Tag: Dallas

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Anthony Davis shines before leaving early in his Mavs debut in Dallas

Anthony Davis looks at the scoreboard in the game

In his Dallas debut, Anthony Davis scored 26 points with 16 rebounds before leaving in the third quarter with an abdominal injury, helping the Mavericks win 116-105 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

This was Davis’ first game with the Mavericks after he was traded in a significant deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1.

Davis, who also had seven assists and three blocks, left the game toward the end of the third quarter after grabbing his lower abdomen and did not return. He had been dealing with an abdominal strain since being traded from the Lakers.

Max Christie, who was also acquired from Los Angeles, scored 23 points off the bench, and Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving each added 13 points.

Lakers 124, Pacers 117

Austin Reaves scored a career-high 45 points, along with seven rebounds and seven assists, helping Los Angeles defeat Indiana while LeBron James rested due to ankle soreness.

Reaves made 14 of 26 shots, including four 3-pointers, and hit all 13 of his free throws. Rui Hachimura contributed 24 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers won their fifth consecutive game.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points, followed by Tyrese Haliburton’s 19 points and Bennedict Mathurin’s 16 points. The Pacers have lost two of their last three games.

Thunder 125, Grizzlies 112

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Aaron Wiggins added 26 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City defeated Memphis in a matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Jalen Williams scored 25 points and had six assists, and Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 points and 14 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander also had eight assists and has now scored 25 or more points in 20 consecutive games.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 19 points, ending his streak of nine straight 20-point games. Santi Aldama scored 18 points off the bench, and Ja Morant added 16 points.

Nuggets 122, Suns 105

Jamal Murray made a season-high six 3-pointers and scored 30 points to help Denver beat Phoenix.

Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, but did not play the final quarter and missed out on a triple-double. Christian Braun had 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Julian Strawther added 18 points and six rebounds. Denver won their sixth straight game and 14th in their last 18 games.

Nikola Jokić reacts in the game

Devin Booker scored 24 points, and Bol Bol added 19 points off the bench for the Suns, who lost their fourth game in the last five. Tyus Jones had 15 points and 10 assists, and Damion Lee contributed 11 points.

Warriors 132, Bulls 111

Steph Curry scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, and Jimmy Butler added 25 points in his debut for Golden State, leading them past Chicago.

Golden State shot 57.8% in the second half and 50% overall. The Warriors erased a 24-point deficit in the third quarter and led by as many as 25 in the fourth.

Chicago scored just 42 points in the second half and lost for the third time in four games. Coby White scored 27 points to lead the Bulls. He has scored at least 20 points in five straight games.

Celtics 131, Knicks 104

Jayson Tatum scored 19 of his 40 points in the third quarter for Boston, which led the entire game to beat New York.

Luke Kornet, starting for Kristaps Porzingis (illness), recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Payton Pritchard added 25 points off the bench as Boston moved 2 1/2 games ahead of New York in the race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Brunson scored 36 points for the Knicks, who have been outscored 263-213 in two games against the Celtics.

Clippers 130, Jazz 110

Ivica Zubac had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Norman Powell added 26 points as the Clippers rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to defeat Utah in Inglewood, Calif.

James Harden scored 23 points with a season-high 17 assists, and Amir Coffey added 17 points. The Clippers ended a three-game losing streak, which had matched their longest of the season.

Jordan Clarkson scored 14 of his 24 points in the first quarter, and Keyonte George added 21 points for the Jazz, who have lost 11 of their last 13 games.

Hawks 125, Wizards 111

Trae Young scored 35 points, marking his 14th game with 30 or more points this season, and led Atlanta to a win over Washington.

The Hawks have won two straight games and three of the last four, splitting their season series with Washington 2-2. Young shot 13-for-26 from the field and 5-for-14 from beyond the arc, also adding 14 assists for his 31st double-double of the season. Zaccharie Risacher added 18 points, and Georges Niang scored 16 points in his Atlanta debut.

Trae Young shoots in the 1st half

Washington got 23 points and seven assists from Bub Carrington and 21 points with six assists from Jordan Poole. The Wizards have lost two straight after a three-game winning streak.

