CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is out of the Milan Cortina Games after he refused to stop wearing a banned tribute helmet.
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Spurs flip the switch, rally past Warriors 126-113 behind second half surge
For a half, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs might limp into the All-Star break. Instead, they stormed into it.
Behind a ferocious second-half turnaround and another poised performance from their young stars, the Spurs erased a 16-point 3rd quarter deficit and powered past the Golden State Warriors 126-113 on Wednesday night at Chase Center. The win extended San Antonio’s streak to six games and reinforced a growing belief around the league: this team is maturing fast.
The Spurs didn’t just win. They imposed themselves.
Golden State came out sharp, moving the ball and knocking down perimeter shots to seize early control. The Warriors dictated pace in the first quarter and maintained separation through much of the second, capitalizing on defensive lapses and pushing their lead into double digits.
San Antonio looked a step slow defensively and out of rhythm offensively. But there was no panic on the bench. No visible frustration. Just a steady pace.
The shift began midway through the third quarter. The Spurs ramped up their defensive intensity, cut off driving lanes and forced Golden State into tougher, contested looks. What had been comfortable Warriors possessions suddenly became rushed ones.
At the other end, San Antonio simplified its approach. The ball found the paint. Cuts became sharper. Screens hit harder. The Spurs began bullying their way inside — and the Warriors had no answer.
Fox ignited the comeback, finishing with 27 points and eight assists. He controlled tempo during a pivotal stretch late in the third quarter, slicing into the lane and knocking down pull-up jumpers that erased the deficit piece by piece. A deep jumper just before the buzzer capped a furious run and tied the game heading into the fourth.
That’s when Victor Wembanyama took over.
The 7-foot-4 franchise cornerstone delivered 26 points and nine rebounds, but his impact went beyond the stat sheet. Early in the fourth quarter, he altered two shots at the rim on consecutive possessions, then sprinted the floor for a alley-oop slam that sent the Spurs bench into a frenzy.
Moments later, he stepped out and buried a three-pointer. The sequence turned a tight contest into a Spurs advantage — and drained the building of its energy.
San Antonio outscored Golden State 32–19 in the final quarter, suffocating the Warriors with length and physicality. The Spurs dominated the glass down the stretch and repeatedly punished mismatches inside.
Keldon Johnson provided a crucial lift off the bench, scoring 21 points with aggressive drives and perimeter shots. His energy stabilized the rotation when the starters briefly rested and ensured the momentum never shifted back.
Golden State fought to stay within striking distance. Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double and battled relentlessly in the paint, while Moses Moody and De’Anthony Melton supplied scoring on the perimeter. But without sustained rhythm — and without Stephen Curry in uniform — the Warriors could not match San Antonio’s late-game execution.
The most impressive part of the Spurs’ performance wasn’t the scoring burst. It was the composure.
Early in the season, falling behind by 16 on the road might have unraveled this young group. On Wednesday, it sharpened them.
Defensive rotations tightened. Communication improved. Shot selection matured. The Spurs looked less like an upstart and more like a team learning how to win difficult games in hostile environments.
As the final minutes ticked away, the Spurs were hugging and clapping as Golden State dribbled out the clock. Another comeback. Another statement.
Now 38-16, San Antonio heads into the All-Star break with momentum and growing confidence. The offense is fluid. The defense is evolving. And the chemistry between Fox and Wembanyama is becoming one of the league’s most dangerous combinations.
For a team that once leaned heavily on potential, the Spurs are now leaning on results.
Wednesday night was proof: this group doesn’t fold when punched. It responds.
And increasingly, it finishes.
Portland plays Utah on 4-game road skid
Portland Trail Blazers (26-29, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (18-37, 13th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trail Blazers -7.5; over/under is 237.5
BOTTOM LINE: Portland will try to break its four-game road losing streak when the Trail Blazers face Utah.
The Jazz have gone 10-24 against Western Conference teams. Utah ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 15.1 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.2.
The Trail Blazers are 20-16 against conference opponents. Portland is 10-7 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 16.5 turnovers per game.
The Jazz average 118.3 points per game, equal to what the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 15.5 per game the Jazz give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 137-117 on Jan. 6. Deni Avdija scored 33 points to help lead the Trail Blazers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz. Isaiah Collier is averaging 15.6 points over the last 10 games.
