Category: NBA

The Denver Nuggets have been ravaged by injuries this season. Nikola Jokić and Cameron Johnson have both been out since late December due to knee injuries. Christian Braun has been out for a few weeks due to an ankle injury. And Aaron Gordon recently aggravated the hamstring strain that sidelined him for more than a month earlier this year.

Those injuries couldn’t have come at a better time for Peyton Watson. In their absence, the fourth-year wing is averaging a career-high 14.4 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 threes, 1.2 blocks and 1 steal in 30.1 minutes per game. He’s also shooting a career-best 49.9% overall and 41.1% from deep.

According to longtime NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival executives have become “increasingly curious” about Denver’s “likely struggles” to re-sign Watson this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. Fischer mentioned that teams “projected to have cap space—notably such as the Lakers—are already preparing interest.”

In early January, Spotrac’s Keith Smith projected the Lakers to have roughly $55 million in cap space this offseason. To get to that figure, they’d have to renounce all of their free agents other than Austin Reaves, but including LeBron James. If Marcus Smart turns down his $5.4 million player option, they could get north of $60 million.

Either way, the Lakers are poised to be one of the offseason’s biggest spenders. And with the free-agent class getting increasingly whittled down, restricted free agency may be their best path forward.

That should put Watson firmly on their radar, particularly given the Nuggets’ upcoming financial outlook.

Why the Nuggets might not be able to keep Watson

Between Jokić ($59.0 million), Jamal Murray ($50.1 million), Gordon ($32.0 million), Johnson ($23.1 million) and Bruan ($21.6 million), the Nuggets already have roughly $185.7 million tied up in those five alone. The 2026-27 salary cap is currently projected to be $166 million, so the Nuggets will be well over that figure if they keep that core in place.

Add in Zeke Nnaji ($7.5 million), Julian Strawther ($4.8 million), DaRon Holmes II ($3.4 million), Jalen Pickett ($2.4 million) and Hunter Tyson ($2.4 million), and the Nuggets could already have $206.2 million in salary on their books for next season. That’s not counting Jonas Valančiūnas, whose $10 million salary is fully non-guaranteed.

The first apron is projected to be $210.7 million next season, while the second apron is projected to be $223.7 million. The Nuggets could re-sign Watson and go blasting over the second apron, but that would result in some harsh team-building restrictions, including the inability to aggregate contracts in trades.

The question for the Lakers or any other interested Watson suitors is how much the Nuggets would be willing to match in an offer sheet.

Over the past month, Watson has averaged 21.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 threes, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 35.9 minutes per game while shooting 49% overall and 42% from three. If that level of production was sustainable moving forward, he’d likely be looking at offers in the $30-plus million range.

However, a small sample size of star-caliber output isn’t always enough for a restricted free agent to break the bank. Just ask Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes, who wound up settling for his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer this past offseason.

Since Watson played somewhat sparingly over his first three seasons, teams might not be swayed by his recent performance meriting high-end starter money. If anything, Nickeil-Alexander Walker might be the template other teams try to follow.

The Atlanta Hawks acquired Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade this offseason by handing him their full $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. He’s rewarded them by averaging a career-high 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 32.9 minutes per game.

Like Watson, Alexander-Walker primarily came off the bench during the first few years of his NBA career. He had started 68 games across six seasons prior to his arrival in Atlanta, but he never had a sustained stretch of production like Watson is having right now.

The non-taxpayer MLE is projected to be $15.1 million next season. Unless the Nuggets trim salary, a contract in that range alone would push them dangerously close to the second apron. Anything worth $20 million or more would cause them to go over it.

Other suitors who are below the first apron could also offer Watson the non-taxpayer MLE, so the Lakers might have to offer him slightly more to entice him to sign with them. Even if they went into the $17-18 million range to start, they still could have north of $35 million to spend on other free agents before they re-sign Reaves.

Watson might not be the type of splashy star signing whom Lakers fans are hoping for, but the Lakers could do far worse than signing a 23-year-old forward who’s showing flashes of significant upside.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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We're well into the second half of the NBA season, with the latest NBA win totals markets coming into a much sharper focus.

The Oklahoma City Thunder — despite some recent stumbles — still have the highest projected win total (and are the only team projected North of 60 wins), followed by the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, while the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers are expected to finish in the basement. 

Here are the latest NBA win totals odds for every team over the remainder of the season.

