Jazz Fined $500K By NBA; Pacers Docked $100K
The Jazz have been fined $500K for “conduct detrimental to the league” related to Utah’s games on February 7 (at Orlando) and Feb. 9 (at Miami), the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
Star forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. sat out the entire fourth quarter of both of those contests, even though the league says they were “otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt.” Utah was up seven points entering the fourth quarter against Orlando and wound up losing by three; on Monday, the team was up three points entering the final period and won by four.
Jackson, whom the Jazz recently acquired in a trade with Memphis, will undergo season-ending surgery for a growth on his knee over the All-Star break. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Jazz wanted to shut Jackson down when they discovered the issue in his physical, but the former Defensive Player of the Year was “adamant” about his desire to play at least one home game before the procedure.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports has heard similarly, stating (via Twitter) that Jackson wanted to play a few games with the Jazz prior to undergoing surgery, which O’Connor calls preventive.
Sources tell Jones that Jackson was on a restriction of 25 minutes, which is one reason why he didn’t play in the fourth quarter of either of those games. Of course, even if that’s true, it doesn’t explain Markkanen’s absence.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded to the fine on social media (Twitter link), posting an eye roll emoji along with, “Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …”
The Pacers, meanwhile, were fined $100K for violating the NBA’s player participation policy in relation to Indiana’s game vs. Utah on Feb. 3. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Pacers didn’t play Pascal Siakam — who is considered a “star” under the terms of the policy — and two other starters (they weren’t specifically named, but the league was likely referencing Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith). The league claims all three of those players could have suited up.
Alternatively, per the NBA, the Pacers could have sat the players in other games in a way that would have “better promoted compliance with the policy.”
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” commissioner Adam Silver said in the press release. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
Heat Notes: Jovic, Jakucionis, Herro, Health, Ware
Head coach Erik Spoelstra says Heat forward Nikola Jovic is working on his comportment when his shot isn’t falling, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. The 22-year-old has been in a season-long slump, with a subpar shooting line of just .370/.272/.687.
“It’s just something to work on and he is,” Spoelstra said of such visible exposure of fading confidence. “He’s working on it and you just want to have that strong face always throughout the course of competition. We like him shooting open shots, being aggressive offensively.
“You can’t control always whether the ball is going to go in or not. His process behind the scenes has been solid the last three weeks. He’s been putting in the time and that’s what you can control. He’s working on it, working on the strong face at all times.”
Jovic downplayed the issue, explaining that he remains internally confident despite how it might look from the outside.
“I think I’m just being true to myself,” he said. “Does it look good? Probably not. But I’m working on it. I think it’s a smart thing from them, telling me that I should maybe look better, and look better for the others, and help. So I’m just working on it. But I don’t think it’s any big issue.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Backcourt injuries have created playing time opportunities for rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who has been trending upward recently despite the team’s struggles, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The 19-year-old had 22 and 20 points earlier this week and has been extremely accurate from behind the arc this season (45.1%), though he has struggled from two-point range (30.4%). “I love Kas, man. He’s such a hard worker,” All-Star guard Norman Powell said. “I mean, he’s doing two, three workouts before shootarounds and before practice. I think the sky is the limit for him, just his approach, his mentality. He’s very mature for his age. He’s very focused and very locked in. I think it shows. He’s been put into the starting lineup when guys have been hurt. He’s been able to play and showcase his ability and why this organization loves him so much. I’m really excited for him.”
- Spoelstra was asked on Wednesday if Tyler Herro (rib injury) would return after the All-Star break, Winderman tweets. “He will be back. Yes, for sure,” Spoelstra said. “I don’t have a timeline exactly of when that will be. We’ll see. We’ll see how he progresses.”
- Miami remains confident that it can recapture the form that led to a 14-7 start to the season, rather than the 15-20 stretch which has proceeded it, according to Chiang. Spoelstra was quick to point out that injuries have been a factor in the team’s inconsistency. “You just look at our defense, our defense is improving,” Spoelstra said. “It’s getting better, we’re third or fourth, depending on the metric you look at. It’s the same thing with our offense. The efficiency isn’t exactly where we need it to be, but we can explode on teams. We’re fourth in scoring. It’s a matter of doing it in those moments of truth when it really matters to push a win. Offensively, I think when we get our guys back, I think we’re going to be a really dangerous offensive team. We can be fourth in the league in scoring with large parts of our rosters on the sideline. Just wait until we get our guys back into the fold.”
- As Winderman notes, Spoelstra has been critical of second-year center Kel’el Ware multiple times this season, particularly after a December loss to Boston. It’s a small sample size, but Ware has fared better in two-big lineups alongside Bam Adebayo recently. “And I appreciate that,” Spoelstra said after Wednesday night’s win. “I also appreciate Kel’el’s process the last three weeks or a month, since whenever that game was, the infamous postgame quote. But his process really improved and you’re going to go through stretches where it’s up and down. But he just came in every day since then, just trying to work on getting better in the shootarounds and practices and film sessions. And it’s translating to the court. It doesn’t always guarantee that it will. But I appreciate his approach of late.”
