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Hornets Notes: Play-In Prospects, Sexton, Kalkbrenner, Williams, Knueppel

December 24th, 2025 at 8:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Hornets are still on the outside of the Eastern Conference play-in picture, but they’ve won six of their last 12 games and their confidence is rising after Tuesday’s victory over Washington, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes in a subscriber-only story. At 10-20, the Hornets are two games behind Milwaukee and four-and-a-half behind Chicago in the race for the final play-in spot, but they’ve survived some early injuries and believe they’re ready to challenge for a postseason berth.

Coach Charles Lee cites improvements on defense as the reason for the better play of late.

“I think some of it’s our defensive intensity,” he said. “I feel like our defensive continues to get better. The games that we win, our defensive rating is usually in a really good spot. And then offensive, I feel like ever since the game at Brooklyn, we’ve done such a better job of trusting the pass, playing the pass. I come up here a lot of games now and I’m talking about how many assists we had on how we made field goals. And it’s a testament to our overall pace. But also guys getting out of screens, our execution in the half court and our execution in the early offense is really good.”

There’s more from Charlotte:

Collin Sexton returned Tuesday after missing nearly three weeks with a left quadriceps strain, Boone adds. He came off the bench to score 12 points in 16 minutes. “We always talk a ton around here about competing and what that looks like,” Lee said. “And you can compete in a lot of different ways, but Colin just never stops. I think defensively and offensively, he’s always thinking about how can I win every possession and how can I be impactful in every possession. I love the boost that he gave us from a spirit and a competitiveness standpoint.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner missed a second straight game with a sprained left elbow, and his status is uncertain for Friday’s contest at Orlando. Lee tells Boone that the medical staff is “still just trying to figure out what the plan is going to be” for the rookie center.
Grant Williams handed out Christmas gifts to Hornets employees this week, but he wasn’t able to provide any clarity on when he might be able to play again, Boone states in a separate story. The veteran power forward is still recovering from a right ACL tear he suffered early last season. “It’s all about making sure that I come back to build this team up to compete and win,” Williams said. “So, capability. I feel great right now, but at the same time understanding that we have a plan. We have a plan that we’re approaching, and who knows when that date comes around? But whenever it is, I feel like I’ll be at my best self and be able to give 110% to this roster, to this team, and be able to show off for this organization. Because we’re trying to turn this thing around the right way and I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else.”
Kon Knueppel set an NBA record on Monday by becoming the fastest player to record 100 made three-pointers, Boone adds in another piece. It only took him 29 games to reach the milestone, 12 fewer than Lauri Markkanen, the previous record holder.

Knicks Notes: Brunson, Kolek, Towns, Jemison

December 24th, 2025 at 7:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

After sitting out Tuesday’s loss at Minnesota, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson will return for a Christmas Day showdown with Cleveland, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link). Brunson was unavailable against the Wolves due to “right ankle injury management,” and OG Anunoby didn’t play because of “left ankle soreness.” Neither player is listed on the injury report for Thursday.

Coach Mike Brown has been talking about reducing Brunson’s workload, but he was on the court for 38 minutes Sunday as he posted a season-high 47 points against Miami. He’s averaging 36.8 minutes over his last nine games, in addition to playing 41 minutes in last week’s NBA Cup Final, which isn’t counted in official statistics.

“I want to play,” Brunson told reporters, including Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “But if Mike wants to do something, then obviously, we’ll talk about it. I have utmost faith and confidence in him. But obviously, when I’m out there, I want to play.”

Thursday’s game will feature a matchup of two of the East’s best guards in Brunson and the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, who’ve both been carrying the scoring load for their respective teams. Per Jared Schwartz of The New York Post, Brown views it as a good opportunity for Brunson to bolster his MVP case after winning NBA Cup MVP honors.

“When you talk about MVPs especially, but All-Stars as well, you have to find a way to impact the game,” Brown said. “Sometimes, your shot’s not going in, so how else can you do it? Well, you can try to do it defensively, you can try to do it rebounding offensively, rebounding defensively, running the floor to see if you can get an easy one. Jalen’s constantly trying to do those things.”

