Category: Basketball

NEW YORK — Almost three hours before Sunday’s nationally televised game between the Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden, about 50 huddled fans gathered outside the “world’s famous arena,” eagerly awaiting entry.

The chants of “Let’s Go Knicks” were loud enough to give people who were walking by in midtown Manhattan bundled up because of the frigid temperatures a sarcastic side-eye.

But the frenzy outside the arena isn’t for a playoff game, because it was only Feb 1. The anticipation hit a fever pitch, even though the mercury hit a balmy 15 degrees. For an average ticket price of $912, according to TickPick (the highest since Kobe Bryant’s final game in 2016), they better be diehard fans or scalpers. 

Those screaming Knicks fans couldn't care less about how they look or sound, and that is great news for NBC, which broadcast the game to kick off its “Sunday Night Basketball” package with a doubleheader. (The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets capped off the night)

Two of the NBA’s most storied franchises, the game’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, who could be making his last trip to New York unless these teams meet in the Finals, Luka Doncic, this season’s leading scorer, and a franchise so championship-starved that any playoff elimination feels like a funeral, are enough storylines to keep any fan tuned in.

Those in attendance got their money’s worth, with the Knicks winning their sixth straight overall in a 112-100 victory.

Make no mistake about it, that’s what NBC wants, and viewers will see that the production and the feel is going to be like that of the network’s main sports cash cow, “Sunday Night Football,” broadcast television’s No. 1 rated program for the past decade and a half.

Tracy Morgan was screaming during Luka's free throw. 😂

Mike Tirico was sitting right next to him and had to ask him about it. pic.twitter.com/SH6Wmi1HRD

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) February 2, 2026

Mike Tirico, the play-by-play extraordinaire for “Sunday Night Football” and next week’s Super Bowl 60, along with his Winter Olympic hosting duties, will call the games, and analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford are also on board for the ride.

The look and feel of "Sunday Night Basketball" and NBC’s $2.5 billion annual investment make this another showcase for the Peacock network, but during the first installment, it doesn’t have the standalone “all eyes on me” mentality of its football counterparts, as there were four other night games on the Feb. 1 NBA schedule. 

“I tell people all the time, if you get a chance to go back in time, some of my best moments were on this network,” Miller told USA TODAY Sports. “Obviously, in this building, and to have a chance to do a 360, and wouldn't say end my career. But it looks like it, you know, this would be my last swan song. I was on that other network for 18, 19 years, and now, to be back here, um, it's something that's truly a walk down memory lane for me.”

Miller, a self-proclaimed early bird because of his military brat upbringing, starts his gameday with a workout and then preps his storyboard, which takes about 2.5 hours, and whether the game is a blowout or a close affair, there will be plenty of things to talk about.

“I like to be overprepared that way,” Miller said, acknowledging the fans’ complaints of his perceived bias or that he talks too much during telecasts.

The NBA on NBC, during its heyday in the 1990s and ending its run in 2002, set the standard for its production and storytelling, with its iconic opening set to the soundtrack of John Tesh’s “Roundball Rock.”

Tesh is back and has been since NBC’s October return to NBA broadcasting, and as Carrie Underwood prepared fans for “Sunday Night Football,” Grammy-winning musician Lenny Kravitz handles those opening musical duties for “Sunday Night Basketball.”

“We have a base that's already there. Look, we are great storytellers on this network. I think that's always been the case, whether it's football, basketball, or whatever sport there is,” Miller said. “I think that will continue when you've got one of the best in the business, like Mike Tirico and Jamal and myself, who's, you know, I played 18 years, he played 19, so we have almost 40 years of experience between us. Either you love us, or you hate us, or we're still gonna talk to you as if you're one of us.”

But the quarterback of the entire show is no doubt Tirico, who Frank DiGraci, NBC Sports' coordinating producer, says he is the best, most versatile announcer in the business today.

“To me, that is the best sports television production out of any sport, on any network in this country. When they came to us to say, we want to do 'Sunday Night Basketball,' I was like, 'let's go,'” DiGraci said. “And that's our vision to just transfer 'Sunday Night Football' and the high level, and the quality that that brings, and just keep it going. Okay. And that's our goal, right? Tonight, starting tonight and going forward.”

