DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 05: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now we move. The NBA trading deadline came and went, and the Nets roster is looking a bit different. Two new players – Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott – might make their debut and everyone else is healthy. The opponent tonight is resting about half their roster after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Washington Wizards were on the road t0 face the Eastern Conference leading Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Washington surprised everyone and came away with a 126-117 victory.
INJURIES
All clear on the injury front for Brooklyn. Again, all clear.
However, the other tanking team has nearly half their players in street clothes. The following are out:
Anthony Davis
Dante Exum
Jaden Hardy
Tre Johnson
D’Angelo Russell
Cam Whitmore
Trae Young
Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bilal Coulibaly are all questionable. So is the league policy on tanking and injuries, but that’s another day.
DISCUSSION
Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland and Paul McNeil Jr. combined for 42 points and N.C. State beat Virginia Tech 82-73 on Saturday.
Copeland and McNeil had 21 each, with Copeland notching a 10-assist double-double to go with five steals, tying his career high. It's the fourth time this season Copeland has had 10-plus assists, and his second straight double-double after registering zero before this week. He had 16 assists and 10 rebounds against SMU on Tuesday.
Copeland was 7 of 11 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the line, crossing the 1,000-point career mark early in the second half. McNeil was 4 of 7 from behind the arc and 7 of 8 at the stripe.
Tre Holloman added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Ven-Allen Lubin added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Wolfpack (18-6, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) took a 36-24 lead into the break after an 11-0 run late in the half. The Hokies (16-8, 5-6) used a 12-2 second-half run to cut the deficit to three with 11:20 left, but the Wolfpack answered immediately with a 10-1 run. It was never closer than an eight-point margin from that point on.
Amani Hansberry led the Hokies with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tobi Lawal had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Neoklis Avdalas scored 14.
Up next
The Hokies will remain on the road, facing No. 20 Clemson on Wednesday.
The Wolfpack will face No. 24 Louisville on the road on Monday.
GENOA, Italy (AP) — Rasmus Højlund scored a last-gasp penalty as 10-man Napoli won 3-2 at Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, keeping pressure on the top two clubs from Milan.
Højlund was fortunate Genoa goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was unable to keep out his low shot, despite getting his arm to the ball in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The spot kick was awarded after Maxwel Cornet – who had just gone on as a substitute – was adjudged after a VAR check to have kicked Antonio Vergara’s foot after the Napoli midfielder dropped dramatically to the floor.
Højlund’s second goal of the game moved Napoli one point behind AC Milan and six behind Inter Milan. They both have a game in hand.
“We showed that we’re a team that never gives up, even in difficult situations, in emergencies, and despite being outnumbered, we had the determination to win. I’m proud of my players’ attitude, and I thank them and congratulate them because the victory was deserved,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte said.
His team got off to a bad start with goalkeeper Alex Meret bringing down Vitinha after a botched back pass from Alessandro Buongiorno just seconds into the game. A VAR check confirmed the penalty and Ruslan Malinovskyi duly scored from the spot in the second minute.
Scott McTominay was involved in both goals as Napoli replied with a quickfire double. Bijlow saved his first effort in the 20th but Højlund tucked away the rebound, and McTominay let fly from around 20 meters to make it 2-1 a minute later.
However, McTominay had to go off at the break with what looked like a muscular injury, and another mistake from Buongiorno allowed Lorenzo Colombo to score in the 57th for Genoa.
“Scott has a gluteal problem that he’s had since the season started. It gets inflamed sometimes," Conte said of McTominay. "He would have liked to continue, but I preferred not for him to take any risks because he’s a key player for us.”
Napoli center back Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th after receiving a second yellow card for pulling back Genoa substitute Caleb Ekuban.
Genoa pushed for a winner but it was the visitors who celebrated after a dramatic finale.
"The penalty wasn’t perfect. I was also lucky, but what matters is that we won,” Højlund said.
Fiorentina rues missed opportunity
Fiorentina was on course to escape the relegation zone until Torino defender Guillermo Maripán scored deep in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw in the late game.
Fiorentina had come from behind after Cesare Casadei’s early goal for the visitors, with Manor Solomon and Moise Kean both scoring early in the second half.
A 2-1 win would have lifted Fiorentina out of the relegation zone, but Maripán equalized in the 94th minute with a header inside the far post after a free kick for what seemed like a defeat for the home team.
Fiorentina had lost its previous three games, including to Como in the Italian Cup.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Brusdar Graterol of the Los Angeles Dodgers waves to fans at Dodger Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Our latest roster preview heading into spring training looks at the Dodgers bullpen, which like the outfield was bolstered by signing the best free agent available.
40-man roster relievers
Edwin Díaz
Tanner Scott LHP
Blake Treinen
Alex Vesia LHP
Brusdar Graterol
Brock Stewart
Jack Dreyer LHP
Will Klein
Edgardo Henriquez
Kyle Hurt
Bobby Miller
Paul Gervase
Ronan Kopp LHP
Things to watch
Swimming in the deep end: For the second offseason in a row, the Dodgers spent big on a reliever, signing Edwin Díaz for three years and $69 million, breaking his own record for highest average annual value for a reliever. Much like signing Kyle Tucker to improve the outfield, the Dodgers saw a weakness and plugged the hole with the best-possible (and most expensive) option on this year’s free agent market. Díaz’s ERA started with a one in four of his last seven seasons, and his xERA has been above 2.66 only once in his nine-season career. Díaz over the last two seasons is second among MLB relievers in both strikeout rate (38.4 percent) and strikeout-minus-walk rate (29.7 percent). That’ll play.
Bazooka loading: Since joining the Dodgers in 2020, Brusdar Graterol has been one of the team’s best relievers, with a 2.69 ERA and 3.06 xERA, thanks to a 61.9-percent groundball rate that ranks eighth in MLB in that time among pitchers with at least 150 innings. The problem is Graterol has only pitched 204 innings over the last six seasons, including the postseason. He only pitched 9 2/3 innings in 2024, and didn’t pitch at all in 2025 after shoulder surgery. Graterol is back and healthy now, so expect him to pitch important innings if he’s showing anything near his career norms.
That still leaves three bullpen spots for the inevitable revolving door to fill innings as needed, a must in this current era of pitcher churning. The Dodgers used 39 pitchers in 2023, then set franchise records with 40 pitchers in each of the last two seasons. Expect something near that again this year. But to have seven pitchers listed above all with minor league options, plus starting pitching depth Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski, and Landon Knack (before even considering River Ryan and Gavin Stone, each coming off surgery) in the same boat, the cupboard is well-stocked.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 20: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 20, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (31–21) vs. Philadelphia (29-22) When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns return home on Saturday night, looking to steady themselves after one of the most frustrating losses of the season. Waiting for them are the Philadelphia 76ers, making their lone trip to the Valley this season as they are in the midst of a five-game West Coast swing. Tonight is game four.
This is a familiar opponent. Phoenix handled business in Philadelphia two weeks ago, 116-110. Since then, the 76ers have found rhythm and confidence, winning five of their last six games. Their most recent outing was a loss to the Lakers, a game they controlled for long stretches before it slipped away late. A little help there would have been appreciated, Philly.
Amir Coffey has joined the Suns and is at the team's morning shootaround. #Suns
Jalen Green — QUESTIONABLE (Right Hamstring Management/Left Hip Contusion)
Grayson Allen — OUT (Right Knee Sprain)
Isaiah Livers — OUT (Left Shoulder Sprain)
76ers
Joel Embiid — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)
Paul George — OUT (League Suspension)
Kelly Oubre, Jr. — AVAILABLE (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
Tyrese Maxey sets the tone. He is fast, fearless, and relentless in space. VJ Edgecombe complements him well as another young guard who thrives in chaos and pressure. Together, they apply constant stress on defenses, especially when rotations are slow or communication breaks down.
That pressure matters because of where Phoenix currently stands health-wise. Devin Booker is listed as questionable, along with Jalen Green. For Booker, this is the first time he has received that designation since injuring his ankle against Atlanta on January 23. He has missed seven straight games, with the Suns going 4–3 in that stretch.
