'We are heartbroken': Sports world reacts after federal officer kills nurse during protest in Minneapolis

Fans hold signs that read "ICE out now" inside Target Center before the start of an NBA game.
Fans hold signs to protest the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis before theGolden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves game on Jan. 25 at Target Center. (David Berding / Getty Images)

The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the court Sunday a day after postponing their home game against the Golden State Warriors following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer in Minneapolis the previous day.

But it was anything but business as usual for everyone involved.

"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters before the game.

"As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch, and we just want to extend our thoughts, prayers and concern for Mr. Pretti, his family, all the loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are by nature, peaceful and prideful."

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security launched a massive immigration crackdown in Minnesota. That action has led to mass protests and conflicts between federal agents and local residents.

Read more:Angry protesters spill into SoCal streets, decry second killing by U.S. agents in Minnesota

Minneapolis resident Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed behind the wheel of her car Jan. 7 by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Pretti, an intensive care nurse, died Saturday after being shot by a Border Patrol officer during an immigration enforcement operation. Both Good and Petri were U.S. citizens.

Finch said Sunday that the previous day's game was postponed because "playing basketball just didn't feel like the right thing to do." The Timberwolves are scheduled to host Golden State again Monday night at Target Center.

"This is my home, and I love living here," said Finch, who was hired by the Timberwolves in February 2021. "I love being a part of this community, been embraced from Day One, people have been amazing. And it's just sad to watch what is happening, you know, on the human level, certainly, as somebody who takes great pride being here."

Before Sunday's game at Target Center, a moment of silence was held "honoring the life and memory of Alex Pretti." The actual silence lasted about five seconds before members of the crowd started shouting expletives directed toward ICE.

The video board shows a black and white photo of Alex Pretti
The video board at Target Center shows a photo of Alex Pretti during a moment of silence before the Golden State Warriors-Minnesota Timberwolves game on Jan. 25. (David Berding / Getty Images)

Some fans held signs reading "ICE Out Now," while some members of a trampoline dunk team providing in-game entertainment wore shirts that echoed the sentiment.

The game itself ended up being a blowout loss for the Timberwolves.

“Honestly, what I felt was that their group was suffering," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team's 111-85 victory. "I thought the vibe in the stands, it was one of the most bizarre, sad games I’ve ever been a part of. You could feel in the somber atmosphere, their team, we could tell they were struggling with everything that’s been going on and what the city has been through. It was very sad. It was a sad night.

"Obviously we got the win and we’re happy about that, but very difficult to see so many people struggling and sad. They came to the game to try to forget about stuff, I guess, but I don’t think anything went away for the city and for their team. I think they were suffering from the effects of everything.”

Warriors star Stephen Curry said he could sense "a lot of heavy hearts" in and around the arena.

"There's a lot of change that needs to happen," Curry told reporters after the game. "And when you're here and you feel it — I was glued to the TV yesterday when we weren't playing, just watching the coverage and understanding what was going on, and trying to really, you know, get knowledgeable about it. Hopefully, again, the community kind of comes together and the right decisions are made so that there's more of a peaceful environment here."

Read more:Videos of deadly Minneapolis shooting contradict government statements

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said after the game: "I just love Minnesota, all the love and support that they show me. So I’m behind whatever they’re with. Me and my family are definitely praying for everybody.”

Teammate Julius Randle added: “Been nothing but a joy living here, so things like this happening in the community, it’s tough.”

The NBA Players Assn. released a statement Sunday saying that "NBA players can no longer remain silent."

"Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice," the union wrote. "The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all."

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton spoke out Saturday with a four-word post on X: "Alex Pretti was murdered."

Five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, who played his first nine seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to the Knicks in 2024, also expressed himself on X.

"What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness," Towns wrote. "These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are. My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. I stand with the people of Minnesota."

NBA legend Charles Barkley offered his take Saturday on ESPN.

"It's scary. It's sad," Barkley said. "It's gonna end bad — it's already ended badly twice. Somebody's got to step up and be adults because, man, two people have died for no reason and it's just sad."

On Sunday, WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart held a sign that read "Abolish ICE" during player introductions at an Unrivaled league game in Florida.

"We're so fueled by hate right now instead of love, so I wanted to kind of have a simple message of abolish ICE, which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence," Stewart said after the game.

Read more:Why is Trump skipping the Super Bowl? Oft-traveling president says it's 'too far'

"I think that when human lives are at stake, it's bigger than anything else. So to have that simple message before the game was important to me. And knowing that everyone here is feeling that way, one way or another, it was just a perfect time."

The CEOs of several Minnesota professional sports teams — including the Timberwolves, the WNBA's Lynx, the NFL's Vikings, the NHL's Wild and the MLS's United — were among the leaders of numerous local companies who signed a statement released Sunday by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

"With yesterday's tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions," the statement read.

Some players from those teams have offered their own opinions. Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern wrote Saturday on X: "It’s not right what’s happening in Minnesota."

Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman wrote on her Instagram Story: "I'm heartbroken to see ICE has flipped the city upside down and resorted to violence. There is no place for this. As hard as it may be I HOPE we continue to stand together and fight for what is right."

Teammate Napheesa Collier reposted a statement from Barack Obama, who called Pretti's killing a "heartbreaking tragedy" that "should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Magic vs Cavaliers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 119-105 at Kia Center on Saturday, and the Cavs will look for a second straight win in Monday’s rematch at Rocket Arena.

My Magic vs. Cavaliers predictions expect Anthony Black to continue to stuff the stat sheet with Franz Wagner sidelined.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference showdown on Monday, January 26.

Magic vs Cavaliers prediction

Magic vs Cavaliers best bet: Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists (-125)

Anthony Black has started each of his last 20 games, averaging 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists, good for 28.1 PRA.

In that span, he's gone for 24+ PRA 16 times, including six of his last eight starts on the road. He’s reached that mark in nine of his last 11 road games overall.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have surrendered the 10th-most points, 10th-most 3-pointers, 12th-most assists, and 15th-most rebounds, setting Black up for a favorable matchup on the road. He finished with a 16/5/5 line against Cleveland on Saturday.

With Franz Wagner out again, expect Black to see big minutes and stuff the stat sheet. He should have no issue going for 24+ PRA and cashing a comically-low combo line.

Magic vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

Jaylon Tyson has averaged 29.5 PRA across his last six starts, hitting the Over on this combo line in five straight heading into Monday's rematch with the Orlando Magic.