Donovan Clingan is scoring 11.4 points per game and averaging 11.4 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.5 points, 45.1 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.5 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 3-7, averaging 113.7 points, 48.6 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Trail Blazers: Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Shaedon Sharpe: day to day (calf), Kris Murray: day to day (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Warriors vs. Spurs player grades: De’Anthony Melton, Draymond Green star in shorthanded loss
The Golden State Warriors played their final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday, and it went quite well. Unfortunately, we’re living what feels like uncharted territory for many Warriors fans after the dynasty, where a game can go “quite well” and still be a loss. A double-digit loss, even!
But that was the case on Wednesday. The Warriors were hosting one of the NBA’s best teams, the San Antonio Spurs, and they were doing so without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, or Kristaps Porziņģis. But they entertained, and they led for much of the game, often by double-digits. About halfway through the third quarter, they ran out of steam against a significantly more-talented squad, and the Spurs quickly flipped things around, winning 126-113.
Let’s grade the players who took the court for Golden State, for the final time until the unofficial second half of the season. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Wednesday’s games, league-average TS was 58.0%.
Draymond Green
30 minutes, 17 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 6-for-14 shooting, 2-for-8 threes, 3-for-4 free throws, 53.9% TS, -5
An absolutely throwback game from Draymond. We don’t see him play like this all that often anymore, especially when his career running-mate in Curry is sidelined. Green did it all in this game. He ran the offense masterfully, setting up his teammates with passes that were both technical and artistic. He contributed plenty of his own scoring, and was comfortably the leading rebounder for either team. And while Victor Wembanyama still got his, Dray played some beautiful defense on him, and made his life incredible hard. For a while it looked like the Dubs would pull off the upset, and Green was the biggest reason why.
Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds and assists, tied for the team lead in points.
Gui Santos
30 minutes, 9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, 4-for-11 shooting, 0-for-3 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 37.9% TS, -1
It looks like Santos is going to get a chance to start for the rest of the year, and in doing so, he’ll get a chance to prove that he should be a key part of next year’s rotation. He certainly appears to be trending in that direction. There are still some young player lumps, as evidenced by this game: against an ultra-athletic, high-action team, Santos struggled both to score efficiently and to defend without fouling.
But the good far outweighs the bad. He is so active, and just always making things happen. His six assists were great, but he did just as much playmaking with his hockey assists and his screens. His defense, notwithstanding the fouls, was fantastic, as evidenced by the four steals … against one of the league’s best teams at taking care of the ball.
I have to give players a pass for not scoring well when Curry isn’t on the court. Turns out it’s very hard. Who knew! But Santos played very well.
Grade: A-
De’Anthony Melton
25 minutes, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 6-for-7 shooting, 5-for-6 free throws, 121.4% TS, +12
I don’t know much, but I do know this: Mike Dunleavy Jr. devotes a significant portion of each day to thinking about how he can ensure that Melton is on the team next season. At times the offense ran so well that you almost forgot Curry wasn’t out there, and that’s without even taking into account his Curry-esque shooting performance. He’s been the total package lately, and if he’s on the team next year, Steve Kerr will need to give some serious thought to the idea of having him be a full-time starter alongside Curry.
Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points, best plus/minus on the team.
Moses Moody
35 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 fouls, 6-for-12 shooting, 3-for-8 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 66.0% TS, -3
Moody’s performance mirrored the Warriors in this game. It started strong. It looked elite for a good while. And then it ran out of steam late in the game. Moody was an offensive force to be reckoned with early in the game, and played some strong defense as well. He seemed to run out of legs in the second half. He still played well overall, but he looks like he’s ready for the All-Star break.
Grade: B+
Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points.
Pat Spencer
31 minutes, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 4-for-11 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 37.9% TS, -14
A fairly nondescript game from Spencer. He did some really good things with the ball in his hands, but at times looked overmatched, which isn’t abnormal when going up against super athletic squads.
Grade: B-
Al Horford
26 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-7 shooting, 0-for-4 threes, 42.9% TS, -16
Horford has been on a tear lately, but this game was a little bit more pedestrian for him. Things probably would have looked a bit different if his three-point shot had fallen but, as it was, he didn’t have the all-around impact that we’re used to. Not his best work as a scorer, playmaker, or defensive player. But, not to sound ageist, that shouldn’t be too surprising with one of the league’s oldest players against one of the youngest and most athletic teams. Not a great matchup for him, especially without Curry.
Grade: C
Quinten Post
13 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 4-for-6 shooting, 3-for-5 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 87.2% TS, +1
While Horford struggled, Golden State’s other center thrived. Things always look rosier when you make your threes, but it was a strong all-around game for Post, who made things happen all over the court.
Grade: A
Gary Payton II
14 minutes, 10 points, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 4-for-11 shooting, 2-for-7 threes, 45.5% TS, -12
Payton was one of many player’s whose efficiency took a big hit by not having Curry around. But it’s hard to find much else to fault in his game. He was moving the ball all over the court, getting out in transition, and playing exceedingly annoying defense.
Grade: A-
Brandin Podziemski
36 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-for-12 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 5-for-5 free throws, 56.3% TS, -27
Podz got hit with a truly brutal plus/minus, which really is just a reflection of when he was on the court. He played very in control in this game, having just one turnover and one foul despite leading the team in minutes played. His offense was huge when he first came off the bench, and helped give Golden State control early. He couldn’t stop the bleeding when he was on the court in the second half, but he wasn’t really the problem, either.
Grade: B+
Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team
Wednesday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Malevy Leons, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
Freddie Dilione V scores 16, Penn State beats Washington 63-60
SEATTLE (AP) — Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points, Josh Reed added 14, and Penn State beat Washington 63-60 on Wednesday night.
Kayden Mingo had 13 points and Eli Rice scored 13 for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) had lost back-to-back games and 10 of their last 11.
Franck Kepnang was called for goaltending on a layup by Mingo to give the Nittany Lions a 61-59 lead with 1:22 left in the game. Zoom Diallo’s short jumper rolled on the rim before falling out, Mingo missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Hannes Steinbach split a pair of free throws before Rice hit two foul shots to cap the scoring with 20.1 remaining.
Wesley Yates III missed a potential tying 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Steinbach had 19 points and 14 rebounds and extended his program record for double-doubles by a freshman to 16, the second most in the Big Ten since the 1996-97 season. Isaiah Stewart set the previous Huskies' record of 14 in 2019-20 and Ohio State's Jared Sulliger had 18 double-doubles in 2010-11.
Yates added 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting for Washington (12-13, 4-10), which has lost three games in a row and seven of nine.
Kepnang threw down a dunk that gave the Huskies a two-point lead with 2:44 to play, but the went 0 for 3 from the field and committed two turnovers from there.
Up next
Penn State: Plays Saturday at Oregon.
Washington: Hosts Minnesota on Saturday.
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Padres Reacts Survey: How do fans feel about Padres players competing in World Baseball Classic?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The World Baseball Classic is an opportunity for MLB players to represent their country on the baseball field. The tournament takes place every three to four years and games are played during Spring Training when MLB teams are typically trying to get their players prepared for the 162-game season. There has been some debate about whether the WBC games should be played in lieu of that season’s All-Star game to provide the athletes who are taking part more time to ramp up and prepare for the rigors of a global competition.
The WBC players often talk about how being selected to play for their country is an honor and for the fans of the players it is fun to see them competing on their respective teams. However, at the end of the tournament, the players all return to their MLB clubs and the missed opportunities to work with teammates and coaches can prove to be problematic. At least that seemed to be the case for the San Diego Padres in years past.
The last WBC was held in 2023 and that was supposed to be the year the Padres were going to coast into the playoffs, blow through the postseason and claim the first World Series Championship in franchise history for San Diego. That proved not to be the case, in fact the Padres struggled to win just 83 games and missed the playoffs completely. The team never seemed to come together under then manager Bob Melvin despite having Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Juan Soto on the roster and in the same lineup.
The concern about Padres players competing in the WBC is not just about how they will mesh with their teammates and makeup for lost time building camaraderie, there are also the overwhelming health concerns. Playing baseball is going to come with a risk of injury but when you have this kind of competition and players pushing themselves to perform at a high level earlier than they normally do, it increases the injury potential. The New York Mets lost their closer, Edwin Diaz, for the 2023 season when he was injured celebrating a win during a WBC contest. He was not doing anything that was inherently hazardous to his health, but he was injured all the same.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the WBC and I will watch the games because its real baseball being played by some of the best athletes in the sport. I will do so nervously if Machado, Tatis Jr., Bogaerts, Mason Miller or any of the other Padres competing for their respective countries has a misstep, an extra circular motion of their arm or a slight wince following a swing.
It is with this information and these concerns in mind that Gaslamp Ball poses this question for this week’s Padres Reacts Survey. How do you feel about Padres players competing in the WBC? Results of the poll will be posted later in the week.
San Antonio vs. Golden State, Final Score: Spurs bully their way to a 126-113 comeback win
The Golden State Warriors came out hot to take advantage of a San Antonio Spurs team on the second night of a back-to-back. They were red-hot from three and jumped out to a 38-31 lead in the first quarter. The Spurs fought back by getting to the basket and crushing the Warriors in the paint on their way to a 126-113 win. A 24-8 run in the third quarter tied the game, and then San Antonio finished strong in the fourth, outscoring Golden State 32-19 in the final frame.
The Spurs were led by their stars. De’Aaron Fox was in control offensively all game, scoring a game-high 27 points on 11-16 shooting, adding 8 assists and 3 steals. Victor Wembanyama was quiet in the first half, but was crucial to San Antonio’s second-half comeback with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He was locked in defensively in the fourth quarter and completely disrupted the Warriors’ offensive attack.
San Antonio outscored the Warriors in the paint 60-42 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. The Spurs turned things around with their physicality in the second half, propelling them to victory.
With Stephen Curry out for the game, Golden State got a vintage performance from Draymond Green, who led the team with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The win extends the Spurs’ winning streak to 6 and improves their record to 38-16. They’ll now get a week off for the All-Star break.
Observations
- The Spurs gave up 38 first-quarter points against the Warriors, which felt like the inverse of San Antonio scoring 47 points in the first frame the night before. The Warriors shot 57% from the field and knocked down 5 three-pointers.
- This was a gritty, hard-nosed performance from Golden State. The crowd was really into it for a Wednesday night regular-season game. The Warriors played exactly how you should when you’re down key players. They moved the ball well, played really hard on both ends, and stuck to their scheme. It wasn’t until the Spurs matched their physicality in the second half that things started to slip away for them.
- San Antonio’s best work came at the end of quarters. The Spurs cut the lead to four with a late-second-quarter hot streak. They rode a 24-8 run at the end of the third quarter to tie the game at 94. In both stretches, San Antonio relentlessly attacked the paint while Golden State missed shots from deep.
- Keldon Johnson set the tone for the Spurs in the third quarter, kicking off their run by scoring on three-straight drives to the basket. Johnson had 21 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. When San Antonio needed clutch buckets in the fourth quarter, KJ delivered.
- Carter Bryant looked good in the first half, tallying 8 points and 5 rebounds in his 9 minutes. The rookie didn’t touch the floor in the second half as the Spurs fought to claw back into the game. This may be a sign that when the games really matter, come playoff time, Bryant may be the odd man out of the rotation.
- A funny moment in the fourth quarter happened when Dylan Harper lost Green defensively, leading to an open layup. Mitch Johnson immediately called a timeout and had some choice words for Harper. He ultimately stuck with the rookie, who closed out the game. Harper had a solid game with 14 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds off the bench.
- San Antonio finally got the monkey off their back by beating Golden State. This is a difficult matchup for the Spurs, as the Warriors have the floor spacing and passing to take advantage of the Spurs’ defensive scheme. On the other end, Golden State forces teams to beat them with jump shots. On Wednesday night, San Antonio displayed the blueprint for beating them – penetrating the paint and not settling for kick-out jumpers.
Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings wrap-up: The Kings are so bad
The Sacramento Kings are bad at basketball. Like really, really bad. Lose to the infamously tanking Jazz by nearly 30 points bad. Empty Delta Center bad. So bad that the official dictionary of basketball is this close to changing the definition of “bad” to simply: an organization that used to be a professional basketball team, but is no longer fit for that designation; the Sacramento Kings.
Minus DeAndre Hunter, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk, the Kings are a shell of whatever vision was hatched in their front office over the offseason (Bulls 2.0). At no point in this contest with the Utah Jazz did the Kings resemble anything near a competent, put-together, playoff-contending basketball team, dropping their league-worst 44th loss of the year in Salt Lake City, 121-93.
The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, are good at basketball. At least when paired up against the truly putrid rosters stagnating at the bottom of the league standings, the addition of Jaren Jackson Jr and the invisible threat of a tanking fine have the Jazz playing at (nearly) full strength, and it’s a sight to behold.
Winning basketball is back on the menu, Utah.
With the addition of JJJ, a Utah lineup of him, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic, and Isaiah Collier (replace the last two with Walker Kessler and Keyonte George in 2026-27) is big, and not in an experimental way — in a tangible, sustainable way.
The Utah Jazz have size at every position. Highly switchable, highly skilled, and highly cohesive across the starting five, this game was one of the first glimpses into the new status quo of Jazz hoops. And as bad as Sacramento has been, the Utah Jazz sat with a 30-point cushion for the majority of this game, leading by 19 after the first quarter and 31 by half.
But true to form, the Jazz returned to dissolving the integrity of the game, as they sat their stars through the fourth quarter, letting the Kings claw back within 28.
Someone must stop the Utah Jazz from their unethical tanking will be the headline you can expect to read on the front page of ESPN tomorrow morning.
JJJ led all Jazz scorers with 23 points in just 22 minutes of play (not bad for a home debut), with Isaiah Collier tallying 14 assists to four turnovers in his starting spot.
Vince Williams, a surprising bright spot in the shadow of the Memphis trade, put in some fascinating minutes at point guard, as he scored nine points, swallowed eight rebounds, and dished three assists off the bench. He even added a block for good measure. Good guy, Vince.
Brice Sensabaugh and Cody Williams round out Utah’s young supporting cast, taking on 19 and nine points, respectively, as Williams’ defensive presence gave the Kings fits — he posted three steals on the night. The Cody redemption arc of 2025-26 has been a breath of fresh air for Jazz fans worried that Utah had whiffed on their first two lottery swings of their rebuild. Still far from stardom, Williams is miles removed from the rock bottom he met as a rookie, finally scoring reliably and stuffing the stat sheet across the board.
Utah takes the court again on Thursday, February 12th, against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Delta Center.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
Draymond Green turns back the clock, but Warriors still lose to Spurs
The Golden State Warriors lost to the San Antonio Spurs at the Chase Center on Wednesday night 126-113. In the Dubs final game before the All-Star break, their depleted roster was unable to hold off the second-best team in the Western Conference.
The Warriors jumped out to a 16-8 lead to start the game. After a recent stretch of rough games, Draymond Green delivered an exquisite all-around performance against San Antonio. As was the case in the team’s previous two matchups against the Spurs, Green is clearly motivated to play his best against Victor Wembanyama.
Green made an early three, but was consistently pushing the pace and effectively orchestrating the team’s offense. He finished the game just 6-for-14 from the field (2-for-8 from three), but racked up 17 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and just 2 turnovers. He did that while serving as the primary defender against the toughest player to guard in the league.
Golden State controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. The Spurs cut the deficit to four at the end of the first half, but a pair of threes by De’Anthony Melton early in the third quarter led a 9-0 run that helped the Dubs build a 16-point lead. However, San Antonio quickly began to make its move.
After a scorching hot shooting start, the Warriors began struggling from behind the arc. Those shooting woes combined with a few untimely turnovers that helped the Spurs answer with an 11-0 run. As time expired at the end of the third quarter, Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox swished a fadeaway jumper over Green to tie things up at 94.
San Antonio’s run continued with a 15-5 run in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Playing from behind for the first time in the game, the Warriors needed to put another run together. However, the Spurs had already dealt with the best Golden State had to offer. The depleted Dubs simply didn’t have enough talent left in the tank.
Alongside Draymond, Melton was also excellent for the Warriors. He finished with 17 points and 7 assists on 6-for-7 shooting from the field (5-for-6 from three). Moses Moody (17 points), Brandin Podziemski (16), Quinten Post (12), and Gary Payton II (10) all finished in double figures, but were largely absent offensively in the final 18 minutes of regulation.
Podziemski’s minutes were particularly ugly late. Several possessions were wasted with Podziemski dribbling around for several seconds despite being clearly overmatched by the Spurs length and athleticism. He finished with a game-worst -23 plus/minus.
Even in a relatively quiet performance, Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. Keldon Johnson provided 21 key points off the bench, helping stop several Warriors runs that could have put San Antonio away early. Fox, however, scored a game-high 27 points on incredibly efficient shooting (11-for-16 shooting) with 8 assists and 3 steals.
The Warriors will head into the All-Star break with a 29-26 record, firmly in the Western Conference 8th-seed. They face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament, but seem on track to play in the 7-8 game for a chance to play the two-seed in the first round, which would be the Spurs at the moment. Given how well the Dubs have played against the Spurs all season, even without Steph Curry tonight, that would be far from the worst-case scenario.
Chris Bassitt Signs with the Baltimore Orioles
Former Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt agreed to terms on a one year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles today. Bassitt, who turns 37 next Sunday, spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jays. He was originally drafted by the White Sox, but spent the bulk of his MLB career as an Oakland A, with a one year stint with the Mets before signing in Toronto.
He was effective last season, making 31 starts and posting a 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings. He moved to the bullpen for the playoffs, logging a 1.04 ERA over seven appearances and 8.2 innings and was a solid contributor to the World Series run. Overall, he gave the Jays 541.1 innings with a 3.89 ERA. That innings total ranks ninth in the majors over the past three seasons, while the ERA was 5% better than league average. He was exactly the kind of workhorse #3 they’d hoped for when they signed him, and it was great to have him on the team.
With the additions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce early in free agency, it doesn’t seem like the team was serious about bringing him back, though. With Cease, plus Kevin Gausman signed for one more year, the emergence of Trey Yesavage, and (theoretically) Shane Bieber also taking a spot, he’d have had to battle with Jose Berrios for the #5 spot even before the Ponce signing. Given his track record, it makes sense that he’d pursue a more guaranteed starting job.
It’s unfortunate for us that that job comes in Baltimore. The Orioles project to have one of the best offenses in baseball, with homegrown starts Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday paired with free agent slugger Pete Alonso, but their rotation is a weak spot that had looked like it might keep them out of the top tier of AL contenders. Bassitt gives them a steady hand to back up the mercurial Shane Baz and the talented but often injured Trevor Rogers at the top of the rotation. He doesn’t solve a lack of top end pitching talent, and they still project behind the Yankees, Jays and Red Sox, but the gap is closed a bit and the AL East becomes even more of a gauntlet.
That aside, I wish Bassitt well. He was a great addition to the team while he was here, and seemed pretty likeable. I hope he pitches well enough to be traded to a contender in the NL at the deadline.
Nets blow 18-point lead and lose to Pacers, 115-110
Get away day is always an adventure. Everyone’s trying to get on the road and on the way to their next destination. You’re constantly looking at the clock and hoping to finish up work as soon as possible. In the NBA, the last game before an extended break is always hit or miss. And with a renewed focus on draft positioning, this get-away day took on a whole new meaning.
Tuesday night, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks went to overtime in a gritty battle at Madison Square Garden. Indy came away with the win and snapped a four-game losing streak. In the game preview, we expected some absences for Indy tonight. And a few hours before tipoff, we got an accounting for who would be missing…
The Nets had their share of absences as well as Nic Claxton (right hip soreness) and Noah Clowney (left ankle sprain) were ruled out prior to game time.
So get-away game and everyone’s looking forward to the time off. You’d think that would make for a sleepy night at Barclays Center, right? NOPE!
Brooklyn got off to a fast start as they built an early 13-point lead to end the first quarter. Day’ron Sharpe grabbed six early rebounds and looked like he was on track for a 20/20 game. After one, Brooklyn led 31-18 and had plenty of highlights for the home crowd.
Nolan Traore has been starting since the end of January and has been rewarding the coaching staff’s confidence in him.
Traore picked up his third 20-point game of the season as he finished the night with 20 points and eight assists.
The Nets built a lead as big as 18 points, but though they are severely depleted, the Pacers’ resilience shined through. They gradually chipped away at the lead before jumping ahead in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn got clutch plays from Traore, Sharpe, and Egor Dёmin to get them back in front by two points. However, the biggest shot of the game came from a rookie that’s only shooting 21 percent from three point range…
Brooklyn had one more chance to tie the game, but Dёmin’s catch and shoot wing three pointer was off-line and that spelled the end of the night for the Nets.
After a good start on defense, the Nets allowed Indiana to score 30+ points in each of the final three quarters.
“Only one quarter of defense doesn’t help in the NBA,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game.
“Starting with me, we all have to be better and I think we will.”
Even with the loss, the Nets came up winners in the area fans are most interested in:
Everyone hopes losses like these will lead to the biggest victory imaginable during Draft season. We’ll se how things go from here.
Final Score: Indiana Pacers 115, Brooklyn Nets 110.
Milestone Watch
- Nolan Traore became the first Nets rookie with at least 20 points and eight assists in a game since Terrence Williams on April 9, 2010. He is the ninth rookie with such a game in franchise history.
- Day’Ron Sharpe tied his season high tonight with 19 points (third time) and his 12 rebounds tied his third most. It was his fourth career game with at least 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and second of the season.
- Three Nets (Dëmin, Traore, Sharpe) had at least five assists tonight, tied for Brooklyn’s most in a game this season (fifth time).
- This is the first time that both Dëmin and Traore logged at least five assists in the same game. It is their sixth time starting together.
- Ochai Agbaji made his Nets debut after being traded to Brooklyn by Toronto last week. He didn’t score going 0-of-3, but grabbed six rebounds, registered a block and handed out two assists in 16 minutes. Josh Minott, acquired from Boston also at the deadline, has yet to make his Nets debut.
- Ben Saraf tied his career high with 12 points tonight on 4-of-5 shooting and 4-of-6 from the line. He also contributed four rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes.
Hall of Fame nominees announced
Earlier in the evening, the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame announced the nominees for this year’s Hall of Fame class. This year’s nominees are a who’s who of basketball royalty:
- Candace Parker
- Elena Delle Donne
- Kevin Johnson
- Doc Rivers
- Chamique Holdsclaw
- the 1996 United States Women’s National Team
The Nets franchise appears a few times as former New Jersey Nets great Buck Williams is among this year’s finalists. Former Brooklyn Net Blake Griffin is also among the finalists for induction. Although Griffin was only on the team for 1.5 seasons, he was an integral part of the team’s success in the 2021 postseason and had one of the best games of his career in the epic Game 5 Nets vs. Bucks matchup in the semifinals.
Former Nets assistant coaches Mike D’Antoni and Amar’e Stoudemire are up for induction as well. Of course, those two were most known for their roles in the Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns area that also featured… former Nets head coach Steve Nash!
Next up
Egor Dёmin is heading to Los Angeles for the Rising Stars Game this Friday night. The rest of the Nets are off for the All Star break and will return on February 19 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Boxscore: Indiana Pacers 115, Brooklyn Nets 110 – NBA
- Game Highlights: Indiana Pacers 115, Brooklyn Nets 110 (Video) – NBA
- Jordi Fenandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
- Nolan Traore PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
- Pacers beat Nets 115-110 as Kam Jones hits key 3 with 16 seconds left – AP
- Nets blow late lead in ugly loss to Pacers — but gain boost in tank race – Brian Lewis – New York Post
- Bulls’ Collin Sexton fined $35K for flipping off basket in frustration – Christian Arnold – New York Post
- Nets blow 18-point lead, fall to Pacers 115-110 before All-Star break ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Nets celebrate Lunar New Year while keeping focus before break ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Pacers going full tank mode vs. Nets after beating Knicks – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
- Nets player grades: Nolan Traore drops 20 in 115-110 loss to Pacers – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
Santa Clara wins ninth straight with 84-72 victory over Seattle
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Freshman Sash Gavalyugov scored 21 points off the bench and Santa Clara won its ninth straight game with a 84-72 victory over Seattle on Wednesday night.
The Broncos (22-5, 13-1 West Coast Conference) are off to their best start since the 1969-70 season when they were also 22-5. The nine-game win streak is Santa Clara's longest since the 1994-95 season.
Vying to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years, Santa Clara has tied its record for most conference wins in a single season. The Broncos also won 13 games in conference play in the 1967-68 and '68-69 seasons, when they went on to win league titles and advance to the Elite Eight.
Junseok Yeo and Brayden Maldonado each had 17 points for Seattle (15-11, 4-9).
Santa Clara, which sits atop the WCC standings having played one more game than Gonzaga (12-1), jumped out to an early 17-5 lead on Allen Graves' 3-pointer that capped a 15-0 run. Graves finished with 15 points.
Seattle closed to within 25-24 on a 3 from John Christofilis with 5:49 left in the first half but the Redhawks trailed 33-29 at the break.
Brenton Knapper's layup put the Santa Clara in front 57-46 with 8:23 to go. The Redhawks closed within 76-70 with 2:54 left on Maldonado's 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Yeo, but Seattle could not get closer.
Next Up
Santa Clara hosts No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday.
Seattle hosts Oregon State on Sunday.
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Shanaka's 19-ball fifty leads Sri Lanka to big win over Oman at T20 World Cup
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Captain Dasun Shanaka broke his own record for the fastest Twenty20 half-century for Sri Lanka as they crushed Oman by 105 runs at the T20 World Cup on Thursday.
Shanaka’s 19-ball 50 along with Kusal Mendis' 61 and Pavan Rathnayake's 60 against a weak bowling attack propelled Sri Lanka to a tournament-best 225-5.
Oman labored to 120-9 in reply, the wickets shared by five bowlers. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana led with 2-11 off four overs.
Sri Lanka was two wins from two games but yet to meet Group B rivals Australia and Zimbabwe.
Oman's 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem became the oldest man to score a half-century in the history of the T20 World Cup with an unbeaten 53 from 56 balls. Nadeem was one of the only two Oman batters to reach double figures with Wasim Ali scoring 27.
Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishra inside the power play but Rathnayake and Mendis featured in a brisk 94-run third-wicket stand off 52 balls.
