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Sixers Bell Ringer: Embiid’s 38 points, Maxey’s 22 not enough to overcome Knicks

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 18
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Joel Embiid – 5
Paul George – 5
Andre Drummond – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Philadelphia 76ers fell in dramatic fashion (of course) 112-109 to the visiting New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon.

It was a tale of two halves this afternoon. The first featured a dominant 28-point performance from Joel Embiid on 12 shots that helped lead the Sixers to a slight advantage by halftime.

The second half… not so fun for Philly. The Sixers put up their worst period since Jan. 2, 2024, scoring just 13 points in the frame compared to the Knicks’ 30. Philadelphia started the fourth just as cold and it seemed like the game might already be over before a late push pulled them back within single digits. It was too little, too late, though. After a wild final minute (that felt like it took 20 minutes real time), the Knicks walked away with a 112-109 victory over the Sixers.

The Sixers will now fly out of Philly (before the snowstorm arrives) to visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening.

Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer. Not many choices from this one.

Joel Embiid: 38 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block

Embiid was coming off a triple-double performance in the Sixers’ overtime win over the Houston Rockets just a few days ago. Having played nearly 46 minutes in that Thursday evening contest, just the fact that Embiid was available for this one was great to see.

The fatigue didn’t seem to bother him much. Instead, we got vintage Joel to start this one.

I’ll be honest, there was a time I didn’t know if we’d ever see the big fella do that again.

Embiid did a lot more than that, though, leading the Sixers right out of the gate with a field-leading 15 points in the opening frame on 5-for-7 field goal shooting in his first 10 minutes. The Knicks could not slow him down. Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns… it didn’t seem to matter who they tried to put on him, Embiid simply was unstoppable. By halftime, he had 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the floor. Let me say that again: he had 28 points by halftime, on 12 shots, less than 48 hours after playing 46 minutes.

The big fella did seem to slow down in the second half (along with the entire Sixers’ squad) and was dealing with some pain after New York’s Ariel Hukporti landed on Embiid’s knee battling for a ball on the floor. He kept battling, though, leading the Sixers’ late charge to pull back within single digits of the Knicks in the final frame. Embiid finished the contest with 38 points (13-for-21 field goals, 3-for-5 from three) with 11 rebounds, five assists and one block.

Embiid may not be the same guy he was a few seasons ago health-wise, but damn if he isn’t making it work anyway. He’s moving well, hitting silky-smooth jumpers, getting up for boards and defense, and clearly isn’t shy or worried about using his body to drive hard to the rim. It’s all extremely encouraging to see. Now, if only the rest of the squad could figure some things out…

Tyrese Maxey: 22 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

There were definitely times in this one that it seemed like fatigue and frustration were getting the better of Tyrese Maxey, but he kept battling and was a driving force in the Sixers’ last game push to try to come from behind. It was also his best night from long range in about two weeks, sinking 3-of-7 attempts (42.9%) from beyond the arc. He was 8-for-15 from the floor overall and had six assists. Maxey was able to maneuver through the Knicks defense into the paint and was hitting some nice pull-ups.

This wasn’t the best Maxey game overall, we can be honest about that. That being said, he was the only other real scoring threat the Sixers had in this one besides Embiid. With Embiid putting up 38 and Maxey adding 22, the duo combined for 55% of the Sixers’ 109 total points.

(No, this doesn’t mean I like Maxey forcing up that last three-point attempt even if the Knicks were trying to intentionally foul. It’s too risky of a move to rely on the whistle and there was enough time to just try to get a better shot.)

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Question Marks: Can Boston close the back-to-back against the Bulls?

The Celtics roll into Chicago looking to extend a winning rhythm, but the Bulls are in a groove as well. Boston had to dig deep last night, and they’ll have to again on the second half of a back-to-back. Fatigue may be a factor, but the Celtics have a key contributor returning. Here are three questions that could decide the outcome.

Can the Celtics survive a short turnaround against the Bulls?

Boston was put to the test all night by Brooklyn, and had just enough left in the tank to pull off a gutsy win. After a double-overtime finish and a late-night flight to Chicago, the Celtics haven’t had much time to recharge ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Bulls.

Chicago, meanwhile, enters well-rested and riding a three-game winning streak. They most recently handled Minnesota behind a balanced effort that saw seven players reach double figures.

Brooklyn’s size and switchability posed problems for Boston, but Chicago presents a different challenge. The Bulls lack the same positional versatility, which should allow the Celtics to generate and punish switches more easily. The concern lies on the other end.

Chicago plays fast. They rank fourth in pace and average the second-most transition possessions per game — a recipe that could expose tired legs if this game stays close late.

This puts a premium on execution. If Boston can control turnovers and get into its half-court offense, they’ll limit Chicago’s ability to run, and force the Bulls to score against a set defense.

The good news? Derrick White is back.

Can Derrick White’s return slow down the Bulls’ fast break?

The weather is unusually cold — and so is Derrick White’s jumper lately.

After a slow start to the season, White found his rhythm, before slipping back into another brief efficiency dip. It’s a familiar pattern, and one that prompted Joe Mazzulla to give him the night off against Brooklyn.

His return against Chicago comes at an ideal moment. White’s defensive versatility and off-ball activity could be critical against a Bulls team that thrives in transition, particularly when it comes to slowing his namesake, Coby White. With extra rest, he may also be better positioned to shoulder a larger load if others begin to fade.

There’s no long-term concern with one of the league’s most reliable shooters. If anything, this feels like a natural spot for a course correction.

Will Amari Williams get more minutes after his strong performance?

