Category: NBA

All eyes are on LeBron James and a possible Madison Square Garden finale when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the New York Knicks tonight. 

However, New York isn’t going to let “The King” steal the show, especially not All-Star guard Jalen Brunson.
 
My Lakers vs. Knicks predictions see potential in Brunson’s playmaking, featuring buyback value on his assist prop.

Here are my best NBA picks for Sunday, February 1, with tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

Lakers vs Knicks prediction

Lakers vs Knicks best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists (-120)

Jalen Brunson’s passing prowess has slimmed over the past month.
 
After averaging around seven assists through November and December, the New York Knicks guard dished out just 4.4 dimes per game in January and closed out the month by finishing Under his total in seven straight.

Brunson’s potential assists went from 11.7 per game to 8.0 in those seven outings, with Brunson converting only half of those chances for 4.0 assists.

Brunson has failed to record more than six dimes in a game during that stretch, and that’s pulled his assist market down to 5.5 O/U.

Tonight’s tilt with the Los Angeles Lakers offers a good spot to buy back the Over, considering the Lakers allow the sixth most assists per game on the season, with that metric spiking to 30.3 over the past three contests. L.A. also gives up a high assist-to-FGM rate, especially on the road (65.6%).

Brunson is a handful for any defender, but the Lakers don’t have anyone who can hang with the mighty guard when he wants to attack the paint.

Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are below-average defenders, and Austin Reaves, who is questionable, has been sidelined with a calf injury since Christmas.

New York’s offense thrives on spot-up shooting, and Brunson’s dribble penetration will draw help defenders and gift wing shooters with extra space on those kickout passes.

Despite his dip in assists, his projections vs. L.A. remain positive. His assist tally ranges from 6.0 to 7.4 dimes tonight, with my number at 6.6. That should have the Over 5.5 assists priced around -170.

Lakers vs Knicks same-game parlay

New York is riding a five-game winning streak and has covered in each of those games.

Mikal Bridges benefits from Brunson's playmaking, with projections north of 16 points.

Lakers vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks -4.5
• Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists
• Mikal Bridges Over 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The MSG SGP

Karl-Anthony Towns averages 1.8 triples per game inside MSG.

Lakers vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks -4.5
• Jalen Brunson Over 5.5 assists
• Mikal Bridges Over 15.5 points
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

Lakers vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-105) | Knicks -4.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Knicks -190
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-105) | Under 229.5 (-115)

Lakers vs Knicks betting trend to know

New York is 6-2 SU and ATS when hosting Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Knicks.

How to watch Lakers vs Knicks

Lakers vs Knicks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

BERLIN (AP) — Ermedin Demirović scored in the last minute for Stuttgart to beat Freiburg 1-0 on Sunday and move fourth in the Bundesliga, the last place for Champions League qualification.

Demirović controlled Deniz Undav’s cross from the left and then hit the ball with a brilliant strike under the crossbar near the right post.

Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel denied Bruno Ogbus a response and the home team held on for the three points, capitalizing on Leipzig’s defeat at home to Mainz the day before.

Stuttgart moved three points ahead of Leipzig with 14 rounds remaining.

Borussia Dortmund was hosting last-place Heidenheim later, hopeful of a win to cut Bayern Munich’s lead to six points following the Bavarian powerhouse’s surprise 2-2 draw at Hamburger SV the day before.

___

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

The Milwaukee Bucks are wrestling with whether to bring down the curtain on the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, and it would be no surprise if there’s a distracted vibe in today’s clash with the Boston Celtics.

Milwaukee has lost four in a row and will be without Giannis again here, so my Bucks vs. Celtics predictions expect Boston to take care of business, powered by more Payton Pritchard fireworks.

Check out my NBA picks for this Eastern Conference showdown on Sunday, February 1.

Bucks vs Celtics prediction

Bucks vs Celtics best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 16.5 points (-110)

Despite Jayson Tatum’s injury and Kristaps Porzingis’ exit, the Boston Celtics still rank second in the league in 3-pointers made per game this season.

Payton Pritchard has willingly stepped up from beyond the arc, and he had free rein to cook on Friday with Jaylen Brown sitting out. He turned those extra touches into 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting against Sacramento, and Pritchard's a high-value pick to continue that hot streak against the Milwaukee Bucks.

While he probably won’t have that kind of volume today, Pritchard still fits in effortlessly when Brown and Derrick White are running the show, and he’s averaging 21.2 points per game across his last five games. That leads me to the Over on this points prop, after Pritchard knocked down his 3-pointers at a 42% clip in January.

It helps that the Bucks are on the ropes — their double-digit loss to Washington this past Thursday says it all. I don’t expect the visitors to offer much resistance defensively, especially with the Giannis shadow still looming over the franchise.

That should mean some great looks for Pritchard, who’s a slightly more accurate shooter at TD Garden and has become a steady No. 3 option for Boston.

Bucks vs Celtics same-game parlay

Piggybacking on a big Pritchard game, I’ll take the Over on this Celtics team total. The hosts are averaging 116.3 ppg this season, and without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee could be vulnerable to an avalanche of Boston 3-pointers.

Antetokounmpo’s absence also opens up more rebounding opportunities for his teammates, and Kyle Kuzma has upped his activity on the glass lately. Kuzma has hauled in 27 boards across his past three contests, and he’s seen an uptick in court time, logging 30+ minutes in four of his last five games.

Bucks vs Celtics SGP

• Payton Pritchard Over 16.5 points
• Celtics Over 114.5
• Kyle Kuzma Over 6.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: White's Shooting Woes Linger

White continues to contribute all over the box score for Boston, but his 3-point slump has been alarming.

The Celtics guard shot just 26% from downtown in January, and he’s only knocked down 3+ triples in one of his last nine outings.

Bucks vs Celtics SGP

• Payton Pritchard Over 16.5 points
• Celtics Over 114.5
• Kyle Kuzma Over 6.5 rebounds
• Derrick White Under 2.5 threes

Bucks vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Bucks +13.5 (-110) | Celtics -13.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bucks +550 | Celtics -900
• Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)

Bucks vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Bucks are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Celtics.

How to watch Bucks vs Celtics

Bucks vs Celtics latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Excuses, excuses…

Injuries. Yuck.

The worst part of sports. Bar none. Everything you planned was wasted. It was all contingent on the roster you thought you had.

You know injuries are coming, but you don’t know when or where. They cannot be accounted for.

They’ve been one of the defining features of the Houston Rockets’ season.

There are different types of injuries – or more to the point, different types of NBA players. The Rockets’ stars have mostly been healthy. Alperen Sengun has been dealing with some ailments lately. They seem to be impacting his level of play when he can get on the floor. Still, he’s appeared in 39 of the Rockets’ 46 games.

Still, an NBA team can’t survive on star power alone. There are lower usage players who are functionally integral to a team’s gameplan.

The Rockets have been missing those guys all year.

Key Rockets players are missing

It starts with Fred VanVleet.

How did the Rockets succeed last year? By controlling the possession game. They dominated the offensive glass, and their 14.0% Turnover Percentage ranked a sufficient 11th in the NBA.

