Thanks to a group of behind-the-scenes people, the Rebels have thrived in the pay-for-play era.
Draymond Green questions whether some NBA officials are too old, need to retire
Draymond Green questions whether some NBA officials are too old, need to retire originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green didn’t mince words when discussing NBA officiating on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” raising pointed questions about accountability — and even age — among league referees.
Green’s comments came in the aftermath of coach Steve Kerr’s emotional ejection during the Warriors’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, a game that later featured a public admission from officials that a crucial call had been missed.
On his podcast, Green touched on how repeated officiating mistakes can heighten emotions when players and coaches feel they have no recourse.
“If you feel like something is blatantly happening to you over and over, it raises that level of emotion,” Green said. “You look at these situations, and it’s like, ‘Man, that was wrong for sure.’ Steve got upset — rightfully so. You can’t take the ejection back, but these things cost you real money.”
Green then addressed accountability within the league.
“I’m not allowed to be blatantly wrong over and over again in my job,” Green noted. “If I am, I’m going to lose my job. But I haven’t really seen many officials lose their jobs.”
The Warriors forward went a step further, questioning whether some referees are still physically equipped to officiate at the NBA level.
“There are officials who have been in the league way before I came in and can barely move, and they’re still officiating,” Green added. “Sometimes people get so elderly and they’re on the road — it can be dangerous for themselves and for others …There are some officials who’ve been in the league a long time and don’t move well anymore, and they just keep going. It’s not really one of those jobs where you just lose your job.”
Green connected those issues back to defending Kerr’s ejection, emphasizing that there’s always a moment where patience runs out.
“Speaking on Steve’s ejection — yeah, I thought it was rightfully so,” Green said. “Because at what point does it stop?”
For Green, the frustration is less about one call and more about how long it’s allowed to continue.
Is Indiana football built to last?
Curt Cignetti has built a juggernaut this season in Bloomington, but will the Hoosiers keep it rolling when their veterans move on? All signs point in one direction.
Isiah Thomas jokes he'd choke Steve Kerr if he were in Jonathan Kuminga's shoes
Isiah Thomas jokes he'd choke Steve Kerr if he were in Jonathan Kuminga's shoes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The conversation surrounding Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Warriors took an interesting turn when Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas chimed in.
Thomas, a former president of the NBA Players Association, shared his thoughts on the young forward’s situation in a recent appearance on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show.
The Hall of Famer credited Kuminga for maintaining his professionalism and “not blowing up” over his inconsistent role over the years, while admitting that he and a lot of NBA players would have handled the situation differently.
“I know if it was me, or any other NBA player, by now, you know, we Latrell Sprewell, we’re chokin’ in the post,” Thomas joked.
Latrell Sprewell famously attacked and threatened to kill his coach, P.J. Carlesimo, during a Warriors practice in 1997. He never played another game for Golden State and was traded to the New York Knicks after serving a 68-game suspension.
Thomas mentioned, “When you have power, you have to use your power to help the team get better,” and stressed that other players should be more outspoken if they disagree with Kuminga’s treatment.
“Now if the players are probably all aligned with it, and if they’re not aligned with it, then they need to be vocal in support of their players,” he said.
One teammate that has spoken up is veteran Draymond Green, who applauded the young forward’s professionalism amidst ongoing trade rumors on the latest episode of his podcast.
Kuminga last played on Dec. 18th against the Phoenix Suns, where he finished with two points in nine minutes. Dwindling minutes and injury uncertainty have added to his fluctuating role and increasing trade speculation.
The 23-year-old wing isn’t available to trade until Jan. 15th, and the Sacramento Kings remain one of many teams that have inquired about him. Until then, the Warriors are 11-9 without Kuminga in the lineup.
Jimbo Fisher: Lane Kiffin is ‘the villain’ for the way his departure from Ole Miss to LSU has impacted the playoff
Two Ole Miss offensive assistants won't coach in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.
Phillies reach agreements ahead of Thursday's arbitration deadline
Phillies reach agreements ahead of Thursday's arbitration deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies reached one-year agreements with all of their remaining arbitration-eligible players on Thursday, continuing the process ahead of the league’s hearing deadline at 8 p.m.
Philadelphia entered the day with just over $225 million committed in guaranteed contracts, the fourth-highest total in baseball. Spotrac projected the club’s payroll at approximately $301.5 million prior to arbitration agreements being finalized.
With all of the figures now in place, the Phillies’ projected payroll keeps them near the fourth luxury-tax threshold, which carries a 110 percent penalty on every dollar over.
The Phils previously avoided arbitration with catchers Rafael Marchán ($800,000) and Garrett Stubbs, who agreed to a split contract on Nov. 21. Stubbs will earn $925,000 in the majors and $575,000 in the minors.
Here’s where things stand with the rest of the arbitration class as agreements continue to come in.
Jesús Luzardo, LHP
2026 salary: $11 million (per WHDH Boston’s Ari Alexander)
Free agent: 2027
Luzardo is now a staple at the top of the rotation. He made 32 starts in 2025, led the team with 15 wins and finished with a 3.92 ERA. His 2.90 FIP ranked among the league’s best.
The Phillies have already expressed interest in exploring a long-term extension, making this deal more of a bridge than a short-term commitment.
Alec Bohm, 3B
2026 salary: $10.2 million (per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb)
Free agent: 2027
Bohm’s salary comes amid continued uncertainty about his long-term place in Philadelphia. Even in a season viewed internally as a step back, he hit .287, the highest average among third basemen with at least 400 plate appearances.
At a double-digit salary, he could still factor into trade discussions as the Phillies look for flexibility as the offseason continues.
Jhoan Duran, RHP
2026 salary: $7.5 million (per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber)
Free agent: 2028
Duran’s deal stands out relative to the market for late-inning relief. After arriving at the deadline, he posted a 2.18 ERA in Philadelphia and converted 16 saves, finishing the season with 32 overall.
With two years of control remaining, he remains the centerpiece of the bullpen.
Bryson Stott, 2B
2026 salary: $5.9 million (per FanSided’s Robert Murray)
Free agent: 2028
Stott’s profile remains consistent. He provides plus defense, speed and plate discipline, though the bat remains below league average (96 OPS+).
Late-season success offer optimism, but his struggles against left-handed pitching continue to influence how the Phillies structure their future.
Brandon Marsh, OF
2026 salary: $5.2 million (per The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes)
Free agent: 2028
Marsh enters 2026 positioned as an everyday outfielder. He hit .280 with a .785 OPS in 2025 and provided above-average defense in both left and center field.
