Cooper Flagg was a first round overall pick for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA draft [Getty Images]
Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg became the first teenager to score 49 points in an NBA game as they lost 123-121 against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center.
The 19-year-old beat Clifford Robinson's previous record of 45 points set in 1980 when playing for the New Jersey Nets against the Detroit Pistons.
Flagg, making his 43rd appearance of the season, also became the youngest player to score at least 40 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hornets' Kon Knueppel, who was room-mates with Flagg at Duke University, also posted impressive numbers.
The 20-year-old scored a career-high 34 points and was successful with eight of his 12 three-pointer attempts - setting a rookie record for Charlotte.
Their combined 83 points was the highest of any opposing rookies in more than 50 years, and they were the first pair of opposing rookies from the same college to each score 30-plus points in the same game.
The Dallas Mavericks sit 12th in the Western Conference after falling to four successive defeats, while the Charlotte Hornets have won five in a row and are 11th in the Eastern Conference.
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento looks to stop its seven-game skid with a victory over Boston.
The Celtics are 14-8 on their home court. Boston has a 4-6 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Kings are 3-21 on the road. Sacramento has a 5-24 record in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Celtics score 116.4 points per game, 4.2 fewer points than the 120.6 the Kings allow. The Kings average 110.5 points per game, 0.4 more than the 110.1 the Celtics allow to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Celtics won 120-106 in the last matchup on Jan. 2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Anfernee Simons is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.
Dennis Schroder is scoring 13.0 points per game and averaging 3.0 rebounds for the Kings. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 21.7 points and 3.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 5-5, averaging 111.3 points, 47.4 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.
Kings: 3-7, averaging 113.2 points, 42.5 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jaylen Brown: day to day (hamstring), Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Neemias Queta: day to day (illness).
Kings: Russell Westbrook: day to day (illness), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), Malik Monk: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (19-29, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (29-17, fourth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas faces the Houston Rockets after Cooper Flagg scored 49 points in the Mavericks' 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Rockets are 5-5 against division opponents. Houston is 11-3 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.4 turnovers per game.
The Mavericks are 3-6 against Southwest Division opponents. Dallas is 7-11 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Rockets average 116.1 points per game, 0.6 fewer points than the 116.7 the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks average 114.2 points per game, 4.2 more than the 110.0 the Rockets give up.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Mavericks won the last meeting 110-104 on Jan. 4, with Anthony Davis scoring 26 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 26.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.
Flagg is averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 109.4 points, 49.3 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.2 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.4 points, 46.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Dorian Finney-Smith: day to day (injury management), Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Naji Marshall: day to day (rest), Anthony Davis: out (hand).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: The Golden State Warriors host the Detroit Pistons in non-conference action.
The Warriors are 17-7 in home games. Golden State is third in the Western Conference with 28.9 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.3.
The Pistons are 15-7 in road games. Detroit ranks sixth in the league scoring 17.9 fast break points per game. Cade Cunningham leads the Pistons averaging 3.5.
The 116.5 points per game the Warriors average are 6.4 more points than the Pistons allow (110.1). The Pistons are shooting 47.8% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 47.0% the Warriors' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Stephen Curry is averaging 27.3 points and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 13.9 points over the past 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 25.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 6-4, averaging 120.3 points, 41.0 rebounds, 30.8 assists, 11.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 109.3 points, 43.5 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 11.6 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.9 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Gui Santos: day to day (calf), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), LJ Cryer: out (hamstring), Jonathan Kuminga: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back).
Pistons: Caris LeVert: day to day (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles heads to Washington for a non-conference matchup.
The Wizards have gone 8-15 at home. Washington gives up 122.3 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.1 points per game.
The Lakers are 16-10 on the road. Los Angeles is 13-16 in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Wizards score 112.2 points per game, 4.3 fewer points than the 116.5 the Lakers allow. The Wizards average 115.9 points per game, 6.4 fewer points than the 122.3 the Wizards give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alex Sarr is averaging 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Luka Doncic is averaging 33.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 22.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 1-8, averaging 107.7 points, 44.0 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 9.6 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.4 points per game.