“Sunday Night Basketball” will also have a feel of importance, with the studio crew on-site for each game.

The pregame crew of "Basketball Night in America" host Maria Taylor, analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, with special correspondent Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Bob Costas, were on hand for the tilt from New York

But Miller, one of the Knicks’ biggest villains during his playing days, wouldn’t have it any other way and says he still enjoys the way fans despise him for something he did 30 years ago.

“People think that I've only won in this building. I've lost a lot in here as well,” Miller said, as evidenced by his 33% winning percentage at the Garden. “I've had my heart broken in this building a lot, too. So, it's a two-way street, but I always tell people that Knicks fans, um, are truly a separate breed of what fandom is all about.”

So, it was part nostalgia with Miller, getting booed at every turn pre-game, part moving forward for NBC, and an opening that was a resounding success, with the hopes of dominating Sunday nights for the foreseeable future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sunday Night Basketball on NBC starts with a bang with MSG debut

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up their sixth win in their last seven games thanks to a 40-ball from Jarrett Allen that helped lead them past the Portland Trail Blazers130-111.

Allen is incredibly skilled offensively. His footwork, touch around the rim, quickness, and passing are advanced for someone at his position. That was on display as he ran around, over, and through Portland’s hapless center, Donovan Clingan, all evening.

The 40-point performance is what’s going to get the headlines, but the variety of ways Allen was able to score is what was most impressive.

He was a force in transition, beating his man down the floor. This created easy baskets if the defense forgot about him, and also allowed him to get smaller defenders caught in deep seals. This created driving lanes for others, as there are very few things that disrupt a defense as much as a mismatch right at the start of a possession.

Allen also consistently made the right move out of dribble-hand-offs. If his defender gave him room, Allen created space for the guard. If the center came up, Allen went around him for the drive to the hoop.

Then, there was the pick-and-roll game. He found ways to finish and create space for the ball handler in those situations. The vertical spacing he provides is incredibly valuable when the team is down two of its top scorers.

And lastly, Allen just did a good job of scoring on the block. He displayed his post moves, using up-and-unders and hook shots, to create angles inside.

Overall, it was just a completely dominant offensive showing from Allen, who did all of this in under 30 minutes and registered five assists as well.

As if the 40-ball wasn’t enough, Allen was also the best defender on the court. He completely controlled the glass with 17 rebounds, had four rejections, and added two steals just for fun. His defensive effort buoyed the Cavs on a night they started a little helter-skelter on that end.

Allen put up one of the most ridiculous stat lines in NBA history. I’m generally not a fan of cherry-picked stats, but you can tell if one is good based on the company of the other people in the club. And if you’re a center, you want to be in any group that features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.

The only @NBA players EVER to record 40+ PTS, 17+ REB, 5+ AST, 4+ BLK and 2+ STL in a game:

JARRETT ALLEN (TONIGHT at POR)***
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12/13/75 at PHX)
Joe Barry Carroll (2/1/87 vs. NJN)
Shaquille O'Neal (3/23/01 vs. WAS)
Joel Embiid (2/19/21 vs. CHI)#LetEmKnow

— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) February 2, 2026

Games like this show how good Allen is, but also why his typical inconsistent play can be so infuriating. It’s fair to point out that Portland isn’t exactly built to stop Allen. Their defense wasn’t disciplined, which allowed someone who was steadily and consistently executing to have a big night. But that doesn’t account for all of Allen’s success.

We’ve consistently seen that Allen is at his best when Evan Mobley is unavailable. Allen’s most impressive stretch of basketball as a Cavalier came in the 2023-24 season with Mobley out of the lineup. And now, we’re seeing that again in a similar situation.

This would be explainable if it were simply that Allen’s offensive game doesn’t mesh with Mobley’s. And while it’s true that Allen now has much more room to operate offensively, he also plays just over half of his minutes each game with Mobley when both are available. The duo is playing an average of 15.4 minutes a night together. Overall, Allen is averaging 27.1 minutes per game.

