James Harden scored 40 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-117 on Saturday night.

Just when you thought Jimmy Butler v. Miami Heat had traversed every pathway of the absurd came a perspective issued Thursday, a day after the Heat suspended Butler for two games for missing a

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler attended the final day of the Reserve Cup Miami Saturday, a day after cellphone video posted to the @OnlyInDade Instagram account showed him getting into a verbal altercation at the Reserve Padel Club.

Jimmy Butler was suspended by the Miami Heat for the second time in three weeks, a move that adds to the possibility he already has played his final game for the franchise.

Antetokounmpo 10-18 5-10 25, Prince 1-5 0-0 3, Lopez 4-11 2-2 11, Jackson Jr. 1-3 0-0 3, Lillard 9-21 6-6 29, Beauchamp 0-1 0-0 0, Livingston 0-0 0-0 0, Portis 7-14 2-2 16, T.Smith 2-3 0-0 6, A.Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Connaughton 1-2 0-0 2, Rollins 3-5 0-0 7, Trent Jr. 7-11 0-0 21, Umude 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 46-98 15-20 125.

The Milwaukee Bucks are targeting a major trade to strengthen their 2025 roster, with Zach LaVine as their top candidate. A complex five-team trade could result in LaVine joining the Bucks, while other players like Beal,

Giannis Antetokounmpo can't make free throws again and Khris Middleton is thriving off the bench, complicating the Bucks trade deadline plans.

Bill Simmons came up with a four-team trade that would involve Butler heading to Phoenix. He said on his podcast : "Well, the trade I came up with was Butler to the Suns, Beal to the Bucks, Miami gets Khris Middleton, Steven Adams from Houston and Cam Whitmore from Houston, and Houston gets Brook Lopez, and that actually works."

The problems continue to pile up between the Miami Heat and wantaway guard Jimmy Butler. The 35-year-old, who was recently hit with a seven-game suspension for publicly stating that he wants to leave the team, was punished again this week with a fresh two-game ban.

Portis put together a solid outing from Milwaukee's bench Thursday ... over 35 minutes during Thursday's 125-96 victory over Miami. Although the Bucks were stranded in New Orleans until Thursday ...

The Brooklyn Nets (14-31) welcome the Miami Heat (21-22) to Barclays Center Saturday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Heat vs. Net