NBA – Page 105 – Worldwide Sports News

The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) play the second night of a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz (14-27) on Saturday afternoon in the final game of a four game homestand. These two teams each faced one another on Thursday in the Seats for Heroes night, and Dallas won by many, many points. Perhaps Utah will have an ounce of shame and actually play some of their players instead of benching guys luke Jusif Nurkic.

Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.

WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
WHAT: A midseason tankfest
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

The injury report for the Dallas Mavericks grows even longer than the one from Thursday. The core four are out (Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, and Dante Exum), but D’Angelo Russell was added to the report as out just recently due to illness and PJ Washington is missing the game due to personal reasons.. Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford are each listed as doubtful due to ankle sprains they suffered during the Denver Nuggets game. Thats EIGHT Mavericks. Max Christie is going to suit up, though.

The Jazz won’t have Walker Kessler, who is missing the whole season due to shoulder surgery. Lauri Markkonen is out due to an illness and Georges Niang will miss the game due to a foot injury.

The Jazz openly tanked the Thursday game, sitting playable guys who got “Did not play – Coach’s decision”. I expect a fine from them at some point, particularly if they do it again today. Dallas isn’t tanking, they are simply hurt and also stink.

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Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

January 17, 2026

Mobley Jr.'s 28 points push Ohio State over UCLA 86-74

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — John Mobley Jr. scored a career-high 28 points and knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers as Ohio State pulled away in the second half for an 86-74 win over UCLA on Saturday.

Bruce Thornton added 21 points and eight rebounds, while Devin Royal finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes (12-5, 4-3 Big Ten).

Ohio State erased a six-point first-half deficit by closing the half on a 12-6 run to take a 42-36 lead at the break. Mobley and Royal opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers, stretching the margin to 48-36 less than two minutes in.

The Bruins cut the deficit to 54-40 midway through the half, but the Buckeyes responded with an 8-3 spurt capped by Mobley’s 28-foot 3-pointer that made it 66-49 with 10:31 remaining. Ohio State led by double figures the rest of the way.

Mobley shot 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 12 from behind the arc and added three assists without committing a turnover in 38 minutes. Thornton went 7 of 7 from the free-throw line, and Ohio State finished 21 of 25 at the line while outrebounding UCLA 37-27.

Tyler Bilodeau scored 30 points on 9-of-19 shooting for UCLA (12-6, 4-3), his seventh 20-point game of the season and second career 30-point performance. Donovan Dent added 13 points and seven assists, and Eric Dailey Jr. scored 12 for the Bruins, who shot 40% from the field.

Up Next

UCLA hosts fifth-ranked Purdue on Tuesday.

Ohio State faces Minnesota this Tuesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

January 17, 2026

Game Preview: Suns Face the Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena

Who: Phoenix Suns (24-17) @ New York Knicks (25-16)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: Madison Square Garden — New York, New York

Watch: NBA TV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns have their first losing streak of 2026 and their first in over a month. Losses to the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, the Suns had a chance to win the first two games of their six-game road trip, but too many free throws and couldn’t execute in clutch time to get the wins.

The good thing for the Suns? Help might be on the way.

Devin Booker, who missed the team’s last game with an ankle injury that he suffered against the Heat, could return to action tonight. Booker has had major success against the Knicks the past couple of seasons, especially at Madison Square Garden. Last season, he had a 40-point outing, and in the 2023-24 campaign, he hit a game-winning three late.

DEVIN BOOKER FADEAWAY 3 FOR THE LEAD ‼️

1.7 seconds remaining Knicks ball…

Suns-Knicks | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/1VIDFw6r0U pic.twitter.com/O77I2jielr
— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2023

Just like the Suns, the New York Knicks head into this matchup on a losing streak. They’re also on a two-game losing streak and are 2-7 in their last nine outings. Previously, they had won 11 out of 1,3 including their win in the Cup Championship. Tonight is the Knicks’ first home game in more than a week. They started their road trip against the Suns, losing 112-107.

Can the Suns get back on track against a struggling New York team?

Projected Starting Lineup

Injury Report

Suns

Devin Booker — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
Jalen Green — (Right Hamstring Sprain)

Knicks

Jalen Brunson — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
Trey Jemison — OUT (G-League)

What to Watch For

In his last five games against the Knicks, Booker is averaging 32 points and seven assists. Throughout his career, he’s averaged 28.6 points per game against New York. Assuming he plays, does Booker continue his streak of historically strong play against them?