Darius Garland is out again, and De'Andre Hunter is questionable, so I expect another productive showing from Tyson.

Cleveland hasn't been great ATS this season at 17-30, but Orlando is just 17-27. Recent form gives the edge to the home team, as the Cavs are 7-3 straight up and 5-5 ATS across their last 10. The Magic are just 4-6 straight up and 3-7 ATS in that span.

Cleveland won and covered in Saturday's game at Orlando, and I expect them to do so again tonight in Cleveland.

Magic vs Cavaliers SGP

  • Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Jaylon Tyson Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Cavaliers -5.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bane gets the better of Cavs

Desmond Bane has scored at least 20 points in four straight games with Franz Wagner on the sidelines. Cleveland sports a Bottom-10 scoring and 3-point shooting defense, setting Bane up to hit the Over on this scoring line, just as he did on Saturday against Cleveland.

Magic vs Cavaliers SGP

  • Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Jaylon Tyson Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Cavaliers -5.5
  • Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points 

Magic vs Cavaliers odds

  • Spread: Orlando +5.5 (-110) | Cleveland -5.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Orlando +180 | Cleveland -220
  • Over/Under: Over 227.5 (-110) | Under 227.5 (-110)

Magic vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Magic have hit the team total Under in 17 of their last 23 games (+10.20 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Magic vs Cavaliers

LocationRocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
DateMonday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVPeacock

Magic vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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Braves bring back José Suarez

Not even two weeks ago, the Braves ended up seeing lefty pitcher José Suarez get claimed off waivers by the Orioles after Atlanta had designated him for assignment. As fate would have it, Suarez’s time with the Orioles ended up being extremely short after the Orioles decided to DFA him last week after they claimed Weston Wilson off waivers from the Phillies.

It’s apparent now that the Braves were hoping for Suarez to clear waivers after they DFA’d him because now he’s back with the Braves after they claimed him off waivers from the Orioles. The team announced the news first, themselves.

George Soriano got DFA’d as a result. Soriano’s time with the Braves was just as short-lived as Suarez’s time with the Orioles was — Soriano was DFA’d by Baltimore on January 9 while Suarez was claimed by the Orioles on January 15. Now, Suarez is back with the Braves and Soriano is right back in the weird waters that are winter waivers.

At this point now, the big question is whether or not the Braves will try to DFA Suarez again in order to try to get him into their minor league system via that path. He’s out of options so if that’s what they want to do with him then that’s the only way. I think they’d be successful this time around but also wouldn’t be just so goofy if the Orioles picked him up again? Now granted, we’re talking about people’s lives being uprooted at the drop of a dime so I’m rooting for the Braves to get him in their farm system if they choose to DFA him again. If not, then we’ve just got another wacky baseball tale concerning two fringe players.

Suarez made seven big league appearances and pitched 19.1 innings for the Braves last season, where he produced an ERA of 1.86 and a FIP of 3.70 while also putting up solid numbers for Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate during the 2025 season as well.

NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder remain on top, Rockets shoot up to second in front of Pistons

Late January is always when upsets and funky results start to surface in the NBA. It's the dog days of the season, guys have tired legs, players are distracted by the trade deadline, and they see the All-Star break coming and start acting like high school students the week before spring break. How will that impact these NBA Power Rankings?

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(37-10, last week No. 1)
A couple of home losses this week means that chasing the 73-win NBA record for a regular season is officially off the table — and that can be a good thing, the team that went all out to set that record then blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals. What those home losses mean is the air of invincibility once around this squad is gone. They have weaknesses, including (and oddly) rebounding opponents' missed free throws. Assess just how good the Thunder are yourself this Sunday when they headline the opening night of Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock this weekend, when they travel to Denver — a more interesting game if Nikola Jokic plays, but that remains up in the air. Speaking of up in the air, here is Lu Dort.

2. Houston Rockets

(27-16, last week No. 4)
Houston moves up to No. 2 in these Power Rankings after quality wins last week, knocking off San Antonio and Detroit, reminding everyone they have to be considered one of the teams that is a genuine threat to Oklahoma City in the West. The Rockets' one loss was to the 76ers in overtime, which is another reminder, this time that the Rockets have not been a great clutch team this season. They are 10-13 in clutch games (within five points in the final five minutes) with a -8.7 net rating (24th in the league) and a high turnover rate. It's a concern. The Rockets lost Steven Adams for an extended period of time with a Grade 3 ankle sprain, something that will come back to bite them because his offensive rebounding is critical to their success (the Rockets' 36.7 offensive rebound rate is by far the best in the league).

3. Detroit Pistons

(33-11, last week No. 2)
J.B. Bickerstaff is headed to Los Angeles to coach in the All-Star Game, and it is well deserved — his steady hand and ability to get players to buy into their roles are why the Pistons have gone from a 14-win team the season before he arrived to the team on top of the East. Last week, that included a critical win over No. 2 Boston, keeping a healthy 5.5 game cushion between Detroit and everyone else in the East. With a roster that has a chance to make the Finals as it stands, don't expect a Detroit move at the trade deadline, unless something too good to be true falls in its lap.

4. Boston Celtics

(28-17, last week No. 5)
I picked Joe Mazzulla as my midseason Coach of the Year, and this sums up why: Boston lost Jayson Tatum (although his return looms after the All-Star break) and every center who struck any fear into opponents, and yet Boston still has the No. 1 offense in the NBA. Boston enters a soft part of the schedule this week, although the game on Peacock NBA Monday against a hot Portland team will be interesting — this will be the first time Robert Williams III faces the Celtics since they traded him away.

5. San Antonio Spurs

(31-15, last week No. 3)
Another reason to think these Spurs will be dangerous in the playoffs: They are very good in the clutch. Their 16 clutch wins are tied for second most in the league (with 54% of their games having clutch minutes), and the Spurs have a 14.4 net rating in the clutch, something mostly earned because of their ridiculous 129.8 offensive rating in those minutes. Victor Wembanyama will be an All-Star Game starter for the World team, but maybe we need to get Stephon Castle in the Dunk Contest.

