EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 points and 12 rebounds, Elliot Cadeau scored 17 and Morez Johnson added 12 points to lead No. 3 Michigan to an 83-71 victory over seventh-ranked Michigan State on Friday night.
The Wolverines (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of first place in the conference, coming off a win over previously unbeaten and fifth-ranked Nebraska.
The Spartans (19-3, 9-2) missed 14 of their first 18 shots. They finished the half with more turnovers (11) than field goals (seven) and trailed by as much as 18 points.
Michigan State went on a 13-2 run early in the second half to pull within three and Jaxon Kohler made a tying 3-pointer with 7:57 left.
Jeremy Fears, who scored a career-high 31 points, had a steal and layup that put the Spartans ahead 57-55 with 7:27 to go for their first lead that didn’t last long.
Michigan responded with clutch shooting, making 5 of 6 shots, while holding Michigan State scoreless for more than three minutes to seal its sixth straight victory.
Kohler had 12 points while Coen Carr and Jordan Scott scored 10 points apiece for the Spartans, whose seven-game winning streak was stopped.
NO. 21 SAINT LOUIS 102, DAYTON 71
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Trey Green made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Ishan Sharma added 18 on six more 3s and Saint Louis beat Dayton.
Quentin Jones also had 18 points for the Billikens (21-1, 9-0 Atlantic 10), who made 15 of their first 22 attempts from 3-point range and never trailed. It was SLU’s 15th straight win overall and its 18th in a row at Chaifetz Arena.
De’Shayne Montgomery had 23 points and Amael L’Etang scored 12 to lead Dayton (14-8, 5-4), which has lost four consecutive games for the first time since January 2014.
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Perri Page scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half, Fliss Henderson had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Columbia beat No. 19 Princeton 73-67 on Friday night.
Columbia (14-5, 5-1 Ivy League) extended the longest active winning streak in true road games to 16 games. The Lions also secured their second win against an AP Top 25 opponent in program history, with the other coming in the 2023-24 season against then-No. 25 Princeton.
Princeton (17-2, 5-1) entered with the third longest win streak in nation at 15 overall.
Columbia scored six of the opening seven points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 60-51. Columbia’s lead was just 62-59 with 3:43 remaining before scoring the next seven points to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 69-59.
Riley Weiss, Columbia’s leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, fouled out with 8:46 remaining in the fourth with 12 points. Susie Rafiu and Mia Broom each added 10 points. The Lions were coming off an 89-32 victory over Dartmouth — the fewest points allowed and largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent in program history.
Madison St. Rose and Olivia Hutcherson each scored 17 points, and Skye Belker added 16 for Princeton. St. Rose left in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury and did not return.
Princeton trailed 37-36 at halftime despite 17 points, five rebounds and four assists from St. Rose.
Up next
Columbia: Continues a three-game trip at Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Princeton: Stays at home to battle Cornell on Saturday.
___
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We are less than a week away from the NBA trade deadline and rumors are flying around fast and furious. Here are some of the latest rumors not involving Giannis Antetokounmpo (to check out the latest on his trade saga, click here).
Lakers in talks for De’Andre Hunter
It's no secret the Lakers are looking for help on the wing and some depth at the five.
Enter De'Andre Hunter, the Cleveland wing. The Lakers and Cavaliers reportedly have discussed a trade that would send Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht out of Los Angeles and involves a third team, Brooklyn. Here is what Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported on the Wine & Gold Podcast.
"My sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De'Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht and then bringing in a third team."
The challenge in constructing any trade with these teams is that the Cavaliers are over the second apron, and neither can aggregate multiple players in a trade nor can they take back more money than they send out. Added to that, the Lakers are hard-capped at the first apron and are currently less than $1 million from that number. The Lakers also have one pick to trade, a very valuable 2031 first-rounder, although there have been reports that the Lakers have looked to trade that pick for three lesser-valuable first-rounders, one of which would likely be included in this.
The prize for the Lakers would be adding Hunter, a player the Cavaliers hoped would fill their need on the wing, but did not. Hunter is averaging 13.9 points a game, often off the bench in Cleveland, shooting 30.9% from beyond the arc this season he is not a lock-down defender. Giving up Hachimura for Hunter is not a great deal, but if Sharpe is coming with him, the Lakers would have to consider it.
