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NBA Notes: Cavs, Dean Wade, Spurs, Devin Vassell, Pistons

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Jan 25, 2026 2:55 PM ET

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers landed in Orlando at around 3 in the morning on Saturday. Coach Kenny Atkinson slept three hours. Donovan Mitchell went to bed at 4:30 a.m. None of it showed.

The Cavs looked sharp anyway, grabbed the lead early, and never gave it back in a 119-105 road win over the Magic. Second night of a back-to-back. No excuses. No drama. Just business.

Dean Wade set the tone early and finished it late, wrote Gabriella Kreuz of SI.com. Over the final five-plus minutes, he delivered rebounds, a block, a steal, and a corner three that pushed the lead back to double digits just as Orlando threatened to make things interesting.

Wade said back-to-backs are mostly mental, not physical. His play backed that up.

Mitchell, of course, did what he does. After a quieter first half, he took over the second, pouring in 27 points on efficient shooting while handing out six assists. When the Cavs needed control, Mitchell provided it.

Wade joked that the late-game plan was simple: Give Mitchell space. Stay ready. Take the shot if it comes. And do not pass it up, or Mitchell will let you hear about it.

Mitchell called Wade “the blanket,” praising his rebounding and defensive instincts. The Cavs shot 53 percent from the field, hit 44 percent from three, and held Orlando well below that on both counts.

Darius Garland missed his fifth straight game with a toe injury, but Cleveland has not let that derail momentum. The rotation has held. The defense has traveled. The wins are stacking.

Overall, they’ve won six of eight and 10 of 14. They entered Sunday just two games back of the Celtics for second place in the East.

#Cavs Dean Wade the final five and a half minutes of play:

5:24: BLK
3:35 STL
3:04 REB
2:23 3PT
2:02 REB

“Back-to-backs are 85 percent mental” -Dean Wade

“He’s the ultimate glue guy” -Kenny Atkinson pic.twitter.com/jv5EPh2In5

— Gabriella Kreuz (@thesportsGab) January 25, 2026

Spurs

Devin Vassell is set to return, and San Antonio will welcome him carefully, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.

Vassell, sidelined for nearly a month with a left adductor strain, is expected to play Sunday against New Orleans on a minutes restriction. He practiced fully Saturday and said he feels ready, even if conditioning and caution remain factors.

He emphasized the importance of not rushing back and risking a setback, noting that groin and adductor injuries can linger if handled poorly. Mentally, the layoff tested him. Watching instead of playing usually does.

Before the injury, Vassell started every game and averaged 15 points while shooting near 38 percent from three. The Spurs went 8-5 without him and remain near the top of the West, but his scoring and spacing add another layer to an already effective lineup.

Pistons

J.B. Bickerstaff is headed to the All-Star Game. On the bench.

Detroit’s record has locked him into one of the coaching spots, a reflection of one of the league’s sharpest turnarounds. The Pistons own the best record in the East and one of the best in the NBA, a far cry from where this franchise sat just two years ago.

Bickerstaff has overseen a complete reset. Culture shift. Accountability. Real results. Detroit jumped 30 wins last season and pushed New York in the playoffs. This season, they have taken another leap.

He becomes the first Pistons coach to earn the All-Star nod since Flip Saunders, and the honor feels earned. Consistency. Growth. Buy-in.

The All-Star Game will run a U.S. vs. World format this year in Los Angeles. Detroit will be represented on the sideline, and given how this season has gone, that feels about right.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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