They still control the glass. Their 40.6% Offensive Rebound Percentage is historic. Regrettably, their 15.8% Turnover Percentage is third-worst in the league.

There’s a clear causal relationship between the increased turnover and the loss of VanVleet. He’s one of the safest point guards in the NBA. VanVleet seldom makes mistakes.

At times, fans complained about his conservative brand of offense. The league’s most significant needle-movers indeed take risks to yield rewards. That’s why VanVleet isn’t a superstar, but his ability to manage the offense was always part of the game plan.

Now, there’s concern that the other half of the plan will be compromised.

Steven Adams was an undeniably large part of that dominant offensive rebounding. He’s one of the best in league history. Clint Capela will suffice, and the Rockets will still lead the NBA in Offensive Rebounding % at the end of the season. That said, their utter dominance may be weakened.

Especially if Tari Eason keeps missing games. Like Sengun, he’s been around more than not (36 games), but given his history, the missed games are a cause for concern. Sengun likely needs to just take a week off and let that ankle fully heal. It’s a bit more difficult to diagnose the oft-injured Eason. Getting his additional offensive rebounding from the wings has been part of Houston’s strategy as well.

What will they do if he’s not available?

Rockets need to focus

What’s more, Dorian Finney-Smith’s whole season has been compromised. He was Houston’s big summer signing. It’s not Finney-Smith’s fault, but Houston has seen little return on investment. Even when he’s available, Finney-Smith looks like he’s working through the rust.

This team feels snake-bitten. Little has gone right. Well…

There’s always next year.

VanVleet should be back. Adams too. If everything clicks, the 2026-27 season could be a banner year for the Rockets:

But they can’t afford to think that way.

Win a playoff series. That’s all we ask in 2025-26. It would be a step forward. After that, the Rockets would be playing with house money:

If they were structurally intact, it would be a different story.

Mark Williams was one of the biggest question marks heading into the season when the Suns traded for him on draft night. After selecting Khaman Maluach with the tenth overall pick just seconds before, fans wondered how Williams would truly fit into this team. With him having had past injuries that limited his full potential, no one knew what Williams could truly be for this squad.

That is where Phoenix took a risk of acquiring him and trying to use him as their new starting center. This risk would prove beneficial for the team, as they struck gold with someone who has clearly shown that, in the right system, he can flourish and, with the help of this training staff, has managed to stay healthy all season. So how does he do it?

Well, recently, Williams sat down with Michael A. Scotto of HoopsHype to talk about his short time here in Phoenix and how he has grown as a player.

As we have all seen, Williams has been available this year, which is a vast difference from the past. To start, they were very hesitant with Williams’ playing style and brought him off the bench to bring him up to game speed. Then they had him sit out back-to-back games early in the season to limit the risk of injury. By doing this, the Suns allowed Williams to get comfortable with the team and find his rhythm in his new role.

Allowing Williams to get used to his body and adjust to the Suns’ fast-paced style was key to his success, and I am glad the Suns took the time to do so. We have already seen some monstrous performances from the big man, especially in both games against the Nets, where, when he got the touches, he made the Nets know. With the Suns wanting to get him more involved, this adds to the team’s versatility, which can beat you every night.

How would you describe your fresh start with the Suns? 

Mark Williams: It’s been great. I’ve been here all summer. I’ve really focused on my body and working on my game. This organization has shown a lot of love and support and helped me be the best version of myself. 

Since all of that has come together, we have now seen Williams play in 44 games this season, tying a career high for the big man, one he will break shortly. A huge credit goes to the Suns staff for working with him and making sure he stayed on this track.

What’s been the biggest reason for your improved availability on a consistent basis?

MW: I’ve had a good plan in place with the staff. I had a bunch of different injuries in the past. For us, it was making a focus of getting overall strength around my body and not trying to overdo anything and overcompensate. I’ve done on-court work, weight room work, and all the recovery stuff has been really good. 

The availability he has is excellent for his growth as a player, allowing him to shine bright in the Valley. This season, he is averaging 12.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.1 steals, and 1 block per game in 24 minutes. Even if his numbers are drastically better than in Charlotte, the availability has allowed him to compete at a high level throughout the season, which I consider a better win. Not to mention, his numbers are still solid in the role he plays, where he has grown tremendously on the defense end

This growth on that side of the ball, being a better rim protector, allows Mark to get the rim pressure the Suns need. They lacked this sort of pressure last year, and even though Williams is better on the offensive end, he can come up big, nabbing some blocks or even now getting some steals. His aggressiveness in fighting for rebounds and generating second-chance points has been key, especially on offense. Williams has filled in the gaps that this front court has been missing in past seasons.

We have also seen Williams be immensely reliable in games when they go to him. As I mentioned earlier, please take a look here at the recent game against the Nets. The Suns had the most points in the paint that season with 72, and Williams was the leading scorer with 27.

"I changes game by game but today I was just getting out. My teammates were finding me. Able to get me going early."

Mark Williams season-high 27 points in Suns win vs Nets.

"Just getting involved early. Demanding the ball. Sealing. Making it real clear and obvious when I'm… pic.twitter.com/0idAyI9wOq

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 28, 2026

They continued to attack the Nets’ weak frontcourt defense, and even Jordan Ott agreed he was a significant factor in that win.

"We have to involve Mark. This is something that we'll definitely talk about going forward even when we are fully healthy, Mark has got to be a presence down there."

Jordan Ott as Mark Williams scored a season-high 27 points in Suns win over Nets. #Sunspic.twitter.com/GmJCov9myQ

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 28, 2026

All of this coming together has put Williams in a great spot moving forward, both for the Suns and for his personal growth. After years of uncertainty and being viewed as an “injury-prone” center, he has written that narrative off as false. He has proved his doubters wrong, as many Suns on this team have, by showing his actual value.

Williams can be a great contributor for this team, and even in the future when his contract is up this offseason. After a solid year with the team and remaining healthy, he can get a payday he is well deserving of, and one the Suns would be happy to give him.

Did you have any extra motivation coming into the season after not signing a contract extension with the Suns when you were eligible? 

MW: In a way. I think for both sides it made sense. At the same time, I knew what I was capable of doing. Obviously, the biggest question around me was my availability and my body. I think the staff and I have done a great job of being available and being there for my team. I think if I continue to do that, it’ll all take care of itself.  

Ultimately, I think he has found his home in Phoenix and cannot wait to see the continued growth Williams presents this season and in the future.

The NBA trade deadline is just four days away.

By Thursday afternoon, pencils will be down across the NBA, and the teams will mostly be set. The Knicks, after a 7-8 month that saw them go from playing like the worst team in basketball to a five-game winning streak, are fishing in several different waters ahead of the deadline.

Will they look for the Great White Shark, or will they just be content fishing for a good ol’ trout? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this Thursday’s deadline:

What do the Knicks’ financials look like?

The Knicks are currently operating in the first apron with a second apron hard cap that cannot be removed. The hard cap was automatically triggered when the Knicks used the mid-level exception to sign Guerschon Yabusele.

The most notable first apron restriction that impacts the Knicks is the inability to acquire more salary via trade. For example, if the Knicks traded Yabusele and his $5.5 million salary, they cannot acquire a player making more than that. The Knicks are allowed to stack multiple players in a trade, but cannot stack minimum deals, which may impact any deal involving the newly-benched Jordan Clarkson.

