Sherrone Moore is returning to court in case related to his firing as Michigan football coach

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is returning to court for the first time since being charged with vengeful acts against a woman shortly after he was fired for having a relationship with her.

Moore, 39, faces three charges, including felony home invasion and stalking. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and must wear a tracking device while free on bond.

A judge in the Ann Arbor area set a hearing for Thursday to get an update on the case, six weeks after Moore was fired and arrested. The next step would be to schedule another hearing to determine if there's enough evidence to order a trial on the felony charge.

Moore went inside the woman's apartment on Dec. 10 and blamed her for losing his job that day, even grabbing butter knives and kitchen scissors and threatening to kill himself, according to authorities.

“My blood is on your hands," Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski has quoted Moore as telling the woman, who was a football staff member.

Rezmierski said the woman had told school officials about their relationship. Moore was fired for the relationship and lying during the university's investigation. Kyle Whittingham, who coached Utah for two decades, is the new Michigan coach.

Moore coached the Wolverines for two seasons as the successor to Jim Harbaugh, who won a national championship before quitting to become coach of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston Rockets vs. Philadelphia 76ers game preview

Before we start with the preview, I want to thank Holly and Xiane for stepping in and handling the game previews while I was celebrating my brother’s marriage. As always, I’m worried that you guys liked them way more than me and will try to get rid of me. For now, you’re still stuck with me, but you should definitely continue enjoying their writing. They’re both great and deserve your attention.

The Houston Rockets finally won the second game of a back-to-back last week against a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves team. Those had been an issue for Houston because back-to-backs mean no Steven Adams. Now, Houston will be without Adams for an indefinite amount of time and have to navigate all games without their big Kiwi.

Their next test takes them to Philadelphia, where the 76ers have absolutely surprised a lot of people with their start to the season. We all knew Joel Embiid and Paul George would miss some games, and both have missed 19 contests so far. Still, Philly has thrived thanks to an MVP-level campaign from Tyrese Maxey, solid play from Quentin Grimes, and potential Rookie of the Year frontrunner V.J. Edgecomb. Those three have been the backbone of the squad with veterans like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond, the Sixers look to be in much better shape moving forward than they have at times in previous years.

And that doesn’t count Jared McCain, who was looking like the no-doubt Rookie of the Year last season before injuries ended his season early and then another one took him down right before this season started. He’s struggled so far this season and is with the G-League. If he figures things out, he adds another layer to Philly’s strategy and makes them even more difficult to defend.

Tip-off

6pm CT on January 22, 2026

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Sixers

Joel Embiid: GTD

Paul George: GTD

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Friday night on the road against the Detroit Pistons

Knicks end losing streak with 120-66 win over Nets

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks broke a four-game losing streak without breaking a sweat, crushing the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 on Wednesday night in the most lopsided victory in franchise history.

Jalen Brunson scored 20 points and Landry Shamet was 6 for 6 on 3-pointers and added 18 for the Knicks, who led by as much as 59 points before the 54-point victory that surpassed the previous largest victory margin of 48 points.

The Knicks had lost nine of their last 11 games so this was a good time to play Brooklyn, because they never lose to the Nets these days. New York won its 13th straight meeting in the local rivalry.

The Knicks were already on track to win this one easily before outscoring the Nets 16-0 to open the fourth quarter, extending a 32-point lead to 104-56.

Michael Porter Jr. shot 4 for 14 and was limited to 12 points, but was still the leading scorer for a Nets team that has lost eight of nine.

Two days after the Knicks were booed frequently while trailing by 30 points in the first half of their 114-97 loss to Dallas, the scoreboard was crooked in their favor.

A 14-0 run gave the Knicks an 18-6 lead midway through the first quarter, and they closed the period with a 14-3 spurt to open a 38-20 lead after Shamet finished the period with consecutive 3-pointers.

The Knicks led 60-38 at the break. They then outscored the Nets 60-28 in the second half.

CAVALIERS 94, HORNETS 87

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Evan Mobley added 14 points and 14 rebounds and Cleveland jumped out to 21-point first-quarter lead and held on to beat Charlotte for its fifth road win in the last six games.