Amari Williams had arguably the most encouraging five-minute stint one could imagine against the Nets.

With Neemias Queta and Luka Garza fouled out, it was Amari Williams who stepped up with the game on the line. His size and defensive impact were huge, but more importantly, he looked like he belonged.

Getting thrown into the fire of double overtime is a big ask for a rookie two-way center. He handled it extremely well, and effectively iced the game with some excellent rim protection.

Mazzulla has consistently rewarded young players who impact games, and Williams may have earned himself a longer look. While his development is primarily happening in Maine, there’s value in giving him NBA reps — something he’s handled well each time so far.

With Queta still dealing with illness and listed as probable, tonight presents another opportunity. Like White, Williams could help Boston manage the physical toll of a short turnaround.

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Report: José Ramírez agrees to 7-year, $175-million extension with Guardians

All-star third baseman and American League MVP finalist José Ramírez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million deal to remain with the Cleveland Guardians, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.

The 33-year old native of the Dominican Republic has played his entire 13-year, big league career in Cleveland. He was signed through the 2028 season. He had three years and $69 million remaining on the extension he signed in 2022, but will now average $25 million over the next seven years.

The extension also includes a no-trade clause and performance bonuses related to his finish in MVP balloting. Ramírez has finished in the top five six times. He was third last year and fifth in 2024.

Cleveland has reached the postseason eight times since Ramírez was called up to the majors in 2013, including losing in seven games to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series. The Guardians have won the AL Central the past two seasons.

Ramírez became the first player in franchise history to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases last season and just the second switch-hitter, joining Carlos Beltrán (435 homers, 312 stolen bases). He goes into 2026 with 285 home runs and 287 stolen bases.

Robin Yount, Craig Biggio and Derek Jeter are the only other players to accomplish the 250-250 feat with only one team.

The seven-time, AL all-star had a career-high 44 stolen bases last season and became the fourth player in MLB history with multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 40 steals. He had a .283 batting average, including a career-long 21-game hit streak from May 6-28.

Ramírez is also the franchise leader in extra base hits with 726 and 27 multi-homer games. He is second in home runs and RBIs (949).

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NHL Trade Rumors: Sabres Should Target Rangers D-Man

The Buffalo Sabres currently hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they looked to add to their roster between now and the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

One area the Sabres could look to address is the right side of their blueline. When looking at potential trade candidates who could be a nice fit on their roster, New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider stands out.

Schneider is among the several Rangers players who have been in the rumor mill since Blueshirts GM Chris Drury confirmed in a letter to fans that the team is rebuilding. With this, the Sabres should consider making a push for the right-shot defenseman.

If the Sabres brought in Schneider, he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to the Sabres' bottom pairing. He would also offer them another option for their penalty kill. 

Another appealing factor about Schneider is that he still has the potential to improve, as he is still just 24 years old. Furthermore, the 6-foot-4 defenseman would also give the Sabres' blueline a bit more bite, as he plays a heavy game. 

In 52 games so far this season with the Rangers, Schneider has posted two goals, eight assists, 10 points, 83 blocks, and 115 hits. 

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Fournier, Roberson score 19 points each and No. 21 Duke women rout Pitt for 11th straight win

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Toby Fournier scored 19 points, reserve Arianna Roberson had 19 points in a double-double and No. 21 Duke overwhelmed Pittsburgh 95-41 on Saturday for the Blue Devils' 11th straight win.

Roberson, a freshman, was 9-of-15 shooting and matched her high of 12 rebounds for her first double-double. Riley Nelson also posted her first double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Delaney Thomas scored 16 points and Taina Mair added 12 for the Blue Devils (14-6, 9-0 ACC), who share first place with No. 8 Louisville.

Mikayla Johnson led the Panthers (8-14, 1-7) with 15 points.

Duke scored the first seven points of the game and Pittsburgh's first made basket came with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. Duke led 9-4 at that point then made 6 of 8 shots to finish the quarter. The Blue Devils led 22-8 after one.

Duke shot 68% in the second quarter and finished the half on a 19-4 run, building a 51-16 halftime lead.

Duke led 66-20 midway through the third quarter before Pitt scored back-to-back baskets for the first time. The Panthers scored 14 points in the third, their first quarter with double-digit scoring. Duke led 76-30 at the end of three.

The lead peaked at 85-30 after the Blue Devils scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter.

The 11 consecutive wins match Duke's longest under coach Kara Lawson, also accomplished in the 2022-23 season.

The game was moved from Sunday to Saturday because of the severe winter storm in the south and east.

Up next

Duke: at Miami on Thursday

Pittsburgh: at Virginia Tech on Thursday ___

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Postgame: Scenes from NY gutting it out in Philly

In today’s matinee, the Knicks (27*-18) absorbed a Joel Embiid onslaught, survived cold shooting from the wings, and steadied themselves just enough in the final seconds to leave Philadelphia with a 112–109 win, holding off the 76ers (24-20) after nearly squandering a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.

Through the first quarter, New York mostly controlled the flow but never created separation. They relied on Brunson, Towns, and McBride to build modest leads, but never more than six points. Before the game, Towns was questionable to play due to back spasms. Numerous times this afternoon, he seemed to aggravate the problem. Off the bench, Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection and physicality made him the only effective deterrent to Embiid.

In a tightly contested frame, Maxey and Embiid consistently erased any ground the visitors gained. When McBride drilled a late three, Maxey answered with some freebies, and the quarter ended with a 34-34 deadlock.

