Warriors Notes: Porzingis, Kerr, Green, Seth Curry
Kristaps Porzingis has been cleared to play for the Warriors in Tuesday’s matchup against the Bulls, ESPN’s Anthony Slater writes. This will be his third appearance for Golden State since being acquired in the Jonathan Kuminga trade.
After playing 17 minutes on February 19, in which he scored 12 points on five-of-nine shooting, the Latvian big man missed the next six games before returning on Saturday, scoring nine points with five assists and five rebounds in the loss to the Thunder.
Porzingis has been struggling with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) since last season. He spoke recently about getting cleared to play and his belief that he’ll be more available for the rest of the season than he has been to this point, though he understands fans’ skepticism given his inconsistent playing status.
Draymond Green and De’Anthony Melton are questionable for tonight’s game.
We have more from the Warriors:
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr has once again called for a shortening of the NBA season, according to the writers at ESPN. “I know this will not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it because it’s obvious we need to play fewer games — we need to take 10 games off the schedule,” said Kerr. “I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games.” Kerr, who coaches the oldest roster in the league by average age, understands that the financial implications of such a change would be steep, but believes the benefits outweigh the costs.
- Green knows that his skillset is not one of a typical NBA star, which is why he considers his brain his biggest superpower on the court, Taylor Wirth writes for NBC Sports. “The reason I say I don’t think anyone can be me, is because, yes I [play hard, physical defense], but it’s not the best thing that I do,” Green said. “I think I’m as smart as anyone in the NBA, and that’s my best skill.” Green had previously gone viral for seemingly self-effacing comments regarding players’ parents comparing their kids to him. “I know what you’re getting at,” Green said. “… I get it, but I’m here to tell you, your son don’t stand a chance at making it.”
- Seth Curry suited up for the Warriors for the first time since December and was very productive, scoring 13 points in 12 minutes while adding three assists. It was such an effective performance that his opponent, Jazz guard Elijah Harkless, turned to him for advice, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic, who says Harkless asked: “How you come in and make shots right away?” While the Warriors still lost to the tanking Jazz, the return felt important to Curry, given what he’s been through this season. “There was like a month where I really couldn’t move,” said Curry. “I was just laying at home. And then once the pain went away I was able to rehab and try to get all my movement back, but it’s been tough … I just had a minor pain in my back, it got worse, worse, and then it just hit its tipping point.”
Knicks Notes: Bridges, Clarkson, Diawara, Turnovers
Mikal Bridges has been an iron man in terms of availability for the Knicks, but has struggled at times with his offensive consistency. This was exemplified in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, a game where Bridges went scoreless for the first time this season and the third time since joining the team last year, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
Bridges says that while the offensive stats stood out, the reason behind them was on the defensive side.
“Being in foul trouble takes me away from being out there to try to help my team win,” Bridges said. “I’ve got to be better, starting off the game fouling a shooter from three.”
Bridges had hoped Monday’s game against the Clippers could serve as a bounce-back opportunity, but the team lost again, and Bridges once again struggled to impact the game offensively, putting up seven points on eight shots. The lone starter not to score in double digits, he didn’t make a shot until midway through the second quarter.
However, head coach Mike Brown had his starter’s back after the game, according to Bondy.
“He’s human and he’s going to have some nights (when he struggles to shoot),” Brown said. “His track record shows that he can go get it done. It’s not anything I’m concerned about or I’m looking at. And like I said, when he does have nights like that, how else can you impact the game, and he’s shown that he can do that.”
We have more from the Knicks:
- With his team struggling to put together any offensive rhythm against the Lakers, Brown turned to Jordan Clarkson in the fourth quarter. Clarkson played 10 minutes, the most since February 11, and scored nine points on four shots. “He’s a guy we can lean on. He can put the ball in the hole,” said Brown, as relayed by Bondy. “We were struggling to do that. So I threw him out there to see if we can mix it up. He definitely helped us. But it was too big of a deficit.” Clarkson will face off against the Jazz, with whom he played for five and a half seasons, on Wednesday, but is unsure what reaction he will receive, or what he will feel himself, Mark Medina writes in an interview for Essentially Sports. “I don’t know what my emotions are going to be,” Clarkson said. “I’m going to try to keep my cool.” While Clarkson’s role has changed with the Knicks, he has stayed ready and his teammates have appreciated his attention to detail and professionalism. “Being a teammate of his has been great,” Jalen Brunson said. “Being able to talk to him all the time and consistently has been great for me. I love him and everything that he’s done.“
- Mohamed Diawara grew up hearing all about the Clippers’ Nicolas Batum, another lanky French forward who could shoot and pass well for his size, Bondy writes in a separate piece. On Monday, the Knicks’ rookie got the first poster dunk of his career, and it just so happened to be on his fellow Frenchman. “I was just driving and dunked the ball and fortunately (Batum) was there,” Diawara said. “… Funny to see that. My first dunk — my first poster — was against him.” Diawara ended the game with five points, four rebounds, and two assists.