Lakers: 5-5, averaging 115.9 points, 40.9 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad), Marvin Bagley III: day to day (thoracic).
Lakers: Austin Reaves: day to day (calf), Adou Thiero: out (knee), Luka Doncic: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Chicago Bulls (23-25, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (26-23, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago comes into the matchup with Miami as losers of three in a row.
The Heat have gone 13-13 against Eastern Conference teams. Miami has a 14-14 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Bulls are 15-17 in conference matchups. Chicago ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 17.6 fast break points per game led by Coby White averaging 3.5.
The Heat's 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Bulls give up. The Bulls are shooting 47.6% from the field, 1.5% higher than the 46.1% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 30 the Heat won 116-113 led by 21 points from Norman Powell, while Ayo Dosunmu scored 23 points for the Bulls.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bam Adebayo is shooting 44.5% and averaging 18.0 points for the Heat. Simone Fontecchio is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. White is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 6-4, averaging 121.3 points, 49.2 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.3 points per game.
Bulls: 5-5, averaging 118.7 points, 43.6 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: day to day (shoulder).
Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: day to day (hamstring), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
ST.
LOUIS – Special teams
hasn’t been kind to the St. Louis Blues as of late, and quite
frankly for that matter, all season long.
A
chance to make amends was on the table against the two-time defending
Stanley Cup champions for the Blues, who were in search of
some good vibes for a chance.
Those
good vibes came off the stick of Jimmy Snuggerud, who scored a
power-play goal with nine seconds remaining to give the Blues a
dramatic 5-4 win against the Florida Panthers at Enterprise Center on
Thursday.
Snuggerud
took a quick one-touch cross-seam pass from Pavel Buchnevich in the
left circle and rifled a one-timer into the top of the net past
Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov to help the Blues (20-25-9) end a
five-game losing skid (0-4-1).
“I
think we were wearing them down in the zone for a bit, so some tired
guys on the ice,” Snuggerud
said.
“‘Rouzy’ [Jordan
Kyrou] and
‘Buchy’ made some great passes throughout the whole power play,
but the last seam play there, I thought, 'Just
get it on the left side of the net,’ and fortunately enough it went
in. It was a great play.”
Kyrou
had a goal and two assists, and Justin Faulk and Buchnevich each had
two assists for the Blues.
Jake
Neighbours, Oskar Sundqvist and Jonatan Berggren also scored for the
Blues, who got 17 saves from Joel
Hofer.
“It’s
great to be on this side of it,” Faulk
said.
“Tonight was a tough one. It was challenging, that’s for sure,
down one, even and then giving up 4-2 and let them tie it up. So it
was a push.
“We
knew going into the third it wasn’t going to be any different; it
was going to be a tough third period against these guys. They play a
tough game. To get rewarded at the end is great, because we obviously
had it go the other way here a couple times recently, but I think
more importantly to get rewarded, we think we’re putting in a lot
of work. We think guys are working hard. We
don’t think we’re rolling over like the Dallas game, right, down
three at the end of the second period, come back out, put in a good
third and a good effort and not get the reward there. No one’s
feeling sorry for us, but it obviously feels better when that does
happen. You just know you’ve got to keep going and that stuff comes
with that.”
Let’s
look at the game observations:
*
Special teams make a difference in the end – Here’s the bad: the
Blues were really not good on the penalty kill early. It’s the
fifth time the past seven games they had allowed multiple power-play
goals when Sam Reinhart got one in the first period to tie the game
2-2 and Blues killer Matthew Tkachuk scored one late in the second
period to erase a 4-2 Blues lead that tied it 4-4.
It
was time for that moment.
