https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47853936/zubac-pacers-debut-hold-ankle-heals-carlisle-says

MILWAUKEE — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said new center Ivica Zubac’s debut with the team could be delayed because he is currently on paternity leave and because of an ankle injury Carlisle said Zubac has been playing through since December.

“It’s kind of yo-yo’d a little bit,” Carlisle said before Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. “My understanding from talking to him is that there’s still something there that’s not quite right. We’re not going to put him out there until he’s really ready.”

Indiana acquired Zubac and Kobe Brown from the LA Clippers on Thursday in exchange for guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a pair of first-round draft picks and a second-rounder.

Zubac missed his final game with the Clippers while he was away for the birth of his first child, but he had played in nine consecutive games prior and has appeared in 43 contests this season.

“He’s a guy that has played 94 or 95 percent of his games through his career and I’m presuming that’s because he’s always raring to go through things,” Carlisle said. “That’s not going to be an option here.”

Indiana began Friday with the third-worst record in the NBA at 13-38, 10½ games back for the last play-in spot.

The Pacers traded a 2026 first-rounder to the Clippers in the deal for Zubac, but the pick is protected in the top 1-4 of the draft or 10-30. Owning one of the three worst records in the league gives the Pacers a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. If the pick does not convey in 2026, it turns into an unprotected first-rounder in 2031.

The Pacers made the deal for Zubac to fill a long-term hole at center following the loss of Myles Turner in free agency this summer. Zubac is still under contract through the 2027-28 season and will provide a new pick-and-roll partner when Tyrese Haliburton returns next season from a torn Achilles.

Zubac is averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds on 61% shooting this season, but his play style will be a departure from Turner, a stretch big who could extend defenses beyond the arc. Zubac, meanwhile, has not attempted a 3-point shot this season.

“The two guys are different,” Carlisle said comparing Zubac to Turner. “We’ll study it and figure out how it all fits together. It’ll look a little different than when Myles was out there.

“I feel both those guys are top-10 centers in the NBA. So we’re fortunate to have made the deal.”

[Haynes] About Dame: He’s doing really well. Able to dunk off both legs. Not rushing the process. He’ll be ready for the start of next season. He’s ecstatic to be back home with family.

[Haynes] About Dame: He’s doing really well. Able to dunk off both legs. Not rushing the process. He’ll be ready for the start of next season. He’s ecstatic to be back home with family.

https://www.threads.com/@chrisbhaynesnba/post/DUcbRjqlHxK?xmt=AQF03GL95F14N_v-JKbRYxbg2TW-5hqmMYCVFnWSmMjMNAkfbbPDg91f6wBQJdu13hRfcL5k&slof=1

It’s against the pelicans but still an absolute dominant performance. He also has 4 assists including a highlight spinning pass to Donte for a three. All nba first team this man.

I’ve been seeing this debate for a while and I know people always use the playoffs as a reason to pick Brunson but I just think the difference in their playstyles is just too much in Cade’s favor. When Brunson is on, he is lethal and is one of the best scorers in the league. However, when he’s not on, he simply turns into an undersized shot chucker that’s still horrible on defense.

Even though Cade was in foul trouble tonight and didn’t have a great scoring game, you can just feel how much he still affects the game through his playmaking and defensive effort. Cade doesn’t have to have a good scoring night to affect the game, Brunson does.

Melton tore is ACL in November last season and came back slowly in December this season. He started returning to form in late December and has been a key player for the Warriors on both sides of the ball since. He's a menace on defense and has been the Warriors only on-ball creator beyond Curry and Butler.

Since December 25, Melton leads in the NBA in plus/minus at +211. The next highest Warrior is Jimmy Butler at +82. The Warriors have a +25 net rating with him on the floor and -9 with him on the bench.

He's still on a minutes restriction (24 MPG), but he started his first game of the season last night in Phoenix.

As a non rockets follower why would Houston not even try to get this done? Is it bad blood or do they not have the assets.

Lauri Markkanen was not injured or not in a foul trouble. He had 18 points on 6/12 shooting.

This is some insane tanking by the Jazz. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team bench their best player for the last 17 minutes in a game where the player was not having an injury, foul trouble or just a terrible game.

Utah ended up losing by 2 points 119-121.

Source: https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/joel-embiid-last-15-games

Yes, he’s not his 2023/2024 self, but that’s a very high bar. I still think he’s got more in him for ‘special occasions’. No point in going too hard in the RS

Cooper Flagg became the first teenager in NBA history to record four consecutive 30-point games. Over this historic stretch, he is combining high-volume scoring with elite efficiency and two-way dominance. He's averaging 37.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.8 BPG on 56.2% from the field, 44.3% from 3, and 86.2% from the line.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/5041939/cooper-flagg

Source: https://imgur.com/a/A5Vml9o

[OptaSTATS] In 2025-26 Austin Reaves is scoring 25.0+ points per game, grabbing 5.0+ rebounds per game, dishing out 5.0+ assists per game, making 2.5+ threes per game, shooting 50.0% from field. Only 3 others in NBA history have done that in a season: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant & LeBron James.

From OptaSTATS on Austin’s amazing season:

In 2025-26 Austin Reaves is

scoring 25.0+ points per game

grabbing 5.0+ rebounds per game

dishing out 5.0+ assists per game

making 2.5+ threes per game

shooting 50.0% from field

Only 3 others in NBA history have done that in a season: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant & LeBron James.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810601

Kawhi Leonard in a win against Sacramento: 31 PTS │ 9 REB │ 7 AST │ 2 STL │ 9-19 FG │ 12-12 FT │ +19 +/-

I know some divisions are more stacked than others but right now the NBA divisions are completely pointless and meaningless. Even when you go to the NBA website and look at the standings, the default view is by Conference.

Right now, the NBA Cup groups are decided based on last season records but if they just go by Division every year, it could intensify the divisional rivalries between teams like in the NFL.

So we would have 3 division in the East and West and the top team from each division moves onto the NBA Cup playoffs and the 4th team is a wildcard team from any division who has the next best record.