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The Bucks, meanwhile, have rallied from a 2-8 start and are 12-3 over their last 15 games. Doc Rivers largely stayed the course and has Milwaukee already within striking distance of a top-four seed in the East in addition to the doorstep of an NBA Cup banner.

Getting the action started in Las Vegas on Tuesday will be Mickey Guyton, who is set to deliver her rendition of the national anthem.

Here’s what you need to know about Guyton and why she was chosen.

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Who is Mickey Guyton?
Guyton is a country and R&B singer who was born in Arlington, Texas. She decided to start singing after seeing LeAnn Rimes sing the national anthem before a Texas Rangers game, so every anthem performance is a full-circle moment for the 41-year-old.

After spending her college years in Los Angeles, Guyton moved to Nashville and released her debut single in 2015. She earned her first Grammy nomination in 2020 for “Black Like Me,” a song released in honor of George Floyd amid nationwide protests, and released her debut album in 2021 after putting out an EP in 2015.

Guyton has earned four Grammy nominations and four more award nominations between three country music award shows.

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Why is Mickey Guyton singing the national anthem?
Guyton has plenty of experience singing the national anthem on the national stage. She sang The Star-Spangled Banner before Super Bowl 56 between the Rams and Bengals nearly three years ago and delivered a rendition at the Democratic National Convention in August.

The NBA Cup final is no Super Bowl — even the NBA would admit that — but it’s the biggest stage of the regular season for the league, and the eyes will be on her in Las Vegas before the Bucks and Thunder face off.

Cunningham dropped a triple-double on Miami, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and an absurd 18 points.

And while Jaden Ivey is another immense talent who factors into the Pistons’ future, Cunningham could benefit from playing alongside an All-Star caliber running mate starting right now.

It’s for this reason that Detroit might want to think about taking on a superstar via trade that virtually every other franchise has steered clear of, an idea supported by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.

“The Detroit Pistons are just a half-game out of the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference and only four games out of the sixth seed and final guaranteed playoff spot,” Swartz said on Monday.

“With a young, cost-controlled roster, now is the time to roll the dice on some higher-priced talent via trade.”

“(Zach) LaVine is having a good year for the (Chicago) Bulls (22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 43.2 percent from three) and would help improve a Pistons’ offense that ranks just 24th overall this season.”

LaVine’s contract is admittedly monstrous ($138 remaining over the next three seasons), but he’d be an awesome fit next to Cunningham, as their games are very different from one another.

Should Detroit give Chicago a call?

“The Washington Wizards’ offer for LeBron James, featuring Jordan Poole and Alex Sarr, is an interesting but ultimately underwhelming one for the Lakers,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Thursday.

“Jordan Poole has shown flashes of scoring potential (20.4 points per game, 5.0 assists per game), but his inconsistency and tendency to be a liability on defense make him a risky proposition for a team trying to compete for a championship.”

“While Poole could provide scoring off the bench or potentially step into a starting role, he hasn’t yet proven he can be a reliable contributor on a winning team.”

“Alex Sarr, a highly-touted prospect, brings intrigue with his upside, but he’s unproven at the NBA level so far in his rookie season posting 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.”

“For the Wizards, this trade is all about reloading for the future, giving them LeBron’s leadership and star power while building around Kyle Kuzma and Bilal Coulibaly.”

“However, it’s hard to see how the Wizards could entice the Lakers with a deal that offers so little immediate return.”

Poole helped the Warriors secure an NBA title in 2022, but things quickly went downhill for the Michigan product.

After violently falling to the floor following a perfectly executed Draymond Green punch, Poole’s play on the hardwood began deteriorating.

Sure, Poole upped his scoring to 20.4 points per game during the 2022-23 season, but the former first-round pick was less efficient and more turnover-prone in Year 4.

The Warriors traded Poole to the Wizards in the summer of 2023, and the flashy guard has been solid with the losing franchise.

While he’s working toward limiting his turnovers, the NBA champion averages 20.4 points on 43.4% field goal shooting and 39.2% three-point shooting this season.

Poole would provide the Lakers with an electric perimeter-oriented asset who wishes to be a part of a stable organization.

If Los Angeles could find a way to acquire Poole without parting ways with James, a human freight train still going strong in Year 22, the Lakers could complete a deal before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Phoenix Suns’ most recent 116-109 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night improved the team’s record to 14-11 and a No. 6 seed placement in the Western Conference.

Devin Booker’s 28 points on just 14 shot attempts led Phoenix to the eventual win, but the team’s lackluster bench unit failed to make meaningful offensive contributions to help decide the outcome of the contest.

Their most impactful reserve Grayson Allen connected on just 30.8% of his attempts from the floor and finished with 12 of the team’s 26 total bench points.

This has become a recurring theme throughout the franchise’s first 25 games, as Phoenix’s 31.8 bench points ranks as the No. 24 figure in the Association.