Keon Ellis
The hottest name in trade talks is another potential Lakers target, Kings wing Keon Ellis.
Sacramento is "sifting through various scenarios for Keon Ellis, sources say, several of which would include trading out veteran forward DeMar DeRozan and/or combo guard Malik Monk along with him," reports NBA Insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Marc Stein at the Stein Line previously reported 14 teams — almost half the league — had called Sacramento to check on an Ellis trade, including the Lakers, Clippers, Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks and Warriors.
There's a reason all those teams are interested. Ellis is a plus defender on the wing at 6'4" who is shooting 36.2% from 3-point range this season (and is a career 41.4% shooter from deep), all on an expiring minimum contract. He is eligible for a contract extension after Feb. 9, and if a team that trades for him can't reach that extension then he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
If the Kings pair Monk with Ellis in a trade, they make a combined $21 million; with DeRozan, that climbs to $27 million. Either option gives the Kings some flexibility to bring back someone they think can be part of their future.
Other trade rumors
• Agent Rich Paul denied the reports that he pushed Dallas to trade Anthony Davis.
Rich Paul says it’s NOT TRUE that he has demanded the Mavericks to trade Anthony Davis
“I know what was said. That thing was aggregated. This is the power of the internet. If you’re wondering why Rich Paul has a podcast, this is part of the reason why… The reality of it is,… pic.twitter.com/ctWNnlpR0x
• Cleveland has been active in trade talks as it looks to turn around a disappointing season so far, although nobody is exactly sure what their plan is, reports Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
• Oklahoma City may be exploring the trade market for center Isaiah Hartenstein, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN on the Hoop Collective Podcast. "He's got a team option next year for $29 million. I've actually heard the Oklahoma City Thunder's name in some trade chatter." Remember that next season, both Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams' max contracts kick in, and the finances are going to get a lot tighter in OKC. They probably won't make that trade, but it's worth watching.
• Expect Orlando to make a trade, but it will be all about dumping salary, according to ESPN’s Windhorst and Bontemps. The Magic are $5.6 million into the tax, and, given how this team is playing, would like to get out of it. Trading Tyus Jones and his $7 million salary is a straightforward way to do that.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Lake Nona member Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 on Friday for a share of second-round lead with Lottie Woad in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Ko, the 2024 tournament winner and a Hilton Grand Vacations ambassador, is the lone player in the 39-woman field without a bogey after two days. The Hall of Famer has 23 LPGA Tour victories.
“I’ve had to hole some good par putts, but I really haven’t put myself in that many difficult positions as of yet,” said Ko, from New Zealand. “I think that’s why I had the two bogey-free rounds. I’m hoping to kind of continue that good momentum this weekend.”
Woad shot a 69 to match Ko at 8-under 136 in mostly sunny conditions with 12 mph wind at the most in the 70-degree afternoon.
“I looked at the leaderboard quite a lot today because I was getting annoyed,” Woad said. “Seemed like there weren’t that many low scores out there, so kind of knew I was still in it. The pins were probably a little trickier so weren’t as many birdies as yesterday.”
The 22-year-old English player won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last year, weeks after taking the KPMG Women’s Irish Open as an amateur on the Ladies European Tour.
Nasa Hataoka, also a Lake Nona member, was a stroke back with Amy Yang. Hataoka had a 71, and Yang shot 69.
Defending champion A Lim Kim was 6 under after her second 69. Youmin Hwang (67) and Ingrid Lindblad (69) also were 6 under.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and Kelly Korda were 5 under. Thitkul had a 72, and Korda shot 71.
“I think the weather is going to get a little worse so I’m going to go to the putting green, go to the range because wasn’t hitting it the best today,” Korda said. “Just going to figure some things out ahead of the weekend.”
