LAURI MARKKANEN

The big question facing each of the West’s muddled middle class, Part IIWe’re finishing our run through the West’s congested middle class and by looking at the one big question facing teams No. The 2023 NBA postseason starts in just one month, and there’s still so much left to be decided. Let's take a run through the West's congested middle class and consider one big question facing every team from No. You cannot tell me that letting this team compete this season isn’t going to pay major dividends. pic.twitter.com/USp13P81yD — Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) March 15, 2023The Lakers have scored at a top-10 clip with AD and Russell on the floor.

The Orlando magic lost their Thursday night match against the Utah Jazz after Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points and Talen Horton-Tucker added 23.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is teaming up with his brothers once again on All-Star Saturday.

The NBA on Friday announced three injury replacements for next week’s All-Star Game. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam will replace Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant in the Feb. 19 exhibition. The league also selected Siakam over Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler, who finished ahead of his Raptors counterpart in the Eastern Conference frontcourt voting. The facial fracture Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown suffered this week could also create another All-Star opening in the Eastern Conference backcourt. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson would be among the leading replacement candidates, should Brown sit out the exhibition.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Portland’s Damian Lillard had to have known they were going to the All-Star Game.

PORTLAND, Ore. — (AP) — No offense to the Utah Jazz, but Damian Lillard said scoring 60 points against them was fairly simple. Lillard had a season-high 60 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Jazz 134-124 on Wednesday night. “I think any time you score 60 points it’s special, but I think this one I just felt like it came pretty simple," Lillard said. Lillard has four career games of 60 points or more. “You just kind of sit back and just enjoy it,” Blazers teammate Nassir Little said about watching Lillard reach 60.

Damian Lillard scored 60 points on 71.4% shooting from the field in Portland's 134-124 win vs. Utah.

Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124 on Wednesday night.

Fan voting for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game continues apace, with a slew of established superstars poised to add another All-Star appearance to their lengthy and glittering résumés. He hasn't slowed down, sitting fifth in the NBA in scoring at 30.7 points per game. With Gilgeous-Alexander on the court, the Thunder generate 115 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass — a near-top-10 rate of offensive efficiency. Judging by most of the variousall-in-oneadvancedstatisticalmetrics, Markkanen has been, at worst, one of the six best frontcourt players in the West this season. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin — the last rookie to make the All-Star Game.

Donovan Mitchell had 46 points in his return to Utah, but the Jazz rallied late behind Jordan Clarkson to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114.

Just weeks ago, the Golden State Warriors might not have pulled off a win like this without their superstars on the court. Jordan Poole scored 26 points and converted a key layup with 1:27 left and the undermanned Warriors rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 112-107 on Wednesday night. Ty Jerome hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:18 to play after his own steal, then made a key rebound to help set up Donte DiVincenzo’s 3 the next time down as Golden State got another big performance from the reserves.

Ric Bucher takes a microscopic look at an NBA season that has been defined solely by its unpredictability.

Here, I'll opine some of the biggest surprises of the fantasy basketball season a quarter of the way through. Despite the injuries, I thought Terry Rozier would prevail as a dynamic real-life and fantasy player. Bol Bol - PF/C, Orlando MagicCurrent per-game rank: 49Bol Bol checks just about every box for a modern NBA player. Props to Orlando Magic HC Jamahl Mosley for finding a way to get Bol Bol in the rotation (primarily due to injuries). But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't tell you to sell high on Bol Bol.

Atlanta approached the Jazz about swapping Collins for Markkanen, sources said, which did not generate any traction. A good player on a hefty long-term contract only carries so much trade interest when it’s perceived to be above market value. Elsewhere in Atlanta, keep an eye on Justin Holiday this trade season, as rookie forward A.J. Detroit has taken early calls on Bey from inquiring teams, sources said, a change in behavior from recent trade windows. The final week of November will be integral in the Lakers’ decision-making ahead of this unofficial trade season.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, reserve Collin Sexton added 22 and the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-102 on Sunday night. George missed shots down the stretch after the Jazz erased the Clippers’ four-point lead. Down by four in the fourth, the Jazz scored nine in a row, capped by Malik Beasley's 3-pointer to take the lead for good. The Clippers scored the first seven points of the third to pull into a 63-all tie. Markkanen scored 11 of Utah's points in the spurt when he made all five of his free-throw attempts.

Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, reserve Collin Sexton added 22 and the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-102.

Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 20 points and the Utah Jazz continued their remarkable start to the season with a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

From an NBA team’s perspective, any exhibition play presents obvious injury risk. The key [now] is to play that way when you don’t have minutes [in the NBA],” Hernangomez told Yahoo Sports. “That’s when we got really excited,” former Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. And yet the desire to reunite All-Star Jimmy Butler with his former Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau, proved all too tantalizing for Minnesota. Markkanen watched Chicago play the Trail Blazers and Clippers from his wife’s bedside.

RISERSAndrew Wiggins - SG/SF, Golden State Warriors — Current per-game rank: 5thI can't make a riser list that doesn't include Andrew Wiggins. I had to do a double-take when I saw that he's currently fifth overall in per-game value through the first week of the 22-23 NBA season. John Collins - PF/C, Atlanta Hawks — Current per-game rank: 6thIt's very early, but the initial results of the Dejounte Murray and Trae Young experiment look promising. Myles Turner - PF/C, Indiana Pacers — Current per-game rank: 474stI drafted Myles Turner in a very competitive league, and I came away feeling great. He's currently 171st in per-game value, and the Celtics' small-ball lineups could be of concern for Horford's future outlook.

Injuries to Pelicans stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram took some of the luster off of New Orleans promising start to the regular season.

The Cavaliers are back in the Eastern Conference title hunt.

CLEVELAND — (AP) — Donovan Mitchell is headed east. The All-Star guard is on his way to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired one of the NBA's best scorers Thursday in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. There had been speculation for months that Mitchell might get moved, and it appeared the New York Knicks were the frontrunner for him. Mitchell, who averaged 25.9 points per game last season, will pair with All-Star point guard Darius Garland and he'll play along with All-Star center Jarett Allen and forward Evan Mobley, who had a strong rookie season. He's a proven scorer but he became expendable for Cleveland due to Garland's development and the club's talented frontline.

Trae Young scored 32 of his 38 points in the second half and the Atlanta Hawks overcame losing center Clint Capela to a knee injury to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-101 in the play-in and earn the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 playoff seed.

76ers Cavaliers Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) passes the ball while he scrambles on the floor with Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, top, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Cleveland. AP Photo/David Dermer) (David Dermer)Not since 1998 have the Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James. The only suspense left is determining seeding — and which teams will avoid the play-in and go straight to the playoffs. Their big new addition, DeMar DeRozan, is averaging a career-high 28 points per game, helping change the Bulls' outlook considerably. DeRozan said a missed free throw late in the fourth quarter left him frustrated, but the Bulls took the game anyway.

Not since 1998 have the Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James.

Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, leading Cleveland to a 107-101 victory over the Orlando Magic in a game in which the Cavaliers lost rookie big man Evan Mobley to a sprained left ankle.

Joel Embiid had 35 points and 17 rebounds, James Harden scored 21 points and added 11 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-114.

Cedi Osman scored 22 points and Kevin Love had 19 as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from 20 down to beat Indiana 98-85, shortly after agreeing to acquire shooting guard Caris LeVert from the Pacers.

Once Ricky Rubio was lost for the season with a knee injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers knew it would take someone special to take his spot.

Bulls Cavaliers Basketball Chicago Bulls' Zach LaVine (8) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Lauri Markkanen (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (Tony Dejak)CHICAGO — (AP) — The NBA postponed the Chicago Bulls' next two games on Monday, with 10 of the team's players in the league's health and safety protocols. The Bulls were scheduled to host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday and visit the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. That left the Bulls with the eight available players, the league minimum to field a team. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

The NBA has postponed the Chicago Bulls’ next two games, with 10 of the team’s players in the league’s health and safety protocols.

Giannis Antetokounmpo came back from a two-game absence and scored 27 points on his 27th birthday to help the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-104.

Darius Garland scored a season-high 26 points, rookie Evan Mobley had 13 points in his return from a sprained right elbow and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 105-92 on Saturday night.

CLEVELAND — (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 on Thursday night. The Warriors ran off the first 17 points of the quarter to seize an 85-81 advantage, holding Cleveland to 12 consecutive empty possessions. Nemanja Bjelica added 14 points, Andrew Wiggins had 12 points and Draymond Green had four points and 14 rebounds for Golden State. Darius Garland scored a season-high 25 points, Wade and Kevin Love had 17 points apiece, and Ed Davis added seven points and 14 points. 4 with the Cavs,” joked Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who wore the same number in his final two seasons with Cleveland.

Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 on Thursday night.

The NBA has raised the level of urgency regarding getting booster shots against the coronavirus.