- Brown was frustrated by what he calls “self-inflicted wounds,” especially on the offensive end, as the Knicks lost their two games in Los Angeles, Kristian Winfield writes for the New York Daily News. New York turned the ball over 19 times against the Lakers and 20 against the Clippers, showing an offense that felt largely out of sorts. “[Nineteen] turnovers on the road, and this is not a knock on [the Lakers], but they’re not gonna trap and double team and all that stuff,” Brown said after the first loss. “But we get into the paint and jump in the air and turn the ball over.” Brunson noticed similar issues on Monday, Bondy notes. “We were getting downhill and trying to make plays. But we got to be better playing off two feet obviously, playing more controlled,” Brunson said. “But (the Clippers) got a lot of guys on their team who are steal guys, who are long wingspans, play passing lanes. That’s what they do. We played to their strengths.”
Clippers’ Niederhauser Undergoes Season-Ending Foot Surgery
March 10: Niederhauser underwent surgery today, the team announced on Twitter. He is without a timetable to return, but will miss the rest of the 2025/26 season.
March 5: Rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury in his right foot and will undergo season-ending surgery, the Clippers announced on Thursday.
Niederhauser sustained the injury during Wednesday’s victory over Indiana. He had six points, four rebounds and two blocks in eight minutes during that game.
The Clippers selected Niederhauser with the 30th and final first-round pick in the 2025 draft. The Swiss big man spent time in the G League to open 2025/26, but had been playing some of his best basketball as of late, including recording 11 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals in 21 minutes during Monday’s win over Golden State.
“Yeah, he’s a game-changer,” head coach Tyronn Lue said after the game in San Francisco (story via Janis Carr of The Orange County Register). “I think his ability to roll to the basket, get offensive rebounds (is important), but the biggest thing is just defensively challenging every shot, blocking shots at the rim, but his energy was really good for us.”
According to Carr, Niederhauser said he worked on playing with more energy ahead of his rookie season, since he was criticized for being lackadaisical at times coming out of college — the 22-year-old spent two years at North Illinois prior to a breakout junior seasons with Penn State.
“I got questioned a lot for my motor,” Niederhauser said. “For a lot of people, I got questioned for that, so I took that seriously. I took that personally and worked a lot this summer during all the games.
“I played in the (G League), all the games I played here in the NBA, I was trying to go 100% and work on my motor like that. So, now every time I’m out there, I just give everything I got and that’s the way I keep working on my motor.”
Niederhauser’s debut NBA campaign will end after 41 appearances. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 10.3 minutes per game. Trade deadline addition Isaiah Jackson should continue to play an increased role with Niederhauser out.
Spurs Notes: Contender Status, Plumlee, Bryant, Ingram, Wembanyama
The Spurs have been nearly unbeatable since the start of February, and every win makes them believe their window as title contenders may already be open, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). The latest impressive performance came Sunday night against Houston as the Spurs set season highs in points (145), assists (38) and three-point shooting (52.5%) in a 25-point victory over their division rivals.
“Over the last 15, 20 games we’ve been super comfortable in every single game and given ourselves a chance to win,” Stephon Castle said. “We have nothing but confidence coming into every single game.”
At 47-17, San Antonio holds the league’s second-best record and the No. 2 spot in the West with a little more than a month left in the season. The only concern is a lack of playoff experience, but Luke Kornet sees parallels to what his former Celtics team was able to do on its way to becoming a championship team in 2024.
“The (20)22 season we went on a roll from January on and were playing a high level of basketball,” Kornet said. “It’s been a cool thing to be a part of this, especially because of how much we are growing and how young we are.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- Mason Plumlee expects to make his Spurs debut tonight against Boston, according to Tom Orsborn of The Express-News (Twitter link). The veteran center, who joined the team on a 10-day contract last month and then signed a rest-of-the-season deal, hasn’t played since undergoing groin surgery on December 31 while he was still with Charlotte. “My body feels great,” Plumlee said. “(The Spurs) had a good plan to get me back to playing shape, and I’m ready to go.”