There’s more from New York:

With Brunson unavailable, Tyler Kolek turned in the best game of his career, Schwartz states in a separate story. Making his first-ever start, the second-year guard posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 31 minutes. “Anytime you get an opportunity like that, you try to take advantage of it,” Kolek said. “These guys got confidence in me to go out there and play my game and do what I do. It’s too bad, we just couldn’t get the win.” Schwartz observes that Kolek’s recent play might lessen the need for the Knicks to pursue a backup point guard on the trade market.
Karl-Anthony Towns talked about his affection for Minnesota after scoring 40 points on Tuesday, Schwartz adds in another piece. Towns, who spent nine years with the Timberwolves before being traded to New York shortly before the start of last season, was greeted with a loud ovation during introductions and got a “shoutout” from Anthony Edwards in his post-game interview. “There’s nothing more valuable in this league, this job, than to be respected,” Towns said. “I left my heart, my soul here in Minnesota. For the fans to just, even after two seasons away, to respect me the way they do and to think of me so highly and to appreciate what I left on the court tonight, it means a lot. It really means a lot.”
Trey Jemison got a rare chance to contribute in last week’s win over Indiana, logging more than 18 minutes in just his fourth appearance of the season. The third-year center, who’s already on his fifth NBA team, has benefitted from the Knicks’ development program, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “My game is growing,” Jemison said. “From my position coaches to all my G League coaches, they are buying in and helping me set a higher standard for myself and it’s been great. … I love coming to work every day.”

Cavaliers Notes: Merrill, Allen, Mobley, Mitchell

December 24th, 2025 at 6:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sam Merrill was back in the starting lineup Tuesday night in his second game since returning from a jammed finger, and he made an obvious difference in the Cavaliers‘ win over New Orleans, Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story. Merrill not only finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Sands notes that he teamed with Darius Garland to provide an outside shooting threat that stretched the Pelicans’ defense and gave the rest of the team more room to operate.

“You guys are going to get tired of me saying connector, connect, but he connects. He connects the game,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game. “He connects pieces. He connects the bigs and the smalls. He’s running. He’s just causing chaos out there. And that just opens up space and then we can throw the ball to space.”

Merrill was sidelined for more than a month, and his absence coincided with the team’s recent downturn. Jaylon Tyson moved to a bench role on Tuesday, and Sands points out that he and De’Andre Hunter are both capable of providing offense as reserves. Sands states that there was no stagnation against the Pelicans when the starters came out of the game.

“I think it obviously helps when there’s so much unpredictability,” Donovan Mitchell said about the lineup change. “But that’s been our biggest thing about us, right? Like, that’s who we are when we’re at full strength and at our best. … We’ve shot well the past two nights, but I think the biggest thing is just our intensity level. Both ends of the floor has been great.”

There’s more from Cleveland:

Atkinson was happy to see Jarrett Allen being physical with the Pelicans’ rugged front court, Sands adds. The Cavs outscored New Orleans in the paint by a 72-54 margin and held a 27-18 advantage in second-chance points. “My challenge with JA, he can do better,” Atkinson said. “Like, I want more. Like, this is how the playoffs are. They go at you, they pound you. But I thought he put up pretty good resistance tonight. Right now, with Evan (Mobley) out, he’s kind of our guy.”
Mobley has a chance to beat expectations in his return from a left calf strain. Projected to miss two-to-four weeks, he’s listed as questionable for the Christmas Day game at New York.
Mitchell has been carrying a heavier-than-usual offensive load for the Cavaliers, but it’s due to necessity rather than by design, per Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. Mitchell’s scoring average is at a career-high 30.6 PPG, and he’s sporting the highest usage rate in his four seasons in Cleveland. “I don’t want him to,” Atkinson said. “I don’t think that’s (sustainable) long-term. Conference finals, Finals, we need more balance. And I do think (we can get it) as we get healthier … as Darius starts to get his rhythm and we get guys back. But right now it’s (on him). He’s got to carry us.”

Steve Kerr Says Situation With Draymond Green Is Resolved

December 24th, 2025 at 5:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

It appears that Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green have resolved the issues that led to Monday night’s heated sidelines confrontation, writes Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kerr told reporters on Wednesday that he and Green have spoken about the incident and have settled their differences. Kerr also accepted full blame, saying he overreacted to a tense situation.

“Frankly … Monday night was not my finest hour. That was a time I needed to be calm in the huddle,” Kerr said. “So I regret my actions in that exchange. I apologized to Dray, he apologized to me, we both apologized to the team. These things, they happen. Especially when you get two incredibly competitive people like Dray and me. Over the 12 years we’ve been together, this has happened occasionally. I’m not proud of it. We had a great chat.