Jaylon Tyson scored 14 points and Jarod Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who held the Hornets to 32 points in the first half on 26% shooting.

Brandon Miller finished with 24 points and Kon Knueppel had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Charlotte, which made just 8 of 46 3-point attempts and was outrebounded 60-47.

The Cavs bolted to a big lead in the first quarter after making 11 of 15 shots from the field to open the game.

Cleveland’s stifling on-ball pressure defense repeatedly forced Charlotte into uncharacteristic turnovers and hurried shots.

Mitchell set the tone for the Cavaliers with 14 points in the first half, and Cleveland’s defense never allowed Charlotte to get into any rhythm in the first two quarters. The Hornets tied a season low with 12 points in the second quarter and trailed 56-32 lead at the break.

CELTICS 119, PACERS 104

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Boston opened a 23-point first-half lead before coasting to a victory over Indiana.

Sam Hauser hit five 3-pointers, scoring 17 points for Boston, and Neemias Queta had 17 points and nine rebounds. The Celtics bounced back from Monday night’s one-point loss at Eastern Conference-leading Detroit.

Pascal Siakam had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who had won four of seven games since losing 13 in a row in December and January. Jarace Walker scored 19 points off the bench for Indiana.

Hauser hit his first three attempts from 3-point range — two of them in the game’s first 68 seconds. The Celtics led 57-34 with 3:22 left in the second quarter, but Indiana cut the deficit to nine in the third before Anfernee Simons hit a 3-pointer.

The Pacers never got back within single digits.

HAWKS 124, GRIZZLIES 122

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 15 rebounds and a key basket in the closing minute as Atlanta used a fourth-quarter burst and held on to defeat Memphis.

Luke Kennard and Onyeka Okongwu added 18 each for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ja Morant led Memphis with 23 points and 12 assists. His 3-point attempt at the horn was off the mark. Jaylen Wells finished with 18 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cedric Coward scored 17 points apiece.

Memphis held a 110-108 lead with 5:39 left, but the Hawks scored eight straight points, capped by a pair of free throws from Johnson. Memphis never overtook the Hawks the rest of the way, but were within 122-121 on a Coward 3-pointer with 1:09 left.

Johnson’s basket from the lane with 40 seconds left kept the Grizzlies at bay.

There were 21 lead changes and 14 ties in the game.

PISTONS 112, PELICANS 104

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Duran scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Daniss Jenkins added 17 points and Detroit never trailed while cruising to its fourth straight victory, beating New Orleans.

Duncan Robinson had 15 points while shooting 4 of 9 from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight.

Saddiq Bey scored 20 points to lead the Western Conference-worst Pelicans, who have lost 14 of their last 16.

Zion Williamson, who started after being listed as questionable with an illness, went to the locker room early in the third quarter and didn’t return. He had 4 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.

Trey Murphy III shot just 6 of 19 from the floor and finished with 17 points, ending his streak of eight straight games with at least 20 points. Micah Peavy also had 17 points and added seven rebounds and four steals for New Orleans.

THUNDER 122, BUCKS 102

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and NBA-leading Oklahoma City withstood multiple injury-related absences to trounce Milwaukee.

The Thunder won for the seventh time in eight games despite playing without Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein (strained right soleus), Alex Caruso (strained right adductor), Aaron Wiggins (sore right groin) and Jaylin Williams (bruised left glute).

Gilgeous-Alexander picked up the slack, as the reigning MVP shot 16 of 19 from the floor.

Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half and ended up playing 25 minutes before leaving with a hip bruise. Kenrich Williams also scored 18 points for the Thunder, who shot 54.4% from the floor.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

RAPTORS 122, KINGS 109

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 14 of his 23 points in the third quarter and Toronto beat Sacramento.

Barnes shot 8 of 17 and had eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals while posting his season-high fifth consecutive game with 22 or more points.

Brandon Ingram also had 23 points for the Raptors, who outscored the Kings 43-21 in the third quarter and won in Sacramento for the first time since Jan. 25, 2023. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 22 points and nine rebounds. Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points.