- Rookie Carter Bryant got a chance to match up with his basketball idol when the Spurs faced Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers on Friday, per Mike Finger of The Express-News. Bryant finished with five points and three rebounds, but he made several impactful plays to help San Antonio overcome a 25-point deficit. “It gives you a different feeling,” Bryant said. “It gives you a different confidence. You walk with a different swag, you talk with a different swag. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, and it’s one of those things that gets addicting.”
- Harrison Ingram earned G League Player of the Week honors last month, but the 2024 second-round pick is more focused on getting regular playing time in the NBA, Orsborn adds in a full story. Coach Mitch Johnson envisions him as a blue-collar player who can handle some of the game’s underrated tasks. “It’s rebound, space the floor, off-ball impact, and it’s being, I wouldn’t say a dirty player, but like a Dillon Brooks sort of player,” Ingram said.
- James Jackson of The Athletic details Victor Wembanyama‘s MVP case, stating that he has one of the largest on-off differentials in the league. Coming into Sunday’s game, the Spurs had a net rating of plus-15.5 in 1,426 minutes with Wembanyama on the court and minus-0.3 in 1,603 minutes when he’s on the bench.
Luka Doncic Fined $50K By NBA
Lakers star Luka Doncic has been fined $50K for “directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official,” the NBA announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
The incident took place in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over New York after Doncic lost the ball to Knicks guard Landry Shamet. Doncic tried to draw a charge against Mohamed Diawara on the ensuing fast break, but was called for a block. While lying on his back, he rubbed his fingers together in the “money gesture” as he stared at an official (Twitter video link).
The latest infraction brings Doncic’s fine total for the season up to $95K, according to SportsNet.
Doncic has also accumulated 15 technical fouls this season, one behind league leader Dillon Brooks of Phoenix. One more technical would trigger an automatic one-game suspension and put Doncic at risk for further disciplinary action.
NBA rules state that once a player receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season, for every two additional technical fouls received during that season, he will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Thompson, White, Vucevic
After making an emotional season debut Friday night in Boston where fans celebrated his return 10 months after Achilles surgery, Jayson Tatum was relieved to get back to a normal environment Sunday at Cleveland, writes Jay King of The Athletic. Tatum remained on a minutes restriction, but he scored 20 points as the Celtics posted an emphatic win in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders.
“The other day was such a big deal, and obviously, in a home game in the city of Boston, I had a lot of family in town,” Tatum said. “Today just kind of felt like getting back in the flow of things. And that felt good for me.”
Tatum scored 12 points in the first seven minutes to help Boston build an early lead. Although he missed seven of his nine three-point attempts, he sank a clutch one with about two minutes left to play to stave off a Cleveland comeback. King notes that the Celtics were already playing well without Tatum – holding the league’s best defensive rating and second-best net rating – and have won the two games since his return by an average of 15.5 points.
“I don’t think his game has gone anywhere,” Payton Pritchard said. “I’ve seen him working on it. I think it’s more now, after not playing in a while, you’ve just got to get your flow back. Like, one-on-one reads, stuff like that.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- After Friday’s win over the Mavericks, Klay Thompson offered some advice to Tatum, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe states in a subscriber-only piece. Thompson has plenty of experience in overcoming major injuries after suffering an ACL tear during the 2019 Finals and a ruptured Achilles tendon the following year. “One of his messages was like, ‘Man, just give yourself some grace,’” Tatum said Sunday. “He said that he wished he would have given himself more grace. Obviously, being elite athletes and competitors that we are, we want it so bad. But I’m still on the road to recovery and this is just a phase of it.”
- Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson views Derrick White as a major reason that the Celtics were able to remain competitive during Tatum’s absence, per Brian Robb of MassLive. “Derrick White, he’s a top five player in this league,” Atkinson said. “I know no one says that in the standard media, but analytically, you look at all the advanced stuff, he’s top five player in the league, superstar. Jaylen [Brown] is obviously having a great year. [Neemias] Queta is analytically one of the top 30, probably. They have a lot of talent even without Jayson. So I think if you just kind of look, oh my gosh, Jayson Tatum’s out, they’re going to be terrible, I never bought into that.”
- Speaking to reporters on Sunday, coach Joe Mazzulla shared his advice for Nikola Vucevic, who will be sidelined for about a month with a fractured finger, relays Souichi Terada of MassLive. “Just stay in shape,” Mazzulla said. “Do everything he can with whatever the limitations are. He does a great job in the film room studying. Just continuing to do what he’s been doing. He’s a professional.”
