National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

Alex Sarr is out with a right hamstring injury and I'm not sure that we'll see him again this season, while Vukcevic is the only guy to fill the void he'll leave. Vukcevic can help fantasy managers with points, rebounds, steals, blocks and 3-pointers, and came back from a two-game absence due to an illness for a masterful 12 points, five rebounds, five steals, a block and two 3-pointers in just 17 minutes against the Pacers on Thursday.

The only good reason to be mad at him is that he has leveraged the unlimited resources and power of Klutch Sports, CAA, Spotify, and The Ringer to make daytime SportsCenter simulacrum without the catchphrases. Paul and Kellerman's FanDuel-sponsored podcast is bad. It's bad in the sort of banal way that most podcasts are bad-the hosts don't say much of substance, they are stricken with red light syndrome, and their riffs are obtuse and unimaginative.

[He] tried to go back out there," Ott said. "[Had to] save him from himself. [He] wasn't moving great when he came back in." Booker left the game with 5:24 remaining in the opening quarter with Phoenix trailing 19-16 and didn't return until 4:46 remained before intermission. He played just 71 more seconds before leaving the contest again with 2:35 left to play in the first half and heading to the locker room. The five-time All-Star didn't return.

Marquette basketball picked up another loss on Wednesday, as the Golden Eagles got crushed by the No. 17 St. John's Red Storm at Fiserv Forum in Milwauke e to the tune of a 76-70 score. It was the third straight loss for Shaka Smart's team and one that worsened their overall and Big East records to 9-18 and 4-12, respectively.

"Probably," he said. "We'll see. I got to talk to people."

"It's a concern," Self told reporters after the game. "I thought we were past it, but obviously we're not. It's certainly a concern. "You get into the NCAA tournament, you're playing a team just as good as you and you need to have all your best players available, so to speak. All it takes is for one day like that to derail not only a game, but a season. It's concerning, but I do think we're making progress with it."

"Day'Ron is special," Dëmin said. "His superpower is rebounding. A lot of his points are putbacks and those aren't easy. I joke with him that the last couple of weeks he's been looking for me a lot coming off handoffs and ball screens, and I tell him when he sets screens, I'm going to find him. The more you play together, the more confidence you build, and he makes the game easier for everybody."

It's an encouraging update that the Heat have been waiting to hear for far too long. But even though the Heat would've liked to get this news weeks ago, the return of Herro now will certainly give this team a real shot to hit the ground running heading into the final push for the playoffs. While many fans may disagree with the approach, the Heat are pushing for a playoff spot.

For the last few days, smack dab in the middle of his long-awaited breakthrough at USC, Arenas had gotten sick. He'd spent the last few days worn down, leaving his status for Wednesday night's marquee matchup with No. 10 Illinois uncertain. But the Trojans star freshman had refused to sit out, resolving instead to tough it out against a true Big Ten contender, even if he wasn't at 100%.

"Gottlieb's postgame comments do not reflect the League's values or sportsmanship expectations," the Horizon League said in a statement announcing the suspension. "The Horizon League considers this matter closed and will have no further comment."

The Women's National Basketball Players' Association submitted a counterproposal to the WNBA on Tuesday that included some concessions on revenue share and housing, sources told ESPN. According to a source familiar with the proposal, the players' union is now asking for an average of 27.5% of gross revenue, defined as revenue before deducting expenses, over the course of the agreement, including 25% -- and less than a $9.5 million salary cap -- in year one.

The Denver Nuggets are converting two-way Spencer Jones to a standard NBA contract for the remainder of the season, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Jones, 24, will become a restricted free agent in June. Jones has started 34 of 46 games for the Nuggets in his sophomore campaign, averaging 6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 23.6 minutes and 41.4% shooting from 3-point range.

PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin over the All-Star break and will miss the Philadelphia 76ers' game against Atlanta on Thursday night. The Sixers said Embiid experienced the soreness while participating in a right knee injury management program over the break. Following a consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning. Embiid will be evaluated again ahead of the Sixers' back-to-back road games, Saturday at New Orleans and Sunday at Minnesota.

Those players alone made up one-third of the Eastern Conference's representation. Jaylen Brown was an All-Star for the fifth time, Jalen Brunson made his third consecutive All-Star trip and Jalen Johnson and Jalen Duren received their first All-Star nods. The four players tied for the most same-name All-Stars in a single season in NBA history. Moreover, additional Jalens (and Jaylens, Jaylins and Jaylons) beyond that All-Star quartet are excelling in the NBA.