He was especially effective against right-handed pitching, hitting .300 with an .838 OPS. How the Phillies deploy him against lefties remains to be seen.
Edmundo Sosa, INF
2026 salary: $4.4 million (per The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes)
Free agent: 2027
Sosa remains one of the roster’s most reliable role players. He moves around the infield, handles left-handed pitching and provides quality at-bats off the bench.
His arbitration number will reflect his usage and his versatility continues to carry value.
Tanner Banks, LHP
2026 salary: $1.2 million (per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale)
Free agent: 2029
Banks emerged as a dependable matchup reliever in 2025. He posted a 3.07 ERA across 69 appearances and held left-handed hitters to a .456 OPS.
At his price point, he remains a cost-effective bullpen option.
NBA Minutes Report: How Tyler Herro's return, Jalen Duren's injury, and more impact minutes
Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.
The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.
All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.
Fantasy managers expected big things from Maxey, and he has delivered thus far.
Raphielle JohnsonAtlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Johnson | 36.5 | 36 | 36.6 |
| Dyson Daniels | 36.2 | 34.9 | 35.9 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 34.4 | 33.8 | 33.4 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 33.4 | 30.9 | 33.9 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 28.7 | 27.4 | 24.4 |
| Vít Krejčí | 23.3 | 24.9 | 25.2 |
| Luke Kennard | 21.6 | 22.7 | 19.6 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 20.9 | 19.1 | 19.1 |
| Mouhamed Gueye | 18.3 | 14.6 | 11.8 |
Well, it's official, Trae Young is now a member of the Washington Wizards. My colleague Kurt Helin covered the fallout from that trade, so check that out. Young has missed the last six games with a quad injury that will probably magically heal when he arrives in Washington. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a top-70 player in the last six games that Young has been out, and stands to benefit the most in a trade since he could become a starter. Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels would also continue to be top-50 players now that Young is no longer in town.
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Derrick White | 36.1 | 35.8 | 35.5 |
| Payton Pritchard | 34.9 | 34.1 | 34.3 |
| Jaylen Brown | 34.6 | 34.5 | 34.4 |
| Anfernee Simons | 23.9 | 26 | 24.2 |
| Sam Hauser | 23.9 | 23.7 | 22.7 |
| Neemias Queta | 23.9 | 24.6 | 24.3 |
| Luka Garza | 20.9 | 21.3 | 21.6 |
| Jordan Walsh | 20.6 | 16 | 15.9 |
| Hugo González | 14.3 | 15.8 | 21.6 |
The Celtics' situation has remained steady, and they have been much better than many expected. For fantasy purposes, the only truly relevant players are Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard. It's best not to hunt on the margins for others.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 35.2 | 35.5 | 33.7 |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | 30.6 | 24.7 | 21.2 |
| Noah Clowney | 30.1 | 28.2 | 28.5 |
| Egor Dëmin | 28.8 | 29.7 | 29.3 |
| Terance Mann | 24.8 | 25.9 | 26.1 |
| Ziaire Williams | 23.6 | 24.4 | 21.2 |
| Danny Wolf | 23.3 | 23.8 | 22 |
| Cam Thomas | 23.2 | 22 | 21.5 |
| Nic Claxton | 23.1 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
The Nets got both Egor Dëmin and Terance Mann back last week and have become a feistier team of late, thanks to their strong defense. They're still not a particularly good team, and really only Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton have much fantasy value. Claxton missed two games this week for personal reasons, and Day'Ron Sharpe stepped up in his absence, but it seems like Zaire Williams would be the player who gains the most playing time if/when Porter Jr. gets traded. Dëmin is also developing pretty nicely as a rookie and shooting the ball well of late.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Brandon Miller | 33.7 | 33.5 | 32.8 |
| Miles Bridges | 33 | 33.9 | 30.1 |
| Kon Knueppel | 31.2 | 31.9 | 29.8 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 29.5 | 28.9 | 29.4 |
| Sion James | 26 | 26.2 | 24.7 |
| LaMelo Ball | 25.6 | 26.6 | 26.3 |
| Collin Sexton | 22.2 | 24.3 | 21.9 |
| PJ Hall | 18.8 | 18.2 | 16.6 |
| Tidjane Salaün | 16.8 | 18.1 | 20.3 |
Ryan Kalkbrenner has now missed nine straight games, which has led Moussa Diabaté to be a top 100 player, while averaging 31 minutes a game over the last two weeks. We also saw Tidjane Salaün starting to come into his own a bit before an ankle injury caused him to miss a couple of games. This team has four intriguing young players, but I'm not sure the fit with all of them is particularly great. I'm curious to see if the Hornets make a move at the deadline.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Nikola Vučević | 34.2 | 34.2 | 31.7 |
| Matas Buzelis | 32.7 | 31.1 | 26.9 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 28.9 | 26.5 | 24.2 |
| Tre Jones | 27.2 | 27.4 | 25.1 |
| Kevin Huerter | 26.8 | 26.7 | 24.9 |
| Isaac Okoro | 25.7 | 28.4 | 24 |
| Coby White | 25.4 | 25.4 | 25.3 |
| Jalen Smith | 15 | 22.8 | 20.4 |
The Bulls remain without Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf), and I discussed all the repercussions of this in a video last week. Jalen Smith has also now missed a few games with a concussion, which has led to an increase in minutes for Patrick Williams. Smith's name has also come up in trade rumors, so Williams could have more consistent playing time if that happened, especially as Zach Collins (toe) remains sidelined.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 34.1 | 33.3 | 31.9 |
| Evan Mobley | 33.5 | 31.6 | 29 |
| Darius Garland | 32.4 | 31.5 | 31 |
| Jarrett Allen | 31.7 | 29.5 | 26.1 |
| Sam Merrill | 29.3 | 26.8 | 26.7 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 25.5 | 25.8 | 24.9 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | 24.6 | 23.5 | 20 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 23.8 | 23.9 | 24.3 |
On one hand, Darius Garland is starting to look healthier, which is great news for the Cavaliers. On the other hand, Max Strus (foot) was ruled out for yet another month and won't return until the middle of February at the earliest. That should continue to lead to more minutes for Dean Wade, who has supplanted De'Andre Hunter in the starting lineup, but Wade is also dealing with a minor knee contusion of his own. Jarrett Allen has been paying off his uptick in minutes and has been a top-90 player over the last two weeks, so we can hope that role continues.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Davis | 37.2 | 37.2 | 33.1 |
| Cooper Flagg | 35.4 | 35.2 | 36.3 |
| Max Christie | 33.3 | 31.7 | 28.2 |
| Naji Marshall | 29.1 | 28.6 | 29.9 |
| Brandon Williams | 24.9 | 26.3 | 24.2 |
| P.J. Washington | 23.2 | 27.4 | 29.9 |
| Klay Thompson | 20.9 | 21.4 | 22.4 |
| Daniel Gafford | 17.6 | 20.3 | 17.8 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 15.6 | 16.1 | 20.3 |
Except for their few season-ending injuries, the Mavericks have been pretty healthy of late. Anthony Davis continues to be rested here and there, and we do expect him to be traded, but he's been a top-60 player over the last two weeks, and he and Cooper Flagg work well with one another. Brandon Williams continues to own the starting point guard role and has been a top-100 player over the last two weeks, averaging 19 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jamal Murray | 38.2 | 38.2 | 36.8 |
| Peyton Watson | 36.7 | 37.3 | 34.7 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 30 | 29.6 | 30.5 |
| Christian Braun | 26.9 | 26.9 | 26.9 |
| Spencer Jones | 26.5 | 30.7 | 30.8 |
| Bruce Brown | 25.5 | 25.3 | 26.1 |
| Jalen Pickett | 25.5 | 24.7 | 18.6 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 24.9 | 24.6 | 16.6 |
| Aaron Gordon | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 |
We know that Nikola Jokić will miss a month due to a knee injury, and Cameron Johnson is still sidelined. However, the Nuggets have gotten back both Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun this week. I covered the fallout of that in a video.
