NBA Atlantic

The Boston Celtics will reportedly get a much-needed boost at center this week.

Robert Williams III is expected to make his season debut Friday against the Orlando Magic, per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania. The Celtics upgraded his status to questionable.

Williams underwent left knee surgery before training camp this year to correct a lingering issue he had been dealing with since the 2021-22 campaign.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said during an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak and Bertrand on Wednesday that Williams was considered day-to-day:

"He's definitely made huge strides, especially in the last week-and-a-half or so, and so we're constantly kind of measuring how he responds to the five-on-five setting, and then a day off, and then a workout session, and then a day off and then five-on-five.

"So just kind of getting him back into the simulation of what that season is like and then we're constantly seeing how he's responding to it. He's doing a great job. He's making great strides. We'll continue to measure that, and he's day-to-day, but he's doing well."

Williams, Boston's 2018 first-round pick, had a career year during the 2021-22 campaign. After emerging as the team's starting center, he averaged 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks in 61 games while shooting 73.6 percent from the floor. He was also selected to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team.

With Williams out to start the season, the Celtics have primarily relied on a combination of Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Blake Griffin at the 5.

Horford, who has missed Boston's last five games for various reasons, has served as the starter. In 20 games, the 36-year-old has averaged 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 block while shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 46.6 percent from deep. He is questionable for Friday's matchup because of personal reasons.

Kornet and Griffin have been solid off the bench. In 24 games, Kornet has averaged 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 block while shooting 70.1 percent from the floor. Griffin, who has only appeared in 13 games, has averaged 6.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor.

The Celtics enter Friday's game atop the Eastern Conference with a 22-7 record. Led by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, Boston looks primed to reach the NBA Finals again this season.

The addition of Williams should only help solidify Mazzulla's squad as a true title contender.

As the San Antonio Spurs continue their plummet down the standings, Jakob Poeltl's future with the franchise is going to be a hot topic leading up to the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, the Toronto Raptors have interest in bringing Poeltl back after trading him to the Spurs in 2018 as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal.

Fischer noted the Chicago Bulls had internal conversations about the 27-year-old center prior to last season's trade deadline, and rival teams are "closely monitoring" them as a potential seller.

The Spurs are in a potentially tricky spot with Poeltl. He's only 27 and is one of the few bright spots on their roster right now, but this is also the final season of his current contract.

According to Fischer, Poeltl will "strongly consider" re-signing with San Antonio if he doesn't get moved before the trade deadline.

One potential issue the Spurs face, however, is what Poeltl might command on his next contract. Fischer noted a poll of league executives pegged his upcoming contract valuation between $15 and $25 million per season, with the high end of that projection potentially being more expensive than a rebuilding team might want to pay.

The Raptors are trying to find a spark amid a 13-15 start and need help at center. Christian Koloko has been their primary starter at the position, but he's only averaging 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Poeltl spent the first two seasons of his career in Toronto. He was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick by the Raptors in 2016. The seven-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds in 20 starts this season for the Spurs.

The Bulls are another team that had designs on making the playoffs in desperate need of help. They are 6-12 in their last 18 games and have fallen to 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Nikola Vuçević, the Bulls' current starting center, is in the final season of his contract. They could potentially flip him to a team that needs help at the five and bring in Poeltl, who is five years younger than Vuçević.

The Spurs seem like a team that should go all-in on trading veteran players to acquire more long-term assets. They have lost 17 of their last 21 games and own the worst record in the Western Conference (9-19).

In NBA Jam parlance, Julius Randle is heating up.

The New York Knicks forward is practically shooting fireballs at this point, posting his third game with 30 or more points in his last four contests during Wednesday's 128-120 win over the Chicago Bulls (11-16).

