This week The Hockey Show featured one of the more surprising teams in the NHL this year.
In addition to their usual attention paid to the happenings of the Florida Panthers, THS co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed Shawn DePaz to the show.
Sean is the producer for the What Chaos! podcast and he’s also a massive Buffalo Sabres fan.
The Sabres just happen to the hottest team in the league, currently holding a playoff spot and looking to end the team’s 14-year postseason drought.
This week’s show also saw the boys discuss the disaster that is the New York Rangers and touched on some numbers that were retired in Detroit and Boston.
Wins and fails of the week included a player showing up to a game dressed as Batman, an unbelievably ridiculous assist by Abbey Murphy for the University of Minnesota, a collective wardrobe choice by a team visiting the White House and a poorly timed decision by Oilers goalie Tristian Jarry.
As a bonus this week, Roy's daughter Claire was in studio with us to record the show. She may or may not have taken over the telestrator at one point.
You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Sunday that Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos had been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct towards an opponent while on the bench.
During Saturday's game, Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon hit Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault, dumping him into the Predators' bench.
While trying to get back into the play, Stamkos stuck the blade of his stick under Lauzon's visor and in his face.
It's been disputed that Stamkos was trying to keep Marchessault's skate blade away from Lauzon's face. Ryan O'Reilly also shoved Lauzon from the bench during the altercation.
The irony of the situation is that Lauzon spent four seasons with the Predators and was traded to Vegas this past offseason for Nicolas Hague. Marchessault spent seven seasons with the Golden Knights before signing with the Predators in the 2024 offseason.
The Predators lost to the Golden Knights, 7-2.
This is the third time in his career that Stamkos has been fined by the NHL. On Nov. 23, 2017, he was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after spraying a water bottle at a referee.
On March 21, 2018, Stamkos was fined $5,000 for a dangerous trip against Toronto Maple Leafs' defenceman Morgan Rielly.
Stamkos has never been suspended. This is the first time this season a Nashville Predators player has been fined by the league.
The Nashville Predators will host the Buffalo Sabres next on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST
LONDON (AP) — A heckler yelled “leave Greenland alone!” while Vanessa Williams sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before tipoff of an NBA game in London between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the U.S. should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in U.S. hands would be “unacceptable.”
The heckler's outburst drew some scattered laughter and applause. Williams was unfazed and completed the song.
WASHINGTON — Right-hander Cade Cavalli and the Washington National avoided salary arbitration Sunday when they agreed to a one-year contract worth $870,000, a deal that includes a 2027 team option.
When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries on Jan. 8, Cavalli asked for $900,000 and the Nationals offered $825,000. The $75,000 gap was the smallest among the 18 players who failed to reach agreements with their clubs on the swap day.
His agreement calls for an $862,500 salary this year, the midpoint between the filing numbers. The team option is for $4 million with a $7,500 buyout.
Cavalli, 27, was eligible for arbitration for the first time after going 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA in 10 starts in his first regular-season big league action since 2022. He had a $760,200 salary while in the major leagues and $370,100 while in the minors, earning $579,832.
Selected by Washington with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, he made his big league debut on Aug. 26, 2022, his lone appearance that year. He hurt his arm during a spring training game against the Mets on March 14, 2023, and had Tommy John surgery a week later.
He began a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment on May 20, 2024, but made just three outings totaling 8 1/3 innings.
Cavalli started 2025 at Class A Fredericksburg and was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on April 24 and Triple-A Rochester five days later. He returned to the major leagues on Aug. 6 after going 4-17 with a 5.47 ERA in 17 minor league starts last year. Cavalli pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the Athletics in his return and got his first big league win on Aug. 16 against Philadelphia.
Seventeen players remain scheduled for hearings, to be held from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13 in Scottdale, Arizona.
In the most prominent case, two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal asked for a record $32 million, while the Detroit Tigers offered the left-hander $19 million.
"I think Leevi (Merilainen) made some good saves,” Sanderson stated when asked about the performance of the goaltending. “But, at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win the game.”
After a tough home loss to Montreal, Jake Sanderson, who's normally reserved in his post game comments, voiced his displeasure about goaltending and "playing an away game at home."
It would not count on the stat sheet, but it was one of the few shots that Merilainen faced Saturday night.