The Knicks have one open roster spot, so they could execute a 1-for-2 trade if they combine to make less than the outgoing player. That roster spot, as of now, cannot be filled for two months due to the team having under $150,000 in hard cap space. A salary dump or 2-for-1 trade can change that.

Three Knicks are pending free agents: Landry Shamet, Mitchell Robinson, and Jordan Clarkson.

Ariel Hukporti and Mo Diawara will also be restricted free agents. Additionally, Yabusele has a $5.7 million player option for 2026-27, which he would be expected to accept due to his decreased market value. This has apparently been a hindrance in attempting to trade the French forward.

Who are the Knicks targeting?

(The following players have been linked to the Knicks by at least one outlet. It will be updated.)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (F, MIL): The white whale of every team’s deadline. It remains unknown if the two-time MVP will actually be moved before the deadline, as his interests and the Bucks’ interests differ. He’d like to get traded and extended now, while the Bucks would benefit from waiting for when teams have more flexibility in the offseason. We had to include him here, but there is absolutely no chance the Knicks make the trade in-season. Re-assess if he’s still a Buck in June.

Jrue Holiday (G, POR): Marc Stein reported last week that the Knicks were calling the Portland Trail Blazers about a potential deal for the veteran lockdown defender, seeing him as a great pair with Jalen Brunson in the backcourt. The 2021 NBA champion turns 36 in June and has two years and $72 million left on his contract after this season. This feels like a move that would happen in conjunction with his former teammate in Milwaukee, not as a midseason shakeup, considering his salary.

Naji Marshall (F, DAL): The Knicks are one of many teams that are looking to add the veteran wing from a Mavericks team that is undecided on whether to sell off talent and fully commit to a Cooper Flagg window or try to make it work next season with their aging roster. He’s a bad shooter (30.3% for his career), but has made it work by averaging 14 points a night over the last two seasons by shooting over 60% inside the arc. Marshall makes $9 million and is under contract through 2026-27.

Jose Alvarado (G, NO): Grand Theft Alvarado having a homecoming in New York would be a great story all around, but the Brooklyn native has a few things working against it. The Pelicans, despite their record, have not been very willing to shop some of their talent, and Alvarado seems to like it in New Orleans. The pesky guard is averaging a career low in steals but a career high in efficiency. He has a $4.5 million player option for next season.

Yves Missi (C, NO): In the same reports that link Alvarado to the Knicks, they also mention the team’s interest in the Pelicans’ reserve center. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 draft has seen his role decrease, despite the Pelicans being one of the worst teams in basketball. His relatively inexpensive contract and control through 2027-28 would be an asset for the Knicks, especially when his skillset mirrors that of a younger Mitchell Robinson. There’s untapped potential in the 21-year-old, but will the Pelicans sell low?

Jeremy Sochan (F, SA): Before the Spurs became the contenders they are today, Sochan was a solid contributor who made real improvements from Year 2 to Year 3. Still just 22 years old, he’s fallen out of favor in Mitch Johnson’s rotation as he struggles with efficiency and seems out of place. The rumors say that the Knicks tried to get the expiring contract for Yabusele, but the Spurs were scared off because of the player’s option. In the event this happens, it would be a lottery ticket and a way to clear salary for the offseason.

Goga Bitadze (C, ORL): The Knicks have long coveted the Georgian big man, pursuing him after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency in 2024. The 26-year-old is under control through 2026-27 on a frontloaded deal, but could make a bit too much for the Knicks at this point. He would provide the needed center depth behind Towns and Robinson and could be available after being the odd man out in Orlando’s rotation.

Nick Richards (C, PHX): Richards is in the same boat as Bitadze in the sense that the Knicks have coveted him for a while, but the Suns beat them to the punch at last year’s deadline when the Knicks looked for center depth. With a crowded Suns rotation and a desire to go under the luxury tax, Richards may be available. He averaged nine points and six rebounds on 60.5% from the field last season and is on an expiring contract, making $5 million.

What assets do the Knicks have to trade?

The Knicks do not have an available first-round pick to trade. Their 2027, 2029, and 2031 firsts belong to Brooklyn, as well as their 2028 pick swap.

The Knicks are able to trade three pick swaps in 2026, 2030, and 2032. Their best asset in general is probably the conditional 2026 Wizards’ pick that will almost certainly turn into two second-round picks. In the new two-night draft format, the chance to draft No. 31 is sneakily valuable, and that’s where it could end up, not to mention they’d also have the rights to the Wizards’ second in 2027.

The Knicks also have the following second-round picks to trade:

• Least favorable of ORL/MIL/DET (2026)
• Least favorable of NYK/MIN (2026)
• Second most favorable of OKC/HOU/MIA/IND (2027)
• Third most favorable of OKC/HOU/MIA/IND (2027)
• Least favorable of IND/PHX (2028)
• BOS, top-45 protected (2028)
• NYK (2032)

Who could be on the move?

Depending on the level of trade? Anyone.

Well, not Jalen Brunson. Obviously.

Any key starter is unlikely to be moved solely because of the circumstances. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart don’t seem to be floated in any rumors, but in the event of a Giannis and/or Jrue megadeal, all hands are on deck.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most likely to be moved in any big trade, but as previously stated, that’s not happening before the trade deadline. Bridges was not eligible to be traded until Sunday due to his offseason extension.

Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet are outperforming their miniature contracts, so despite the value they may present on the open market, the Knicks won’t be looking to trade them. As for other players unlikely to go anywhere, I don’t see Tyler Kolek or Mo Diawara going anywhere yet. Ariel Hukporti could go, but I don’t see much value there.

Mitchell Robinson should not be traded, at least in my opinion. Still, he’s an expiring contract, and the Knicks are taking a tremendous risk if they let him hit free agency. He’s invaluable to this team, so he should stick around, and the team can figure it out in June.

There are three players on the roster who are at greatest risk of being shipped out the door. You can probably guess who they are.

The Knicks have been very public in their attempts to get rid of Guerschon Yabusele, who’s been a flop of a free agent signing. They’ve also appeared willing to attach former first-round pick Pacome Dadiet to get a player who makes a higher salary. The third player is Jordan Clarkson, who’s fallen out of the rotation but still could contribute somewhere as a microwave scorer. If anyone goes, it’s one of these three.

Coming off an impressive win against the Houston Rockets, the Spurs traveled to Charlotte to face off against the Hornets. Due to inclement weather, tipoff was moved up to 11:00 A.M. (CST). After the Spurs outscored the Hornets 30-26 in the first quarter, San Antonio completely imploded in the second. They had a seven-point lead with 9:31 remaining in the half when Charlotte went on a blistering 20-4 run, outscored the Spurs 35-17 in the quarter, and led by as much as 18. However, the Spurs still managed to claw their way back. They shrank the deficit to 10 at the end of the third, and got within two in the last five minutes of the game. When the Hornets tried to extend their lead, the Spurs responded with buckets and free throws of their own. Unfortunately, the Spurs could not tie the game. After winning a coach’s challenge and winning a jump ball with 36 seconds left down by 3, Victor Wembanyama missed the game-tying three and the Spurs lost 111-106.