Green last played a full game against Philadelphia. His availability carries weight here, especially given the matchup. Why? Because Grayson Allen is out after tweaking his right knee against Golden State. That absence thins the guard rotation in a hurry. If Booker and Green remain sidelined, the Suns are looking at Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin taking on major responsibility, with limited margin behind them.
Keys to a Suns Win
Ball security has to be sharp. Maxey lives off live-ball turnovers and broken possessions. He leads the NBA with 5.6 points per game off turnovers. Phoenix cannot feed that fire.
Shot quality matters. The Suns have to generate clean looks early in the clock, especially if legs are heavy in the backcourt. Interior balance helps everything. When Phoenix gets steady production inside, whether through rolls, seals, or second-chance points, it stabilizes the offense and slows the tempo of the game.
Execution late has to improve. The Warriors’ loss unraveled in the final minutes because structure disappeared. Whoever is on the floor needs clarity and trust in the reads.
Prediction
This one hinges on the injury report.
If Devin Booker plays, I like Phoenix’s chances. His presence brings order. It brings pacing. It brings a calming force that has been missing at the back end of games. If Jalen Green plays, I like the Suns’ chances. His explosiveness mirrors what Maxey brings, and we saw him hold his own against this same group before he went down.
If both are out, the climb gets steep. Not impossible. This team has made a habit of overshooting expectations. Still, the margin narrows fast when the backcourt is stretched thin.
Feb 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) and Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) reacts after a basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Rockets vs OKC Thunder
February 7, 2026
Location: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: ABC
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App
Time: 2:30om CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Thunder: Jared McCain, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein
Hey there Planeteers, hope you all had a great trade deadline week, even if the Suns weren’t the best on the court. With that being said, we were lucky to have another guest on our show this week: Siro, the Kenyan Suns Fan. He has a fantastic story and hopped on to discuss his thoughts on the team this year and what happened this week.
We also all gave one trade from the deadline a grade and discussed some of the other shocking moves that transpired. Check it out here
LONDON (AP) — England inflicted a 48-7 hiding on Wales to open its Six Nations title bid on Saturday at Twickenham.
England got a bonus-point seven tries, including three for winger Henry Arundell, in a 12th successive win dating to last year's Six Nations.
The 41-point margin of victory was England's biggest against Wales at home since a 62-5 result in a 2007 Rugby World Cup warmup.
That scoreline looked reachable at halftime when England led 29-0 but the game lost its fizz and descended into errors and indiscipline.
Wales also became more competitive but received four yellow cards and went down to 13 men twice. England received two yellow cards, including one for Maro Itoje just seconds after he came off the bench in a Six Nations match for the first time since 2020.
Wales suffered a record-extending 12th straight loss in the championship dating to 2023 and returns to Cardiff next weekend to face France, the title favorite.
England goes to Scotland, where it hasn't won since 2020.
“To start the championship with that kind of result, we're very pleased,” England coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC.
“I thought we defended exceptionally well, we kicked really well and we scored some nice tries but I think we left a lot out there on the grass. We could do a lot better. Those are the things we need to step up next week.”
England was heavily favored on Saturday and stretched and stressed Wales, but the visitor gifted the home side territory and possession from basic errors, especially in the first half.
“England fought more than us, they were harder in the tackle than us, the rugby they played was beautiful,” Wales try-scorer Josh Adams told the BBC.
“Teams like England, the way they're playing, it’s hard enough with 15 players on the pitch. So with yellow card after yellow card it's impossible to stay in the game and the pressure keeps piling."
Yellow cards galore
Sam Underhill charged down Wales fullback Louis Rees-Zammit — playing his first Six Nations game in three years after his NFL stint — and gave George Ford the opening points off the tee.
Two penalties against Wales, one for obstruction, gave England entry into the Wales 22 and Ford lined up Arundell for his first try.
After Wales front-rowers Nicky Smith and captain Dewi Lake were sin-binned within a minute of each other under tryline pressure, Arundell got his second try from a Ford kick-pass.