6. Denver Nuggets

(31-15, last week No. 8)
Denver has gone 9-5 without Nikola Jokic and remains third in the West, meaning they can be patient with their MVP's return, but there is another factor at play — if he is out beyond Friday, Jan. 30, then he will have missed too many games to be eligible for postseason awards. Not that Jokic really cares much about those, but it's a factor. With or without Jokic, watch how well the Nuggets are playing Sunday when they face the Thunder as part of the first night of Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

(27-20, last week No. 10)
Darius Garland remains out, but the Cavaliers have found their identity without the point guard — they have won 4-of-5. That identity is centered around Donovan Mitchell, who is having the kind of season that can land him on a lot of MVP ballots — 29.1 points and 5.8 assists a game — and the Cavs are now 13-6 in games where Mitchell plays but Garland is out. Check out Mitchell and the hot Cavaliers for yourself on Peacock NBA Monday when they take on the Magic.

8. Phoenix Suns

(27-19, last week No. 7)
This could be a rough week for the Suns, as Devin Booker is out with a sprained ankle. How much he means to this team was clear Friday in the game in which he got injured: The Suns were up seven on the Hawks entering the fourth (Booker tweaked his ankle late in the third), and they shot 5-of-21 in the fourth, scoring just 12 points and losing the game. Phoenix is 1-4 in games Booker has missed this season, and has a -1.1 net rating when he is off the court. Will Booker hear his name called on Sunday when the All-Star Game reserves are announced?

9. New York Knicks

(27-18, last week No. 11)
The Knicks may have had the most successful players-only meeting in the history of player-only meetings last week, with the veterans calling one after a blowout loss on MLK Day, only to bounce back the next game and beat the Nets by 54. Something to watch out for in the Knicks' struggles of late: If this season doesn't end as ownership envisions (with this team in the Finals), the scapegoat may be Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite some recent speculation, he will not be traded during the season, league sources confirmed to NBC Sports, but other teams are monitoring the situation and will want to revisit it this summer.

10. Toronto Raptors

(29-19, last week No. 13)
The Raptors found their offensive groove this week and rattled off four wins in a row — all on the road, and the last one of those over the Thunder. Two things sparked that: RJ Barrett getting healthy, and Immanuel Quickley finding his shot, going off, and hitting clutch shots. The winning streak vaulted the Raptors up to the No. 3 seed in the East, and they host the No. 4 seed Knicks on Wednesday in what should be a good test for both teams.

11. Golden State Warriors

(26-21, last week No. 9)
Golden State was in Minneapolis this weekend, seeing first hand what was happening on the ground in a city where protests have only grown louder and larger in the wake of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

"There's a lot of change that needs to happen, and when you're here, you feel it..." Stephen Curry said after the Warriors won on Sunday. "It was amazing to watch the turnout and the peaceful protests and the unified voice that was there. You feel that would kind of turn the tide into a more positive direction … and then you wake up and see what happened. So obviously, there was no need to have a game yesterday [Saturday's game between the Warriors and Wolves was pushed back to Sunday after the Pretti killing]."

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

(27-19, last week No. 6)
"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said pregame Sunday. "As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch, and we just want to extend our thoughts, prayers, and concern for Mr. Pretti's family, all the loved ones, and everyone involved in such a unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are by nature, peaceful, and prideful."

"Nobody deserves to lose their life, and especially for it to happen in our community is tough," Julius Randle said Sunday. "So my prayers for that situation and everybody involved, and everybody in Minneapolis, obviously, it's tough times right now."

13. Los Angeles Lakers

(27-17, last week No. 14)
In what continues to be an up-and-down season for the purple and gold (they are 12-13 following a 15-4 start), last week's win against Denver is a reminder of just how dangerous a playoff team the Lakers can be (even if they did this with Jokic out). When the game slows down, LeBron James and Luka Doncic will be more comfortable, they both make smart decisions and tough shots, key factors in winning in the postseason. While there are defensive issues, the Lakers will be a tough out come the playoffs. Also, we were reminded in that Denver game that LeBron can still do this.

14. Philadelphia 76ers

(24-20, last week No. 12)
Joel Embiid is a problem again — and that's a good thing for Philly. The former MVP has looked as close to his vintage form in recent weeks as he has in a long time. In his last 10 games, Embiid is averaging 28.8 points per game, shooting 53.9% from the floor, with 8.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game, and the 76ers are +6.9 per 100 possessions in his minutes. The 76ers have dropped 4 of 6 but enter a soft part of the schedule and have a chance to turn things around this week.

15. Miami Heat

(25-22, last week No. 18)
The Heat went 3-2 on a brutal five-games-in-seven-days road trip and, with that, moved past the Magic into the No. 7 seed in the East. On Wednesday, they have the chance to really secure that spot when they face Orlando. Miami is entering a soft spot in the schedule, with 4-of-5 at home, and it's a chance to climb up the standings in a compact East. Will Bam Adebayo be named an All-Star reserve on Sunday? A rough couple of weeks for him may have hurt his cause.

16. Los Angeles Clippers

(21-24, last week No. 15)
When the Clippers were 6-21, Tyronn Lue publicly challenged his team to meet a goal — be .500 by the end of the season, a record that would be good enough to get them to the play-in. Well, that didn't take long. The Clippers have gone 15-3 and are now just three games below .500 and in the play-in if it started today (and they’re now forcing a fan to “eat his Tweet”). In the last 15 games, they have gone 12-3 with the fourth-best offense in the league over that stretch. The Clippers went 2-1 while Kawhi Leonard was out with knee irritation, and when he returned he dropped 24 points on the Lakers in a Clippers win, then added 28 in a blowout of the Nets Sunday.

17. Chicago Bulls

(23-22, last week No. 20)
Josh Giddey is back in the lineup, and with that the Bulls picked up a couple of quality wins, beating the Timberwolves and Celtics. Giddey is one of those players on the bubble to be an All-Star Game reserve (and his recent injury did not help): He's averaging 18.8 points, 8.9 assists and 8.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc. The big test comes starting Thursday, when the Bulls and Heat — two teams fighting for seeding in a crowded East — play three games in a row against each other.

18. Portland Trail Blazers

(23-23, last week No. 16)
It's time to take Portland seriously. In January, the Trail Blazers are 9-3 with a +5 net rating, and for the month they rank in the top 10 in both offense and defense. Give Donovan Clingan credit for a lot of that defensive improvement, he has become a quality rim protector inside. Deni Advija remains the heart of the offense — if he's not named an All-Star reserve next Sunday, it's a crime — and that was evident when he was out and the Blazers struggled in a loss to the Raptors.