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 33 | 34.6 | 34.2 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 31.3 | 28.3 | 25.8 |
| Paul Reed | 27.3 | 20.5 | 13.2 |
| Javonte Green | 26.3 | 27.3 | 22.5 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 25.4 | 20.1 | 13.8 |
| Duncan Robinson | 24.3 | 24.2 | 26 |
| Ausar Thompson | 23.4 | 24.4 | 25.1 |
| Ronald Holland II | 22.9 | 21.1 | 20.8 |
| Jaden Ivey | 20.4 | 20 | 18.8 |
The Pistons had been one of the healthiest teams in the league so far this season, but now they are dealing with injuries to Jalen Duren (ankle), Tobias Harris (hip), and Caris LeVert (knee).I covered the ripple effects of that in a video this week.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 34 | 33.8 | 33.8 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 33 | 32.4 | 32.7 |
| De'Anthony Melton | 24.8 | 24.4 | 22 |
| Draymond Green | 24.5 | 25.4 | 23.7 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 24.4 | 24.5 | 25.6 |
| Moses Moody | 23.9 | 23.5 | 23.9 |
| Gary Payton II | 18.2 | 15.5 | 14.1 |
| Quinten Post | 17.9 | 18.2 | 17.9 |
| Al Horford | 17.4 | 15.9 | 15.3 |
Draymond Green has been battling an ankle injury, as well as his own boredom and ejections, over the last few weeks. He remains a borderline top-100 player in fantasy basketball because he contributes a little bit across the board, but there's no "buy low" type of situation here. Other than that, this team is driven by Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, along with a collection of other players who occasionally contribute.
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 38.5 | 37.1 | 36.9 |
| Kevin Durant | 37.9 | 36.8 | 36.2 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 37.4 | 35.7 | 34.7 |
| Tari Eason | 31.8 | 29.2 | 25.2 |
| Steven Adams | 30.7 | 27.9 | 24.4 |
| Reed Sheppard | 22.2 | 24.4 | 26.3 |
| Clint Capela | 16.1 | 15.4 | 12.5 |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | 14.8 | 15.2 | 15 |
The Rockets lost Alperen Sengun to an ankle injury right after he was battling a calf injury. Steven Adams, who was also battling his own ankle injury, should see the biggest uptick in minutes and usage, but Jabari Smith Jr. will also be relied on more. He's been a top 100 player over the last two weeks, averaging 15 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. I covered all the ripple effects of the Sengun injury in a video this week.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 35.6 | 34.4 | 33.6 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 33.8 | 32.3 | 32.1 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 32.1 | 30.3 | 28.5 |
| Micah Potter | 24.8 | 22.5 | 20.2 |
| Jay Huff | 22.5 | 19.3 | 20.7 |
| Ben Sheppard | 20.1 | 19.7 | 19.7 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 19.8 | 27.5 | 30.6 |
| Johnny Furphy | 19.3 | 16.7 | 18.8 |
| T.J. McConnell | 18.8 | 18 | 17.8 |
The Packers are relatively healthy aside from Isaiah Jackson (concussion), who wasn't playing much anyway, and Bennedict Mathurin, who will now be sidelined for "a while" with a thumb injury. We also know the Pacers aren't trying as they look to add a top-three pick to a roster that will be getting back Tyrese Haliburton next season.