Wales conceded a second try while with 13 men when No. 8 Ben Earl carried Ellis Mee over the line.
Just before halftime, a dropped pass by Wales on its 22 was scooped by Fraser Dingwall who released Arundell for his third try, his 11th in 12 tests, and a first hat trick by England in the Six Nations since Jonny May against France in 2019.
“They were tap-ins but a hat trick is a hat trick,” Arundell told ITV.
Dingwall also laid on a try for Tom Roebuck, the late replacement for injured winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, to start the second half.
But at 36-0 in the 45th England went off the boil and Wales showed some pride.
Itoje, on the bench after grieving the death of his mother in December, entered to a loud cheer but went off seconds later when he offended with England on a yellow-card warning.
Wales scored immediately through an Adams try after quick rucks.
Wales center Ben Thomas made a try-saving tackle on Roebuck but was sin-binned for an illegal rip of prop Trevor Davison on the tryline. Taine Plumtree joined him two minutes later and reduced Wales to 13 men again.
Plumtree tackled Henry Pollock into touch over the tryline but his arm tackle around Pollock's neck earned him a yellow card and conceded a penalty try.
England finished the game with 14 after Tom Curry's yellow card but around that center Tommy Freeman had a try ruled out and a try given when he beat three defenders. Ford's sideline conversion hit the post, only his second miss from seven goalkicks.
Earl, Roebuck and Freeman also score tries for hosts
No surprises here, not even a hint of one. England have had tougher training sessions in preparation for this Six Nations and by the end the scoreboard spoke for itself. Wales were not so much beaten as buried beneath an avalanche of seven white tries including a first-half hat-trick for the pacy Bath wing Henry Arundell on his first England start since the 2023 World Cup.
If not quite as big a rout as England’s 68-14 win in Cardiff 11 months ago, the flashing red warning lights were visible from the moment the visitors had two players sent to the sin bin in the first quarter. They never looked like recovering and, in its own way, this disappointment will sting as much as the 73-0 defeat by South Africa in November.
For rookie Jase Richardson, he is following in his father's footsteps: In 2003, it was Jason Richardson and Desmond Mason battling it out in the dunk contest.
The Dunk Contest will be part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night — which also includes the Shooting Stars competition and the 3-Point Contest — which starts at 5 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 14 from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The earlier start time is because the All-Star weekend events will flow directly into continued coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on NBC.
Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The same is true of an earlier start for the All-Star Saturday Night series of competitions.
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.
How to sign up for Peacock:
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.
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: A detail shot of an Oakland A's hat with commemorative pins prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
Taking the ninth spot on our annual CPL is right-handed pitcher Steven Echavarria. The 20-year-old righty had some bumps on the road during his second full season as a professional pitcher on the lower end of the farm but also flashed his awesome repertoire at times. Echavarria has plenty of work to do in the lower levels of the system as a high-school draftee, especially in the control department, but luckily for him he’s still incredibly young for the level he’s at and could show some serious progress this coming season. The A’s clearly think very highly of him.
Taking the next open nominee spot is right-hander Mason Barnett. Considered the prize of the Lucas Erceg trade to the Royals, Barnett was one of the better pitching prospects in the system last year but has dropped down after a lackluster year at Triple-A and some additions to the system. That said he profiles as a back-end starter that could be a legitimate option for the A’s this coming season. He’s already made his big league debut with five starts in September for the A’s and now that he’s gotten his feet wet in the big leagues the righty will almost certainly be an option for manager Mark Kotsay during the coming summer. Will he be able to solidify a spot in the rotation is another matter, but the team is going to give him that chance at some point. You can count on that.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Who rounds out the top ten players in the farm system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
Taylor shows the potential to become a plus hitter in terms of both average and power while controlling the strike zone. A left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He likes to swing the bat but has cut down on his chases this spring. He makes consistent contact and has no problems handling breaking pitches.
The majority of Taylor’s value will come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy, which will limit him to a corner outfield spot in pro ball.