When the two teams faced off in Phoenix last week, Booker scored 31 points, hit four threes and dished in eight assists. Down the stretch of the game, he made numerous big plays to help the Suns secure the win.

After a rough few games getting his legs under him returning from injury, Grayson Allen is playing similarly to how he was at the start of the season when he was the team’s second-leading scorer. Allen scored 30 points for the second time this season in Thursday’s loss to Detroit, going for 33 points, seven threes, and three blocks. After recording three triples and three swats in the first quarter, Allen became the first Sun to ever record such a stat line in a single quarter.

Allen has more points in his last two games, 58, than he did in his previous four games, 41. Does Allen keep his strong scoring going?

Key to a Suns Win

No matter the opponent, the Suns need to shoot better from the free-throw line than they did against the Pistons. Going 16/25 from the line, one of the main reasons the Suns were in the game down the stretch was because Detroit actually shot a worse percentage from the charity stripe. In the Knicks and Suns’ first matchup of the season, Phoenix executed down the stretch at the line, hitting all six of their attempts in the final 15 seconds to ice the game. The Suns need to get back to knocking down their free throws at a high rate to keep them in games and secure victories.

If Devin Booker doesn’t play, the Suns need to decide who is going to step up as the primary scorer. Last game it was Allen and Collin Gillespie with Dillon Brooks in foul trouble. Despite his injury and availability status progressing in the right direction, Jalen Green remains out. Who will step up if Booker is not able to go.

Prediction

New York has been struggling and just made a cross-country flight to get back to the East Coast. The Suns look like the healthier and better team right now. Give me Phoenix in a close one as long as Booker plays.

Suns 113, Knicks 109

January 17, 2026

Reeves, Washington lead 2nd-half charge in Georgia Tech's 78-74 win over Wolfpack

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kowacie Reeves Jr. scored 21 points, Lamar Washington added 18 and the two combined for 28 in the second half as Georgia Tech held off North Carolina State 78-74 on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Akai Fleming added 16 points and Jaeden Mustaf collected his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets (11-8, 2-4 ACC).

Quadir Copeland scored 16 points and Paul McNeil Jr. and Ven-Allen Lubin added 12 each for the Wolfpack (12-6, 3-2), who had won their last two games and five of their past six.

Reeves hit a 3-pointer with under 10 minutes left to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead since late in the first half. The basket was part of a 12-2 run that put Georgia Tech up 65-58 and the Yellow Jackets held on from there despite some poor free-throw shooting.

Copeland got the Wolfpack within four with 49.9 seconds remaining after consecutive 3-pointers. Georgia Tech made just 2 of 8 free throws from there but a steal and free throw by Washington was enough to preserve the win after N.C. State missed two 3s on its final possession.

N.C. State opened the game with 3-pointers from Alyn Breed and Copeland before Georgia Tech scored the next 12 points, including a pair of Fleming 3s. The Yellow Jackets kept the lead until the Wolfpack outscored them 11-2 over the final 2/1 2 minutes for a 35-34 halftime lead on Copeland's last-second layup.

The Wolfpack had been 12-0 when leading at halftime.

Up next

Georgia Tech is home against Clemson next Saturday.

N.C. State is at Clemson on Tuesday.

January 17, 2026

Lawal with 22, Hansberry with 21, pace Virginia Tech in 89-76 win over Notre Dame

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Tobi Lawal scored a season-high 22 points off the bench, Amani Hansberry added 21, and Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame 89-76 on Saturday for the Hokies' ninth win in the past 10 matchups with the Fighting Irish.

Lawal and Hansberry scored 15 of Virginia Tech's 18 points during one stretch early in the second half as the Hokies extended an 11-point halftime lead to 66-48 with 12 1/2 minutes remaining.

Notre Dame got as close as 79-66 with four minutes remaining then Ben Hammond buried a 3-pointer and Hansberry finished off a layup for an 84-67 lead with three minutes left.

Hammond scored 16 points and Jailen Bedford added 14 for Virginia Tech (14-5, 3-3 ACC). Lawal grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. He is working his way back after missing all of December with an ankle injury.

The Hokies sank their first 24 free throws before Lawal missed the first of two attempts with six minutes left in the game. They finished 28 of 32 from the line. Lawal made 14 of 18.