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 36.3 | 36.1 | 37.1 |
| James Harden | 35.8 | 32.6 | 35.7 |
| John Collins | 33.7 | 28.6 | 27.9 |
| Kris Dunn | 31.8 | 28.2 | 29.3 |
| Ivica Zubac | 28.1 | 28.1 | 25.4 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 24.8 | 22.9 | 21.8 |
| Kobe Sanders | 22.6 | 23.6 | 21 |
| Nicolas Batum | 19.4 | 21 | 23.1 |
| Brook Lopez | 14.5 | 17.2 | 22.3 |
Just after the team got Derrick Jones Jr. back, he's now sidelined for the next six weeks with a Grade 2 MCL sprain. James Harden has also been dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to miss one game, but Kawhi Leonard has been electric this season and is a top-five player in all of fantasy basketball over the last two weeks. Ivica Zubac returned over the weekend and was up to 33 minutes in his last game, so he should return to his regular role after missing five games. That pushed Brook Lopez back to the bench and cut into minutes and usage for John Collins.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Luka Dončić | 38.2 | 37.6 | 34.9 |
| Jake LaRavia | 35.9 | 36.6 | 32.6 |
| LeBron James | 35.2 | 34.6 | 32.8 |
| Marcus Smart | 34.1 | 32.3 | 29.9 |
| Deandre Ayton | 31.5 | 29 | 29.9 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | 23.4 | 23.6 | 23.9 |
| Gabe Vincent | 18.1 | 18.1 | 18.1 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 16.3 | 18 | 18.6 |
Last week, we covered the injuries to Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, so little has changed for the Lakers this week. This remains a two-man team with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and LeBron in particular has really come on of late, pushing up top-20 value over the last two weeks.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 32.9 | 33.2 | 32.5 |
| Cam Spencer | 30.4 | 25.3 | 28.3 |
| Jaylen Wells | 26.7 | 28.1 | 29.3 |
| Olivier-Maxence Prosper | 26.3 | 26.3 | 17.4 |
| Santi Aldama | 25.6 | 28.6 | 30.3 |
| Jock Landale | 24.4 | 22.4 | 22.8 |
| GG Jackson | 23.2 | 21.6 | 21.4 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 22.1 | 22.1 | 22.1 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 20.3 | 21 | 20.6 |
| Ja Morant | — | 32.9 | 29.7 |
Ja Morant has missed the last three games with a calf injury, Cedric Coward has missed the last two with an ankle injury, and Brandon Clarke remains sidelined with a calf injury. Oh, and Zach Edey is still out for another week, and Ty Jerome is probably out another week or two. Did I miss anything? Morant had actually been turning the corner before the calf injury, averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals over the last two weeks. The Grizzlies had lost most of those games, but that's another story. There's a chance we see this team fully healthy by the middle of this month, and that could be fun.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Bam Adebayo | 30.5 | 29.1 | 31.2 |
| Davion Mitchell | 30.3 | 31.2 | 29.2 |
| Tyler Herro | 28.6 | 28.6 | 28.6 |
| Norman Powell | 28.1 | 29.4 | 31.3 |
| Kel'el Ware | 27.4 | 26.7 | 27.8 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 27.3 | 28.9 | 29.4 |
| Nikola Jović | 26.6 | 25.9 | 25.1 |
| Pelle Larsson | 22.7 | 20.3 | 23.6 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 10 | 22.5 | 28.7 |
Tyler Herro returned after missing 11 games with a toe injury, andI recorded a video on the fallout from that this week.We should note that Jaime Jaquez Jr. has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, so even though Herro did come back, this team is not at full strength. When they are, I think we see Nikola Jović take a hit in both his minutes and usage.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 38.7 | 38.6 | 38.1 |
| Ryan Rollins | 35.3 | 35.2 | 31.8 |
| AJ Green | 34 | 32.5 | 29.9 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 30.8 | 29.2 | 28.5 |
| Myles Turner | 26.3 | 28.2 | 29.3 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 23.4 | 23.4 | 26.3 |
| Bobby Portis | 20.6 | 21.1 | 27.5 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 20.5 | 19.4 | 18.7 |
The Bucks are fully healthy right now (well, aside from Taurean Prince being out), so the minutes allotment of late is what we should expect going forward. It's been nice to see Ryan Rollins remain productive with both Kevin Porter Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo playing nearly 30 minutes a game. Rollins has remained a fringe top-50 player over the last two weeks with Giannis back. I'm still a bit confused why this team traded for Myles Turner when he is not really bringing much to the table, but that's a conversation for another time. Kyle Kuzma has seen a drop in his minutes and production with this team healthy.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 32.5 | 32.6 | 35.5 |
| Rudy Gobert | 31.3 | 30.4 | 32.8 |
| Julius Randle | 30.3 | 30.1 | 32.2 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 29.8 | 26.8 | 28.1 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 28 | 27.2 | 30.1 |
| Naz Reid | 23.2 | 23.7 | 26 |
| Bones Hyland | 16.2 | 15.1 | 17.2 |
| Jaylen Clark | 14.9 | 15.9 | 13.3 |
| Mike Conley | 14.3 | 15 | 17.3 |
Terrance Shannon is out for a couple of weeks with a foot injury, and while that doesn't really impact the rotation, he's an intriguing young player. Everything else is pretty much status quo here, and it's interesting to see Naz Reid continue to be productive and a fringe top-100 player in fantasy leagues despite this team being fully healthy and him playing fewer minutes.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Trey Murphy III | 38.6 | 37 | 35.9 |
| Zion Williamson | 30.3 | 30.2 | 28.3 |
| Jordan Poole | 27.2 | 27.5 | 26.1 |
| Derik Queen | 26.7 | 26.3 | 26.6 |
| Bryce McGowens | 26.2 | 25.6 | 25.6 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 24.2 | 24.9 | 24.8 |
| Jose Alvarado | 21.2 | 21 | 20.5 |
| Micah Peavy | 19.2 | 19.1 | 13.6 |
| Yves Missi | 19.1 | 20.2 | 18.5 |
Herbert Jones missed seven games with an ankle and then returned for one game and sat out the second game in a back-to-back. We should expect him to ramp back up in the coming weeks. Trey Murphy III also had a historically good week, which I covered in a video here, but then he sat out the second game in the back-to-back as well, so Bryce McGowen got some extra usage. Saddiq Bey has missed the last four games with a hip injury, but nobody really stepped up to fill his spot. It's really just been Murphy III, Derik Queen, and Zion Williamson. Of course, Dejounte Murray could be back in a week or two, so that could make things interesting.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 32.8 | 33.8 | 35.5 |
| OG Anunoby | 32.6 | 33.4 | 34.3 |
| Mikal Bridges | 31.8 | 33 | 35.1 |
| Miles McBride | 29.8 | 29.2 | 27.4 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 29.1 | 30.2 | 30.1 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 22.7 | 22.7 | 21.6 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 19.8 | 19.4 | 20.8 |
| Tyler Kolek | 15.8 | 16 | 18.9 |
| Josh Hart | — | — | 34.1 |
Josh Hart has missed seven games with an ankle injury, and, boy, does this team need him. In addition to his defense, the team has sorely lacked the toughness and grit that he brings when he's on the court. They did rebound nicely in a win over the Clippers on Wednesday, and it seems that Mike Brown has started to shorten his rotation a bit after the losing streak, which led to fewer minutes for guys like Tyler Kolek and Kevin McCullarJr. We know who the studs are here, and that's unlikely to change.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35.7 | 32.8 | 33.6 |