The 23-year-old goaltender allowed six goals on 19 shots. According to Natural Stat Trick’s game log, the Senators held the Canadiens to seven five-on-five shots, with the remaining shots occurring on the power play, while the Canadiens had an empty net, or in overtime.
Staked to a two-goal lead with less than five minutes left in the game, the Senators had complete control.
The loss created a unique situation for Sanderson.
Jake Sanderson is not typically at the forefront of candid commentary after difficult losses. Usually, when the Senators experience these types of games, the burden falls on the captain, Brady Tkachuk, or on other well-regarded veterans like Claude Giroux or Thomas Chabot.
The reason for that is two-fold. These players are part of the designated leadership group within the Senators’ room, but they are also comfortable in front of microphones and known for offering lengthy, measured reflections on the game.
It is not that Sanderson is incapable of doing that, but he often feels reserved. There is an enthusiasm for the game and the sport, but the defenceman never veers out of his lane.
Which is why Saturday night’s comment resonates so much.
It was blunt and unadulterated honesty.
In an organization that keeps its cards close to its chest, refusing to disclose lineups or the starting goaltender ahead of last night’s game, Sanderson said what everyone was thinking out loud.
After the game, I am sure Sanderson would have apologized to Merilainen for publicly calling out the goaltending, but I hope his comments last night do not dissuade him from being candid in the future.
His frustration is palpable and for good reason. His team’s season hangs in the balance simply because they have not gotten enough saves.
In the last 30 years, no team in the NHL has experienced a lower save percentage than the Senators’ current .865 save percentage. To find a worse mark, you would have to go back a couple of years earlier to the Senators’ first two seasons after they rejoined the NHL.
Keep in mind that the 1992-93 Senators were one of the worst teams in NHL history, winning just 10 of 84 games. Only the 1974-75 Washington Capitals have had a lower recorded points percentage (.131) than that inaugural Senators team (.143).
When asked to assess Merilainen’s performance last night, head coach Travis Green took issue with the goaltending, but did so while showing some empathy.“
It’s hard to give (Merilainen) a pass,” admitted head coach Travis Green. “Six goals on 18 shots and I’m sure he’d like to have one or two back, but I feel bad for him.”
It has to be tough for Merilainen, who has been thrust into the spotlight following Linus Ullmark’s decision to take a leave of absence from the team. Last night was his 11th consecutive start, a string of games born out of necessity because Ullmark’s absence and the lack of confidence the organization obviously has in the alternatives who have been recalled from Belleville.
After last night’s loss, Merilainen has -14.22 goals saved above expected metric through 20 appearances. Only the St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington (-14.82 GSAx) has a lower mark, and he has played in seven more games.
Goalie is a volatile position, and the condensed schedule in this Olympic year probably has not helped, as Merilainen does not have much time between appearances to refine the technical aspects of his game. If bad habits or a shaky confidence creep into his game, the opportunity for them to bleed into his next start is real, given the team's schedule of playing every other night.
After two consecutive wins over the Canucks and Rangers, the hope was that Merilainen could build off those games and continue to tighten up his game.
Last night’s effort was disastrous, however.
The good news is that Green acknowledged in his postgame media availability that the plan was for Linus Ullmark to travel with the team on their three-game road trip through Detroit, Columbus, and Nashville. That may not mean he is on the verge of playing, but he has skated and practiced with his team these past few days.
Once Ullmark returns, the Senators should return Merilainen to Belleville to get his game and swagger back.
The expectation is that James Reimer will make his Senators debut on Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Despite the fact that he has not played in an NHL game since last April, the organization needs to see what they have.
“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Green acknowledged last night while describing the pattern of losing games where they outplay the opposition. “But, I give our team a lot of credit. They are battling. They are playing good hockey. Our goalies have not been at their best, and we know that. Our team is still bringing it.”
With a new and veteran goaltender likely making his debut, Green will need his players to continue to bring that fight and resiliency on Sunday (5 pm at Detroit).
Graeme Nichols The Hockey News Ottawa
This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:
It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! It may be snowing in New York City this weekend, but in the sports world, the hot stove has been boiling. From the New York Giants’ hiring of John Harbaugh as their next head coach to the Dodgers’ signing Kyle Tucker (yawn), this week has been filled with big news. So what have the Yankees been up to in that time? Let’s find out!