Baseball player Aaron Hicks topped the celebrity field.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 17: Donte Divincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball to the basket against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies in the third quarter at Target Center on December 17, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 116-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies Date: January 31st, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Location: FedEx Forum Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
If there was one major takeaway from the Wolves’ demolition of the defending champs on Thursday night, it’s this: Minneosta absolutely has the proverbial light switch. And not the “sometimes we lock in, sometimes we don’t” light switch that every NBA team claims to have in January. I mean the full-on, how are these even the same people? version—where you watch them torch Oklahoma City Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back, build a 20-point lead, and control the game basically start-to-finish… and then you think back to Sunday afternoon’s sleepwalking fiasco against Golden State Warriors and you feel like you’ve been watching two different franchises sharing the same jerseys.
And sure, you can try to explain it away. Emotions. Turmoil. The off-court noise that’s been swirling around Minneapolis. Fine. Maybe that’s part of it. But the deeper issue is that the “off” games didn’t start last week. They’re sprinkled all over this season like landmines: the abysmal effort against Chicago Bulls, the fourth-quarter collapse against the Utah Jazz, the late-December face plants against Brooklyn and Atlanta. Those were choices. Those were “we didn’t feel like it” nights. And that’s why the Wolves are sitting where they’re sitting: the No. 5 seed out West, a half-game behind Houston Rockets for the four spot, rather than hanging with Denver and San Antonio in that scrum for the 2 and 3 seeds.
So yes, it probably sounds like I’m being harsh and doom-and-gloom after the most impressive win of the season. But it’s only because the OKC game was a reminder of what this team is when it decides to be serious. When the defense is connected. When the ball moves. When the pace is controlled. When the Wolves stop treating possessions like optional. When they play like a team that has been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals and remembers what that feels like. Because when they play like that… they’re a nightmare.
And here’s the other reason that Thursday mattered: it reframed the fear. Early in the season, the biggest nightmare scenario was ending up on OKC’s side of the bracket and getting wiped off the map by the champs. But now? The Wolves have taken two of three from OKC. They’ve looked good doing it. And if they had hit free throws in that first matchup (yes, I’m dragging us back to that crime scene again) they might honestly be 3–0 against them. The Thunder weren’t at full strength Thursday, missing key guys, and we don’t get to pretend that doesn’t matter. But the larger point stands: Minnesota can absolutely take OKC to the wire and impose their will. Anthony Edwards is one of the few guys in the league who can hold serve with the offensive robot that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and when Minnesota is rolling, they can make the Thunder look small and uncomfortable in a way not many teams can.
Which brings us to the dangerous part.
Because after a win like that, after a statement game, after the crowd buzz, after the “we’re back” energy, here comes the ultimate letdown spot. The Wolves now get a weekend trip to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies without Ja Morant and Zach Edey, with a couple more rotation guys floating around as questionable game-time decisions. This is exactly the kind of game where Minnesota, especially this version of Minnesota, can start reading its own press clippings, take a few sloppy possessions early, and accidentally turn the night into a street fight. And the worst part? If they do that, Thursday’s masterpiece starts to feel like a wasted work of art. This is the “make it count” game. You don’t beat the champs and then hand it back by losing to a wounded opponent two days later. That’s how you end up in the play-in and spend April pretending it’s “not a big deal.”
So with that, here are the keys to the game.
#1: Don’t play down to the competition—because Memphis has already proven they’ll take your lunch money if you let them. This is where the Wolves have to stop treating urgency like a special occasion. Memphis, especially shorthanded Memphis, should not be allowed to hang around. And yet the Wolves have had this recurring habit this season: the moment the opponent looks “boring,” Minnesota starts acting like the game is a suggestion. They can’t do that here. The whole point of Thursday was rediscovering what “serious basketball” looks like: shrinking the floor, defending the perimeter with real resistance, rotating like you actually like your teammates, protecting the paint, and making the other team earn everything. If the Wolves come out flat and start giving Memphis easy drives, open threes, and second chances, then they’re basically telling everyone, the fans, the conference, themselves, that Thursday was a one-night rental.
