jaylen Brown added 25 points as the Celtics made 17 3-pointers to earn their 10th victory in 11 games. Damian Lillard finished with 31 points for Milwaukee, which has lost two straight since winning a season-best seven in a row. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30 points and 11 rebounds on his 30th birthday. Middleton had 11 points and five assists in 23 minutes after missing the Bucks’ first 21 games while recovering from offseason ankle surgeries. Boston led 107-102 after a floater by Jrue Holiday when Brown was whistled for a foul on a 3-point attempt by Middleton, who hit all three free throws. Two free throws by Holiday put Boston ahead 109-105. Antetokounmpo then turned it over, leading to a layup by Al Horford.

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League News

Around the League

• Anthony Edwards had 30 points and nine assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 107-90 in the first of two games between the teams this weekend. Stephen Curry returned for Golden State after sitting out a victory over Houston a night earlier resting his sore knees. He scored 23 points. Curry's 3-pointer with 10:38 remaining cut it to 80-77, but the Warriors again struggled to take care of the ball and make key stops. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves, who stay in town to play again Sunday at Chase Center. Draymond Green also played after missing Thursday because of tightness in his left calf. Green, who has played with the second unit at times when coach Steve Kerr wants a veteran on the floor, 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He picked up his seventh technical this season. The Timberwolves held a 27-19 rebounding advantage in the first half on the way to a 56-46 lead at the break.

• Injury Updates: Kawhi Leonard (knee) is out indefinitely, and his recovery might “take longer than expected” according to the team. 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. Paolo Banchero (oblique) has a tear and will be out indefinitely, and re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks. Isaiah Jackson (achilles) will be out for the season. Jeremy Sochan (thumb) underwent surgery to repair a fracture and will be out indefinitely. Aaron Gordon (hamstring) will miss multiple weeks. Zion Williamson (hamstring) will be out multiple weeks. Chet Holmgren (hip) suffered a fracture and will be out 8-10 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. LaMelo Ball (calf) will be out at least 2 weeks. We wish all these guys speedy and successful recoveries.

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NBA MVP Ladder

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last Ladder: No. 1
Season stats: 29.9 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 10.4 apg

His case: The Nuggets are feast or famine with and without the Joker on the floor. That was always the case for much of the last four years, but it is more striking now — Denver’s offensive rating is dead last in the NBA without him and No. 1 with him, same for team field goal percentage.

He’s the only player in the league in the top five in scoring, rebounds and assists, and he also leads the Nuggets in steals. His defense, never as bad as often suggested, is better this season.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last Ladder: No. 4
Season stats: 32.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 6.6 apg

His case: He’s on an efficient and productive tear that confirms his place among the NBA greats. With a decision to swap the 3-point shot for the mid-range, Giannis’ shot selection is better and reflected in his 61.6% marksmanship.

He’s among the league’s double-double leaders while applying his usual presence on the defensive end. Giannis is averaging more rebounds than Anthony Davis, more assists than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and more points than anyone.

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last Ladder: No. 2
Season stats: 28.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5.6 apg

His case: Until Wednesday when he missed his first game of the season, Tatum was an ironman while the Celtics saw absences from Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown and even Derrick White. He nearly took down the top-ranked Cavaliers without Brown and White, missing a bunny shot in the final minute. He still leads the defending champs in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals.

In addition to the Friday showdown with the rising Bucks and Giannis, Tatum has another star matchup Saturday with the equally rising Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Ladder: No. 5
Season stats: 29.8 ppg, 6.5 apg, 5.4 rpg

His case: He’s coming off another steady and consistent week which has been his trademark all season, actually. Shai is an automatic 25-30 points on 50% shooting each night, with decent playmaking and closing skills. Book it.

Next Tuesday he’ll face the Mavericks and Luka Dončić. This will be an interesting checkpoint because the Mavs bounced Shai and the top-seeded Thunder from the playoffs last spring in six games. Shai was solid in that series (30 or more points in five games) but didn’t rise to the level of Luka (or Kyrie Irving).

5. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Last Ladder: Honorable mention
Season stats: 25.2 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 3.0 apg

His case: A hearty top-five welcome to KAT, who’s a difference maker so far for the Knicks, and most nights he’s their go-to guy in big moments. He’s also back at center full-time — he played power forward next to Rudy Gobert in Minnesota the last few seasons — and has the power results to back it up.

Towns leads all East centers in scoring and is averaging a career-high 13.2 rebounds. Oh, and he hasn’t neglected the deep shot, currently at 45%. The Knicks started 5-6; then KAT got comfortable in his new skin and they’ve gone 9-2 since.

The Next 5:

6. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
8. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
9. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

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Fantasy Leaders

Ayo drops a triple double to take the top spot

Overtime Thoughts