Magic 112, Spurs 111

Paolo Banchero hit the game-winning jump shot with 25.3 seconds left to lead Orlando to a come-from-behind win against San Antonio.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 33 points on 14-of-28 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and five assists. Banchero finished with 17 points, nine of them coming in the fourth quarter. This was only Orlando’s fourth win in 12 games since Banchero’s return, making his fourth-quarter performance important.

Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting, and Victor Wembanyama had 18 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. Harrison Barnes scored 21 points with eight rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox, in his third game with the team, scored nine points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Timberwolves 114, Trail Blazers 98

Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading Minnesota to a win over Portland.

Naz Reid finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Minnesota won its third game in a row. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points, and Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Minnesota won despite being without Anthony Edwards (hip) and Mike Conley (finger).

Anfernee Simons led Portland with 21 points on 9-for-21 shooting, snapping their six-game winning streak. Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 14 points, and Scoot Henderson added 12 points.

Kings 123, Pelicans 118

Zach LaVine scored 22 points in his second game with his new team, Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Sacramento ended their two-game losing streak with a comeback win over New Orleans.

Keegan Murray added 19 points, while Malik Monk and Keon Ellis each scored 13 points for Sacramento, which won for the third time in their last nine games.

Zion Williamson led all scorers with a season-high 40 points, and CJ McCollum added 31 points for the Pelicans, who have lost eight straight games.

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NFL (American Football)

Cowboys May Trade Micah Parsons: Speculation grows over a potential trade for the star linebacker

Micah Parsons in the NFL training

The Dallas Cowboys have already made significant changes this offseason, including parting ways with head coach Mike McCarthy and replacing him with their former offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer. After missing the playoffs in 2024, the Cowboys are expected to make changes to their roster as well. One of the biggest questions is about superstar defensive end Micah Parsons.

Parsons is heading into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract in 2025, meaning he is due for a new deal, and it’s likely to be a big one. While Dallas would likely be willing to pay Parsons whatever he asks, if the two sides can’t agree on a deal, the team has had “internal discussions” about potentially trading the four-time Pro Bowler.

“While there have been no trade talks, sources say there have at least been some internal discussions about whether to pay Parsons or trade him for a king’s ransom,” reported Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons (NFL)

Since being drafted 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has become one of the most dominant players in the league. He has recorded at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons, earning four Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2021.

Parsons is expected to set a new standard for pass rushers when he gets a new contract. It’s unclear, however, whether Dallas will be the team to pay him. While no trade is likely at the moment, the possibility of one still exists. If the Cowboys decide they can’t reach an agreement with Parsons, they may consider trading him this offseason.

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NBA (Basketball)

Anthony Davis exits his Dallas debut with an injury following the major Luka Doncic trade

Anthony Davis leaves the game in the 3rd quarter

Anthony Davis left the game in the third quarter due to a lower-body injury and didn’t return in his first game with the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday after the big trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis fell without anyone touching him and grabbed his groin area during Dallas’ 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets. He was listed as doubtful to return and didn’t play again during the Mavs’ first home game after the trade.

The 31-year-old mentioned that he felt tightness in his groin and quadriceps. Part of the reason he didn’t return was because of the abdominal strain that had kept him out of his last two games with the Lakers before the trade and the first two games he could have played with the Mavericks.

“My leg got tight, like a little spasm,” Davis said. “I came back and tried to get it loose and everything, obviously dealing with the ab, still strained. It wouldn’t loosen up and let go. But it’s nothing serious.”

Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and all three of his blocks in the first half. He finished the game with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” coach Jason Kidd said.

Anthony Davis yells in the 1st half

One of the many criticisms of the trade was Dallas giving up a 25-year-old superstar in his prime for Davis, who has had a history of injuries.

The 10-time All-Star went down without contact when Alperen Sengun drove past him for a layup. Davis walked slowly toward the offensive end and stayed in the corner near the Dallas bench while his team ran their offense.

Davis didn’t attempt to move back after the Rockets regained possession. The Mavericks committed a foul to stop the clock and get Davis out of the game. He stayed on the bench briefly before leaving the court.