#2: Dominate the paint like you’re supposed to—because this is a size matchup that should tilt hard in Minnesota’s favor. One of the underrated parts of the OKC win was how physical Minnesota played. They didn’t treat it like a track meet. They treated it like a “we’re bigger than you and we’re going to remind you” game. Now they get a Memphis team still without Edey, and the Wolves should smell blood. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid need to own the glass and own the restricted area. Gobert should be living on lobs and put-backs. Randle has to punish mismatches without turning into a black hole. Naz has to keep doing what he’s been doing in stretching the floor, forcing bigs to move, and making Memphis choose between protecting the rim and respecting the pop. This is a game where Minnesota can win with grown-man basketball if they actually commit to it.
#3: Do the little things that stop a “letdown game” from turning into a crisis—turnovers, free throws, and basic professionalism. This is the annoying part, because it’s the same lecture every time. But it’s the truth: Minnesota’s losses during this ugly stretch have been loaded with self-inflicted damage. Sloppy live-ball turnovers that turn into easy points. Missed free throws that turn into a tight fourth quarter you never should’ve had to play. Possessions where the Wolves just… stop making the simple play. If you want to be a top seed, you don’t live on the edge against undermanned teams because you can’t complete the fundamentals. You bank these games by taking care of the ball and converting the freebies. Not glamorous, not fun, but it’s how you stop the season from spiraling.
#4: Keep the shooting quality high—because the OKC flamethrower night only matters if you keep generating good looks when the percentages cool off. Nobody should expect the Wolves to shoot like they did against OKC every night, especially with the schedule tightening and the legs getting heavier. But the key isn’t “make every three.” The key is “take the right threes.” Thursday worked because the ball moved, the defense collapsed, and Minnesota got clean looks, shots that didn’t require a miracle or a heat-check ego trip. Against Memphis, the Wolves can’t fall back into the bad habit of hero-ball possessions that turn into contested jumpers with four guys watching. If the ball is hopping, Minnesota doesn’t need a perfect shooting night. They just need a steady diet of good shots and the discipline to live with the results.
#5: The Edwards-Randle tone-setting has to be consistent—because this team follows their mood like it’s a weather pattern. Ant was phenomenal against OKC. He set the tone early, he controlled the emotional temperature, and he made it clear the game was going to be a battle. Randle had a rougher outing, and that’s okay, everybody has those games. But now, against Memphis, he needs to get right in the exact way this Wolves team needs him: play physical, make quick decisions, facilitate when the doubles come, and punish when they don’t. And Ant has to keep doing the thing that separates contenders from pretenders: bring the same edge when the opponent isn’t glamorous. This team becomes whatever their two stars decide it’s going to be. If they’re locked in, everyone locks in. If they’re casual, the whole thing gets casual.
And that’s the real maturity test here.
Thursday night was the kind of win that can change a season’s emotional trajectory. It reminded everyone that Minnesota can absolutely beat the best team in the league when they’re connected. But the NBA doesn’t hand out trophies for “best single-game performance in late January.” The league rewards consistency. And the Wolves are about to hit the 50-game mark, which is usually when you stop being what you think you are and start being what you actually are.
They’ve proven they can flip the switch. That’s real.
Now comes the harder part: proving they can keep it on. Because when April and May arrive, there’s no “we didn’t feel like it tonight.” There’s no letdown spot. There’s no hiding. If Minnesota wants to make a real run, if they want to get back to that third straight Western Conference Finals, if they want do something this franchise has never done and get to the last round, then games like this Memphis one can’t be treated like chores.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks reaches out for the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. | Getty Images
Tonight, New York (29*-18) hosts the Portland Trail Blazers (23–25) at Madison Square Garden in the teams’ second and final meeting of the season. The Knicks had their hands full when they tussled earlier this month, but if they apply the same defensive juice that’s fueled their four-game winning streak, this one should be far more manageable.
Tip off is 7:30 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Blazers Edge. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good. And go Knicks!
* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup Final doesn’t count.
"Right now I'd be a senior in college," Bailey told ESPN in a statement. "I'm not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that's their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?"
Per ESPN's report, the 6-foot-3 guard has already hired an agent and an attorney to represent him in his case, in which he is looking for the NCAA to give him the right to play one more season.
"It's not a stunt," Bailey continued. "I'm really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win."