Barnett leads a four-pitch mix with his fastball. Though it may not reach the 99 mph it once did earlier in his career, he can still rev it up to about 96 mph while sitting around 94. His mid-80s slider has evolved into more of a sweeper with good bite and emerged as a strong secondary pitch, providing solid separation in velocity from his upper-70s curve. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup that is especially effective against left-handed batters.
Listed at 6-foot and 218 pounds, Barnett is showing all the traits of a “bulldog” on the mound who goes right after opposing hitters. He demonstrated strong improvement in his overall strike-throwing ability with his cleaned-up three-quarters arm slot that at times got a little long in the past. If the improvements hold up at the next level, the A’s view him as a long-term starter and believe he could push his way up to the big leagues at some point in 2025.
The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.
There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your vote!
Jun 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the eight inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
So much has already been written. So much praiseheaped. What more is there to write about Tyler Rogers other than it’s over?
I did my part. I said my prayers each night, wishing the separation would be temporary, that after trading him, we’d re-sign him in the offseason. How could we not? Weren’t there still 8th innings to be pitched in 2026? And batters to be spun like tops? After seven years of scraping his knuckles on our mound, of inspiring a generation of little league submariners from Seaside to Sacramento…the story of Tyler Rogers and us couldn’t just end with a transaction.
But our awkward bullpen bird had outgrown the nest. Rogers found a home in Toronto, bagging the first big contract of his career. Three years, 37 million dollars. Imagine: thousands of dollars for each 80 MPH fastball, for each rising slider, for each awkward swing, for each dink and doink cued off the end of a baseball bat. Worth every penny in my mind. Based on recent events, it’d be easy to feel sorry for Blue Jays fans — but I don’t, just a whole lot of envy and a dash of regret that this didn’t happen sooner. If only they had made a play for Rogers at the deadline…man, they could’ve used him in Game 7.
We all could’ve used him in Game 7. As if Giants fans needed more incentive to pull for Toronto — but to see Rogers sling one of his saucers on the biggest stage in the sport with the game on the line against the hated Doogers would’ve been worth the heartache of watching him depart. A victory for the good guys! A triumph of weird over the forces of obviousness! Rogers would’ve come out on top in a string of hypotheticals. Would Max Muncy have lifted that solo shot in the 8th? No! Would Miguel Rojas have gained count leverage in the 9th? Double-no!
No doubt in my mind, Rogers would’ve sealed the deal — an instant Canadian legend. Those up-northerners probably would’ve named the whole dang stadium after him. It’s got a nice ring to it: The Tyler Centre.
Alas…
Tyler Rogers last appearance as a Giant in 2025 came against Pittsburgh on July 29th. He got billed for the loss, the two earned runs he allowed providing the difference in score. A fitting end in one sense considering the rally mounted against him was a typical soft-contact coup: Five groundballs, four singles with just two of them getting out of the infield.
These have been the kind of fluky frames that have dogged him throughout his career, that have been used as proof rather than an exception to why he could never serve as a true closer. No matter how good he is at attacking the strike zone, at avoiding the barrel and dulling hard-hit rates, at keeping the baseball grounded and in the park, there is a solid underlying belief, grounded in fear of the inexplicable, that how he pitches shouldn’t work, that at any moment the luck will run out, and one of his levitating orbs will serve as a Proustian madeleine to a struggling .600 OPS hitter, and unlock some core memory of smoking wiffle balls in his backyard.
We have seen this happen. Jake Cave in Colorado. Nick Ahmed in LA. That one-percent home run rate is seared into our brain, so much so it’s hard to insist that the results in the aforementioned alternate-2025 would’ve been any different. Rogers is so exciting to watch because he stares into the eyes of logic when he takes the mound. A mix of moxie, forgetfulness, and humor is required for a high-leverage submariner. Let us never forget Dan Quisenberry’s mustache — and the fact that he wrote a book of poetry.