It
arrived in the third period when Nick Bjugstad was whistled for a
double-minor for high-sticking Evan Rodrigues, who was playing in his
600th NHL game.
Were
the Blues going to buckle again or would the kill finally get a job
done.
Not
only did they kill the entirety of the four minutes but the Panthers,
who are 22nd with the man advantage, didn’t get a single shot off.
“I
feel like we were good from start to finish on that one,” Sundqvist
said playing in his first game since Jan. 18 against the Edmonton
Oilers.
‘I don’t think we gave them a lot. After we kill it off, you hear
the crowd and it definitely gives you an extra boost. It was a good
momentum swing for us.”
The
Blues wound up 5-for-7 on the penalty kill.
Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said, “We had already given up two power-play
goals, so the effort by our penalty killers was awesome. The response
by our fans was awesome, and it gave us life.”
It
carried forward, and the Blues, who are 29th on the PK, used it to
their advantage with their 25th-ranked power play, which was
initially a 4-on-3 for 40 seconds of coincidental minors when Hofer
and Tkachuk got into a scrum behind the net, and former Blues
defenseman Niko Mikkola was called for goalie interference with 1:54
to play.
It
looked like the Blues were going to run out of time, and they didn’t
throw pucks at the net as the fans were imploring them to do so. They
patiently worked it around and that patience paid off this time when
Kyrou, who had a one-timer blocked initially, seamed a pass to
Buchnevich, who one-touched a cross seam pass to Snuggerud in the
left circle and he did the rest:
It
was a game filled with penalties with whistle-happy referees Liam
Maaskant and Jake Brenk working the whistles into oblivion with 18 penalties totaling 44 minutes.
“We haven’t had many like that,”
Faulk said. “Most of our games are pretty low in the penalty
department. We don’t get a ton of power plays, I don’t think we
take a ton of penalties either. It’s definitely weird, not much
flow to it there for a while, even down there to the end with the
four-minute and then the penalty there on them. Good to come out with
it, the last-minute goal on our end feels a lot better than on the
other side. It was a good feeling here after that.
“… Even within the game tonight,
we were frustrated with our special teams again, not getting it done
on either side of it. We knew we had a chance to step up there in the
third and mainly start with the penalty kill. Just get the kill, be
aggressive, try and get some momentum off it, don’t let them take
over the game right there. That was huge. I think we did get momentum
and came up big at the right time.”
With 12 combined power plays, it was a
hard game to get into any kind of rhythm.
“It’s
crazy. We all felt like you were either on the power play or the
penalty kill the whole game,” Sundqvist
said.
‘Especially for guys that don’t play either power play or penalty
kill, it’s hard. You’re sitting there and you can sit there for a
10-minute stretch. It’s super-hard for those guys.
I think we did a great job at coming back and really playing well
5-on-5. I think was thinking on the bench there at the end of the
second period, ‘I don’t think I’ve had a lot of shifts with my
linemates 5-on-5.’ Definitely a crazy game but happy to pull out a
win.”
*
First period turnaround – The Panthers, who had won three in a row
on the road, are a team that when they get you pinned in the D-zone
with success, it’s hard to get out. It was trending that way when
Florida gained the territorial edge early on, and when A.J. Greer
made it 1-0 3:12 into the game on a coverage mistake, it was a trend
the Blues needed to get out of.
But
then there were odd-man rushes, and with the ability to break out of
the D-zone with pucks allowed the Blues to beat the aggressiveness of
not only Florida’s forecheckers but their pinching defensemen.