Julius Randle's first half ♨️

18 PTS - 6 REB - 2 AST - 4/8 FG - 2/4 3PT pic.twitter.com/D7lhxkmHFq

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) December 15, 2022

27 for Julius Randle after 3 quarters 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aFKkDdho44

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) December 15, 2022

SIX 30-PT games for Julius Randle this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/52rVBOPbka

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) December 15, 2022

Randle finished the game with 31 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, while Jalen Brunson (30 points, seven assists) and R.J. Barrett (22 points) chipped in with strong performances of their own. DeMar DeRozan (32 points) and Zach LaVine (25 points) led the Bulls, per usual.

But NBA Twitter was loving the performance from Randle:

When @J30_RANDLE @RjBarrett6 and #Brunson are playing like this it’s pretty great.

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) December 15, 2022

Brunson and Randle quieting all the haters!!! 5 in a row.

— Jerry Ferrara (@jerryferrara) December 15, 2022

Julius Randle tonight pic.twitter.com/agHRTznpc6

— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) December 15, 2022

RANDLE is a beast! These 3 Robinson & Grimes been balling https://t.co/8PmjIoZCfw

— B I G L O U I E 🫵🏾 (@LouieDi13) December 15, 2022

Julius Randle tonight:

31 PTS
13 REB
7 AST

Five consecutive 25/7 games. pic.twitter.com/R7Jk7gzGPt

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 15, 2022

Julius Randle remains on fire.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 15, 2022

i hope that 2020 randle is back and that this isn’t some kind of linsanity run

— . (@idekatpbrother) December 15, 2022

Julius Randle with a PG is an all star. He was in 2020 with a PG and is looking like one again in 2022 with a PG.

— Nickels, Dimes Dollars (@yardestyle) December 15, 2022

Credit where credit is due - Julius Randle with great defense on the Bulls game winning alley-oop attempt

— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) December 15, 2022

This wasn't a perfect performance from Randle. He had a couple of tough offensive trips down the stretch despite getting a seemingly favorable switch onto Alex Caruso. He air-balled a potential game-winning shot in the final second in what was a pretty dreadful possession. He was fairly quiet in overtime, with only a point and an assist.

No matter. The Knicks (15-13) secured the win, and Randle's hot start alongside Brunson's fantastic, seven-point overtime sealed the deal.

Randle's long isolation possessions can be infuriating. But this is as good as he's looked since the 2020-21 season, when he was an All-Star and second-team All-NBA selection after averaging 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and six assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from three.

That three-point stroke appears to have been an aberration. But the addition of Jalen Brunson this offseason is getting the most out of Randle, namely during New York's five-game winning streak. At the moment, Randle is on fire.

Despite his dominance in recent seasons, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid feels that some Sixers fans would like for him to be traded.

When speaking to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Embiid said: "I don't know. Sixers fans, they want to trade me."

When asked if he truly believes that to be the case, Embiid responded: "I do believe that. They want to trade me."

Embiid would yield quite a trade package, as he is averaging a career-high 33.3 points per game, is trending toward his sixth consecutive All-Star selection and is in the mix to win his first NBA MVP award.

Since missing the first two seasons of his NBA career because of injury, Embiid has been a force and arguably the best all-around big man in the league.

He reached new heights last season when he won his first scoring title by averaging 30.6 points per game to go along with 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 three-pointers made and 1.1 steals. By virtue of those numbers, Embiid finished second to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić in the NBA MVP voting.

While the Sixers have been unable to get past the second round of the playoffs during Embiid's tenure, expectations were sky-high entering the 2022-23 season because of the re-signing of James Harden, the progression of Tyrese Maxey and the acquisition of supporting cast members such as De'Anthony Melton, Danuel House Jr., Montrezl Harrell and P.J. Tucker.

Despite that, the 76ers are off to an uneven 15-12 start, although that is still good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

Embiid has undoubtedly been the driving force behind any success the Sixers have had this season thanks to his averages of 33.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.1 three-pointers made and 1.1 steals per game.

