Latest Basketball News
Celtics Defeat Warriors 121-110 in Golden State
The Boston Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors with strong individual performances led by Payton Pritchard's team-high 26 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Jaylen Brown contributed 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists, while De'Anthony Melton added 18 points and 3 rebounds
. The Celtics improved to 36-19 while the Warriors fell to 29-27
.
NBA Commissioner Silver Proposes Seven Anti-Tanking Measures for 2026-27 Season
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver presented multiple solutions to curb tanking at Thursday's general manager meetings, set to take effect next season. The proposals include freezing draft standings at the trade deadline, limiting first-round pick protections to top-4 or top-14 selections, and preventing consecutive top-4 lottery picks
. Silver acknowledged that tanking behavior is worse this year than in recent memory
.
NBA Considers Limiting First-Round Pick Protections to Combat Tanking
One of the proposed anti-tanking measures would allow teams to protect first-round picks only for selections in the top four or outside the top 14. This change aims to address teams like the Jazz and Wizards, which have top-8 protected picks and are being accused of tanking
. The restriction would make it riskier for teams to intentionally lose games
.
NBA May Freeze Lottery Odds at Trade Deadline Under New Proposal
Commissioner Silver's proposals include freezing the draft standings at the trade deadline to discourage mid-season tanking behavior. This measure would prevent teams from continuing to tank after major roster changes
. The idea reflects ongoing discussions about how to maintain competitive integrity throughout the season
.
NBA Proposes Ban on Consecutive Top-4 Picks and Bottom-3 Finishes
Under proposed anti-tanking rules, teams would never be allowed to slide into consecutive top-4 lottery picks and would be prohibited from finishing bottom-3 in successive seasons. Additionally, teams reaching the conference finals would not be allowed to pick in the top 4 the following year
. These measures aim to prevent repeat tanking behavior
.
NBA Discusses Lottery Odds Based on Two-Season Record
Among Commissioner Silver's proposed solutions is basing a team's lottery odds on its record over the past two seasons rather than just the current season. This approach would make it harder for teams to tank in a single season by considering longer-term performance
. The proposal reflects efforts to create more stability in draft positioning
.
NBA Considers Allowing Play-In Teams and Equalizing Lottery Odds
Two additional proposals under consideration include allowing even play-in teams into the lottery and granting every lottery team the same odds for the No. 1 pick. These changes could significantly alter the draft landscape and reduce incentives for teams to deliberately lose games
.
Utah Jazz Fined $500,000 for Tanking Behavior in February Games
The NBA issued a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz for conduct detrimental to the league after investigating their lineup management on February 7 and 9. The Jazz pulled star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the fourth quarter despite holding leads and did not reinsert them
. This penalty represents the league's enforcement of anti-tanking policies
.
Pacers Fined $100,000 for Player Participation Policy Violation
The NBA fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy during a February 3 contest against the Jazz. An investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other starters who sat out could have participated under the league's medical standards
. The fine reflects ongoing efforts to prevent strategic player availability decisions
.
Suns Owner Calls Tanking 'Losing Behavior,' Advocates for Massive Changes
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia called tanking 'much worse than any prop bet scandal' and advocated for massive changes to prevent the practice. Ishbia characterized tanking as fundamentally contrary to competitive principles and called for decisive league action
. His public stance highlights growing owner concern about the prevalence of tanking
.