Magic Notes: Black, F. Wagner, Morales, Isaac
Magic guard Anthony Black has a left lateral abdominal muscle strain, the team announced (via Twitter). Black underwent an MRI that showed the injury, and the timeline for his return will depend on his response to treatment.
Black left Saturday’s game at Minnesota after two minutes with what was originally diagnosed as a low back strain and was held out of Sunday’s contest at Milwaukee. He was fouled by Jaden McDaniels on a drive to the basket and grabbed at his back area. He briefly remained in the game before being taken to the locker room to get checked, Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel writes in a subscriber-only story.
Beede states that Black is a Most Improved Player candidate, averaging career-highs of 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals in his third NBA season.
The Magic also revealed that Franz Wagner continues to make progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain, and his return will be determined by how the ankle responds to rehab. He has only been available for 28 games this season and has made just two appearances since January 18.
There’s more from Orlando:
- The Magic are entering one of their most important stretches of the season with six of their next eight games against teams that are battling for postseason position, Beede states in a separate story. Orlando has jumped into sixth place in the East with four straight wins, and Jalen Suggs believes the team has rediscovered its identity on defense. “Especially these last couple (games), guys aren’t going on crazy runs against us,” he said. “We’re doing a really good job of keeping it to seven, six (points) and under, and then doing a great job of responding to not let them get too much momentum rolling. Top to bottom, everybody’s doing a great job right now.”
- After spending four years in the G League, Alex Morales was surprised to receive a two-way contract from the Magic last month, Beede adds in another piece. The 28-year-old point guard made his NBA debut last week. “I’m super grateful,” Morales said. “This is what you work for. I’m super appreciative for the opportunity and I’m trusting in it. So, I’m going to continue to work hard for this organization.”
- Jonathan Isaac worked out a deal with to Magic to amend his salary protection for next season, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). Isaac has an $8MM guarantee on his $14.5MM salary for 2026/27, and it becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived by June 28.
Central Notes: Portis, Giannis, Buzelis, Huerter, Strus
Appearing on the Run It Back podcast (hat tip to Real GM), Bucks forward Bobby Portis said he believes it’s an even-money proposition on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo gets dealt this summer. There were weeks of intense trade rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo heading into the deadline, and that process is likely to resume during the offseason as Milwaukee hasn’t been able to make a strong push for a play-in spot.
“Uh, I’m at a five, bro. I’m right in the middle. … For real, it’s up in the air, man,” Portis told the hosts. “Obviously, just being here, our goal just isn’t to make the play-in, right? The goal isn’t to just make the playoffs. Since I’ve been here, since 2020 during the pandemic, the goal has always been championship. So, I don’t know what that outlook is for next year. I don’t know what (general manager) Jon (Horst) and his staff are going to put together to make the roster better, make us better, so we can compete for championships next year. I don’t know that.”
Portis added that questions about Antetokounmpo’s future have been part of every summer since 2020, except for the Bucks’ championship season. He expects speculation regarding Antetokounmpo to peak heading into the draft in late June.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Matas Buzelis is close to becoming the first Bulls player to finish with 100 blocks in a season in nearly a decade, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times notes in a subscriber-only story. The second-year forward ranks seventh in the league with 94 rejections and brings a much-needed element to the team’s defense. ‘‘I’m really good at timing the block and knowing when guys will try and finish when they’re going up,’’ Buzelis said. ‘‘It’s something I feel like I’ve had since I started playing basketball. I just try and translate it to the NBA. Obviously, it’s a little harder, but you’ve got to realize what guys do when they’re driving, how they finish. I feel like I’ve got the timing and the verticality. Straight up at the rim, it’s hard to finish over me since I’m so tall. But it’s definitely something I have.’’
- The Pistons misfired at the trade deadline by bringing in Kevin Huerter as their major addition, contends Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter video link). O’Connor points out that Detroit needed more shooting and a second creator on offense, but gave up Jaden Ivey for Huerter, who’s only averaging 13.6 minutes per night in eight games since the deal.
- Cavaliers wing Max Strus is moving closer to making his season debut, which could happen in the next week, Joe Vardon of The Athletic states in a story highlighting the work Strus’ foundation is doing to help children dealing with serious health issues.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, MPJ, Nets, Dick, Murray-Boyles
The short-handed Sixers continued to tumble down the Eastern Conference standings with Monday’s loss in Cleveland, but they haven’t given up hope of turning things around, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Philadelphia is currently in eighth place after dropping four of its last five games, and the schedule doesn’t ease up this week. However, players continue to believe things will improve once the stars get back on the court.