Fernando Cruuuuuuuuz
Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz took to Instagram to celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary last week.
Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt posted an album on Instagram, filled with photos and videos from throughout the winter. The big news? Schmidt, who underwent Tommy John surgery over the summer, has already begun throwing! Hopefully, he remains on track for a midsummer return.
Speaking of training, a number of other Yankees players posted videos on their Instagram stories in the gym, on the ballfield, and in Cam Schlittler’s case, in downtown Tampa (so I assume he’s already at the Yankees’ spring training facility).
Professor Rodriguez
Former Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez posted that he returned to Stanford as a guest instructor at the Graduate School of Business, teaching a Strategic Pivoting class. For a guy who has rewritten the story of his career, in both good and bad ways, several times, that’s one class he certainly seems qualified to teach.
Yankees radio voice Dave Simms was in Providence, Rhode Island, this past Tuesday to call Villanova University’s victory over Providence. The Wildcats increased their in-conference record to 5-1 with the win.
Legendary announcer Bob Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for over 50 years, passed away a year ago on Friday. Uecker was widely regarded as one of the greatest sports announcers ever. He also had a knack for sharing — and, through his actions, creating — funny, often self-deprecating stories.
In the spirit of keeping his memory alive, I wanted to compile a few of my favorites. If I missed one of your favorites, drop it in the comments.
The One (and Two) Liners:
On his playing career:
“In 1962, I was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the bigs.”
“One time, I got pulled over at 4 a.m. I was fined $75 for being intoxicated and $400 for being with the Phillies.”
“I led the league in go get ’em next time.”
“I led the league in hit-by-pitches one year. That’s because I couldn’t get out of the way.”
“They told me to block the plate. I laid down. That seemed safest.”
“I was so bad, they once traded me for myself.”
“The only way I could make the team was because I knew where the beer was kept.”
“The highlight of my career was getting out of the bullpen without falling down.”
“Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax, and I got out of a rundown against the Mets.”
“If a guy hits .300 every year, what does he have to look forward to? I always tried to stay around .190, with three or four RBI. And I tried to get them all in September. That way I always had something to talk about during the winter.”
On his broadcasting career:
“I thought silence meant I was fired. Then I realized baseball already has enough pauses. I just filled the funny ones.”
On baseball cards:
“My baseball card had my picture on the front and my career statistics on the back. That way you could turn it over and laugh twice.”
“I knew when my career was over. In 1965, my baseball card came out with no picture.”
On his favorite aspect of playing professional baseball:
“It was the free food. I hit .200 but ate like an All-Star.”
On getting older:
“I used to get sore after games. Now I get sore watching them.”
“I have no recollection of what year this was, where the Brewers were playing, or any other context. All I remember is that we’re returning from the commercial break, Uecker is welcoming us back into the booth saying something like ‘Welcome back to [Whatever Stadium we’re in] the score is [Whatever].‘ Then, apropos of nothing, ‘Man! I hope that guy puts his shirt back on.’
To be clear: Uecker had not mentioned this shirtless buffoon before in the broadcast, or brought him up afterward. He just was annoyed by a guy, and he wanted us all to know about it.
So he told us.”
The Uniform Malfunction:
“You know, everybody remembers their first game in the major leagues. For me it was in Milwaukee. My hometown, born and raised there, and I can remember walking out on the field and Birdie Tebbetts was our manager at that time. And my family was there: my mother and dad, and all my relatives. And as I’m standing on the field, everybody’s pointing at me and waving and laughing, and I’m pointing back. And Tebbetts came up and asked me if I was nervous or uptight about the game. And I said, ‘I’m not. I’ve been waiting five years to get here. I’m ready to go.’
He said, ‘Well, we’re gonna start you today. I didn’t want to tell you earlier. I didn’t want you to get too fired up.’
I said, ‘Look, I’m ready to go.’
He said, ‘Well, great, you’re in there. And oh, by the by, the rest of us up here wear that supporter on the inside.’ That was the first game my folks walked out on, too.”
