Andrew Wiggins
January 2026
Wiggins returned to Chase Center with Miami and received a warm ovation and tribute after his long Warriors spell and 2022 title contribution. He shared a pregame moment with Curry, was acknowledged by the crowd and video board, and Kerr highlighted the emotional whiplash of NBA business after close locker-room bonds are disrupted by trades.
Cooper Flagg
January 2026
Flagg returned from a two-game ankle absence for his first pro game at Madison Square Garden, while Brunson and Hart also returned for a Knicks side hit by injuries. Flagg was cleared after workouts following a left ankle sprain; Brunson came back from a right ankle sprain and Hart returned after soreness management, with the Knicks staff noting they have rarely had their preferred group available together.
Jalen Williams
January 2026
Williams has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in about two weeks, a major absence for the defending champions leading the league. He left with apparent hamstring discomfort after being initially listed with thigh soreness; with his two-way impact and earlier wrist recovery, Oklahoma City may lean more on Mitchell and rotation depth until he is cleared.
Darius Garland
January 2026
Garland will miss at least a week after imaging confirmed a Grade 1 sprain of his right great toe, with reevaluation planned in seven to 10 days. Garland was hurt in a win at Philadelphia and already has a history of toe issues, including offseason surgery on the left great toe; Cleveland said treatment is ongoing as he continues a season with multiple injury interruptions.
Deandre Ayton
January 2026
Ayton posted 25 points on 10-for-10 shooting with 13 rebounds to power a 110-93 Lakers win, joining a small group of Lakers to hit 10 shots without a miss with 10-plus rebounds. With Toronto undersized, the Lakers repeatedly fed Ayton on lobs and close finishes, keeping all attempts inside eight feet; Redick emphasised rewarding bigs who screen and roll, while Doncic said Ayton’s focus on both ends raises the team’s ceiling heading into a long road trip.
Kevin Durant
January 2026
Durant scored 18 points to move past Nowitzki into sixth on the NBA all-time scoring list, now sitting just behind Michael Jordan. Durant entered needing 17 points, reached the mark, and sealed the milestone with late free throws in a 119-110 win, then credited Nowitzki as a personal idol and rival from earlier in his career.
Franz Wagner
January 2026
Wagner described relief after returning from a high ankle sprain to play in Berlin, saying the moment mattered and he feels good heading into the London matchup. He accelerated his rehab target around the Germany game, acknowledged rust is normal after injury, and credited the difficulty of replicating NBA speed during rehab as he settles back into form.
Ja Morant
January 2026
Iisalo said there is a good chance Morant plays against Orlando in London after practicing fully, while the team downplayed ongoing trade speculation and focused on results. Morant’s availability hinges on how his calf responds overnight, with Memphis aiming to stabilise after poor form; Orlando came in boosted by Franz Wagner’s return from a high ankle sprain and the lift of playing in Europe.
Domantas Sabonis/ Sacramento Kings
January 2026
Kings won 128-115 for a fourth straight win, with Sabonis returning from a knee injury and Westbrook leading scoring. Washington lost again and Trae Young remains out with knee and quad issues. Sacramento jumped ahead with a huge first quarter, stabilised after a messy second, then won the third-quarter margin to control the finish. Sabonis provided efficient minutes off the bench, while Westbrook’s three-point shooting powered the offense.
Los Angeles Lakers
January 2026
Lakers produced their most complete performance with season-high threes and assists, but the same volatility showed up with turnovers and mid-game lapses, raising the consistency question again. A pregame meeting reset focus, stars drove playmaking, then fatigue and pace triggered a shaky stretch before a big fourth-quarter close, with Redick pointing to daily commitment as the gap between ceiling games and week-to-week reliability.
