COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. team released its 232-athlete roster for the Milan Cortina Olympics on Monday and it includes Lindsey Vonn and bobsledders Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor, who are among the seven Americans making their fifth trip to the games.
Other five-timers are hockey player Hilary Knight, figure skater Evan Bates and snowboarders Faye Thelen and Nick Baumgartner.
Meyers Taylor leads a group of 33 returning medalists. She has won three silver medals and two bronze while Humphries has taken three gold. Mikaela Shiffrin and Chloe Kim have two golds each.
The team consists of 117 men and 115 women ranging in age from 15 (freeskier Abby Winterberger) to 54 (curler Rich Ruohonen).
The opening ceremony is set for Feb. 6 in Milan, with some competition beginning Feb. 4.
These will be the most spread-out Olympics in history, with Milan serving as a home base for hockey, figure skating and speedskating and Cortina and a handful of other mountain clusters hosting skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, sliding sports and the new Olympic sport of ski mountaineering. ___
The Portland Trail Blazers hit the road this evening to face Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.
Shaedon Sharpe is showing out lately, and I’m eyeing him to keep it rolling in my Trail Blazers vs Celtics predictions and NBA picks below.
Trail Blazers vs Celtics prediction
Trail Blazers vs Celtics best bet: Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points (-115)
Shaedon Sharpe showed promise from Day 1 for the Portland Trail Blazers, but he’s really stepped it up in Year 5. The Canadian guard is averaging a career-best 21.9 points across 42 games. Sharpe is one of Portland’s best players, and he continues to prove it on a nightly basis.
The former Kentucky standout has cashed the Over in points in four of his last five appearances, and even though he did cash the Under in his most recent contest, Sharpe still finished with 21 points.
Sharpe is averaging 21.9 ppg on the road, and he already balled out earlier in the campaign against the Boston Celtics, dropping 26 points. Sharpe is playing with boatloads of confidence, and he’ll bring his best again tonight.
Trail Blazers vs Celtics same-game parlay
Payton Pritchard has taken on a bigger role this season without Jayson Tatum around, averaging a career-high 16.7 ppg. He's cashed the Over in two of his last four games and three of his last five at home.
Sam Hauser is a sniper from deep, draining 2.7 triples on 6.6 attempts for a 40.7% clip. The 28-year-old has cashed the Over in five of his last six.
While the Blazers are holding opponents to a 27.6% clip from beyond the arc across their last three games, Hauser is feeling it right now from 3-point territory. He’s averaging exactly 2.5 makes at home as well for a 42% clip.
Trail Blazers vs Celtics SGP
Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points
Payton Pritchard Over 15.5 points
Sam Hauser Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Over and Out
Jrue Holiday is averaging 7.1 dimes per contest, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back outings.
Trail Blazers vs Celtics SGP
Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points
Payton Pritchard Over 15.5 points
Sam Hauser Over 2.5 threes
Jrue Holiday Over 5.5 assists
Trail Blazers vs Celtics odds
Spread: Trail Blazers +8.5 | Celtics -8.5
Moneyline: Trail Blazers +260 | Celtics -330
Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5
Trail Blazers vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Trail Blazers have won 14 of their last 21 games for +13.25 units and a 49% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Celtics.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Monday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Trail Blazers vs Celtics latest injuries
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Pacers vs Hawks best bet: Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists (-112)
Andrew Nembhard has had to take on a larger role in 2025-26 with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, and while the Indiana Pacers are struggling, he’s played well.
From a playmaking standpoint, the Gonzaga product is averaging an impressive 7.3 assists per game. That ranks eighth in the entire Association.
Nembhard has cashed the Over in dimes in three of his last four appearances, and he just registered 11 assists on Friday evening against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Atlanta Hawks are nowhere near OKC in terms of defense, and they’re Top 10 in most assists allowed. Atlanta is also considered an easier matchup for point guards, allowing 9.24 dimes per contest to the position.
He’ll cook as a facilitator this afternoon.
Pacers vs Hawks same-game parlay
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a career year for the Hawks. However, the guard hasn’t been at his best lately, cashing the Under in points in four of his last five.
NAW has scored just 24 points combined across his last two appearances, and he’s cashed the Under in two of his previous three outings on home court as well.
Corey Kispert has given the Hawks more shooting since coming over in the Trae Young trade, and he’s been draining triples lately. The ex-Gonzaga star has cashed the Over in three of his last four appearances.