The home team seized control in the second quarter. Maxey bent the defense at the point of attack. Embiid gradually thundered into the lane, benefiting from his strength, footwork, and friendly whistles. For our heroes, Anunoby emerged as an offensive presence, cutting and finishing with concentrated energy, but Towns was unable to slow Embiid. By the break, the Knicks were on the wrong side of 64-60.

Through the half, New York dominated the glass (25–14) and crushed the offensive boards (10–1). The Sixers, meanwhile, were ruthless when they got looks, shooting 65% overall, won the paint 30-22, and moved the ball well enough to offset the rebounding deficit. Embiid’s highest scoring first-half of the season ended with a game-high 28 points. For the Knicks, Brunson posted 19.

In the third quarter, the Knicks showed us what they can do when focused on both ends. Behind efficient scoring and furious defense, they opened the second half with a 14-4 run. Philly’s Embiid looked bedraggled after his extraordinary first half, so perhaps the coronation by the ABC halftime panel was a tad premature.

When Shamet slipped through for a backdoor layup, the Knicks had outscored Philly 21-7 and taken a 10-point lead, their largest yet. A little later, Deuce hit a jumper to make the score 88-74. With steals, blocks, rebounds, and forced turnovers—and Karl-Anthony Towns benched for most of the quarter due to foul trouble—the Knicks held the home team to just 13 points in the frame. (Yep, 13.) With the wind in their sails, New York gleefully embarked into the fourth with a 90-77 advantage.

Early in the fourth, Embiid went down, grabbing his leg, but remained in the game. His gait was gimpy, Joel had scored zilch in Q3, and missed two free throws before gingerly hitting a triple around the eight-minute mark of Q4. The big fella spurred an eight-point run to cut into New York’s 17-point lead, but you could just tell he was already fantasizing about that postgame ice bath. By game’s end, he’d have 38 points, 11 boards, and five assists.

Good luck keeping a lead in today’s NBA when two of your players (Bridges, McBride) each shoot 1-of-8 from downtown. Bridges was terrible, hurting his team by missing dead-on bunnies and, at one point, shooting 3-of-16 from the floor. Captain Clutch sizzled from deep (6-of-12) but was the only Knick with more than one made three-pointer. Nonetheless, they looked like the better team. Worried about the playoffs? Not us, not yet. (Brunson would finish with 31 points on 11-of-24 FG.)

At the midway point, Towns fouled out. Blame the bad back, but that’s six fouls in 16 minutes to go with his 10 points and six boards. Lucky for New York, Robinson was playing like a spring chicken, grabbing every possible offensive rebound. Philly had some juice, though, with Kelly “Sideshow Bob” Oubre, Jr. and OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes pitching in to cut the differential to five with five minutes left.

With two minutes left, Embiid scored to make the score 102-99. Anunoby (the wing who was shooting well) made a tip-in to drive half of the stadium wild. VJ Edgecombe responded with a quick-trigger triple, which set the Philly half of the crowd cheering. OG said Hmph and answered with a triple; then an Embiid miss became a Shamet trey for an eight-point lead with 42 seconds left. The Knicks fans were shaking the building. (Anunoby tallied 23 points on 10-of-15 FG.)

A Maxey triple and two Edgecombe free throws made it a three-point game. In a wild final 30 seconds, Brunson was tagged for an offensive foul, trying to break away from Edgecombe on an inbound. A coach’s challenge overturned the call, giving New York a free throw and possession. Anunoby was fouled and made one of two free throws. Maxey raced down the floor for a layup, cutting the difference to five points with 18 seconds left. Brunson missed two free throws, but Maxey missed on a three-pointer, Shamet wasn’t whistled while trying to commit an intentional foul, and New York escaped with a 112-109 win.

Up Next

My sheet says Matthew Miranda is coming in hot with a recap. As for New York, they will host the Kings of Sacramento on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup win doesn’t count.

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The most interesting things I heard on the Suns’ road trip

As Bright Side’s East Coast Correspondent, I attended the Phoenix Suns’ contests against the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. About halfway through the season, and Jalen Green returning, there was a lot going on for the team. Here are the most interesting things I heard on the trip:

Jordan Ott’s Infatuation with Process:

Against the Knicks, the Suns had six players score in double digits after just four different players scored in the first quarter. I asked Ott about the stat and he didn’t hold back:

Question: In the First quarter you had four players score a basket and then by the time ended you guys had six players in double-digits. What was the shift after the first quarter with the ball movement?

Answer: I try not to just look at the scoreboard, I don’t think that’s 2026 coaching. There’s too much data out there. There’s too much data, what the quality of shots were getting. I did feel from the middle of the first on, our process was starting to get right, and again, we’re gonna shoot threes, that’s what were gonna do. It’s hard for us to get to the rim at times. We’re gonna try and play as fast as we can, especially, into an action as fast as we can, so we play a lot of pick-and-roll. When that starts to get right and we’re starting to find some high quality shots, whether they go in or not, we trust that that process is right.

After the Suns got down early in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix went on a 38-18 run to close the quarter which gave them a cushion when the 76ers rallied late. Ott said that their process was a huge part of what helped them go on their huge run.

Jalen Green on Traveling with the Team While Hurt:

Green spent a lot of time with the Suns while injured, traveling throughout the country with the team. After his first game, he spoke about the impact that it had on his recovery. Green was out more than two months with a hamstring strain.

Devin Booker on the Importance of Having Depth:

In the Suns’ 116-110 win over Philly, Phoenix’s bench and starters scored the same amount, 58 each. I asked Booker about the team’s depth after the game, and he talked about the importance of having a strong rotation.

