Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named an NBA All-Star for the 10th consecutive season [Getty Images]
Giannis Antetokounmpo is "close" to returning from injury, says Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who described the "relief" in the camp after speculation that the two-time MVP might be traded.
The 31-year-old forward remained at the club after Thursday's trade deadline, and Rivers said the other players were "skipping around the gym" after it was confirmed he would be staying put.
Antetokounmpo has been limited to 30 games this season because of injury and has not played since suffering a calf strain on 23 January.
"He's going to play when he's healthy - he's getting close," said Rivers.
"He's working out. He looks good. So I would say hopefully sooner than later."
The Bucks claimed their third consecutive win on Friday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 105-99, but remain 12th in the NBA's Eastern Conference, three wins behind the Charlotte Hornets in the final play-off spot.
The Bucks have a 6-14 losing record when playing without Antetokounmpo, but have won 15 of their 30 games when he has been in the team.
Antetokounmpo averages 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and a 65% shooting success this season, earning him a place in the NBA All-Star game.
He has completed a workout on court before the past three Bucks games and posted a clip on social media from the film The Wolf of Wall Street after Thursday's trade deadline passed, along with a message: "Legends don't chase. They attract."
"It was a relief," Rivers said. "I thought Giannis' tweet was like a unifying thing for all the players."
Los Angeles Clippers (24-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-21, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference action Sunday.
The Timberwolves are 18-16 in Western Conference games. Minnesota scores 119.5 points and has outscored opponents by 4.7 points per game.
The Clippers are 14-15 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 3-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers average 112.3 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 114.8 the Timberwolves give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 7 the Timberwolves won 109-106 led by 27 points from Jaden McDaniels, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points for the Clippers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.3 points over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 20.4 points and 4.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 46.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (quadriceps).
Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (not injury related), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: day to day (illness), Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (not injury related).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Knicks (33-19, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-18, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Celtics take on New York.
The Celtics are 23-12 against conference opponents. Boston has a 5-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Knicks are 22-12 in Eastern Conference play. New York averages 117.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.2 points per game.
The Celtics score 115.6 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 112.3 the Knicks allow. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Celtics won 123-117 in the last matchup on Dec. 3. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 42 points, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 35 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 20 points and five assists over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is scoring 27.1 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 110.9 points, 47.5 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.
Knicks: 8-2, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Jose Alvarado: day to day (not injury related), Miles McBride: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (13-39, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (31-22, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Toronto after losing three in a row.
The Raptors are 23-14 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is the league leader with 19.2 fast break points per game led by RJ Barrett averaging 3.8.
The Pacers are 9-25 against conference opponents. Indiana gives up 118.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 7.7 points per game.
The Raptors average 114.0 points per game, 4.4 fewer points than the 118.4 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Raptors give up.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 15 the Raptors won 115-101 led by 30 points from Brandon Ingram, while Pascal Siakam scored 26 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ingram is averaging 23.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and four assists over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 23.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 114.1 points, 42.3 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.
Pacers: 3-7, averaging 109.6 points, 42.5 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.7 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (back), RJ Barrett: day to day (injury management).
Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ivica Zubac: day to day (personal), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Kobe Brown: day to day (not injury related ).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento plays Cleveland looking to stop its five-game home skid.
The Kings are 9-18 in home games. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in one-possession games.
The Cavaliers are 14-10 on the road. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.4 points per game and is shooting 47.4%.
The Kings average 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers give up (13.9). The Cavaliers average 119.4 points per game, 1.0 fewer than the 120.4 the Kings give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Cavaliers won 123-118 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Donovan Mitchell is scoring 28.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson is averaging 18.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 53.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.9 points, 43.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.
Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 116.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: day to day (back), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: day to day (eye).
Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Evan Mobley: out (calf), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), James Harden: day to day (personal).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
NEW YORK — To no one's surprise, Round One between UConn and St. John's men's basketball lived up to all the expectations on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
But it was the No. 22-ranked Red Storm that emerged as the victor rather than the No. 3-ranked team in the Big East heavyweight matchup.
The Red Storm did so by doing something the Huskies excelled at heading into the game, something that makes them a national championship contender once again: by getting defensive stops down the stretch.
It was an entertaining contest that showed St. John's can go a full 40 minutes and grind out a win against a top-tier team like UConn. It also showed the Huskies are legit contenders once again, seeking a third national title in four years — even if their offense is still a work in progress.