Pacers vs Hawks SGP
Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 19.5 points
Corey Kispert Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Long ball delivers
Pascal Siakam has cashed the Over in treys in five consecutive appearances, and he’s averaging 2.4 makes on the road.
Pacers vs Hawks SGP
Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 19.5 points
Corey Kispert Over 1.5 threes
Pascal Siakam Over 1.5 threes
Pacers vs Hawks odds
Spread: Pacers +5.5 | Hawks -5.5
Moneyline: Pacers +180 | Hawks -220
Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5
Pacers vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Indiana Pacers have hit the game total Under in 32 of their last 50 games (+12.20 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Hawks.
How to watch Pacers vs Hawks
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Monday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off
1:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-IN, FDSN SE-ATL
Pacers vs Hawks latest injuries
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ extended road trip moves east with a stop in the Windy City to battle the Chicago Bulls tonight.
Deandre Ayton hopes a two-day break can bust his current funk. He’s struggled on both ends of the floor, which has led to him being benched in each of the past two games.
However, Chicago’s soft interior defense could be just what Ayton needs to get back on track. His scoring output is the focus of my Lakers vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks below.
Lakers vs Bulls prediction
Lakers vs Bulls best bet: Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points (-120)
Deandre Ayton’s recent struggles have ignited a firestorm of criticism from NBA analysts and basketball fans, but this game against the Chicago Bulls could help get things on track. The Bulls are among the softer defenses in the league, especially when it comes to protecting the interior.
Chicago allows the fifth most points in the paint (53.3) and the seventh-highest points per game to the center position (25.7). The Bulls are undersized around the hoop, topping out with 6-foot-9 center Nikola Vucevic, who has lost a step defensively.
The 7-foot Ayton had scored 12+ points in four straight games and six of his last eight before this current three-game backslide, and averages almost 14 points on the season.
NBA player projections for Monday have Ayton ranging from 11.1 to 15.5, with the majority of models sitting closer to 13 points. My number, given Ayton plays his normal 29 minutes, comes out to 13.6 points against Chicago. That should have the Over 11.5 priced around -170.
Lakers vs Bulls same-game parlay
The Lakers and Bulls aren’t the stingiest teams in the NBA, and Chicago’s up-tempo style will see a faster pace for this game.
LeBron James continues to impact games besides points. He’s dished out 7+ dimes in seven of his last 12 outings.
Lakers vs Bulls SGP
Over 237.5
Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points
LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Running with the Bulls
Rui Hachimura has started to find his stroke from deep after missing time with injury, including 2+ triples in three of his last four outings.
Lakers vs Bulls SGP
Over 237.5
Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points
LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 threes
Lakers vs Bulls odds
Spread: Lakers -1.5 (-108) | Bulls +1.5 (-112)
Moneyline: Lakers -115 | Bulls -105
Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5
Lakers vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Lakers are 7-5 Over/Under in non-conference games while the Bulls are 9-6 O/U against Western Conference foes this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Bulls.
How to watch Lakers vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Spectrum SportsNet, CHSN
Lakers vs Bulls latest injuries
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Basketball was played in Minneapolis on Sunday, Jan. 25, but the atmosphere surrounding Golden State's 111-85 victory over Minnesota was unlike any game those in attendance ever experienced.
"I thought the vibe in the stands was one of the most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said afterward. "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."
Steve Kerr called the arena atmosphere in Minneapolis today one of the most “bizarre, sad” vibes he’s experienced at a game
Before the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch fought through tears as he reflected on the city's second deadly interaction between agents and residents this month.
"As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch," Finch said. "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. We just stand in support of our great community here."
Both Finch and Kerr said they discussed the situation with their players and everyone agreed with the decision to postpone the game on Saturday.
Emotions were still raw throughout the community as thousands of sign-carrying protesters marched in freezing conditions outside Target Center before the game shouting "ICE out! ICE out!"
And inside, several members of the trampoline dunk team wore shirts that also said "ICE OUT" in block capital letters.
"A lot of things – especially (for) this Minneapolis community (Saturday) – was rough. It’s been rough. … You can kind of feel it when we got here two days ago. The protests that were going on downtown, it was amazing to watch the turnout, and peaceful protests, the unified voice that was here. You feel like that would kind of turn the tide to a more positive direction, and then, you wake up in the morning, and you see what happened."
