Suns Shine Bright with Durant and Beal Back in Action

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal made their much-anticipated returns, both scoring 23 points, as the Suns snapped a five-game skid with a dominant 127-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Devin Booker led the charge with 26 points and 10 assists, proving once again why he’s the engine of this squad.

The Suns came alive in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 36-18, thanks to Booker’s 11-point explosion and Jusuf Nurkic’s 10-point contribution during the run. Nurkic, who had a shaky start, finished strong with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale chipped in from the bench, adding a much-needed spark.

Jae Crowder Close to Joining the Sacramento Kings

Veteran forward Jae Crowder is reportedly finalizing a deal with the Sacramento Kings, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Crowder, a 13-year NBA journeyman, will add depth to the Kings' frontcourt as they navigate injuries and a rough stretch of games.

Crowder, 34, played with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Known for his grit and playoff experience, helping both the Heat and Suns to NBA Finals appearances, Crowder’s arrival in Sacramento will mark his ninth stop in the league.

The Kings, currently battling a string of injuries, could use Crowder's toughness. Trey Lyles is sidelined with a calf strain, and DeMar DeRozan will miss Wednesday’s game due to back muscle inflammation. Crowder’s role remains to be seen, but he could be a key rotation piece behind Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.

Bucks Keep Rolling Without Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks showed their resilience Tuesday night, edging out the Miami Heat 106-103 without their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP was sidelined with unexpected swelling in his left knee, leaving Damian Lillard to take the reins. And he delivered, dropping 37 points and dishing out 12 assists.

Coach Doc Rivers admitted the last-minute adjustment wasn’t easy, but the Bucks pulled through, extending their win streak to five games and climbing back to .500 (9-9) after a rough 2-8 start.

With Khris Middleton nearing a return after Thanksgiving, the Bucks are poised to hit their stride.

Wembanyama Does It Again

Victor Wembanyama showcased why he’s already considered one of the league's brightest stars, dropping 34 points and drilling six 3-pointers in the Spurs' 128-115 win over the Utah Jazz in an NBA Cup game. Rookie Stephon Castle matched his season high with 23 points, and Julian Champagnie came through in the clutch with three fourth-quarter triples to seal the deal.

The Spurs dominated late, out-rebounding Utah 25-15 in the second half and dishing out 30 assists, well above their season average.

For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen’s night ended abruptly after a knee collision with Wembanyama, adding concern to a team that was already eliminated from NBA Cup contention. Utah was led by Keyonte George's 26 points and six 3s, while Collin Sexton and John Collins chipped in 20 points apiece.

NBA Fines Hawks $100K Over Trae Young’s Absence

The NBA has fined the Atlanta Hawks $100,000 for violating the league’s player participation policy. The league determined that Trae Young, listed out with Achilles tendinitis during a Nov. 12 NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics, could have actually played.

While the Hawks edged out a 117-116 win, the NBA wasn’t impressed. The policy mandates that star players, like Young, must play in national TV and in-season tournament games unless there’s a clear, approved medical reason. After an independent review, the league found that Atlanta didn’t meet that standard.

Dejounte Murray Ready to Return for Pelicans

After a challenging start to the season, the New Orleans Pelicans are set to get a boost as Dejounte Murray plans to return to the lineup Wednesday night. Murray, sidelined since fracturing his left hand in the season opener, shared an emotional journey about stepping away due to personal matters, his mother suffered a stroke during preseason.

While Murray played through the season opener, scoring 14 points and dishing 10 assists, his injury sidelined him and gave him more time to be with his recovering mother. Now, with her blessing and improved health, Murray is ready to bring his competitive edge back to the court.

The Pelicans, sitting at 4-14, desperately need Murray's spark. His return couldn't come at a better time for a team hungry for a turnaround.

76ers' Struggles Continue as Embiid and George Sit Out

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that Joel Embiid will miss Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets, marking his third straight absence due to left knee management. With Embiid’s commitment to prioritizing playoff health, he’s unlikely to play in both games of back-to-backs, leaving questions about how often the star center will suit up for the struggling 3-13 Sixers.

Paul George remains sidelined as well, nursing a hyperextended left knee. While George has partially returned to practice, he’ll miss his ninth game of the season.

With both stars missing significant time, the Sixers face a crucial stretch in December, with several matchups against teams with losing records. The team desperately needs wins to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement.

Stephanie White Prioritizes Family in Building Fever Coaching Staff

The Indiana Fever are embracing a family-first philosophy under new head coach Stephanie White. On Tuesday, the Fever announced that White has hired Austin Kelly and Karima Christmas-Kelly, a married couple with deep basketball ties, as assistant coaches.

This decision not only strengthens the Fever’s coaching lineup but also reunites the family after a period of living and working in separate cities. The couple’s son, Zayn, was born in 2023 and has spent the past two seasons in Indianapolis with Christmas-Kelly, while Kelly coached alongside White in Connecticut.

With Kelly and Christmas-Kelly on board, the Fever gain a wealth of experience, championship pedigree, and a united front that reflects the values White hopes to instil in the franchise.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team