In his first two games back, Green has come off the bench. It’s yet to be seen if he will stay with the second unit as he gets healthier.

Royce O’Neale’s Comfort in Jordan Ott’s System

Royce O’Neale is having the best season of his career. Averaging the most points of his career, O’Neale has 29 games this season with three or more made threes. On Tuesday, when he turned 29, he was tied for the most in the NBA this season. I asked after the game what that meant about how comfortable he is in Phoenix, and gave credit to his teammates and his hard work.

Jordan Ott on Dillon Brooks’ Shooting Slump

Once again, Ott’s infatuation with process leaves him confident in his players. After a few poor shooting nights, he wasn’t surprised to see Dillon Brooks hit six triples against the Nets because of the work he puts in.

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Yu Darvish addresses retirement rumors as he leans toward ‘voiding’ his Padres contract

Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres returns to the dugout during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday, October 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres returns to the dugout during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday, October 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Yu Darvish is hanging up his cleats — or is he?

The Japanese right-hander reportedly told the Padres that he was retiring after 13 big league seasons, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The news came as a bit of shock, considering that he would be leaving the game with three years and $43 million left on the six-year, $108 million extension he signed with San Diego in 2023.

The Union-Tribune’s report was quickly refuted by Darvish’s agent, Joel Wolfe, who told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that his client’s days in the majors might not actually be over. 

Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox September 30, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Getty Images

“Yu has not made a final decision yet,” Wolfe said, per Feinsand. “This is a complicated matter we are still working through.”

Not long after, Darvish shot down the retirement talk himself, taking to X to set his story straight.

“You may have seen an article, and although I am leaning towards voiding the contract, there’s still a lot that has to be talked over with the Padres so the finer details are yet to be decided,” he wrote. “Also I will not be announcing my retirement yet.

“Right now I am fully focused on my rehab for my elbow, and if I get to a point where I can throw again, I will start from scratch again to compete. If once I get to that point I feel I can’t do that, I will announce my retirement.”

Darvish appeared to tell the Union-Tribune that he was OK with walking away from the $43 million he’s still owed by the Padres. 

“As far as leaving lots of money,” Darvish said, according to the outlet, “I look at it as that was never mine to begin with, especially considering the money I haven’t physically earned yet.”

Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres returns to the dugout during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday, October 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. MLB Photos via Getty Images

In December, Darvish appeared uncertain if he would pitch again in the majors. 

“I’m not necessarily thinking about really pitching, as I go through this rehab process right now,” Darvish said, per MLB.com. “I don’t have that in my mind. I’m just trying to just rehab my arm right now. If I get the urge to come back, if I feel that I can stand on the mound and come back, then I will go for that. But I’ll just leave it there for now.”

Retirement or not, baseball fans won’t be seeing Darvish in 2026 after the 39-year-old underwent UCL brace surgery on his throwing arm in November, sidelining him for the entire season.

If Darvish does retire — or at stop pitching in MLB at the very least — it would mark the end of one of the most iconic Japanese-born pitchers there’s ever been to pitch stateside.

San Diego Padres’ Yu Darvish leaves the game during the second inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Chicago. AP

Since debuting in 2012 with the Rangers, Darvish has made five All-Star teams and received Cy Young votes in four different seasons, finishing as high as second twice, including his second season in the majors when he led all of baseball with 277 strikeouts in 2013.

He’s registered 115 career wins in stints with the Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs and Padres, and has the most strikeouts by a Japanese-born pitcher in MLB history.

Darvish was limited by injuries in 2025 and didn’t debut until early July after dealing with elbow inflammation during the first half.

In 72 innings for San Diego, Darvish went 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA and 68 strikeouts across 15 starts. 

In the series-deciding Game 3 of the wild-card round against the Cubs, Darvish started and tossed just one frame, giving up four hits and two runs during the 3-1 loss.

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Kugel leads hot-shooting UCF to first win in Boulder, beating Colorado 95-86

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Riley Kugel scored 22 points with the help of six 3-pointers and Themus Fulks scored 19 points and UCF beat Colorado 95-86 on Saturday to earn its first-ever win over the Buffaloes in Boulder.

Jamichael Stillwell scored 15 points and reserves Devan Cambridge and Chris Johnson scored 11 and 10 respectively for the Knights (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) who shot a blistering 61% (33 of 54) including 63% (15 of 24) from 3-point range.

UCF made more 3s (15) than foul shots (14).

Barrington Hargress, Isaiah Johnson and Sebastian Rancik each scored 20 points for Colorado (12-8, 2-6) who on most other nights would've posted a victory, shooting 52% (29 of 56) including 55% (11 of 20) from 3.

Jordan Burks’ short shot gave UCF its largest lead at 79-64 with 6:48 left before Colorado went on a 16-7 spurt to close within 86-80.

With 2:16 left and Colorado rallying, Kugel banked in a 3 out of an inbounds play with 0.6 on the shot clock, and the Buffs never recovered.

Rancik gave Colorado its largest lead at 34-27 with 6:53 before halftime with a deep 3 before UCF went on a 9-2 run to tie it at 36 with 5:32 before the break. Cambridge's layup a minute-and-a-half later put UCF up for good and they led 49-47 at halftime.

Up Next

Colorado: The Buffs, who now have lost six five straight, travel to face ninth-ranked Iowa State on Thursday.

UCF: The Knights host Arizona State on Tuesday.

___

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Knicks make second-half comeback, hold on for 112-109 win over 76ers

The Knicks played one of their best quarters of the season, but the 76ers fought back in the fourth quarter, as New York held on to a 112-109 win in Philadelphia.

Coming off a big win against the Nets, questions regarding the Knicks (coming into the game 3-9 in their last 12 games) still prevailed. And although New York was behind at halftime, a 30-13 third quarter gave the Knicks enough cushion to weather the Philadelphia comeback. 

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, while OG Anunoby added 23 points and was clutch down the stretch.

Joel Embiid, coming off his first triple-double this season, had a game-high 38 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five assists and one block.

Here are the takeaways...

-Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable heading into the game with back spasms, but showed his health, knocking down his first shot (a three) to put the Knicks up early. New York's energy was visible, as they were aggressive on both ends of the floor. However, Philadelphia had that same spark with both teams knocking down shots and getting to the free-throw line.

New York took a 21-18 lead at the six-minute mark of the first quarter. The Knicks knocked down three of their first five three-pointers. Both offenses continued to hum through the first frame, but Knicks turnovers and lapses in defense allowed the Sixers to tie the game at 34 apiece after one. Brunson had a team-high 14 points and played the entire first quarter. Embiid (15) and Tyrese Maxey (11) led the Sixers. 

-Early in the second, Towns drove to the basket and converted an and-one, but the foul took him to the floor. Towns was visibly hurt, grabbing at his back. The big man completed the old-fashioned three-point play and stayed in the game. But New York had bigger issues. With Brunson off the floor to start, turnovers and fouls pushed the Sixers to a 43-41 lead with nine minutes to go when coach Mike Brown called a timeout after Quentin Grimes leaked out behind the defense after an Anunoby layup for an uncontested dunk.

Josh Hart hit a three out of the timeout, but the Knicks' shooting dipped from there. One sequence saw New York miss three straight three-point attempts on one possession. 

Missed shots, missed free throws and turnovers gave Philly a lead for most of the second and almost got out of hand before the return of Brunson, Mitchell Robinson's rebounding and clutch defense from Miles McBride cut the Sixers' lead. But Philly took a 64-60 lead into halftime off the back of Embiid's 28 points. 

Brunson (19), Towns (10), and Anunoby (13) led the Knicks, but the team's lack of three-point efficiency hurt them. After going 6-for-11 from downtown in the first, they were 2-for-12 in the second.

-Towns picked up his fourth personal early in the third and had to sit, but with Robinson in, the Knicks began their comeback. A 15-0 run gave the Knicks a nine-point lead, the biggest of the game by either side at the time. New York would take a 90-77 lead into the final frame thanks to rebounding, great ball movement and, more importantly, incredible defense, especially on Embiid, who didn't score in the quarter.

New York outscored Philly 30-13 in the third.

-Towns started the fourth but picked up his fifth foul 25 seconds in and had to take a seat. Ariel Hukporti, who didn't play in the first half, checked in to give Robinson a blow, but didn't factor much as he scored two points in four minutes on the floor.

Philadelphia would go on an 11-0 run to cut the Knicks' lead to six points as shots stopped going down and Mikal Bridges' ice-cold shooting continued -- he finished 3-for-16 from the field and 1-for-9 from three. Towns, who checked in with Brunson with 7:29 left, would foul out as the Sixers continued to chop away at the deficit. Momentum swung back to the Knicks after a Robinson offensive rebound led to a Landry Shamet three. The Sixers would cut the Knicks' lead to three points, but Anunoby skied for a putback-dunk, followed by a three giving the Knicks some breathing room. 

Shamet hit a wide-open three (from Anunoby's assist) to put them up by eight points with 41 seconds to play, and looked to be the dagger. However, a quick Maxey three, a Brunson turnover and foul cut the Knicks' lead to three with 33 seconds remaining. On the next possession, an offensive foul against Brunson on the in-bounds play was called, which Brown challenged. The foul was changed to a foul on VJ Edgecombe, and since it was away from the ball, Brunson hit the free throw and gave the Knicks the ball. Anunoby hit one of two free throws and after a quick Maxey layup, Philadelphia got the ball back -- after a successful challenge overturning a foul into possession for the Sixers -- down just three with 10 seconds remaining. After Maxey airballed a deep three out of bounds, Brunson was fouled, but the All-Star guard missed both free throws. Embiid looked to push the ball up the floor in the waning seconds, but the big man lost his handle after thinking he was fouled by Brunson on purpose as the time ticked to zero, and the Knicks escaped with the win.

Game MVP: OG Anunoby

While Brunson was the high-point man for the Knicks, Anunoby came up big on the offensive and defensive end. 

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks head back home to welcome the Kings to MSG on Tuesday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

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European football: Augsburg fight back to end Bayern Munich’s unbeaten run

  • Massengo and Chaves strike late in Bavarian derby

  • Mbappé sends Real Madrid top; Nwaneri scores on debut

Strugglers Augsburg scored twice in six minutes late in the second half to come from a goal down and stun hosts Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Bavarian derby on Saturday, the league leaders’ first Bundesliga loss of the season.

The hosts, fresh from securing a Champions League knockout spot with Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise, took a 23rd-minute lead thanks to Hiroki Ito’s header but lacked any spark up front as Augsburg struck in the 75th and 81st minutes through Arthur Chaves and Han-Noah Massengo to earn their first win in Munich for 11 years.

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Sixers’ fourth-quarter comeback falls short after awful third in wild loss to Knicks

It would appear being the home team is a massive disadvantage in this series.

The Sixers, sunk by a bad third quarter again, fell 112-109 the New York Knicks Saturday afternoon.

