Wizards notes after 120-112 win over Magic

The Washington Wizards defeated the Orlando Magic, 120-112, on Tuesday night at Capital One Arena. Washington has now won five of its last seven games overall and four of their last six contests at home.

With the win, Washington snapped an 11-game losing skid to Orlando, picking up their first win over the Magic since Jan. 21, 2023, and ending their longest losing streak to Orlando in series history.

Washington recorded 12 steals, its seventh game this season with at least 10+ steals, now doing so in two in the last three games. The Wizards are now 4-3 in games with 10+ steals as a team.

Washington connected at a .939 clip (31-33) from the free-throw line.

The Wizards’ 31 made free throws mark a season high.

The Wizards set a season-high in points off turnover with 29 (previously 28, Jan. 2 vs. Brooklyn).

Washington had six players top double figures

Washington guard CJ McCollum finished with 27 points (11-19 FG, 3-7 3PT) and added six rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes of action.

McCollum tallied his third 20/5/5 (pts/rebs/asts) game of the season, last doing so on Dec. 20 at Memphis.

McCollum has now scored 20+ points in 14 total games this season, now doing so in back-to-back outings.

Wizards forward/center Alex Sarr scored 23 points (7-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 7-7 FT) and collected eight rebounds, two assists, four blocks and one steal in 31 minutes of action.

Sarr collected his fourth game this season with at least 20+ points and 4+ blocks, now doing so for the third time in his last six games.

Sarr’s four games with 20+ points and 4+ blocks ranks second in the NBA behind only Victor Wembanyama (5 games).

Sarr has now topped 20+ points in 10 games this season, which ties his total from his rookie year (2024-25).

Sarr has now topped 10+ points in 22 of 26 outings this season.

Injury update on Cavs swingman Max Strus

Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus recently underwent evaluation and imaging on his left foot following offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture. The evaluation and imaging revealed positive progress, but additional time is required for the fracture to fully heal.

Strus will continue to advance in the rehabilitation and conditioning phase of his recovery along with ongoing medical treatment.

He is scheduled for a follow-up evaluation with Dr. David Porter, who performed the procedure, in conjunction with the Cavaliers’ medical and training staff, within the next four weeks.

Kevin Garnett joins Timberwolves organization as Team Ambassador

The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced that franchise legend and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett has officially joined the organization as Team Ambassador, marking a historic reunion between the team and its most iconic player. Garnett’s return underscores a shared commitment to honoring the franchise’s past while building sustained success and a bold new future for Minnesota basketball fans to celebrate.

Garnett, the greatest player in Timberwolves history, will serve in a visible and active role with the Timberwolves and Lynx, strengthening the teams’ deep Minnesota roots by attending select home games, elevating the fan experience, championing community initiatives across the Twin Cities and helping shape the teams’ stories through exclusive content. The Timberwolves will honor Garnett and his profound legacy by retiring his No. 21 jersey. Details of the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

“I’m thrilled to be back home,” said Garnett. “Minnesota is where it all began, where I was young, hungry and learning how to compete at the highest level. I’m excited to be back in the Twin Cities at a time when Marc and Alex are setting a bold new vision for this franchise. Their leadership has brought fresh energy to the organization, and I’m excited to help build what’s next for the Timberwolves, our fans and this community.”

“The Big Ticket is back! Kevin Garnett is synonymous with the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said Co‑Chairmen Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. “Bringing Kevin home has been a priority since we acquired the teams. He is the greatest player in Timberwolves history, and his impact on our franchise and community is immeasurable. This is more than a reunion—it’s a statement about honoring our past while pursuing excellence and building one of the most admired sports organizations in the world. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome him home.”

Spurs sign Stanley Umude to Two-Way contract

The San Antonio Spurs recently signed guard Stanley Umude to a Two-Way contract.

In a related move, San Antonio has waived Kyle Mangas.

Umude, 6-6/210, appeared in 11 games with the Austin Spurs across the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season, averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 35.8 minutes. He most recently scored a season-high 34 points vs. Stockton Kings on Dec. 19.

The San Antonio native played in 47 NBA games with Detroit and Milwaukee while on Two-Way contracts, averaging 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes. He was also a member of the Bucks 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Championship team. In the G League, he holds career averages of 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 57 games with Austin, Wisconsin Herd and Motor City Cruise.

Mangas originally signed a Two-Way contract with San Antonio on Dec. 12, 2025. In two seasons with Austin, he has appeared in 21 games (18 starts), averaging 17.0 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 33.2 minutes.

NBA and FIBA will explore idea of a new basketball league

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced that they will in January move forward in their joint exploration of a new professional, pan-European men’s basketball league by engaging prospective teams and ownership groups in the process to join the league.

In addition to permanent spots, the new league would offer every team in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league in Europe a merit-based pathway to qualify on an annual basis either through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League (BCL) or an end-of-season qualifying tournament. The league would also align its schedule with domestic league and national team schedules, allowing players to represent their club and national team year-round.

As part of the new league, the NBA and FIBA would also plan to dedicate financial support and resources to the continued development of Europe’s basketball ecosystem, including domestic leagues, club team academies, and the NBA and FIBA’s existing programs to develop aspiring players, coaches and referees at all levels of the game.

“Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. “The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top. The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem, including players, clubs, leagues and national federations, by generating a knock-on effect that will strongly benefit basketball fans throughout Europe.”

“Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe.”

Pacers sign Garrison Mathews to 10-day contract

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday that the team was granted an NBA Hardship Exception and subsequently signed guard Garrison Mathews to a 10-day contract.

Mathews will wear number 24 and is available for Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup game at Cleveland, which will air on Amazon Prime at 7:00pm ET.

Via the Indy Star:

Teams are allowed to sign players to hardship exception contracts if they have at least four players who have missed three consecutive games and who are expected to miss at least two more weeks. The Pacers had six players listed as “out” for Wednesday’s game against the Hornets — All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, forwards Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith and Johnny Furphy and guards Kam Jones and Quenton Jackson. Haliburton is out for the season, Toppin is out until at least Feb. 1. Nesmith, who missed his third consecutive game Wednesday, is out approximately four weeks. The Pacers haven’t given timelines on Jones, Jackson or Furphy but Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Jones is still “aways out” with a lower back stress reaction.

Mavs guard Dante Exum out with season-ending injury

Per the Dallas Morning News:

The 2025-26 season came to a premature end for Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum on Thursday, the team announced.

Exum has continued to deal with complications from a right knee procedure he underwent in the offseason, the team said, and it has been determined that a follow-up surgery will be necessary.

A further recovery timeline for Exum will be provided at a later date, but the guard will not be returning to action this season.

Exum, who had yet to appear in a game this season, also missed most of the 2024-25 season with a right wrist injury and a left hand fracture.