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England suffer big Six Nations blow with Feyi-Waboso ruled out of Wales clash

  • Key player suffered hamstring injury in training

  • Roebuck makes surprise return as replacement

England have suffered a major setback on the eve of their Six Nations opener against Wales with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled out with a hamstring injury, prompting a surprise recall for Tom Roebuck.

Roebuck is the beneficiary of Feyi-Waboso’s injury, called into the side to make a first appearance since picking up a toe injury in England’s November victory over the All Blacks. England are still investigating the extent of Feyi-Waboso’s injury - sustained in training on Thursday - and it remains to be seen if he will feature at all in the Six Nations.

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Five Brewers named to Baseball Prospectus’ top 101 prospects

MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 25: Newly-signed first-round draft pick Andrew Fischer takes batting practice prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, July 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Baseball Prospectus is widely regarded as one of the best sites for prospect analysis. While most major publications have already released their lists of the top prospects in baseball, BP didn’t release theirs until this Wednesday.

Four of the five Brewers who made the list are consensus top prospects. The fifth is a recent draftee who hasn’t appeared on any other list this offseason.

No. 3 Jesus Made

No surprises here. Made hasn’t been ranked lower than fourth by any of the main prospect publications. He has one of the highest ceilings in the game and has only gotten better while rising through the minors. For more on Made, check out my recaps of the Baseball America and MLB Pipeline lists.

No. 30 Luis Peña

Peña is ranked slightly lower than on many other lists — MLB Pipeline, ESPN, and The Athletic’s Keith Law had him ranked either No. 26 or 27. Baseball America had him at No. 45. Peña has just as much upside as Made does, especially if he figures out defensive concerns. With his speed and arm, he might be a better centerfielder than he is a shortstop. Peña’s numbers also fell off a bit in High-A, so a strong first couple of months of the season would have him even higher by the time midseason prospect rankings come out.

No. 41 Jett Williams

Williams, acquired from the Mets in the trade that sent Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to New York, seems like a quintessential Brewers prospect. His best traits are his speed, his on-base ability, his swing decisions, and his baserunning. He’s a well-rounded, versatile prospect who can play both middle infield positions and the outfield. I won’t say too much more about Williams because I have a film breakdown coming — if that interests you, check BCB next week.

No. 75 Andrew Fischer

Fischer hasn’t been on any other list that I’ve covered, but he was ranked the top third base prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline earlier this offseason. He was widely hailed as a great pick by the Brewers at No. 20 overall and has done nothing but live up to that billing in his limited time with the organization. Fischer is a developed hitter who spent three years in college (at Duke, Ole Miss, and finally the University of Tennessee) and hit at least .285 every season. Scouting reports leading up to the 2025 draft detailed his mature approach, his ability to drive the ball to all fields, and his propensity to make hard contact. He hit .341 in his final collegiate season with 25 home runs and an insane .497 on-base percentage.

Upon joining the Brewers, Fischer went straight to High-A Wisconsin and slashed .311/.402/.446 (.848 OPS) in 19 games. To put it succinctly, he has the makings of a player who could rise very, very quickly through the farm system — something Baseball Prospectus probably took into consideration ranking him this high. BP also tends to weigh analytics pretty heavily. Despite a limited sample size, Fischer has already been making hard contact and generating high exit velocities — two things that stood out about his profile in college. There’s a world where he more than justifies this ranking after a full season of minor league ball.

No. 76 Brandon Sproat

Sproat, like Made, Peña, and Williams, is pretty much universally considered a top 100 prospect in baseball. He’s been a top prospect for a couple of years now, but fell in the rankings compared to last year (No. 39). To be fair, his season-long numbers weren’t great in 2025 — an ERA over 4 isn’t exactly eye-popping. Despite that, the signs are there that Sproat could become a valuable piece for the Brewers in 2026. He had a rough start to 2025, but pitched extremely well (2.44 ERA, 30% strikeout rate) over his last 11 Triple-A starts. His September call-up didn’t go all that well (4.79 ERA), but it’s hard to take much away from just four starts.

For more on Sproat, check out the Baseball America article linked at the top. Like Williams, I have an article coming on him, so I don’t want to say too much…

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Similarities between cricket, baseball ahead of T20 Cricket World Cup

The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is set to begin in India and Sri Lanka on Feb. 7.