Raspberry Sherbert Bratwurst:
From Brewers broadcaster Lane Grindle:
“Usinger’s Famous Sausage is a big sponsor on the radio and another sponsor is Cedar Crest Ice Cream. A lot of our messaging combines the two of them. They deliver a lot of their products to the booth. One night on the air, Ueck was talking about how we had some sherbet that we had had out, and we were trying it earlier in the day. And then he says, ‘You know, as a matter of fact, I think it’s so good you could put it on a sausage and it would be good.’ It kind of devolved into, like, well, let’s all try this … Let’s actually put sherbet on a brat and eat it tonight, taste test it and then report on air how it is. It was raspberry sherbet, and we used it like it was mustard or ketchup. Honestly, it wasn’t bad. We all kind of liked it.”
Jean Jacques Smythe:
From former Brewers broadcaster Jim Powell:
“This would never happen with any other partner that I would ever have.
We would just get on the bus to go to the stadium, you know, 3:30 in the afternoon, for a 7 p.m. game. We were in Montreal to play the Expos. I don’t know why he saw that as like a clean palette on which he could go to town, but he did. So on the bus ride, he would start reading the billboards, you know as the bus was passing along, and he sort of developed a character, just goofing off on the bus rides. This happened over multiple years. After a while, it became pretty refined. Like, he was really funny with this character. So I had to do a pregame interview for every game. And I asked him, ‘Hey, what do you think about if I interview you on the pregame show, and you’re in that character? ’And he’s like, ‘No, no, no, I’m not doing it for that.’ I said, ‘That’s fine; it doesn’t have to go on the air. What if we just do an interview just for us to laugh at?’ Under that circumstance, he was fine with it.
So we did this interview, and out of nowhere, I just plucked what I thought was a French Canadian type of name, Jean Jacques Smythe. So I do this interview with Jean Jacques Smythe, who was, as I labeled him in the interview, a renowned French Canadian journalist, highly esteemed, blah, blah, blah. When we start, he did something he had never done on the bus. He became completely hostile. He started ripping me. He was ripping the commissioner of baseball, (former Brewers owner) Bud Selig. Anybody he could think of. He was anti-everything. For whatever reason, that’s the way he took the character in this interview. Of course, the best part was he began to rip himself. And it was absolutely hysterical.”
You can find (one of) the Jean Jacques Smythe interviews here.
“OK, See You Tomorrow!”
From broadcaster Pat Hughes:
“After each game, I would be doing the postgame show on radio. He would be packing up his suitcase and preparing to leave the booth. His big goal was to try to get me to laugh out loud, on the air, while I am doing out-of-town scores or recapping, playing highlights from the Brewers game we just did. And it was absolutely hysterical the things he would do. He would, for example, stand right behind me, and make a sound. Like a wounded seal or a wounded dog. He would bark. Ar roof. Ar roof. Ar roof.
Sometimes he would use props. I’m live on the air broadcasting, and I’m trying to maintain my composure and be a professional. One time, he said, ‘Hey, Pat, look over here.’ And I knew it was going to be something bizarre. I turned around and there’s pretzels sticking out of both of his ears.
That was his big goal, to try to get me to laugh out loud. Once I laughed, then he’d say, ‘OK, see you tomorrow.’”
The Furry Convention
From former Brewers catcher and current announcer Bill Schroeder:
“This is an example of how Ueck can relate to just about anybody, I mean, presidents and pillars of industry and just a guy on the street. We would go to dinner in Pittsburgh and people would come up to him, and it was not easy being Ueck. Everybody expected him to be on his game, right? He had to be funny. But this one time after a game in Pittsburgh, Ueck was in the Fish Market, which was the bar at the hotel where we were staying at. It just so happened that the furries were in town. You know, the people that dressed up in these animal outfits? So I walk into the Fish Market and I see Bob Uecker sitting at the bar, and he’s having a conversation with a guy dressed up in a horse head. And the person next to him was in a cat suit. Ueck was like, talking to Trigger, and, you know, Felix the Cat is right next to him. He’s having a conversation with these guys like no big deal.
And that, it’s an image that I’ll never forget. It’s just an example of how Ueck could just take a situation and make it fun and not make it uncomfortable. And he did that for thousands and thousands of people, and that’s one thing I’m really going to miss about Ueck.”
BERLIN (AP) — Substitute Jeong Woo-yeong scored a late equalizer as Union Berlin snatched a point with a 1-1 draw at Stuttgart in the German league on Sunday.