"As hard a game as we've had to play all year," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
For St. John's, it's the highest-ranked win since 2021 against Villanova, and the highest-ranked win at The Garden for the Red Storm since they took down No. 3 Duke on Jan. 30, 2011. It's also the first three-game winning streak against UConn since the 1999-2000 season, when St. John's swept the regular season series and won the Big East championship game.
The Red Storm's statement win, which puts them within a half-game of first place in the Big East standings, ended an 18-game win streak for the Huskies. It's the first loss for UConn since it fell 71-67 to then-No. 4 Arizona on Nov. 19, and it's just the second overall loss of the year for the Huskies.
"We work too hard to play like that and just lose," UConn forward Alex Karaban said. "We invested too much time to lose, and it's a hard feeling. It's not an easy feeling to sit with right now."
The Red Storm had to fight for their fourth Quad 1 win of the season after an even first half.
That fight began with a 16-6 run to begin the second half to claim a 10-point lead after Bryce Hopkins drilled a 3-pointer at the 13:03 mark. The Huskies allowed the Red Storm to stay in the game — and then grow a double-digit lead — with self-inflicted wounds (like four turnovers in more than six minutes) and by falling into foul trouble.
St. John's turned 15 UConn turnovers, nine of which came from Huskies point guard Silas Demary Jr., into 20 points. The nine turnovers were a season high for Demary, who has otherwise been a home run find out of the transfer portal for the Huskies this season.
"You've got to be in great shape to do what they do," Hurley said of the St. John's defense and the disruption it created for the Huskies' offense. "It disrupts your ability to get into what you want to do offensively.
"I don't think that we turned it over because of their pressure. We turned it over because we lost our (expletive) mind a little bit and they have great defense. That's a top 20 defense, easy. They're hard to beat."
That fight then continued with the St. John's response to UConn's 16-9 run midway through the second half, where it saw its 11-point lead sliced to a single point after Demary hit a 3-pointer from the corner of the Huskies' bench.
A second-chance, tipped-in jumper from Dillon Mitchell off a missed 3-pointer and a 3-pointer from Dylan Darling turned the energy in The Garden back the Johnnies' way, and they closed on a 12-7 run. St. John's physicality around the rim led to 16 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds.
"We made a lot of big plays tonight, a lot of big plays," Pitino said. "I'm proud of our guys for not panicking one bit at any point in the game."
Zuby Ejiofer was also a difference maker for St. John's across his 34 minutes of action, as he stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals.
"You know you’re going to make me retire because I’m not living life without you," Pitino said of the preseason Big East Player of the Year.
It's the fourth game this season in which Ejiofor finished with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 21 points were a key driver of the 50 points the Red Storm received from their frontcourt, (Mitchell had 15 points and Hopkins 14).
"They’re grown-ass men," Hurley said of the St. John's frontcourt. "... They are built for Big East games."
St. John's physicality also helped it earn its first top-25 win of the season. The Red Storm outscored the Huskies 42-22 inside the paint, and got to the line 31 times compared to UConn's 12 free-throw attempts.
Those reasons, and growing guard play, could make Pitino's squad a real tough out in the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm entered the night on the 5-seed line in projections, but after Friday's win, they should see a bump to a 4-seed.
For UConn, the Huskies miss out on adding a second Quad 1 win in Big East play on the season. Hurley's squad shouldn't see a drop in their projections, as a combined 13-3 Quad 1 and Quad 2 record, which features a win over Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, is a fine resume to keep them at the 1-seed line.
But for now, St. John's shifts its focus to Xavier at The Garden on Monday night with Round Two against the Huskies not that far in the distance on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. It will likely be a fight for the No. 1 seed in next month's Big East tournament back at The Garden.
Jan 30, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) shoots against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
DALLAS — WNBA star Caitlin Clark didn’t seem thrilled when former NBA star Reggie Miller declared her NBA comparison was Payton Pritchard on an NBC pregame broadcast last week. The clip of her seemingly disappointed reaction immediately blew up on the internet, with fans claiming that she appeared offended when Miller compared her to the Celtics guard.
But, when asked about the moment earlier this week, Pritchard shrugged it off.