19. Orlando Magic

(23-21, last week No. 17)
What we have learned through all the injuries this season in Orlando is that Jalen Suggs is the most important player to this Magic roster — he is the glue that makes the entire thing work. While there is a lot of noise in these numbers, Orlando is 9-11 with a -3.7 net rating when he is off the court this season, but it jumps to a +8 net rating when he is on, with most of that improvement coming on the defensive end of the court. The bottom line in Orlando is that there have been just 11 games with Suggs, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero all on the court together, we don't really know yet what this team is. Hopefully, we find out in the second half of the season.

20. Charlotte Hornets

(18-28, last week No. 19)
Charlotte is 5-5 in its last 10 games, with the second-best offense in the NBA over that stretch (a 120.6 offensive rating), but what is wild is that when the Hornets win, they win in a blowout. Those five wins in the last 10 were by 55 (vs. Utah), 18, 23, 27, and one close one over the Wizards by four. Keep an eye on the Miles Brides trade rumors, quality wings are in demand around the league and a lot of teams are calling Charlotte (although it would take an impressive offer for them to trade him).

21. Dallas Mavericks

(19-27, last week No. 21)
Dallas is heading into the trade deadline thinking long-term, and that includes the search for a new general manager (to replace the fired Nico Harrison). A report in The Athletic last week said the Mavericks have started to vet candidates to take over basketball operations, but they wouldn't hire anyone until the spring (meaning they are leaving the door open for candidates let go by other teams). The Mavericks need to nail this hire, so taking their time is good, l as long as the person is in place long before the draft and the start of free agency. Also, take seriously the idea that Dallas may ask Kyrie Irving to sit out the season if Anthony Davis is going to miss extended time with his hand injury. Don't forget this is the last year the Mavericks control their own first-round pick until 2031.

22. Memphis Grizzlies

(18-25, last week No. 23)
Ja Morant will be out at least three weeks, likely through the All-Star break with a sprained elbow. That doesn't really impact his trade market just because there wasn't much of one anyway (at least at the price the Grizzlies are asking, there are teams looking for a buy-low steal but the Grizzlies want a real return). The bigger question may be whether a Grizzlies squad that has been basically a .500 team without its biggest name can climb back into the postseason mix with him out. Memphis is two games out of the play-in heading into this week.

23. Atlanta Hawks

(22-25, last week No. 24)The Hawks are 4-4 since the Trae Young trade, with their offense struggling (25th in the league over that stretch), but their defense improved (eighth in the NBA in January). The Hawks seemed destined to return to the play-in this year (they sit 10th in the East, but the teams chasing them are the shorthanded Bucks and the inconsistent Hornets). Tough middle of the week ahead for Atlanta, with a back-to-back against Boston and Houston, but that is sandwiched by two games against Indiana.

24. Milwaukee Bucks

(18-26, last week No. 22)
I know what you keep reading (because it drives traffic, plus there are a lot of teams with wishful thinking out there), but the Bucks continue to shoot down teams that call them about a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, league sources confirmed to NBC Sports. The Bucks continue to look to add a key player at the deadline, not trade away the best player in franchise history. Doc Rivers has said there is no timeline for an Antetokounmpo return (shutting him down for the season is not out of the question). Remember, if the Bucks tank (and are worse than the Pelicans), their pick goes to Atlanta; if they are mid-lottery, they likely keep the pick (which becomes a trade asset this summer). Milwaukee has three games on the road this week, including at Philadelphia and Boston.

25. New Orleans Pelicans

(12-36, last week No. 29)
It's not a coincidence that the Pelicans won two games last week once Herb Jones returned to the rotation — he is the glue they need on both ends of the court. What was impressive in those wins was the Pelicans' clutch play: a 9-0 run late against the Grizzlies, then a 15-1 run on Sunday with the game on the line against the Spurs. Can they do that again against the Thunder on Tuesday?

26. Utah Jazz

(15-31, last week No. 27)
While part of this is how much they miss Walker Kessler protecting the paint, Utah has the worst defense in the NBA — its 123.7 defensive rating is 3.3 worse than last season, which was statistically the worst defense in NBA history. Utah "improved" to 1-11 without Lauri Markkanen on the court last week with a win over Minnesota, but the Finnish big man remains sidelined (and it's fair to ask how much we will see of him the rest of this season as Utah angles for better lottery luck this year).

27. Sacramento Kings

(12-35, last week No. 25)
Crazy stat of the week (courtesy of The Athletic Saturday podcast): Russell Westbrook is 25th in the league in spot-up attempts per game at 4.3, and his shooting a ridiculously good 59.6 eFG% on those (mostly wide open ones because teams want him to take that shot). Expect the Kings to be active at the trade deadline, with guard Keon Ellis and center Domantas Sabonis two of the most-discussed names in the league (Zach LaVine could be traded as well, with a few teams interested; the market for DeMar DeRozan is much slimmer).

28. Brooklyn Nets

(12-32, last week No. 26)
Having sat in the Intuit Dome Sunday, watching Brooklyn fall behind 47-14 to the Clippers and go on to lose in a game where if felt like garbage time started in the second quarter, we'll focus on the only thing that really matters for the Nets: Where might they trade Michael Porter Jr. and what is the likely return for him? The issue is Porter's $38.3 million salary, which makes trading him in-season to a playoff team difficult in the tax apron era (the Warriors and Lakers are reportedly out of the mix now). Milwaukee is desperate but lacks the draft capital Brooklyn would want. Plus, with the latest Antetokounmpo injury, they may pivot and shut it down this season. Any return at the deadline may be unimpressive, which could have the Nets holding on to Porter until the summer.

29. Indiana Pacers

(11-35, last week No. 28)
When we said in the introductory paragraph to these rankings that January is "when upsets and funky results start to show up," this is what we mean: Indiana, with the worst offense in the NBA, upset Oklahoma City and the best defense in the NBA last week. It was good to see Jarace Walker step up with a career-high 26 in that game.

30. Washington Wizards

(10-34, last week No. 30)
Losers of nine in a row, which not so coincidentally is when they traded for the injured Trae Young — this team is in full tank mode. Alex Sarr should get a chance to show he's having a good season at the Rising Stars game All-Star weekend, he deserves a trip to Los Angeles.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Live stream info for tonight's game

Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday action features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic go head-to-head with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, at 8:00 PM ET, it's the Portland Trail Blazers vs Boston Celtics, followed by the Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:30 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:30 PM ET on NBCSN and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

RELATED:NBA postpones Warriors at Timberwolves Saturday in wake of latest fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis

Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview:

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Timberwolves 111-85 last night in Minnesota. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 26 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals, passing John Havlicek and tying Paul Pierce for 19th on the all-time scoring list with 26,397 career points.