While most Americans might not be acquainted with the sport, they may have gotten a glimpse into the sport in 2024 when Team USA pulled off a miraculous defeat of the usual cricket power Pakistan on June 7, 2024, in Dallas.

According to many cricket experts, the USA's win over Pakistan is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.

A chance at repeating history is on the table for the U.S., as it is slotted in the same group as Pakistan for the World Cup, along with India, Nambia and the Netherlands. The U.S. and Pakistan face off on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Singhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka.

As the World Cup approaches, here's what fans need to know about the similarities and differences between cricket and America's pastime: baseball.

Similarities in cricket, baseball

Just like in baseball, the premise of the sport is the same. A thrower throws the ball to the batter, who has to hit the ball and help his team score as many runs as possible. In both sports, there are fielders whose main job is to prevent runs.

In both sports, when the ball is hit in play, the batter becomes a runner who is looking to score runs in whatever the rules of the sport require.

Another similarity is hitting the ball outside of the parameters of the field, without it bouncing. In baseball, that is a home run that could be worth between one and four runs. Meanwhile, in cricket, it is called a "six" and is worth six runs.

In both sports, when a player "gets out," the next person in the batting order is up to bat. When a set number of players are retired on each side, the fielding team comes to bat, while the batting team takes the field.

A catch in both sports is when the ball goes from the bat to the fielder, without the ball touching the ground.

Of course, whichever team scores the most runs wins the match. Matches generally do not end in ties.

Just as in baseball, the T20 format lasts about three hours for a full, complete game. Per the ICC, the average cricket match lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Differences in cricket, baseball

The ball

A baseball is made of cork, rubber or a mixture of both, and can sometimes be layered. The legal weight for a baseball is between 5 ounces and 5 1/4 ounces, while it is 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference.

Meanwhile, a cricket ball is made of cork and string and covered with red leather. The ball weighs between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces and measures between 8 13/16 and 9 inches in circumference.

Bowling vs. pitching

While the object remains the same in both sports, it's the differences that make the sports interesting. The differences start with the terminology. In baseball, what is called a pitcher is called a bowler. That name difference makes sense.

A bowler begins his process of throwing the ball in a run-up, and then throws the ball in an arc-like formation from a flat surface. The bowler typically bounces the ball, while a baseball pitcher throws from a mound and does not have a running start, but rather a windup.

Bowlers are allowed four overs in a T20 match at most. Unlike in baseball, where a pitcher can pitch a "complete game," that is not an option in cricket, as different bowlers will get opportunities.

Batting and running

Another key difference is the batting gear. In baseball, a cylindrical and hollow bat is used, while a cricket bat is flat and has a cane handle. In baseball, a batter is on the field for the offense, while other players wait in the dugout, unless they are on base. In cricket, there are two batsmen on the field at a time, while others on offense wait for their turn in the clubhouse.

In baseball, after the batter makes contact with the ball, they are to run around the bases to score a run. The bases are 90 feet apart in baseball. In cricket, the hitters run between two creases, which are typically 22 yards apart. Each time each runner crosses the crease, it counts as one run.

When a runner runs between the creases in cricket, the fielders are to attempt to throw out the runner before he reaches for a "wicket," which means the runner is out. In baseball, fielders either throw the ball to a base or tag the runner.

In baseball, a batter is done when his at-bat is done or if he gets on base or scores a run. In cricket, the batter continues until he is recorded out.

Fielding

In baseball, fielders are equipped with gloves to catch a ball and record outs. In cricket, the only fielder who has gloves on is the wicket keeper, who stands directly behind the wicket. Every other fielder is gloveless.

While there are 10 players per side for baseball, with nine on the field at a time, cricket rules have 11 players on the field at a time.

Runs

In baseball, each runner who crosses the plate counts as a run. Multiple runs can be scored on a play, if there are men on base.

In cricket, each time the two batsmen trade the crease on either side, it counts as a run. One, two or three runs can be scored on a ball that is kept in the playing field. If a ball bounces at least once and gets over the boundary, it counts as four runs. When the ball goes over the boundary without bouncing, it counts as six runs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Similarities between cricket, baseball ahead of T20 Cricket World Cup

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Brew Crew Ball Daily Question: What would a successful 2026 season look like?

June 22, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Brewers 1982 American League Champions pennant during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

As Brewers fans, we’ve quickly become used to making it into the postseason.