Cavaliers 3 Team Trade Basketball FILE - Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen, left, shoots against Milwaukee Bucks forward Jordan Nwora during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, in this Sunday, May 16, 2021, file photo. The Cavaliers have agreed to acquire restricted free agent forward Lauri Markkanen from Chicago in a three-way trade that will send forward Larry Nance Jr. from Cleveland to Portland, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Markkanen is coming to the Cavs in a sign-and-trade agreement, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement needs NBA approval before it can be completed. The Bulls are getting swingman Derrick Jones Jr. from the Trail Blazers along with a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick. Markkanen averaged 13,6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 51 games for the Bulls last season, his fourth with the club.

A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire restricted free agent forward Lauri Markkanen from Chicago in a three-team trade.

Lauri Markkanen was in search of a new team. The Cavaliers needed to add another outside shooter. The Cavaliers have agreed to acquire Markkanen, a restricted free agent forward from Chicago in a three-way trade that will send forward Larry Nance Jr. from Cleveland to Portland, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Friday.

Almost four weeks into NBA free agency, Lauri Markkanen doesn't have a new home, and his options are running out.

Bulls Nets Basketball Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, May 15, 2021, in New York. The Brooklyn Nets shook off that slow start Saturday, beat the Chicago Bulls 105-91 and remained confident there's enough time to turn into the team they expect. Irving scored 22 points, but Durant shot just 4 for 17 and finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Harden had seven assists, five points and five rebounds while playing 25 minutes in his second game back from a hamstring injury. Nets: Joe Harris missed his second straight game and won't play Sunday because of a left gluteal strain.

Kyrie Irving scored 22 points while playing with Kevin Durant and James Harden for the first time in three months, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 105-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Zach LaVine bounced back from a poor performance a night earlier and scored 39 points Saturday as the Chicago Bulls routed the injury-plagued Orlando Magic 118-92. He scored 22 points in the first half and chipped in seven rebounds and four assists as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak. Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, who scored a career-best 43 points in Friday’s win, had 17 points and eight rebounds. The guard, who entered the night 10th in the NBA with 26.5 points per game, had another 12 points before exiting for good. Rookie Patrick Williams chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Coby White added 13 points.

Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) shoots over Dallas Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)DALLAS – Lauri Markkanen had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Garrett Temple scored 15 of his season-high 21 points in the second quarter and the Chicago Bulls ended a four-game losing streak with a 117-101 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Markkanen, in his second game back after missing seven games because of COVID-19 protocols, was 10 of 19 from the field while recording season highs in points and rebounds. Mavericks: Dallas travel to the Raptors' temporary home in Tampa, Florida, on Monday in the second back-to-back of the season. The Mavericks lost at Chicago in the first game of their other back-to-back before winning at Houston.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots between Chicago Bulls guard Garrett Temple (17) and forward Lauri Markkanen during overtime of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)OKLAHOMA CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a career-high 33 points and 10 assists to help Oklahoma City beat the Chicago Bulls and former Thunder coach Billy Donovan 127-125 in overtime Friday night. Donovan knew all too well how good Oklahoma City can be under challenging circumstances. ... Oklahoma City scored 19 points off Chicago's nine turnovers in the third quarter. ... Oklahoma City shot 56% in the third quarter and outscored the Bulls 37-27.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives against Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Boston. Irving scored 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting and had seven rebounds, five assists and two steals helping the Nets rout the Celtics 113-89 Friday night in the final preseason game for both teams. There were no fans in the new Boston Garden on Friday night, and his introduction was greeted with a faint, fake cheer. Precious Achiuwa scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Heat, while Bam Adebayo scored 13 points and Tyler Herro scored 10. McCollum led the Blazers with 26 points on 8-of-20 shooting and Gary Trent Jr. added 18 points in the loss.

CHICAGO – The Chicago Bulls weren't on Billy Donovan's radar when he and the Oklahoma City Thunder parted ways after five successful seasons. So this kind of came out of left field for me.”The Bulls introduced Donovan as their coach on Thursday, two days after they announced they landed arguably the most attractive candidate on the market to help turn around a struggling team with new management. Donovan met in person with Karnisovas and Marc Eversley for 5 1/2 hours to get the process in gear. And when Donovan accepted the job, Karnisovas said, “I could not stop smiling.”Hiring Donovan was a rare big and bold move for the Bulls. Donovan said he was “taken aback” by Karnisovas' vision and is looking forward to “working hand in hand” with him.