The Mavs will face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand.

“I’m very confident,” Davis said. “I feel great. I’ll do some more stuff tomorrow, but just take it a day at a time.”

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FEATURED

Anthony Davis impresses for the Mavs in Dallas before injury, while fans remain frustrated over the trade

Anthony Davis yells in the 1st half

Anthony Davis made a strong debut with the Mavericks, less than five minutes into the game, by dunking his own missed shot, pointing to the cheering crowd, and shouting, “I’m here!”

The 10-time All-Star didn’t finish the 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets because of an injury, adding more frustration for fans upset about the huge trade that sent 25-year-old franchise star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fans in Dallas were still in shock over losing a player they believed would stay with the team his whole career. General manager Nico Harrison faced criticism for trading a young superstar in his prime, just eight months after a run to the NBA Finals, for a 31-year-old with a history of injuries.

Davis assured fans not to worry, explaining that he left the game late in the third quarter during Dallas’ first home game since the trade due to tightness near his groin and quadriceps. He didn’t return to the game.

Before the trade, Davis had missed his last two games with the Lakers due to an abdominal strain and could not play in the first two games with the Mavericks either.

“It wouldn’t loosen up and let go,” Davis said. “But it’s nothing serious.”

Before the game, fans outside American Airlines Center, many wearing Doncic’s familiar No. 77 jersey, were still processing the shock and sadness of losing Doncic, protesting with signs and chants, mostly aimed at Harrison.

“It’s going to take time,” Davis said. “It’s still fresh like a divorce — on both sides. Not saying it’s going to go away in one day.”

Many fans who were protesting made it inside the arena for the game. Center Daniel Gafford mentioned, “Seeing a lot of 77s in the stands, it kinda hits hard. It’s like we always say, it’s a business. We’ve got to get used to it.”

Protesters cheered as a cargo van with an electronic sign reading “Inside Traitor” and a picture of Harrison passed by, along with a pickup truck with a sign in the bed that said, “Fire Nico. Sell the team.”

Anthony Davis leaves the game in the 3rd quarter

Owner Angership

The anger was also directed at the new ownership group, which bought the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in December 2023. The Las Vegas-based Adelson and Dumont families now run the team, and Patrick Dumont replaced Cuban as the team’s governor, making the final call on the Doncic-Davis trade.

Many fans expressed concern that the trade was part of a plan to move the franchise to Las Vegas.

Fans were also upset because of the legacy of retired Dallas superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons with the Mavericks, leading them to their only title in 2011. He overlapped with Doncic for one season before stepping aside for the next young European star. Many fans thought Doncic’s career would follow a similar path to Nowitzki’s and are blaming the ownership change for the sudden move.

“They’re not from Dallas,” said Diana Milan of Dallas, a season ticket holder for more than 25 years. “They don’t know the Mavericks fans. They don’t know how beloved Dirk was and then Luka was. We just feel like they’re outsiders (who) came in and ripped that all away from us.”

Heartbreak via Harrison

The Adelson and Dumont families have faced less backlash than Nico Harrison, who has been the target of several harsh chants during the protest on Saturday. Harrison hasn’t been seen publicly since answering reporters’ questions before a game in Cleveland on a five-game road trip.

Harrison missed Davis’ introductory press conference in Dallas on Friday and wasn’t sitting in his usual seat a few rows from courtside opposite the Mavs’ bench during the Rockets game.

“I think he broke our fan base’s heart, and so I think he needs to do something about that,” said Brian Craft, a 48-year-old lifelong Mavs fan who lives 25 miles from Dallas but has a condo near the arena. He hung a banner from his balcony that read “Luka” with a broken heart.

Anthony Davis responds to a question in the news conference

“Even an old-fashioned apology probably goes a long way in a lot of these things,” Craft said. “But let the fan base know that you hear them and that, yes, you made what you thought was a technically sound, good decision, but you probably overlooked the human aspect of it.”