That’s
how Neighbours tied the game 1-1 at 4:46 on a puck from below the
D-zone goal line to Kyrou, who one-touched a puck up that caromed off
defenseman Gustav Forsling to Buchnevich, who hit Neighbours through
the neutral zone for a breakaway, and he beat Tarasov high to the
glove side:
And
when Kyrou made it 2-1 at 7:51, it came off a sharp read by Philip
Broberg, who intercepted Carter Verhaeghe’s cross-ice stretch pass
in the neutral zone, worked his way down the left hand side before
finding Kyrou in the left circle. His quick shot also the glove side
found its way in:
And
even at 4-on-4, Faulk used his strength to fend off a couple would-be
Panthers players before shoveling a backhand pass to Berggren for a
one-timer from the right circle at 14:27 to reclaim a lead at 3-2 in
a wild opening 20 minutes:
“I
thought that our wall play in the first period was really good,”
Montgomery said. “When you play against Florida, they’re going to
hem you in. If you win those wall battles and you’re off the wall,
you can have odd-man rushes and we had a couple odd-man rushes that
led to goals and we almost had another one at the end of the period.
We had a 2-on-1 that was another play that if you can make them
against them. It’s not easy because they’re the best in the
league at doing it. You get odd-man rushes and then you’ve got to
take advantage of those.”
*
Neighbours, Kyrou, Sundqvist were all game time decisions and scored
– When Sundqvist scored 41 seconds into the second period, a goal
Tarasov would certainly like back, to make it 4-2, it gave a goal to
three players that Montgomery labeled game time decisions after the
morning skate.
All
three had skated, and it was a case of who would feel fine after it.
Well,
Sundqvist said he knew on Wednesday he would be playing, to which
Montgomery quipped, “’Sunny’
found his Guy Lafleur dipsy-doodle right through the middle and
twisted wrister right into the corner, eh? How many times have you
seen that from him.
“First
of all, ‘Sunny’ should have told me (he knew he was playing
Wednesday). That would have been nice. Glad he’s telling you guys
that.
“The
other two, it was going to be how they felt this morning because it
was very positive about how they responded the day after the game. We
were very happy with how they were both feeling. I put it at 50/50
for both of them. It was great. As soon as they took the morning
skate and I had already met with you guys, they came in and (said),
‘We’re playing. We’re players.’”
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But it was his old college roommate at Duke, Kon Knueppel, who got the win.
Knueppel stole a pass from Flagg with seven seconds left in a tie game, drove to the rim in transition and was fouled by Flagg. Knueppel then scored his 33rd and 34th points of the game on free throws with 4.1 seconds left, giving Charlotte the 123-121 win.
Knueppel had a big night himself, knocking down eight 3-pointers to set a Hornets rookie record.
The former college roommates delivered an EPIC DUEL in Dallas
Cooper Flagg: 49 PTS (career-high, most-ever by a teen), 10 REB, 20-29 FGM
Kon Knueppel: 34 PTS (career-high), 4 REB, 8 3PM (new franchise rookie record), 10-16 FGM pic.twitter.com/J081u6J6os
Charlotte got 23 points from Brandon Miller (that's nine straight games with 20+ points for Miller), while LaMelo Ball added 22 points, including hitting six 3-pointers.
The Vancouver Canucks snapped their three-game losing streak on Thursday as they shut out the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Drew O'Connor scored the game-winning goal while Teddy Blueger picked up an empty-netter in the win. As for goaltending, Nikita Tolopilo stopped all 32 shots he faced, while Kevin Lankinen made one save during his 2:11 of ice time.
Unfortunately, Tolopilo will not be credited with the shutout as he did not play the entire game. After the first period, the 25-year-old was pulled by the concussion spotter and did not make it out of testing before the start of the season. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote spoke about what happened and if the team considered keeping Lankinen in for the rest of the period.
"Oh, he was coming back in," said Foote. "I'm just going to myself. I hope he's warmed up somehow, because with his tests, he had to take all his gear off, for some reason, compared to an actual player. So that's why it took so long. You know, when they do that test, it's usually about a 15-minute test, but he had to take his gear off. So we're trying to stall it, but we didn't have the time.
Ultimately, Tolopilo was the story of the night. The Ducks crashed the net all night, yet were unable to beat the 6'6" tender. Post-game, Tolopilo was asked about not getting the shutout, but responded with, "It's more important to get the win. So yeah, I'm happy that we got a win."
As for the Canucks best line, that was easily the trio of Jake DeBrusk, Aatu Räty and Drew O'Connor. DeBrusk led the team with six shots, Räty went six for 10 in the faceoff dot, while O'Connor scored the game-winning goal. Post-game, O'Connor spoke about the win and how nice it was to pick up another victory on the homestand.
"It's great," said O'Connor. "It's obviously been a struggle for us, and it's been frustrating for everyone. I think nobody likes losing, and it hasn't been fun, so we're trying to dig ourselves out of it, but it's nice to get one."
Jan 29, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil (72) is pursued by Anaheim Ducks Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (98) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Morris-Imagn Images
In the end, the bigger winners from Thursday's game were the fans at Rogers Arena. They got to witness a rare home win and even started not one, but two "We Want The Cup" chants. While the game itself wasn't the most exciting, the atmosphere was fantastic, which is a testament to the fans who spent money and made the trip downtown to Rogers Arena.
Stats and Facts:
- Drew O'Connor picks up his second game-winning goal of the season
- Jake DeBrusk skates in career regular-season game number 600
- Teddy Blueger's fourth career empty net goal ties Zemgus Girgensons for the most empty net goals scored by a Latvian player in NHL history
- Vancouver picks up it's second win of 2026
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
No scoring
2nd Period:
No scoring
3rd Period:
10:18- VAN: Drew O'Connor (13) from Jake DeBrusk 19:32- VAN: Teddy Blueger (4) from FilipHronek (ENG) (SHG)
Up Next:
The Canucks wrap up their homestand on Saturday as they welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to Rogers Arena. Toronto picked up the win the last time these two teams met by a 5-0 score. Game time is set for 4:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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DALLAS (AP) — As Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg set the NBA record for points by a teenager with 49 on Thursday night in a 123-121 loss to Charlotte, he broke the franchise rookie scoring record he shared with Mark Aguirre — whose jersey was retired at halftime.
“Mark Aguirre is special. Such a special night for him and the whole organization,” said Flagg, who turned 19 in December. “I just feel blessed. It’s a pretty cool thing.”
“You saw history,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “We saw history at halftime, and we got to see a young man play the game at a very high level. To have Mark in the building and break his record was pretty special.”
Also special for the No. 1 draft pick last summer from Duke was playing his first NBA game against Kon Knueppel, his roommate as Blue Devils freshmen last season. Knueppel, drafted fourth, set his own career record with 34 points and hit the two winning free throws with 4.1 seconds left after being fouled at the rim by Flagg.
“Cooper, he played like the best player we’ve played all season,” said Knueppel, who set a franchise rookie record hitting eight 3-pointers. “He had a heck of a game, he’s a heck of a player, and he’s going to have a heck of a career.”
Flagg referred to Knueppel as his “brother for life.”
Cliff Robinson set the previous NBA teen record of 45 at age 19 for New Jersey in a game against Detroit on March 9, 1980. Flagg’s previous high of 42 points also came in a defeat — 140-133 at Utah on Dec. 15. As did Aguirre’s, in a 118-112 loss to Golden State on Nov. 14, 1981.
It didn’t start out looking like a historic night for Flagg. He shot 1 for 4 in the first quarter as the Mavericks fell behind by 15 points. He caught fire in the second period, hitting 8 of 9 including 2 of 3 from downtown plus 5 for 5 at the free-throw line. His 23 points in the period and 25 at halftime were both Dallas individual highs this season.
Knueppel conversely came out hot. He hit his first three shots from behind the arc, 4 for 5 in the first period and added another in the second quarter.
“When he sees some easy ones go in to start the game, it’s never a good thing (for an opponent),” Flagg said of Knueppel, who turned 20 in August. “That’s how it is for a lot of great shooters.”
Any trash talk?
“Chirping back and forth,” Flagg said. “Just having fun.”