Brady Koehler made 5 of 7 3-pointers and the freshman led Notre Dame (10-8, 1-4) with a career-high 17 points off the bench. Cole Certa, another reserve, scored 14 points and Sir Mohammed was the only starter in double figures with 12 points. Notre Dame backups scored 41 points.

Virginia Tech trailed only once, at 7-5. The Hokies went out front to stay with a 13-2 run and led 45-34 at the break.

Virginia Tech's previous six games had either gone to overtime or been decided by three or fewer points.

Notre Dame has lost four in a row.

Up next

Notre Dame: at North Carolina on Wednesday.

Virginia Tech: at Syracuse on Wednesday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

January 17, 2026

Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68

DALLAS (AP) — Malik Thomas had a game-high 23 points and a career-best 11 rebounds and Thijs De Ridder added 17 points, including seven of No. 16 Virginia’s eight points in the final 2½ minutes, as the Cavaliers hung on to beat SMU 72-68 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday.

Virginia (16-2, 5-1 ACC) has won five consecutive games. SMU (13-5, 2-3 ACC) lost for the first time in 12 games at Moody Coliseum this season.

De Ridder’s two free throws with 1:07 left gave Virginia a 70-68 lead. After the Cavs’ Dallin Hall missed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock with 14 seconds left, De Ridder grabbed the rebound and was fouled. De Ridder hit two more foul shots, putting Virginia ahead 72-68.

SMU’s Boopie Miller missed a right-corner 3-pointer in the closing seconds, and De Ridder grabbed the rebound.

Jarin Pierre Jr. scored 16 points to lead the Mustangs. B.J. Edwards added 13 and Miller, the team’s leading scorer averaging 20.8 per game, scored a season-low 12.

Thomas matched a season high hitting six 3-pointers. Virginia, averaging a program-high 28.3 treys attempted per game, hit 12 of 31.

Virginia conversely shot a season-low 12 free throws, sinking 10.

SMU led by as many as seven points during the opening 13 minutes before the Cavaliers went on a 13-2 run over almost four minutes to go ahead 35-28, SMU shooting 1 for 10 with two turnovers during the span. Virginia led 35-28 at halftime.

Up next

Virginia will host No. 14 North Carolina next Saturday.

SMU will visit Wake Forest on Tuesday.

___

January 17, 2026

Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks: preview, start time, injury report, how to watch

The Utah Jazz have their second game in a row against the Dallas Mavericks. Last time they played, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic rested, and the Jazz lost by a lot. What was lost in all the talk about the Jazz was that it was the back end of a back-to-back for the Jazz as well as the Mavericks, but Utah was on the road. Utah didn’t have their legs the whole night and shot just 27%. We’ll see if they do better in this one, but this will be the third game in four nights, so it may be a little bit of the same.

Injury Report

The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen again in this one. We’ll also see if Jusuf Nurkic plays or doesn’t like last time.

Jazz Injury Report:

OUT – Elijah Harkless (G League – Two-Way)

OUT – Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)

OUT – Lauri Markkanen (illness)

OUT – Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)

OUT – John Tonje (G League – Two-Way)

OUT – Oscar…
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 16, 2026

The Mavs will also be missing some players. It’s not clear if Adam Silver will pay attention to this or if it’s just the Jazz that get the magnifying glass.

The Mavs will be out Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford again today…

Max Christie is probable as he returns from illness #MFFL https://t.co/bmS2pYjHSU
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) January 17, 2026

How to watch

When: Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 3:00 PM MT

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Channel: KJZZ, Jazz+

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January 17, 2026

Plaschke: After Rich Paul drama, fans favor Austin Reaves over LeBron James and you can't blame them

Los Angeles, CA - December 28: Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times) — LeBron James will be a free agent after this season. If he doesn't retire, many Lakers fans would prefer he not return to the team. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

In a city where he has played for the longest stretch of his life, LeBron James should be considered one of the greatest Lakers ever.

Yet, by most accounts, he’s barely in the top 10.

James set the career scoring record here, set the career longevity record here, and won a long-awaited NBA championship here.

Yet he is generally ranked behind Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy … and maybe even Pau Gasol?

When he likely leaves the team after this season, James should get a statue. He won’t. He should get a farewell game similar to Kobe Bryant’s final good-bye. He won’t.

