Ja Morant is dealing with an illness ahead of the Grizzlies' upcoming game against the Pelicans on Friday night.

A six-game winning streak has the Memphis Grizzlies riding high into a tough road matchup against the New York Knicks. The Grizzlies are in Madison Square Garden on Monday night for a matchup between two of the best teams in the NBA.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) drives ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)(Brandon Dill / AP) The Mavericks can’t catch the ...

Jimmy Butler says he doesn't want to play in Memphis but trading for him still might be worth the risk for the Grizzlies.

Whenever we see a little separation in their ranks, the standings tighten again. So with apologies to Sacramento and Golden State — both 24-23 but tied for ninth behind too many rivals — here is a look at the eight West teams lined up behind Oklahoma City, with reasons why and why not they might climb as high as No. 2:

The Knicks have won five in a row including wins over teams like the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Kings who have all been surging. New York is sitting at No. 3 in the East and is just a game back of the Celtics for the No. 2 seed. The Knicks are jelling at the right time as they continue to move forward with their season.

The pecking order at the top of the league has been set for a while (as evidenced by very little movement at the top of this week's Power Rankings), but the deadline provides a quick shot of adrenaline and variety,

Tim Bontemps unveils his 24 picks for the East and West All-Star rosters, filled with new starters, wild-card intrigue and some agonizing decisions.

NBA fans have finally reached the second half of the 2024-25 season, but we do not have a consensus on the top two or three candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6 and the buzz around notable players and teams is building. Keep an eye on players such as Jimmy Butler, Cameron Johnson, and Zach LaVine, who'll be linked to possible trades. Another star who has emerged in trade talks is Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the obvious No. 1 pick. He’s lived up to the hype during his freshman year with the Blue Devils, and will be expected to be an All-NBA player by the time he reaches his prime. Behind Flagg, there are a number of prospects who have a pathway to NBA stardom but also have scary downside scenarios if they don’t hit.