Davis’ impressive debut was exactly what Dallas coach Jason Kidd expected, though it was a strange day for him. Kidd had been part of one of the other big trades in franchise history when the Mavs sent him to Phoenix 2 1/2 years after drafting him second overall in 1994.

“It was weird. It is weird,” Kidd said. “Everybody wants to talk about the trade. Yeah, it’s different. We keep pushing forward. It was there, but understanding that the business of basketball happens.”

Sad Euro Fan

Mirsad Grabus understands, but it hasn’t made it any easier for the native of Bosnia who has lived in Kentucky for 25 years. Grabus received a Doncic jersey from his son for his 60th birthday, which he celebrated earlier this month with a Mavs birthday cake.

Grabus became a Mavs fan when Doncic, from Slovenia, was drafted. They had been planning to see him play live for the first time in Dallas for a month. The trade happened five days before the Houston game, but they decided to make the trip anyway.

“It’s like I lost a kid,” Grabus said. “Wherever he goes, I go, too. It’s sad to say now I’m now a Lakers fan.”

That might be a bit extreme for the local fans, even with the emotions still running high.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

After the trade, Stars’ Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci face off against the Sharks in Dallas

Mikael Granlund (NHL)

Former Sharks players Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci will return to the Bay Area on Saturday night, as the Dallas Stars face off against San Jose, looking to complete a three-game season sweep. The Sharks traded Granlund and Ceci to Dallas for two 2025 draft picks on February 1.

The Stars are in San Jose to finish a three-game road trip through California, aiming to avoid a third consecutive loss before the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. On Friday night, Dallas lost 5-4 in a shootout to Los Angeles. Matt Duchene scored twice and added an assist. Mavrik Bourque and Thomas Harley also scored, while Jake Oettinger made 33 saves.

“(The Kings) are at a different level this year than they were last year,” Duchene, who recorded his 500th career assist, said. “I thought the first 15 minutes we weren’t very good, and then (Oettinger) was great. The last five minutes of the first period, we sort of came to life, and I thought we were pretty good after that. We had a lot of good looks. Tough loss, but big point.”

The Stars, second in the Central Division, are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have a 14-11-1 road record this season.

Casey DeSmith, who is expected to start Saturday, is 8-6-0 in 16 games this season, with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. In six career games against the Sharks, DeSmith is 2-4-0 with an .888 save percentage and a 3.58 GAA.

Dallas won both of their previous games against the Sharks, both in Dallas: 3-2 in a shootout on October 15 and 5-2 on November 20.

Granlund, who has two assists in three games with the Stars, led the Sharks in assists (30) and points (45) before the trade.

“We miss him, he’s a great player,” said Sharks forward Fabian Zetterlund. “We can’t do anything about it right now. I think we’ve played two really good games here (since the trade).”

Alexandar Georgiev- San Jose Sharks

The Sharks, last in the Western Conference, have won only one of their last 10 games (1-8-1). They enter Saturday’s game after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Tyler Toffoli scored his team-leading 20th goal, and Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves as the Sharks fell to 9-17-2 at home this season.

“I thought we competed hard, I thought we worked hard,” said Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “Our puck play was a little iffy at times, but I thought we did enough to win a hockey game, that’s for sure.”

Toffoli has points in four straight games (three goals, two assists) and ranks fourth on the Sharks’ points list (including Granlund) with 35 points in 53 games this season.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is 2-11-0 in 14 games since joining the Sharks in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in December, with an .875 save percentage and a 4.01 GAA. Georgiev has a 6-4-0 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.05 GAA in 11 career games against the Stars.

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NBA (Basketball)

Anthony Davis is ready for his debut with the Mavs in Dallas and acknowledges the frustration of fans who lost Luka Doncic

Anthony Davis responds to a question in the news conference

Anthony Davis is ready to make his debut for the Dallas Mavericks in their first home game since the huge trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

While Davis knows he’ll be on the court for the opening tip against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, he’s unsure what to expect.

Anger among Dallas fans remained high even six days after the trade, which also included sending Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavs while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris went to LA.

Most of the frustration has been aimed at Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who traded a 25-year-old superstar in his prime just eight months after the Mavs reached the NBA Finals for the first time since winning the franchise’s only championship in 2011.