For eight breathtaking seasons, LeBron James has poured his soul into pleasing a passionate fan base such that he still fills Crypto.com Arena with joy and light and tomahawk dunks at age 41.

Yet most fans can’t wait for him to leave.

They’re tired of his drama, unconvinced of his loyalty, dissatisfied with the results, and ready to embrace fresh new franchise faces. One of those belongs to Austin Reaves, who was unwittingly pitted against James this week during unfortunate speculation from James’ agent and close friend Rich Paul.

Bottom line? If forced to choose between James and Reaves, here’s guessing the majority would choose Reaves. If forced to keep either James or Reaves, almost certainly the Lakers would keep Reaves.

These sorts of questions will matter at the upcoming Feb. 5 trade deadline, when, with the team going nowhere, perhaps James should realize that his days here are numbered and consider lifting that no-trade clause.

If unanswered, the questions will surface again this summer, when Reaves becomes a free agent and can command a maximum contract of $241 million over five years. The Lakers are going to pay him, which leaves James, who would also be a free agent, and his contract demands deep on the bench.

If James leaves the Lakers for whatever reason — retirement, seeking a title elsewhere — the Lakers can sign Reaves and still have $50 million in cap space.

Think about that.

Lakers forward LeBron James hugs teammate Austin Reaves on the court — Lakers forward LeBron James hugs teammate Austin Reaves after he was fouled on a three-point shot during a game against Utah. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Fifty million in cap space on a team that’s already locked up its two best scorers? Are you kidding me?

If James gets out of the way, the Lakers can finally fully commit to a retooling around Luka Doncic and Reaves.

It’s all pretty simple, isn’t it? It only became complicated this week when the suddenly struggling Lakers were hit with the most damaging opinion during the most detrimental of times.

Paul popped off on his podcast about trading, of all people, Reaves.

In “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” Paul cited the advantages of trading Reaves to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr.

“This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is beloved, which he should be, he's an underdog," Paul said on the podcast. "There's a world where you can do what's best for your team, and do what's best for Austin. Because Austin deserves to get paid. Now, I love him as a Laker, but if that was a situation where we're getting balance — because if you put all the money into just the backcourt and then your flexibility is restricted going forward to fill out the rest of the team…”

Paul went so far as to say Memphis would be the perfect place for Reaves.

"Memphis would definitely pay Austin," Paul said. "He would become … probably their point guard and leading scorer, for sure. … But definitely their highest-paid player."

A similar opinion urging the Lakers to trade Reaves appeared in this column last summer, but that was written before Reaves had a breakout start this season, averaging 27 points a game on 51% shooting before being sidelined with a calf injury.

He’s hot. He’s arrived. He’s him.

The idea of trading Reaves now feels foolish. Even worse, it feels like an idea that was co-signed by James himself.

Trading Reaves would give more touches to James. Acquiring Jackson would offer more room for James. The entire speculation could be summed up in one sentence that has nothing to do with Reaves or Jackson.

The Lakers should do what’s best for LeBron James.

No, they shouldn’t. No, they absolutely shouldn’t. Yet that’s what Paul was saying, and one would be naive to think that’s not what James is thinking, even though he denied any association in an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel," James told McMenamin. "And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they're not sensible to know that, then I don't know what to tell them."

In the same interview, James also expressed his love for Reaves. Smart man.

“AR knows how I feel about him," James told McMenamin. "All you got to do is look at us on the bench. Me and AR talk every single day. So, AR knows how I feel about him and I hope AR — or his camp — don't look at me and think this is words from me are coming through Rich.”

Turns out, Reaves’ camp thought these words were exactly coming from James, witness the brief courtside meeting between Reggie Berry, one of Reaves’ agents, and Paul during a Lakers game earlier this week. According to ESPN, Berry approached Paul in search of an explanation for his comments.

Later on his podcast, Paul said he told Berry, “I want Austin to know this is not about Austin Reaves because I love the player, love the person.”

Everybody, it seems, loves Austin Reaves, and he’s not going anywhere. Meanwhile, after another tumultuous week in the passive-aggressive life of a king, it feels like LeBron James is as good as gone.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

January 17, 2026

Air Force men's basketball coach Joe Scott suspended 'indefinitely'

Air Force men's basketball coach Joe Scott has been suspended effective immediately for an indefinite period.

