Mavs Nightmare Season Hits Rock Bottom

This was supposed to be the season Dallas proved they could win without Luka Dončić. Instead, it’s turned into an unmitigated disaster. First, Dončić was traded to the Lakers. Then, Anthony Davis still hasn’t played a game. And now? Kyrie Irving is out for the season with a torn ACL.

It happened Monday night in a 122-98 loss to Sacramento, a game that already felt like another gut punch before Irving went down. He planted awkwardly on a drive, crashed to the court, and immediately called for help.

Dallas' season was already over. Now, so is this entire era.

Irving is set to hit free agency this summer, but who’s throwing big money at a 32-year-old coming off ACL surgery? The Warriors just went through this with Klay Thompson. And speaking of Thompson, he’s now the biggest name left in Dallas. That’s tough.

This isn’t just a lost season, it’s the fallout of a franchise that bet against itself, and lost everything.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Taking Over the MVP Race

There’s still a month left in the season, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just dropped a major statement. The Thunder star torched Houston for 51 points on Monday, and suddenly, he’s the MVP betting favorite.

To be fair, Nikola Jokić is right behind him. The Nuggets big man is having a historic season himself, and some voters might still lean his way.

But here’s what makes SGA’s case so strong:

• Four 50-point games this season (most in the NBA)
  All four have come in his last 19 games
  Leads the league in 40-point games (9), 30-point games (37), and 20-point games (59)
  Only dropped below 20 points once all year

If the MVP race was tight before, it’s now must-watch. SGA just put the basketball world on notice. If he keeps this up, Oklahoma City’s first MVP since Kevin Durant might be loading.

LeBron James Reaches Another Historic Milestone

LeBron James is already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but on Tuesday night, he added yet another record to his legendary resume.

In the Lakers’ 136-115 win over the Pelicans, James became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points, including regular season and playoffs.

And, of course, he did it in style. Midway through the first quarter, James drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, officially hitting the milestone that he just missed in Sunday’s game.

He finished the night with 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, proving once again that Father Time might be real, but LeBron doesn’t care.

Meanwhile, Luka Dončić made some history of his own. With 30 points and 15 assists, Dončić became just the fourth Laker ever to record those numbers in a game joining LeBron, Magic Johnson, and Jerry West. A historic night all around. And if the Lakers keep rolling like this? The West better take notice.

Joel Embiid’s Season is Over..What Now for Philly?

The 76ers officially shut down Joel Embiid for the season, announcing that he is “medically unable to play” due to continued pain and swelling in his left knee.

This news isn’t exactly shocking, Embiid hasn’t looked like himself for weeks, but it still delivers a crushing blow to Philadelphia’s already shaky playoff hopes.

In his 19 games this season, Embiid averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. But last week, after a frustrating loss to the Celtics where he sat out the fourth quarter, Embiid admitted that he didn’t feel like his dominant self and needed to fix the problem.

But the real concern is not just about whether he’ll have another surgery or try to rehab his way back, it’s about whether he can ever truly get back to MVP form.

With Philly’s season in freefall, all eyes are on GM Daryl Morey. Does he blow it up and start over? Or does he double down and try to rebuild around an uncertain Embiid? Big decisions are coming for the Sixers. And they might just define the next decade of their franchise.

Another Blow for the Magic

The Orlando Magic’s season has been defined by injuries, and now, they just lost another key player. Jalen Suggs underwent surgery on his left knee, and the team announced Tuesday that he will miss the rest of the season.

The procedure removed a cartilage fragment and repaired the trochlear joint surface, which, in non-medical terms, means his kneecap wasn’t sitting right. Thankfully, the Magic expect a full recovery.

Still, this is a massive setback for a team that was already struggling with injuries. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both missed significant time earlier in the season, and now, losing Suggs, one of their best defenders and rising young stars, hurts even more.

Suggs played just 35 of Orlando’s 62 games this season, and this latest injury raises serious questions about his long-term durability. With Orlando still in the thick of the playoff race, it’s going to take a huge effort from their remaining core to keep pushing forward.

The Caitlin Clark Effect Strikes Again

Women’s basketball is finally coming to the United Center, and you can thank the Caitlin Clark Effect for making it happen.

For the first time in franchise history, the Chicago Sky will play at the United Center for two massive home games against the Indiana Fever. The first will take place on June 7 at 7 p.m., while the second will tip off on July 26 at 2 p.m.

And this isn’t just any matchup, it’s Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso vs. Caitlin Clark. One of the most hyped rivalries in women’s college basketball is now set to take over the WNBA on the biggest stage possible.

For context, the United Center holds 20,917 fans, nearly double the 10,387-seat capacity of the Sky’s usual home at Wintrust Arena. That means the Sky could shatter their all-time attendance record, which currently stands at 16,444 from 2016.

With Clark already breaking NCAA viewership records, expect this game to dominate ticket sales, social media, and TV ratings. The WNBA is thriving, and moments like this prove just how far the league has come.

Connecticut Sun Hit the Reset Button

For the last six years, the Connecticut Sun have been knocking on the WNBA’s championship door. Six straight semifinal appearances. Consistent regular-season dominance. But when it came to the playoffs? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

After yet another heartbreaking Game 5 loss in last season’s semis, the Sun decided it was time for a reset. This offseason, they’ve overhauled their roster, hired a new head coach, and promoted a new general manager.

And it might not stop there. Connecticut’s ownership is reportedly considering even bigger moves that could dramatically reshape the franchise. Whether that means new star players, a fresh front-office approach, or even a shift in the team’s long-term vision, one thing is clear: the Sun are no longer content with being good. They want to be great.

But with powerhouses like New York, Las Vegas, and Phoenix loading up, will this new-look Sun be able to compete at the highest level? Or will this rebuild be a longer process than fans might hope?

Serena Williams Joins WNBA Ownership in Toronto

The WNBA’s expansion era just landed one of the biggest names in sports history. Tennis icon Serena Williams is officially joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first-ever Canadian franchise set to debut in 2026.

Williams will partner with Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, to bring this new team to life. And if you know anything about Serena, you know she’s not just here for the ride, she’s here to win.

Toronto is already a basketball-obsessed city, and with Williams in the mix, the Tempo are set to make serious waves from Day 1.

Expansion is only just beginning, and if this move is any indication, the WNBA’s future has never looked brighter.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you on Wednesday!

— The Players Unlimited Team