“I get who Luka was to this franchise, to this city,” Davis said on Friday at his introductory news conference. “I’m never going to downplay that. Just how I know what I meant to the city of LA. So I’m not surprised by the fans’ reaction and the city’s reaction. It’s my job to come in and play basketball and do what I’m supposed to do and give the fans hope and reassurance on why Nico brought me here.”

“I don’t know how (Saturday’s) going to be as far as the reaction,” Davis said. “I can’t control that. Obviously, it was a tough transition. It was a shock to all. My job is to come in and win basketball games.”

Fans in Dallas protested outside the arena the day after the trade, and similar demonstrations could occur when the team returns from a five-game road trip.

All Davis can do is prove himself as one of the NBA’s top big men, a 10-time All-Star with career averages of 24.2 points and 10.7 rebounds, who helped lead the Lakers to their 17th championship in the 2020 playoff bubble.

“I’d just tell them you’ve got a guy who’s going to be on the floor every night,” Davis said when asked what he would say to one of those angry fans. “A guy who’s going to compete every night and bring that championship experience to the organization, try to help lead this team to some championships.”

Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and Caleb Martin respond to a question in the news conference

Davis was joined by Max Christie and Caleb Martin, who also joined the Mavericks in a trade with Philadelphia. Christie played the last two games on the road trip, scoring 15 points in each game. Martin’s debut with the Mavericks is uncertain because of a hip injury.

“I’m big on perspective,” said Christie, a 21-year-old in his third season as a second-round pick coming off a one-and-done college career at Michigan State. “Being able to be a part of a trade of this magnitude is definitely kind of flattering to me.”

Harrison’s bold move shifts the star pairing from Kyrie Irving and Doncic to a new frontcourt-backcourt combo of Irving and Davis.

Irving said in the first game after the trade that he was still grieving the loss of his “hermano,” but preparing himself to move on. After struggling together in the 2022-23 season, Irving and Doncic found their groove in 2023-24 and led the Mavs to a Western Conference title before losing to Boston in five games.

Now, Irving focuses on a new partnership, hoping the learning curve is not as steep since the team now has two players who don’t both need to dominate the ball.

The 31-year-old Davis is also eager to play mostly at power forward, as the Mavs have stronger personnel at center compared to the Lakers, with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Lively may not return until late in the regular season due to a stress fracture in his ankle.

“I just think having a guard like Kai, who’s able to score, who’s able to pass, attack downhill, he can do it all. No flaw in his game,” Davis said. “I don’t think he’s played with a guy like me as well who can play in the pocket, can roll to the rim, be a lob threat and pick and pop, can handle (the ball) when he can come set a screen for me. It’s a different dynamic that I bring to him and he brings to me.”

It’s bringing a new dynamic to the Mavericks’ home, at least for now.

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FEATURED

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones states that the hiring of a new coach and other changes are aimed at immediate competition

Jerry Jones signs autographs along the red carpet

Jerry Jones stated that he decided to hire Brian Schottenheimer as the Dallas Cowboys’ new coach and sign quarterback Dak Prescott to a $240 million, four-year contract because the team is focused on winning now and aiming to compete for Super Bowls.

Speaking at the NFL Honors event on Thursday night, Jones expressed confidence that Schottenheimer was the right choice to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory. Schottenheimer, 51, is the son of the late Marty Schottenheimer, who had a successful NFL coaching career. Last month, Schottenheimer was promoted from offensive coordinator to become the 10th coach in the franchise’s history.

This promotion came less than two weeks after the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy, whose contract expired following a 7-10 season. McCarthy had brought Schottenheimer in as a consultant in 2022.

Jones explained that Schottenheimer’s football background played a key role in the decision, as Marty Schottenheimer had a career record of 200-126-1 over 21 seasons as an NFL coach.

“We called it osmosis, sitting around the breakfast table,” Jones said. “He made a young lifetime out of asking his father to help him, being around organizations so he could absorb as much football as possible. He’s no accident. He’s had a lot of experience to be a first-time head coach. I thought we could bet on that.”