The Chicago native joins a growing list of players to re-enter college basketball, though unlike the others, he has NBA regular-season experience. His request also comes at a time when the NCAA is currently in court fighting against the temporary restraining order that former Alabama and G-League forward Charles Bediako received from Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge James H. Roberts Jr. to return to play for the Crimson Tide.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley said that the NCAA "has and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract."
The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract. Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students. https://t.co/hrSqL7xr8b
"@NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an @NBA contract (including a two-way contract)," Baker wrote in a statement posted on social media. "... Rules have long permitted schools to enroll and play individuals with no prior collegiate experience midyear. While the NCAA has prevailed on the vast majority of eligibility-related lawsuits, recent outlier decisions enjoining the NCAA on a nationwide basis from enforcing rules that have been on the books for decades -- without even having a trial -- are wildly destabilizing. I will be working with DI leaders in the weeks ahead to protect college basketball from these misguided attempts to destroy this American institution."
Bailey was a one-and-done at UCLA, where he started 28 games during the 2022-2023 season. In 30 games for the Bruins, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc.
He declared for the NBA draft after the Bruins were upset 79-76 by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He was drafted by the Hornets with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, where he'd play in just 10 games that NBA season.
Bailey spent most of the 2023-24 NBA season with the Hornets' G-League affiliate, Greensboro Swarm, before spending the entire 2024-25 season with the Long Island Nets, the G-League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. He's on a G-League roster this season, according to his G-League profile.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 08: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will play their 50th game of the season with Friday night’s home matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State finished its recent four-game road trip on a high note after defeating the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, 140–124. After sitting out a game in Minnesota, several Warriors veterans — including Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton — returned in a big way. Curry led the team with 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while Moses Moody benefitted from the extra attention paid to Curry, knocking down 5-of-9 three-pointers on his way to a 26-point night. Moody has done his part to keep the Warriors afloat recently, making over 50 percent of his threes over his last five games.
The Warriors return to the Chase Center tonight, where they are 17–7 this season. However, they’ll be tested by a tough Pistons team that currently holds the best record in the Eastern Conference at 34–12.
Detroit gets the job done defensively, ranking second in the league in defensive rating (108.9). While the Pistons are more middle of the pack offensively (11th in offensive rating), they’re led by Eastern Conference All-Star starter Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is showing his superstar potential this season, nearly averaging a double-double with 25.3 points and 9.7 assists per game, along with 5.7 rebounds.
Although the Warriors lack elite point-of-attack defense to slow Cunningham down, they’ll look to make up for it on the weakside. Steve Kerr recently said he’s leaning toward keeping Horford in the starting lineup at center, which places another high-IQ help defender alongside Green to compensate for the loss of Jimmy Butler. Horford had a strong showing Wednesday against the Jazz — which included three blocks and one steal on defense — and will look to continue that upward trend against Detroit.
Steve Kerr said he is leaning toward keeping Al Horford as the starting center. Minutes limit is up to 24. Kerr likes him next to Draymond. He’s started last two games he’s been available. pic.twitter.com/J64N4StL5d
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Espanyol was stunned by visiting Alaves 2-1 to extend its run of winless games to five in La Liga on Friday.
Lucas Boyé finished from close range a counterattack to complete a comeback by the visitor.
Roberto Fernandez headed in the opening goal for Espanyol and Alaves captain Antonio Blanco equalized with a deflected left-foot shot from outside the area.
Espanyol was fifth but the loss was a blow for its European hopes with Real Betis and Celta Vigo trailing by two points.
Alaves was previously just a point outside the relegation zone and has jumped to 10th in the table.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 28, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ Saturday game against the Hornets will start earlier than originally scheduled, the league announced. Due to the weather conditions in Charlotte, the league has moved up the tip-off time from 2 p.m. CT to 11 a.m. CT.
The National Weather Service has placed a winter storm warning affecting Charlotte, with heavy snow expected on Saturday. The extreme weather conditions that have been affecting the East Coast have already resulted in rescheduled games, so this is not the most surprising news.