After just four playoff appearances from the franchise’s inception in 1969 (as the Seattle Pilots) through their first 49 seasons, Milwaukee has now made it to October baseball in seven of the last eight seasons, including five NL Central titles.

But is it enough?

The team’s “bites of the apple” approach has clearly worked in terms of making it to the postseason, but they have yet to make it back to the World Series, with the franchise’s lone appearance coming back in 1982. The 2018 Brewers were a Game 7 win away from making it, and the 2011 and 2025 Brewers also made it to the NLCS, but nobody has won a pennant.

After Freddy Peralta became the fourth big-name pitcher traded by the team in the last four years (joining Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams), they’ll look to extend their playoff streak to four consecutive seasons in 2026 with a roster built around veterans Brandon Woodruff and Christian Yelich along with a whole bunch of youngsters, headlined by soon-to-be 22-year-old Jackson Chourio.

Is making it back to the postseason still considered a success in your book? Or do the Brewers need to take another step forward in 2026?

Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training. Have a question you’d like to ask in a future BCB Daily Question? Drop one in the comments, and we may use it later this month.

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What will it take for Anthony Volpe to have a good season?

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 26, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The 2026 Yankees have a lot riding on their stars repeating the quality seasons that they put up in 2025, but there’s a select few that they would like to see rebounds from. No one fits that latter category more than Anthony Volpe, who was brutally bad at the plate for months at a time and endured a dreadful season at shortstop for the first time after posting excellent defense at a minimum in his previous two seasons. Of course, now we know that he was playing through a shoulder injury for most of the year, but a third-straight underwhelming season offensively has put him in the hot seat entering 2026.

Volpe’s expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but he should be ready to go sometime around May-June. When he returns, it’s likely that the Yankees will give him the starting shortstop gig back unless José Caballero manages to put on an otherworldly performance in his stead. Should he disappoint a fourth time in a row, even a Yankees front office that has been enamored with Volpe’s potential for years would find it prudent to chase an upgrade, but what would qualify as a “good” season for Volpe, or at least good enough to warrant keeping him in the plans for the future?

One of the biggest detriments for Volpe has been his inability to get on base, whether that’s because he’s struggled to generate good contact or work walks. Getting above a .300 OBP mark isn’t exactly a sign of a future star, but it would be a first for Volpe in his career if he could do so this year. Getting on the basepaths would enable him to use one of his best tools as well — his speed. Volpe started his career red-hot timing steal attempts, nabbing 13 bags without getting caught by May. Since then he’s struggled to pick his spots, perhaps because of how inconsistently he’s had the opportunity to, and it resulted in him taking just 18 bags last year. Jumping back into that 25-30 range of steals would go a long way to making the bottom of the Yankees’ lineup more threatening.

Of course there’s always the question of Volpe’s power. He aimed to drive the ball out of the park in his rookie campaign, hit a respectable 21 bombs but struggled to do much else on contact, and then flipped his strategy completely in 2024 becoming more of an even-plane swinger. His power plummeted, and the tradeoff didn’t do too much for his ability to find the gap as he hit .243 and bumped his OBP up only 10 points despite the sizeable batting average jump. Last year he went into the season aiming for more of a middle ground, but the injury prevented him from showcasing whether he had found a suitable way to attack pitchers. Perhaps a jump in statistical performance wouldn’t be as big of an indicator for a good year for Volpe so much as merely finding consistency and knowing that he’s found his form at last. Is there a particular benchmark you’d set for Volpe that he’d need to beat to regain some faith, or is it all in how comfortable he looks at the dish? Let us know what you think.

On the site today, Andrés leads off with a look at Michael Kopech as a high-risk, high-reward option for the bullpen. Then, Sam wishes the Bambino a happy birthday and looks at the lasting legacy he’s cast on the sport, Michael gives us the day’s season preview focused on Oswaldo Cabrera, and Estevão takes us back to the infamous Jacoby Ellsbury signing ahead of the 2014 season. Later on in the day, I’ll be back to answer your latest questions in our mailbag.

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Slot praises Wirtz’s gym work, Ronaldo warned, Milner eyes record – football live

⚽ All the latest news heading into the weekend’s action
⚽ Premier League: 10 things to look out for | Mail John

Quiz of the week: I guessed my way to a rather decent 12/16.

