This ending of Wolves-Grizzlies has been awesome.

New ESPN story: “You cannot intimidate Pat Riley.” The stare down between Riley and Jimmy Butler that will dominate the NBA for the next month, the streaking Cavs, a look at the trade market & more in this week’s trip around the NBA with Windo. www.espn.com/nba/insider/...

Moving D’Angelo Russell now decreases the chances of the Lakers making a big move this year. But, as we’ve talked about a lot, it’s unclear any big salary moves will be happening at all. So to get a useful player for him (albeit one who has slipped defensively) in DFS for him is a good move for LAL.

What a start to the Christmas Day NBA slate: — Knicks win behind 41 from Mikal Bridges and some absurd play from Josh Hart late — Victor Wembanyama goes for 42-18-4-4 in his Christmas debut, falls just short of Wilt’s record of 45 Just a tremendous back-and-forth game right down to the end.

No, I think Jokic pretty clearly deserved to win. I had Luka second and Shai third, but think you could easily have flipped them (as they were in the overall ballot).

Ha. His rim numbers have gotten much better as the season has progressed, and he’s been great, though I do have concerns about their defense overall (and still would have Brunson above him in MVP discussions).

The major takeaway, for me — as discussed on today’s Hoop Collective with MacMahon and Windhorst — is that there’s a very clear top 3, and unlike in past years I think it’ll be very difficult for anyone else to break into it. Choosing between them, though, is going to be excruciating all year.

Might as well debut here on a big day: Straw Poll Day! Here’s the first MVP Straw Poll of the 2024-25 campaign, which is shaping up to be a contentious three-horse race between very deserving candidates — and saw a big shift after Tuesday’s NBA Cup final. Thoughts? www.espn.com/nba/insider/...