Chris Führich had put the hosts ahead near the hour-mark before Jeong’s equalizer in the 83rd minute extended Union's unbeaten run to five matches.
Stuttgart missed the chance to move into the top three. Sebastian Hoeness’ team is fourth in the standings, level on points with third-placed Hoffenheim, which has one match in hand.
The hosts dominated early on — with Union threatening on the break — and took the lead when Ramon Hendriks set up Führich, who slotted home with right-footed strike.
Jeong came on in the 75th minute and the South Korea midfielder scored against his former club with a precise finish into the top corner.
Bayern Munich, which routed Leipzig 5-1 on Saturday, tops the standings with an 11-point lead. Second-placed Borussia Dortmund scraped past St. Pauli 3-2 on Saturday after letting a two-goal lead slip.
The Detroit Red Wings have stayed hot with another exciting win, knocking off the San Jose Sharks on Friday, and they will continue their homestand with a late-afternoon matchup against the Ottawa Senators as the visitors arrive in the Motor City.
Over their last 21 games, Detroit is tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the most points in the NHL, posting an impressive 15-5-1 record during that stretch. Defense has been the backbone of this run, as the Red Wings have allowed just 2.43 goals per game, aided by several strong performances from goaltender John Gibson, who could get the start again against Ottawa.
The Senators, meanwhile, are trying to steady their season after going 4-6-2 over their last 12 games, though they have shown signs of improvement by winning two of their last three. This will be the second meeting between the division rivals this season, with Detroit earning a road victory in the first matchup in Ottawa.
Now the Senators will look to return the favor on the road, even though recent history has oddly favored Ottawa. In the past 11 meetings between the teams, the Senators have won eight times and have taken six of their last eight games in Detroit.
This Red Wings group, however, looks different. Revitalized and confident, Detroit is aiming to put past struggles against Ottawa behind them while extending their current surge. For the Senators, offense has been hard to come by during their recent skid, although defenseman Jake Sanderson has helped spark the attack with two goals and four assists over his last two games, making him a key player to watch.
Detroit will look to keep its top talent rolling, with Lucas Raymond back on the first line and contributing immediately, while Alex DeBrincat continues to produce on the second line. Together, the two have combined for 21 points over the last 21 games, averaging a point per game during the team’s hot streak.
All signs point to an entertaining and high-profile matchup, with the expected goaltending duel featuring Detroit’s John Gibson against an Ottawa crease that has struggled recently. Former Red Wings goalie James Reimer could be tasked with stabilizing the Senators’ net despite limited action this season and recent time spent in the AHL preparing for Sunday’s contest.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Ottawa (Sunday):
van Riemsdyk – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Kasper – Compher – Finnie
Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka
Johansson – Benard-Docker
Gibson
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The Ottawa Senators are back in action on Sunday, January 18, to take on the Detroit Red Wings.
This Atlantic Division matchup marks the second meeting between these teams in 2025-26 after they met just over a week ago.
My Senators vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks suggest that the Sens' usual shooters. including Brady Tkachuk, will continue their trigger-happy ways against Detroit after a tough loss to the Canadiens last night.
Senators vs Red Wings prediction
Senators vs Red Wings best bet: Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 shots on goal (+120 at BET99)
Despite missing 20 games this season, Brady Tkachuk is one shot off the Ottawa Senators team lead, and will inevitably take it over.
Tkachuk is averaging 4.3 shots per game and has 28 shots in his last five games, hitting the Over in four of them.
The Detroit Red Wings rank in the middle of the pack in terms of shots allowed.
Tkachuk should be primed to pelt the opposing goaltender with a slew of pucks tonight.
Dylan Cozens has at least two shots in 16 of his last 18 games.
He's only been held shotless twice since November 15 and has hit the Over in nine of his last 10. He's riding a hot stretch with four points in his last two games.
Jake Sanderson has established himself as the Sens' clear-cut number one defenseman, ranking third among blueliners in assists over the last week with six in his last five games. He's tied for seventh among defensemen in helpers with 29 on the season, and he racked up three in the loss to the Canadiens last night.
The 23-year-old has 10 assists in his last nine games.