The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing their second straight game against the Orlando Magic. They won their previous game in Orlando 119-105.
Repeating success
Beating the same team twice in a row isn’t easy. There’s added motivation for the other team to get their revenge, and what worked in the first matchup isn’t guaranteed to work the second time. This, combined with a wild winter storm that can throw a curveball into everyone’s pre-game preparation, is something to keep in mind.
The Cavs took it to Orlando in their first matchup. It was an encouraging, feel-good win led by the best game of Donovan Mitchell’s season. Or at least, one of his most impressive performances. The Cavs have taken some great steps forward during this month. Let’s try to avoid stumbling after winning three in a row.
A win tomorrow would match the Cavaliers’ longest streak of the season.
Donovan Mitchell
We might have seen Mitchell’s best game of the season in Orlando. It was definitely one of his more entertaining. The array of floaters and over-the-head swim moves he used was nothing short of incredible.
Mitchell has had to carry a heavy load with Darius Garland on the sidelines. He hasn’t always balanced his responsibilities as a playmaker and scorer. But when he’s at his best, this team is tough to beat. Cleveland’s recent win puts them at 10-1 this season when Mitchell scores 35 or more points.
Taking care of the ball
One of the only things holding this team back from truly taking off in the standings has been their turnovers. Even in their recent success, the team is turning it over at an unsustainable rate.
Cleveland had 17 turnovers in their first meeting with the Magic. This is more than you’d like, but it was actually an improvement from the way they had been carelessly turning it over in the games before. The Cavs are 26th in turnover percentage for the month of January.
That will have to be better for them to continue trending in the right direction.
When you are a gunslinger, you show up to the dusty road at high noon. You lock eyes with the opponent. Somewhere, a stereotypical tumbleweed drifts through the silence. The moment arrives. You reach for the holster. You take your shot.
That is what the Suns tried to do against the Miami Heat on Sunday night. They showed up. They stood in the street. But when it was time to fire, there was not enough ammunition to finish the job.
And they did not help themselves. I don’t know if they knew where they left their bullets.
The shooting was rough. 37% from the field. 7-0f-35 from deep. That is not surviving a duel, that is misfiring before the bell rings. The rebounding was no better. 15 chance points allowed in the first half, extra bullets handed right back to the opponent. Ball movement never found a rhythm either. 14 assists on 37 made shots, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4, possessions ending without purpose.
Miami plays at the fastest pace in the league, and on this night they were quicker to everything. Quicker to loose balls. Quicker to decisions. Quicker on the draw. Phoenix finished with 6 steals, never able to flip the script or tilt the floor.
It did not matter that Miami was on the second night of a back-to-back. It did not matter that they did not get into Sky Harbor until 4:30am after being stuck on the tarmac in Utah. None of it mattered. They had more ammunition. They were sharper with their shots. And when the dust settled, that was the difference.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Kudos to Devin Booker for the effort against the Atlanta Hawks. He picked up his 12th Bright Side Baller of the season, though I am sure he would trade every one of them for a healthy ankle without a second thought.
“I’m too sad” got plenty of votes, which felt appropriate given the night, but the rightful winner still earned it.
On Sunday night, the Spurs hosted the New Orleans Pelicans. Before the game, interim head coach James Borrego spoke with the media.
If his name sounds familiar it is because he served as assistant coach to Gregg Popovich twice. The first time was from 2003-2010 where he started as assistant video coordinator before working his way up to assistant. He rejoined the Spurs from 2015 to 2018.
Since 2023, Borrego has served as associate head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. Last November, after a 2-10 start, the Pelicans fired Willie Green and named Borrego interim.
During his pregame presser, he was asked about Herb Jones. Jones, who recently returned to action after being sidelined with an ankle sprain, is considered an elite defender. In his first game back last Friday, he failed to score but impacted the game defensively, leading to a win for the Pelicans.
Considering his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Borrego’s response was telling:
“He impacts winning at the highest level…he raises everybody’s standard — their level, their energy, their focus…he’s gotta own that defense, hold his group accountable…hye’s an example guy. And, I think, the greatest to do it here, Tim Duncan same thing. He led by example. Over time though, [Duncan] found a voice to lead. There’s a leadership quality through his words as well. When Tim Duncan spoke up everybody listened. When Herb Jones speaks up, everybody listens.”