The Falcons announced Scott's suspension in a statement ahead of Air Force's game against Nevada on Saturday, Jan. 17.

"Air Force Men's Basketball Head Coach Joe Scott has been suspended indefinitely pending an investigation into the treatment of cadet-athletes. Assistant Coach Jon Jordon (USAFA '85) will serve as interim head coach," the statement read.

In his sixth season of his second tenure leading the Air Force program, Scott has the Falcons sitting 3-14 overall on the season and at the bottom of the Mountain West with a 0-6 record in league play.

He was hired back at Air Force ahead of the 2020-21 men's college basketball season following a two-year stint serving as an assistant coach on Tom Crean's staff at Georgia. He has led the Falcons to a combined 97-183 record in his two stints.

Taking over in Scott's place will be assistant coach Jon Jordon, who graduated from the Air Force in 1985. Jordon has been on Scott's staff since 2022 and was also a member of his first staff at Air Force from 2000-2004 as well.

Air Force and Nevada are slated for a 4 p.m. ET tipoff at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air Force basketball coach Joe Scott suspended 'indefinitely'

January 17, 2026

Nwabali denies Salah, saves 2 penalties as Nigeria beats Egypt for 3rd place at Africa Cup

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties including the first from Mohamed Salah for Nigeria to beat Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout for third place at the Africa Cup Nations on Saturday.

Ademola Lookman scored the winning penalty.

Salah and Omar Marmoush had their penalty kicks saved by Nwabali at the start of the shootout after the teams drew 0-0 in normal time. No extra time was played for the consolation of a bronze medal.

It was the Super Eagles’ second consecutive penalty shootout following a scoreless draw after losing the semifinal to Morocco on penalties on Wednesday.

Nwabali produced a strong hand to stop a well-taken penalty from Salah, then thwarted Marmoush’s effort straight down the middle with his foot.

Salah had been kept quiet by Nigeria’s defenders and was unable to add to his 11 Africa Cup goals altogether.

Victor Osimhen remained on Nigeria’s substitutes’ bench, suggesting he was carrying an injury from the semifinal defeat to Morocco. Osimhen was taken off in extra time of that game just before the penalty shootout.

The Super Eagles ended the Africa Cup on a positive note in contrast to the last edition, where they lost in the final to host Ivory Coast.

Morocco and Senegal will contest the final in Rabat on Sunday. Sadio Mané's goal was enough to send Senegal through with a 1-0 win over Egypt in their semifinal.

___

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

January 17, 2026

Wesley Saïd leads Ligue 1 leader Lens to 10th straight win

LENS, France (AP) — Winger Wesley Saïd scored a brilliant goal to secure Lens' 10th consecutive win across all competitions and place atop the Ligue 1 standings on Saturday.

Lens defeated Auxerre 1-0 after Saïd controlled with his chest Malang Sarr’s cross into the box and finished with a left-footed volley from the bounce. The 65th-minute score was his eighth this season.

Lens, which claimed its only French title in 1998, stayed one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which beat Lille on Friday.

Next-to-last in the standings, Auxerre was not intimidated by the buoyant crowd and posed a strong challenge to the host with intense pressing.

After a first half of few clear chances, Lens showed more intent and Matthieu Udol, set up by Adrien Thomasson, came close to breaking the deadlock. The ball fell back to Udol who struck again only for defender Fredrik Oppegård to block.

Udol then delivered a low cross toward the near post for Thomasson, whose effort went just wide. Lens kept pushing and was finally rewarded when Saïd slotted home.

Other matches

Toulouse hosted Nice later Saturday and third-place Marseille was at mid-table Angers.

PSG warmed up for next week's Champions League match at Sporting with a convincing 3-0 win over Lille on Friday. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace. Monaco fell to its seventh defeat in eight games, at home to Lorient 3-1.

___

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

January 17, 2026

Best NBA Player Props Today for January 17: Balling Out!

Saturday's nine-game NBA schedule offers a plethora of prop betting opportunities.

I’ve sorted through the betting markets and selected my top player props for all of the action.

Read more in my NBA picks for January 17.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Cade Cunningham	Over 9.5 assists	<<+102>>
Kyshawn George	Over 14.5 points	<<-112>>
LaMelo Ball	Over 18.5 points	<<-120>>

MORE NBA FREE PICKS

Prop #1: Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists

+102 at bet365

The Detroit Pistons have built a 4.5-game lead at the top of the East, and Cade Cunningham continues to play like an All-Star. Despite a wrist issue, I expect him to put up big numbers again tonight against the Indiana Pacers.

