Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo is the early leader in fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game, and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers seems well on his way toward extending his record and getting picked for a 21st time. The first update on All-Star ...

Can the Bucks actually pursue Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline? This 5-team deal including the Lakers is just crazy enough to work.

ClutchPoints proposes that Milwaukee trades for Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat in a wild five-team trade scenario featuring the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards. Bucks receive: Butler, Gabe Vincent, Simone Fontecchio, Kevin Love, MIA 2030 1st round pick (swap, least favorable of MIL/MIA/POR)

Entering a stretch of nine consecutive games in their home state, with seven of those in their own building, the Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to play host to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday intent on fine tuning their new look amid trying conditions.

Giannis Antetokounmpo passed two players on the all-time career scoring rankings with his 59-point performance vs. Detroit. Here's where he stands.

Eight-time All-NBA Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and six-time All-NBA Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic currently pace all others in the first wave of All-Star fan voting.

Lastly, fan voting returns from Thursday suggest that LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets has a strong chance to be voted as a starter. He leads all East backcourt players in fan voting. Given Ball's time missed to injury (11 games so far) and Charlotte's lowly 8-27 record, his safest path to the All-Star Game is as a starter.

San Antonio is looking to break its three-game slide with a win against Los Angeles. The teams play Saturday for the first time this season.

MILWAUKEE - Damian Lillard had 26 points and eight assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 on Wednesday night.

Best in the Eastern Conference. Best in the Western Conference. The best shooting team in the NBA vs. the best defensive team in the NBA. A matchup like only two others in league history.