Schottenheimer was well-liked in the Cowboys’ locker room. Jones defended the decision to promote him, rejecting the idea that it was a safe move by promoting a coach already on staff.

Jerry Jones’ direct inquiry sparks rumors of Sanders joining the NFL

“It gives us some continuity but lets us have a new shot at it,” Jones said.

Schottenheimer is the ninth coach Jones has hired since buying the team in 1989. He becomes the seventh coach since the Cowboys last reached the NFC Championship game during the 1995 season, which led to their fifth Super Bowl title. This is the longest streak in the NFC without reaching the conference title game.

Under McCarthy, the Cowboys made the playoffs three years in a row with 12-5 records, but they only won one of those postseason games.

Jones told the AP, “The decisions I’m making are not based on rebuilding. They’re based on competing. And competing now. The decisions I made last year were based on competing now. Now they didn’t exactly work out. But I think I paid Dak more than anybody’s ever been paid in the NFL. That’s now. That’s not the future. We’re excited about our team’s ability to compete right now.”

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FEATURED

Brian Windhorst dismisses ‘QAnon’ trade conspiracy theories surrounding Luka Dončić in Dallas

Luka Doncic and Lebron Jmes laugh on the bench

One reason conspiracy theories are so popular is that they attempt to explain things that don’t make sense. In sports, one of the most confusing topics right now is the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the surprising news broke that the Mavericks had traded their 25-year-old star, a five-time first-team All-NBA player, conspiracy theories quickly started circulating. The most common theory is that the NBA’s top leaders set up the trade to boost ratings, with one of the league’s brightest young stars now joining the most famous team.

Dwyane Wade suggested this move was the NBA owners’ way of taking control back from the players, while Bill Simmons speculated that the trade was a way to turn Mavericks fans against the team, possibly setting the stage to move the franchise to Las Vegas.

Despite his ability to analyze NBA transactions, Brian Windhorst isn’t buying into these theories. Instead, Windhorst, who is known for reading between the lines, says he’s doing something he doesn’t often do in his more than 20 years of covering the NBA — he’s believing what everyone involved has said about the deal.

“This is also uncharted territory, what I’m about to say,” Windhorst said on Wednesday’s Get Up. “I believe everything that everybody has said about this deal. Everything that LeBron [James] says, everything that Luka says, everything that Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison, everything that Kyrie [Irving] said. I believe everybody is telling the truth.

I never believe that in the NBA when it comes to what they say in the media. In this case, from what I know, I think everybody is telling the truth.”

Luka Doncic speaks at the NBA basketball conference

Windhorst explained that the trade might not be as complicated as people think. He believes the Mavericks simply didn’t want to pay Dončić a $350 million supermax extension this summer. And even though the trade might be the first time in LeBron James’ career that he wasn’t consulted about a major move, acquiring a player like Dončić was a clear decision for the Lakers.

“Everything is just straight on the up and up,” Windhorst said. “It’s stunning. It’s shocking. It may be a massive mistake for the Dallas Mavericks. But everything that happened is straight on. I know it’s hard to accept because of the world we’re in today. But that is indeed what has gone on and that is my takeaway.”

“I know that there is QAnon, Illuminati, 4D chess theories, I reject all of them,” Windhorst said. “I think it is exactly as it seems on face value.” Although he usually thinks there’s always more to the story in the NBA, Windhorst believes the facts from the Mavericks, Lakers, players, and general managers involved all line up, even if the trade is still shocking.

The main reason this trade is so surprising is that it’s hard to understand why a team would give up on a player as talented and young as Dončić. But once you accept that this is what happened, even if you don’t agree with it, the rest of the details make sense.

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NBA (Basketball)

Mavs might have Anthony Davis for Finals rematch against Celtics in Dallas

Anthony Davis (NBA)

Anthony Davis might make his Mavericks debut on Thursday when Dallas plays the Boston Celtics in their final matchup of the season series.

The Mavericks have lost both games since trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package that included Davis, who has been recovering from an abdominal muscle strain he suffered on January 28.