Borrego stressed that when a player takes ownership, the team as a whole elevates. And he knows. He witnessed two championships here in San Antonio. The former Spurs assistant understands the value of leadership required to make a team compete.
And he wasn’t wrong.
The Pelicans, who had the second-worst defensive rating without Jones, handled the Spurs last night despite coming in to San Antonio with an 11-36 record. While Jones contributed only 9 points, it was his +/- of 21 and his disruptive defense that kept the Spurs at arms length for a majority of the night.
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Over halfway into the season, the Boston Celtics find themselves sitting at second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28-17. They’ve set high standards for themselves by consistently sitting at or near the top over the past decade, but this year is different. Prior to the start of the season, the basketball world was debating whether they would be tanking for a top pick, or if they would somehow find themselves fighting for a play-in spot.
There’s still a lot of season left, so Boston may not be able to maintain their position throughout. There’s no doubt that tanking has always been out of the question for a team with championship DNA, though. The Celtics play to win, plain and simple. Soon enough they may also be getting a top-5 player in the league back on the court, which should make winning a little easier.
That doesn’t mean we should lose sight of the people who have carried them this far. There is plenty of praise and credit to go around, from Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff who have prepared the players, to Jaylen Brown who has shouldered a lot of the load during an MVP-level season, to the young guns who are making the most of every opportunity, and everyone in between.
Of course, there are two guys who may be getting slightly overlooked at the moment: Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Fans were expecting a huge jump from both in terms of offensive production, but the stats haven’t exactly backed that up so far. That being said, they provide a whole lot more than the numbers could never capture.
Let’s start with the bad. Derrick only saw an increase of 1.2 points per game (PPG) while his efficiency took a big hit, 38.8% on field goals (FG%) and 32.1% on threes (3P%). The FG% is a career low for Derrick, and a steep drop-off from the 44.2% he was shooting last year. Similarly, the 3P% is the second lowest of his career, and another big drop from last year’s 38.4% from range.
Payton has been more efficient than Derrick, but he’s been having some struggles of his own. His FG% sits at 45% at this point in the season, which isn’t bad, but is his lowest mark of the past three years, down from his 47.2% from last year. The real struggles are coming from behind the arc for Pritchard, 34.4% from three, a career low, and far below his 40.7% from last year.
And as far as the bad goes, well, that’s just about it. Once you look past the efficiency, Derrick White is averaging career highs in every major statistical category: 17.6 PPG, 5.4 assists per game (APG), 4.6 rebounds per game (RPG), 1.3 steals per game (SPG), and 1.5 blocks per game (BPG). Payton is averaging career highs in points (16.7 PPG), rebounds (4.4 RPG), and assists (5.4 APG), while being just 0.1 steals per game and 0.1 blocks per game off of career highs in those categories as well, though neither have ever been his strong suit, 0.8 SPG and 0.1 BPG this season.
Per our Riser/Fallers tool, these 5 players have risen most over the past 3 seasons in our Offensive Talent metric:
Up +4.18: Deni Avdija +3.14: Austin Reaves +2.60: Anthony Edwards +2.52: Shai-Gilgeous Alexander +2.31: Payton Pritchard
If we listen to Joe Mazzulla and take a step further out, things look even better. After a solid win against the Pacers, Joe had this to say about the two of them: “Those are always two guys that – they’re not defined by shot making… It’s not just the stats with them. They’re always doing the intangibles, and they always give us a chance to win.”
Joe couldn’t be more right. With how young the Celtics are this year, strong leadership makes a world of a difference. When you see Derrick taking charges, opening himself up to poster opportunities, challenging guards and centers alike at the rim, and giving his all on every possession no matter which side of the ball he’s on, how could you not be inspired? So much of this team’s identity is their grit, which the young guys embody night in and night out – but it always starts with Derrick.
As for Payton, he currently ranks as the most efficient isolation scorer in the NBA, yet the ball never sticks with him. He does a masterful job of controlling the pace of the offense, whether that’s creating opportunities for himself or others. He increased his APG average by nearly 1.9, and is currently tied with Derrick in leading Boston in that category. Pritchard has always been an undersized guard as well, but still does a great job holding his own on defense, and is tied for fourth on the team in rebounds per game despite being the shortest one on the court more often than not.
Boston’s starting backcourt plays with incredible poise, averaging less than 3 turnovers combined. Pritchard even has the highest assist to turnover ratio in the league, 4.74, and set the franchise record this season for most 20+ point games without a turnover at 13. They are one of the big reasons why Jaylen can play as great as he has this season, and why the Celtics are as competitive as they are.
Going back to the Pacers game, Derrick earned a lot of praise that day. Joe added on to his previous comments, saying this about White: “He’s not defined by shooting efficiency. I think, to me, that’s a bonus… I just think it’s hard to recognize all the other stuff and it’s easy just to notice the shooting.”
Before the game even started, Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Pacers, started off his presser by saying that White should be an All-Star before he was even asked a question. Jaylen Brown had a lengthy answer after the game echoing the sentiment, and added on that Derrick should be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year as well. Neemias Queta got in on the love circle by calling White a “Swiss Army Knife.”
Like Joe said, it’s easy to get caught up in the shooting numbers, but the impact Derrick and Payton make on a game is immeasurable. It’s clear that their teammates feel the effects. Stats may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole story. At the end of the day, Boston can always like their chances when those two are on the court.
Good morning, it’s Monday, January 26th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 27-20 and play the Orlando Magic at home tonight at 7 PM. We wish you warmth and a clear driveway today.
Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points in the Cavaliers’ win over the Magic in Orlando on Saturday. Cleveland has now won 10 of their last 14 games and is back in the mix for the second seed of the Eastern Conference.
Today’s Game of the Day
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics – 8 PM, Peacock
Let’s switch it up and talk about some different teams.
The Trail Blazers (23-23) and Celtics (28-17) are each having better-than-expected seasons. Portland has been led by the breakout of Deni Avdija (who is listed as questionable for this matchup) while the Celtics have proven that sticking to a strong identity can lead to positive results, no matter who is in the rotation. This should be a fun one.
The Rest of the NBA Slate
Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks – 1:30 PM
Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets – 3 PM
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7 PM
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls – 8 PM
Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets – 8 PM
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves – 9:30 PM
There are plenty of games to choose from today if you’re able to stay home and avoid the snow. The NBA has you covered.
With this winter storm crushing half the country and NBA travel either delayed or cancelled this weekend, the Celtics return home for what could be another regular season-defining stretch of games. Here’s play-by-play announcer Sean Grande with the details:
I don't know if the energy is about to shift…but the schedule sure is….
BOSTON CELTICS ROAD GAMES Last 29 days: 11 Next 25 days: 2
BOSTON CELTICS HOME GAMES Last 33 days: 5 Next 18 days: 7
With the NBA trade deadline (February 8th) and All-Star Weekend (February 13-15th) on the horizon, the Celtics will play seven of their next nine games at TD Garden:
1/26: Portland Trail Blazers
1/28: Atlanta Hawks
1/30: Sacramento Kings
2/1: Milwaukee Bucks
2/3: at Dallas Mavericks
2/4: at Houston Rockets
2/6: Miami Heat
2/8: New York Knicks
2/11: Chicago Bulls
Not exactly a murderer’s row with the road back-to-back, but nothing can be taken for granted. It’s not as if Boston has exactly taken care of business recently. In what was supposed to be the easiest month of the Celtics’ schedule, they’re a respectable 8-5 so far, but it sure feels like they’ve left some games on the table.
They’ve been playing .500 ball over their last ten with the losses to the Nuggets, Spurs, Pistons, Detroit, and Chicago totaling just 15 points. Boston could easily be knocking on Detroit’s door for #1 and now, only five games separate the Celtics from the #2 seed and the Play-In Tournament.
With that in mind — at least narrative-wise — an 8-1 or 7-2 run could go a long way in solidifying this roster as true contenders. Most likely though, Brad Stevens knows what they have and no record will change how he approaches the trade deadline or Jayson Tatum’s return.
Still, decisions loom about setting the Celtics up best for the long term, Boston is still relatively high above the tax, and the team could use another consistent rotation player especially if Tatum can’t return this season. Brad Stevens, Bill Chisholm and company at least owe it to this group to stand pat and allow this team to play out the year.
There will always be trade rumors, especially for teams at the top of the conference, so expect to hear more about the Celtics trying to cut more salary and reduce their tax burden, finding front court help, using Anfernee Simons $27 million expiring contract as a trade chip, etc. This is the NBA nonetheless and the NBA loves rumor season.
The reality is the Celtics could enter All-Star Weekend with Jaylen Brown repping the team as a starter and Jayson Tatum nearing a return. And regardless of how they finish their next nine games, their last forty-five have proof positive that Joe Mazzulla is one of the league’s best coaches and his staff, the front office has a keen eye for finding players that fit their culture and system, and to a man, each of them has grabbed this opportunity and ran with it.
The Red Raiders aren’t done yet, with men’s basketball (16-4) and women's basketball (20-2) on course to continue the run of success. Texas Tech's men racked up another big win Saturday, Jan. 24, beating Houston to prove it is a national title contender.
It was one of the most impressive performances of the season. Houston is reliably spectacular on defense, yet it didn’t look like it in Lubbock. The Red Raiders outmuscled the Cougars, drew fouls and forced Kelvin Sampson’s team to play their way. They scored 55 points in the first half, the most Houston has allowed under Sampson’s 12 seasons at the helm.
Despite 42 points from Houston freshman Kingston Flemings, Texas Tech didn’t crack with a late run to put it away.
Tech has won nine of its past 10 games , the only loss a four-point defeat at Houston a few weeks prior. During that stretch, the Red Raiders have beaten Duke, BYU and Houston, one of the best collections of wins you can find in the country.
It all starts with an offense that’s on fire. The 3-point shooting is relentless, making more than 11 a game — and if they aren’t making it from deep, they have JT Toppin continuing to dominate inside. He had 31 points and 12 rebounds against Houston, his eighth double-double in the past nine games.
Simply put, if Houston can’t stop this offense, then who can? The Big 12 is loaded with title contenders, and Texas Tech put itself in the conversation to keep the fun times in Lubbock and lead the top storylines of the weekend in college hoops.
How long until undefeated teams lose?
We enter the final week of January with three undefeated teams: No. 1 Arizona, No. 7 Nebraska and Miami (Ohio), all 20-0. It’s rare to have multiple undefeated teams at this point of the season, so it’s worth asking how long can this go?
Arizona hasn’t really been tested to start the Big 12 slate. That will change with a trip to BYU on Monday, Jan. 26. The Cornhuskers will have their biggest week yet, at Michigan for a top 10-ranked matchup followed by a visit from Illinois.
That leaves the mighty RedHawks. They beat Kent State in a thriller, as the Golden Flashes were the best chance to beat Miami (Ohio). Now it faces UMass next, a team that was expected to contend in the MAC but hasn’t looked the part.
Keaton Wagler cooks Purdue, Boilermakers in trouble?
Have yourself a day, Keaton Wagler. The Illinois freshman set a Mackey Arena opponent record by dropping 46 points to lead his team to a 88-82 road win against Purdue.
The Fighting Illini have been on fire with nine consecutive wins, really looking like the team much of the country envisioned coming into the season. While Illinois deserves its flowers for this win, it brings up questions surrounding the Boilermakers (17-3). Two straight losses wouldn't normally be concerning, but Matt Painter's team hasn't been playing well recently.
It was uninspiring in wins against Penn State, Iowa and Southern California. Braden Smith hasn't been the problem, but Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn have been very inconsistent, an overarching theme for the rest of the offense. Wagler's performance also highlighted Purdue hasn't been able to keep opponents from taking over the game.
Purdue is still a title contender, but cracks are starting to show for preseason No. 1, and they better get patched up before the panic alarm sets off.
Freshman light up scoreboards
Wagler and Flemings weren't the only first-year players with big days as Jan. 24 belonged to the freshmen. Look at these numbers from around the country:
Back-to-back road losses to Cal and Stanford were so bad for North Carolina, it needed a big win to avoid people from yelling the sky is falling. Luckily for the Tar Heels, they picked up a Quad 1 win at Virginia on Jan. 24
North Carolina fell by 16 points in the first half and the Cavaliers looked like they'd run away with this ranked matchup. Whatever was said at halftime resonated, as the Tar Heels looked completely different in the second half. The offense was flowing, led by Jarin Stevenson scoring all of 17 points in the final 20 minutes, knocking in some big momentum buckets. He was able to take the pressure off Caleb Wilson and Seth Trimble, who had to pick up from the struggles of Henri Veesaar.
You can't overstate how badly North Carolina (16-4, 4-3) needed this win. It was the first road ACC win of the season, and prevented problems from snowballing. This could be the victory that turns everything around.