Senators vs Red Wings SGP
Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 shots on goal
Dylan Cozens Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jake Sanderson 1+ assists
Senators vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Senators +105 | Red Wings -125
Puck Line: Senators +1.5 (-225) | Red Wings -1.5 (+185)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Senators vs Red Wings trend
Ottawa has won two of the last three meetings and six of the last eight against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Senators vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Puck drop
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Senators vs Red Wings latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The NBA’s first-ever MLK Day quadruple header on NBC and Peacock concludes with arguably the day's top matchup, featuring a clash between the Boston Celtics and Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons at 8 PM ET. The high-octane bout between stars Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham will be the fourth and final game on NBC and Peacock's star-studded Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate, following Bucks-Hawks, Thunder-Cavaliers, and Mavericks-Knicks.
See below for the full 2026 MLK Day NBA schedule on NBC and Peacock, as well as how to follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock this season.
The Celtics enter Monday night's clash with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, fresh off a 132-106 demolition of the Hawks on Saturday. Second only to Detroit (30-10) in the Eastern Conference standings, Boston (26-15) will aim to even the season series at 2-2, having last beaten the Pistons on November 26. Each of the three meetings between Boston and Detroit this season has been decided by seven points or fewer. With Jayson Tatum lost for the year, the Celtics will once again lean on Jaylen Brown amid an excellent season as the team's de facto leader, just days after he dropped 41 on the Hawks in an easy 132-106 win.
Beyond the hardwood, the Celtics have ties to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hall of Famer and Celtics legend Bill Russell marched with King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963, when Russell was already a four-time MVP. On MLK Day 2023, Jayson Tatum became just one of four players in NBA history to score 50+ points on MLK Day, dropping 51 in a 130-118 win over the Hornets.
Led by dynamic duo Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, the Pistons welcome the Celtics to Little Caesars Arena as winners of two straight, becoming the NBA's second team after Oklahoma City to reach 30 wins this season after blowing out the Pacers, 121-78. Cunningham has scored 25+ points in all three of his meetings with the Celtics this year, including 42 in a narrow 117-114 loss on November 26. Second only to Nikola Jokic (11.0) in assists per game, Cunningham (9.6) has cemented his status as one of the association's brightest emerging stars.
Detroit has long boasted connections to MLK Day, having hosted the Detroit Walk to Freedom on June 23, 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech to over 125,000 people in a precursor to what would become the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
The Jays spend some money on international signings:
Juan Caricote is a Venezuelan catcher who signed for $1.96 million. He’s 17 and said to be a good defensive catcher. Baseball America has him as the 17th-best international FA. He’s a left-handed hitter. BA says he could develop into a 15-home run type. He joins Edward Duran as their top catching prospects right away.
Juan Sanchez is a shortstop from the Dominican Republic. He’s 18 and signed for $997,500 MLB Pipeline has put him at #18 on their top Jays prospect list. Baseball America #7. He’s played SS in the Dominican but will likely move to third in the Jays system. He’s 6’3” listed at 180 pounds but will likely add muscle to that as he moves up the ladder. Juan hit .341/.439/.565 with 8 home runs in the Dominican Summer Leagues. Baseball America tells us he hit a ball at 115.8 MPH this summer. BA also called him the number 5 prospect in the DSL. He isn’t fast and doesn’t have a lot of range at short, but will like be fine at third and has a strong arm. He’s a power hitter who strikes out a bit more than average.
Michael Mesa is a left-handed hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic, who the Jays signed for $900,000. He’s 6’1”, 190, and he plays all three outfield spots, but likely will be a corner outfielder in the majors (presuming he gets there). The phrase ‘whippy” appears a lot with people talking about his swing. He should have decent power as he moves up the minors.
Aneudy Severino is a 5’9” outfielder from the Dominican. Baseball America mentions his ‘high-end exit velocity’. He’ll likely end up a corner outfielder. He’s 17. Listed as an above-average runner and muscular. He signed for $700,000.
Sebastian Casanova is a shortstop from Venezuela. His main tool is speed, and he would be expected to play up the middle, short or center or second. Right-handed, line drive hitter. His signing bonus wasn’t listed but is likely around $100,000.
Gabriel Porras is a 5’7” Venezuelan SS, just 5’7”, 160 pounds. BA says line drive hitter with gap power. He’d likely end up in the middle infield. He’s 16. Signed for $75,000.
