On today’s Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down the NBA’s hottest team: the Charlotte Hornets. What’s the secret behind their sudden rise to dominance?

Then, the pair discuss the nuances of the Achilles injury return on the back of rumblings that Jayson Tatum may return this season. Is it a good idea, or should Tatum take it easy?

That and more on today’s TBN!

(01:04) The Big Number: Kon Knueppel's historic year from 3
(19:20) Little Number 1: Ball and Miller effectiveness
(26:45) Little Number 2: When Diabate starts the Hornets win
(31:00) Little Number 3: LaMelo has found his role
(39:39) Should Jayson Tatum return?

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On today's episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine take a deep look into the MVP favorites. Are SGA and Jaylen Brown hurt by having a great team that performs just as well with them on the floor as they do off?

From there Tom and Dan react to Luka Dončić's interesting choice to pass up a good look at a game-winning shot, potentially costing the Lakers the game vs. the Magic. All that and more on this week's Big Number!

(1:50) The Big Number: OKC without SGA
(18:48) Cade Cunningham points created
(24:57) Jaylen Brown on/off
(32:43) Can Spurs finish #1 in West?
(41:59) Luka & LeBron botch final possession in Lakers loss

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Tom Haberstroh is joined by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to dig into the NBA’s $500,000 fine for the Utah Jazz and debate whether fines can truly deter teams from benching their stars. Windhorst breaks down four of the league’s core values to explain why proposals to “fix” tanking rarely last.

The duo also look ahead to the second half of the season as the Spurs continue to close in on the Thunder in the Western Conference and Jayson Tatum’s return to the Celtics in the East begins to feel inevitable. Don’t miss Windhorst’s behind-the-scenes stories about his time covering the Miami Heat with Tom and where LeBron might have landed if the draft didn’t exist.

(1:32) The Big Number: Jazz fined $500k
(4:23) How can NBA fix tanking?
(20:57) Would LeBron have gone to Cleveland without the draft?
(27:44) Is the Jazz fine unfair?
(36:08) Are Thunder vulnerable to Spurs in West?
(54:46) Should Tatum return for Celtics this season?

Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube