Basketball Intelligence For 1/28/25, PART ONE
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
Wing Men: How “3-and-D” Came to Dominate the NBA
Justin Verrier, The Ringer
LEAGUEWIDE
Wing Men: How “3-and-D” Came to Dominate the NBA
Justin Verrier, The Ringer
The 3-point boom forever changed the job description for NBA role players, ushering in a world full of 3s and defense. But the latest trends in the game have paved the way for a new generation of wings to leave the 3-and-D label behind.
NBA trade deadline tiers: Deal scenarios, outlooks for all 30 teams
Bobby Marks, ESPN+
NBA Power Rankings: Knicks, Rockets rise toward top
Law Murray, The Athletic
Power Rankings, Week 15: Thunder reign as Rockets bump Cavs for No. 2 spot
John Schuhmann, NBA.com
NBA's best and worst lineups
Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports
Notes from: Rockets-Celtics, Suns-Clippers, Heat-Magic, Lakers-Hornets, Bulls-Nuggets
Keith Smith, The Basketball Bulletin
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: De'Andre Hunter Scores Career-High 35 Points, But Shorthanded Atlanta Hawks Lose to Minnesota
Jackson Caudell, Sports Illustrated
BOS: Celtics key reserve Luke Kornet proving to be one of NBA’s best value contracts
Souichi Terada, Mass Live
CLE: Cavs snap three-game losing skid
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLE: Cavs, Pistons got what they needed with Kenny Atkinson, J.B. Bickerstaff
Jason Lloyd, The Athletic
CLE: Winning With Defense, An Off Offensive Night and Missing Dean Wade
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
DAL: Klay Thompson rediscovers ‘flow state,’ drills 7 3-pointers in first quarter
Christian Clark, The Athletic
DAL: Klay Thompson’s Mavericks-record night reminds him ‘there’s greatness still within you’
Brad Townsend, Morning News
DAL: Kylor Kelley’s long, winding journey culminates in feel-good NBA debut with Mavericks
Brad Townsend, Morning News
DEN: 3 takeaways from Denver's second straight loss
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette
DEN: Westbrook is rescuing the Nuggets by collecting one of basketball’s lowest paychecks.
Robert O’Connell, Wall Street Journal
DET: Cavs, Pistons got what they needed with Kenny Atkinson, J.B. Bickerstaff
Jason Lloyd, The Athletic
DET: Pistons Should Stick To Long-Term Plan At NBA Trade Deadline
Bryan Toporek, Forbes
DET: Pistons’ lack of a secondary creator next to Cade Cunningham is a glaring problem
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
DET: Cunningham struggles as Cavaliers run to 110-91 victory
Omari Sankofa II, Free Press
HOU: Amen Thompson is breaking out using the tools he's got
Owen Phillips, The F5
Despite lacking the conventional tools thought necessary to succeed in the NBA, Thompson has found a way to break out.
On Monday, against the Boston Celtics, he scored 33 points (a career high) and hit the game winner over Jaylen Brown. If he wasn’t already, he’ll soon be your favorite NBA nerd’s favorite NBA player.
Thompson was already on the shortlist for the league’s most exciting young players and then Jabari Smith Jr. fractured his hand. That created a vacancy in the Rockets’ starting lineup and head coach Ime Udoka tapped Amen Thompson to fill it.
Since naming Thompson a full-time starter, the Rockets have blasted into the top ten in Offensive Rating. In the month of January alone, the Rockets have had the league’s 4th best offense, trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies.
Thompson can’t shoot for shit and he knows it. He’s made just 24 percent of his threes on a meager 56 attempts this season. That’s about as many threes as Tyrese Maxey has taken in his last five games.
Still, the Rockets are a better offense when Thompson is on the court and that’s because he’s one of the most prolific opportunistic scorers in the NBA. Thompson is one of six players this season that have scored 100 or more points off turnovers, second chances, and fastbreaks.
HOU: Amen Thompson, Rockets show they’re for real in win over Celtics
Kelly Iko, The Athletic
LAL: Anthony Davis has a monster game, tallying 42 points and 23 rebounds in Lakers win
Dan Woike, LA Times
LAL: With NBA trade deadline looming, Anthony Davis — not LeBron James — is putting pressure on Lakers
Melissa Rohlin, Fox Sports
MIN: Chris Finch fumes after Timberwolves’ unimpressive win over Hawks
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
MIN: Wolves handle Hawks for third win in a row, yet remain disappointed
Chris Hine, Star Tribune