“I care so much about Draymond. And the relationship we have is like family. And like family, you go through ups and downs. My number one goal, honestly, is for him to finish his career as a Warrior, with us, fighting — metaphorically, not literally — and competing together. Until we’re both done. And I believe that’s going to happen. Because I believe in Draymond and I believe in myself, and I believe in everything we’ve built for the last 12 years.”

Kerr and Green engaged in an intense argument during a time out in the third quarter of Monday’s win over Orlando. Green left the bench area and went to the locker room to “cool off.” He eventually returned, but Kerr didn’t put him back in the game.

The incident renewed trade speculation regarding Green, who hasn’t been playing up to his normal standards this season. He’s shooting just 40.9% from the field and 32.7% from three-point range and his scoring average has dropped to 8.1 PPG, nearly a full point lower than last year. The biggest concern is the decline in his playmaking, as he’s putting up 5.1 assists and a startling 3.1 turnovers per night.

Kerr reiterated that he doesn’t want to see his long partnership with Green end. He pointed to Green’s role in helping to win four NBA titles during their time together and said they’ve had similar confrontations in the past, but have always been able to work through them.

“One of the things I love about Draymond is his loyalty,” Kerr added. “… He’s loyal to the Warriors. Loyal to me. Loyal to (Stephen Curry). He wants to be here his whole career. I want nothing more than that. I love Draymond, love everything he’s meant to me, to the organization, to the Bay. He’s a complicated guy. He’d be the first to admit that. He’s very complex. But he’s undyingly loyal and passionate and I will go to bat for him as long as I’m coaching him here. Honestly, I’d go to bat for him 20 years from now when we haven’t been together. That’s how strongly I feel about him. And that’s how I want this thing to end with us, whenever that is.”

It’s been a challenging season for the Warriors, who Kerr admits are “a fading dynasty.” They’re one of the league’s oldest teams, led by Green, Curry and Jimmy Butler, and their age has shown during the first two months of the season. At 15-15, they face a difficult path to move into the top six in the West and avoid another trip to the play-in tournament.

Kerr is confident that the blow-up with Green won’t be a distraction moving forward and that he’ll be fully focused for the Christmas Day matchup with Dallas.

“I think there’s always going to be dynamics within a team, any team, that exist all season long,” Kerr said. “And it’s the coach’s job and the leaders of the team’s job to help guys through those circumstances. We have issues just like every other team has issues. But we have to work through them. I believe this was a major step in that happening. I feel really good about where our team is on the floor, about where we’re heading. I see the potential to do exactly what we did last year. To really go on a run and give ourselves a chance.”

Pascal Siakam: Constant Losing “Not Fun To Be Around”

December 24th, 2025 at 4:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

The frustrations of losing are starting to boil over for the Pacers, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. T.J. McConnell questioned the team’s effort following Saturday’s loss to New Orleans, and Pascal Siakam delivered a more intense version of that message after Tuesday’s 17-point defeat against Milwaukee. Siakam spoke for nine minutes about the various shortcomings that led to a sixth straight loss and a 6-24 record.

“We just didn’t play with any pace, any determination,” he said. “It looked out there like we were just jacking shots sometimes. We played with no force. We just didn’t have it. It’s hard to evaluate our offense because it just looked like we didn’t try hard enough. … It doesn’t look like we have any pace or any pep to anything that we’re doing. We just look slow. There’s no energy. It’s not fun to be around.”

It’s only been six months since the Pacers came within a game of winning their first NBA title, and their sudden nosedive is likely temporary. It began when star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the Finals and has continued amid a long string of injuries dating back to the start of the season. Indiana has struggled to field a competitive roster, signing Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Garrison Mathews, Gabe McGlothan and James Wiseman to hardship contracts over the past six weeks.

Haliburton is expected to make a full recovery by the start of next season, most of last year’s playoff roster is still in place and the Pacers seem headed for a top pick in the draft. The team is well-positioned to return to contention quickly, but that provides little solace for Siakam right now.

“I really care about it and I hate, I hate, I hate losing, so it’s not fun,” he said. “It’s hard. I don’t think I’ve been the happiest. Maybe I have to fix it. I don’t look good out there most of the time, just because I can’t stand it. It drives me crazy. I’m trying to find solutions. I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to take it out, but it dictates my attitude and the way I am.”

Dopirak points out that the idea of tanking isn’t as simple as fans tend to believe. The constant losing takes a toll on the players, and their natural competitiveness begins to wane. Siakam referenced that on Tuesday, saying he’s seeing less urgency from the roster to turn the season around. A play-in spot already seems out of reach, and it’s better for the Pacers in the long run to finish as close to the bottom as possible to maximize their lottery chances.

Siakam added that he still does intensive film study and constantly thinks about how he can improve. He declined to say whether his teammates are showing that same level of commitment, adding that the record speaks for itself.

“I don’t know,” he said. “The product isn’t good. We’re losing games. We have to figure it out. We all have to ask ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ Everyone has to come in wanting to make a change.”

Cameron Johnson Has Bone Bruise, No Structural Damage

December 24th, 2025 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nuggets got good news on forward Cameron Johnson following his right knee injury on Tuesday. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), an MRI on Johnson’s knee showed a bone bruise, but no structural damage.

As Shams Charania of ESPN tweets, Johnson is still expected to miss some time, but it’s a best-case scenario for him and the Nuggets, since there was concern he sustained a more serious injury.

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter when Johnson went up for a defensive rebound (Twitter video link via Grant Afseth). He landed awkwardly and fell to the floor, grabbing his right knee, then exited the game shortly thereafter.

There still appears to be some uncertainty regarding Johnson’s recovery timeline, according to Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link), who says there should be more information by Thursday. However, it sounds safe to assume that the Nuggets forward will miss the team’s Christmas Day divisional showdown with the Timberwolves.

Johnson, acquired from Brooklyn in an offseason trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets, got off to an extremely slow start in Denver this fall, averaging 7.2 points with a .372/.211/.813 shooting line in his first 11 games. He has looked more like his normal self in recent weeks, with 14.6 PPG on .503/.523/.810 shooting in his past 17 outings.

The Nuggets are already missing a pair of starters, with Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) still recovering from their own injuries. Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones have been starting alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Johnson in place of Braun and Gordon. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. are the top candidates to be promoted to the starting five with Johnson out too.

Knicks Prospect James Nnaji Enrolls At Baylor

December 24th, 2025 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Two years after being selected with the 31st overall pick in the NBA draft, center James Nnaji has enrolled at Baylor and will be immediately eligible to play college basketball this season, his agents at Gersh Sports tell Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link).

It’s a development that’s unprecedented in recent NCAA history, further blurring the line between college and professional basketball. Nnaji, who was originally drafted by the Hornets in 2023, had his rights traded to the Knicks in last year’s three-team Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster, but has yet to sign his first NBA contract, having continued to play overseas since being drafted.

It has become increasingly common for international prospects to come stateside and join NCAA programs after playing for professional teams in Europe. However, up until this point, that was happening before the player was selected in the NBA draft, not after.

The NCAA has granted Nnaji four years of college eligibility, according to Joe Tipton of On3. The decision could open the door for other draft-and-stash prospects to take a similar path going forward.

Nnaji, 21, was under contract with FC Barcelona in Spain for several seasons before parting ways with the team this past summer. The big man also spent time with Merkezefendi Basket in Turkey and Girona, another Spanish team, while on loan from Barcelona.

In 2024/25, Nnaji appeared in 14 Spanish League (Liga ACB) games for Girona, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per contest. He also suited up for the Knicks’ Summer League team in July, averaging 3.2 PPG and 3.6 RPG across five outings in Las Vegas. It was his second appearance at Vegas Summer League, as he also played for the Hornets’ team in 2023.

As Tipton observes, Baylor’s frontcourt has been hit hard by injuries this season, so Nnaji – a rim-running, defensive-minded center – has a path to a significant role for the Bears in the second half of 2025/26. The Knicks, who continue to hold his NBA rights, figure to be closely monitoring his progress and will no longer have to travel overseas to scout him in person.

Southwest Notes: Zion, Flagg, G. Jackson, Small, Spurs

December 24th, 2025 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans‘ surprising five-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday in Cleveland, but the team still got some positive news, as forward Zion Williamson played in both games of a back-to-back set for the first time in 14 months, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required).

Williamson, who last played in a back-to-back in October 2024, logged 21 minutes vs. the Cavaliers after playing 25 minutes against Dallas on Monday. The former No. 1 overall pick has now played five consecutive games since sitting for six in a row due to an adductor strain.

“Z is progressing well,” head coach James Borrego said before Tuesday’s game. “He looks well. He’s getting in better shape every game, every day. His mentality is right. His spirit is right. That’s the biggest thing for me. The mindset is right. The body is coming along every day. Getting better and better.”

Williamson poured in 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting against Cleveland, but the Pelicans struggled defensively in his 21 minutes of action and were outscored by 17 points with the 25-year-old on the court.

We have more from around the Southwest:

Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, who celebrated his 19th birthday over the weekend, racked up 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a victory over Denver on Tuesday. Flagg’s big night earned him high praise from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who said the rookie doesn’t look like a first-year NBA player, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I’m going to say the poise that he played with, he doesn’t feel like he’s so young out there,” Jokic said. “He seems like he played meaningful games and he was winning before. That’s my opinion. He looked really mature out there.”
GG Jackson II‘s contributions have been inconsistent since his breakout rookie season as a second-round pick in 2023/24, but the Grizzlies forward made the most of his first start of the season on Tuesday, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. With Cedric Coward out due to left heel soreness, Jackson scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds in a win over Utah. As Cole notes, Jackson looked more decisive on Tuesday after working over the summer on dribbling less when he gets the ball.
Grizzlies guard Javon Small returned to action on Tuesday from his turf toe injury, suiting up for the first time since November 7, Cole writes in the same story. Cam Spencer has been Memphis’ starting point guard with Ja Morant out, but Smart played 12 minutes off the bench and handed out seven assists.
San Antonio knocked off the defending champions for the second time in 10 days on Tuesday, but Victor Wembanyama is hesitant to dub Spurs/Thunder a “rivalry,” as Michael C. Wright of ESPN relays. “It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Wembanyama explained. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be (a rivalry) in the future. I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.” The two teams will meet against on Thursday in what could end up being the marquee matchup of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule.

Each Eastern Conference Team’s Most Likely Trade Candidate

December 24th, 2025 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Not every NBA team will make a trade between now and the February 5 deadline, but every club will at least entertain the possibility of doing so, engaging in discussions with potential trade partners in the coming weeks.

So which players are the most likely to come up in those talks, and which are the most likely to actually be on the move in the month-and-a-half? We're exploring that subject this week and next, taking a closer look at all 30 teams and identifying the player we believe is most likely to be dealt by each club.

We're starting today by examining the 15 Eastern Conference teams, with the Western Conference to follow next week.

Let's dive in...

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JJ Redick Calls Out Lakers’ Defensive Effort

December 24th, 2025 at 11:08am CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers still have a strong 19-9 record after Tuesday’s 132-108 loss in Phoenix, but their 117.6 defensive rating places them 24th in the NBA, and none of the six clubs below them in that category have more than 10 wins so far this season.

Recognizing that his team is trending in the wrong direction defensively, head coach JJ Redick highlighted the issue after Tuesday’s loss, admitting that the Lakers don’t have enough players who play maximum-effort, physical basketball on a consistent basis, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“We practice this stuff enough,” Redick said of the club’s defensive principles. “We review this stuff enough. We show film on this stuff enough that to me, it like comes down to … just making the choice. It’s making the choice.

“There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t. It’s just a choice. And there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers believe this year’s team has a higher ceiling than last season’s, with Luka Doncic more comfortable in Los Angeles and plenty of offensive talent surrounding him. However, as Woike points out, the roster is missing last season’s highest-energy players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Jordan Goodwin.

The Lakers added former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in free agency over the summer and he has lived up to expectations when he’s been healthy. In Smart’s 523 minutes on the court, L.A. has a defensive rating of 111.9, which would be tied for fifth in the league. That figure balloons to 119.1 with Smart on the bench.

Smart agreed with Redick that there’s plenty of work to do on that end of the floor.

“We doing s–t. We’re being real s—ty right now, and it’s showing,” Smart said, per McMenamin. “… Every team goes through it trying to figure it out. You just pray that it happens early and we can fix it before it’s too late.

“But yeah, there’s really no defense, no scheme we can do when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, or guys are getting wherever they want on the court. And there’s no help, there’s no resistance, there’s no urgency. So, it’s tough. And JJ is right. There’s really nothing he can do. It’s on us.”

There’s some internal skepticism that the answer to the Lakers’ defensive woes is in-house, according to Woike, who points out that Finney-Smith and Goodwin were in-season additions in 2024/25. With the February 5 trade deadline just over six weeks away, the front office figures to be on the lookout for defensive-minded players who could meaningfully upgrade the current roster.

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