“I don’t really look into that kind of stuff. I don’t really got a comment,” Pritchard said. “She’s a tremendous player, though.”
Caitlin Clark’s face reaction when Reggie Miller compared her game to Payton Pritchard is just 😂😂😂.
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) February 2, 2026
The reality is that being compared to Payton Pritchard is no slight. Perhaps Clark was expecting to be compared to a more decorated star, like Steph Curry or Luka Doncic. But it’s not Curry, nor Doncic, who is the NBA’s most efficient isolation player.
That honor goes to the 6’1 Celtics guard.
Pritchard is the NBA’s most efficient isolation player, shooting 63.5% from the field on 1.8 iso attempts per game, per NBA.com.
He wasn’t the least bit surprised when he stumbled upon that efficiency statistic, which made its rounds on social media late last month.
“I feel like it just goes to the work, and it makes me believe that I’m on the right path,” Pritchard said. “And, every year, I get a little bit better and better. And, as long as that’s happening. I don’t want to say that I’ve had drastic jumps year-to-year to go [like[ from 10 to 20 points, but if I’m chipping away, going [up] 3 points, more assists, I’m getting a little bit better, then I’m on the right path. I feel like it’s just another sign that I’m doing what I’m supposed to.”
And, since the viral Caitlin Clark clip, the former Sixth Man of the Year has been especially productive.
In the last three games, he’s averaging 25.7 points on 52.7% shooting, while shooting 45.8% from three. While he’s technically come off the bench for all three of those games, is averaging more minutes in that span (34.5) than he has this season (32.7).
Coming off the bench hasn’t impacted his approach.
“The mindset don’t really change,” he said. “It’s just come out and do what I do — hoop and help the team win.”
If you watch Pritchard play, one of the most remarkable parts of his offensive prowess is how much space he’s able to create against players. He attributes that to three converging elements of his game.
“I think it’s the ability to stop on a dime, [being] strong enough to bump them off, and the handles to be able to create that separation too,” he said. “So it’s all three — setting them up with the handle, a little nudge, and the ability to stop.”
On Tuesday night, Pritchard came off the bench for the first time all season and dropped 26 points on 12-20 FG, including hitting 10 of 12 of his two-point attempts.
Just moments after checking into the game, he drove past Cooper Flagg for a reverse layup. His litany of shots included a fadeaway over Caleb Martin, a floater over Ryan Nembhard, and multiple jumpers over Flagg.
No two shots looked the same because, depending on who was guarding him and at what angle, Pritchard pulled out a different move.
“I’d still shoot it over Wemby — like I had a shot against Wemby, an isolation on top, and I shot, like, an underhand floater,” Pritchard said, recalling a move he made in the Celtics’ game against the San Antonio Spurs last month.
After all, the Oregon star famously spends the entire offseason inviting different elite players from around the world to guard him, so that he can perfect the right counter against each type of defender.
“I’m not really worried about who it is,” he said. “Now, [Wemby] might change the trajectory of my shot. I might shoot a different shot. But that’s why, in the summertime, I’m playing against many different heights and different types of players, because [if I’m going up against] somebody quicker, or somebody stronger, or taller, you’re gonna have to get to a different spot, a different type of shot to get it off.”
In Friday’s 21-point comeback win against the Miami Heat, Pritchard was particularly instrumental. The Celtics guard struggled in the first half (5 points on 1-6 FG), but went crazy in the second, exploding for 19 points on 7-9 shooting.
Afterwards, Jaylen Brown credited him for turning the game around.
“Payton has just developed different aspects of his game,” Brown said. “Offensively, he’s always been able to be a three-point threat. He established that, but now I feel like he’s learning to use his body, get to the midrange, get his shot off, and be effective and efficient, which has helped take him another step, finding ways to get to the basket. He looks great.”
From regular DNPs to one of the NBA’s elite scorers
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka has long known that Pritchard had this in him. He recalled having three different 1-on-1 meetings with Pritchard through the 2021-2022 season, in which Pritchard fell out of the rotation in favor of Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson.
Udoka explained to the then-23-year-old that his time was coming, but remembers Pritchard’s eagerness to lace up: “He is always who he’s been — confident, aggressive, but also itching to get that opportunity.”
So, nothing he’s seen since 2022 has surprised him — not the Sixth Man of the Year award last Spring, nor his ascendance this season as the Celtics’ third-leading scorer.
“He’s always been who he is,” Udoka said. “It was opportunity more than anything.”
The Celtics traded Schroder, Richardson, and Romeo Langford at the midseason trade deadline in 2022, paving a pathway for Pritchard to get his much-desired, more consistent minutes.
“Ever since then, he’s taken off,” Udoka said. “You knew he was going to be ready for it.”
Nowadays, the Celtics guard is the NBA’s assist-to-turnover ratio leader, among players who average at least 3 assists per game.
In 2026, he was the Celtics’ second-leading scorer in 2026, averaging 17.8 points per game. In that span, he’s shooting 49.1% from the field and 42.1% from three, an early-season shooting slump in the rearview mirror.
Sometimes, regardless of what the defense throws at him, he just about looks unguardable.
Friday night against the Heat was one of those nights.
“I have a lot of tools in the toolbox,” Pritchard said, matter-of-factly. “So, I pull them out.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-111 victory over Sacramento on Friday night, sending the Kings to their 11th straight loss.
John Collins added 22 points and Brook Lopez and Kris Dunn each had 15 for the Clippers, who ended a two-game skid.
Darius Garland, acquired from Cleveland earlier in the week, remained out. He hasn’t played since Jan. 14 because of a sprained big toe on his right foot.
Malik Monk had 18 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn't won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. Nique Clifford had 16 points and Dylan Cardwell and Devin Carter each had 14 for the Kings. De'Andre Hunter, also acquired from the Cavaliers this week, had six points in his second game for Sacramento.
The Clippers went into halftime trailing 49-48, but took the lead for good with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Lopez to make it 86-84.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan, at the center of a boycott controversy that has overshadowed the lead up to the T20 World Cup, has won the toss and elected to field against the Netherlands in the tournament's opening game on Saturday.
The Pakistan government has instructed its national team to boycott its Feb. 15 Group A game against co-host India, a decision that shook the cricket world only six days ago.
If Pakistan goes ahead with its boycott against India, it can ill afford to lose points in its three other Group A games — a group that also features the U.S. and Namibia.
A grassy wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, hosting its first T20 in 16 years, surprised Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.
“First time I’ve seen this much grass in Sri Lanka,” Agha said at the toss. “We’re playing three pacers and allrounders. Netherlands are a good side, but we want to execute our plans.”
The Netherlands has a history of surprising stronger opposition in T20 World Cups, including beating South Africa in 2022 in Australia which cleared the way for Pakistan to qualify for the semifinals.
Captain Scott Edwards said his team had got used to the conditions after spending more than a month in India and Sri Lanka.
“For us, it’s a big game, so are the other three,” Edwards said.
Later Saturday
In the two other games on Saturday, Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh in Group C, will meet two-time champion West Indies in Kolkata while co-host and defending champion India plays against the U.S. at Mumbai in a Group A match.
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Lineups:
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (captain), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren.
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 15: Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 15, 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
Once again, the Houston Rockets are at a rest disadvantage against a superior opponent. In addition, the Oklahoma City Thunder sat half their roster for their last game in San Antonio.
In reality, none of that matters since the Rockets probably couldn’t beat the Oklahoma City Blue right now. Houston’s offense, which was build around Fred VanVleet’s decision-making and Steven Adams’s rebounding prowess, is so abysmal that calling it “nonexistent” would be an insult to things that don’t exist.
Defensively, Houston hasn’t been as terrible at it feels, but teams have figured out two things: Alperen Sengun cannot defend the pick-and-roll and no one on the Rockets is playing with much IQ on that end of the floor. Threes have been wide open and closeouts have been…lazy, to say the least. Ime Udoka can call all of the angry timeouts he wants, but this team can’t change who they are.
Truly, it hasn’t felt this hopeless as a Rockets fan since the Stephen Silas years. And even then, there was light at the end of the tunnel in the form of lottery picks. Right now, there’s not much silver lining.
I know Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are out, but how is the line only Thunder by 4.5? This is going to be a bloodbath.
Feb 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Between an international road trip, swirling rumors of a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and two actual trades that saw Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and Mike Conley (for now) leave the organization, it’s been an intense set of days for the Wolves organization.
