Blog

Rudy Gobert and theMinnesota Timberwolveswere too much for theDenver Nuggetsand Nikola Jokic.

The Serbian center couldn’t stop the bleeding in the second half, and theTimberwolveswent on to halt Denver’s winning streak at four, defeating them 133-104 at Target Center.

Jokic finished the game with 20 points and 11 assists, shooting 9/13 from the field, but with seven turnovers. Jamal Murray scored 25 points, but the rest failed to follow, with Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook scoring 13 points each.

Edwards had 34 points and nine assists, shooting 3/8 from beyond the arc and becoming the franchise leader in three-pointers at 23 years of age. Julius Randle followed with 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

Rudy Gobert finished the game with a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds, adding five assists. Interestingly, it was his fourth straight win over Jokic.

There was a chance Nikola Jokic would face Joel Embiid, but the Cameroonian center, who holds a U.S. passport, didn’t show up.

Embiid missed his eighth straight game due to injury, while Jokic led theNuggetsto a dominant 144-109 victory.

The Joker recorded 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, completing his 19th triple-double of the 2024/25 season.

As for other European players, British swingman O.G. Anunoby scored 20 points in theNew York Knicks‘ 95-99 road victory over theBrooklyn Nets.

Deni Avdija recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in thePortland Trail Blazers‘ 116-107 away win over theMiami Heat. Nikola Jovic added 12 points and eight assists, while Pelle Larsson contributed 11 points.

TheToronto Raptorsdefeated theOrlando Magic109-93, with Jakob Poeltl scoring eight points. Paolo Banchero’s 26 points and 12 rebounds, along with Tristan da Silva’s nine points, weren’t enough for the Florida team.

Last but not least, Bilal Coulibaly recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists in theWashington Wizards‘ 111-88 loss to theLos Angeles Lakers. Alex Sarr added 10 points and six boards, Kyshawn George chipped in with eight points and five assists, while Jonas Valanciunas contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

Brooklyn Nets–New York Knicks95-99Miami Heat–Portland Trail Blazers107-116Toronto Raptors–Orlando Magic109-93Denver Nuggets–Philadelphia 76ers144-109Los Angeles Lakers–Washington Wizards111-88

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Victor Wembanyama has arrived in France, where hisSan Antonio Spurswill face theIndiana Pacersat Accor Arena on January 23rd and 25th.

The young star had his first practice with the team at his former gym in Nanterre.

“It was even a bit surreal to see all my teammates in this arena where I spent so much time. It’s like two worlds colliding. For now, it’s going well. In any case, it’s really extremely pleasant. There’s emotion,” Wembanyama said.

The Frenchman sees the NBA Paris Games as something “important.”

“It’s a little bit my way of giving back to the French public, of making a lot of people happy who will never have the opportunity to come to the United States. It’s really important to me.”

Wembanyama is also using his time in France to engage with fans, including the inauguration of two basketball courts in his hometown of Chesnay.

“We’ll see how it goes, but there are a lot of emotions. Playing in front of the French public energizes me, but there’s no reason to overdo it. I know the crowd will be there and noisy—it’s certainly a strength that I can use, but it will only be a bonus,” Wembanyama concluded.

There were no big announcements or even a concrete plan to present, but Adam Silver’s message from Paris was clear: The NBA is coming to Europe, one way or another.

In his press conference for the French media, Silver was quite clear on the NBA’s intentions:“What we are discussing is a competition, rather a league independent of the NBA. It would be a European league. In what form? We will see. We are talking with various parties to understand what opportunity there could be.“

As Silver explained, “We can contribute to the growth of the game, which is not without interest. The same as in Africa with an independent league, in partnership with existing leagues, or FIBA? We are moving slowly because we want to be sure that what we do will be accepted by the existing basketball ecosystem. We want to have direct conversations with the stakeholders this week. Whatever we do, we want to respect the traditions of European sport.”

This project will not be an NBA expansion as Silver said: “We could have franchises but that’s not the priority. That’s not what we’re discussing at the moment. We would need supersonic planes”.

Silver also clarified that Paris has not locked an NBA game for 2026, since there’s interest from other European cities to host NBA games.