Compare Rogers’s career 4.07 ERA in the 9th to his 2.35 ERA in the 8th, and it seems he himself lost faith in his quirk and frequently looked down on his tight-rope walk when it came to closing out a game. The most opportunities Rogers got in the 9th came in 2021, his breakout year, in which he earned 12 saves over 22 innings and 24 appearances. From late May to early June, Rogers appeared in 8 consecutive games in the 9th, and the team went 7-1 in them, despite a three run whoopsie against the Doogers (that was forgiven by a 3-run homer by Grand POBO Posey off of Blake Treinen). But more crooked numbers allowed against key opponents ultimately swelled his final frame ERA to 5.24. His ERA in the 8th: 1.24. That dominance, and the presence of much more traditional closer options (ex. Jake McGee, Camilo Doval, Ryan Walker), seemed to cement Rogers’s role for the rest of his tenure in San Francisco.
That final appearance as a Giant was the 392nd of Rogers’s career, placing him at 10th on the franchise list for relievers. If he had stayed in San Francisco, his 81 games on the year would’ve moved him past Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, and Rod Beck to sixth on the list. His climb up the club rankings is over, but for the man with the rubber arm, it’s not hard to think he’ll keep gobbling up games. He led the Majors in appearances for a second straight year, and his 81 games was a career best (while his 77.1 innings pitched was second to his 81 IP mark set in 2021).
Rogers’s age 34 season was arguably his best. His 1.98 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 0.944 WHIP, and 203 ERA+ were all career marks — and those reflect a bit of a backslide in the second half as a Met. Over 50 innings pitched, Rogers owned a 222 ERA+. His 1.7 bWAR had already surpassed his final marks from the previous three full seasons. He didn’t get one, but he absolutely deserved an All-Star nod.
While the Giants got an impressive package of MLB-ready-or-near-ready talent (RHP Jose Butto, OF Drew Gilbert, and RHP Blade Tidwell) for him, looking ahead to the state of the relief corps in 2026, you can’t help but feel there’s a hole. Erik Miller in the 8th? Joel Peguero? There’s firepower, sure — but just as much inexperience, errant command, and maddening walks in those arms.
For all the perceived unpredictably inherent to his style, Rogers has been consistent for a half-a-decade. We knew this, and we’re going to miss this. Hot take: It’s nice not to have to worry about your game plan in the late innings. Life with a lead is definitely better when there is a plan, rather than having first time manager Tony Vitello be-bop and scat in and out of dicey, late-and-close situations. Re-signing Rogers was an emotional-and-sensical move that didn’t happen. Considering the team’s needs, bringing him back would’ve made a bunch of people inside and outside (Rogers included) pretty happy. Given the brass’s reluctance around handing out a longer-term, six-figure deal for a starting pitcher, Rogers eventually moved out of the club’s determined price-range. Tough beans for the bullpen in 2026. Bittersweet for us fans. Selfishly, I wish he was still our little secret; but damn, I’m happy he’s getting paid. He’ll make nearly $9 million as a Jay next year, then $13.66 million through his age 37 season and be guaranteed $12 million in 2029 if he stays healthy and on the mound in the coming years.
Hey, maybe the Giants will re-sign Rogers then. With his mechanics, he’ll be throwing 70 innings a season well into early 40’s.
A pair of black and blue teams tip off at United Center tonight when the Chicago Bulls host the Denver Nuggets.
Both teams are potentially dealing with key injuries, with Josh Giddey ruled out for Chicago and Nikola Jokic questionable for Denver.
Jamal Murray has stepped up in a big way for Denver over their last few games, and I’m predicting another high-flying game for the guard in my Nuggets vs. Bulls predictions & NBA picks for Saturday, February 7.
Nuggets vs Bulls prediction
Nuggets vs Bulls best bet: Jamal Murray Over 25.5 points (-115)
Nikola Jokic returned from a knee injury in late January but is right back on the injury list for tonight’s game with an ankle sprain. Of course, NBA players play through sprains all the time, but Jokic has not quite looked like himself since returning from his knee injury, shooting just 45% from the field.
Fortunately for the Denver Nuggets, they’ve got another capable scorer in Jamal Murray, who’s been carrying the load for the past month.
Murray is fresh off two straight games with 32+ points, and since the start of 2026, is averaging 27.7 ppg in 37 minutes per contest. The Nuggets guard is shooting and scoring more than ever, and seems to be thriving in this role.