Virgil van Dijk has hit out at ex-pro pundits in an interview with, er, Gary Neville, ahead of Sky’s broadcast of Liverpool v Manchester City.

For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m a bit worried for the next generation. I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation. Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way. But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.

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Farrell to carry out review after Ireland humbled by France in Six Nations

  • Head coach insists Ireland can close gap on top sides

  • Champions France triumphed 36-14 in Paris

Andy Farrell is confident Ireland can keep pace with Test rugby’s leading sides as he prepares to conduct a frank post-mortem into a resounding 36-14 Six Nations loss to reigning champions France.

Farrell’s side were outclassed during Thursday evening’s one-sided tournament opener in Paris on the back of comprehensive autumn defeats by New Zealand and world champions South Africa. Ireland, who are hindered by a substantial injury list amid a period of transition, also suffered an emphatic 42-27 loss to Les Bleus last year in Dublin en route to surrendering the championship title.

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Four Goals In 5 Minutes Sinks The Kings To A 4-1 Loss To Vegas

The Los Angeles Kings (23-19-14) barely had time to breathe tonight at T-Mobile Arena before the Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-14) had already put the game out of reach. 

Vegas already had four goals scored in the first period by the 5-minute mark of this game, riding their explosive start to a 4-1 victory over the Kings. Adin Hill made 32 saves, while Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, and Pavel Dorofoyev each notched a goal, which powered the Kings' offense. 

Back-to-back losses for the Kings before entering the break are up there with their ugliest performances all season long after playing two crucial Western Conference opponents for a chance to move up in the Pacific Division. 

First-period Collapse

The game turned quickly and painfully for Los Angeles. 

Eichel opened the scoring at the 11:38 mark, followed by three other Golden Knights forwards scoring in a span of five minutes, extending their lead 4-0 just like that, with still more than 6 minutes remaining in the first period. 

By the time, the Trevor Moore scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, the damage was already done and very difficult to dig out of. 

Vegas was the more engaged team tonight and looked more focused on the ice, holding the Kings at bay in all three zones during a sloppy opening period that set the tone for the night. 

More bad news for the Kings, Andre Kuzmenko exited the game in the first period after taking a shot to the side of the head after going to the front of the net, but was able to skate to the locker room with assistance. 

Despite returning in the second period, Kuzmenko remained on the bench and didn't return for the rest of the night. 

Kopitar Reaches 1,300 Points

Despite the loss, the Kings had something to celebrate tonight after Anze Kopitar reached a major milestone, recording the 1,300th point of his NHL career with his assist to Moore's goal. Kopitar became the 39th skater in league history, and just the eighth born outside North America to hit the mark. 

Kings Struggle to Get Back

From that point on, both teams remained scoreless after that hot start from the Golden Knights in the first period, which seemed to demoralize the Kings early on. Despite outshooting Vegas 33-22, the Kings once again were awful on the power play, going 0/5, had turnover problems again, and, for the second straight game, the defense allowed four goals. 

Tonight's loss puts the Kings 10 games under .500, and with 60 points in 56 games, Los Angeles has little room for nights like this moving forward, as chasing a wild-card spot is becoming increasingly unlikely with each loss. 

Slow starts and clawing back just to lose in overtime or a shootout has become an ongoing trend for Los Angeles, and Thursday's first period may have been the most damaging example yet. 

The Kings' next game will be on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against the Vegas Golden at 7:00 P.M. PT in Crypto.com Arena, which will start their six-game home stand after coming out of the Winter Olympics. We will most likely see Artemi Panarin make his Los Angeles Kings debut in this game, and the Kings will need to get as many reinforcements back as possible if they want a chance to at least make the playoffs at this point. 

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Detroit hosts New York after Brunson's 42-point game

New York Knicks (33-18, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (37-13, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 224.5

BOTTOM LINE: New York visits the Detroit Pistons after Jalen Brunson scored 42 points in the Knicks' 134-127 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets.

The Pistons are 23-7 in Eastern Conference games. Detroit is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 57.3 points in the paint led by Jalen Duren averaging 13.4.

The Knicks are 22-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York has a 14-14 record against opponents above .500.

The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up (13.9). The Knicks are shooting 47.2% from the field, 2.9% higher than the 44.3% the Pistons' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Pistons won 121-90 in the last meeting on Jan. 6. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 29 points, and Brunson led the Knicks with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 25.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duren is averaging 17.6 points and 9.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Brunson is averaging 27.4 points and 6.1 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 18.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 116.6 points, 43.0 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 11.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points per game.