“It’s not clear at this time if we will return to Paris”,said Silver and explained his position: “We will definitely return to Europe. It’s hard to schedule regular season games outside the United States and there are many candidates to host them. We are determining that right now”.

So the NBA may end up visiting several European countries, according to the commissioner: “Interest in basketball is growing in Europe and we aim to be international. A week in Europe, in several cities? We can think about it. I like the idea of taking a break in the United States and playing elsewhere in the world”.

Silver also praised Victor Wembanyama, a generational talent and the face of Paris games: “What impresses me? His professionalism. It motivates you to be great. I love watching him play because of the finesse he brings. I don’t know if his coaches want him to shoot three-pointers as much as that (laughs). His defense. Victor is curious, he wants to know everything about the world, has African roots, is in Texas, and is learning this culture. He’s a unique person because of his size. He excels in basketball but is connected by his various interests. I love working with him, talking to him, he makes our job easier”.

One day later, on an extended press conference for all media, Silver repeated that everything is on the table, including inviting EuroLeague teams to join: “Everything is on the table. So the potential to include existing clubs? There should be interest. The opportunity to create sustainable competition? Yes. Would we want to have a broad base of countries represented? Absolutely. I mean, that’s the benefit we have now by coming in and looking at this from a blank canvas. Incidentally, I recognize there’s enormous history and tradition here in European basketball, and we want to respect those traditions”.

Speaking also directly about the EuroLeague and the IMG deal, he added:“I won’t speak specifically on the IMG relationship with the EuroLeague. I know the IMG folks very well, and they’re an excellent marketing company. We’ve been partners in the past with the EuroLeague, and we are close with many of their clubs. We are appreciative of the effort that’s going into growing basketball throughout Europe”.

However, according to Silver, the mood in Europe is positive for the NBA’s direct involvement and that was evident in meetings with potential partners and stakeholders:“The tenor of the meetings have been very positive. It’s not anti-anybody or anti-any other organization. When we look at that opportunity and these potential partners, what they’re telling us is they believe that from a commercial standpoint, in terms of the networks they represent or are part of, or those consumer companies that they represent, that they think there’s a desire to connect with consumers, particularly young consumers, which is generally the fan base of the NBA, that they think that the market is ready to do more in this sport.”

Also Silver confirmed that all those meetings are done under the blessing of FIBA: “Anything we would do would include a partnership with FIBA, although there are no agreements inplace right now. We’re still in the exploratory stage. But I would say anything we’ve done globally has been with FIBA as our partner, for example, the league that we are operating in Africa right now”.

TheDetroit Pistonswere in control en route to a 114-104 victory versus theAtlanta Hawksin State Farm Arena. Tucking in 4/8 field goals, including three triples over 16 minutes, Italian Simone Fontecchio chipped in 13 points alongside two rebounds and two assists. Swedish teammate Bobi Klintman was on a G League assignment.

Reduced to a reserve role over recent games in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, Swiss Clint Capela posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double plus two blocks and one steal over 21 minutes on Wednesday. Lasting 22 minutes, Czech starter Vit Krejci tallied nine points to go with three assists and one rebound. Following 0/4 in his previous showing, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic missed all of his nine shots from the field on the way to two points, three rebounds, one steal, and one assist over 19 minutes.

“When I was going through that shooting slump at the end of the season, me and Bogi worked out a lot together. He helped me gain that confidence. I know that he’s still going to shoot those shots, he’s still confident in his shots. I am 100% sure he is going to turn it around the same way that I was able to,”Krejci supported his teammate,“I’m not worried.”

“It’s great to have a guy like that on the team, that is experienced. He’s been through stuff like that and he knows how to keep his head cool. That was kind of what he was saying to me. I am sure he’s doing the same now,”he further explained.

Fellow European option for head coach Quin Snyder, French Zaccharie Risacher stayed on the injury list and is expected to sit out at least one more week nursing a left adductor strain.

Finnish Lauri Markkanen recovered from low back spasms and returned to action with 17 points, six assists and one block, but theUtah Jazzlost, 123-114, to theOklahoma City Thunderin Paycom Center. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk finished with six points and one rebound. The hosts were fueled by a career-high 54 points delivered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With German Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus strain), Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) out, European contribution was limited to French Ousmane Dieng and one rebound in nine minutes.