Joel Embiid set the tone with a brilliant first half before cooling off in the second, leading all scorers with 38 points and 11 rebounds on 13-of-21 shooting. Tyrese Maxey was quiet outside of the first and fourth quarters, going for 22 while shooting 8-of-15 from the floor including a missed potential game-tying three with nine seconds left. 

Paul George didn’t score outside the second quarter, putting up nine points going 3-of-10 from the floor. VJ Edgecombe’s late heroics fell short — he finished with 14 points on nine shots. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30.

In an extremely rare sight these days, both teams went into this contest at full strength.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

  • Not the best defensive start for the Sixers with the Knicks scoring on eight of their first nine trips down the floor, getting their fans who made the trip down loud early. There was one breakdown where it looked like Edgecombe forgot to step out to Brunson, but New York also hit plenty of contested threes early as well.
  • Behind Embiid making four of his first five shots of the game the Sixers started nearly as hot and needed every bit of it. The Sixers made good use of him as a hub, with both Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. using his attention to get baskets.
  • There was plenty of juice in the building for this one, and both Embiid and Mitchell Robinson seemed to have some extra juice for their matchup. After Robinson blocked him a couple of times, Embiid wanted to get him back before taking his first rest, waving off Adem Bona for a few more minutes. He got his statement play on offense when Quentin Grimes found him rolling in transition, and threw down a dunk more ferocious than anyone would have thought him capable of at the beginning of the year. His 15 in the first was all needed to match Brunson’s 14, as a pair of Maxey free throws tied the game at 34 as the quarter ended.

Second Quarter

  • Karl-Anthony Towns came into this game questionable with back spasms. It already seemed to be bothering him to start the game, and the hard fall he took after getting fouled by Adem Bona to start the second didn’t help. Nick Nurse went back to staggering Maxey with Embiid, leaving George and Edgecombe to run the second unit. George fueled the offense with his midrange pull-ups falling, going for nine points in the quarter.
  • Bona ran down a block and George came up with a steal, but the Sixers finally getting some stops did boil down to the Knicks being very ineffective with Brunson on the bench. He picked right back up when he subbed back in, but Embiid did as well. The stepback three he hit over Robinson felt like a sign he was feeling good, and blowing by him for a layup on the following possession even more so.
  • Everyone is saying it now, but it is still unbelievable to see Embiid move the way he can compared to where he was in October. He just remained in control of everything offensively, including another acrobatic finish, this time a reverse layup to reach 28 points in the half. The Knicks struggling at at the free throw line in the second didn’t just give fans an early 8-count of chicken nuggets, but gave the Sixers a four-point lead at the break.

Third Quarter

  • The big adjustment for the Knicks didn’t come to start the second half, but rather a couple minutes in when Towns picked up his fourth foul. Embiid made a couple mistakes, throwing a pass out of bounds after a miscommunication with Maxey and missed pretty bad on a pull-up jumper while the Knicks took advantage with eight straight points.
  • That run would eventually turn into an extended 15-0 run, giving Knicks’ fans the chance to takeover the building again as well. Shooting regression hit the Sixers hard, which was bad because they were only settling for pull-up jumpers. Not only did their patience for working good shots slip as the Knicks started pulling ahead but their focus on defense did as well, allowing too many cutters to get to the basket wide open.
  • Perhaps calling more timeouts sooner would have helped, but at no point in the quarter were the Sixers able to stop the bleeding. The offensive ineptitude was stunning given the first half they had had. It took a Bona putback and Dominick Barlow three to get them over double digits as they shot 23% in the third, falling into a 13-point deficit.

Fourth Quarter

  • Even after getting Towns to pick up his fifth foul just as quickly into the fourth, Embiid and the Sixers offense couldn’t get it going. It didn’t help that Embiid appeared to tweak his knee drawing a foul against backup Ariel Hukporti. He didn’t leave the game but did limp around a bit.
  • The Knicks were on the verge of hitting the kill shot, but a three from Embiid and a transition bucket helped the Sixers cut it to 12. After a timeout, the Sixers got a couple of and-1s that got them right back in the game, the second fouling out Towns with still over five minutes to go.
  • A five- or six-point lead was where it stayed as both teams traded baskets for a couple of minutes. A bucket inside from Embiid cut it to three with about two minutes to go, but OG Anunoby stuck by him on the following possession to put back the offensive rebound for a three. Naturally the ball was swung to Edgecombe for a big three and he drilled it, but again Anunoby answered with one of his own.
  • A missed bunny from Embiid followed by a wide open Shamet three appeared to end the comeback hopes. Maxey hit a ridiculous three out of the timeout though. Not only did Edgecombe tie up Brunson for a jump ball, but drew a foul on Brunson during the jump, those two free throws cutting the lead to three with 33 seconds left.
  • Brunson appeared to foul Edgecombe on the inbound, but after a long challenge the call was reversed to a foul on Edgecombe, making it an away-from-the-play foul as well. Converting on that free throw plus the subsequent free throw Anunoby made looked like another nail in the coffin. The Sixers won a challenge though on the following possession to get a stop. Down three with nine seconds, they went really quick for some reason, Maxey chucking up a long deep three that didn’t come close. Somehow Brunson missed both free throws but Embiid turned it over and that finally was it for this game. A very tough game to let go where all of the recent frustrations of this rivalry were on display.
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Giannis sidelined again with calf injury

Standing in front of his locker with the assembled media after the Milwaukee Bucks’ comeback attempt fell short in their 102-100 loss to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed news that Bucks fans least wanted to hear: he had injured his calf again, and he would likely be out another 4-6 weeks:

So, the next steps will be to go to an MRI tomorrow (Saturday). After the MRI, they will probably tell me I popped something in my calf, in my soleus or something. I’ll probably be out 4-6 weeks. This is from my experience being around in the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back.