Rick Pitino makes history, St. John's finding momentum
St. John's had a second-half comeback and fought off a Xavier rally to beat the Musketeers. Pitino got the best of the Musketeers and son, Richard, for win No. 900, the fourth Division I men's basketball coach to reach the mark. With the win, the Red Storm have won six straight — four on the road — to get back near the top of the Big East, where many expected them to be this season.
It's redeeming the 7-4 start St. John's had, which can't be completely ridiculed since it was a tough schedule. The Johnnies are building toward another strong campaign, and have a chance to run the Big East once again en route to March.
Steve Kerr has been in charge of the Golden State Warriors since 2014 [Getty Images]
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said his team won a "bizarre, sad" game at the Minnesota Timberwolves in a "sombre atmosphere" after the fatal shooting of an intensive care nurse by immigration agents in Minneapolis.
The death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday was the second time in less than a month an American citizen has been killed by federal agents in the city, and has sparked angry protests both locally and in other parts of the US.
The Timberwolves held a minute's silence for Pretti before Sunday's game, which was punctuated by anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chants from fans.
An ICE operation in Minnesota ordered by President Donald Trump's administration has been going on for more than six weeks. ICE agents have the power to stop, detain and arrest people they suspect of being in the US illegally.
Renee Good, another Minnesota resident, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on 7 January.
"Honestly, what I felt was that [the Timberwolves'] group was suffering," said Kerr after the Warriors' 111-85 win.
"It was one of the most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of. You could feel the sombre atmosphere.
"Their team, we could tell they were struggling with everything that's been going on. And what the city has been through. So it was a very sad night."
Warriors forward Moses Moody, who scored 19 points with eight rebounds and two blocked shots, said you could "feel the weight of the city" during the match, which had been postponed for 24 hours after Pretti's death.
"I couldn't imagine too many different times where that large amount of people are together in the midst of a situation like this, so you definitely felt that," said Moody.
Stephen Curry led the scoring for the Warriors with 26 points to climb level with Paul Pierce at 19th on the all-time scoring list - finishing the game with 26,397.
Anthony Edwards scored 32 points and recorded 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost a fifth-straight match.
Brooklyn Nets (12-32, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (27-19, sixth in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn is looking to stop its five-game slide with a win over Phoenix.
The Suns are 14-6 in home games. Phoenix is fifth in the NBA with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Mark Williams averaging 3.2 offensive boards.
The Nets have gone 6-15 away from home. Brooklyn has a 1-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Suns are shooting 45.9% from the field this season, 3.1 percentage points lower than the 49.0% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets average 107.9 points per game, 3.9 fewer than the 111.8 the Suns give up to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Suns won the last meeting 126-117 on Jan. 20. Dillon Brooks scored 27 points to help lead the Suns to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.4 points and 4.7 assists for the Suns. Grayson Allen is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Michael Porter Jr. is scoring 24.9 points per game and averaging 7.3 rebounds for the Nets. Egor Demin is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 6-4, averaging 112.0 points, 44.0 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points per game.
Nets: 1-9, averaging 103.3 points, 40.2 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Jalen Green: out (hamstring), Devin Booker: out (ankle).
Nets: Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Cam Thomas: out (ankle), Nolan Traore: out (illness), Noah Clowney: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (21-24, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (15-31, 13th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Jazz host the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference action Tuesday.
The Jazz are 9-22 against Western Conference opponents. Utah averages 30.3 assists per game to lead the Western Conference, paced by Keyonte George with 6.6.
The Clippers are 11-14 against conference opponents. Los Angeles is last in the NBA recording just 23.4 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.1.
The Jazz's 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 13.5 per game the Clippers allow. The Clippers are shooting 47.6% from the field, 1.7% lower than the 49.3% the Jazz's opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 2 the Clippers won 118-101 led by 45 points from Kawhi Leonard, while Kyle Anderson scored 22 points for the Jazz.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jusuf Nurkic is scoring 11.2 points per game and averaging 10.2 rebounds for the Jazz. George is averaging 24.1 points and 2.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Harden is averaging 25.6 points and 8.1 assists for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.4 points, 40.4 rebounds, 30.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.4 points per game.
Clippers: 8-2, averaging 114.5 points, 41.1 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Kevin Love: day to day (knee), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (knee), Bogdan Bogdanovic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