The Timberwolves were held to a season-low 85 points in their fifth straight loss, the team's longest losing streak since dropping six consecutive games in 2022. Minnesota has fallen to seventh in the Western Conference playoff race, which would put the Timberwolves into the Play-In Tournament.

Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds. The sixth-year guard is on pace for career-highs in scoring (29.7 ppg), field goal percentage (49.9%), and three-point percentage (41%).

Atlanta Hawks v Memphis Grizzlies
This may be a quiet trade deadline for fans who want a blockbuster, but there will be smaller moves.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves :

  • When: Tonight, Monday, January 26
  • Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
  • Time: 9:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream: NBCSN and Peacock

What other NBA games are on Peacock tonight?

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Cam Caminiti makes Keith Law’s Top 100 Prospects List

Keith Law has released his updated Top 100 Prospects List on The Athletic, in an article found here. The only Atlanta Braves farmhand to make the list was Cam Caminiti, coming in at No. 35. This means prospects such as JR Ritchie, Didier Fuentes, and Owen Murphy came up shy of cracking the Top 100 for Law.

In the writeup Caminiti, who will be in his age-19 season in 2026, is said to have “continued to show premium stuff in his pro debut while throwing strikes and limiting hard contact in Low A.” It went on to talk about how he “sits 92-95 already from a low three-quarters slot with a plus changeup that hitters whiffed on half the time they swung at it.” As for his breaking ball, it is “now more of a sweeper, missing some bats in the zone but not generating a lot of chase: it grades out as a 55 or 60 on paper, and I’ve had scouts come in anywhere from average to plus, but right now it plays more average with hitters.”

Law adds notes about how his “low slot helps the sweeper play up against lefties, and he comes slightly across his body due to where he lands on the mound, which helps everything look better against lefties.” Then mentioned his splits, where lefties hit just .184/.283/.207 versus the .251/.328/.371 against right-handers. Law then mentioned his athleticism and former two-way background and said “getting him a little more online to the plate would improve his results against righties while also letting that athleticism show more in the delivery and the command.”

Law finishes off mentioning that Caminiti “passed the biggest test for high school pitchers surviving the first year of pro ball without injury, and if that continues he’ll be one of the top lefties in the minors by next spring.”

Law Talk: The locker room rumble at Camelback Ranch, revisited

Three years ago, a landlord/tenant dispute between the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox, and the City of Glendale, Arizona, made national headlines. To wit: MLB established guidelines requiring facilities to have both male and female locker rooms, and the White Sox and Dodgers, tenants of the Camelback Ranch spring training facility, got into a dispute with their landlord, the City of Glendale, over who would pay for it. Sabers were rattled as the landlord/tenant dispute became quite public.

Initially, former writer Jake Dicker broke the story here at True Blue LA, and I wrote an investigative analysis essay that argued strongly that the City of Glendale was over a barrel of its own making on this singular issue.

The most relevant passages from that essay lay out what a slam dunk this case would have been had it escalated further:

There is an old saying in law: if you don’t have the facts [on your side], argue the law; if you don’t have the law [on your side], argue the facts; if you don’t have either, just pound the table and yell really loudly. This adage applies to the City’s position.

When this story broke, I thought that it was quite telling that the City Manager of Glendale was not arguing the terms of the contract. Moreover, the City Manager was attempting to make a moral argument in order to get the City out of its obligations as to the facility….

…But Michael, you say, the White Sox and Dodgers are only paying a dollar a year to lease this facility from the City of Glendale — how on earth is this contract fair? Shouldn’t the White Sox and Dodgers have to pay for these locker rooms out of moral fairness?

That statement is not how contracts work.

While the White Sox and Dodgers may be the bad guys in the court of public opinion, the City of Glendale dug its own hole for this mess. Digging up is not a solution, either.

Time marched on, and like with most things from the 2023 season, the vast majority of people moved on. I did not receive a follow-up comment after several attempts with the Dodgers and Camelback Ranch, which went unanswered in 2023 and 2024. These setbacks are now moot as I can finally report on what happened next.

The City of Glendale built a locker room

On June 13, 2023, the Glendale City Council voted to hire RSP Architects to build a women’s locker room at Camelback Ranch at the cost of $106,217. The contract itself is unremarkable; the proposed locker room was approximately 3,500 square feet, and the plan was estimated to take 28 to 34 weeks to complete.

The locker room was completed in time for the start of Spring Training 2024.

At the same meeting, the City of Glendale approved a $75,000 contract with Beacon Sports Capital Partners to serve as a consultant for 12 months to provide advice and support in the operation of Camelback Ranch.

Specifically, Beacon Sports was to review the financial statements of Camelback Ranch (the facility), determine the level of annual usage of the facility, identify any aspects of the facility not up to MLB standards, how much it will take to bring the facility into compliance, prepare an estimate to the life cycle of the facility and related equipment with the intent to project any future obligations of the City of Glendale, prepare an assessment of current and planned real estate development of the facility, and prepare a valuation methodology of the facility.

Subsequently, upon review of the minutes and agendas of the Glendale City Council from 2024 to 2026, nothing unusual stood out in the facility’s operation, aside from the April 16, 2024, discussion of difficulties with the construction of a parking garage that the city expected to generate revenue from upon completion.

As parking is currently free at Camelback Ranch, this plan clearly fell through.

In the interim, the Dodgers, through the Canopy Team firm, completed construction of the Dodgers Performance Lab in 2024, consisting of 12,000 square feet of large-market, baseball precision flex, which certainly did not hurt during the title campaigns:

Completed in 2024, the Dodgers Performance Lab added 12,000 square foot indoor lab and outdoor agility space, comprised of two instrumented batting/pitching lanes as well as complimentary office/conference/work spaces, storage areas, and technology infrastructure. Initial siting and design was a careful balance struck with players, staff, and executive leadership while construction was planned/sequenced in order to only take nine months to complete and minimize disruption to the team’s occupancy.

The design and programming of the lab is intentionally flexible as the primary occupant besides players is the Dodgers Performance Science department, who are responsible for remaining on the cutting edge in both equipment and training methods. The enabling work in the building’s design is complicated on the design side in order to remain simple and flexible into the future in operation.

Have chair will travel

In early April 2025, lifelong Dodgers fan Yolanda Garcia filed suit in federal court for alleged injuries sustained during a March 2024 Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch.

While walking to the Dodgers’ gift shop, some stacked folding chairs on a dolly allegedly fell on Garcia, causing a laceration and eventual knee replacement surgery months later. Garcia alleged that the Director of Facility Operations publicly reprimanded the staff about the incident immediately afterwards.

Initially, Garcia filed suit in Arizona federal court against the Dodgers, the White Sox, the City of Glendale, the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Camelback Spring Training LLC, and other unknown entities, as is common practice. The case is ongoing, and the only defendant remaining is Camelback Spring Training LLC.

Premise liability cases are often fairly straightforward, and the facts that the case is in federal court under diversity jurisdiction (citizens of two different states with a dispute valued at more than $75,000 — a knee replacement would certainly do it) and that the case is still ongoing are unsurprising. True Blue LA will continue to monitor this lawsuit and provide updates as they become available.

Giants reportedly reach agreement with free agent OF Harrison Bader

The San Francisco Giants have bolstered their outfield by landing free agent Harrison Bader on a two-year deal, according to multiple media reports.

The contract is worth $20.5 million, plus incentives.

Bader signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins last offseason and produced a .277/.347/.449 slash line with 17 home runs, 61 runs scored and 54 RBI in 146 games − all career highs.

He was especially productive down the stretch after being acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline. In 50 games with the Phils, Bader hit .305/.361/.463, in addition to playing stellar outfield defense.

Bader, 31, was a third-round draft choice by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015. He made his MLB debut with the Cards in 2017 and played parts of six seasons, winning a Gold Glove with them in 2021 before being traded to the New York Yankees the following season.

He's also spent time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets during his nine seasons in the majors.

A .247/.313/.401 career hitter, Bader has been even more valuable on defense. Since he debuted in 2017, no other outfielder can top Bader's 77 Outs Above Average, according to Statcast.

Harrison Bader hit a combined .277 with 17 home runs and 11 stolen bases last season for the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.

He likely will take over as the Giants' everyday center fielder, with Jung Hoo Lee moving from center to right field and Heliot Ramos as the likely starter in left.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants, OF Harrison Bader agree on multiyear deal, per reports

2026 SnakePit Hall of Fame: Prince Andruw

SnakePit Hall of Fame Inductees

  • 2015 – Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez
  • 2016 – Ken Griffey Jr.
  • 2017 – Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, John Smoltz
  • 2018 – Chipper Jones, Ivan Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez
  • 2019 – Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Jim Thome
  • 2020 – Roy Halladay, Derek Jeter
  • 2021 – None
  • 2022 – None
  • 2023 – David Ortiz
  • 2024 – Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer
  • 2025 – Ichiro Suzuki
  • 2026 – Andruw Jones

2025 voting

We had 26 votes this year, but I had to discard a pair because the people in question voted twice. I don’t think there was anything malicious: for both, one ballot was submitted when I initially posted, and the other when I bumped the form earlier in the week. I accepted the first ballot only from each, so we ended with 24 valid ballots, and those discards proved crucial. Because Todd Helton appeared on both of them: 19 of 26 would have been more than the necessary three-quarters of votes, but 17 of 24 fell one vote short for the Toddfather, for the second year running. Carlos Beltran also missed out on becoming a SnakePit Hall of Famer by the narrowest of margins.

However, Andruw Jones will be enshrined in SnakePit Towers and Cooperstown this year, after also missing out on the ‘Pit by a single vote in 2025. This was his ninth year on the ballot, and it has been a slow climb for him to our Hall of Fame. Back on his first appearance, in 2018, Jones got 24% of the vote – actually one vote fewer than Manny Ramirez that year. Though a lot more than the BBWAA, where Jones barely survived, getting only 7.3% his first year – a record low for a subsequent inductee. However, Manny being Manny, left him around the same mark in subsequent polls, and this was his tenth and final appearance, both here and on the BBWAA ballot.

Jones, on the other hand, has seen his reputation improve, perhaps connected to a greater appreciation these days for defense. His ten Gold Gloves sit behind only Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays among outfielders, and Andruw’s career 24.4 dWAR is the most ever there. That helped counter a low .254 batting average in voters’ minds, although he his 434 home-runs in his career. He becomes the first player from Curacao to enter the Hall of Fame, which I am sure will delight DbacksEurope! Of course, his son Druw Jones is in the D-backs’ farm system. If his career approaches anything like his dad’s, I think we’ll all be more than satisfied.

On the outside, there was a gaggle of players in addition to Beltran and Helton, who came fairly close. C.C. Sabathia and Scott Rolen both got in the sixties, so still have a change of impressing the (generally tougher) SnakePit Hall voters. Rolen will be on his final shot for this site next year, as will Omar Vizquel. Among this year’s new arrivals, Cole Hamels did best at 20.8%, but most of the other newcomers will be one and done. An interesting exception: Ryan Braun. I’ll be reaching out to the two who voted for him, with a business proposal to avoid your identities from “accidentally” being leaked to the mob of angry SnakePitters, forming as I speak. 😀

Everyone else can feel to provide their ballots in the comments, and explain their choices. For example, did Beltran’s involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing impact your decision? Thanks to everyone who took part! We’ll be back next off-season – perhaps with the “Veterans Committee” idea discussed in the ballot comments! But certainly, in December with the 2027 ballot. The leading new candidate there is certainly Buster Posey, but other names to make their first appearance will be Jay Bruce, Jon Lester, Kyle Seager and Ryan Zimmerman. We’ll see how they, and the candidates returning from this year’s ballot, do on next year’s edition.

Mexico investigates soccer field attack that killed at least 11 people

SALAMANCA, Mexico (AP) — Beer cans, candles and blood-stained clothing littered a soccer field in central Mexico on Monday, a day after gunmen killed 11 people and injured 12 others during a gathering after an amateur match.

While authorities investigate the killings, Guanajuato state Gov. Libia Dennise García said Monday that “security in the region has been reinforced” with state and federal forces. She said on social media that the state “will act decisively to protect families, restore peace to the community, and bring those responsible to justice.”

The massacre took place in the municipality of Salamanca, in the state with the highest number of homicides in the country. The region has been wracked by intense violence linked to the territorial dispute between the local Santa Rosa de Lima cartel — a violent group primarily dedicated to fuel theft and trafficking — and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, CJNG.

Salamanca Mayor César Prieto — the only official to provide early details on Sunday — described the massacre as part of a “wave of violence” and appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for help.