With the trade deadline in the rearview, the Wolves can now shift their full attention back to basketball and their two newest players, Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips, who were both listed out but were in attendance for Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Before the game, Dosunmu and Phillips, along with Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, spoke to the media about the trade deadline.
Ayo Dosunmu describes his game in his first availability with Minnesota media pic.twitter.com/ThLzer0GLf
The game played out as many have for the Wolves this season. The Wolves’ defense was atrocious right from the opening frame, giving up 32 first-quarter points, including 20 in the paint, as the Pelicans were able to get layups and dunks early and often.
The Wolves’ defense picked up in the second quarter, which let the Wolves to take a 14-point lead into halftime with the offense scoring 70 points in the first half. That lead grew to as many as 18 points early in the third quarter with the Minnesota offense humming.
Instead of stomping the Pelicans out right then and there, the Wolves let off the gas as they have so many times before. The pace all ball movement of the Timberwolves’ offense dissapeared and Trey Murphy III hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter to cut the Wolves’ lead all the way down to five entering the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was a disaster on both ends of the floor for the Wolves with the Wolves scoring just 21 points, while their defense was unable to stop Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, as the Wolves fell behind by six following Derik Queen’s fourth 3-pointer of the game.
The Wolves would mount a comeback, going on a 7-0 run to take the lead, but an and-1 by Zion on the subsequent play, and an empty possession for the Wolves on the other end sealed the Wolves’ fate as they lost to the 13-40 Pelicans by a final score of 119-115.
The Wolves had no answer for Zion, who scored 29 points on 11-13 shooting as he continues to torture Target Center every time he plays in Minnesota. Anthony Edwards finished with 35 points, but shot 4-14 in the second half, including four missed shots in the final minute.
“We just give him too much runway,” Finch said about the Wolves’ defense on Williamson. “Guys backed off and let him come right at them because he’s a handful if you do that. It’s in the scouting report, push up, take his runway away, be in the gaps, show a crowd, and we just seem reluctant to do that.”
Rudy Gobert had the most striking quotes after the game, pointing to effort and accountability following the loss.
“There’s just no effort. We’ve seen that many, many times this year, last few years since I’ve been here. We always know it’s coming, and when it comes there’s no sense of urgency. No accountability. So I think at some point, if the players don’t have accountability, someone else gotta have accountability for the players. I’m just talking straight effort.”
Asked Rudy Gobert what he meant by accountability and where that accountability needs to come from.
"It starts with ourselves, but it seems like we don't have that. So I think at some point, from the coaches, yeah, from the coaches. It's not an easy position for a coach to take… pic.twitter.com/2HxFe5Wm2y
Performances like tonight have become all too commonplace for a Wolves team trying to win the championship. They often don’t take teams like the Pelicans seriously, playing little to no defense, and when they do lock in and take a sizeable lead, they far too often let off the gas, let the other team back in the game, and are unable to regain their composure.
Edwards was asked about the team’s sense of urgency, saying, “Of course. This one hurt. But we can’t dwell on it too bad. The game’s over. We got another game coming up.”
All of this feels like déjà vu. Much of what is written above has been written many times before this season. It has yet to change, and worse yet, it feels to be getting worse. The players and coaches say many of the right things about needing to be better, but at a certain point, actions need to match the words.
If the Wolves can’t find more consistency night-to-night against non-marquee opponents, a return trip to the Western Conference Finals or beyond feels like a pipe dream.
Up Next
The Timberwolves close out their pre-All-Star break schedule with three more games at home, the next coming on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers. It is a matinee matchup as the game begins at 2:00 PM CT, airing locally on FanDuel Sports Network and nationally on ESPN.
After that, they play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday before the week off.
DETROIT (AP) — Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points in his last game as a two-way player and the Detroit Pistons routed New York 118-80 on Friday night to end the Knicks’ winning streak at eight games.
Jenkins was playing his 42nd game of the season, meaning he is no longer eligible for NBA games under his two-way contract. The Pistons must convert his deal to a full NBA contract to keep him. He’s averaging 8.2 points and 3.3 assists in 16.8 minutes as a backup guard.
Jalen Duren (knee) missed the game for Detroit while the Knicks played without Karl-Anthony Towns (eye) and OG Anunoby (toe).
Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart each scored 15 points for the Pistons. They have won five straight regular-season games against New York, but lost to the Knicks in six games in the first round of last season’s playoffs.