2025-26 NBA win totals odds

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Popular NBA futures markets

• NBA Championship odds
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NBA win totals betting trends

• 2022-23 was the first time in the past 18 regulation-length NBA seasons that a team failed to win 60 games. The Celtics won 64 last year to start the trend anew.
  
  
• A team from the Western Conference has had the NBA's best record in nine of the last 13 seasons.
  
  
• Recent trends suggest that the West produces more 50-win teams than the East, at an average of 5.0 over the past 13 regulation-length seasons, compared to 3.15.

Top 5 NBA single-season win-loss records

The Golden State Warriors made history twice during the 2015-16 season when they became the first team to win 73 regular-season games — and the first team to lose an NBA Finals after taking a 3-1 lead.

How to bet NBA regular season wins totals

Season win totals are self-explanatory: betting on how many wins a team will have that regular season. 

Oddsmakers set a projected number of wins for each team — based on past success, returning personnel and a variety of intangible factors — and offer Over/Under betting options, allowing you to wager on if a team will exceed that win total (Over) or fall short of it (Under). This total includes regular-season games only.

For example, if oddsmakers calculate the Charlotte Hornets to win around 35 games this upcoming season, they would set the Over/Under at 35.5. Thus, if Charlotte wins 35 or fewer games, they cash the Under. If Charlotte wins 36 or more games in the given season, they cash the Over.

Over 35.5 wins (-110)
Under 35.5 wins (-110)

On top of the season win total itself, some oddsmakers may set an assigned cost to the Over and Under bets — also known as vig or juice — depending on the implied probability of the team winning more or less than that total.

Season win totals are considered futures betting odds, and sportsbooks will take action on season win totals from the time they post the odds until the start of the season. Futures bets are then graded at the end of the season when all results are final. 

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

Last Sunday’s matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks was postponed after Dallas’ team plane couldn’t take off at Love Field on Sunday afternoon.

On Thursday, the NBA announced the makeup date of the game, which will occur nearly a month after predicted. Local reporters predicted the game could be made up during the extended break of the All-Star Game. Instead, the game will be played Tuesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. EST.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/MVR9q1rZjQ

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 29, 2026

Additionally, the NBA announced a change to Dallas’ matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, originally scheduled for April 1. Since Dallas plays March 30 and, now, March 31, the NBA prevented a ‘three games in three nights’ scenario by moving Dallas’ game against the Grizzlies up three weeks. The game will now be played Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. EST.

Dallas plays in Atlanta on the 10th, will head to Memphis on the 12th, and will come home to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back.

On the back end, Dallas will now get an extra day off between games in early April, returning to Dallas to play the Orlando Magic on April 3 and a nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5.

The team will likely look very different when they face the Bucks in late March. Kyrie Irving is expected to be back sometime after the All-Star Break and Anthony Davis could be back from his thumb injury, assuming he’s still on the team. Milwaukee could also look different as recent reporting has suggested Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time with the Bucks may be coming to an end as he is “ready for a new home,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

So while fans may have bought tickets for an exciting rematch of the Giannis-Flagg duel we saw in November, they could be seeing two very different teams.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has announced new dates for four games as a result of the winter storm’s impact on the Memphis and Dallas areas.

Poor weather last weekend forced the postponement of two scheduled Sunday games: Dallas at Milwaukee and Detroit at Memphis.

The Nuggets-Grizzlies game has been rescheduled for March 18, while the Mavericks-Bucks game now will take place March 31.

The dates have been changed for two other upcoming games to accommodate the weather-related schedule shifts. Memphis will host Dallas on March 12 rather than April 1. A Grizzlies home game with the New York Knicks will be April 1 instead of March 18.

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

The 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year odds race is hitting the stretch run, and, well, it's that much of a race right now.

No. 1-overall pick Cooper Flagg remains the clear odds-on favorite, sitting at -400 (an implied probability of 80%), with Charlotte's Kon Knueppel — his teammate at Duke last season — the only other player within striking distance.

NBA Rookie of the Year odds

Latest NBA Rookie of the Year betting splits

Highest ticket percentage
•   V.J. Edgecombe 21.2%
•   Kon Knueppel 13.5%
•   Cooper Flagg 11.2%

Highest handle percentage
•   V.J. Edgecombe 26.4%
•   Kon Knueppel 21.6%
•   Cooper Flagg 18.1%

Biggest liability
•   V.J. Edgecombe

Data courtesy of BetMGM.