If it were simply a spacing issue, we should see some version of this Allen when Mobley is on the bench. However, the difference is more so in how Allen seems to approach the game when he’s the only center.

Allen plays with much more force and aggression when Mobley is unavailable. His skill set requires him to play that way to be effective. A center coasting through games isn’t going to have the necessary impact on either end of the floor. Their presence needs to be felt at all times if they’re mostly a paint-bound big.

I’m not sure how you get around this issue. Force-feeding Allen early in games would help. It’s certainly something the team should be prioritizing. But it’s also true that Allen’s effort shouldn’t be dependent on who’s in or out of the lineup. He’s far too good a player to have his energy fluctuate so dramatically on a night-to-night basis.

Ultimately, that’s only something Allen can fix.

Sam Merrill’s shooting can open up the game for everyone else. He went 6-8 from beyond the arc. This went a long way in Cleveland, finishing the game going 16-34 (47.1%) from three.

The havoc Merrill causes when he shoots this well is incredibly helpful for an offense. Defenders were closing out incredibly hard every time Merrill came off a screen. This led to him having four assists and helped open up lanes inside for his teammates.

It’s no surprise the Cavs had a 141.3 offensive rating when Merrill was on the floor. That number tied Allen for the highest mark on the team. Merrill playing this well simply unlocks the entire offensive attack.

Craig Porter Jr. continues to have an impact as a facilitator. He didn’t look to score, but was able to get his teammates involved by picking up a career-high 12 assists.

Porter’s feel for the game was on complete display. He did a great job of finding the open man by making the simple, correct pass time after time. This included hitting Allen in the pick-and-roll, Jaylon Tyson in the short roll, and Merrill coming off screens.

The Cavs needed someone to provide extra playmaking duties while they wait for Dennis Schroder to join them for Wednesday’s game. Porter more than stepped up on Sunday.

There’s no question that Larry Bird was the beating heart of the 1980’s and early ‘90’s Boston Celtics, but no one wins championships by themselves and one of Bird’s greatest teammates was Kevin McHale.

Hailing from Hibbing, Minnesota, McHale attended Minnesota before entering the NBA in 1980 when Red Auerbach pulled off a legendary trade: he swapped the #1 pick to Golden State for the #3 pick and Robert Parish.

The Warriors then took Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll – quickly named Joe Barely Cares by NBA fans – and Boston had two future Hall of Famers.

McHale came off the bench as a sixth man for a few years before joining Bird and Parish as starters. And what a career he had.

McHale was celebrated for his footwork and his elegant post moves. In today’s game, there is less demand for this kind of play, but the guy was essentially unstoppable inside. Basketball is cyclical like most things, prone to fashionable ideas.

We’re basically out of the small ball era and a player who can consistently score inside is going to be a valuable asset. McHale is a great role model for those players.

Incidentally, for a small town, Hibbing has produced some remarkable people. Aside from McHale, Hibbing is the hometown of baseball legend Roger Maris, Vincent Bugliosi, who prosecuted Charles Manson and his stooges, Robert Mondavi, who sold a whole lot of wine, Gus Hall, who ran four times for U.S. president as the nominee of the U.S. Communist Party, Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and perhaps most famously, legendary musician Bob Dylan.

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LeBron James has been selected for a record-extending 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star game by being named among the reserves from the Western Conference.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star was not selected as a starter in January but was among the seven reserves chosen from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences by NBA coaches.

James, who missed his side's first 14 matches of the 2025-26 campaign because of sciatica, has played 31 times this season and is averaging 21.9 points per game.

"It wasn't a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, 'OK, I can be an All-Star'," James told reporters after playing in the Lakers' 112-100 defeat against the New York Knicks.

"I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of once I kind of worked the rust off of missing pre-season, training camp and my summer workouts, which I've never done in my whole career.

"So I didn't think about the All-Star Game, to be honest."

James was selected for the NBA All-Star game in 2025 but did not play because he picked up an injury.

Kevin Durant, who plays for the Houston Rockets, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves were also selected as a Western Conference reserves.

The All-Star game has been revamped this season and will feature two teams of players from the United States and one team of international players.

They will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. The top two teams will then face each other in a championship game.

Starters selected from Eastern Conference:

Giannis Antetokounmpo* - Milwaukee Bucks

Jaylen Brown - Boston Celtics

Jalen Brunson - New York Knicks

Cade Cunningham - Detroit Pistons

Tyrese Maxey - Philadelphia 76ers

Reserves selected from Eastern Conference:

Scottie Barnes - Toronto Raptors

Jalen Duren - Detroit Pistons

Jalen Johnson - Atlanta Hawks

Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers

Norman Powell - Miami Heat

Pascal Siakam* - Indiana Pacers

Karl-Anthony Towns - New York Knicks

Starters selected from Western Conference:

Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors

Luka Doncic* - Los Angeles Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander* - Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Jokic* - Denver Nuggets

Victor Wembanyama* - San Antonio Spurs

Reserves selected from Western Conference:

Deni Avdija* - Portland Trail Blazers

Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant - Houston Rockets

Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves

Chet Holmgren - Oklahoma City Thunder

LeBron James - LA Lakers

Jamal Murray* - Denver Nuggets

* denotes international player

Boston Celtics (31-18, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-30, 11th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas aims to end its three-game home slide with a win against Boston.

The Mavericks have gone 14-14 in home games. Dallas leads the Western Conference with 35.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Anthony Davis averaging 8.0.

The Celtics are 15-10 on the road. Boston is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.1 points per game and is shooting 46.9%.

The Mavericks average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.2 fewer makes per game than the Celtics allow (14.2). The Celtics are shooting 46.9% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 46.1% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is scoring 19.8 points per game with 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 54.4% over the last 10 games.

Payton Pritchard is scoring 16.8 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 26.1 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.4 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.5 points per game.

Celtics: 7-3, averaging 114.1 points, 47.2 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.1 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), P.J. Washington: day to day (head), Brandon Williams: day to day (leg), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand).

Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago Bulls (24-26, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (18-29, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee heads into the matchup against Chicago after losing five in a row.

The Bucks are 14-17 in Eastern Conference games. Milwaukee averages 13.8 turnovers per game and is 8-8 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.

The Bulls are 3-8 against Central Division teams. Chicago ranks fifth in the league scoring 17.9 fast break points per game. Ayo Dosunmu leads the Bulls averaging 3.6.

The Bucks' 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Bulls allow. The Bulls average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Bucks give up.

The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 28 the Bucks won 112-103 led by 29 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Coby White scored 16 points for the Bulls.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is scoring 16.5 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 14.1 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 46.9% over the past 10 games.

Nikola Vucevic is averaging 16.9 points, nine rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. White is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 103.0 points, 41.5 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.

Bulls: 5-5, averaging 116.2 points, 44.3 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 6.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Gary Harris: day to day (hamstring), Kevin Porter Jr.: out (oblique), Taurean Prince: out (neck).

Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Kevin Huerter: out (back), Tre Jones: out (hamstring), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring), Jalen Smith: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

New York Knicks (31-18, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (13-35, 14th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to continue its six-game win streak with a victory over Washington.

The Wizards are 8-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington averages 15.2 turnovers per game and is 7-6 when it wins the turnover battle.

The Knicks are 21-11 in conference games. New York ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 26.8 assists per game led by Jalen Brunson averaging 6.1.

The Wizards are shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 46.2% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 more made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Wizards allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Knicks won the last meeting 119-102 on Nov. 4, with Karl-Anthony Towns scoring 33 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyshawn George is shooting 44.6% and averaging 15.5 points for the Wizards. Bub Carrington is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Mikal Bridges is scoring 15.7 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 18.8 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 3-7, averaging 110.4 points, 43.2 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.8 points per game.

Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.3 points, 48.5 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.9 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: out (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: out (ankle), Alex Sarr: out (calf), Trae Young: out (quad).

Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Phoenix Suns (30-20, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-27, 10th in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Portland will try to end its five-game slide when the Trail Blazers take on Phoenix.