“I’ll go through a workout today, see how I feel, and depending on that, get another one in (Wednesday),” Davis said on Tuesday. “And then depending on that, see how I feel. If not Thursday, then more than likely Saturday at home (against the Houston Rockets).”

Davis has averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 42 games this season, all as a starter.

Max Christie, who also came to Dallas in the Doncic trade, played in Tuesday’s 118-116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and scored 15 points in 32 minutes.

“I was just playing hard, to be honest, and reacting to what was going on,” Christie said. “The (team) concepts are kind of foreign to me, so I’m just playing off reaction. It helped that I was making my threes, too.”

Dallas will be aiming to snap a three-game losing streak on Thursday. The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 122-107 on January 25, the first meeting between the two teams since their 2024 NBA Finals matchup.

Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (NBA)

Quentin Grimes scored 20 points off the bench in the first game against Boston but was traded to Philadelphia for forward Caleb Martin on Tuesday. Martin is averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds this season.

The Celtics come off one of their best defensive performances of the season, extending their winning streak to four games with a 112-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Boston recorded 10 steals and six blocked shots in the victory, holding the Cavaliers to a season-low-tying field-goal percentage of 39.6%.

“It was a battle at both ends,” said Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis. “Their defense was there, and we had to bring ours. It was a physical battle. We had just enough to edge them.”

Boston limited Cleveland, the Eastern Conference leaders, to 15 points in the first quarter.

“I thought we did a good job just taking away some of the margins, some of the easy baskets that they’re able to create because of the type of players that they have and the type of offense that they run,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Before the NBA All-Star Weekend begins on February 14, Boston will play road games against the New York Knicks and Miami Heat, along with a home game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Celtics’ current four-game win streak is their longest since a seven-game streak in November.

“I’m very happy we have four wins in a row now because it’s a tough, tough stretch right before the All-Star break,” Porzingis said. “It’s important for us to finish strong going into the All-Star break, get some rest, then have that really good home stretch of the regular season to peak at the right moment.”

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FEATURED

John Gibson leads Ducks to win over Stars in Anaheim

Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars

John Gibson made 26 saves to earn the win in his 500th NHL game as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Tuesday night in Anaheim.

This was Gibson’s 202nd career victory, making him the 11th active goaltender and 85th in NHL history to reach 500 games.

Trevor Zegras and Cutter Gauthier scored for Anaheim, which won its fifth game in the last six. It was the Ducks’ first win with two or fewer goals since the season opener, a 2-0 shutout over San Jose on Oct. 12. Anaheim is now 2-24-4 when scoring two or fewer goals.

Colin Blackwell scored for Dallas, and Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots. The Stars’ five-game winning streak was snapped, and this was Oettinger’s first loss in nine starts against Anaheim.

The Ducks took a 1-0 lead at 17:47 of the first period when Gauthier grabbed a loose puck in the slot and fired it into the top right corner.

Anaheim Ducks (NHL)

Dallas tied it early in the third period when Blackwell scored off a pass from Sam Steel, who set him up with a backhand pass from the left circle.

Anaheim regained the lead just 2:38 later when Zegras, left alone in front of the net, redirected Alex Killorn’s no-look pass from the left circle past Oettinger for the game-winner.

Oettinger was pulled for an extra attacker with 2:08 remaining. After Frank Vatrano missed a chance at the empty net, Gibson made a glove save on Wyatt Johnston’s wrist shot from close range.

Gibson sealed the win with another save on Jason Robertson’s wrist shot with 19 seconds left.

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FEATURED

Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has knee surgery and is expected to be out for a month, per team officials in Dallas

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of an NHL game

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen had knee surgery in New York on Tuesday.

Before the Stars’ game against Anaheim on Tuesday night, coach Pete DeBoer told reporters that Heiskanen’s status is now “month to month,” which means he might be able to return later in the regular season or during the playoffs.

Heiskanen was set to play for Finland in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but he was ruled out late last week.

Heiskanen was injured during the third period of the Stars’ 4-3 overtime win against Vegas on January 28. Mark Stone hit Heiskanen after falling toward his left knee and thigh when he got tripped. Stone was not fined or suspended for the incident.