Giannis appeared to first show signs of injury in the first quarter and checked out of the game with 3:57 to go. He didn’t quite look the same after that, as he was limited to just 2/5 shooting (eight points) at halftime. Giannis ended up playing 16:37 in the second half, as the Bucks nearly mounted a 23-point comeback. Doc Rivers finally pulled Giannis with 34.2 seconds left after he couldn’t get back down the floor. Doc broke down what happened and how he saw Giannis playing through the injury:

I thought he was favoring it for most of the second half. I asked our team (medical staff) five different times. I didn’t like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in. On that one play, seeing him try to run down the floor, to me, I’d had enough. I didn’t ask, I just took him out.

For those who haven’t seen it by now, here is the play in question:

What makes it sting more is that, when asked, Giannis answered in the affirmative that if the Bucks’ record was significantly better, he would’ve sat out the rest of the game. This injury comes at the worst possible time, with 12 days until the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5 and Bucks GM Jon Horst reportedly looking to add to this current team to get back into the playoff race. This injury could preclude the Bucks from making any significant additions at the deadline, and they could fully embrace the role of being sellers.

This injury could keep Giannis out of the All-Star tournament in LA, so a replacement will have to be selected for his starting spot. If Giannis misses more than three games, he would fall below the minimum games requirement of 65 to qualify for All-NBA teams, NBA MVP, and several other major awards. The two-time MVP was asked about ending his chances of making an All-NBA team for the 10th straight season:

It’s hard, what is it, 10 years in a row? Always in my mind, I think of the good things that have happened in my life and I think where I am at this moment and what my goals are and what stops me from my goals. The first thing you have to think about it can be worse, could be way worse, I could’ve been out for 12 months, 18 months. Being out for whatever it might be and not making All-NBA for sure it’s gonna be frustrating, but it doesn’t matter, that’s not where we are right now mentally as a team, as a player, I’m not there.

We’ll see what the MRI says and what the official timeline is when we learn the results. As for now, the Bucks will have to find a way to get some wins if they want to sniff a playoff spot. Otherwise, get ready to start scouting some draft prospects and firing up Tankathon, hoping the Bucks end up with a lottery selection. It’s been a long time since Bucks fans have been hoping the ping-pong balls fall their way, but that’s where they sit.

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"It's Pretty Special": Mason Appleton Loves Life With Red Wings Ahead Of Winnipeg Homecoming

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As the Detroit Red Wings take on the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night in what will be their third and final game of this three-game road swing, it will be an emotional night for forward Mason Appleton.

Appleton, who played the bulk of his career with the Jets, signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings during the offseason as part of several additions by GM Steve Yzerman. 

A sixth-round (168th overall) pick of the Jets in the 2015 NHL Draft, Appleton played a total of 351 games with Winnipeg, along with a brief 49-game stint with the expansion Seattle Kraken in 2021-22 before being dealt back to Winnipeg. 

Ahead of his first game back in Winnipeg, Appleton discussed his transition from Manitoba to Michigan and said it has been a good fit for him so far.

"It's been good, it's different, obviously," Appleton said following the morning skate. "You spend eight years in one spot basically, and then you have to find a new home, and integrate yourself there. It's been good; I've enjoyed my time in Detroit, we have a solid team, and we've been winning games. It's been good." 

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It’s Appleton’s first opportunity to play for a historic Original Six franchise like the Red Wings, and he appreciates the daily chance to soak in the club’s history, something players are constantly reminded of through the displays and photos at Little Caesars Arena.

"It's very unique and special," he said. "Playing in Winnipeg, obviously, with one franchise going and one franchise coming, it's kind of a bit different in that sense. But to walk the halls of LCA and you see the pictures of the Stanley Cup-winning teams and just everything that comes with wearing the Red Wings logo, it's pretty special." 

Appleton scored the eventual game-winning goal against the Jets at Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 31 in a 2–1 Red Wings victory. In 42 games since joining Detroit, he has recorded five goals and six assists while averaging 13:39 of ice time per game.

When asked how it would feel to score another game-winning goal against his former club, Appleton smiled and said he’d be more than open to it.

"That'd be nice, we'll see," Appleton said. "Hopefully, we'll have another good game against them tonight to kind of round out this road trip. It'll be a fun one." 

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The numbers that explain the Spurs’ winning identity

Around the quarter-season mark, we took a look at the numbers that explained the Spurs’ then-surprising success. The goal was to look at stats that showed what the Silver and Black were doing well early, but some readers suggested a follow-up article near the halfway mark of the season to see if the trends held.

While going back to the same four stats from the original post, it was somewhat surprising to see that they still reflect some of the Spurs’ biggest strengths. It seems like it wasn’t a coincidence or an anomaly that they did well in those areas to start the season, but the first signs of the identity they were building. So let’s look at the numbers that explain the type of team San Antonio has built.

51.5 – Total rebound percentage

(Previously, 52.3 Total Rebound Percentage)

The Spurs have been an elite rebounding team all season long. Back in late November, they ranked fourth in the league in total rebound percentage, and in late January, they rank fifth, behind the Rockets, Hornets, Pistons, and Knicks. Cleaning the glass seems to be a priority, and San Antonio is among the best in the league at it.