Each night, the team relies heavily on their three-headed monster of former league MVP Kevin Durant, Booker and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to a detriment.

This ongoing struggle could eventually tempt Phoenix’s general manager James Jones to make a significant decision to improve a disappointing reserve unit. Jones may inquire about a multiple-time Sixth Man of the Year candidate from the Milwaukee Bucks who is reportedly available to be dealt.

“The Bucks have gauged the trade market on Bobby Portis to find rotational upgrades,” shared Forbes’ Evan Sidery via Twitter/X Monday night.

“With Milwaukee over the second apron, they can’t take back salaries totaling more than Portis’ $12.6 million.”

As a 6-foot-10 power forward with an endless bag of tricks as an offensive weapon, Portis’ current averages of 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds paired with 36.7% shooting accuracy from distance has surely caught the eye of several front offices as the trade deadline nears.

The crafty 29-year-old has placed third in Sixth Man of the Year voting for the past two seasons from 2022-2024, and his consistent scoring ability can fit with any contender looking to acquire his services.

On a team surrounded by three of the game’s most lethal scorers from the past decade, Portis’ offensive abilities could be unlocked further by allowing the veteran forward more space to operate.

In a potential deal for Portis, Phoenix would need to jump through some financial hoops as a second tax apron franchise.

The Suns’ best option could be to send a combination of veterans like Royce O’Neale and Mason Plumlee back to Milwaukee since the salaries exchanged in the deal would have to be nearly identical.

So far this 2024-25 NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have lived up to their expectations and have even arguably surpassed them. Ranking first in the Western Conference and boasting the best defense in the league, OKC has been nothing short of spectacular.

Much of this success, of course, could not be done without their incredible players. The tenacity with which they play and their overall chemistry as a team has been a spectacle to watch, and certain players are finally getting some high-value recognition.

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Five Thunder players place in NBA top 100
In a recent publication by ‘the Ringer’, they recently released their updated list of the top 100 NBA players. Conducted by a variety of experts, analysts and media personalities, the Ringer provides an accurate depiction of how good players are compared to one another.

When it comes to Oklahoma City, they had five players make the list. Here are their rankings and what the Ringer had to say:

5. Shai Gilgeous Alexander
   Averaging over 30 points per game to go along with 6.3 assists and nearly two steals, SGA has proven he is one of the top players in the association. Due to his exceptional play and the leader of Loud City, he is due to add some hardware to his collection:

Now the best player on a Thunder team that’s built to reign over the Western Conference for as long as his prime, smart money has Gilgeous-Alexander’s name getting engraved in the Michael Jordan Trophy at least once. Even wiser money sees that happening in 2025.

21. Jalen Williams
    Each and every season, JDub manages to find a way to get even better. Putting up career highs in almost every major statistical category, Williams has blossomed into not only a co-star alongside Shai, but has put his name on the map as one of the top rising stars the game has to offer:

…the sky’s the limit for [Williams’] potential. As long as he shares the floor with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams might never be his team’s go-to scorer—but every team would want a player with his blend of size and skills at any age, let alone one who’s just 23 years old.

“Acquiring Zion Williamson may sound enticing for the Golden State Warriors, but this trade screams catastrophe,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Tuesday.

“Zion’s immense potential is undeniable—when healthy, he’s a dominant force, averaging 22.7 points and 8.0 rebounds this season. But “when healthy” is the operative phrase, as Zion has played a total of 190 games over six seasons which averages 31 games per season.”

“Trading for him means gambling the Warriors’ present and future on a player who might never stay on the court consistently.”

“The cost is exorbitant. Draymond Green is the Warriors’ emotional and defensive anchor, while Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody represent the team’s long-term potential.”

“Throw in Gary Payton II’s elite perimeter defense, and the Warriors are left with a depleted roster that can’t contend, even if Zion miraculously stays healthy. The 2023 first-round pick is just icing on the cake for how badly Golden State gets fleeced here.”

“Zion’s style of play also clashes with the Warriors’ fluid, motion-based offense. His ball-dominant, paint-heavy game doesn’t align with the Warriors’ reliance on spacing and off-ball movement.”

“For a team that has started the season 14-11 and looks like a legitimate playoff contender, this trade risks everything for a player with more question marks than answers.”

Since joining the NBA in 2019, Williamson has been one of the most efficient downhill attackers in the league, shooting 58.7% from three-point land for his career.

Unfortunately, the Duke product has dealt with significant injuries with the Pelicans, causing many to doubt his ability to remain healthy.

While Williamson is averaging 22.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season, a left hamstring strain has limited the two-time All-Star to six contests this year, making him a high-risk target for the Warriors.

Swapping a four-time NBA champion who’s a physical defender with underrated playmaking chops in Green for Williamson wouldn’t be a wise investment for the Dubs this season.