His assists prop is the one that really stands out to me here, with Cade serving up 11+ dimes in four of his last five games. He’s got options inside and outside, from Jalen Duren as a lob threat to a red-hot Duncan Robinson beyond the arc, and it’ll just come down to making the right reads.

Cunningham has passed those kinds of tests all season, and there’s a steadiness with his playmaking. He averaged 10.1 APG in December, and he’s inched that number up so far this month.

The Pacers arrive in Motor City on the second night of a back-to-back set, and Cade should be able to cut through an Indiana defense that allowed the lowly New Orleans Pelicans to shoot 50% from the field yesterday.

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, FanDuel Sports Network Indiana

Prop #2: Kyshawn George Over 14.5 points

-112 at bet365

It’s the banged-up Washington Wizards against the banged-up Denver Nuggets here, but that opens the door for big performances from the healthy players on the two rosters.

That’s part of the case for Kyshawn George, who’s taken big strides in his second NBA season, and he’s getting every chance to spread his wings as the Wizards look towards the lottery.

George has scored 15+ points in four of his last five contests, including a 23-point effort against the Los Angeles Clippers last week, and this is a nice spot for him against a Denver team that will be without Christian Braun’s gritty defense.

He’s served up some erratic nights from 3-point range, but he’s making his triples at a 39% clip overall this year, and Washington needs him to stay aggressive as a shooter after trading away CJ McCollum.

The Wizards don’t appear to be in a big hurry to get new addition Trae Young on the court, and that means more touches for George, Alex Sarr, and the rest of the team’s young core.

Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Altitude Sports, Monumental Sports Network

Prop #3: LaMelo Ball Over 18.5 points

-120 at bet365

As frustrating as the LaMelo Ball experience can be at times, the 15-26 Charlotte Hornets have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder this month.

They’ve also got the upside to trouble the Golden State Warriors tonight, and that starts with Ball delivering another impressive stat line. LaMelo dropped 30 points on the Lakers on Thursday, including nine 3-pointers, and he’s gone past this number in three of his past four games.

Ball finished with 25 points in his one outing against the Warriors last season, and I’m wagering on him embracing the challenge of going head-to-head with Steph Curry here.

Volume shouldn’t be an issue. LaMelo has jacked up 20+ shots in four of his last five games, so while the efficiency may not be great, he’ll have every opportunity to nail this Over.

Ultimately, this pick may come down to Ball’s 3-point stroke. He’s 24-for-54 from downtown in his last four games, and that’s a shot he should be able to get with ease here.

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports Bay Area

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January 17, 2026

3-Man Fastbreak: Quiet and consistent

The Detroit Pistons opened 2026 the same way they closed 2025 — winning in a variety of ways and anchoring everything with elite defense. Injuries over the past few weeks failed to slow their momentum, and now the Pistons are back to full strength ahead of a tough stretch against Boston, Houston, and Denver to close out the month.

1. Threats in the East?

Opening the floor: who poses the biggest threat to Detroit in the postseason — and can the Pistons capitalize on what many view as a “gap year” in the conference?

Detroit currently holds a 4.5-game lead over Boston, which has cooled off after a scorching December. The Pistons have taken two of three from the Celtics, with all three games decided by single digits. The wild card is Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery — whether he could return at all, and whether Boston would even allow it. The contrasting styles of these teams would make for a fascinating playoff series.

Dec 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) brings the ball up the court against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Then there’s New York. Detroit dismantled the Knicks in their lone meeting so far, but you’d expect a much sharper response in future matchups. Below them, Toronto — whom the Pistons haven’t yet faced — along with Philadelphia, Orlando, and Cleveland all linger as dangerous middle-tier threats in a tightly packed East.

2. Deadline looming

With less than a month until the NBA trade deadline, there’s little consensus among fans or media about how — or even if — Trajan Langdon will approach roster changes.

There seem to be two main schools of thought consuming fans’ minds: swing for a bigger name or stand pat. But there’s also a middle ground Langdon could easily land on, similar to last season’s Dennis Schröder acquisition — a move that paid dividends during Detroit’s strong finish despite a first-round exit.