It also comes a few months before the start of the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting with Canada and the United States, and as the government seeks to highlight its progress in security.

Sheinbaum didn't address the events in Salamanca during her news briefing on Monday, deferring to the local prosecutor’s office, which has only confirmed an ongoing investigation.

Authorities have not offered any hypotheses regarding the possible motive for the attack.

Security analyst David Saucedo, who was based in Guanajuato for many years, suggests the attack was likely an “indiscriminate” act by the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel.

According to Saucedo, the group may have targeted the public specifically to provoke a federal military surge into territory currently held by its rivals, the Jalisco Cartel — a move he says “undermines the image of security Mexico hopes to project on the eve of the World Cup.”

The Jalisco cartel is the fastest-growing criminal organization in Mexico. It was declared a terrorist organization by the Trump administration, which also targeted the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List No. 33

View from the front of Willie McCovey taking batting practice.

The 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List marches on, and folks, we’re getting close! After this next chapter concludes, we’ll be three-quarters of the way to ranking the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Friday’s ballot was very close, but a winner emerged: it’s outfielder Lisbel Diaz, who has been voted as the No. 32 prospect in the system. It’s a drop of 15 spots for Diaz, who debuted at No. 17 in last year’s CPL.

That drop might suggest that Diaz had a bad 2025, but it’s more that he merely held serve while others around him rose (and were added to the system). The right-hander, who signed in 2023 out of Cuba, spent the entirety of the year with Low-A San Jose, where he had spent a good chunk of time in 2024 as well. Diaz, who turned 20 over the summer, did some good things, though the overall offense was middle of the road: he slashed .269/.320/.405 for a .725 OPS and a 96 wRC+ in the Cal League.

In many ways, that was disappointing, after Diaz posted a slightly better line (.767 OPS, 101 wRC+) at the same level the year prior, with nearly identical strikeout and walk rates. But there were some things that he made improvements on: most notably, Diaz looked very comfortable in the outfield in 2025, and was quite solid in center field when he filled in for the injured Dakota Jordan and Carlos Gutierrez. He also boosted his performance on the basepaths, stealing 26 bases in 32 attempts, after just nine thefts in 2024.

While Diaz will need to boost the offense to have a Major League future, there’s a solid framework in there. He has very strong contact skills, and posted just an 18.7% strikeout rate and an 11.6% swinging strike rate in 2025. Presumably he’ll be starting at a corner in High-A Eugene when the Minor League season begins in a few months, and hopefully we’ll get to see some offensive improvements.

Now let’s add to the list! As a reminder, voting now takes place in the comment section using the “rec” feature.

The list so far

  1. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
  2. Josuar González — SS
  3. Jhonny Level — SS
  4. Bo Davidson — CF
  5. Dakota Jordan — CF
  6. Luis Hernandez — SS
  7. Gavin Kilen — SS
  8. Carson Whisenhunt — LHP
  9. Blade Tidwell — RHP
  10. Keyner Martinez — RHP
  11. Jacob Bresnahan — LHP
  12. Trevor McDonald — RHP
  13. Argenis Cayama — RHP
  14. Luis De La Torre — LHP
  15. Trevor Cohen — OF
  16. Jesús Rodríguez — C
  17. Parks Harber — OF/3B
  18. Carlos Gutierrez — OF
  19. Drew Cavanaugh — C
  20. Daniel Susac — C
  21. Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP
  22. Josh Bostick — RHP
  23. Lorenzo Meola — SS/2B
  24. Will Bednar — RHP
  25. Yunior Marte — RHP
  26. Joe Whitman — LHP
  27. Joel Peguero — RHP
  28. Alberto Laroche — RHP
  29. Trent Harris — RHP
  30. Carlos De La Rosa — LHP
  31. Diego Velasquez — 2B
  32. Lisbel Diaz — OF

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 33 prospect nominees

Maui Ahuna — 23.10-year old SS — .871 OPS/144 wRC+ in High-A (52 PA); .802 OPS/122 wRC+ in Low-A (168 PA); .842 OPS/108 wRC+ in ACL (54 PA)

Rayner Arias — 19.8-year old OF — .173 OPS/-42 wRC+ in Low-A (30 PA); .699 OPS/87 wRC+ in ACL (178 PA)

Reggie Crawford — 25.1-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)

Cam Maldonado — 22.2-year old OF — .691 OPS/92 wRC+ in Low-A (71 PA)

Reid Worley — 19.6-year old RHP — yet to debut

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.

76ers vs Hornets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's NBA Game

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without the talents of Joel Embiid and Paul George tonight, but they’re still well-placed to continue their dominance over the Charlotte Hornets, whom they've beaten 10 straight times.

However, my 76ers vs. Hornets predictions expect Brandon Miller to ball out for the hosts in what could boil down to a backcourt battle.

Let's take a closer look at this January 26 clash with my NBA picks and betting tips.

76ers vs Hornets prediction

76ers vs Hornets best bet: Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points (-105)

The Charlotte Hornets are 7-6 in their last 13 games, and their young core is showing flashes of promise. That includes steady production from Brandon Miller, and he’s my top target for tonight’s clash with the 76ers.

Miller has been on a tear over the past two weeks, and he’s gone past this O/U number in five of his last six outings, headlined by a 28-point effort against the Golden State Warriors. His 3-point shooting has been a contributing factor in his surge, with Miller making 17 of his past 42 triples, and he should benefit again from the hosts’ improving offense.

With a 21 PPG average at home, Miller is showing that he can fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel, and this is a favorable matchup against a Philadelphia 76ers team missing Embiid’s presence in the paint. The Hornets have shot better than 50% from the field in their last two contests, and there’s something brewing here for Charles Lee’s squad. 

While Charlotte’s offense can sometimes slide into too much LaMelo usage, Miller has finished with 15+ field goal attempts in nine of his 12 contests this month. If that trend holds up, he’s got a clear path to this Over.

76ers vs Hornets same-game parlay

The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their past five visits to Charlotte, and we’re going to see a lot of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe here against a Hornets backcourt that’s unlikely to slow them down. Philadelphia is 12-7 SU on the road, and 24-18-2 ATS overall this season.

Speaking of perimeter struggles, LaMelo is no lockdown defender, but he’s willing to gamble on steals. He’s recorded six swipes across his last four outings and, with the 76ers going deeper into their bench tonight, look for Ball to cash in.

