On Tuesday, NBA 2K’s official Twitter account began to build up the hype for the game’s release by revealing the ratings for some of the best players in the game. In addition to the top-10 highest overall ratings, they also uncovered the best 3-point shooters and dunkers, the best players from certain countries, and players could also reach out to Ronnie 2K on Twitter and request their rating. MORE: Who are the 10 best players in NBA 2K23?...

NBA Commissioner David Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the official announcement at a news conference Wednesday. The league has been working with the Knicks and Nets for months on the plan to split the events. The league last split sites for its midseason showcase in 2010, when the Saturday events were in the Dallas Mavericks' arena and the game was held at the Cowboys' stadium....

The first fan vote returns showed that Warriors star Stephen Curry and Nets star Kevin Durant were frontrunners to captain the All-Star teams, and that hasn’t changed in the second fan vote returns. Lakers star LeBron James has leapfrogged Durant for the second-most votes in the league, but that does not change Durant’s current captain status. Just like in years past, fans will account for 50% of the final vote for this year’s All-Star Game....

Line: Golden State -8, Total: 195 (current NBA spreads and totals) Memphis (54-26 SU, 38-40-2 ATS) is fighting with the Spurs and Rockets for the Southwest Division crown. The winner will get at least the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, with the other two dropping as low as No. 6. The Grizzlies could have really helped their cause at the Clippers on Saturday, instead losing 94-86 as 9....

Line: Oklahoma City -7.5, Total: 203 ( current NBA point spreads and totals ) These teams met just 10 days ago in the Windy City, with the Bulls winning 108-105 as 1.5-point dogs. They trailed 100-91 with just over five minutes left before a 17-5 run to end the game. The Thunder (36-29 SU, 31-32-2 ATS) last played on Friday night, a 113-99 home win over Minnesota as 10.5-point favorites....

Line: Nets -7, Total: 201 (current NBA spreads and totals) Brooklyn is favored by 7 points over a Western Conference playoff team? Well, no, Nets fans, the team did not suddenly become a contender overnight. Rather, the Blazers will be without star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Chris Kaman. Portland lists injuries for all three players, but the real reason they’re sitting out is plain ole rest. Though, Aldridge has been dealing with a torn thumb ligament....

Christmas is one of those days. The 2022-23 season will mark the 75th edition of the NBA on Christmas Day, with the first Christmas games taking place back in 1947. Every year since the league’s biggest teams, brightest stars and best up-and-coming players have faced off on the holiday. This year’s Christmas Day games will be no different. The slate features five nationally televised games that should bring plenty of excitement....

Smart had the inside lining of his draft suit custom-made to reflect his roots. MORE: A year later, Smart back where he started | Worst NBA Draft suits There’s his high school logo, a map of Texas with a star positioned by his hometown of Flower Mound and more details that he’ll probably reveal when his name is called on Thursday night. Source: CollegeSpun

He has to be right? Otherwise how else would you explain Jordan’s decision making in the 2022 NBA Draft? Armed with the No. 13 overall pick, Jordan and Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak selected dynamic Memphis big man Jalen Duren but then reportedly opted to trade him in a three-team deal involving the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. The trade was puzzling for many reasons as uncertainty surrounding the initial reporting....

Prior to Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Duncan trailed Abdul-Jabbar by only 10 minutes. He played 15 minutes in the first half to reach 8,852 minutes. MORE: Diaw completes amazing pass | Bosh: Big Four very, very unlikely | Finals photos Duncan still trails Derek Fisher for most playoff games played, as the new Knicks coach sits as the all-time leader at 259. Duncan has played in 233 and has never missed the postseason in his playing career....

Leonard, 22, turned his series around after playing through foul trouble in the first two games of the Finals. Leonard scored nine points in each of the first two games, but averaged 23.6 points over the final three games as the Spurs defeated the Heat in five games. MORE: LeBron’s hot start | Manu’s big dunk | Spurs championship gear | Finals photos Leonard, who also anchored the Spurs' defense, finished the series with averages of 17....

Pachulia and Cleveland’s Iman Shumpert got tangled up fighting for a loose ball in the third quarter when Shumpert ended up standing over Pachulia — who decided to let know Shumpert he didn’t like that. MORE: Game 4 live blog Pachulia wasn’t ejected for the swing, and he and Shumpert were both given technicals for the squabble. With the way this game is going (just look at Draymond Green and Steve Kerr), the fourth quarter could result in something even worse if refs don’t get better control of the game....

The team’s dreams of winning its first NBA title were in reach, and after Kawhi Leonard scored 10 straight points, Nurse thought it was the right time to gather his players together. “We just came across and just decided to give those guys a rest,” Nurse said of the timeout, via ESPN. “(We) just thought we could use the extra energy push.” However, the Warriors appeared to be the ones to get a push....

Now the two are rivals of a different sort. And Rivers has come out of a tumultuous couple of weeks — in what has been a tumultuous tenure running and coaching the Clippers — apparently determined not to let Johnson get the better of him all over again. There’s a battle on in Los Angeles between Rivers’ team and the moribund but more popular Lakers, and even with the opportunity to tear down and rebuild, Rivers has decided he won’t give up any progress the Clippers have made on the Lakers in the last five years....

The 23-year-old forward has spent his entire four-year career in Golden State. His contract will expire after the playoffs and he said last weekend he hopes to re-sign with the team. “I’d love to stay here,” Looney said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I like being on this team. I want to be there when Chase Center opens later this year.” The Warriors declined Looney’s fourth-year option in October 2018, which made him a free agent after last season....

If you believe the NBA free agency rumors, LeBron could be headed to Los Angeles, specifically the Lakers. MORE: Storylines for the Cavs’ offseason James is much bigger than just basketball at this point in his career with countless off-court endeavors. This has led multiple folks to surmise James may leave the Cavs for a second time in favor of Los Angeles, where he owns a home 30 minutes away from Staples Center....

“I put in a lot of work, I just wanted to get better and better at the things I could do to help this team win,” he said. “I think the shooting the ball, seeing it go in the net has been a help. I worked on my mechanics a lot, making sure my body is squared up to the goal, making sure my release is good each time. It is something I have focused on....

Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, Kemba Walker and Kawhi Leonard are all spoken for (Yes we know that’s a lot of K’s). But there are still players available who can make a difference. Let’s take a look at some of the top role players for hire this summer. Carmelo Anthony No one really knows what Anthony plans on doing. The 35-year-old forward only played in 10 games in 2018-19 as a member for the Rockets before stepping away from the team after Houston decided he wasn’t a good fit....

Milwaukee is signing free agent Wesley Matthews to a deal for the veteran’s minimum, according to a report from ESPN, which cites unidentified league sources. Matthews, 32, is a strong 3-and-D player. He spent time with the Mavericks and Knicks in 2018-19 before ultimately landing with the Pacers, where he averaged 10.9 points per game and shot 36.9% from beyond the arc in 23 appearances. The Bucks may have gotten a bargain on Matthews, as several contenders were reportedly interested in acquiring him this summer....

The Nets superstars are rumored to be “pushing” for the team they joined in July to sign the 35-year-old wing, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since November, one source told The Athletic. Another source said Anthony has already had an informal workout and been observed by Brooklyn’s general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson this summer. But it appears they’re hesitant to take the risk right now....