NBA NewsSaturday, Jan 17, 2026

Zion Williamson has moved into the top-10 in the NBA in PER with a mark of 24.5. Williamson had a PER of 29.0 in December over nine games after 20.0 in November. NBA PER (Week 11): 1. Nikola Jokic: 35.0 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 34.3 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.4 4. Victor Wembanyama: 27.4 5. Luka Doncic: 26.8 6. Kawhi Leonard: 26.7 7. Zion Williamson: 24.5 8. Jaylen Brown: 24.2 9. Donovan Mitchell: 23.6 10. Mark Williams: 23.4 11. Jalen Duren: 23.2 12. Anthony Edwards: 23.1 13. Tyrese Max...

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The Nuggets have been using Aaron Gordon off the bench since he returned from a hamstring strain to maximize the value of his limited minutes, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Coach David Adelman wants Gordon to be available to help close out games, so he’s playing him strategically the rest of the time. […]

Russell Westbrook scored 26 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 128-115 win over the Washington Wizards at Golden 1 Center on Friday, marking the Kings’ fourth straight victory. Domantas Sabonis returned from a 27-game absence with a partially torn meniscus, coming off the bench to score 13 points with seven […] The post Westbrook leads Kings past Wizards as Sabonis returns from injury appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Russell Westbrook emphasized ball movement and team effort following Sacramento’s 128-115 win over Washington on Friday. “It was good. It was important for us. We play better when we move the ball, drive it, kick it, make plays for the next person,” Westbrook said. On the team’s four-game winning streak, Westbrook credited trust and chemistry. […] The post Russell Westbrook praises Kings’ teamwork and young core after win over Wizards appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Zach LaVine credited the Sacramento Kings’ strong team chemistry following Friday’s 128-115 win over the Washington Wizards. “We just found a little bit of a rhythm. We’re playing hard. There’s ebbs and flows to the game, but we came out with the right intensity,” he said. LaVine noted the team’s response to Washington’s physical play. […] The post Zach LaVine praises team rhythm and intensity after Kings’ beat Wizards appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson highlighted both offense and defense after Friday’s 117-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. “Everybody’s going to talk about the 39 points, but I’ll talk about his defense on Maxey. He hit a three, then he’d pick him up full court. He was great on both […] The post Kenny Atkinson praises team effort as Cavaliers edge 76ers appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Precious Achiuwa has welcomed the chance to spend the majority of his time at power forward with Sacramento, viewing it as a return to the role that best suits his game. Speaking with Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Achiuwa explained that the position aligns with the way he has always approached basketball and […] The post Precious Achiuwa reveals what playing the four unlocks appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Golden State will be without forward Gui Santos for Saturday’s matchup against Charlotte Hornets after he suffered a left ankle sprain early in Thursday’s victory over the New York Knicks, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. With Santos having carved out a steady role in the rotation recently, the team is preparing […] The post Steve Kerr explains what Gui Santos’ absence takes away appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Suns guard Devin Booker is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game in New York as he continues to deal with a left ankle sprain that sidelined him for Thursday’s loss in Detroit, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The team will also remain without guards Jalen Green, who is recovering from a right […] The post Mark Williams says Jalen Green gaining confidence appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

While some around the league have framed Toronto as a buyer ahead of the trade deadline, sources cited by Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com describe the Raptors’ mindset as more selective than aggressive, characterizing it as “opportunistic” and focused on identifying undervalued situations rather than chasing immediate upgrades. That philosophy helps explain why Toronto has been […] The post Raptors, Rockets, Clippers weigh deadline options appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Even though Daniel Gafford has frequently been cited as one of the Mavericks’ most attractive trade assets, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports that his market appeal may be slipping due to ongoing durability questions. The 27-year-old has already missed 13 games this season after suffering a right ankle sprain on the opening day of training […] The post Daniel Gafford’s ankle hurts trade value appeared first on TalkBasket.net .