To be fair, the Magic are better equipped this season to support Banchero without his two main co-pilots. Desmond Bane can, and needs to, ratchet up his offense, Anthony Black is a vastly improved player and Wendell Carter Jr. has gone from a 23% to 42% 3-point shooter.

"When I come back on the court, I think it will be me," Wembanyama said when asked who the best player in the NBA is.

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry announced his return to the lineup on Friday night long before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves even started.

Just as fans were glued to injury updates and counting down a long-awaited return, another storyline quietly slipped into the spotlight. The first official look at the shoe came via Sole Retriever on X,

After missing five straight games because of a quad injury, Curry scored 39 points in Friday night’s loss to a Minnesota Timberwolves team playing without Anthony Edwards. The Warriors have struggled to find consistency all season, but they will rue these two losses in particular because they weren’t able to take advantage of Curry’s brilliance.

Coach Steve Kerr said Thursday the 37-year-old two-time Kia MVP is expected to return for Friday’s game against Minnesota (10 p.m. ET, NBA TV) following a five-game absence nursing a left quadriceps contusion and muscle strain. He was not listed on the NBA’s injury report Friday morning.

Read on for my NBA picks for Sunday, December 14. Warriors vs Trail Blazers prediction. Warriors vs Trail Blazers best bet: Warriors -4 (-110) The Portland Trail Blazers' willingn