Mikal Bridges scored 19 points for New York. Jalen Brunson finished with 12 on 4-for-20 shooting that included 0 for 8 on 3-pointers. New York’s 80 points were a season low, beating the 90 they scored in a 31-point loss to the Pistons on Jan. 5.
BUCKS 105, PACERS 99
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Milwaukee beat Indiana for its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Ryan Rollins added 22 points for the Bucks, and Bobby Portis had 21 after missing two games because of a bruised hip.
Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 22 points and Pascal Siakam had 19.
Indiana rattled off a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull to 91-87 with 4:11 remaining. On the Pacers’ next possession, Ben Sheppard missed a 3-pointer that would have made it a one-possession game.
Kevin Porter Jr. then hit a driving layup to start a 7-0 run that gave Milwaukee some breathing room.
Jericho Sims had a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with four points for the Bucks. Milwaukee’s Myles Turner had nine points and 10 rebounds against his former team.
CELTICS 98, HEAT 96
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 29 points while Payton Pritchard scored 24 points to help Boston make its biggest comeback of the season, rallying from a 22-point deficit to defeat Miami.
Derrick White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:31 remaining that provided the Celtics — winners of five straight — the final margin. White shot 6 of 20 but ended up with 21 points.
Nikola Vucevic had a double-double in his first game with the Celtics, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Boston made 9 of its final 15 shots from 3 after missing 20 of 21 from deep to start the game.
Miami had a chance to win it in regulation, but Davion Mitchell missed a 3-pointer from the corner with 2.7 seconds remaining. Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with 26 points while All-Star Norman Powell had 24 points.
Miami wasted little time serving notice that it would be a long first half for Boston. The Heat jumped out to a 15-2 lead and led by as many 22 points before pulling into halftime up 59-38. The Celtics shot just 28% during the first two quarters, but things changed in the third quarter.
Up 67-49, Miami watched as Boston outscored the visitors 25-7 over the final 7:06 of the third quarter. White and Pritchard started the comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers, then Pritchard hit a 3 coming out of a timeout that cut Miami’s lead to 67-58.
PELICANS 119, TIMBERWOLVES 115
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Saddiq Bay scored 30 points, including two free throws with 10.8 seconds remaining, helping New Orleans overcome an 18-point second-half deficit in a win over Minnesota.
Zion Williamson added 29 points and Trey Murphy III scored 26 as the Pelicans snapped a three-game skid
Minnesota took a brief one-point lead with 50 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer by Bones Hyland, but Williamson converted a three-point play to put the Pelicans up 117-115 with 35.5 seconds to play.
Anthony Edwards’ shot fell short and Bey grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Julius Randle with 10.8 seconds to play.
Edwards finished with 35 points in the loss, including 23 in the first half. Randle added 24 points, while Rudy Gobert grabbed 16 rebounds to go with his 12 points.
Pelicans rookie Derik Queen scored 17 points and was 4 for 4 from 3-point range. He entered having made just 10 shots from deep all season.
TRAIL BLAZERS 135, GRIZZLIES 115
PORTLAND (AP) — Jerami Grant had 23 points and Portland snapped a six-game losing streak, beating Memphis to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again Saturday night in Portland.
Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who led by 30 points after pulling away in the second half. Eight Portland players finished in double figures.
Cam Spencer had 18 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who had won their previous two straight after a six-game losing streak. GG Jackson II added 15.
Ja Morant missed his eighth straight game with left elbow injury. Morant remained with the team at Thursday’s trade deadline despite speculation the Grizzlies might move him.
The Grizzlies were adjusting to a sweeping trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah in exchange for Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks.
CLIPPERS 114, KINGS 111
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had seven assists to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Sacramento, sending the Kings to their 11th straight loss.
John Collins added 22 points and Brook Lopez and Kris Dunn each had 15 for the Clippers, who ended a two-game skid.
Darius Garland, acquired from Cleveland earlier in the week, remained out. He hasn’t played since Jan. 14 because of a sprained big toe on his right foot.
Malik Monk had 18 points to lead Sacramento, which hasn’t won since beating Washington at home on Jan. 16. Nique Clifford had 16 points and Dylan Cardwell and Devin Carter each had 14 for the Kings. De’Andre Hunter, also acquired from the Cavaliers this week, had six points in his second game for Sacramento.
The Clippers went into halftime trailing 49-48, but took the lead for good with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Lopez to make it 86-84.
"They said I said a lot of stuff in the other city, too, that I didn't say."
The Wizards were one of the more interesting teams at the trade deadline, acquiring former All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis for matching salaries and none of their own core players or picks. Davis and Young are two injured players who very likely do not play for the team this season as the Wizards tank to hold on to their top-eight protected pick, otherwise owed to the Grizzlies or the Knicks (depending upon where it falls). While the Wizards have an interesting young core of players such as Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, and others, they do not have a true build-around-him star.
Davis and Young are stars and big names, but they are also both on shorter contracts (Young has a player option for next season, Davis for the 2027-28 season) and are looking for extensions. With all that, does Davis want to be part of the future in Washington? He, understandably, wants to see what the plan is going forward.
"I talked briefly (Friday) with Will [Dawkins, Wizards GM]. Obviously, at this time, every year, you want to compete for championships and stuff like that. That's obviously the main focus, getting to that place. Conversations are going to be held to see about getting to that space. I've been everywhere the last two years. I want to see the plan, hear the plan, see the vision. Bringing Trae (Young) here and other things in store, what they're thinking of doing, I want to have those conversations with them and see what happens. The city is obviously phenomenal."
What the Wizards' long-term plan is will depend in part on how this lottery goes. They are trying to acquire talent but also, clearly, want to start winning some games and make the postseason.
While it is possible that the Wizards try to trade Davis this offseason, the reality is that the Wizards got him for a song (Khris Middleton and other expiring contracts to match the salary, the Thunder's pick in this June's draft that will be No. 29 or 30, a 2030 Golden State first round pick that is top 20 protected then converts to a second rounder, and three second round picks) for a reason. His trade value is low right now. When healthy, Davis has played like an All-Star this season, but the fact that he is 32, had injuries limiting him to 20 games this season and 51 last season, and is owed $111 million over the next two seasons, limits his market. That's not changing before the offseason.
If Young and Davis can stay healthy and buy into the plan in Washington, playing up to their potential, their trade value will go up — and the Wizards will be very entertaining next season.
Feb 6, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) looks for a shot against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks capped off their three-game homestand with a win over the Indiana Pacers. They finally got the monkey off their back, winning three games in a row for the first time this year. Kevin Porter Jr. was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points. Andrew Nembhard led a depleted Pacers squad with 22.
The Bucks found themselves in an eight-point hole early on, thanks to a rough 2/6 start from the floor. Milwaukee was able to course-correct, responding with a 14-2 run to take their first lead of the game. It was all capped off by a Bobby Portis three-pointer in his first game back, after missing the last two with a hip contusion. Indiana’s bench continued to be a pain in Milwaukee’s backside, as they engineered a 12-3 run to retake the advantage. Aaron Nesmith drilled a shot from beyond the arc with 30 seconds left, giving the Pacers a six-point lead after the first 12 minutes, 29-23.
Portis made his return well-known in the next quarter. With the Bucks down by six, BP went on a personal 7-0 run to pull them ahead. The two former playoff adversaries, now turned draft lottery hopefuls, went back and forth throughout much of the second frame. AJ Green shifted the momentum to the Bucks, drilling a top-of-the-key three, putting them ahead by five. That margin grew to nine points for Milwaukee after Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner each buried threes. Jarace Walker finally stopped the bleeding for Indiana with a two at the buzzer, but Milwaukee went into the locker room up 54-47.
The Bucks continued to pour it on to begin the second half. Green buried two more three-pointers, as Milwaukee went on a 16-6 run, building their advantage to 17.
BP got in his bag again in the waning stages, hitting his patented post fadeaway, and then pulled up from mid-range in Micah Potter’s face. Those two buckets gave the Bucks their largest lead of the night to that point, going up 19. After a couple of baskets from T.J. McConnell got the lead down to 15, KPJ ended the quarter with an and-one layup, sending Milwaukee up by 18, 83-65.