The Trail Blazers have gone 18-14 against Western Conference teams. Portland has a 9-12 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Suns are 20-14 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference with 15.7 fast break points per game led by Devin Booker averaging 3.4.

The Trail Blazers average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Suns allow. The Suns average 113.8 points per game, 4.1 fewer than the 117.9 the Trail Blazers give up to opponents.

The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Nov. 19 the Suns won 127-110 led by 19 points from Booker, while Shaedon Sharpe scored 29 points for the Trail Blazers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Donovan Clingan is shooting 51.8% and averaging 11.1 points for the Trail Blazers. Sharpe is averaging 22.9 points over the last 10 games.

Dillon Brooks is scoring 21.1 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 110.1 points, 47.8 rebounds, 21.6 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points per game.

Suns: 6-4, averaging 109.7 points, 41.0 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija: out (back), Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (knee), Jrue Holiday: out (personal), Vit Krejci: out (ankle), Kris Murray: out (back), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).

Suns: Jalen Green: out (hip), Devin Booker: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Orlando Magic (25-23, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-11, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Orlando Magic in non-conference play.

The Thunder are 21-5 in home games. Oklahoma City is the league leader allowing just 108.0 points per game while holding opponents to 43.3% shooting.

The Magic are 10-14 on the road. Orlando has a 13-14 record against opponents over .500.

The Thunder average 120.3 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 115.6 the Magic give up. The Magic average 7.5 more points per game (115.5) than the Thunder give up (108.0).

TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 32.0 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is averaging 16.3 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 53.7% over the past 10 games.

Desmond Bane is scoring 19.4 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 23.6 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 47.2% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 6-4, averaging 115.9 points, 41.9 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.6 points per game.

Magic: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 39.8 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Alex Caruso: out (adductor), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Atlanta Hawks (24-27, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (27-24, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks visit Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat in Eastern Conference action Tuesday.

The Heat are 14-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is second in the Eastern Conference with 54.7 points per game in the paint led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaging 10.5.

The Hawks are 12-18 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta has a 12-19 record against teams over .500.

The Heat's 13.4 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 13.2 per game the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Heat give up.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 126-111 on Dec. 27, with Norman Powell scoring 25 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew Wiggins is shooting 46.8% and averaging 15.6 points for the Heat. Adebayo is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games.

Jalen Johnson is averaging 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and eight assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 19.4 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 6-4, averaging 122.4 points, 51.2 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 9.0 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points per game.

Hawks: 4-6, averaging 112.6 points, 42.9 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.2 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Tyler Herro: out (toe), Nikola Jovic: out (hip), Norman Powell: out (personal).

Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (face), Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Duop Reath: out for season (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz thinks he might get a small kangaroo tattooed on one leg.

It would be a lasting memento of his win over Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open men's final Sunday which made him the youngest male player at 22 to complete a career Grand Slam.

“I already know it’s going to be a kangaroo. I just don’t know the place,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just thinking about the leg but I don’t know which calf, whether it will be the right or left one.”

Alcaraz posed for photographers Monday with the ornate Australian Open trophy, looking casually stylish in black, in loafers and no socks. The photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in central Melbourne.

The women's singles winner Elena Rybakina was photographed with her trophy Saturday on the banks of the Yarra River, which runs through Melbourne.

According to Australian media reports, Alcaraz spent the night after his victory with his family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne.

In a social media post to fans during the photo shoot, Alcaraz said “I still can't believe that I just made it.

“A dream come true for me, a career Grand Slam. I'm enjoying this amazing moment. I can't forget the support and the love I've received.”

After completing a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 over Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, Alcaraz admitted “I hate to lose.”

He explained his mindset at the moment of victory.

“Before the last point ... a lot of things came to my mind, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I was really nervous, I was shaking almost. So once I saw the ball go out, I was like ‘alright, I made it.’

“It was a great feeling, thinking about my family and my team as well.”

Chasing completion

He has now set his sights of winning every major prize in tennis: three Masters 1000 titles that have eluded him, a season-ending championship and a Davis Cup with Spain. He has won six of the nine Masters 1000 crowns but has yet to win the Canadian Open, Shanghai and the Paris Masters.