By moving the matchup to earlier in the day, the expectation is that the Spurs should have an easier time getting out of the city in time to return to San Antonio for the second game of a back-to-back against Orlando on Sunday, according to The San Antonio Express-News’ Jeff McDonald:
In all seriousness, there was/is understandable concern about the Spurs' ability to get out of Charlotte after Saturday's game.
The team is slated for a 3 p.m. tipoff Sunday against Orlando at the Frost Bank Center.
Early starts can often have unpredictable results, and the Hornets have been playing well lately, so it could be a tough game for the Silver and Black. Fortunately, they landed in Charlotte on Friday with enough time to have a workout and will be well rested since they last played on Wednesday against the Rockets.
The game will be televised by KENS 5 and Prime Video.
Jan 23, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Last Friday was a tough one for Jalen Green. After returning the game before against the Philadelphia 76ers, he suited up in Atlanta for the Suns’ final stop on that road trip. It lasted 4:14. Then came the exit. Hamstring tightness. Precautionary, we were told. The contrast was immediate. Back on the floor one night, back in street clothes the next. And we have not seen him since.
That appears ready to change tonight as the Suns take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jalen Green is not on the injury report for tonight's Suns game against the Cavaliers.
Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) remains out.
No Darius Garland (right toe sprain), Evan Mobley (lefet calf strain) or Max Strus (left foot surgery) for Cleveland.
That is real news. The good kind. For Green, and for the organization. We do not know the minutes. We do not know the workload. We do not know how much stress that hamstring will see. But suiting up a week later matters. It signals optimism. It signals confidence.
Because hamstrings carry ghosts. A tweak, a return, another tweak, weeks lost, then doubt creeping in. That cycle can linger. It can mess with rhythm and trust.
This does not feel like that. This feels measured. It feels controlled. And if he is available tonight, it suggests the Suns believe it is stable. Calm after concern. Availability after uncertainty. And for a team that needs continuity, seeing Jalen Green back on the floor is a step in the right direction.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
ROME (AP) — Danilo Cataldi converted from the spot 10 minutes into stoppage time to lift Lazio 3-2 over Genoa in Serie A on Friday.
Lazio was cruising after taking a 2-0 lead early in the second half. Pedro converted a penalty for the opener and Kenneth Taylor doubled the advantage.
Although Lazio is one of three teams in Serie A with the most clean sheets — 11 — Genoa was unbeaten in its previous five games and came back to tie the score. Ruslan Malinovskyi scored from the spot and Vitinha leveled 15 minutes before the end.
Lazio moved up one place in the standings to eighth.
Genoa, despite having one of the worst defenses in Serie A, was 13th and tied on points with Cremonese, Parma and Torino.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Cotie McMahon scored 27 points, Christeen Iwuala had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 17 Mississippi beat No. 5 Vanderbilt 83-75 on Friday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The game was originally scheduled for Thursday night on the Ole Miss campus before moving due to icy conditions outside.
Ole Miss built a 44-25 lead at halftime behind 25 combined points from McMahon and Iwuala. Vanderbilt scored just 10 points in the second quarter on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor. The Commodores had 12 turnovers and just 10 field goals in the first half.
Vanderbilt rallied in the third quarter after making 11 of 17 shots and turning it over just twice. Mikayla Blakes scored 11 points in the third to get the Commodores within 60-51.
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda converted a three-point play with 5:56 left in the fourth to give Vanderbilt its first lead, 67-64, since it was 11-9. But Ole Miss responded by scoring the next seven points to begin an 11-3 run for a 75-70 lead with 1:57 left.
McMahon and Debreasha Powe combined to make four straight free throws in the final minute to secure Mississippi's sixth straight victory in the series.
Latasha Lattimore added 12 points and Kaitlin Peterson had 11 off the bench for Ole Miss (18-4, 5-2 Southeastern Conference).
Blakes led Vanderbilt (20-2, 6-2) with 29 points. Aubrey Galvan added 18 and Mwenentanda finished with 11. The Commodores were off to their best start through 21 games since the 1992-93 Final Four team.
Up next
Vanderbilt: Scheduled to host Florida on Sunday.
Ole Miss: Remains in Birmingham to play Auburn on Monday.