While the Pacers scored the first four points of the fourth, the Bucks scored on three straight possessions, extending their lead to 20. Pete Nance joined in on the fun, throwing down a two-handed jam, leading to an Indiana timeout. Things seemed to be in cruise control, but the Bucks went cold as the Pacers went on a 15-0 run, cutting the lead to just five with 5:07 left. Rollins finally ended a four-minute and 35-second scoring drought for Milwaukee with a layup. The Pacers got the game within four, but a 9-2 run by the Bucks put the game out of reach. Rollins put the Bucks up 11 with 1:21 to go, but Indiana wouldn’t go away, trimming the Milwaukee lead down to just four with 11 seconds left. Portis scored a quick layup on the other end, officially sealing the game for the Bucks.
Stat That Stood Out
One of the biggest storylines for the Bucks this season has been their inability to rebound, especially on the offensive glass. Tonight was a much different story, as they secured 13 in the win. Myles Turner and Jericho Sims each had four.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 6: Ariel Hukporti #55 and Kevin McCullar Jr. #9 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 6, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kinda saw it coming. Four Knicks (33*-19) were listed as OUT at Little Caesars Arena tonight: Karl-Anthony Towns (eye), OG Anunoby (toe), Miles McBride (hernia surgery), and Jose Alvarado (still in transit). Plus Josh Hart was playing, but hindered by a sore ankle. This was not a full-strength squad that came to battle the Conference-leading Detroit Pistons (38-13). Sure a loss seemed possible, but we expected a little better than a 118-80 finish . . . I mean, the Wizards beat Detroit last night, and New York had won eight consecutive games. A 38-point blowout?
YIK asks, “Do we really need a recap of this game?” No. But here you go anyway.
With two starters out, coach Mike Brown fielded a starting lineup of Jalen Brunson (12 PTS, 4-of-20 FG), Mikal Bridges (19 PTS, 7-of-16 FG), Josh Hart (5 PTS, 6 RBS), Mohamed Diawara (4 PTS, 2 RBS), and Mitchell Robinson (4 PTS, 3 RBS). For most of the first quarter, it wasn’t awful. In fact, the period was a low-scoring, tightly fought affair until late.
For Detroit, Cade Cunningham (11 PTS, 7 AST) attacked the rim, hit from deep, and drew fouls, while Paul Reed (12 PTS, 6 RBS) and Isaiah Stewart (15 PTS) dominated down low. The Pistons shot 55% and won the pain 18-4 while the Knicks shot 3-for-12 from deep and attempted zero free throws. It didn’t help that Brunson missed seven of his first eight shots. The Pistons’ defense made his life hell tonight. Bridges kept our heroes afloat with a couple of threes, but a 19-5 Detroit run over the final minutes broke the game open. Heading into the second, the home team was up 28-17.
The second quarter opened with a pair of Robinson alley-oops, but that was it for highlights. Detroit continued to dominate by getting contributions across the lineup, including Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Reed, and Josh Green. Against the short-handed Knicks, J.B. Bickerstaff’s club looked deep. For New York, Bridges was the lone consistent scorer, Jalen Brunson continued to brick (1-of-5 in Q2), and the good guys found themselves on the wrong end of a 63-42 halftime score.
In the first half, New York shot 35% from the field and 26% from three, while Detroit shot 55% overall and 56% from deep. The latter outscored New York in the paint (26-16) and on the break (11-5). Brunson missed all five three-point attempts, while Hart went 1-for-7 for two points. Bridges was the lone consistent scorer, putting up 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and hitting three threes; no other Knick had reached double figures.
Detroit blew the game open in the third by staying composed and repeatedly punishing New York’s mistakes. Cunningham and Harris generated clean looks, while Daniss Jenkins (18 PTS) scored from all over to keep piling up the lead. The Knicks missed a run of jumpers—Brunson and Bridges both struggled to convert—and couldn’t string together stops or quality possessions. To make matters worse, Hart tweaked something that sent him to the locker room, ending his night. Another long run by the Pistons put them up 90-60 going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was garbage time with a scoop of trash on top. Detroit kept padding their lead. Kevin Huerter made his debut as a Piston. Trey Jemison III and Pacome Dadiet got some floor time for New York. What else do you need to know? YIK was right. At one point, the camera caught Jalen and Mikal looking forlorn on the bench. If the camera panned back to show my mug, back at the Binghamton headquarters, surely you would have seen the same expression.
On to the next one, which is . . . ahh, crap. . . .
Up Next
The hits keep coming for our heroes, with a trip to Boston to battle the Celtics in a Sunday matinee. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
