Good morning. Let’s basketball.

We’re Doing It Live

The NBA has announced that instead of its TNT Thursday All-Star Draft done before All-Star Weekend as has been the practice in recent years, the captains will draft their rosters live … on All-Star Sunday, directly before the game!

The All-Star Draft was already wonderful, hilarious fun with just the captains on screen laughing and, in Kevin Durant’s case, not laughing with the TNT crew. Putting all the players in the same place and seeing the interactions will be even better.

See how far the NBA has come since first declining to let captains pick teams, then refusing to broadcast the draft for fear of players’ feelings being hurt? Fans have clamored for more fun presentation of what is ultimately supposed to be a fun endeavor, something that shouldn’t be all that serious. This is a good step in that direction, especially if the Inside crew continues to offer live commentary.

Scores

Bulls 110, Pacers 116 — It couldn’t last forever, Bulls fans! Chicago drops one to a team that had lost seven straight. Aaron Nesmith was 0/7 with 1 point, but this block is worth at least a couple of buckets spiritually.

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA

AARON NESMITH ERASED THIS 🚫

2:10 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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Celtics 95, Heat 98 — Close game between the rivals with no Jaylen Brown or Jimmy Butler (or Marcus Smart or Malcolm Brogdon or Al Horford — Boston was really short-handed). That Boston was still in striking distance on a road back-to-back against a good opponent speaks to Jayson Tatum’s greatness.

Cavaliers 103, Knicks 105 — The Knicks are pretty good, and they have a shot at a top-6 seed. I know Cam Reddish is likely to get moved at some point before the deadline, but that’s not something expected to add talent. Is there a move to get the Knicks another player to plug in and cover some gaps? Or is a team led by Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett going to be about a .550 team (45 wins) at best? I’m curious. Because those guys aren’t exactly Durant and Irving or Antetokounmpo and Holiday. But they’re pretty good.

Julius Randle is going to be an All-Star.

Nuggets 99, Pelicans 98 — Denver puckered up down the stretch and almost let the Pels pick up a big comeback win. But Nikola Jokic hit the game-winner. It’s what he does.

NBA @NBA

JOKER FLOATER. NUGGETS WIN.

3:18 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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Wizards 127, Mavericks 126 — Pay Kyle Kuzma. (Wizards, I implore you to mix down the background music on your highlight reels.)

This is incredible. Down one with five seconds left, the Mavericks run a play for Luka but the Wizards trap and knock the ball out of bounds. Reset with a second and a half burned … Mavericks run the same play, Wizards know exactly what it is, Delon Wright gets the game-winning steal.

Missy @missysinghsongs

The Mavs really had to have a meeting to draw up the one and only play they have (yes, the one that doesn’t work). The Wizards already knowing what the play is 😭

5:10 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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… thus wasting a 41-15-6 night from Luka.

Hornets 97, Suns 128 — Nine days ago, on January 16, the Suns were 21-24 (12th place in the West) and the Mavericks were 24-21 (5th place in the West). Today, the teams are tied for No. 6 at 25-24. This is just an example of how malleable and shaky the entire stretch of mid-tier teams in the West is this season. One team wins four straight, one team goes 1-3 over the course of a week and change … seven spots in the standings. It’s deeply stressful!

Clippers 133, Lakers 115 — There had been a report that Anthony Davis was returning to action on Tuesday; he did not. LeBron dropped 46, including a career-high nine threes …

… and the Lakers lost by 18 to a team just over .500. Let’s go now to our sideline correspondent, uh, LeBron James for his take.

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob

5:24 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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Schedule

Ten games. All times Eastern.

Pacers at Magic, 7
Nets at Sixers, 7:30, ESPN
Wizards at Rockets, 8
Timberwolves at Pelicans, 8
Hawks at Thunder, 8
Grizzlies at Warriors, 10, ESPN
Jazz at Blazers, 10
Raptors at Kings, 10
Spurs at Lakers, 10:30

Links

Wonderful piece by Julie Kliegman on Tyrell Terry’s decision to retire from the NBA at age 22 to protect his mental health.

The Kings (finally) extend GM Monte McNair’s contract. Folks, hire a good front office executive, let them hire a coach, let that coach hire their own staff, and profit! Remarkable that this is the first time since Vivek Ranadive bought the team that it worked like that in Sacramento … and this is the result.

Here’s Shaq quoting Albert Einstein in defense of not knowing who Rui Hachimura was before the Lakers trade.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 @_Talkin_NBA

"If you ain't a top 10 player, I don't know who you are... I'm not watching the Bullets or the Wizards." Shaq on not knowing who Rui Hachimura was before the Lakers acquired him from the Wizards #NBATwitter

6:17 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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Injury updates: Anthony Davis is expected to play Wednesday. Steven Adams is out 3-5 weeks. At least two more weeks before Zion Williamson returns; we’re getting close to the point where he may miss All-Star.

Danny Green sounds like he expects to play a role for the Grizzlies. He’s planning to be active next week.

Mike Sykes on how New Balance is doing on the basketball side.

Another interesting move for the Wings, trading Allisha Gray to Atlanta. The Dream are obviously trying to take an immediate step up into the second tier of the WNBA. Not really sure what the plan is for Dallas.

Three nepo babies in the McDonald’s All-America Game.

Like I said: pay Kyle Kuzma. Not just for the basketball, but for the completely warranted spice.

kuz @kylekuzma

The funny thing is they don’t play winning basketball 🤣🤣🤣✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽👋🏽🤡 https://t.co/O4klCwulLG

Callie Caplan @CallieCaplan

Spencer Dinwiddie after Mavs' loss to Wizards: "For them, it’s a showcase. They're over there trying to get paid, not trying to play winning basketball. For a team that has real aspirations and has an MVP, went to the conference finals last year, we have to be better to a man."

5:11 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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PAY KYLE KUZMA! (I would pay Kyle Kuzma for this sweater and balaclava.)

Washington Wizards @WashWizards

Kuz. that's it. that's the tweet. #DCAboveAll | @MichelobULTRA

12:37 AM ∙ Jan 25, 2023

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And Finally

Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach

Joe Mazzulla just walked past Marcus Smart in the locker room, did a full somersault in front of him, turned and said ‘you can’t do that.” Then walked out.

11:24 PM ∙ Jan 24, 2023

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Be excellent to each other.