Hornets Notes: Knueppel, LaMelo, Improved Play, More
While his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg has received more media attention, No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel continues to thrive for the Hornets, writes Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. Knueppel, a 6’6″ wing, is one of the top shooters in the NBA as a 20-year-old rookie, averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .484/.431/.902 shooting in 54 games (32.1 minutes per contest).
Knueppel, who has won all three of the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards thus far in 2025/26, points to Charlotte’s defensive turnaround as the main factor in the team winning 10 of its past 11 games, Fowler notes.
“I really think just defensively, our attention to detail and our competitiveness on that end,” Knueppel said. “We’re a pretty good offensive team. … But I think the biggest reason is just our change of mindset a little bit on the defensive end.”
Here’s more from Charlotte:
- As Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes, LaMelo Ball has played a major role in the Hornets’ surge up the standings by being healthy (he has appeared in 29 consecutive games) and showing growth in terms of leadership and maturity. Head coach Charles Lee challenged Ball on Wednesday after the star point guard had some defensive lapses in the first half against Atlanta, and the 24-year-old responded with some key stops down the stretch. “Yeah, and by challenge, it’s not like you go at him, but definitely just try to make him aware,” Lee said. “Atlanta’s game plan, it seemed like they were trying to put him in almost every action. And so to make him aware of it, to let him see the plays in our film session of how they’re trying to attack him … And then for him to step up, I thought was big time. It just shows he continues to grow to be the consistent competitor trying to impact winning any way he possibly can, even at the end of the game. … So, just a super mature adjustment by him on both ends of the floor.”
- Veteran guard/forward Pat Connaughton has witnessed Ball’s development over the course of the season, Boone adds. “I just see the maturity level growing,” Connaughton said. “I see his belief in not just his own abilities, but the abilities of the team. And then not just the abilities of the team, but what he’s capable of. He also knows he’s got four guys that are going to be playing with him and when he moves the basketball, it’s going to come back.”
- The Hornets improved to 26-29 on Wednesday despite missing starters Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who were suspended four games apiece for their roles in a Monday fight. Lee says the Hornets, who are currently the No. 9 seed in the East, will reflect on the their recent success over the All-Star break with an eye on the future. “With 27 games to go, we’ve built this mindset, we’ve built some resolve, we’ve built an identity — I really, truly believe,” Lee said, per Boone. “And so, as they get a day or two to let their bodies recover, think about what we want to accomplish when we come back here. And I think I know the answer, but it’s the perfect time to reflect on everything we’ve done, and then figure how we can stay hungry and take advantage of a couple of days to rest and recover.”
Thunder’s Nikola Topic Available To Make NBA Debut Thursday
Nikola Topic is not on the Thunder‘s injury report for Thursday’s game vs. Milwaukee, which means he’ll be active to potentially make his NBA regular season debut, notes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (subscriber link).
The 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Topic missed the entire 2024/25 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The Serbian point guard participated in 2025 Summer League, training camp, and part of the preseason, prior to being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Topic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, announced at the beginning of January that his client had successfully completed chemotherapy to treat his cancer. Topic made his G League debut on Monday and played in the second of a back-to-back on Tuesday, averaging 14.5 points, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steal on .588/.556/.667 shooting in 17.9 minutes per game.
As Martinez writes, Topic will likely be on a minutes restriction on Thursday, but there’s a decent chance he could play with the Thunder shorthanded; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (hamstring strain) and Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain, left ankle sprain) are all injured.
More importantly, Thursday represents a significant milestone in the 20-year-old’s recovery from a serious illness.
And-Ones: Wilson, 2026 Draft, Cunningham, Summer League
North Carolina star Caleb Wilson has been diagnosed with a fracture in his left hand, the school announced in a press release. A timeline for the freshman big man’s return has not yet been established.
Wilson, who sustained the injury in the first half of Tuesday’s loss at Miami (FL), has been one of the most productive players in college basketball, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game across 24 appearances.
A 19-year-old forward/center, Wilson is ranked No. 4 on the latest big board from Jeremy Woo of ESPN. According to Woo, while the consensus top three prospects for the 2026 draft continue to be Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer, some talent evaluators believe Wilson has a chance to be selected in the top three, depending on how things shake out over the next handful of months.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- The three biggest risers among Woo’s top 25 prospects are Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (No. 6; was No. 25), Arizona guard Brayden Burries (No. 17; was No. 41) and Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson (No. 19; was No. 38). As for players trending in the opposite direction, Woo points to Arizona forward/center Koa Peat (No. 16; was No. 8) and Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance (No. 18; was No. 9). As Woo explains, while Peat has several positive attributes, there are question marks about his shooting, rim protection and size. Quaintance, meanwhile, has been shut down indefinitely due to knee swelling after tearing his ACL last March.
- Pistons star Cade Cunningham has purchased a minority stake in the Texas Rangers, he tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The former No. 1 overall pick, who will make his second consecutive All-Star appearance this weekend, is a native of Arlington, Texas, where the MLB is based.
- The primary Summer League event will be held in Las Vegas again this year, the NBA announced on Wednesday (via Twitter). The games will be held from July 9-19.
Thunder’s Jalen Williams Reinjures Right Hamstring
Jalen Williams excelled in his second game back from a leg injury but apparently didn’t come away unscathed.
The Thunder‘s second-leading scorer aggravated the same injury that sidelined him for 10 games, Tim MacMahon of ESPN tweets. Williams will be reevaluated after the All-Star break.
Williams sat out 10 games due to a right hamstring strain. He made a strong comeback on Monday, posting 23 points in 24 minutes against the Lakers. Williams was even more effective on Wednesday, racking up 28 points, five assists and four rebounds in just 20 minutes as Oklahoma City blew out Phoenix.
The 2025 All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selection has been limited to 26 games this season, averaging 17.5 points, 5.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 29 minutes per contest.
Dillon Brooks To Serve One-Game Suspension
Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul, according to the league office.
Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.
Brooks received his most recent technical foul with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter of the Suns’ 136-109 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. Brooks will serve his suspension Feb. 19 when the Suns play at San Antonio in their first game after the All-Star break.
The Lakers’ Luka Doncic (13), the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart (12) and the Warriors’ Draymond Green (11) are the other players in double digits in technicals this season. Stewart is currently serving a seven-game suspension for his participation in the Pistons-Hornets brawl this week.
Players’ technical foul counts reset when the postseason begins.
Jeremy Sochan Plans To Join Knicks After Clearing Waivers
Fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan plans to join the Knicks once he clears waivers, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
The Knicks have an open roster spot and made some moves prior to the trade deadline to create additional flexibility below their second-apron hard cap. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out (Twitter link), New York went from roughly $148K below the second apron to $1.15MM last week, giving the team room to sign Sochan for the prorated veteran minimum and remain under the apron.
Since Sochan was waived well before the March 1 deadline for playoff eligibility, he’ll be able to suit up in the postseason for his new team. He’ll be a free agent again after the season.
Sochan was placed on waivers on Wednesday by mutual agreement with the Spurs. According to Charania, 10 teams were interested in signing him following the waiver procedure. He had an expiring $7.1MM salary, which makes it highly unlikely he’ll be claimed on Friday.
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Sochan had fallen out of San Antonio’s rotation since December and was viewed as a change-of-scenery candidate ahead of last week’s trade deadline. The club reportedly gave his representatives permission to explore a potential move leading up to February 5. The Knicks were one of the teams who were said to be interested in trading for him.
Sochan made 149 starts and averaged 27.3 minutes per game in his first three seasons with the Spurs, contributing 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest during that time.
He could provide depth for the Knicks at a number of positions and his defensive prowess could come in handy during the playoffs. Sochan’s main weakness is his outside shooting — he has made just 28.7% of his career three-pointers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Won’t Play In All-Star Contest; Fox Chosen As Replacement
Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, according to the Bucks (Twitter link).
The news comes as no surprise, since the star forward hasn’t played since suffering a right calf strain on Jan. 23. Antetokounmpo was chosen to play for World Team in the new three-team format.
Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has been selected by commissioner Adam Silver as his replacement, the league announced (Twitter link), but Fox won’t join the World Team. Rather, he’ll play for the USA Stripes group while the Heat‘s Norman Powell will be reassigned to the World Team. Powell has ties to Jamaica.
According to the Bucks, Antetokounmpo will help coach the All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday and then cheer on his World teammates on Sunday. The perennial All-Star, who is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season, had been the subject of trade rumors leading up last week’s deadline.
His availability to Milwaukee, which currently sits 12th in the Eastern Conference, is another matter of intrigue. The Bucks could make a push for a play-in spot when he’s ready to go but it’s also possible they may limit his availability or even shut him down in order to improve their lottery chances.
Fox will be making his second All-Star appearance — his first came in 2023 with Sacramento. The veteran guard is averaging 19.4 points, 6.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.0 minutes per game while appearing in 45 contests.
He’ll give San Antonio, the team sitting in second place in the West, another All-Star representative along with Victor Wembanyama. The Stripes team will be coached by the Spurs’ Mitch Johnson.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 2/12/2026
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the new-look Cavaliers, the Hornets' surge and Charles Lee's Coach of the Year chances, the NBA's options to limit tanking, whether Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard is more likely to be traded and more!