While Philadelphia sports fans are notorious for being tough on their teams and players at times, Fischer assured Embiid that no logical Sixers fans truly want him to be traded.

Fischer suggested it is more likely that fans would like to see other moves made, including the potential firing of head coach Doc Rivers, who has received the brunt of the criticism for the team's shortcomings in recent years.

Ultimately, Embiid noted that he is "grateful" to be a franchise player in Philadelphia even though it isn't necessarily the easiest position to be in.

Players like Harden, Maxey and Tobias Harris are going to play big roles if the Sixers go on a deep playoff run and potentially even contend for a championship this season, but there is little doubt that Embiid will be the biggest factor in whatever they achieve.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation pledged $500,000 toward Bowie State athletics.

Let’s get it @BowieState https://t.co/DT9GLfHFLt

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) December 12, 2022

"We're grateful for the resources that Kevin Durant and his family foundation have generously donated to Bowie State University to advance student success in achieving their academic goals," said Bowie State president Aminta Breaux. "His contributions will go a long way towards updating our facilities and ensure a top-tier athletic experience for all of our students."

Part of the donation will go toward installing a new basketball court at A.C. Jordan Arena and expanding the venue's capacity. A portion of the money is also earmarked for "financial support for men's and women's basketball and university athletics programs."

The Bulldogs men's basketball team has gotten off to a 2-9 start in 2022-23, while the women's team improved to 4-4 with its most recent win over Wilmington University.

Bowie State is the oldest historically Black college or university in Maryland, and its campus in Prince George's County isn't far from Durant's hometown of Washington, D.C.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson suffered a sprained right ankle during his team's 112-99 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told the news to reporters after the game and noted he didn't have an idea of Brunson's status for Wednesday's road matchup with the Chicago Bulls.

Tom Thibodeau says that Jalen Brunson has a sprained ankle: pic.twitter.com/XlWsKu5h7B

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 12, 2022

The Knicks will visit Chicago for a pair of games on Wednesday and Friday.

Brunson left the Kings game with 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that he walked back to the locker room with a "heavy limp."

He finished with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting in 27 minutes. Miles McBride replaced Brunson down the stretch.

The former Villanova star joined New York on a four-year, $104 million contract this offseason after spending the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. He has done quite well for the Knicks en route to averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game and 6.4 assists for the 14-13 Knicks.

If Brunson is forced to miss time, that should open up minutes for players such as McBride and Immanuel Quickley, who was asked about the possibility Sunday.

"My guy is hurt man, so I'm not really worried about who is starting and who is not. My teammate is down..."

- Immanuel Quickley on if he may get more starts with Jalen Brunson hurt pic.twitter.com/7BSkShIRWq

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 12, 2022

The Knicks moved into a sixth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with their fourth straight victory.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid dropped 53 points on 20-of-32 shooting alongside 12 rebounds to lead his team to a 131-113 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Embiid, who has now averaged 41.3 points in his last four games, also made all 11 of his free throws. He scored 20 points in the second quarter alone en route to 28 at the half.

Sunday marked the second time Embiid scored 50 or more this season. He previously scored 59 points in a 105-98 win over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 13.

In addition, his 33.9 points per game leads the NBA.

Twitter raved about Embiid's tremendous night, which vaulted the 14-12 76ers to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

FINAL: Sixers 131, Hornets 113.

Joel Embiid was outrageously good... again. 53 points and 12 boards for him on the night in just 34 minutes.

19-16-9 for Harden.

After a slow start, the Sixers' offense exploded.