Stone, who was penalized for tripping, said he did not mean to hurt Heiskanen. DeBoer, who coached Stone in Vegas, said he did not think Stone was a dirty player but questioned why officials didn’t review the play for a potential five-minute major penalty. There was a brief scuffle between the teams while Heiskanen was on the ice.

DeBoer mentioned that Heiskanen had an MRI on January 29.

Dallas Stars Fans Angry at Mark Stone Over Miro Heiskanen Injury

The 4 Nations tournament will take place from February 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. It’s the first international tournament with the NHL’s top players in nearly 10 years.

The Stars, who have made it to the Western Conference Final in each of the past two seasons, are on a five-game winning streak and have won seven of their last 10 games. They currently sit second in the Central Division, with Colorado and Minnesota trailing closely behind.

Heiskanen has been one of the top defensemen for the Stars since making his debut at 19 years old in 2018. Dallas drafted him third overall in 2017.

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NBA (Basketball)

Davis is traded to the Mavericks, acknowledging the significance of the deal that sent Doncic to the Lakers, in Dallas

Anthony Davis and Lebron James
Anthony Davis and Lebron James (NBA)

Anthony Davis gave up a $6 million bonus as part of the huge trade that brought him to the Dallas Mavericks and sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a rare swap of superstar players.

This move may have been Davis’ way of showing he understands the importance of the trade, which angered many of his new team’s fans.

Most of the frustration has been aimed at Dallas general manager Nico Harrison. However, Davis is at risk of being seen as the player who came in exchange for the beloved Doncic, no matter what the Mavericks do with one of the NBA’s top 75 players.

“Losing a monumental piece like Luka. It’s a lot, right?” Davis said about the five-time All-NBA first-team player. “So I’m just trying to do my part and help Nico and the organization on how we can continuously get better. That’s just always the right thing to do.”

Davis spoke to reporters in Philadelphia before the Mavericks faced the 76ers. He had already been ruled out for the game due to the abdominal injury that kept him sidelined in his final days with the Lakers.

Of course, Davis didn’t know that his last game with LA had been a week ago against the 76ers, just as Doncic had no idea that his final game with the Mavs would be on Christmas after straining his calf.

Davis was speaking to reporters on the East Coast while Doncic was holding a press conference on the West Coast. Both players confirmed their surprise and shock over the trade.

“I was actually at home, about to watch a movie with my wife and got the phone call,” Davis said. “I had no idea. I just sent the team a text about congratulations about beating the Knicks, big win, and looking forward to Tuesday’s game against the Clippers. And I found out an hour later I was no longer with the team.”

Luka Doncic speaks at the NBA basketball conference

Doncic won’t be playing against the Clippers on Tuesday, but his return from the calf injury could happen soon.

Davis expects to be back on the court first. He mentioned he might play Thursday in Boston, or if not then, perhaps Saturday against Houston in the Mavs’ first home game since the trade.

There’s some familiarity for Davis with his new team.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd was an assistant when Davis played with LeBron James to help the Lakers win their 17th championship in the 2020 “bubble.”

Davis has known Nico Harrison since high school, and Harrison worked for Nike for two decades before joining the Mavericks in 2021. Davis eventually signed with Nike.

“Nico believes in me and what I can add to this team,” Davis said. “We are both extremely excited about what we can do, and I think we have a great opportunity to win a championship.”

The most crucial relationship now is with Kyrie Irving, who was traded to Dallas from Brooklyn to team up with Doncic. Their pairing led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, the team’s first appearance in 13 years, although they lost to Boston in five games.

Now the Mavs have a new set of co-stars. Davis mentioned that he and Irving had discussed playing together six years ago, when Davis left New Orleans to join the Lakers, and Irving went to the Nets.

Now they’re finally teammates, both still processing the shock of the trade that brought them together. Irving, who hasn’t spoken to reporters since the trade, joked with the media to “take it easy” on Davis in his first press session.

“Had no idea that it was happening,” Davis said of the deal. “But, I mean, now I’m kind of over it, and just kind of getting ready to play with Dallas.”

And understanding the weight of replacing a player like Doncic.