As mentioned in the previous article, the good Spurs teams of the past have generally been great at defensive rebounding, and that’s a tradition Mitch Johnson has continued. The Silver and Black rank second behind only the Hornets in getting opponent misses in the entire league. Victor Wembanyama is a major reason why. He’s not the best at boxouts, but Wemby ranks third in the league in defensive rebounds per game and is first in defensive rebound percentage among players who have suited up for at least 20 games. His rebounding range is huge, and the team makes sure others put bodies on potential offensive rebounders.

Where the Spurs have not been as effective is in offensive rebounding. They ranked 12th in the league back in late January and now rank 15th. The drop is explained by their ranking 19th in offensive rebounding since Thanksgiving. They were seventh in second-chance points then and have ranked 15th since. There are several reasons for it. Some Luke Kornet absences have hurt them. Part of it is Keldon Johnson not being as shockingly prolific on the offensive glass lately as he was earlier. There’s also the fact that opponents now expect the Spurs to crash the glass and protect against it.

While being elite on both would be great, as long as the Spurs remain elite at preventing offensive boards from opponents, they should have a shot at controlling the possession game, which is all that matters.

11.1 – Opponent attempts from midrange per game

(Previously, 11.5 opponent attempts from midrange per game)

Another trend that continues from the past great Spurs teams is their proclivity to allow midrange jumpers as a way to protect the paint and the three-point line. San Antonio is still forcing opponents to take the most midrange shots in the league. The field goal percentage allowed on those looks is still fairly high, but not prohibitively so, at 41.9 percent.

The strategy has worked when it comes to preventing shots at the rim. The Spurs allow the 11th fewest shots in the restricted area and rank sixth in opponent field goal percentage allowed in that range despite missing Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet at times. That said, those absences have affected them, as they have significantly fallen down the ranks since Thanksgiving, which shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who has seen some of the lineups they have trotted out recently. Still, the Silver and Black have been among the best at not sending opponents to the free-throw line throughout the year, which is related to making them jump shooters.

Where things have not been progressing well is in the opponent’s three-point shooting department. The Spurs were allowing a lot of corner threes in their first month and continue to allow a ton of them now. The scheme, which places Wemby as the low man guarding a corner shooter, often results in open looks for his guy. It’s not all bad, though. The Thunder, the best defense in the league, allows the most corner threes, so it’s clearly not a death sentence to give up those looks, as long as the right shooters are taking them. The Spurs’ opponents rank in the bottom five in the NBA in corner three-point percentage, which might mean the Silver and Black are getting lucky, but also that they know who to leave open.

As long as the Spurs force their opponents to be jump shooters, which should not be hard considering the quality of their rim protectors, they should be fine, even if they allow corner shots that occasionally hurt them. Still, cleaning up their rotations would make them an even more formidable defensive team.

3.0 – Fastbreak points differential

(Previously, 6.6 Fastbreak point differential)

Although not by as many points, the Spurs are still getting more transition buckets than their opponents. They do it despite playing at an average pace and ranking in the bottom half of the league in steals, which normally lead to live-ball turnovers that turn into fastbreak opportunities.

The positive number is a good sign, but there have been some notable changes in where the Spurs rank in several related categories. San Antonio has played at a significantly higher pace since the last check-in. At Thanksgiving, they ranked 26th in possessions per game. Since then, they’ve ranked 12th. Playing faster is not necessarily a bad thing, and it seems to be encouraged by the coaching staff, but it hasn’t resulted in more fastbreak points. The good news is that turnover percentage has also decreased significantly lately, even with the increased pace, so while pushing the ball up court has not gotten San Antonio more fastbreak points, it has not turned them into a sloppy team either.

That said, the number of opponent fastbreak points has climbed. The Spurs don’t allow that many, with only eight other teams allowing fewer, but they ranked first in the league at Thanksgiving despite having a much higher turnover percentage. Curiously, San Antonio still allows few points coming directly off steals, according to PBPstats.com. They also defend the break well after made shots, which is not surprising. The issue seems to come from a combination of opponent buckets after missed threes and shots at the rim, plus a few more points allowed off live-ball turnovers.

San Antonio is still winning the battle in transition, which is great news. But this might be an area to monitor going forward, because they don’t have as big an edge as they used to.

66.6% – Win percentage in clutch games

(Previously, 70 percent win percentage in clutch games)

Despite a couple of painful close losses, often preceded by a comeback, the Spurs remain one of the best clutch teams in the league, tying the Thunder at fourth with a 66.6 percent win percentage in games that come down to the wire. It’s an impressive season-long achievement for a young team that has seen its closers sidelined at times due to injury.

The exciting news is that San Antonio hasn’t been coasting on its early success. Since Thanksgiving, the Silver and Black are 9-5 on games in which the lead is five points or fewer in the last five minutes of the game, the fourth-best mark in the league, trailing only the Lakers, Magic, and Nuggets. In that stretch, they have shot surprisingly well on threes (39.5 percent) and have barely turned it over. Their numbers have not been as tidy in the last two minutes of games when they are ahead or behind by three points or fewer, but they are still 8-4 in those situations, the fourth-best mark in the league in the stretch.

The Spurs don’t often run interesting plays in close games, relying on the scoring ability of their stars Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who both rank in the top 20 in clutch points per game. It doesn’t make for the most exciting viewing experience, especially for those who remember the set pieces the Beautiful Game Spurs used to run late in games, but it’s hard to argue against the results. Hopefully, as time passes, Mitch Johnson will add more variety to his clutch offense, but for now, it seems that giving the ball to his closers is a good strategy that reduces turnovers and gets more wins than losses.