The two leading candidates for Rookie of the Year finished the night with Flagg averaging 19.5 points per game, Knueppel 18.9. They’ll meet again on March 3 in Charlotte.
It will be difficult to match their collective effort on Thursday night.
“We’ll both be looking back on this night and this whole year in general the rest of our lives,” Flagg said.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Kai-Wei Teng #66 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Astros continue to look for pitching depth with option years.
Thursday night the Houston Astros made a couple of roster moves as GM Dana Brown continues to look for pitching depth that still have options available on the contracts.
First, Houston made a deal with the San Francisco Giants to acquire SP Kai-Wei Teng in exchange for minor league catcher Jancel Villaroel.
Sources: the Astros and Giants are nearing a trade that would send right-hander Kai-Wei Teng to Houston in exchange for catching prospect Jancel Villareal. Teng is an optionable swingman who can pitch out of the rotation or within a bullpen that could use more right-handed depth
Teng has swing and miss stuff (11.8 K/9 last season in 29.2 IP for SFG last season, 14.1 K/9 last season in 57 IP at AAA Sacramento) but can struggle with command (5.2 BB/9 last season for SFG, 3.5 BB/9 at AAA Sacramento).
His best pitch is his sweeper, his fastball generally sits 92-93 but can reach 94-95. He has shown the extra velocity when pitching in relief. His fastball is best when elevated in the zone. He also throws a curveball and changeup.
Villaroel was the Astros #13 overall prospect in their system. Last year he split his age-20 season between Fayetteville in the Carolina League (A Ball) and Asheville in the Sally League (High A). His numbers decreased dramatically at High A, although he was young for the league (-2.0 age difference). At 5 foot 8 and 175 pounds, he doesn’t project to be a big power threat, but he does have good speed and stole 20 bases for Fayetteville in 27 attempts. He could find himself eventually as an outfielder. He is currently ranked as the Giants #27 prospect.
In order to make room for Teng, the Astros designated SP J.P. France for assignment.
The Astros are designating J.P. France for assignment, source tells @TheAthletic. That presumably will clear a 40-man roster spot for Kai-Wei Teng, whom Houston is on the verge of acquiring from the San Francisco Giants.
France struggled last season coming back from shoulder capsule surgery. He posted a 2-2 record with a 6.59 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 9 games/6 starts across 3 minor league levels with 22BB and 28K in 27.1 IP. He was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP for the Astros in 2025 in 2 appearances covering 4 innings with 2BB and 5K.
France’s velocity was noticeably down following the surgery, and he struggled with his command. He will be 31 on April 4.
The Astros also signed RP Tom Cosgrove.
Tom Cosgrove to Astros. The LHP makes $900K if in majors. MLB camp invite.
Cosgrove has both starting and bullpen experience, and is lefthanded. He has been exclusively a reliever at the MLB level.
Cosgrove is primarily a sweeper/slider pitcher who also throws a sinker. His fastball generally sits 88-91, and his low arm slot makes him very tough on lefties.
After a successful rookie season in 2023, Cosgrove has struggled with command and walks have been an issue.
The Astros also have a track record of getting the most out of nearly every pitcher they get “in the lab” so to speak.
Both Teng and Cosgrove have options, which is important for the Astros. Houston will play 24 games in the season’s first 26 days. They will utilize a 6 man rotation, which will leave the bullpen short with only 7 arms.
In the event they have a game/games where they really burn the pen, they need to have optionable arms to they can swap fresh arms to the big league club to replenish the bullpen if needed on a short turnaround.
Also, having potential arms like Jason Alexander, Colton Gordon, Ryan Weiss, Nate Pearson who can go multiple innings can also help the pen, as they can save a lot of other arms and potentially only have to swap one player who can eat a bulk of innings if needed.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 16: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up the court against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of their preseason game at the Delta Center on October 16, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was reported a few days ago about the Washington Wizards’ interest in Walker Kessler by Tim MacMahon. Michael Scotto added some new insight to that interest in Kessler.