In American Airlines Center, theMinnesota Timberwolvesheld on to defeat theDallas Mavericks, 115-114. French Rudy Gobert threw in 14 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. On the opposite end, without Slovenian Luka Doncic (left calf strain), Kyrie Irving settled at 36 points, while German Maxi Kleber produced ten points, two rebounds, one steal, and one assist.

The team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, theBrooklyn Netssurrendered, 108-84, to thePhoenix Sunsin Barclays Center. European action was limited to British Tosan Evbuomwan scoring six points with 2/15 from the field, besides recording three rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

Making 8/12 from the field, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posted a 26-point, 18-rebound double-double and dished out three assists for theSacramento Kingsin a comeback win, 123-117, over theGolden State Warriorsin Golden 1 Center. Ukrainian Alex Len added one rebound and one assist. Coming off the bench for the visitors, German Dennis Schroder went for seven points alongside five assists and three rebounds, and Dutch Quinten Post put up five points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist.

Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun made two free throws with 4.5 seconds on the clock and Darius Garland missed two of three follow free throws as theHouston Rocketsedged out theCleveland Cavaliers, 109-108, in Toyota Center. The 22-year-old Turkish center, making 7/13 field goals, ended up with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double plus four assists and one block in 29 minutes.

TheLos Angeles Clippersruled out Croatian Ivica Zubac due to a left eye corneal abrasion and French Nicolas Batum with right finger soreness on the way to an overtime loss, 117-113, opposite theBoston Celticsin Intuit Dome. On the winning end, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis sat out with an illness, while Portuguese Neemias Queta logged 50 fruitless seconds.

TheMemphis Grizzliesoverpowered theCharlotte Hornets, 132-120, with Spanish Santi Aldama leaving the game due to illness after logging two points, five rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist in 18 minutes. The visiting side at FedExForum featured French Moussa Diabate for 15 minutes and Serbian Vasilije Micic for 18 minutes but French Tidjane Salaun was assigned to the G League affiliate. Diabate paired three points with two blocks and two rebounds, and Micic had two assists, two rebounds, and one steal.

Lastly, the game between theMilwaukee BucksandNew Orleans Pelicansat Smoothie King Center was postponed due to extreme weather conditions in the New Orleans area. A new date will be announced by the league.

Atlanta Hawks–Detroit Pistons104-114Brooklyn Nets–Phoenix Suns84-108Dallas Mavericks–Minnesota Timberwolves114-115Houston Rockets–Cleveland Cavaliers109-108Memphis Grizzlies–Charlotte Hornets132-120New Orleans Pelicans–Milwaukee BucksPPDOklahoma City Thunder–Utah Jazz123-114Sacramento Kings–Golden State Warriors123-117Los Angeles Clippers–Boston Celtics113-117 OT (103-103)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers36-72. Boston Celtics31-133.New York Knicks29-164. Milwaukee Bucks24-175.Indiana Pacers24-176. Detroit Pistons23-217. Atlanta Hawks22-218.Orlando Magic23-229.Miami Heat21-2110.Chicago Bulls19-2511.Philadelphia 76ers15-2712. Brooklyn Nets14-3113. Charlotte Hornets11-2914.Toronto Raptors11-3215.Washington Wizards6-36

1. Oklahoma City Thunder36-72. Houston Rockets29-143. Memphis Grizzlies29-154.Denver Nuggets27-165.Los Angeles Lakers23-186. Los Angeles Clippers24-197. Sacramento Kings23-208. Minnesota Timberwolves23-219. Dallas Mavericks23-2110. Phoenix Suns22-2111. Golden State Warriors21-2212.San Antonio Spurs19-2213.Portland Trail Blazers15-2814. New Orleans Pelicans12-3215. Utah Jazz10-32

-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins

Read the latest News

Before the 74th annual NBA All-Star Game, Giannis Antetokounmpo went into the new format and possible tweaks for further improvement of the annual meeting of the best players of the league based in North America.

On Sunday,the Freak did not play in Chase Center due to a left calf strain.

“I would love that,”he welcomed an idea of players from the United States facing players from the rest of the world in the All-Star Game,“I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format.”

