Victor Oladipo turned down a two-year, $45.2 million contract extension from the Houston Rockets, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The amount was the most that the Rockets could currently offer Oladipo. The 28-year-old is currently in the final year of his four-year deal.

Oladipo is reportedly looking for a long-term deal, which the Rockets cannot offer until this offseason.

The Heat and the Knicks are among teams who have shown an interest in Oladipo in the past. 

Wojnarowski adds that the Rockets have yet to engage in trade talks involving Oladipo. 

Robert Covington is set to compete in the Skills Challenge, sources told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

The NBA will use All-Star Weekend to highlight Historically Black College and Universities. Covington, a graduate of Tennessee State, is the only player from an HBCU in the NBA.

The NBA and NBPA have committed more than $2.5 million in a fund to support HBCUs, as well as raising awareness around issues like equity and access to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Cassius Stanley and Anfernee Simons will enter the Slam Dunk competition on March 7th, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The two players will join Obi Toppin in the competition.

Derrick Jones Jr., winner of last year's competition, will not enter this season. 

RJ Hampton is expected to enter the league's healthy and safety protocols through the All-Star Break, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

There is also additional contact tracing ongoing within the Nuggets organization.

The Nuggets have three games remaining before the break. 

Tom Thibodeau said the New York Knicks' 110-107 win over the Indiana Pacers that brought the team back to .500 for the season didn't take on any extra meaning.

The Knicks were at one point down double-digits in the game. 

"One game doesn’t take on more meaning than another. They all count the same. And wherever you end up, that can be the difference between a lot of things.

So we have to understand how important each day is, have to understand how important each practice is, we have to understand how important each possession is. And so if we want to fight for things we say we want to fight for, there’s a price to pay for that, and we have to do that.”

The Knicks are currently 17-17 on the season, and are the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Julius Randle, who finished the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds, added that he took the matchup against Domantas Sabonis personally from a competitive standpoint. 

“As a competitor, sometimes there are just individual matchups that you take -- not personal like you don’t like the other guy -- just personal from a competitive standpoint. So it was that."

James Harden admitted that he saw "some similarities" between him and Luka Doncic following the Brooklyn Nets' 115-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

"There are some similarities. He never lets anyone speed him up, and he gets what he wants. That's rare for a guy at a young age. I think he's 21 years old. And to be able to dictate the game and control the game like he does, we all know he has a very, very bright future. The Mavs got a special one," said Harden after the game.

The loss snapped the Net's eight-game win streak.

Doncic had 27 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in the game, with the Mavs returning to .500.

Rick Carlisle also acknowledged the similarities between the two players.

"Harden has been in a situation the last few years where the offense has really revolved around him. With our team, it does around Luka similarly, but our style is a little different than Houston and Brooklyn. Both of these guys are generational-type players." 

Sunday's game between the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls was postponed due to contact tracing within the Raptors.

The game is the 34th postponement of the season so far.

In addition, it was announced on Saturday that Pascal Siakam would miss up until the All-Star break due to health and safety protocol. 

Kevin Durant will remain an All-Star Game captain despite having to sit out due to a hamstring injury.

Durant and LeBron James will draft their All-Star Game rosters on March 4th. 

It is unclear whether Durant will travel to Atlanta for the All-Star Game on March 7th.

Jrue Holiday is likely return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Holiday has missed the last 10 games due to the league's health and safety protocols.

The Bucks went 5-5 without Holiday. 

Kyrie Irving will miss the Brooklyn Nets' game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night due to right shoulder injury recovery.

The Nets are currently on an eight-game win streak.