Story: Reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Green, Walker Kessler, Yves Missi, and trade talks involving the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Hawks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Pelicans, and Wizards on @hoopshype. https://t.co/m0X18YNzYs
The Washington Wizards are the latest team, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, interested in Utah Jazz enter Walker Kessler. Previously, the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers have also been linked to the 24-year-old center.
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Regarding the recently reported Wizards interest in Kessler, while he’s a player liked by members of Washington’s front office, the Wizards are building around Alex Sarr as their center of the future, league sources told HoopsHype.
This makes sense for the Wizards, who have a rising star in Alex Sarr. If they view him as the future at the center position, then Kessler doesn’t make sense as a player for them to pursue. If they could get him for cheap, maybe, but they know that Utah can match any offer.
It’s also good news for the Jazz, who are surely hoping to get Kessler on a reasonable contract. We know that Kessler and his camp had been asking for an amount that Utah did not want to pay, and left him the option to play the market. The only issue with this strategy is that it only takes one team to make a big offer. If that happens, will the Jazz blink? Knowing that, it makes news like this good for the Jazz. It’s likely one less team bidding for Kessler.
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 23: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 23, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers (28-18) look to quickly get back to the winning column in Washington where they will take on the struggling Wizards (11-34). This is the first matchup between the teams this season.
The Lakers’ most recent loss to the Cavaliers had disaster written all over it. No one other than Luka Dončić had more than 12 points, they were outscored in the third quarter (42-22) and they were outrebounded and outscored from the 3-point line as well as inside the paint. It was one of those games where nothing went right for the purple and gold, at least for most of the second half.
It’s also one of those games that has to be flushed in the toilet because there’s nothing the Lakers can do about it besides move on to Washington, literally. On Friday, the Lakers will continue their road trip in the nation’s capital where they will be hosted by the worst team in the NBA right now. They’ll be on the second night of a back-to-back when they face the purple and gold.
This is the perfect opportunity for the Lakers to get back on track and conclude their current eight-game road trip on a strong note. It’ll be nice to see literally everyone play better than they did in this one. They should be able to get theirs more easily against a team that ranks 28th offensively and 29th defensively.
There’s no excuse for the Lakers’ offense and defense not showing up in this one, as they did against the Cavaliers. This should be one of their easiest games this season. It’ll be great to see the Lakers play with more energy, the type that depicts that they’re so much better than the team that showed up in Cleveland. A more concerted effort in closing out defensively, boxing out for rebounds and imposing their will on both ends of the floor would be a sight for sore eyes.
Moreover, perhaps the most notable storyline of this one is possibly the return of Austin Reaves, who has missed the last 17 games due to a calf strain injury and is currently listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s game. This is a big development for the Lakers, who have been missing AR’s services. His return lessens Dončić and James’s scoring responsibilities and adds much-needed speed and boost in the lineup. It’s unfair to expect Austin to instantly return to form but this game is a good start for him to do so.
Note that the Wizards still don’t have Trae Young active in their lineup due to injury, so there’s really no excuse for the Lakers to lose this one. As long as Alex Sarr, Khris Middleton and Kyshawn George don’t play extraordinarily well, L.A. is poised to bounce back.
Let’s see if they can do just that on Friday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left ankle soreness) and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) are questionable.
Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are listed as out.
Since the Wizards are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, they don’t have an injury report yet for Friday’s game. However, expect Trae Young (knee and quadriceps), Cam Whitemore (venous condition), Marvin Bagley III (thoracic strain) and Tristan Vukcevic (left hamstring strain) to be out.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 29: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter at Target Center on January 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!
Despite the game being their fourth in five nights, the Minnesota Timberwolves took down the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. It was their third straight victory after losing their previous five games, including an awful night at Target Center last Sunday.