“I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete, like having Shai, Jokic, Luka, Wemby, Towns, Sengun. Obviously, I’m missing some guys that I cannot think of from the top of my head. Going against the best U.S. players, I think it would be fun,”he added.

“It would be fun,”he later replied to a question about possibly holding the All-Star Game overseas,“Having a game in the UK or a game in Paris. Or having a game in Greece, obviously is a small country, but why not. Having a game in China, an All-Star Game in China, and all the stars go there for a weekend and play the game.”

Rewind to focusing and putting in the extra effort in the All-Star Game. When available, the Greek international star was certainly on board but seemingly a loud exception compared to most remaining players.

“You cannot force anybody to play hard if he doesn’t want to. For me, when I come to this weekend, I come to compete against the best. I take my pregame nap. I get my treatment the night before. I don’t go out. I have my pregame meal. I treat it like a game because I want to give my “A” game against the best players in the world,”he said,“Some other players, which don’t get me wrong, you can go about your day and your routine any way you want. Some people just want to get out of here.”

“Going back to the U.S. versus the World, that would be an exciting format. I feel like that would make people play hard,”reiterated the 30-year-old big of theMilwaukee Bucks.

Besides discussing the All-Star Game and potential adjustments, Giannis went into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the top-tier club continental competition in Europe.

“I feel like EuroLeague is an incredible league. Very, very talented. Probably the top two, three, four teams in the EuroLeague, they are NBA teams. Let’s say the team that my brother played for,Panathinaikos, they had like nine NBAers,”he mentioned,“I enjoy watching EuroLeague basketball more than I enjoy watching NBA basketball, but the competition level is not the same. The best teams here, like Denver, OKC, Boston, would destroy a lot of EuroLeague teams.”

“If you played with FIBA rules, maybe some teams have a chance,”he furthered on comparing NBA and EuroLeague teams,“But then you can switch it and say if you play with NBA rules, none of those teams have a chance.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo repping#EuroLeaguein the#NBAAllStar

“Euroleague is an incredible league, very, very talented. Probably the top 2-4 teams are like NBA teams. I enjoy watching Euroleague basketball more than I enjoy NBA…”pic.twitter.com/78mWD5sGTp

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)February 17, 2025

Read the latest News

The new format introduced in the 74th NBA All-Star Game, held in San Francisco’s Chase Center on Sunday, featured Stephen Curry as the Kia MVP and Shaq’s OGs ranking first in a mini-tournament opposite Chuck’s Global Stars, Kenny’s Young Stars, and Candace’s Rising Stars.

“Everybody showed up, did their job and did right by the game,”Curry talked about an improved approach by the players,“It was a good step in the right direction, I felt like.”

The Global Stars made it to the Final, after beating the Young Stars, 41-32. Overcoming a late scratch in LeBron James, the OGs went from a 42-35 victory versus the Rising Stars to a dominating win, 41-25, over the Global Stars.

TheGolden State Warriorsstar scored 20 points, including 12 in the championship game. Representing theBoston Celtics, Jayson Tatum put in 21 points, including 15 in the Final.

Meanwhile, the French prodigy of theSan Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama tallied 11 points, three rebounds, and one block as the top player of the Global Stars in the Final. He had six points, four rebounds, one steal, and one block in the Semifinal.

Serbian Nikola Jokic of theDenver Nuggetsregistered two points, four rebounds, and two assists in the Final, after two points, three assists, and one rebound in the Semifinal.

Jokic lob to Wemby is a CHEAT CODE!pic.twitter.com/tLJqQ9IzrS

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)February 17, 2025

Turkish Alperen Sengun of theHouston Rocketsdrew four points and one rebound in the Semifinal but was limited to 19 fruitless seconds in the Final.

Read the latest News

Victor WembanyamapushedChuck’s Global Stars to the Final of the NBA All-Star mini-tournament but his efforts fell well shy of a win against Shaq’s OGs in Chase Center on Sunday.

“It was better than I expected. The format, 40 points, I think it worked out really well. It felt like there were high stakes in the games,”the French star of theSan Antonio Spursdescribed in a media session following the Final.

Wemby scored a team-high 17 points between the Semifinal and the Final, including 11 in the championship game. Playing at home on the opposite end, Stephen Curry paved the way for the OGs and was named Most Valuable Player.

“He took it serious. He was playing hard. He was showing his unique skill set all across the board. It was very similar to Giannis a couple years ago when he was dunking everything and sprinting up and down the floor,”the 36-year-old point guard of theGolden State Warriorspraised Wembanyama and compared him to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I’m proud of being an All-Star. I’m proud of giving everything that I have,”said the 21-year-old center.

Interactions stretched toDenver Nuggetssuperstar Nikola Jokic wondering why he brought a book in the locker room.

Nikola Jokic couldn’t believe Victor Wembanyama brought a book to the All-Star locker room!pic.twitter.com/DvYczsLcYl

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)February 17, 2025

Following the All-Star Game, the focus now switches to the bottom end of the 2024-25 Regular Season and seeking a berth in the 2025 Playoffs with theSpurs.

“Gaining a bit of confidence because we have such changes in the season. Also defense I think is the key. Going back to the status of one of the best defenses is the key,”Wemby talked about requirements for his first appearance in the postseason.

Read the latest News

With several examples of players joining forces with their sons in major leagues, including LeBron and Bronny teaming up at theLos Angeles Lakers, Giannis Antetokounmpo previewed such a milestone between him and his oldest son, Liam.

During the All-Star weekend and on All-Access filmed on Google Pixel, the Freak seemed initially excited but quickly downplayed the idea, after doing the math.

“No, because…,”Giannis reacted to the question to start a brief discussion.

“I hope because I like to speak things into existence. I hope I’m the next but…,”he continued,“My oldest son is 5.”

Liam was born in February 2020. The family has since grown through Maverick in 2021 and Eva in 2023.And his wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger is expecting a fourth child.

“I don’t know if I got that in me,”he said on needing to play 13 more seasons for Liam to turn 18.

“Maybe. You never know,”he added while drawing links to veteran players in limited roles at the bottom end of their careers.

Giannis on his aspirations for becoming another father-son duo to play togetherAll-Access filmed on Google Pixel#sponsoredpic.twitter.com/g4RnJbvR45

— NBA (@NBA)February 17, 2025

Loyal to theMilwaukee Bucksthroughout his professional career, the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season is his 12th in the NBA since being selected with the 15th pick of the 2023 draft.

The Greek superstarwas ruled out from the 2025 All-Star Game due to a left calf strainbut is expected to soon resume his campaign, looking to extend theBuckspush for a berth in the Playoffs, which would generate his ninth postseason appearance.

Read the latest News

Phoenix Sunssuperstar Kevin Durant took to X to address the wave of criticism over the quality of the NBA All-Star game.

“I think it’s more fun to complain about the nba than to actually watch it. Crazy, cancel all star weekend and let’s just give everybody a break since we’re so miserable around this time,” Durant tweeted less than 24 hours after the completion of the2025 All-Star game.

“My point is, fans complain about EVERYTHING. Like nothing is good enough for the fans right now. Only thing they enjoy is playoffs, trade deadline, free agency and when players beef with each other lol,” Durant also wrote.

Several aspects of the 2025 All-Star game weren’t received well by fans who, naturally, expressed their disappointment on social media.

The change in the format from the traditional East VS West clash to a four-team tournament drew many negative comments also by players. “”I didn’t like the breaks,” saidAtlanta Hawksguard Trae Young. “The games were so short. Obviously, we can score. So, they’re trying to, I feel like, trying to extend the game, extend the TV time with the breaks and things like

“I would say it’s not ideal to stop like that if you want guys to be physical,” mentionedBoston Celticsswingman Jaylen Brown. “I think guys were still out there having fun. All the OGs, team old knees and old backs, we came out on top, so I don’t think anyone else should have had any excuses. It’s definitely not ideal.”

TNT’s Kenny Smith said that, “I think they’re gonna change the format back.” even before the game was over.

Milwaukee Buckssuperstar Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed that a switch to a “USA players VS International Players format, could make the game more exciting.

“I would love that,” Antetokounmpo said. The Greek Freak had to sit out the 2025 All-Star Game due to a calf strain. “I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format.”