Mikal Bridges received a 'Welcome back' graphic but no tribute video during his return to Barclays Center, where the New York Knicks edged the Brooklyn Nets 99-95 in a tightly contested interborough rivalry game. The Nets were short-handed, missing key players including Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons, yet they fought back from an early 15-5 deficit to take a brief lead. The Knicks, guided by Karl-Anthony Towns's 25 points and 16 rebounds, dominated the second quarter, ultimately building a 59-51 halftime lead.

Brooklyn struggled to contain Towns, while the Knicks capitalized on turnovers and responded effectively when challenged. The game tightened late, with the Nets holding a chance to tie it in the final moments, but a missed three-point attempt by Cam Johnson sealed their fate. D’Angelo Russell stood out for the Nets, contributing 23 points and 10 assists. The Knicks improved to 29-16, continuing their recent success against the Nets, who fell to 14-30.

Jalen Green shone for the Houston Rockets, equaling his career-high with 42 points in a thrilling 120-118 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets, who have now secured their fourth consecutive win, relied on Green's late-game heroics, including a crucial layup to take the lead.

Despite trailing by four points, Memphis rallied back with a 3-pointer from Jaylen Wells and a steal and layup by Brandon Clarke, momentarily leading 115-114. However, Green’s decisive layup and subsequent free throws from Amen Thompson sealed the win for Houston.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is sidelined for at least three weeks due to a significant sprained right ankle, as confirmed by the team after an MRI revealed the injury's severity. Coach Steve Kerr expressed disappointment, noting Kuminga's vital role as the team's most athletic scorer and highlighting his recent excellent performance, including two 34-point games shortly after Christmas.

The injury occurred during the Warriors' recent victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, when Kuminga landed awkwardly while contesting a shot. His absence will provide more opportunities for teammates like Kyle Anderson and Moses Moody, as the Warriors aim to maintain their competitiveness in the Western Conference.

Despite the challenges of the season, including trade rumors due to his contract situation as a restricted free agent, Kuminga has averaged career-highs of 16.8 points, five rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. With the trade deadline approaching on February 6, his recovery timeline could significantly impact the Warriors' decisions. As the team sits in eighth place with an 18-16 record, Kerr remains optimistic about the group's potential moving forward.

Jonathan Kuminga's promising performance for the Golden State Warriors was cut short due to a sprained right ankle during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The injury occurred just before halftime as he contested a shot from Grizzlies guard Jake LaRavia, landing awkwardly on Brandon Clarke's foot.

Before leaving the game, Kuminga had made a significant impact, scoring 13 points in just 15 minutes, hitting all three of his three-point attempts. His absence is particularly concerning for the Warriors, who were already without star player Steph Curry due to knee tendinitis, leaving them in need of alternative scoring options against a strong Grizzlies team.

In a surprising turn of events, Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins faced the media just before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, only to reveal that rookie sensation Zach Edey would be sidelined due to a concussion. Edey, who has been a frontrunner for the NBA Rookie of the Year, was not previously listed on the injury report, raising concerns about his condition since the team's last matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The absence of Edey adds to the woes of the Grizzlies, who are already missing several key players including star guard Ja Morant, defensive stalwart Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, and Vince Williams. Additionally, Memphis' Brandon Clarke is listed as questionable for the game, further depleting their roster.

On the other side, the Oklahoma City Thunder are also coping with injuries, missing rotational players Chet Holmgren, who has been out for most of the season due to a hip fracture, and Alex Caruso, who recently suffered a hip injury. As both teams prepare for this matchup, the growing injury reports highlight the challenges they face in maintaining competitiveness in the league.