One day after shooting 59% overall while tying its season high with 21 3-pointers in an 18-point win over the Golden State Warriors, Toronto’s offense had sporadic success against Sacramento,

The Raptors blew a nine-point lead in the first quarter and trailed by nine at halftime before Barnes found his rhythm. He made five of six shots in the third quarter to help Toronto regain the lead and take control.

Russell Westbrook scored 23 points for the Kings. Zach LaVine had 19 points and five assists. Malik Monk scored 17.

Sacramento has lost three straight since its season-high four-game winning streak.

Knicks looking for consistency to get season back on track after largest win in franchise history

The Knicks sure needed that one.

New York's 120-66 win over the Nets on Wednesday night not only snapped a four-game losing streak, but showed the MSG crowd -- and themselves -- that the team that was one of the best in the NBA is still there.

And there was a lot to like from Wednesday's performance. 

The offense, which entered ranked in the bottom five of the league for January, scored 120 points, their highest since a win in Portland back on Jan. 11 (six games). The defense, which was much-maligned all season, allowed an NBA season-low 66 points on 29 percent shooting. And the 54-point margin is the biggest in Knicks franchise history.

"Just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing…the things that we did out on the floor, we talked about, we drilled, watch film on," coach Mike Brown said after the win. "And our guys are more than capable of. To go see them put it together for 48 minutes was a lot of fun."

Consistency, or the lack thereof, has been the key for the Knicks during this rough patch. Some nights they'll play inspired basketball on both ends of the floor, and others look like their loss to the lowly Mavericks this past Monday. 

“A win. It’s the most important thing. Find a way to break the ice and put one in the left column," Karl-Anthony Towns said. "Good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of. Consistency is what makes champions. We've got to find that consistency of bringing this kind of intensity, energy and execution every single night."

Towns, unfairly or not, has been the face of the Knicks' struggles. Coach Brown has subtly called out Towns' need to "sacrifice" in his system, while the big man has acknowledged his struggles to adapt. 

On Wednesday, Towns did it all. He scored 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting (2-for-3 from three) while coming down with eight rebounds, dishing three assists and getting one steal. He was a plus-21 on the court in his 20 minutes and his energy level was up and consistent throughout the game.

He was asked how the team can build on this win, and the second-year Knick said, with a grin, “Try to get two wins in a row, so sure. Execute plays with this aggression and have this kind of determination every single night.”

Amidst the Knicks' 2-9 stretch, there was a report that captain Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting. The All-Star starter had a team-high 20 points in 30 minutes and said on the MSG floor after the game that the Knicks did some "soul-searching" the last few days. 

"We just had to refocus and get back to who we are," Brunson said. "This is a good step for us, but we've got to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day."

Josh Hart, who had a near-double-double, downplayed the players-only meeting, saying the media "dragged" it and that the players just talked.

"We know what we have to do," Hart said. "We cleaned some up in film and practice and today in walkthrough. We know we haven’t been able to play up to our capabilities. We’re going to continue to build off this win."

"I think losing four in a row better get everyone on the same page. Glad tonight that everyone looked like they saw what was going on and what we needed to stop the bleeding," Towns said of the meeting. "I thought we did a good job of showing what we’re capable of tonight. Consistency is what’s going to make us great. And it’s going to make this season a successful season. We just go to build off of this."

New York's next game comes against the 76ers, a team they've lost twice to at home already this season. This time, they'll be in Philadelphia for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday afternoon. 

Knicks get back on track with biggest win in their history, beating Brooklyn by 54 points

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks hadn’t won at all in more than a week. They had never won like this in 80 years.

The Knicks ended their four-game losing streak Wednesday night with the most lopsided victory in franchise history, beating the Brooklyn Nets 120-66.

Jalen Brunson and the starters were already done for the night after three quarters, with the Knicks ahead 88-56. But instead of coasting to the finish, the reserves poured it on, outscoring the Nets 16-0 to open the fourth as the lead ballooned to 104-56.

“We’ve been in the midst of a pretty rough stretch and it’s not about just one game right now. There’s got to be a continual pursuit for us getting better and growing,” swingman Landry Shamet said. “So, fourth-quarter blowout, cool, whatever. It’s an opportunity against a talented NBA team to build and grow on some of the things that we’re trying to grow on and get better at. So kudos to our guys continuing to carry the standard and finish out the right way.”

Brunson scored 20 points and Shamet had 18 in just 15 minutes, going 6 for 6 from 3-point range. The Knicks shot 57.5% from the field and led by as much as 59 points.

The Knicks had lost nine of their previous 11 games and were just two days removed from the low point of their season. They trailed by 30 points in the first half Monday at home against Dallas, booed repeatedly in their 114-97 loss.

The 54-point victory surpassed three 48-point wins that had stood as the previous franchise record. Karl-Anthony Towns, a target of some of the boos Monday, was asked what the Knicks needed Wednesday.

“A win. That was the most important thing, just finding a way to break the ice and get one in the left column,” Towns said. “So good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of, but consistency is what makes champions and we’ve got to find that consistency and bring this kind of intensity and energy and execution every single night.”

They certainly do it against the Nets. They have won the last 13 meetings in a three-year winning streak and have handed Brooklyn its two worst losses of this season. The Knicks won 134-98 on Nov. 9 at Madison Square Garden.

“Tonight was even worse and I’m the one responsible for it,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said.

The Knicks limited the Nets to 29% shooting, outscored them 12-0 in second-chance points and 29-4 on the fast break.

But New York is a team built to compete for a championship and the Nets are headed for the lottery. The Knicks know a more realistic test comes Saturday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers, who won both matchups this season in New York.

“This was a good step for us,” Brunson said, “but we’ve got to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day.”

Agee's 23-point, 10-rebound double-double powers Texas A&M to 88-68 win over Mississippi State

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Rashaun Agee had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as Texas A&M cruised by Mississippi State 88-68 on Wednesday night.

The Aggies (15-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) have won eight of their last nine, their only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 24 Tennessee 87-82 in double overtime.

Agee was 7 of 14 from the field and 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. His nine double-doubles this season are second most in the SEC behind Florida's Rueben Chinyelu (10).

Rylan Griffen added 15 points, and Jacari Lane and Pop Isaacs each scored 10 for Texas A&M. Lane led the Aggies with six assists.

Texas A&M led for over 32 minutes of game time, last trailing just before the midway point of the first half. Agee made a layup to put the Aggies ahead 19-18, and they did not trail again, holding a 44-33 lead at the break.

Brandon Walker scored 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs (10-9, 2-4). King Grace had 13 points, Josh Hubbard 12 points and Jayden Epps scored 11. Achor Achor grabbed 10 rebounds to go with six points.

Mississippi State has lost four straight games.

Up next

Texas A&M: The Aggies host South Carolina on Saturday.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs host No. 15 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

___ 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

Kapke's 3-pointer with 22 seconds left sends Boston College past Pitt 65-62

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) — Boden Kapke scored 19 points and his 3-pointer with 22 seconds left was the game-winning basket as Boston College left Pittsburgh in the ACC cellar with a 65-62 win on Wednesday night.

Fred Payne also scored 19 points and Donald Hand Jr. added 18 points as the Eagles (9-10, 2-4) shot 45% (25 of 55) from the field despite 32% (7 for 22) from 3-point range.

Roman Siulepa and Cameron Cohren each scored 13 points, Brandin Cummings 11 and Barry Dunning Jr. and reserve Nojus Indrusaitis 10 each for Pittsburgh. Cohren and Siulepa grabbed 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

Following Kapke's 3, Cummings missed a deep 3 attempt with nine seconds left. After a Pitt (8-11, 1-5) intentional foul, Siulepa stole the inbounds pass and fed Cummings who missed another attempt from 3 as time expired.

Pitt, Notre Dame and Florida State sit at the bottom of the conference at 1-5, a game behind California, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and BC.

Up Next

Pitt: The Panthers host North Carolina State on Saturday.

Boston College: The Eagles visit Notre Dame on Saturday.

___

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Eaglestaff hits 6 3s, scores 23, West Virginia beats Arizona State 75-63

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Treysen Eaglestaff hit six 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to help West Virginia beat Arizona State 75-63 on Wednesday night.

Brenen Lorient made 7 of 11 from the field and scored 15 points for West Virginia (13-6, 4-2 Big 12). Jasper Floyd had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Honor Huff, who went into the game averaging 17.1 points per game, scored eight on 2-of-9 shooting.

Maurice Odum had 17 points and eight assists, Massamba Diop scored 14 points, and Noah Meeusen added 11 points for Arizona State (10-9, 1-5). The Sun Devils have lost three straight and seven of their last eight.

Lorient hit a 3-pointer that gave the Mountaineers the lead for good with 11:55 to play, Chance Moore followed with a three-point play and Floyd made a layup to cap an 8-0 spurt in a 65-second span that made it 53-46.

Diop threw down a dunk and Anthony Johnson added a three-point play that made it a two-point game. Floyd then answered with a 3 and a layup before Eaglestaff made a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play that gave West Virginia a 64-54 lead with five minutes remaining.

The Mountaineers shot 51% (27 of 53) from the field and hit 11 3-pointers.

The Sun Devils won the only other matchup between the teams 65-57 a year ago to the day.

Up next

West Virginia: The Mountaineers visit No. 1 Arizona on Saturday.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils host Cincinnati on Saturday.

___

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Hamlin's 20-point night sends BYU women over No. 19 Texas Tech, 73-61

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Olivia Hamlin scored 20 points, Delaney Gibb tallied 17, and BYU trailed for less than a minute of game time in a 73-61 win over No. 19 Texas Tech.

The Cougars (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) won their first game against a ranked team since a 68-64 win on Feb. 15, 2025 against then-No. 20 Oklahoma State. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games against ranked opponents, and 23-55 historically.

After Texas Tech hit a game-opening 3-pointer, BYU went on a 7-0 run that gave them the lead for good. A 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter extended their lead to double-digits, and they cruised to a comfortable victory.

Laura Rokohl added 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting for BYU and grabbed eight rebounds. Gibb dished a team-high six assists. Hamlin was 9-of-15 from the floor and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc.

For the No. 19 Lady Raiders (19-2, 6-2), Snudda Collins scored 17 points and Jalynn Bristow came one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Raiders have lost two straight after their 19-0 start.

Texas Tech struggled shooting, managing 33% from the floor and 26% from beyond the arc. BYU was 47% and 44%, respectively.

Up next

No. 19 Texas Tech visits Utah on Saturday.

BYU hosts No. 22 West Virginia on Saturday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Sellers scores 24 points, Howell adds double-double and No. 25 Washington women top Penn State 81-65

SEATTLE (AP) — Sayvia Sellers scored 24 points, Avery Howell had a double-double, and No. 25 Washington dominated the second half in an 81-65 victory over Penn State on Wednesday night.

The Huskies led 38-37 at halftime before outscoring Penn State 43-28 in the second half.

Washington opened the third quarter on a 2-for-10 shooting slump but made 6 of 7 free throws in the first 4 1/2 minutes to lead 48-44. Sellers scored nine of the Huskies' 22 points in the quarter and they led 60-51 heading to the fourth.

Howell opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and the Huskies led by double digits for the final eight minutes. The lead reached 19 at 79-60 and again at 81-62 in the final minute.

Howell had 13 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Brynn McGaughy had 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Washington (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten).

Gracie Merkle scored 19 points and Kiyomi McMiller had 11 for Penn State (7-13, 0-9).

McGaughy scored 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first quarter and the Huskies took a 21-11 lead. The Nittany Lions scored 26 points in the second quarter to cut their deficit to a point.

The Huskies have won six of their last seven conference home games dating to last season.

Up next

Penn State: The Nittany Lions visit Oregon on Saturday.

Washington: The Huskies play Sunday at Rutgers.

___

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Pistons never trail while cruising to fourth straight win, 112-104 over struggling Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Duran scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Daniss Jenkins added 17 points and the Detroit Pistons never trailed while cruising to their fourth straight victory, 112-104 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Duncan Robinson had 15 points while shooting 4 of 9 from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight.

Saddiq Bey scored 20 points to lead the Western Conference-worst Pelicans, who have lost 14 of their last 16.

Zion Williamson, who started after being listed as questionable with an illness, went to the locker room early in the third quarter and didn't return. He had 4 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.

Trey Murphy III shot just 6 of 19 from the floor and finished with 17 points, ending his streak of eight straight games with at least 20 points. Micah Peavy also had 17 points and added seven rebounds and four steals for New Orleans.

Duran's dunk 16 seconds into the game gave the Pistons a 2-0 lead and they built a lead as large as 13 points.

Peavy's 3-pointer with 5:41 left in the game cut the Pelicans' deficit to 5 points at 101-96, but that was as close as they would get before the Pistons closed it out.

Up next

Pistons: Host the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Pelicans: At the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Hawks break losing streak after nail-biting 124-122 win against Grizzlies

A close one indeed.

The Atlanta Hawks were in Memphis on Wednesday evening to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hawks came in looking for anything to work as they were riding a four-game losing streak after suffering a tough defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks on MLK Day.

As for the Grizzlies, they’re coming off a win against the Orlando Magic in London, and they got Ja Morant back after he missed time with an injury.

For the Hawks, they were still without Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis, as they are set to be re-evaluated sometime next week.

It was not a good start for the Hawks, as they went down 12-1 early, and couldn’t get a bucket to fall. The shots eventually started to go down, and Onyeka Okongwu’s two three-pointers helped them get back into it.

Once Okongwu started to get into a rhythm, Jalen Johnson followed suit with a few shots of his own.

The defense took it up a notch in the quarter as well, and Mouhamed Gueye put his imprint on the game to eventually give the Hawks the lead.

It was a homecoming for Luke Kennard as he got to face his former team, and he made it worth his while in this one, knocking down shot after shot. Going into the second, the Hawks trailed 32-31.

Kennard continued to light it up going into the second, and it was almost as if he couldn’t miss. (He couldn’t)

The Grizzlies and Hawks got into a little of a squirmish in the second that involved Morant and Gueye, and they were both assessed technical fouls.

Christian Koloko got his first minutes on the Hawks and made an immediate impact with a huge dunk.

Johnson turned into a quarterback in the second and threw a perfect pass down court to Vit Krejci for a layup. While he was making opportunities for others, he also got his own in transition.

The Hawks were able to grab the lead midway through the quarter and extended it late. After a rough start in the first half, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was able to finally get a shot to go from deep.

Johnson ended the half strong, going to the rim on Jaren Jackson Jr., and the Hawks went into halftime leading 66-59.

The Hawks did not start off the second half as they wanted to, and the Grizzlies tied the game early. The Hawks didn’t let it bother them, and Corey Kispert gave them the lead back.

CJ McCollum found Gueye for an easy dump off into a floater.

The Grizzlies started to pull away just a little bit, but the Hawks kept it close by continuing to execute on offense. The Hawks were active on the boards on this play, and it got Okongwu the bucket plus the foul to cut down their deficit.

If the Hawks could find Kennard on every play, it would’ve done wonders, because he couldn’t miss through the third quarter. He even turned defense into offense with a steal, finding McCollum for a three-pointer.

The Hawks took the lead at one point late in the quarter, but Morant put the Grizzlies back on top going into the fourth, leading 95-94.

Vit Krejci knocked down a three-pointer in transition to tie the game early in the fourth.

Nobody could stop Johnson in his tracks on this transition play, and the only thing the Grizzlies could do was try to foul him. Unfortunately for them, he still made the dunk.

Koloko continued to show his impact in his first game and knocked down a big three-pointer to give the Hawks the lead.

The Grizzlies took the lead after this, but not for long. Johnson turned defense into offense and found Alexander-Walker in the corner for a three-pointer, giving the Hawks a four-point lead.

