Basketball Intelligence For 1/31/26
The day's best basketball news and reporting.
FEATURES OF THE DAY
NBA Hot Shots: Mid-Season Update
Chris Gunther, Charting Hoops
Big Giannis questions: Is it now or never for Warriors? Why are Bucks better waiting?
Eric Nehm/Sam Amick/John Hollinger, The Athletic
Cade Cunningham’s growth has earned him respect from some of the NBA’s best defenders
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Mail Bag! True contenders, Spurs guards, Clippers future, and more
Jared Dubin, Last Night, In Basketball
NBA Trade Deadline 2026: Trae Young deal shows major hiccup in open market
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News
The Tuesday Newsletter Extravaganza ... on a Friday night
Marc Stein, The Stein Line
NBA trade deadline: How 8 East threats approach final-week sprint
Tim Bontemps/Brian Windhorst, ESPN
TEAM NEWS
BOS: Payton Pritchard, Celtics keep Kings in check in decisive 112-93 victory
Gary Washburn, The Boston Globe
BOS: How the Celtics, without Tatum, kept their spot among East elite
Tim Bontemps, ESPN
In light of Tatum's injury and the veteran talent lost from the roster, it would have been easy and understandable for the franchise to buy into the idea of a lost season. Boston has done anything but, surging into the conference's top tier after finding its footing throughout an 8-8 opening month.
BOS: Anfernee Simons has always strived to play the game the right way, which has made him a good fit with the Celtics
Gary Washburn, The Boston Globe
BOS: Celtics center sends a message to Brad Stevens as trade deadline approaches
Brian Robb, masslive.com