The Sixers are 14-12.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 12, 2022

This is Joel Embiid’s 100th 30 point /10 rebound game. He’s the fastest to that 30/10 ppl mark (346 games), since stats became official in 1981. Shaq was quickest at 349. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/zNudXaTM1D

— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) December 12, 2022

Joel Embiid’s points total in each of his last 10 games…

42
59
32
32
30
19
35
39
38
53

That is good for 37.9 points per game since November 12. Outrageous player.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 12, 2022

50-point games by a center since Shaq retired:

4 — Embiid
5 — Rest of NBA combined pic.twitter.com/uwP6Y2zo7D

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 12, 2022

Joel Embiid over his last 10 games:

53 PTS - 12 REB - 3 AST
38 PTS - 12 REB - 5 AST
39 PTS - 7 REB - 3 AST
35 PTS - 11 REB - 8 AST
19 PTS - 6 REB - 6 AST
30 PTS - 8 REB - 7 AST
32 PTS - 9 REB - 6 AST
32 PTS - 11 REB - 8 AST
59 PTS - 11 REB - 8 AST
42 PTS - 10 REB - 6 AST pic.twitter.com/OktuSdrBnN

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 12, 2022

An effortlessly dominant performance for Joel Embiid, who dropped 53 and probably could have gone for more if this game was at all competitive late. Ridiculous game https://t.co/ve6fUfNTZo

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 12, 2022

Embiid tonight:

53 PTS
12 REB

First Sixer with multiple 50-point games since AI. pic.twitter.com/m0yZFDPZyu

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 12, 2022

.@sixers @JoelEmbiid is the 1st player in the @NBA this season w/ multiple 50-pt games.

He's the 1st 76er w/ multiple 50-pt games in a season since HOFer @alleniverson had 3 in 04-05.

He, Iverson (2x) & Chamberlain (2x) are the only Sixers ever to do so.

h/t @Stathead

— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) December 12, 2022

Embiid this season:

— 33.4 PPG on 54.5 FG%
— Leads NBA in scoring
— Leads NBA in 50-point games
— Career high PPG, APG, FG%

Welcome to the stacked MVP race. pic.twitter.com/rqB5TJMWuA

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 12, 2022

Joel Embiid becomes the first center in post-merger NBA history to register multiple games of 50+ points and 10+ rebounds in a single season.

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) December 12, 2022

39-11-2 for Embiid as he checks out with 1:22 left in the third. Not a whole lot more to analyze in this game other than "Embiid good" at the moment

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 12, 2022

Sixers beat Charlotte, 131-113. They are 14-12. Joel Embiid is pretty good at basketball.

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) December 12, 2022

Regardless of the Sixers record, Joel Embiid is absolutely 100% playing like the MVP for a 3rd straight season. He’s absolutely amazing.

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) December 12, 2022

Philadelphia will now host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

The Boston Celtics failed to exorcise their demons against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center in their first meeting since the 2022 NBA Finals.

Golden State defeated Boston 123-107 to move to 14-13 on the season, while the Celtics dropped to 21-6.

In a game where Jayson Tatum was expected to come out firing on all cylinders, the budding superstar struggled, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 40 minutes. He made just 6-of-21 shots from the floor and 2-of-9 shots from deep.

Jaylen Brown was a highlight for Boston, finishing with 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal in 37 minutes. He made 13-of-23 shots from the floor and 3-of-9 shots from deep.

But with Tatum's ugly performance, NBA Twitter was quick to question his MVP credentials in a game where the Celtics never found an answer to Stephen Curry and Co.

https://twitter.com/MatthewMalphurs/status/1601787029792378880

https://twitter.com/1LilRellChasing/status/1601787022427193348

https://twitter.com/pessimisticjosh/status/1601787011933040640

Y'all still got Tatum as MVP over Giannis? 🤔🤔🤔

— Max Margulis (@MaxsAllStars) December 11, 2022

Tatum isnt an MVP. Not yet at least. He shows no value to our team when it really matters. How can you be MVP of the league when you arent even the most valuable player on your team

— AuxiliaryV (@auxiliary_v) December 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/Dannyphantom441/status/1601786852620763136

Tatum is y’all MVP?🤣🤣🤣

— kuyet (@Kuyet_D) December 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/ancienteIephant/status/1601787098323111937

Embarrassing game for Tatum. MVP ranking will drop after this one I believe. Brown did a lot. Curry and Klay destroyed us. Everything that could have gone bad did.