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Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA odds
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NBA ROY betting trends

Here are some trends to keep in mind when betting on NBA Rookie of the Year:

• The No. 1 pick has won Rookie of the Year four times in the past 10 seasons.
  
  
• Bigs (PF/C) haven't had much success in ROY recently, with just four wins in the last 20 seasons.
  
  
• Only one ROY winner this century (Malcolm Brogdon, 36th, 2016) was drafted outside of the lottery.
  
  
• The Rookie of the Year has been drafted in the Top 5 in 16 of the past 20 seasons.

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Popular NBA futures markets

• NBA championship odds
• NBA MVP odds
• NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds  
• NBA Coach of the Year odds
• NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds

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NBA Rookie of the Year history

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

The Charlotte Hornets are creating quite the buzz, riding a four-game winning streak heading into tonight’s matchup against the banged-up Dallas Mavericks.

My Hornets vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks break down why Buzz City still isn’t getting enough respect in this matchup, set to tip off at the American Airlines Center in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 29.

Hornets vs Mavericks prediction

Hornets vs Mavericks best bet: Hornets -4.5 (-110)

The Charlotte Hornets have won four in a row and have been playing excellent basketball for the better part of a month, going 7–3 over their last 10 games.

They’re doing it at both ends of the floor, leading the NBA in offensive rating and ranking fourth in defensive rating over that span.

I’m not concerned about Charlotte playing the second half of a back-to-back. The Dallas Mavericks — who rank 27th in offensive rating this season — are in the same spot and are also dealing with a lengthy injury list.

Buzz City wins its fifth straight, covering the spread along the way.

Hornets vs Mavericks same-game parlay

The Hornets are finding success in part because of their balance. All five starters scored double figures in the last game.

On top of that, Brandon Miller is starting to flash his potential. The 23-year-old is averaging 24.8 points per game over his last eight contests, eclipsing 20.5 points seven times during that span.

Another area where the Hornets can exploit the Mavs is on the glass. Dallas is surrendering the fourth-most opponent rebounds per game, so give me Collin Sexton to grab a pair of boards — something he’s done in five of his last seven outings.

Hornets vs Mavericks SGP

• Hornets -4.5
• Brandon Miller Over 20.5 points
• Collin Sexton Over 1.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Blue Devil Bromance

Wouldn't it be fun to watch former Duke teammates go back-and-forth tonight?

Hornets vs Mavericks SGP

• Cooper Flagg Over 18.5 points
• Cooper Flagg Over 5.5 rebounds
• Kon Knueppel Over 16.5 points
• Kon Kneuppel Over 5.5 rebounds

Hornets vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Hornets -4.5 (-110) | Mavericks +4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hornets -170 | Mavericks +145
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)

Hornets vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Hornets have cashed the moneyline in 10 of their last 15 road games (+17.50 Units / 104% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Hornets vs Mavericks

Hornets vs Mavericks latest injuries

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

The Minnesota Timberwolves have had an ugly January, but much of that consternation would be wiped away with an upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.

While Minnesota is at a scheduling disadvantage, OKC is a bit shorthanded.

My Thunder vs. Timberwolves predictions see a path for Minnesota’s best player to attack.

Let's break down my NBA picks for Thursday, January 29.

Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Target Center in Minneapolis, with the game airing on Prime Video. 

Thunder vs Timberwolves prediction

Thunder vs Timberwolves best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 25.5 points (-125)

Even though Anthony Edwards has been managing some foot pain, he has cleared this prop in three of his last five games.

Frankly, this prop is at least a bucket lower than usual for Edwards, a nod to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defense. But he has still scored at least 30 points in three of his last six games against OKC and cleared this prop in a fourth.

Edwards often finds things tougher against Alex Caruso, whose disciplined on-ball pressure disrupts drives without sending opponents to the line, a Thunder staple.

But with Caruso ruled out due to a right adductor strain, Edwards should see a few more clear paths to the basket. And a few more clear paths to the basket should get Edwards into a rhythm that should clear 30 points tonight.

Thunder vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

The Minnesota Timberwolves have covered the spread in both meetings against Oklahoma City this season, partly because both those games fell short of their totals.

Thunder vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 25.5 points
• Timberwolves +6.5
• Under 224.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: SGA erratic from the perimeter

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 1-of-8 from long range in his last three games, part of falling short of this modest prop in 13 of his last 18 games.

Thunder vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 25.5 points
• Timberwolves +6.5
• