🚨EXCLUSIVE: The LA Sparks opened up training camp yesterday. Quite a few new faces were there. But so was one of the longest-tenured players on the roster: Dearica Hamby. She talked with Russo Writes about free agency, contending, the new CBA, and more! 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
In the fourth quarter of Game 2, Nikola Jokic was 1-for-7 with 2 points in the 7:56 that he shared the floor with Rudy Gobert, and the Nuggets were outscored 17-9 during that time.
Nikola Jokic, in Game 2.
w/ Rudy Gobert on the floor: 1-for-8, 4 points
w/ Rudy Gobert off the floor: 7-for-12, 20 points
30th time in the last four seasons the Timberwolves and Nuggets have played, counting regular season and postseason. The split? Timberwolves 15 wins, Nuggets 15 wins.
Rudy Gobert is outplaying Nikola Jokic down the stretch of this Game 2.
The right foot of Braun does hit the knee of McDaniels, by the way, but I don’t think it was enough to affect the attempt. Either way, it feels a bit karmic since McDaniels got away with a goaltend.
So, uh, I’m not sure Minnesota should have challenged that because there’s a hand on Braun’s hip and then McDaniels goes through the rim to affect the shot. Could be wrong on this but this feel bad.
Say what you want about Rudy Gobert but you can’t deny how damn good of a defender he is, even against someone like Nikola Jokic. Just a difference maker.
Maybe my Denver in 7 prediction was too optimistic for Minnesota. They look rough. Maybe they get back into this when they get back home, or even as this game tonight goes on, but, man, this looks bleak.
Toronto Raptors have now lost 12 consecutive postseason games against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons also have active 12-game losing streaks to the Cavaliers in the postseason.
Looking up things that happened this NBA season and this might be the wackiest: Indiana Pacers went 1-14 on the road against the Western Conference this season. Lone win? Jan. 23, at the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team who finished with the best record and best home Net Rating.
Scottie Barnes has made 4 3-pointers in the first 6 quarters of this series during the same season where he shot 4-for-35 on 3s in the entire month of January (14 games).
Indiana pick, which is slated at 2 right now, can only fall a maximum of 4 spots.
LA Clippers will have the 36th and 52nd overall picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. They can potentially receive the 5th or 6th pick, as well.
🚨EXCLUSIVE: The LA Sparks opened up training camp yesterday. Quite a few new faces were there. But so was one of the longest-tenured players on the roster: Dearica Hamby. She talked with Russo Writes about free agency, contending, the new CBA, and more! 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Full media availability from Los Angeles Sparks rookies Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray, and Amelia Hassett from the first day of their 2026 WNBA Training Camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gkf...
Full media availability from Los Angeles Sparks guard Ariel Atkins from the first day of their 2026 WNBA Training Camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y-X...
Full media availability from Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler from the first day of their 2026 WNBA Training Camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qaT...
Full media availability from Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike from the first day of their 2026 WNBA Training Camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDzt...
Full media availability from Los Angeles Sparks GM Raegan Pebley and coach Lynne Roberts from the first day of their 2026 WNBA Training Camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzko...
Raegan Pebley, with some data on Ariel Atkins: “When she’s on the floor, her teams are +11 (Net Rating). ... She’s Top 10 in catch-and-shoot 3s in the last 3 seasons, #3 in opponents’ points per direct drive. ... I think she was the #2 defender in off-ball screens the last few years.”
Erica Wheeler, on what led her to return to the Sparks: “KP (Kelsey Plum) plays a big role in having me here. I think Nneka (Ogwumike) just was, like, the tip of the iceberg. It was a no-brainer once Nneka decided she wanted to come here because Pres is Pres. Your life is always easier around her.”
Ta’Niya Latson, on if she has a chip on her shoulder: “Yeah, definitely. Shoot, it was shocking to everybody. I was kinda shocked. It’s about fit, I feel like. Fit over pick. I flipped my mentality immediately when I found out I was going to LA. ... I think it was a blessing in disguise, honestly.”
Raegan Pebley, on trading Rickea Jackson: “We recognize this is hard on the fans. We had a very clear focus on what we’re out to do in building this roster. The end goal is that we’re going and winning a championship. We had to really work to just find where those fits were for us.”
Nneka Ogwumike, on Ta’Niya Latson: “I absolutely love her. I think she is the biggest steal (in the draft) this year. You can tell who’s somebody that’s locked in, she is someone who does not like to lose, and she’s quite mature for her age.”
Nneka Ogwumike called Sparks rookie guard Ta’Niya Latson “the biggest steal” in this past 2026 WNBA Draft.
Nneka Ogwumike said that she didn’t make up her mind on her free agency decision to return to the Los Angeles Sparks until a few hours before it went public.
Ariel Atkins, on being around the Sparks’ veteran roster: “It’s exciting. It’s really exciting what you can be when everyone has the main thing being the main thing. … It’s different when you have older players and vets around you that have done it before.”