— WorldOfCeltics (@WorldOfCeltics) December 11, 2022

Imagine having Tatum as your MVP. Dude is a fraud

— Spence (@Spence_DFS) December 11, 2022

Tatum's performance against the Warriors certainly hurts his MVP chances, but there's still plenty of season left, and he'll get the opportunity to redeem himself when the Warriors travel to face the Celtics at TD Garden in January.

Tatum entered Saturday's game averaging 30.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 25 games while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 36.5 percent from deep. It has been his best season since entering the NBA in 2017.

Still, if Tatum is going to beat out players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić for the MVP award, he's going to have to elevate his game when it matters most.

Other NBA teams are reportedly keeping an eye on the Toronto Raptors in case they decide to make some significant trades this season.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, rival executives are "watching Toronto closely" and "bracing for fireworks" if the Raptors continue to hover around the .500 mark for the next couple of months.

Lowe added that teams are wondering if the Raptors might be willing to move players such as Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby or even reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes.

Toronto has enjoyed a great deal of success in recent years, reaching the playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons, including winning a championship with Kawhi Leonard leading the way in 2019.

The Raptors fell off and finished 27-45 in a bizarre 2020-21 season that saw them play their home games in Tampa, Florida, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they bounced back last season.

Galvanized by the selection of Barnes with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, the Raptors returned to prominence and the playoffs with a 48-34 mark, although they were eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Still, there was a great deal of excitement surrounding the team entering the 2022-23 campaign, due largely to one of the deepest and most talented starting lineups in the NBA, made up of Siakam, Barnes, Anunoby, VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr.

The Raptors also put together a strong bench comprised of veterans Thaddeus Young, Otto Porter Jr., Chris Boucher and Juancho Hernangomez, as well as younger players like Precious Achiuwa, Christian Koloko, Dalano Banton and Malachi Flynn.

Despite that, Toronto is only 13-13 on the season, placing it in a three-way tie for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Injuries have undoubtedly played a role in the Raptors' struggles, as Anunoby and Koloko are the only players to have appeared in all 26 games.

Barnes has missed three contests and clearly been less than 100 percent in several others, while Siakam missed 10 consecutive contests last month.

The Raptors undoubtedly have the talent to be players in the Eastern Conference, but even if they remain healthy, it is fair to wonder if the current roster is capable of taking down top teams like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks come playoff time.

If Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri does decide to make a major change before the trade deadline, VanVleet and Trent are perhaps the top trade options since both can opt out after this season, while Siakam has only two years left on his deal.

New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley is hoping to remain with the team despite recent trade rumors.

"I love being in New York," Quickley said after Friday's win over the Charlotte Hornets, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Fred Katz of The Athletic recently reported the Knicks have already started discussing trades with teams amid their 13-13 start to the year. Quickley has reportedly been among the most common players discussed, along with Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose and Cam Reddish.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium first reported the Knicks' interest in discussing Quickley and Rose in trades last month while hoping to "sort out the team's glut at the guard position."

Quickley has been productive off the bench this season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26 appearances. Even without a single start this year, he ranks fourth on the team in total minutes played (601).

The 23-year-old could remain in this role while helping the team compete for a playoff spot. The squad is up to eighth place in the Eastern Conference after three straight wins, creating less urgency to sell assets.

Quickley remains under contract through 2023-24 and would be a restricted free agent the following offseason without a new deal. It could keep him in New York for an extended stretch as long as both sides remain happy.

On the other hand, the guard is eligible for an extension this summer and could command a high cost if he continues to produce on both ends of the court. The Knicks also clearly want to get Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride some extra playing time, and trading Quickley could remove the logjam in the backcourt.

The Knicks could remain patient in evaluating a deal before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.