| Jalen Williams | 34.5 | 29.9 | 30.9 |
| Chet Holmgren | 32.9 | 29.9 | 29.7 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 28.2 | 26.6 | 24.8 |
| Cason Wallace | 24.5 | 22.8 | 24.9 |
| Luguentz Dort | 23.5 | 24.3 | 25.3 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 23 | 23.6 | 19.7 |
| Alex Caruso | 22.4 | 13.9 | 17.1 |
| Isaiah Joe | 14 | 16.3 | 14.8 |
The Thunder are battling a CVS receipt list of injuries, but none of them seem overly serious. Isaiah Hartenstein has missed the last six games with a calf injury, Alex Caruso has missed the last two with a back injury, and Jaylin Williams has been out since December 13th with a heel injury. This team is plenty deep, so they've been able to transfer the minutes around, but, from a fantasy perspective, really only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams can be counted on regularly, with Ajay Mitchell also hanging around as a fringe top-100 player.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Paolo Banchero | 34.4 | 34.6 | 34.9 |
| Desmond Bane | 31.8 | 33.3 | 33.6 |
| Anthony Black | 31.1 | 31.6 | 31.9 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 30.1 | 30.2 | 30.8 |
| Noah Penda | 29.1 | 22.4 | 16.7 |
| Jase Richardson | 26.3 | 17 | 17.9 |
| Tristan da Silva | 24.6 | 22.7 | 24.1 |
| Tyus Jones | 19.6 | 20 | 23.1 |
| Goga Bitadze | 16.7 | 17.1 | 16.6 |
Jalen Suggs returned last week from his hip injury and then suffered a knee injury that will keep him out indefinitely. We've already seen how the Magic disperse their minutes without Suggs, butI covered it in more detail in a video this week.We could also get Franz Wagner back this weekend, so that would be a big boost for the Magic and a big hit to Tristan da Silva's or Jase Richardson's minutes.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 39.4 | 39.7 | 37.6 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 37.1 | 39.4 | 39.2 |
| Paul George | 33.4 | 34.5 | 33.6 |
| Quentin Grimes | 33.2 | 35.2 | 29.6 |
| Joel Embiid | 32.8 | 34.4 | 33.7 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.3 |
| Adem Bona | 17.1 | 16.9 | 17.8 |
| Dominick Barlow | 16.7 | 18.6 | 21.5 |
| Jared McCain | 15.7 | 14.7 | 20.5 |
Kelly Oubre Jr. returned on Wednesday for the first time since November 14th. He played just 20 minutes, but we should expect that number to rise in the coming weeks. With Oubre back, we saw Jared McCain play just 10 minutes, and Quentin Grimes was down to 26, which is a little dip from where he was previously. We should expect those three to siphon some minutes off of each other, but it will be curious to see if Oubre will supplant Dominick Barlow in the starting lineup. Grimes is the only fantasy-relevant player that Oubre would impact, but it's a situation to monitor.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Devin Booker | 33.8 | 32.4 | 32.9 |
| Dillon Brooks | 30.9 | 30.5 | 30.7 |
| Royce O'Neale | 29.7 | 29.2 | 29 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 26.3 | 24.8 | 24.2 |
| Collin Gillespie | 26.3 | 26.4 | 29 |
| Mark Williams | 22.9 | 22.9 | 21.3 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 22.7 | 21.8 | 23.9 |
| Grayson Allen | 21.4 | 21.4 | 21.4 |
| Ryan Dunn | 19.9 | 19.4 | 20.9 |
The Suns are inching closer to getting Jalen Green back from a hamstring injury, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into this team. Collin Gillespie has been a top 75 player in fantasy basketball over the last month, averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals. It would make sense that he loses some minutes when Green returns, but it's really hard to take him off the court. Green's minutes would then have to come at the expense of Jordan Goodwin, who has been solid in a reserve role this season. Grayson Allen also returned for two games after missing 11 games with a knee injury, so the Suns have kept his minutes pretty low for now. We've also seen Dillon Brooks be a fringe top-100 fantasy player without Green on the court. It's hard to see that continuing when Green comes back and soaks up usage.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Toumani Camara | 36.6 | 35.4 | 34.6 |
| Deni Avdija | 35.6 | 35.4 | 37 |
| Donovan Clingan | 32.9 | 29.1 | 30 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 30 | 29.9 | 30.8 |
| Caleb Love | 28 | 28.4 | 28.2 |
| Kris Murray | 26.9 | 26.4 | 27.7 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 21.4 | 22.2 | 21.3 |
| Robert Williams III | 14.9 | 16.2 | 16.9 |
The Blazers have been without Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant for a while now, but both of them could return this weekend. That would take away a lot of the playing time for Caleb Love and move both Siddy Cissoko and Kris Murray back into smaller roles.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Zach LaVine | 36.4 | 36.4 | 36.4 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 31.7 | 31.5 | 33.5 |
| Russell Westbrook | 31.7 | 28.1 | 29.3 |
| Keegan Murray | 29.7 | 31.7 | 33.4 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 28.1 | 30.8 | 30.6 |
| Dennis Schröder | 25.3 | 25.7 | 25.2 |
| Keon Ellis | 21.1 | 21.9 | 18.8 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 18.7 | 19 | 19.4 |
| Nique Clifford | 17.3 | 19.5 | 22.8 |
Keegan Murray will be sidelined for three weeks with a back injury, and the Kings will likely remain without Domantas Sabonis for another two weeks. That will lead to increased playing time for Precious Achiuwa, but the offensive burden is going to be taken on by Zach LaVine, who returned from an ankle injury, Russell Westbrook, and DeMar DeRozan. Maxime Raynaud is playing tons of minutes and is a great story, but he's not a great fantasy asset.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Julian Champagnie | 32.9 | 32 | 27.1 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 32.9 | 33.7 | 33.4 |
| Stephon Castle | 31.4 | 30.9 | 31.4 |
| Harrison Barnes | 27.3 | 25.8 | 26.1 |
| Luke Kornet | 26.4 | 26.1 | 24.8 |
| Keldon Johnson | 26.4 | 27.3 | 24.2 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 23.5 | 23.6 | 24.5 |
| Dylan Harper | 20.3 | 21.3 | 20.9 |
Devin Vassell has missed five games with an oblique injury, which has led to Julian Champagnie getting plenty more run, including a tremendous performance against the Knicks on New Year's Eve. Victor Wembanyama is still having his minutes monitored, but he's been productive, and the Spurs are winning, so we may have to assume that continues, which is why Luke Kornet continues to see solid minutes. More minutes than Dylan Harper, who has clearly taken a backseat in the Spurs' trio of talented guards.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Scottie Barnes | 32.7 | 33.7 | 34.3 |
| RJ Barrett | 32.2 | 30.2 | 28.9 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 32.1 | 31.1 | 32.5 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 29.8 | 28.1 | 25.8 |
| Brandon Ingram | 26.5 | 30 | 32 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 26.4 | 22.9 | 24.6 |
| Jamal Shead | 18.7 | 21.2 | 21.7 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 16 | 19 | 20.4 |