Leonard missed Friday's four-point win in Toronto with a right ankle sprain, but NBA reporter Chris Haynes reported that the knee issue in his left leg is what's now causing the most concern. Haynes reported that Leonard is being sent home for treatment and he'll be evaluated once the team returns on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Leonard, 34, has been the driving force behind the Clippers' recent surge. The six-time All-Star has averaged 32.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists over his last 13 games, 11 of which resulted in Clipper wins.
With Leonard out, the Clippers defeated the Raptors in overtime 121-117 on Jan. 16, to improve their overall record to 18-23.
For the season, Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.2 points per game, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 94.1% from the free throw line.
The Los Angeles Kings are fading away from the playoffs, and that is largely because of the team's lack of offense and ability to score goals.
Los Angeles is the second-worst team in the NHL when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net in two key categories. They've scored 121 goals and a goals-per-game average of 2.57.
Overall, the Kings' top players haven't been producing as expected. Right winger Adrian Kempe has 15 goals and 36 points in 47 games, and center Quinton Byfield has nine goals and 28 points in 46 contests.
Whether it's the defensive-heavy system that head coach Jim Hiller imposes on the team, or their stars have lacked consistency, it's not good enough for the Kings to latch onto a spot in the post-season.
It's been reported before that Los Angeles and GM Ken Holland are searching for a scoring winger, and one of the best in the league may have just become available.
On Friday, the New York Rangers sent a letter to its fans regarding the club's status for the rest of the season, saying they are looking to retool. That means they'll be open to moving off some veterans.
Artemi Panarin (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Furthermore, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman provided a report that with this transition in the Rangers' organization, they won't be offering a contract extension to star left winger and pending UFA Artemi Panarin.
Panarin does have a full no-move clause on his current deal. However, with the transparency from his team that they won't be contending for the playoffs, nor offering him an extension, maybe he'd like to explore a change of scenery.
Despite the Rangers hanging around the basement of the Eastern Conference, the Russian veteran has been having a solid year.
In 48 games, Panarin has scored 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He leads the team in scoring, and would lead the Kings in scoring by nearly 20 points if he were to join them right now
That means the Kings will likely need the Rangers to either retain some of Panarin's salary or trade away some salary in a deal with New York or a separate deal.
Nonetheless, if Holland and the rest of the Kings' front office want to make a deal work with the Rangers, it certainly can be done.
If Los Angeles is interested in Panarin enough, they have plenty of assets to share. Top prospects such as Liam Greentree, Carter George, Jared Woolley, Jimmy Lombardi,
Henry Brzustewicz, and more. Not to mention the Kings have three first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three seasons.
Although, the Kings brass must be careful with what they give up as Panarin is 34 years old and there's no guarantee he stays in Los Angeles beyond the rest of the campaign.
Furthermore, Panarin may not be traded as he holds all the cards with his no-move clause. He could remain a member of the Blueshirts for the rest of the season if he'd like.
But if Holland wants to make a deal, surely Rangers GM Chris Drury will listen.
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In the fallout of the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker to a huge free agency deal, there has been much discussion around the spending disparity in this sport. This is a complicated issue that is sure to take center stage when CBA negotiations take place next offseason in what seems assured to be another work stoppage. There is undisputedly a huge gap between the largest and smallest payrolls in MLB, with the Dodgers currently holding contract commitments worth more than the bottom five payrolls combined for 2026. Money is merely one of the factors that set teams apart, however, as organizational competence makes a huge difference. The Rays, Guardians, and Brewers stand as examples of consistently successful franchises in recent history that are perennially low spenders.
Baseball is a notoriously high variance sport in small samples, so it is difficult for a truly enduring competitive imbalance to exist for seasons on end beyond normal differences in team quality. The Dodgers are a unique beast, combining a unique capacity to sustainably spend more than any other team with elite organizational competence, with the added bonus of a desirable location for players to live that seems particularly appealing to players coming from East Asia due to relative proximity. An often-proposed solution is a salary cap and floor system, mirroring the other major sports in North America, but there are a host of reasons to doubt that such a system could be agreed upon between the owners and players such that it would create meaningful financial parity to solve the issue of both the extreme highs and lows of payrolls in MLB. It will be fascinating to see what path the sport moves forward with, as it seems like this issue may be coming to a head, particularly if the Dodgers are able to win yet another World Series this upcoming season.
