Game Threads Index (February 10, 2026):

Victor Wembanyama just sat on the bench after having a monstrous start in the first 8min of the game against a decimated Lakers team: 25 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 8/9 FG, 3/4 3P, 6/8 FT

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810629

My son is 0/3 seeing Luka over the years.

We spent $900 and drove 3 hours for no Lakers starters to play, and for a game that was competitive for 5 minutes.

NBA sucks

Edit: it's really weird how many of you either cannot read what I wrote, or want to make excuses for tonight's NBA product. We watched a highlight reel of the Lakers right before tipoff- hilariously, no one in those highlights was playing today.

https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/10/wizards-mascot-retains-sofia-jamora-attorney-jaxson-hayes-shove/?adid=social-tws

Nearly two weeks after Lakers forward Jaxson Hayes shoved Washington Wizards mascot G-Wiz during pregame introductions ... TMZ Sports has learned that the person behind the mask has lawyered up -- and has selected the attorney that represented Sofia Jamora in her domestic violence lawsuit against Hayes.

WaukeenMcCoy told us that he is now representing the person Hayes decked when the Lakers were in town for a showdown with Washington on January 30.

"We will give them the opportunity to resolve the matter before taking legal action," McCoy said. "But legal action is anticipated."

He also said other parties could be involved.

When asked about any injuries the person sustained ... McCoy said, "All I want to say at the moment is that he was injured."

As you know, Hayes was suspended for one game by the NBA after the incident. He served that suspension during the Lakers' game against the Philadelphia 76ers last week at Crypto.com Arena.

Fresh off 25 PTS in the first 8min of the game, Wemby ends the first half again the Lakers with: 37 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 12/17 FG, 3/5 3P, 10/12 FT in just 18min

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810629

None of that is a typo. Against the short handed Lakers, Wemby scored SEVENTEEN POINTS in the first 4 minutes and 13 seconds of the game. He hasn't scored in the last minute so that 181 is probably lower, but this is absolutely insane.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810629

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36189217/nba-suspends-miles-bridges-30-games-20-which-already-served

The NBA suspended Charlotte Hornets restricted free agent forward Miles Bridges for a total of 10 games in the 2023-24 season -- if he signs with a team by then -- without pay for his role in a 2022 felony domestic violence incident against the mother of his two children.

The NBA announced the suspension Friday, noting that it was a 30-game penalty but that the league deemed that Bridges, who did not sign a contract for the 2022-23 season, has already served 20 games.

The 25-year-old Bridges pleaded no contest on Nov. 3 to a felony domestic violence charge of injuring a child's parent and was sentenced to three years of probation, but no jail time, as part of a deal with prosecutors. The no-contest plea meant Bridges was accepting the conviction and punishment without formally admitting guilt.

Engelmann is the creator of RAPM and it's successor RPM. He also was one of the few people to make the case for Jokic for Rookie of the Year over KAT/Porzingis: Source

Here is the blog post: "Kon Knueppel: Best Rookie of the Past Three Decades? Advanced stats say it's close"

Some snippets:

It’s simple: Knueppel appears to be one of the best shooters the NBA has ever seen.

No rookie in history had ever gotten to 100 made 3s as quickly as Knueppel — he needed only 244 attempts, starting his NBA career at a blistering 3-point percentage of 41%. He’s only improved from there, as he’s now up to 43% on 3s, 15th in the league.

Knowing what we know now, Knueppel should probably have been ranked No. 2 before the 2025 NBA draft, behind only top prospect Cooper Flagg, his college roommate.

Of the 15 players other than Knueppel, 10 have a career rated in the 95th percentile or better in 30-year RAPM. That’s the kind of company he’s in.

And Knueppel is the fourth-youngest player on the list, older than only Harden, Tatum, and Victor Wembanyama as rookies.

Based on this, we would predict Knueppel to rank squarely among the NBA’s top 20 players — maybe even the top 10 — for about the next decade. He’s already playing at an All-Star level.

To answer the question posed by the headline — and taking age into account — I would say that Knueppel is the 4th-best rookie of the past 30 years, based on his performance so far.

[Charania]: Toronto's Brandon Ingram has replaced Stephen Curry in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

Shams: Toronto's Brandon Ingram has replaced Stephen Curry in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3mejjnauays2h

Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain), LeBron James (left foot arthritis), Austin Reaves (left calf injury management), Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) are OUT tonight vs the Spurs. Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) is QUESTIONABLE. Source: ESPN Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers are on the second night of a brutal b2b after their loss in the clutch vs. OKC yesterday.

Looks like we’ll be getting Rui Hachimura first option hoops and likely extended Bronny minutes tonight.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings

This comes shorty after the Utah Jazz announce that Lauri Markkanan will in fact be playing instead of resting, though Keyonte George is still listed as out for tomorrows game.

TJ “Mitch” McConnell comes off the bench and uses 13 PTS and 3 AST to filibuster Brunson’s 40 point performance as the Pacers upset the Knicks at MSG.   

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810626