Detroit needs shooting, but they’ll be careful to add someone who won’t disrupt the culture or identity they’ve built. It’s hard to envision them sacrificing young assets for a moderate upgrade, but could a name like Tobias Harris surface in that type of deal? And what kind of draft capital would Langdon be willing to throw into a deal?

3. Duren back

Jalen Duren returned for the first time since New Year’s Day and immediately made his presence felt, posting 16 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks — including a momentum-swinging rejection late in the fourth quarter.

Oct 24, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts after making a basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

After a roaring start to the season, injuries slowed Duren in December, when his averages dipped to 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, down from November marks of 21.5 and 12.6. Still, it feels far more likely that his early-season production represents the real version of his trajectory rather than a hot stretch.

At just 22 years old, with multiple areas of his game still developing, there’s no clear ceiling on what Duren can become — and that uncertainty will loom large as future contract discussions approach. The Pistons are just happy to have him back at full strength.

January 17, 2026

Hornets vs Warriors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Call them the Legion of Doom, because the Charlotte Hornets have been road warriors since just before Christmas.

The Hornets have gone 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games. That includes a 27-point win at OKC, and ATS wins over three other winning teams.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are just 2-4 ATS in their last six favored by single digits.

My Hornets vs. Warriors predictions look for both trends to continue and Charlotte to add to its list of road covers.

Read on for my NBA picks for Saturday, January 17.

Hornets vs Warriors prediction

Hornets vs Warriors best bet: Hornets +7 (-110)

The two teams put on a show in Charlotte on New Year's Eve, firing away from outside.

The Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors combined to take 89 three-pointers, more than half of their field-goal attempts.

Each squad made more than 40% from three, and a trio of players — Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, and Charlotte's LaMelo Ball — knocked down at least five each.

The seven-point Golden State win started a stretch for Charlotte that has seen the Hornets go 7-2 ATS. On the flip side, it started a four-game ATS losing streak for the Warriors, though Golden State has bounced back to win four of its last five ATS.

The Hornets haven't just been winning and covering on the road; they've been bullying teams. In addition to the 124-97 win at NBA-leading OKC, the Hornets won at Chicago by 13.

On this trip, they beat the Lakers 135-117 and dismantled Utah, winning by 55.

Golden State will have Curry available. That was up in the air briefly after he limped away from Thursday's game with a quad contusion.

However, coach Steve Kerr confirmed Curry would be available for Saturday. The only injury issue for Golden State is Gui Santos, who will miss the game with a sprained ankle.

He contributes 11 minutes and 3.7 points per game, so it's not likely to sway things one way or the other.

Hornets vs Warriors same-game parlay

This point's total cutoff inspired a double-take. Yes, Charlotte and Golden State combined for 257 points two weeks ago, and yes, both teams are outstanding three-point shooters.

However, Golden State plays at the No. 18 pace in the league, and Charlotte is even slower, ranking No. 25 in tempo. Neither team will be pushing the ball, and Golden State has only one cutoff higher in its last six games.

Charlotte has had lower cutoffs in three of its last five. That New Year's Eve shootout is fresh in people's minds, and pushing tonight's game total too high creates opportunity.

LaMelo Ball put up 54 three-point attempts in the last four games, making 24. He's taken at least seven threes in 15 straight games and made four or more in 10 of them.

Hornets vs Warriors SGP

Hornets +7
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes
Under 234

Our "from downtown" SGP: Curry no Favor!

Nothing against Curry, who is still the league's premier sharpshooter, but this is another case of the New Year's Eve game swaying people and creating an opportunity.

Curry has made five or more threes just twice in the eight games (he missed one of them) since the last Hornets matchup. Overall, he's done it just four times in his last 14 games, and he's hampered by a quad contusion.

Hornets vs Warriors SGP

Hornets +7
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes
Under 234
Stephen Curry Under 4.5 threes

Hornets vs Warriors odds

Spread: Hornets +5.5 (-110) | Warriors -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hornets +195 (-110) | Warriors -235 (-110)
Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)

Hornets vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Hornets have hit the moneyline in seven of their last 11 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Warriors.

How to watch Hornets vs Warriors

Location	Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date	Saturday, January 17, 2026
Tip-off	8:30 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN SE-CHA, NBCSBA

Hornets vs Warriors latest injuries

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