All articles tagged with #top stories
Cade Cunningham returned from a collapsed lung with 13 points and 10 assists in 26 minutes, helping the Pistons to a 137-111 win over the Bucks. Detroit clinched the East’s No. 1 seed and the Central Division, but Cunningham’s 64-game total may fall short of the NBA’s 65-game threshold for seasonal awards, potentially affecting his All-NBA chances.
The NBA Board of Governors voted to authorize formal exploration of adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, hiring PJT Partners to assess markets, ownership, arena infrastructure, and broader economic implications, with Commissioner Adam Silver signaling openness to interested parties and updates as the process progresses.
Jayson Tatum returned from his Achilles injury to lead the Boston Celtics in his 2025-26 season debut, finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in a win over the Dallas Mavericks, signaling a potential shift in Eastern Conference power dynamics as Celtics teammates and coaching staff praised the resilience and depth that could carry them into the playoffs, while questions about return tempo and durability linger.
The Boston Celtics expect Jayson Tatum to make his 2025-26 season debut in Friday’s home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks, with his status upgraded to questionable and a final decision forthcoming after months of Achilles rehab.
Trae Young is set to make his Washington Wizards debut on Thursday after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks in January. He posted a Wizards workout with “3/5” and is expected to play about 17–20 minutes, mostly in the first half, in a home game against Utah (7 ET, League Pass). Young recently played 10 games for Atlanta before knee and quadriceps injuries sidelined him, and Washington acquired him in the January deal for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a right calf strain to post 19 points and 11 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 108-81 loss to Boston, his first game back after missing 15. He was on a minutes restriction as the Bucks integrate him back into a playoff-push lineup that’s trying to climb into the Play-In field after a stretch without him.
With under two months left in the regular season, NBA.com highlights six teams—Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs—as the contenders for the league’s best, each with distinct strengths and drawbacks: Celtics benefit from Jaylen Brown’s breakout and strong coaching while awaiting Jayson Tatum’s return; Cavaliers rely on Donovan Mitchell with Harden’s addition to unlock Mobley/Allen; Nuggets boast a high ceiling despite injuries and defensive concerns; Pistons feature Cade Cunningham in MVP-territory and a stingy defense; Thunder stay deep and balanced with Shai leading; Spurs ride Victor Wembanyama and a versatile supporting cast. No obvious frontrunner yet as the stretch run unfolds.
Indiana Pacers reach a deal to acquire center Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers, sending Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, plus two future first-round picks and a future second-round pick, to L.A.; Kobe Brown also goes to Indiana. Zubac, a 29-year-old double‑double threat and top rebounder, provides Indiana frontcourt impact as Mathurin, a 23-year-old guard, has been posting career-best scoring and 3‑point shooting numbers. The swap marks a midseason reshaping for both teams amid Indiana’s rebuild and the Clippers’ post-Harden shift.
Charlotte started by trading Tyus Jones to Orlando for cash and two second-round picks, then reportedly moved Jones to Dallas for Malaki Branham, sending Branham to Charlotte as Jones heads to the Mavericks; the Hornets have been active at the deadline with other moves (Coby White, Mike Conley Jr., Ousmane Dieng) amid Jones’ modest season numbers.
The Golden State Warriors acquire Kristaps Porziņģis from Atlanta in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, sending Kuminga and Hield to the Hawks while Porziņģis provides the Warriors with a veteran frontcourt presence; Kuminga has been dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, and Porziņģis has battled health issues this season.
Veteran guard Chris Paul is headed to the Toronto Raptors as part of a three-team deal with the LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets. Toronto receives Paul, Brooklyn acquires Ochai Agbaji and a 2032 second-round pick, and the Clippers obtain the rights to Vanja Marinković. Paul, 40, plans to retire after this season and could be moved again before the trade deadline; the deal also affects roster and tax considerations, and Paul will not be required to report to Toronto immediately.
Charlotte Hornets reportedly reach a three‑team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire guards Coby White and Mike Conley Jr., sending Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three future second‑round picks to Chicago/OKC, and Mason Plumlee to OKC; Dieng will be routed to Chicago after the Thunder move. White, Chicago’s leading scorer at 18.6 ppg, and veteran Conley will join Charlotte, which has been on a seven‑game streak, as part of the Trade Deadline shuffle.
The Boston Celtics are trading for Nikola Vučević from the Chicago Bulls in a deal that sends guard Anfernee Simons to Chicago, plus second-round picks. Vučević will immediately slot in as Boston’s starter at center, boosting the frontline for the playoff push and providing financial flexibility as both players head into free agency this summer.
With the Feb. 5 deadline looming, several high-profile moves have been reported: Nikola Vučević is headed to the Celtics from the Bulls; Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić are joining the Pistons in a three-team swap that also sends Mike Conley and Jaden Ivey to the Bulls and includes a 2026 first-round swap to Minnesota; Jaren Jackson Jr. is traded from Memphis to the Jazz; Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis are headed to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal involving Sacramento and Chicago; and Vít Krejčí is moving from Atlanta to Portland.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will miss at least three weeks with a sprained left ulna collateral ligament (UCL) in his elbow after Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, with re-evaluation planned in about three weeks. Morant has appeared in 20 of Memphis's 43 games this season, averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds amid trade speculation.