“I hate to lose, so that’s my motivation. Trying to lose as less as I can,” Alcaraz said. “Yeah, there are some tournaments that I really wanted to win at least once. A few Masters 1000 I just really wanted to complete all the Masters 1000, trying to win each one at least once.

“Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set up some other goals for the season and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.”

Joining the greats

Alcaraz joined Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic as only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slams. He was younger than Budge by 91 days and considerably younger than Nadal who was 24 and three months, Federer almost 28 and Djokovic 29.

“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful but the bad part of tennis is we have tournaments week after week after week and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately,” he said. “Because once you finish a tournament, you’ve got to be prepared and your mind is about going to the next tournament.

“What I’ve learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting losses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.”

While Alcaraz has acknowledged the 38-year-old Djokovic as an inspiration, he's not sure he will be as durable.

“You know, let’s see how long I will be playing. Hopefully being in such a great shape at 38, competing and challenging the young players, and playing finals of grand slams.”

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The day began with uncertainty, stretched into frustration and ended, finally, with resolve.

After winter weather and travel complications pushed tipoff more than five hours past its scheduled start, the San Antonio Spurs shook off the chaos and delivered a 112–103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at the Frost Bank Center — a win that reflected not just talent, but resilience.

When the ball finally went up, the Spurs played as if eager to reclaim control of a day that had refused to cooperate. San Antonio burst out of the gate, scoring 37 points in the first quarter, fueled by crisp ball movement and an aggressive defensive effort. Victor Wembanyama immediately imposed his will on both ends of the floor, blocking shots, finishing in traffic and energizing a crowd that had waited all evening to see their beloved Spurs.

For a moment, it appeared the long day would fade quietly into a comfortable win, but Orlando had other plans.

The Magic flipped the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 40-23 and exposing the fatigue that inevitably crept in. San Antonio’s shots stopped falling, turnovers piled up, and the early lead vanished as Orlando seized momentum before halftime. What once looked routine had turned into a test.

It was in that moment — after the delays, after the lost rhythm — that the Spurs steadied themselves and took control for good.

“Heck of a response by those guys and they’ve proven that quite a bit this year,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I am very pleased with the effort and the response. The defense in the second half was nails.”

San Antonio opened the third quarter with renewed purpose, stringing together stops and launching a 10-2 run that reclaimed control. The pace slowed, the defense tightened and the Spurs began to impose their will inside, winning the rebounding battle and repeatedly earning trips to the free-throw line.

“I think it was more challenge and yelling,” Johnson said of his team’s defense in the second half. “We saw what happened in Charlotte where one quarter cost us the game. So I was pleased with the response in the second half.”

De’Aaron Fox guided the offense with patience, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists, while Dylan Harper provided 15 points off the bench to keep Orlando from gaining traction. And hovering over it all was Wembanyama, whose 25 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals told only part of the story. His presence altered possessions, changed decisions and anchored San Antonio when the game hung in the balance.

The Magic made their final push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit and briefly threatening to turn the night on its head. Each time, the Spurs answered — a stop here, a free throw there — refusing to let the game slip back into chaos.

When the final horn sounded, the frustrating issues of the day no longer mattered.

“It was a great day,” Harper said with a smile. “This is what comes with the game, but if we’re going to play — we’re going to play hard. We are here for the fans and we poured our energy into it.”

What remained was a victory earned the hard way, one shaped by patience and grit. On a night delayed by travel issues and defined by uncertainty, the Spurs found clarity where it mattered most — on the scoreboard.

Game Notes

• With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Denver Nuggets, Coach Johnson has been named a head coach for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Johnson and his staff will coach one of the three All-Star teams in the new U.S. vs. World format.
• Despite the win, the three-point woes continue to be an issue for the Spurs. San Antonio shot just 8-for-29 (27%) from beyond the arc. The good news? Orlando wasn’t much better, shooting just 33% from distance.
• With Stephon Castle out with abductor tightness, Harrison Barnes made his return to the starting unit and finished with seven points. What will be interesting to see if Coach Johnson puts HB back on the bench once Castle returns from injury.
• I’m not sure why Desmond Bane was so angry at Wembanyama and Carter Bryant, but he clearly had some issues after fouling both players hard in the second half. Maybe he needs a Snickers.