Before the game, the Timberwolves came out in shirts that read “Stand with Minnesota” and released a statement extending their sympathies and love for the Minnesota community.
The Wolves won the game wire-to-wire, with Anthony Edwards opening the scoring with a 3-pointer. Minnesota went up by as many as 18 points in the first half and 21 in the second half as they cruised to their 30th win of the season.
The Timberwolves shot the lights out all game, making 22 shots from beyond the arc, doubling OKC’s total, including 4-10 from Anthony Edwards, 4-8 from Naz Reid, 3-6 from Bones Hyland, and 5-5 from Jaden McDaniels.
The Wolves’ defense was also on point right from the jump, holding Oklahoma City to just six points through the first six minutes of the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-18 shooting, which felt like a pedestrian night for the MVP frontrunner.
It was an all-around scoring effort for the Wolves as all eight rotation players scored at least seven points, with six scoring in double-figures. Edwards put up 26 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. While the numbers may not be eye-catching, Edwards did a fantastic job dealing with the OKC ball pressure as they sent two to the ball on almost every ball screen.
“Just taking what they give me,” Edwards said after the game. “Take my shots and if they given me to pull up three. Take it. They giving me the midrange taken. And I think mainly, like I said, just trusting my teammates, because that’s what they gonna make you do. I get by Dort or get by Wallace, two, three guys gonna come over to the rim. So just being able to make that play and making it over and over, finding Rudy, finding Donte in the corner, just like I said, trusting my teammates.”
McDaniels finished with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch had high praise for the Jaden postgame, “Just outstanding. Both sides of the ball. Shot making was elite. Decision making was really good. His defense was awesome. I thought he made Shai work for everything. Discipline in the fouling. Rebounded pretty well too.”
“The intensity to start the game.” McDaniels himself said about the key to the game defensively. “Just making the right reads on defense, having pressure, really just starting the game off well with the right defensive mindset and they see that’s why we get certain leads and been able to hold them for the whole game.”
Usually, a win against the defending champions would come as at least a little bit of a surprise, but not for the Wolves. It has become a pattern with this team over the years, just when you think they are primed to rip off a bunch of wins in a row, they stumble, and just when it seems like all hope is lost, they play their best basketball of the season. It’s the perfect lesson of never too high, never too low.
“Yeah, sometimes you beat yourself sometimes,” Reid said when asked about the Wolves being their own worst enemy. “It’s a long season, you’re going to have boneheaded mistakes or plays that just leads to losses that you should’ve won. Everybody goes through it. It’s how you respond that matters most.”
It’s the Timberwolves’ best and worst quality. They respond to adversity and losing streaks well, never falling down for too long, but they also let their effort wax and wane after a good stretch of play.
The key now and for the rest of the season is to find some sort of consistency from night to night.
Up Next
The Timberwolves head out on a three-game road trip, the first two of which are against the Memphis Grizzlies. The first game on Saturday begins at 7:00 PM CT, airing on FanDuel Sports Network. The second game on Monday starts at 6:30 PM CT on Peacock.
After the pair of games in Memphis, the Timberwolves head across the border to face the Toronto Raptors, where the Wolves have not won since January 21, 2004.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Nikita Tolopilo made 32 saves, Drew O’Connor opened the scoring with 9:42 left and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-0 on Thursday night.
Tolopilo was denied his first NHL shutout after missing the first 2:11 of the second period because of concussion protocol after he was run over by Ryan Poehling late in the first period.
Kevin Lankinen made one save before Tolopilo returned.
O’Connor scored on a one-timer off Jake DeBrusk's pass. DeBrusk was playing his 600th NHL game.
Teddy Blueger put it away with a short-handed empty-netter with 28 seconds left.
Lukas Dostal made 24 saves for Anaheim.
Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play.
Up next
Ducks: Host Vegas on Sunday night.
Canucks: Host Toronto on Saturday to close an eight-game homestand.