We now have five games with RJ Barrett back from his knee injury, so it's clear how this Raptors' rotation is shaking out. Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Ochai Agbaji have seen their minutes decrease while Collin Murray-Boyles continues to play good minutes and has actually been a borderline top 100 fantasy player over the last two weeks. That could also be due to the Raptors being cautious with Jakob Poeltl's back. Barrett has settled in, averaging 20.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in his five games back, and both he and Immanuel Quickley remain top-75 fantasy assets alongside Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, who should be an All-Star.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 38.7 | 38.6 | 37.6 |
| Keyonte George | 37.4 | 37.6 | 36.7 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 31.7 | 32.4 | 30.1 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 27.3 | 30.6 | 28.2 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 24.9 | 24.6 | 22.4 |
| Kevin Love | 24.3 | 24.3 | 25.2 |
| Isaiah Collier | 23.3 | 26.2 | 25.4 |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | 18.9 | 21.6 | 17.9 |
| Taylor Hendricks | 15.1 | 15.8 | 15.1 |
Not much to see with this Utah team. Ace Bailey returned after missing five games with a hip injury, but he will likely take a while to have his minutes ramped up. Jusuf Nurkić has been a real asset for the Jazz lately, and this team is feisty. I recorded a video this week covering Nurkić and also the Jazz conundrum about whether to tank or risk losing their first-round pick.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| CJ McCollum | 30.2 | 31 | 31.4 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 29.9 | 28.8 | 27.6 |
| Bub Carrington | 29.3 | 27.6 | 26.9 |
| Alex Sarr | 27.9 | 28.1 | 26.7 |
| Tre Johnson | 25.8 | 26.8 | 25.1 |
| Justin Champagnie | 21.9 | 24.6 | 23.7 |
| Khris Middleton | 20.2 | 21.5 | 21.4 |
| Corey Kispert | 18.3 | 18.3 | 15.9 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 15.8 | 16.8 | 18.9 |
This Wizards situation could change drastically after the Trae Young trade. My colleague Raphielle Johnson covered all angles of that trade in an article this week.
Despite deep CFP run, Ole Miss lacks NFL Draft prospects
It is quite likely that nobody from Ole Miss will hear their name called until day three of the NFL draft. Yet here they are, CFP semifinalists
Doug Christie's Kings job reportedly ‘safe' despite historically bad start
Doug Christie's Kings job reportedly ‘safe' despite historically bad start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
While the Kings have plenty of questions just 37 games into the 2025-26 NBA season, whether or not coach Doug Christie is on the hot seat reportedly isn’t one of them.
Despite the team’s historically bad start, Christie’s job with the Kings is “safe,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported in a story published Wednesday, citing team sources.
Sacramento has an 8-29 record — tied for worst start in franchise history with only the 2008-09 Kings and the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals — and most recently dropped a game against the Dallas Mavericks in which they led for the majority of the 48 minutes.
Kings general manager Scott Perry and Christie have been on the same page since day one when Christie listened to Perry’s introductory press conference and said he “sounds like me.”
The first-year coach took over for Mike Brown after he was fired in December of 2024 following a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 season and went on to finish 27-24 on the year as interim head coach.
His tenure began with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers followed by a seven-game win streak that propelled the team to 20-19 on the year.
He officially was hired as head coach in May of 2025 and, so far this season, has struggled with the assignment — not to mention questions surrounding the benching of two key players: Keon Ellis, who many consider the team’s second best defender behind Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk, who has proven to be a significant boost off the bench and has said being benched “confused” him.
Additionally, Christie and the Kings have dealt with a string of injuries to key starters with Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine all missing at least 12 games on the year.
The trio, all starters on the team’s roster, has yet to play a game together this season all while Sacramento has used 18 different starting lineups – third-most in the league.
Christie, who had plenty of ties to the team before being named head coach, has been a part of Kings history for over two decades.
The 55-year-old played for the Kings from 2000-05 under Rick Adelman and earned four NBA All-Defensive nods during that time. He then went on to work for NBC Sports California as a color analyst before finally landing on the Kings’ bench as an assistant coach in 2021.
Christie became the team’s 13th head coach since 2006 – the year Adelman was fired by Sacramento – when he was hired by Perry and owner Vivek Ranadive.
Now less than half a season through his first year at the helm, the Kings — who are the third-oldest team in the league — are still searching for an identity. While the seat may not currently be hot for Christie, if history is any indication, that could change in the near future.
Vancouver Canucks Gameday Preview #43: Looking For Win One Of 2026 Against The Red Wings
In the second game of a six-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks (16–21–5) head to Detroit to take on the Detroit Red Wings in their second matchup of the season. Last time, Vancouver fell to Detroit by a score of 4–0 on home-ice. The Canucks haven’t fared much better since, as their last game featured a late comeback stymied by a confident Buffalo Sabres team that handed them a 5–3 loss. Detroit is coming off a 5–3 victory against the Ottawa Senators on Monday. Vancouver still has yet to register their first win of 2026.
A common theme for the Canucks throughout the season has been the effort level, which, oftentimes, has seen this team look competitive in games they really had no business being competitive in. Still, somehow, Vancouver has ended up losing the majority of games in which they’ve outshot their opponents, the most recent being Tuesday’s loss to the Sabres during which shots were 37–20 for the Canucks.
Vancouver’s power play has been a talking point as of late, as they’ve scored four goals since the start of 2026. While they did allow a shorthanded goal against on Tuesday, for the most part, the power play has been clicking for many of their opportunities. During each of their matches against the Boston Bruins on Saturday and the Sabres on Tuesday, Vancouver logged 12 shots on goal while on the man-advantage. Dating back to their December 30 game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the lowest number of scoring chances-for the team has logged while on the power play has been seven. With Detroit’s penalty kill clicking at a respectable rate of 80.7%, Vancouver will want to continue their power play streak heading into tonight’s game.
As it stands, the Canucks’ lines could get pretty blended up tonight, as the team iced some interesting combinations during their practice on Wednesday. These included combinations like Jake DeBrusk with Aatu Räty and Drew O’Connor, Evander Kane with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, and Nils Höglander with David Kämpf and Kiefer Sherwood. With that being said, Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote noted not to look too deeply into these practice lines, so these may not be the combinations iced come puck drop.