“We have, what, four of our five starters out?” Justin Edwards said. “We know that we have a chance when we have all of our guys.”
Joel Embiid, who has only played twice in the past month due to a strained right oblique, will be reevaluated after Tuesday’s game, according to Jones. Tyrese Maxey, who suffered a finger sprain over the weekend, wore a splint on Monday and will consult with a specialist later this week, coach Nick Nurse told reporters. Star rookie VJ Edgecombe continues to recover from a lumbar contusion, while Paul George has two weeks remaining on his 25-game suspension.
“We have to play hard, and we have to make more shots,” Cameron Payne said. “We have to do a better job of creating better shots for each other. That’s important for us. We need to go 1-0 every day. That’s the goal. We obviously are where we are in the standings, so we have to find a way to win. At the end of the day, that means getting stops and for us to keep playing together.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets face a major decision this summer on Michael Porter Jr., Brian Lewis of The New York Post notes in a subscriber-only piece. Porter, who has cooled down after a sensational first half of the season, will be eligible for an extension, and general manager Sean Marks will have to determine whether he’s worth a major investment or if it’s wiser for Brooklyn to get whatever it can in a trade. Sources have told Lewis that Porter has discussed his future with Marks and would like to remain with the Nets. Porter, who sat out Monday’s game, talked about his focus for the remainder of the season. “The motivation to make the playoffs might not be there,” he said, “but the motivation individually — as a player, as a person, to go out there and work on my skills, my leadership skills, and my individual things within the team — that’s still there. So, you can’t just throw away a season because you’re not making the playoffs.”
- Both teams were short-handed as the Nets defeated Memphis on Monday. The victory dropped Brooklyn to fourth in the lottery race, but players said they’re focused on trying to be successful rather than tanking, Lewis adds in a separate story. “We’re trying to win every game,” Day’Ron Sharpe said. “Nobody likes losing. So just always trying to win and always bring good energy.”
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic considers whether the Raptors should part with Gradey Dick this summer, the long-term future for Collin Murray-Boyles and other topics in a mailbag column.
Northwest Notes: SGA, Dort, Jokic, Jazz
On a night when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a chance to put his name alongside Wilt Chamberlain in the record books, he wound up doing a lot more than that, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to match Chamberlain’s streak of 126 consecutive 20-point games that was set from 1961-63. He also handed out a career-high 15 assists with no turnovers, joining LeBron James as the only players ever to register a 35-15-0 line.
And SGA capped off the night by drilling a three-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Thunder a dramatic win over Denver. According to MacMahon, he celebrated with an unusual display of emotion, strutting around the court after the final buzzer and waving to the OKC crowd.
“I don’t even remember what I was saying,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “It just happened so fast. Yeah, it usually doesn’t happen, but tonight called for it.”
MacMahon notes that Gilgeous-Alexander has developed into one of the league’s top clutch-time performers. Monday marked his third shot this season to tie a game or put the Thunder ahead in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, which is tied for the most in the league. He has eight go-ahead baskets in the final 10 seconds over the past five years, which is tops in the NBA.
“Just trusting my work, first and foremost, and then just reading the defense,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Monday’s game-winner. “Obviously, they were sending two [defenders] basically the whole second half, and I knew if I wanted to get an attempt late, I would have to go quick, go fast. And the deeper I drove, the more bodies would come. Yeah, kind of had no choice.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Luguentz Dort committed another flagrant foul against Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Monday, but the reaction from this one was less contentious than the incident 10 days ago that saw the Thunder forward get ejected, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN. Dort swung his left arm while trying to get around a Jokic screen and accidentally hit him in the face. He was whistled for a Flagrant 1 and later apologized to Jokic. “Just lost in the competition,” Dort said. “But shook his hand, [said] ‘great game’ and I apologized that that happened.”
- In a recent appearance on the X&O’s Chat podcast, Jokic said he intends to finish his career with the Nuggets, relays Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “I wouldn’t even like to imagine that,” he said of the possibility of ever leaving Denver. “I’ve found peace here. My two kids were born here, and my family is here. I’ve built a life. I love it here.” Jokic added that he wouldn’t consider playing in the EuroLeague when his time in the NBA is done.
- Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune assesses the chances of the Jazz holding onto this year’s first-round pick after they improved to 20-45 with Monday’s win over Golden State. The pick will convey to the Thunder if it falls outside the top eight, and Utah is relatively safe right now with the fifth-worst record in the league. However, the Jazz are only 1 1/2 games away from Dallas for seventh place, which would greatly increase the chances of dropping to ninth or worse in the lottery.