76ers vs Hornets SGP

  • Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points
  • 76ers +2
  • LaMelo Ball Over 0.5 steals

Our "from downtown" SGP: Maxey on the mark

Count on Maxey to make some noise. He’s shooting 38% from downtown in January, and he knocked down three 3-pointers against the New York Knicks on Saturday. With Philly missing key scorers, he’ll have a neon green light, and he’s nailed this Over in 12 of his last 20 games.

76ers vs Hornets SGP

  • Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points
  • 76ers +2
  • LaMelo Ball Over 0.5 steals
  • Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 3-pointers

76ers vs Hornets odds

  • Spread: 76ers +2 | Hornets -2
  • Moneyline: 76ers +102 | Hornets -125
  • Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5

76ers vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets are just 8-13 SU at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Hornets.

How to watch 76ers vs Hornets

LocationSpectrum Sportsnet, Charlotte, NC
DateMonday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off3:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN SE-CHA, NBCS-Philadelphia

76ers vs Hornets latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Giants sign Harrison Bader, leaving few free agent outfield options left

The Giants have reportedly signed outfielder Harrison Bader to a two-year deal, $20.5 million deal, that includes another $500,000 in incentives. The Royals had been reportedly interested in Bader earlier this offseason, but later reporting by Ken Rosenthal indicated they were being priced out on his market. Bader was coming off a career-best season at age 31, hitting .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs in 146 games last year.

The signing leaves what was already a thin free-agent outfield market even thinner. Austin Hays is among the best of those available, and the Royals were reportedly keeping an eye on him earlier this offseason. Hays specializes in hitting left-handed pitching, and he hit .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs in 103 games overall last year.

Miguel Andujar is another option remaining after a strong season with the Athletics. The once top 100 prospect hit 27 home runs his rookie year in 2018, but battled injuries for several years afterward. Last year he resurfaced to hit .318/.352/.470 with 10 home runs in 94 games and he was particularly good against lefties.

Other remaining outfielders include Michael Conforto, Starling Marte, Tommy Pham, Austin Slater, Mike Tauchman, and Alex Verdugo. Max Kepler is also available, but will be out for 80 games, as he serves a suspension for PED use. The Royals could also bring back outfielder MJ Melendez, who was non-tendered last fall, or Randall Grichuk, whose mutual option was declined by the Royals.

The Royals have already added Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas to an outfield mix expected to include Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone, with Michael Massey and Kameron Misner potential options for some outfield play. Royals outfielders last year hit .225/.285/.348, worst in baseball.

Lukas Dostal Named NHL Third Star of the Week

The NHL announced on Monday that Anaheim Ducks starting goaltender Lukas Dostal had been named as the NHL’s third star of the week for the week of Jan 19 to Jan 25. Kirill Kaprizov, with nine points (3-6=9) in four games, and Nikita Kucherov, with eight points (2-6=8) in three games, were named first and second stars, respectively.

Dostal (25) finished the week with a 4-0-0, a .925 SV%, and saved 3.33 goals above expected. He stopped 111 of the total 120 shots he saw during the Ducks’ four-game stretch last week, as the Ducks are now riding a seven-game winning streak heading into Edmonton on Monday night.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Overtime Win over the Flames

Rumor: Ducks among Teams "Looking Around" at Artemi Panarin Trade

Dostal was the backbone of the Ducks' roster as they got off to an 11-3-1 record to open the season. Game flow, eye test, and underlying metrics all suggested the Ducks’ record was kinder to them than their on-ice play dictated. They were able to outscore their problems, and Dostal was performing at a superhuman level in the crease.

His numbers dipped a bit, down to that of an average NHL starter, as November turned to December and eventually the new year, and the Ducks went on a month-long skid from Dec. 11 to Jan. 10, where they only registered two wins and six standings points in 15 games, highlighted (or low-lighted) by a nine-game winless streak.

The Ducks, despite key injuries, seem back on track and improved defensively. As of today, Dostal has a 19-12-2 record, a .895 SV% (.002 below league average), and has saved .7 goals above expected on the season. He’s started 34 and appeared in 35 of the Ducks’ 52 games this season, tying him for seventh-most-utilized goaltender in 2025-26, despite an upper-body injury causing him to miss nine games.

Dostal signed a five-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $6.5 million in mid-July, awarding full-time starter responsibility after the Ducks traded John Gibson, and placing him among the ten highest-paid goaltenders in the NHL.

His number’s been called frequently, and he’s risen to the level his status and salary would indicate. He’s blossomed as a game manager from the crease, freezing pucks when needed, deflecting perimeter shots to safety, getting pucks to stick to him that negate rebounds, and playing more pucks with his stick to catch opponents on changes or start breakouts from his end.

Dostal’s trademarks will always be his quiet athleticism, knowledge of angles, and puck tracking through and around traffic. However, his dedication to his craft suggests he’s just scratching the surface of his potential in this, his third full NHL season for the Ducks.

Dostal will head to Milano Cortino next month to represent Czechia as their starting goaltender at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. It will be his seventh time representing his home nation and his first time at the Olympics.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Win over the Kraken

Olen Zellweger's Response to New Role with the Ducks

Takeaways from the Ducks 2-1 Shootout Win over the Avalanche

Cubs position player pitchers: Miles Mastrobuoni

Miles Mastrobuoni was the 26th man on the roster for most of his time with the Cubs in 2023 and 2024, a substitute fielder, pinch-hitter and pinch-runner.

The Cubs were 14-10 after defeating the Padres April 27, but then went on a long losing skid, losing 10 of 15 entering the final game of a three-game series against the Twins at Target Field.

They had used five pitchers in losing the previous day 11-1, so when Marcus Stroman, Michael Rucker, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather, Brandon Hughes and Michael Fulmer had the team in an 11-3 hole in the bottom of the eighth, Mastrobuoni was summoned to try to finish things off.

This, he did not do. There were two out when Mastrobuoni entered the game and he allowed four straight hits: Single, double, single, home run.

Here’s the home run, hit by Michael A. Taylor [VIDEO].

And so, a game where the Cubs trailed 9-3 heading to the last of the eighth wound up as a 16-3 loss. Mastrobuoni’s career Cubs ERA of 108.00 is the highest for any Cubs position player in the divisional play era, though for his career that dropped to 27.00 when he threw a scoreless inning for the Mariners June 26, 2025 — also against the Twins.

Mastrobuoni batted .250/.324/.296 with one home run in 76 games for the Mariners in 2025, better than either of his Cubs seasons. He’ll likely be back as a backup infielder with the Mariners in 2026.