Players To Watch:
Jake DeBrusk
Throughout his NHL career, DeBrusk has averaged a point per game against the Red Wings, scoring six goals and four assists in 10 games. This includes his second-career hat trick, which he recorded on December 1 of 2024 against Detroit. The forward has been playing well since being healthy-scratched on December 28, having registered two goals and two assists in his past three games. He’ll look to increase this total tonight, whether that’s alongside the impressive trio of himself, Pettersson, and Linus Karlsson, or a new set of linemates.
Lucas Raymond
Detroit’s leading points-getter, Raymond had one assist during the Canucks and Red Wings’ last matchup back on December 8. The skilled forward currently has a goal and three assists in his last five games and put up four multi-point games throughout December. Raymond swapped lines during his team’s last game, joining J.T. Compher and James Van Riemsdyk on the third line. While it’s unknown whether or not this line will stay together heading into tonight’s matchup, all three members of this trio ended up on the scoresheet in their last game.
Vancouver Canucks (16–21–5):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 11–15–26
Filip Hronek: 3–23–26
Kiefer Sherwood: 17–5–22
Conor Garland: 7–15–22
Jake DeBrusk: 11–10–21
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–9–1
Kevin Lankinen: 6–10–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 2-1-0
Jiří Patera: 0-1-0
Detroit Red Wings (25–15–4):
Points:
Lucas Raymond: 12–33–45
Alex DeBrincat: 22–21–43
Dylan Larkin: 22–17–39
Moritz Seider: 7–24–31
Patrick Kane: 6–18–24
Goaltenders:
John Gibson: 14–9–1
Cam Talbot: 11–6–3
Game Information:
Start time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Little Caesars Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
13 Former Canucks Taking Part In 2026 Winter Olympics
Playoffs? Why The Post-Season Is Not A Reality For The 2025-26 Vancouver Canucks
Canucks’ Lukas Reichel To Represent Germany At 2026 Winter Olympics
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Juventus deliver tale of humiliation and redemption inside three days | Nicky Bandini
On Saturday, Jonathan David’s lazy penalty cost Juventus a win. By Tuesday, he was the best player on the pitch
Four years have passed since Andrea Agnelli, still the chairman of the European Club Association and president of Juventus back then, floated the idea of selling 15-minute viewing subscriptions for football games. A response to research showing that younger generations – “tomorrow’s spenders” – had shorter attention spans.
Agnelli’s judgement has been called into question a few times since, between the failed launch of a European Super League and his suspension from Italian football following an investigation into financial irregularities at Juventus. But perhaps he was right about the need to serve modern audiences a faster fix of sporting theatre.
Continue reading...Columbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (48 pts) Game Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 10 PM.
Vegas Golden Knights - 18-11-12 - 48 Points - 2-5-3 in the last 10 - 1st in the Pacific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 18-17-7 - 43 Points - 5-4-1 in the last 10 - 8th in the Metro
Blue Jackets Stats
- Power Play - 17.9% - 20th in the NHL
- Penalty Kill - 76.0% - 29th in the NHL
- Goals For - 125 - 21st in the NHL
- Goals Against - 141 - 25th in the NHL
Golden Knights Stats
- Power Play - 25.2% - 5th in the NHL
- Penalty Kill - 81.8% - 8th in the NHL
- Goals For - 127 - 19th in the NHL
- Goals Against - 124 - 11th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheGolden Knights
- Columbus is 7-7-1 all-time, and 3-4-0 on the road in Vegas.
- The home team is 5-2-2 in the last 9 games of the series.
- Columbus lost 3-2 at NWA back on December 13th.
Who To Watch For TheGolden Knights
- Tomáš Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev lead the team with 16 goals
- Mitch Marner leads the VGK with 33 assists.
- Akira Schmid is 11-4-5 with a SV% of .894.
- Carter Hart is 5-3-3 with a SV% of .874
CBJ Player Notes vs.Golden Knights
- Zach Werenski has 9 points in 13 career games against Vegas.
- Boone Jenner has 4 points in 13 games.
- Charlie Coyle has 12 points in 16 games against the Golden Knights.
Injuries
- Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 34 Games - IR - No timeline for a return.
- Isac Lundeström - Lower Body - Missed 6 Games - IR
- Miles Wood - Lower Body - Missed 3 Games - IR - Week-to-week.
- Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 4 Game IR - Week to week.
- Mason Marchment - Upper Body - Missed 1 Game - Week to week.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 100
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 The Bus, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
***Simulcasted on CW Columbus, WUAB in Cleveland, WXIX in Cincinnati, WZCD in Dayton, WQCW in Charleston/Huntington, WV, WKYT in Lexington, KY and WAVE in Louisville, KY
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Islanders Matthew Schaefer Appears In Commercial For Tom Brady's NOBULL Apparel Brand
New York Islanders' No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer's meteoric rise in the National Hockey League media landscape took another step forward on Wednesday.
After being called out by National Football League icon Tom Brady to represent his NOBULL clothing brand, the defenseman appeared in a commercial featuring various NHL stars.
Here is the 30-second @nobull ad featuring their newest signee, Matthew Schaefer #Islespic.twitter.com/eFfOTAEQTk
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 8, 2026
The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback acquired No Bull in a merger with his nutrition and apparel brands in Jan. 2024. Today, the company sells apparel and footwear and has collaborated with various leagues and teams. The NHL announced a partnership with the company in October, making NOBULL the league's official footwear partner.
As the brand looks to grow its image with NHL players and teams, Brady was asked on Sunday which NHL player he would sign if given the opportunity.
His answer was the first-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. He received high praise from Brady, drawing comparisons to his "eye of the tiger" mentality from his playing days.
Schaefer was asked about it two days later, saying he had a FaceTime with Brady, resulting in him signing on with the brand.
#Isles Matthew Schaefer said he is signed to @nobull, @TomBrady’s brand.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) January 6, 2026
Said he face-timed with Brady.
Matthew Schaefer On Talking With Tom Brady, Playing Through Illness & His Hockey Night In Canada DebutMatthew Schaefer has signed with Tom Brady's brand, NOBULL."I’m super honored to be a part of what they’ve got going on, especially with Tom involved," Schaefer said Tuesday. "I didn’t grow up watching a ton of football, but of course, I knew who Tom Brady was. Everyone did. He was the GOAT. It was pretty special to talk to him and hear from someone I’ve looked up to.”
The partnership comes during Schaefer's historic start to his NHL career. The defenseman has 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 43 games, sitting right in the thick of Calder Trophy talks for the league's rookie of the year.