Shanaka smacked five sixes to surpass his previous Sri Lanka record of a 20-ball half-century against India in 2023 before he holed out at long-off of the very next ball.
Italy fields against Nepal
Debutant Italy opted to field against Nepal as both teams chased their maiden victory at the tournament in Group C.
Co-host India, which beat the United States in its Group A opener, plays Namibia at New Delhi later.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Padres need to ignore price tag and sign Ty France
Following the departures of Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn in free agency, the San Diego Padres have an opening at the first base position. Gavin Sheets is the projected starter, but there is room for improvement. The team should consider signing free agent Ty France. The Padres need a player of his ilk, an elite fielding first baseman who offers a strong presence in the clubhouse.
Defensively, there is no one better than France
It seems certain that France will sign with a major league ball club before the start of spring training games. Multiple reports indicate the Padres are one of three teams, along with the Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies, competing for his services.
The winning bidder is going to land one of the premier defensive first basemen, who won the 2025 American League Gold Glove while splitting time between the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. His defensive metrics were off the charts. France led all first basemen with a +10 Outs Above Average (OAA) and recorded a .996 fielding percentage.
Signing France is a type of move that fills a void at first base, but also upgrades the overall infield defense.
France aiming for a more productive 2026 run-producing campaign
The Padres aim to avoid a platoon at first base; they view France as a full-time starter if signed. His hitting value lies in his disciplined approach against left-handers, where a low 16.3% strikeout rate boosts his offensive productivity.
Sheets will get an opportunity to make some starts at first against tough right-handed pitching. In this potential situation, his primary role would be the left-handed hitting option in a platoon with right-handed hitter Miguel Andujar at the designated hitter position.
One reason why it has taken France so long to find a new home is his declining power numbers from last season. He hit a career low of seven home runs in 444 at-bats. Keep in mind, he played in 37 games with the Blue Jays, mostly as a defensive replacement for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after being acquired at last summer’s trade deadline.
The Padres’ lineup is not perfect, but adding France gains more balance. He did hit a respectable .257/.320/.360 in 2025, but there is no evidence that he is approaching the downside of his major league career. The 31-year-old free agent is hoping a change of scenery will revive his career and allow him to become more productive at the plate.
What is the next step?
If he signs with the Friars, France would need to agree on a low-risk, cost-effective deal. The salary would be in the range of $ 3-5 million.
A return to the Padres would mark a second tour of duty for France, who was originally a 2015 draft pick out of San Diego State University. After working his way through the system, the infielder made his major league debut with the club in 2019.
Some believe the front office will not add another bat, but the outcome of Cactus League games could change that mindset.
A reunion makes sense for both sides, though an agreement is still pending.
Knicks fans take over 76ers’ home arena — again
PHILADELPHIA — Xfinity Mobile Arena is truly Madison Square Garden South.
Knicks fans have taken over the arena twice this season, and were in full voice during the 138-89 Knicks rout of the 76ers on Wednesday night.
“It’s fun,” Josh Hart said. “Kind of getting used to it now. Everywhere on the East Coast it’s really Knick fans coming out and showing love. Boston is tough obviously. Everywhere else we feel like we always have the majority of the fans on the East Coast. Shoutout to them.
“They come and show love and we appreciate it.”
Jose Alvarado, who made his MSG debut in his hometown New York City on Tuesday, was serenaded like it was another homecoming.
Chants of “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose” rang around the arena as he erupted in the fourth quarter.
“I see the fans, their energy is unmatched,” Alvarado said. “They show their support, they’re gonna use their voice and it gets me going, so I’m gonna do the same energy back for them.”
The Knicks went into the All-Star break with their best representation of one of coach Mike Brown’s core principles.
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They recorded 41 total assists Wednesday, the most they’ve had in a game this season.
“I’m blown away with our guys’ ability to share the basketball with one another,” Brown said. “A lot of good playmakers, a lot of good passers, so to see that was a lot of fun.”
Hart led the way in that department with nine. All five starters had four or more.
OG Anunoby’s injury is a bit grosser than originally thought.
He missed his fourth straight game, the last game before the All-Star break.
The Knicks originally listed his ailment as right toe soreness, but earlier this week changed it to right toenail avulsion.
Brown said before Wednesday’s game that it’s not expected to be a long-term problem after the All-Star break, designating him day to day.
The 76ers were without Joel Embiid (knee) and Quentin Grimes (illness).
And they still don’t have Paul George, who is suspended.