Luka Dončić had a parting gift for Jalen Brunson before the pair of former Mavericks teammates walked off the Garden court Sunday night.

As Knicks and Lakers players embraced following the Knicks’ 112-100 victory, Dončić flashed his middle finger after the star point guard finished another postgame exchange and walked over.

Dončić appeared to be joking with the gesture, as Brunson appeared to crack a smile as he got closer.

Luka Doncic shows Jalen Brunson the middle finger at the end of the Knicks-Lakers game pic.twitter.com/7JDMB1QYuW

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) February 2, 2026

Brunson and Dončić’s paths intersected back in 2018, when the former was selected at No. 33 overall in the second round and the latter was taken No. 3 overall by the Hawks — before getting shipped to Dallas in a trade that night.

They then overlapped for four seasons before the Mavericks allowed Brunson to walk in free agency and sign with the Knicks, where he has since become their captain and one of the league’s best players.

That left Dončić as the cornerstone in Dallas for the next two-plus seasons, until the Mavericks stunningly sent him to the Lakers last season — a deal that has since backfired for them and led to general manager Nico Harrison being fired.

“Definitely weird,” Brunson told reporters postgame when asked about seeing Dončić in a Lakers jersey. “I think we all expected him to be in Dallas for the longest time. But yeah now he’s a Laker and he’s playing great and still doing the things he does.”

Brunson and Dončić both played integral roles in the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference finals in 2022, where they were eliminated by the Warriors in five games before Brunson’s pivotal decision in free agency followed.

When they overlapped at the Garden on Sunday, Dončić, who’s averaging 33.7 points per game and could win the MVP award if he maintains that production pace, poured in 30 points for Los Angeles, while Brunson struggled by going 4-for-15 from the field — though he managed to dish out 13 assists, allowing the Knicks’ role players to flourish.

The victory extended the Knicks’ winning streak to six games, and the Lakers have dropped two of their last three entering Tuesday’s match against the tanking Nets.

The Indiana Pacers have won three straight games at five of their last six at home. That includes wins over the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and New Orleans Pelicans (a team Houston has struggled with this season). Oh, and in the midst of all that they went into Oklahoma City and beat the Thunder.

We’re at the point of the year where teams are outright tanking. Even the teams that know that it’s in their best interest to be bad are trying to learn what they have while remaining competitive. As the better teams look to the All-Star break as an opportunity to rest and recover, teams at the bottom of the standings see wounded contenders ready to be taken down. Then, after the All-Star break, they can have conversations with their veterans that go along the lines of “Do you really want us to play you 30 minutes a night, or would you rather save your legs and extend your career by another season?” Right now, the Pacers are trying to show proof of concept to their fans and the league. Next season, armed with a lottery pick and a returning Tyrese Haliburton, they’ll look to make a run at the Eastern Conference title once again.

And in case you’d forgotten, there are some good players still playing in Indiana. Pascal Siakam is one of the most well-rounded players in the league. Jarace Walker, the former Cougar, always has something extra for Houston. Aaron Nesmith showed last season that he’s a bona fide 3-and-D guy. Jay Huff loves to reverse dunk. Benedict Mathurin is a microwave scorer off the bench. T.J. McConnell is their version of “the guy you hate unless he’s on your team,” except McConnell is actually fun to watch. And of course I’ll save Andrew Nembhard for last. He just dropped 26p/10a/6r against the Hawks in anticipation of Gonzaga’s big with over St. Mary’s on Saturday. He’s a starting-caliber point guard and it’s going to be interesting if they see the duo of him and Haliburton being able to play together long term or if they look to move Nembhard in an attempt to replace some of what they lost in Myles Turner.

Tip-off

6pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Pacers

Obi Toppin: OUT

Tyrese Haliburton: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Wednesday night at home against the Boston Celtics