Murray has scored Over 25.5 points in nine of his last 15 games and looks poised for another big performance vs. a Chicago Bulls defense that ranks fifth-last in the NBA (120.2 papg).
Nuggets vs Bulls same-game parlay
Christian Braun has played just 16 games this season due to an ankle injury and hasn’t been much of a factor in his few appearances this calendar year. The Nuggets guard has scored six points or fewer in each of his last six outings.
Still, the Nuggets should cover the spread tonight, especially if Jokic is good to go. Denver has covered the spread in 57.7% of its games this season – the third-highest mark in the NBA – while Chicago’s lineup is in turmoil right now with injuries and ongoing trades.
Nuggets vs Bulls SGP
Jamal Murray Over 25.5 points
Christian Braun Under 11.5 points
Nuggets -5.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Nuggets hope for a healthy Jokic
Jokic posted a triple double on Wednesday and leads the NBA with 17 this season – seven more than anyone else. If Joker is healthy, he’ll dominate against a depleted Bulls team.
Nuggets vs Bulls SGP
Jamal Murray Over 25.5 points
Christian Braun Under 11.5 points
Nuggets -5.5
Nikola Jokic to record triple-double
Nuggets vs Bulls odds
Spread: Nuggets -5.5 (-110) | Bulls +5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Nuggets -215 | Bulls +180
Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-115) | Under 232.5 (-105)
Nuggets vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Bulls.
How to watch Nuggets vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Altitude, CHSN
Nuggets vs Bulls latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Someone is going to need to check in on Jay Williams after Saturday's edition of "College GameDay" after the heart attack he just gave Duke basketball fans.
Why? Well, the former Blue Devils point guard started a Tar Heels chant during Saturday's pregame show inside Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina ahead of Saturday night's top-15 ranked men's college basketball matchup between the Tobacco Road rivals.
"I just want to witness this for one second because I usually never do this," Williams said before starting the chant while next to former Duke center Jay Bilas.
Bilas, perhaps speaking on behalf of former Duke players, was rather blunt with his response.
"What a suck up," Bilas said.
The Blue Devils head into Saturday's top-15 matchup looking for their fourth consecutive win over the Tar Heels, after sweeping the regular season series and picking up a win over UNC in the ACC Tournament semifinals last season.
Led by star freshman Cameron Boozer, Duke ranks No. 3 in the NET rankings with a 9-1 Quad 1 record, which is the second most Quad 1 wins — an important statistical used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee — in the country, only behind top-ranked Arizona.
The Tar Heels, led by their star freshman Caleb Wilson, find themselves ranked in the top 30 of the NET Rankings at No. 27. A win for Hubert Davis' squad would be a significant one, as it would give them just their fifth Quad 1 win of the season.
UNC and Duke are slated for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip-off on Saturday in Chapel Hill.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 25: Dylan Harper poses for a photograph with father Ron Harper and brother Ron Harper Jr. after being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs during the 2025 NBA Draft - Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ representation at All-Star weekend just got even wider as the Spurs announced the Harpers will participate in the Kia Shooting Challenge together. That will include Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, his brother Ron Harper, Jr., who is currently a two-way player for the Boston Celtics, and their father: five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Sr.
Dylan was already set to represent the Spurs in the Rising Stars Challenge, along with sophomore and reigning MVP of the event, Stephon Castle. Spurs two-way player David Jones-Garcia was also set to participate on the G League team but has been ruled out after undergoing ankle surgery last week. Also representing the Spurs will be their other rookie, Carter Bryant, in the dunk contest, and of course Victor Wembanyama will be an All-Star starter for Team World in the main event.
All-Star weekend will take place next weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. You can check out the entire schedule here. Rising Stars will be on Friday, February 13 beginning at 8:00 PM CT on ESPN. Saturday will feature Shooting Stars starting at 4:00 PM CT, followed by the 3-point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest (I guess the Skills Challenge is defunct now), and finally the All-Star Game on Sunday, beginning at 4:00 PM CT.