Knicks: 8-2, averaging 115.5 points, 49.4 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.9 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Dario Saric: day to day (not injury related), Jalen Duren: day to day (knee), Tobias Harris: day to day (hip).

Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (undisclosed), Miles McBride: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Houston faces Oklahoma City, looks for 4th straight road win

Houston Rockets (31-19, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-12, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Houston hits the road against Oklahoma City looking to prolong its three-game road winning streak.

The Thunder are 30-8 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City averages 120.2 points and has outscored opponents by 12.3 points per game.

The Rockets have gone 17-15 against Western Conference opponents. Houston scores 115.2 points while outscoring opponents by 5.1 points per game.

The Thunder make 48.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.9 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (45.9%). The Rockets are shooting 47.2% from the field, 4.0% higher than the 43.2% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Thunder won the last matchup 111-91 on Jan. 16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points to help lead the Thunder to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Chet Holmgren is averaging 17.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and two blocks for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is averaging 18.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 5-5, averaging 116.3 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.

Rockets: 6-4, averaging 107.6 points, 48.1 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Luguentz Dort: day to day (knee), Ajay Mitchell: day to day (abdominal), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Alex Caruso: day to day (injury management), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (eye), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: out (abdominal), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: day to day (wrist), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Denver takes on Chicago, seeks to break 3-game skid

Denver Nuggets (33-19, third in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (24-28, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Denver looks to end its three-game losing streak with a victory over Chicago.

The Bulls have gone 15-11 in home games. Chicago is third in the NBA with 34.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 7.4.

The Nuggets are 19-9 on the road. Denver is 14-13 against opponents over .500.

The Bulls score 117.0 points per game, 0.8 more points than the 116.2 the Nuggets allow. The Nuggets average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Bulls allow.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Bulls won the last meeting 130-127 on Nov. 18. Giddey scored 21 points to help lead the Bulls to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Matas Buzelis is averaging 15 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Bulls. Jalen Smith is averaging 10.7 points over the last 10 games.

Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 22.2 points and 6.9 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 4-6, averaging 115.1 points, 43.9 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points per game.

Nuggets: 4-6, averaging 109.8 points, 41.9 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Tre Jones: day to day (hamstring), Zach Collins: out (toe), Collin Sexton: day to day (not injury related), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring).

Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Spencer Jones: day to day (head), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Peyton Watson: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Orlando hosts Utah in non-conference action

Utah Jazz (16-36, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (26-24, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic host the Utah Jazz in non-conference action.

The Magic are 16-9 on their home court. Orlando is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.1 fast break points per game led by Franz Wagner averaging 3.9.

The Jazz are 6-19 on the road. Utah ranks seventh in the Western Conference with 43.8 rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 10.2.

The Magic average 115.0 points per game, 11.8 fewer points than the 126.8 the Jazz allow. The Jazz average 118.3 points per game, 2.8 more than the 115.5 the Magic give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Magic won 128-127 in overtime in the last matchup on Dec. 21.

TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is averaging 19.2 points and 4.3 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 23.8 points over the last 10 games.

Nurkic is averaging 11.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 110.3 points, 39.7 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points per game.

Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.8 points, 41.8 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: day to day (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

Jazz: Kevin Love: day to day (illness), Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), John Konchar: day to day (neck), Vince Williams Jr.: day to day (not injury related), Jaren Jackson Jr.: day to day (not injury related).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Hornets play the Hawks, seek 9th straight win

Charlotte Hornets (24-28, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (26-27, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte seeks to keep its eight-game win streak alive when the Hornets take on Atlanta.

The Hawks are 5-3 against the rest of their division. Atlanta has a 6-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Hornets are 6-4 against the rest of their division. Charlotte is 1-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hornets give up. The Hornets average 15.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Hornets won 133-126 in the last matchup on Dec. 19. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 28 points, and Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 43 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 23.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.

Ball is shooting 40.5% and averaging 19.1 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 115.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points per game.

Hornets: 9-1, averaging 112.7 points, 48.9 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.4 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (dental), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee).

Hornets: Coby White: out (calf), Tidjane Salaun: day to day (illness), KJ Simpson: day to day (hip), Xavier Tillman: out (personal).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.