The Grizzlies fought back, but the Hawks continued to make the right plays when they needed them.

With seconds remaining and the Hawks up two, Johnson missed the jumper to give them a four-point lead. The Grizzlies grabbed the rebound and didn’t call a timeout, so this was going to be the game. Morant took the ball and fumbled it for a minute, and had to chuck up a three-pointer at the buzzer that didn’t drop. With that, the Hawks were able to break their four-game winning streak and get back in the win column.

Johnson finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists; Kennard finished with 18 points, and Okongwu finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Hawks will be back in action on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

Knicks score biggest win in team history in beatdown of Nets

The New York Knicks entered Wednesday night's game having lost four consecutive contests, but you would have never known it given the way they obliterated the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks won 120-66, their 54-point margin of victory a team record. It could have been even worse − at one point the Knicks led by 59.

The 54-point margin of victory easily shattered the Knicks' previous record of 48, achieved three times (in 1994, 1972 and 1968).

Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with 20 points, and five other Knicks scored in double figures. They shot 57% as a team, including 50% from 3 (16-for-32).

The Nets, by comparison, shot a grisly 29% from the field (23-for-79). They were also soundly beaten on the boards (56-27) and in the assist department (28-15).

Knicks vs. Nets highlights

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks biggest blowout win: New York sets team record vs Nets

Jeanie Buss pushes back, regrets LeBron being drawn into family drama, calling report 'just not true'

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss pushed back on an ESPN report about the family drama that led to the sale of the Lakers, specifically the part that said she had grown frustrated with LeBron James and even floated the idea of trading him in the wake of the disastrous Russell Westbrook trade. Here is what Jeanie wrote to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

LeBron's agent and longtime friend Rich Paul was a lot less diplomatic when asked his thoughts on the report during the latest episode of the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast (hat tip Bleacher Report).

"Who gives a s***. I don't, right? You don't know what's true, what's not true. But where there's smoke, there's fire. I seen some of the stuff that came out about it and obviously they talked about different scenarios in terms of power that we may have. Here's all I know. There's an appreciation for guys like Michael Irvin, there should be, our legends. And there damn sure should be appreciation for a guy like LeBron."

There has been some tension around LeBron and the Lakers in the last year, more tied to the franchise turning the page to Luka Doncic and the future — this is the first time in his career that LeBron was not the primary focal point of the organization he was a part of. Buss and Warriors owner Joe Lacob had some talk about a LeBron trade, although that didn't go anywhere it speaks to where the relationship is.

LeBron's relationship with the Buss family — and, to a degree, with Lakers fans — is very different than the ones that Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson had. That may be a function of the modern NBA and LeBron coming in with an established brand more than anything else, but things have not always been smooth. There has been frustration on both sides. How much that frustration impacted things is up for debate, maybe Buss floated a LeBron trade internally but ultimately he got his max contract extension and no trade clause. The Lakers and LeBron stayed in business together.

With new ownership and LeBron at the end of his career, all that may now be changing. And with that comes a new, and maybe increased, tension.

LeBron has yet to speak about this but likely will on Thursday when the Lakers travel across town to face the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

Thursday's Time Schedule

All Times EST

Thursday, Jan. 22

NBA

Charlotte at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Denver at Washington, 7 p.m.

Houston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Utah, 9 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m.

Miami at Portland, 10 p.m.

NHL

Buffalo at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Vegas at Boston, 7 p.m.

Florida at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Ottawa at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m.

T25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 1 UConn at Georgetown, 7:30 p.m.

No. 2 South Carolina at No. 16 Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m.

No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 LSU at Texas A&M, 9 p.m.

No. 7 Michigan at Rutgers, 6 p.m.

No. 10 Iowa at No. 15 Maryland, 6 p.m.

No. 11 Kentucky at No. 17 Tennessee, 6:30 p.m.

No. 12 Ohio St. vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.

No. 13 Michigan St. vs. Southern Cal, 8 p.m.

No. 18 Mississippi at Missouri, 7:30 p.m.

PWHL

Toronto at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

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