Dylan Harper was sensational, leading the team with 20 points (9-13 FG, 2-3 3PT) and adding two assists, one rebound, a steal, and a block in just 23 minutes off the bench. He scored from the three, the midrange, and inside the paint, shooting 69% from the field. Harper did all his damage in the first three quarters, logging no playing time over the final 10 minutes.

HARP3R! Dyl knocks down the first of his two threes from the top of the key!

.@dy1anharper dialed in early 🎯

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/Cg4VWwo6zI

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

MAKE WAY FOR FLIGHT #2! After the block and rebound by Keldon Johnson, he threads the needle to Dyl, who has himself a wide-open jam!

DUNKING DYLAN 🔨

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/1jpqBINFyq

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Silky smooth. Dyl uses the screen and pulls up for the open middy!

Dylan Harper is a bucket! 20-piece for our rook 🪣

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/IqvcIOHsZO

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Stephon Castle dropped 16 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and a block. Despite turning the ball over three times, Steph was one of three Spurs who finished in the plus side of the plus/minus stat. He was one assist away from a double-double and made an impact on defense. Look for him to continue to work on the turnover problem.

AREA 51 in reverse! Wemby finds a cutting Steph who throws it down!

⚠️ AREA 51 ⚠️

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/G5LkrZkKWd

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Victor Wembanyama dropped 16 points, eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Despite the near double-double, this was not Vic’s best game. He struggled from the field with questionable shot selection, but even when the shot selection wasn’t the issue, he could not execute. Nonetheless, Vic has had his small share of underwhelming performances this season, so look for him to get back on track against the Magic.

Just throw it up there! Dyl and Wemby run the pick and roll, and Dyl manages to throw a perfect pass for the alley-oop while stumbling!

THAT DYLAN LOB TO VICTOR 🔥

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/Pu2WiHInmA

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

UNSTOPPABLE! One of Vic’s specialties is dunking the ball immediately after a catch. Vic and De’Aaron Fox run the give and go, and the result is a jam from the middle of the paint!

Vic coming through 😤

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/CnYqRhGBQv

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Julian Champagnie dropped 13 points (4-6 3PT), five rebounds, two blocks, and a dime. After shooting 10% the last two games, Julian was on fire from three. He shot 66.7% percent and continues to be an underrated defender. Two blocks is nothing to sneeze at, and he’ll look to continue lighting baskets on fire.

AND-ONE! Julian drains the transition three while getting fouled for the four-point play!

JULIAN FOUR POINT PLAY 👌

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/N8l5dhNA5Q

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

HE’S ON FIRE! Julian knocks down his fourth triple from the corner in transition!

Four triples and counting for @JulianChampagn2 ☔️

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/9yMYJqCyUt

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Devin Vassell dropped 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Dev made his first start since December 29th and finished with the highest plus/minus of the team with +7. He shot 50% from the field, and he is still shaking some rust off since his injury. Nonetheless, look for him to light baskets on fire with Julian in the starting lineup. He can still lace the net from the corner!

D3VIN 🏹

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/ttxY02kYOI

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

De’Aaron Fox dropped 11 points, seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals. D-Fox struggled from the field and did not provide his usual scoring punch. Nonetheless, he dished dimes like Steph when his shot wasn’t falling. He also pickpocketed LaMelo Ball and created points off turnovers. He’ll have a tough matchup coming against Orlando, but the former all-star will find a way to create offense.

SWIPA! D-Fox picks Ball’s pocket and leads the fastbreak with a lob to Steph, who throws it down!

Swipa swipe ➡️ Steph slam ‼️

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/1SUn9rZor6

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

Too quick! D-Fox goes to work on Grant Williams and finishes at the rim!

Crafty @swipathefox 🦊

📺 KENS 5, NBA on Prime pic.twitter.com/puBSCMVqtL

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2026

This was a tough loss to stomach. Despite falling behind by 20, this team still fought and closed the gap. It looked like it was heading towards the end of the Rockets game, but late-game execution faltered. Anytime you face a team riding a hot win streak, especially on the road, you have to take the lead and never look back. It will be interesting to see the starting lineup without Harrison Barnes over the next few games before the All-Star break. The next one on the docket: Orlando coming for their revenge.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs face a quick turnaround as they wait out the snowstorm in Charlotte. They will face the Orlando Magic at home later tonight at 6:00 P.M. (CST).

Left with a W. The Brooklyn Nets took on the Utah Jazz Friday night as part of the second half of a back-to-back. The Nets were shorthanded but got plenty of terrific contributions across the board and came away with a 109-99 victory. The W snapped the team’s seven game losing streak.

It was a particularly good night for Egor Demin who returned to Salt Lake City where he played last season for BYU. He set a couple of records, including the longest streak of games with at least one 3-pointer with 34. His 25 points and 10 boards marked the first double-double of his career.

The opponent tonight might be the biggest surprise in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons stand on top of the Eastern Conference and are having their best season in decades. They helped the cause with a 131-124 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. They return home to begin a four game homestand.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Tip after 6:00 p.m. ET.

🤕 Injuries

Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams, and Haywood Highsmith are out. Ben Saraf is still with the big club.

Caris Levert is questionable while Cade Cunningham is probable.

🏀 The game

Detroit won the first matchup.

We are on the fast track to the NBA trade deadline! The big day is on Thursday February 5, and the Conference leading Pistons might be in the market for some reinforcements. Could they be turning to Brooklyn for some help? Michael Porter Jr has been floated as an option, but nothing appears imminent on that front as of yet. However, Sean Corp of Detroit Bad Boys wrote about how Porter could help this rising Detroit basketball club:

If the Pistons go big-game hunting, it’s no surprise that Porter Jr. would be at the top of their list. Porter is the most coveted large wing shooter on the trade market, and that checks every box on Detroit’s wish list. He is shooting 39% from three on nearly 10 attempts a game, is a legit 6-foot-10, and has acquitted himself well in the playoffs. He is under team control for one more season beyond this one at $40 million.

Could be a good match!

For now, MPJ will be back in the lineup after sitting out on Friday. He’s hit for 30+ points in two out of the last three games and hit the Pistons for 28 points in the first matchup. Porter Jr is one of the more intriguing trade prospects this season, and if the Nets don’t find a suitable package for him, at least they know that they can count on him being a solid contributor next season and beyond.

In the meantime, he’ll be waiting on Sunday’s announcement of the East’s All-Star reserves.

Brooklyn’s going to be at a big disadvantage on the glass tonight. The Pistons are third in the NBA at rebound rate while the Nets are 24th. Jalen Duren is one of the league leaders in rebounds and one of the most physical players in the league. The Nets are going to need big outings from Day’ron Sharpe and Nic Claxton on the inside if they want to get this win. Limiting second chance points will help the Nets get out on the run while also reducing a Pistons strength.

However, if the Nets want to win, they’re going to have to reverse one season long trend. The Nets are 28th in turnover rate, which is bad enough. Making matters worse is the Pistons lead the NBA in opponent turnover rate, are second in points off of turnovers, and fourth in fastbreak points. If the Nets aren’t careful, they’re going to get run out of the building quickly. Not good.

———————————

Sean Marks and two other Nets staffers were in Lawrence, Kansas, yesterday to watch the faceoff between Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, generally conceded to be, along with Duke’s Cam Boozer, the prize catches of the 2026 NBA Draft. He and everyone else in NetsWorld have to hope the basketball gods bless the Nets with one of them.

In the end, Peterson outshone Dybantsa but at the same time Jayhawks coach Bill Self held Peterson out the final 16 minutes of the game with leg cramps highlighting his history of nagging injuries.

Brooklyn’s three representatives were the most dispatched to Lawence by 17 NBA teams.

👀 Player to watch: Cade Cunningham

All Star starter, signature Nike athlete, and all around excellent player. This season has been magical for Cade Cunningham and he has plenty of room for even more success coming up. The former number one pick is getting to the free throw line at the highest rate of his career and is also having his best season finishing at the rim as well. He’s fourth in the NBA in drives per game, so look for him to probe and attack early and often. Cade is a midrange maestro and great decision maker. He’s everything you want in a franchise player and this season has to feel incredibly rewarding after all the struggles his teams had to begin his career.

The fun part about watching a rookie have a career best game is wondering how they can follow it up the next time out. Egor Dёmin had career highs in points (25) and rebounds (ten) on Friday night and he’s making a great case to be on one of the All-Rookie teams at the end of the season. Some of his drives really stood out and if he’s able to get to the rim more consistently, it will open his game up. Last nights of a road trip are always tough, but a strong performance would help the Nets properly transition into the month of February.

📺 From the Vault

Ones in the air for Catherine O’Hara

More reading: Detroit Bad Boys, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Detroit Pistons Game Notes – Detroit Pistons
• Detroit plays Brooklyn in conference matchup – AP
• Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. set to learn All-Star Game fate: ‘Would be a dream come true’ – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets front office has sights set on two top prospects who could change direction of franchise – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Egor Demin sets insane rookie record during win over Jazz – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan handed Australia its biggest-ever defeat in a Twenty20 just five days ahead of the T20 World Cup to sweep the series 3-0 on Sunday.

Pakistan’s commanding 111-run win in the third and final game eclipsed Australia’s previous biggest defeat when England registered a 100-run win at Southampton in 2005.

Australia, one of the title-contenders at the T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, continued to struggle against spinners as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz grabbed a career-best 5-18 and the visitors were bowled out for 96 in 16.5 overs.

Pakistan, which won its third successive toss in the series, had earlier posted a daunting 207-6 – its highest-ever total in a T20 against Australia.

“From the last two days, we have been excellent in all departments, I can’t find any mistakes,” said Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. “We dominated them. I am in a great frame of mind right now. I know how to handle the captaincy when I go out to bat and I really want to do that in the World Cup as well.”

Opener Saim Ayub made 56 off 57 balls and Babar Azam, who had been under scrutiny for his strike rate in T20s, struck an unbeaten 50 off 36 balls. However, it was a blazing 46 off 19 balls by Shadab Khan, which included five sixes, that set Pakistan for a strong total.

Nawaz cashed in on the slow wicket and flummoxed Australia’s experienced batters after Shaheen Shah Afridi had clean bowled captain Mitchell Marsh (1) and Matt Renshaw (1) in his first two overs.

Marcus Stoinis, playing his first match of the series, top-scored with 23 while Cameron Green scored 22 before both were undone by Nawaz and were clean-bowled. Nawaz completed his five-wicket haul in his final over when Josh Philippe top-edged a slog sweep to mid-wicket and Khawaja Nafay had Cooper Connolly stumped.

Earlier, left-hander Ayub smashed six fours and two sixes, and contributed to a 69-run stand with Babar after captain Salman Ali Agha (5) and Fakhar Zaman (10) got out inside the power play.

Ayub fell to a spectacular diving catch by Renshaw at deep mid-wicket before Khawaja Nafay, selected as backup wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup, made a fearless 21 off 12 balls.

Babar had struggled at his new No. 4 batting slot, but anchored the innings well as Shadab smashed sixes and Pakistan scored 70 runs in the last five overs. Babar completed his half-century in the final over as Faheem Ashraf hit two boundaries after Shadab edged Ben Dwarshuis (2-39) in the penultimate over.

Green (1-43) bowled three expensive overs in the second half of the innings as Pakistan scored 200-plus for the first time in a T20 against Australia.

“Pakistan certainly outplayed us throughout the whole series,” said Marsh, who was rested in the first game. “Chasing is hard on that surface… we will take learnings from that. We will certainly address this series and look forward to the World Cup.”

Pakistan won the first match by 19 runs before beating Australia by 90 runs in the second.

___

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

If anyone needed any more evidence that Philadelphia is an insanely intense fandom, all you need to do is check the latest reviews of Dr. Jonathan Glashow. Sixers fans have flooded him with online reviews after he performed surgery on Joel Embiid’s left knee last spring. So much so that Glashow posted a video on Instagram thanking everyone.

Dr. Jonathan Glashow, who has received recent praise from Sixers fans as Joel Embiid’s progression continues, posted this video on Instagram earlier today: https://t.co/RcbQqMGp3hpic.twitter.com/pCNMnXnLGO

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 30, 2026

Fans continue to marvel at both he and Embiid’s work as the former MVP continues to put up production resembling his old self. Embiid seems to look better with every performance — his most recent was the first time he’s scored 40 points in the regular season since his 70-burger two years ago against the Spurs. He dropped 40 along with 11 rebounds going 13-of-27 from the floor in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

As Embiid continues to stack games like this together, the work of he and Glashow only looks more impressive. Glashow’s warm welcome into the Sixers fanbase has been wholesome fun. But, with no disrespect to his medical ability, it’s important to give Embiid just as much credit for working his way back into this form.

“Obviously, it’s been a long road, so that right there talks about the amount of work,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “He certainly looks like he’s moving better all the time. I think he’s still a ways [away], he would say he’s still a ways [away] from moving as good as he would like to.”

Embiid has added wrinkles to his game, skill after skill since before he even played an NBA game. His touch and jumper are two of the biggest weapons in his arsenal, and that was something he developed after playing at Kansas in college. In the past, Embiid has joked about taking more jumpers when he’s been asked about trying to preserve his body.

His footwork in the post has always been one of his greatest skills. He’s relying on it now more than ever as he can’t quite push past and blow by defenders as easily as he used to.

Even as recent as earlier this season, the idea of Embiid producing like this on a consistent basis seemed farfetched. He needed two days off before games. He was only playing 20 minutes a night. He wasn’t even taking jump balls.

The only games he missed in January were planned absences on back-to-backs. In the 14 games he played in the month, he averaged 29.7 points per game on a 56.9% effective field goal percentage. The team is also 10-4 in those contests.

Even Embiid himself seems a bit surprised that he’s gotten back to this level so quickly.

“Coming into this year I think it was going to be more of a try-out year,” he said after the Pelicans game. “This year has already been successful.”

He said that this year was all about figuring how to treat his knee on a day-to-day basis, how it will react to the stresses of a regular season grind.

Getting back to All-Star level production can only be the product of a lot of hard work, and his teammates and coaches have certainly witnessed that.

It’s given Tyrese Maxey the chance to bring back his go-to catchphrase when asked about the big fella.

“He’s really good at basketball, like really good though. And I’m not trying to be funny like, he’s playing the right way,” Maxey said after the win. “It’s a blessing, man. He works hard, he does a good job of getting his body right. He played more minutes than me tonight, so that’s good.”

If anything, it shows that it takes a village to get through this process. Embiid made sure to shoutout Sixers trainer Simon Rice when discussing his 40-point performance.

“I would say probably everybody gave up on me. He’s the one guy who just kept trying to figure it out,” Embiid said.

This recent surge might have come too late for Embiid to make the All-Star reserves, but his bounce back this season has become the feel-good story of the NBA, with national outlets such as the Zach Lowe Show saying as much. There’s plenty of credit to go around for this turnaround — doctors, trainers, coaches, teammates.

Just don’t forget about the person at the very center of it.

Tonight, Toronto Raptors will face off against the Utah Jazz, starting a 5-game home stand that will carry them to the All-Star break. This is their first of two matchups against the Jazz this season, the other slated to occur in late March.

Toronto was able to prevail in both games against the Jazz last year, earning the series sweep. This could be a good reset for the Raptors who have just dropped consecutive games against Orlando and New York. Of course, it will be important for Toronto to enter the game with the right mindset, as several “easy win” contests against the Wizards, Nets, and Hornets haven’t gone in their favour despite overwhelming odds.

So how do the Raptors walk away with this one?

Utah just finished a home stand where they dropped five consecutive games. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George have headlined for the Jazz this season, carrying one of the weakest teams in the league to a surprising 15-34 record. Losing Walker Kessler to a shoulder surgery early on for the remainder of the season was the biggest blow, but they’re in the midst of a rebuild and the health of their vets varies by day, meaning they’re relying on young talents who are likely outperforming expectations.

Take Brice Sensabaugh for instance. Drafted in 2023, he’s averaged mediocre numbers for most of his career, but is starting to come to life for the Jazz in January. He posted almost 18-4-2 for them last month while playing 27 minutes per game. He had seven 20+ point games, one of which he ended with 43 points against the Bulls.

Of course, stats don’t necessarily give you the full picture. Interestingly enough, on paper, the Jazz have more assists and rebounds per game than the Raptors do, but despite strong individual performances and solid numbers, they haven’t been able to turn that into substantial wins.

Which leads us to what the Raptors will need to do to take advantage. Over the Jazz’s losing stretch, their turnovers were one of their biggest weaknesses. Coughing the ball up 19 times in one contest while averaging almost 16 a game almost guarantees a losing outcome. The Raptors have proven all season that this is where they shine, creating turnovers, getting out in transition, and scoring. This will be one of the keys to this game, as there will likely be more opportunities than usual to do so.

They will also have to prioritize shutting down Utah’s tandem of Markkanen and George and force the others to score. This leaves guys like Svi Mykhailiuk, rookie Ace Bailey, or sophomore Kyle Filipowski responsible for the majority of scoring which isn’t any of their strong suit.

Their injury report is extensive, with Nurkic listed as questionable. This could give Toronto a size advantage, something that they haven’t had much of this year. The combination of Barnes, Ingram, and CMB on Markkanen and Filipowski should be enough to limit him on the boards, but a group effort will be necessary to prevent easy second chance points for the Jazz.

Ingram looked more true to form in his last two outings, so hopefully he can be a factor in the win tonight as well. It would be nice for Toronto to go into the All-Star break with some momentum, and this home stand is the perfect opportunity.

Probable Starters

Toronto: Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett

Utah: Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Kyle Filipowski, Svi Mykhailiuk, Keyonte George

Injury Report

Toronto: Chucky Hepburn (Out: G-League), Jakob Poeltl (Out: Lower back strain)

Utah: Keyonte George (Questionable: Left ankle sprain), Elijah Harkless (Out: G-League), Walker Kessler (Out: Shoulder surgery), Kevin Love (Questionable: Illness), Georges Niang (Out: Left foot soreness), Jusuf Nurkic (Questionable: Illness), John Tonje (Out: G-League), Oscar Tshiebwe (Out: G-League)

Where to Watch

Sportsnet @ 6:00pm

The Atlanta Hawks concluded their regular season series with the Indiana Pacers with a disappointing 129-124 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

Jalen Johnson notched 33-point, 12-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double, his eighth of the season ahead of what is expected to be his first All-Star nod later today. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points for the Hawks. For the Pacers, three players scored 23 or more points, led by Andrew Nembhard’s 26 points with Pascal Siakam adding 25 points.

The Hawks welcomed back Johnson to the starting lineup after missing the Houston game with left calf tightness, while Zaccharie Risacher made his long-awaited return to the lineup having last played on January 7th due to a left knee, bone contusion. Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and Onyeka Okongwu (dental fracture) remain out, while Vit Krejci was a game-day scratch with a left ankle sprain. In place of the absent Okongwu, Mo Gueye started at center.

Both teams started this game with momentum, both teams finding their opportunities at the rim/in the paint, particularly Jalen Johnson, who scored 10 first quarter points. Nembhard starred for Indiana in the first, scoring 15 points behind three three-pointers in a first quarter narrowly swinging in the Hawks’ favor.

The visitors, briefly, took a nine-point lead early in the second quarter — a lead that was, quickly, erased by the Pacers, who scored 45 points in the second quarter in another half where the Hawks concede 80 points.

The Hawks made inroads in the narrow Indiana lead in the third quarter, with CJ McCollum and Alexander-Walker scoring eight points in the third, where neither team shot the ball well from three and the high-level scoring — up to that point — slowed down. Heading into the fourth quarter, both teams found themselves in a clutch-game situation, so, let’s go through the plays down the stretch.

The Hawks never led in the fourth quarter; it was a game they were ultimately chasing down the stretch, though, a Dyson Daniels floater brought the Hawks to within one point — 114-115 — with 5:12 remaining. The Pacers extend this back to four points with this Aaron Nesmith three-pointer, leading to a Hawks timeout with just over four minutes left:

While I think Johnson could have hustled a little harder around the Jay Huff screen to prevent the penetration, it’s Corey Kispert who wanders a little farther than he needs to from Nesmith, and it’s not as though he’s rotating to the corner to cover Daniels’ man, with Daniels having to rotate and deter a shot at the rim.

Kispert is subbed out of the game at this timeout, and Johnson brings the Hawks back within one point as Johnson successfully hits the jumpshot after backing down Nembhard, drawing the ‘and-1’ on the play and dispatching the free throw:

The Pacers reply with an ‘and-’1 of their own, as Huff slips the screen, gets deep, and finishes with the reverse layup against Gueye, plus the foul:

A few things to say about this play. The Pacers ran this Nembhard-Huff screening action a lot in the fourth and, for the most part, I thought Alexander-Walker applied excellent pressure on the ball on these actions, and Gueye also did a good job of moving his feet to reciprocate the pressure Alexander-Walker exerted.

However, this play was one where Huff was able to get the slip ahead of Gueye. McCollum does a good job to read the play, rotate, and hold up Huff as well as you could ask for (almost getting his hand on the ball for the steal), and Gueye is able to get Huff back in front of him. However, Huff is in too deep at this point, and if anyone is finishing with a reverse finish it’s Jay Huff, taking the contact on the way.

Johnson tried to attack Nembhard, again, in the post, but is unable to make the same headway on the back down, and Johnson tries to rise over Nembhard again with the jumper, but this time it’s missed:

I wonder if Johnson was expecting Nembhard to make contact again for a foul call on the jumpshot here. Nembhard, wisely, keeps his hands out of the cookie jar this time — his body clearly positioned to avoid any contact on the jumper again.

Alexander-Walker’s defense creates a steal out-front, and he leads the one-man break where he’s fouled at the rim, where he would go on to miss his first free throw in seven games as he splits the pair to bring the Hawks within three points — 118-121 — with 2:51 remaining:

The Pacers extend their lead as Nesmith drives from the corner on Johnson, carves space on the drive with the contact, and finishes at the rim:

Not ideal from Johnson defensively, particularly the way Nesmith just bodied him out of the way to create the opening at the rim.

The Hawks’ hole suddenly becomes alarming, as a turnover from McCollum leads to an immediate Siakam basket in transition, putting the Pacers up by seven points with 2:17 remaining:

It’s just a bad pass from McCollum; it’s behind Gueye on the roll, and even if it wasn’t, the ball is at his feet — he was never reaching it.

Jalen Johnson comes up with two big plays to give the Hawks a chance. First, he hits the three-point at the end of the clock before taking a charge, to give the Hawks a chance to bring the lead back down to a one possession game. The Hawks work a quick shot with the Johnson-Alexander-Walker pick-and-roll, but the three from Alexander-Walker is missed:

This clip has the Pacers’ commentary, but one of the funnier moments last night was from the Hawks’ broadcast, with Brian Oliver outlining that the Hawks do not need to go for a three at this point, and, as he says, this he trails off, as Alexander-Walker hoists the three at this exact moment and misses. Difficult to describe, but pretty funny to watch!

Unfortunate miss: it’s not the worst shot in the world and Alexander-Walker can hit those… It’s one of those plays that looks a lot worse because it missed, especially with 16 seconds left on the clock.

A turnover from Nembhard gives the Hawks another chance to bring the lead down to one-possession — and now with under a minute remaining — but the Hawks miss another chance, as Johnson’s turn and drive toward the rim is deterred by Huff on the contest:

This play speaks to a larger theme of the second half which we’ll discuss later, but a lot of it has to do with Jay Huff, who does well to alter the shot at the rim. Critically, in the immediate aftermath, Daniels claims the offensive rebound on the ground and successfully calls the timeout, giving the Hawks another, crucial chance to reduce the Pacers’ lead.

Out of the timeout, McCollum is finally able to bring the Hawks within two points, successfully connecting on a fadeaway jumper in the paint:

The Pacers don’t call for a timeout, but this upcoming possession is the most important of the game. If Indiana scores, they extend the lead to two possessions (up four-plus points) with the shot clock off and force Atlanta to play the foul/free throw game. If the Pacers miss, the Hawks have a chance to tie or take the lead with the shot clock off.

In the middle of the paint, Siakam backs down Alexander-Walker, with Johnson arriving late to apply pressure. Siakam rises up to take the free throw line jumper, sinking it, giving the Pacers the crucial four-point lead:

It’s a good make from Siakam, but for neither Johnson nor Alexander-Walker to get a hand up to contest this shot will be of disappointment for the Hawks.

The Hawks charge immediately with Johnson, who gets near the rim and kicks the ball out to Gueye in the corner, who misses the three. Alexander-Walker gets in the mix for the offensive rebound and is fouled, resulting in free throws:

Hindsight is always a wonderful thing, and I think in this instance, the Hawks may have been served with Gueye kicking the ball to the more open, and reliable from three, option in McCollum. Alexander-Walker splits the free throws, bringing the lead down to three points.

The Pacers, however, hand the Hawks a gift: the in-bounder after the timeout, TJ McConnell, travels before the ball is inbounded, handing the Hawks possession with seven seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game with a three. All of a sudden, however, those missed Alexander-Walker free throws down the stretch become very costly…

However, just as the Hawks received a chance on the inbounds pass they also spurned this gifted chance, as Johnson turns the ball over on the attempted pass to Alexander-Walker, returning the ball to the Pacers where they would ice the game at the free throw line:

A tough one for Johnson and Alexander-Walker combined here, and ultimately just not a turnover you can accept in a situation like this. To get a bad shot is one thing — to not get anything is the worst outcome of all.

The Pacers seal victory, leaving the Hawks to reflect on what may have been. In the case of Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, he was left to reflect on a style of play that he was not pleased with, believing the Hawks didn’t play to the way that brings them success: driving, finding perimeter shooters, and sharing the ball. Snyder was particularly unhappy with the Hawks’ 25 assists and just 28 three-point attempts, both considerably below their season averages. Snyder would go on to mention Onyeka Okongwu specifically as the most unselfish player on the team, and while Snyder said he wasn’t ‘lamenting’ Okongwu’s absence, he is clearly perturbed by his absence and what Okongwu provides the Hawks and his fellow teammates.

“We weren’t committed to taking good shots, we weren’t committed to passing the ball,” said Snyder postgame. “We had people open. It shows in our assist totals, and it shows in the fact we got 28 threes. When we play well, we’re getting in the lane and kicking the ball out. When we play well, we’re running and we’re spacing, offensively. On the defensive end we lose focus. What you see is we play a certain way, we get a lead — or close a lead — and then we play a different way, we look like a different team during stretches. We cut it to one, it’s back to 10. We know, we just have to execute it. Often times, the other team has something to do with that.

“I’m not lamenting Onyeka not being here but he’s the most selfless ball-mover on our team. He sets an example for everybody, because when they give it to him, they know it’s going to come back to them. We’re comfortable because he’s going to make a play for someone else, and everybody has to have that mindset. You have to make a simple pass and trust in your teammates. When you do that, we don’t shoot 28 threes. We shoot 40 threes. When we do that, we don’t have 25 assists, we have 35 assists. It’s something that we believe in, I don’t think there’s any lack of buy-in. There just has to be execution in those things. It’s harder to execute in that way because it requires everybody on the same page, everybody committed to a certain way of playing. But that’s who we need to be. When we’re like that and play that way, we’re efficient. When we’re not, the game looks like it did tonight.”

Snyder was probably wanting to make a more public indictment of how the Hawks played last night, but I don’t actually think the Hawks not shooting threes or getting into the paint and finding shooters was their issue last night. In fact, the Hawks’ greatest contribution to this game was the fact they were getting to the rim and finishing there; not getting to the rim and finding shooters.

In the first quarter alone, the Hawks scored 24 points in the paint and scored another 20 points in the paint in the second quarter; scoring 44 points in the paint in the first half alone. And it wasn’t a situation where it was just Jalen Johnson scoring, for example, 18 points in the paint (though, he did lead the way) — it was everybody. Johnson scored 10 paint points, Alexander-Walker, Gueye, Luke Kennard, Daniels, McCollum all scored six paint points each: everyone was contributing and excelling in the first half in the paint/at the rim:

11 three-point attempts is obviously a low volume of threes, but with the shots the Hawks did get they, mostly made. The Hawks shot just under 55% from the field in the first half for 73 points — offense was not their issue. Defensively, that’s another conversation, but I don’t agree with Snyder when he talks about the issues he saw offensively if he’s referring, in any way, to the first half.

The second half saw the Hawks score only 20 points in the paint, seeing a far lower volume and shooting percentage in the paint and at the rim:

If the message at halftime was to shoot more threes, it was the wrong message. It completely took away the good things the Hawks were doing offensively in the first half, and you could see the Hawks settle for those jump shots more in the third quarter.

In the first half, Johnson is absolutely taking this drive into the chest of Johnny Furphy (as he did in the first half), but instead he settles for a three which is missed:

I would have liked to have seen Johnson continue to play as he had in the first half: getting into the paint and finishing, taking it to the chest of defenders who weren’t able to deal with him in the first half (scoring 21 of his 22 points in the first half), and especially to begin the third when Huff wasn’t on the floor.

While the likes of Siakam, Nembhard, Nesmith…they all scored 2o or more points in this game (extremely efficiently in the case of Nesmith and Siakam, who shot 80% and 73% respectively).

The most influential player for the Pacers in this game, I thought, was Jay Huff, and he’s a big key as to the reversal of paint scoring fortune the Hawks experienced in the second half (in addition to the coaching staff likely wanting more threes). Huff checked back into the game off the bench with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter — he did not check back out of this game until 42 seconds remained in the fourth quarter.

What Huff provided the Pacers was a clear deterrent in the paint and at the rim, one which the Hawks were wary of. Coming off the screen, McCollum knows that Huff is backpedaling and that any attempt to drive and finish inside would be futile, and he instead backs the ball out and misses a three:

If Huff isn’t there, I think McCollum likely takes this ball to the rim, similar to this next play where McCollum gets deeper into the paint as he gets downhill, and with Huff looming McCollum kicks it out to the perimeter and the three from Gueye is missed:

When Christian Koloko was on the floor, it allowed Huff to sit a lot more in the paint; when Gueye was on the floor there were times where Huff wouldn’t be centered in the paint, at least somewhat respecting the three-point threat of Gueye. Had Okongwu been available the same would be said.

With Koloko there, Huff doesn’t really need to concern himself, and he can drop deep like he does on this possession. McCollum is unable to get into the paint for a high percentage look, and has to settle for a jumpshot just outside the paint:

It’s an example of instances where the Hawks’ attempts inside the paint were so much more limited in the second half.

On the pick-and-roll with Gueye, Alexander-Walker gets separation, but he can’t take the drive to the rim with Huff looming, and Alexander-Walker elects to lean back into the jumper which is missed:

Alexander-Walker’s apprehension is understandable, as in the third quarter — one of the first plays Huff was involved in when he checked in — he was blocked emphatically by Huff:

Johnson, too, was impacted by Huff’s presence at times. While Johnson was able to exploit mismatches and score some paint points in the second half, he struggled to operate in the same manner as the first half, and when he tried to take it to Huff, he faced a similar outcome:

Something that the Hawks may have possibly seen more success in going to with Huff on the floor was the Dyson Daniels floater — the one instance Daniels whipped it out over Huff in the second half, he hit it (and the only shot he took/made in the second half):

By the time this shot was hit, it was already hitting the stretch run in the fourth, and I can’t help but wonder if the Hawks had gone to this sooner maybe they could have found some paint success with Daniels’ floater…

Going back to Snyder’s comments… I think the Hawks going away from some of their paint scoring and emphasizing more threes (not that those went down with much success; shooting 5-of-17 in the second half, 11-of-28 from three for the game) combined with Huff’s presence limiting the Hawks’ attempts/percentages in the paint/at the rim was I think, ultimately, the Hawks’ undoing in the second half. The clutch plays…The Hawks were chasing the game for all of the fourth quarter, they struggled to get stops, the Pacers made some plays, but I think the two plays the Hawks would like a do-over would be replacing the Gueye three with a McCollum, and the Johnson turnover on the inbounds pass.

Looking at the Hawks’ individual games, Johnson led the way with 33 points on 12-of-29 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, and 6-of-8 from the line. Quite a high volume for Johnson last night, barely scraping above 40% shooting from the field. Production-wise, it looks good: a 33-point triple-double, but you’d like to see more efficiency from the field. After scoring 21 points in the first half and coming out for the second half, with no Huff on the floor, I would have liked to see Johnson pick up where he left off and attacking the rim. Defensively, some questionable moments for Johnson in the fourth, which is always disappointing as the potential is there to be a plus-defender.

Speaking of defense, Alexander-Walker was excellent defensively in the second half in particular, but struggled to shoot with great efficiency, scoring 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field. CJ McCollum scored a strong 18 points off the bench on 8-of-15 from the field — many of his misses in the second half were in those situations with Huff that we looked at. Mo Gueye was active last night, scoring 15 points, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Gueye was running the floor well, on both ends of the floor. It was a productive, and mostly positive game from Gueye — the late miss from three was unfortunate, but I think it takes away the focus on what he did do well, particularly in the pick-and-roll defense along with Alexander-Walker.

Zaccharie Risacher had a quiet return to action, scoring seven points on 3-of-5 five shooting from the field in — you guessed it — 21 minutes. While Risacher is working with a minutes restriction, he basically just played the amount of minutes he would have normally played: right in that 18-to-22-minute zone.

Quin Snyder was pleased with what Risacher did while he was on the floor, and emphasized that Risacher’s stat-line does not reflect his qualities as a player.

“He ran, he did the things we talked about before the game,” said Snyder of Risacher. “I liked that he was aggressive shooting the ball when he was open. His timing and his reads will get better, where he can drive in and keep his eyes out, keep his feet and find other people. He’s capable of doing that and has done that. The feel for those situations offensively is something — when you don’t play for a while — that’s more challenging. I thought he really came out in early in the game, I liked his aggressiveness defensively, I liked the way he guarded the ball, I like the way he rebounded. I think the key thing with Zacch, and everyone is that we can’t judge Zacch based on his stat-line. That’s not the way that Zacch improves, because he’s capable of doing a lot of things. Tonight, he looked good shooting the ball, but he also looked good making an impact in other areas that help his team win.”

I can’t say I share the same enthusiasm as Snyder, but good to have Risacher back nevertheless after a long absence. Hopefully, Risacher’s season will be able to kick on and end the season strong, because his absence at the upcoming Rising Stars game doesn’t reflect well of the perception of his contributions from the league.

All in all, a disappointing loss for the Hawks. The Pacers have played better of late, and in late-game situations, but the Hawks would have been expected to win in this spot against a team whose season has long been lost. The Hawks are without some key contributors themselves, particularly Okongwu. Gueye played well, but Okongwu is still sorely missed.

The Hawks (24-26) will hope that Okongwu will be close to returning by the time they are in action next on Tuesday, when they take on the Miami Heat (26-24) at Kaseya Center in Miami. A key matchup, not just as division rivals, but in close contest with the Heat for seeding, with a top-6 seed still within the realms of possibility.

Until next time!