Schaefer and the Islanders return to action on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, with puck drop scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
Panthers continue road trip with stop in Montreal looking to avoid losing ground in playoff race
The Florida Panthers will look to bounce back from a rough start to their season-long road trip when they suit up on Thursday night in Montreal.
Fresh off a frustrating 4-1 defeat in Toronto two nights ago, the Panthers will try to avoid losing more ground in the Atlantic Division when they face the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Center.
Entering play Thursday, Florida holds 47 points, which put them two points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card spot and seven points behind Montreal and Detroit, who sit in second and third in the division with 54 points apiece.
The Cats received a bit of a scare on Tuesday when star forward and leading scorer Brad Marchand did not finish the game against the Maple Leafs.
After playing the first two periods, Marchand did not come out for the third, leading to speculation and fear from fans that he would join Florida’s extended list of injured players.
Fortunately, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after the game that the decision to hold Marchand out of the final frame was his, not medical staff, adding that Marchand had been battling an injury and he help him out to keep it from getting any worse.
Will that injury keep Marchand out on Thursday in Montreal? The hope is that it will not, but we won’t know for sure until after Florida’s morning skate.
It’s an optional skate, so judging by the attendance on the ice won’t be a solid metric. We’ll have to see what Maurice says when he addresses the media afterwards.
As for the Canadiens, they will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating Calgary 4-1 on Wednesday.
The win was Montreal’s fourth in five games. They’ve gone 9-2-3 since early December, taking them from two points out of a playoff spot to second place in the division and six points clear of Buffalo, the first team out of the playoffs.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s matchup with Montreal:
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand
Mackie Samoskevich – Evan Rodrigues – A.J. Greer
Jesper Boqvist – Luke Kunin – Jack Studnicka
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Uvis Balinskis
Donovan Sebrango – Jeff Petry
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Panthers Linked To Blues' Right-Handed Veteran Defenseman
Panthers open road trip with 4-1 loss to Toronto
Panthers' Sam Bennett Reveals That He Is A Potential Injury Replacement For Canada's Olympic Roster
Matthew Tkachuk sheds non-contact jersey, joins Panthers for morning skate in Toronto
Photo caption: Dec 30, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) moves the puck against d71 during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Canadiens Beat Flames In Dominant Fashion
The Montreal Canadiens hadn’t played at the Bell Centre since December 20, when they blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. On Wednesday night, they gave the fans exactly what they wanted to see: a convincing win against a struggling Calgary Flames side. In front of a packed arena, Martin St-Louis’ men gave a full 60-minute effort, and the outcome was never really in doubt.
Although it should have been Jakub Dobes’ turn to play if St-Louis stuck with the alternance system, it was Jacob Fowler who was manning the Canadiens’ net. The way he played won’t make it easy for the team to send him back to the Laval Rocket eventually. Calm, cool and collected, he looks like a veteran in net. He oozes confidence, and it’s evident that his teammates are just as confident when he’s between the posts.
NHL Rumors: Canadiens Goalie Makes New Trade Board
Canadiens’ Hutson Excels In Puck Possession
Canadiens: Taking On The Struggling Flames
Team USA’s Loss
Watching Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield play in this game, it was hard to fathom that Team USA had decided to leave them both at home for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. When the diminutive sniper was asked about missing the tournament on Wednesday morning, he simply replied, “It sucks.”
Caufield once again showcased how talented he was when he scored the fourth goal of the game. He caught the puck at waist level, slapped it down on the ice and beat Dustin Wolf with a perfect shot in the top corner, sending Habs fans to their feet.
Cole (missile) Caufield 🚀
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 8, 2026
Comin' in HOT#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/zmToaGfX13
As for Hutson, he scored for a second game in a row, and since his goal was the game-winning one, he tied P.K. Subban and Peter Svoboda for the second most game-winning goals in a season by a Canadiens’ defenseman aged 21 or under with three. That was his eighth goal of the season; he’s already eclipsed the goal total from his rookie season, which was six, and he still has half a season to go.
The defenseman also led the team in shots blocked tonight with five, and he even outmuscled Mackenzie Weegar in a one-on-one battle. The Flames blueliner has three inches and 44 pounds on him. The 21-year-old rearguard doesn’t get near enough credit for his defensive game.
No Place Like Home
Tonight marked Phillip Danault’s (second) first home game with the Canadiens, and he had an incredible game. No forward had more time on the ice for the Habs than he did, with 11 minutes and 22 seconds and at the faceoff dot, he pulled off a fantastic performance, winning 87% of his draws and collecting the primary assist on Hutson’s goal.
In seven games with the Habs, he has three points, while he had just five in 30 games with the Los Angeles Kings. The last time the centerman had played for the Sainte-Flanelle at the Bell Center, there were only 10,000 fans in the stands because of COVID-19 restrictions. Tonight, it was a packed house, and the Victoriaville native called the atmosphere electric. It’s hard not to agree, given the fact that in the final frame, there was a wave going around the building during a whole TV timeout, and the noise was deafening.
Speaking after the game, Danault said that the Bell Centre was on a whole other level compared to other buildings around the league, home sweet home, as they say.
A Flying Frenchman
Alexandre Texier probably didn’t think he would end up on a line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield when he signed with the Canadiens, and chances are, he wouldn’t have been if there weren’t as many injuries, but he’s making the most of the incredible opportunity he has.
Set to represent France at the upcoming Olympics, the Frenchman had the first three-point game of his career and became just the third French player to reach 100-career points in the NHL after Antoine Roussel and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
He showed some incredible hands in the second frame when he beat Dustin Wolf up high near post on the doorstep to get the Canadiens’ first goal of the game, and he added assists on both Hutson’s and Suzuki’s goals.
His three-point effort earned him the first star of the game, and he was literally beaming with pride when Marc Denis interviewed him at centre ice.
While everything went well on the ice for the Canadiens tonight, the same cannot be said off the ice. Before the game, Kirby Dach was seen wearing a walking boot on his injured foot, indicating he is behind schedule in his recovery. The situation must be unbearable for the forward who is currently playing the last year of the three-season bridge deal he signed when the Habs first acquired him. It feels like he hasn’t really had the time to show what he can do, and there’s no doubt that it must play on his mind. As for Josh Anderson, the team confirmed he has an upper-body injury but couldn’t provide a timetable for his return.
Montreal won’t have much time to celebrate this win, as it faces the Florida Panthers for the second time in as many weeks on Thursday night.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here.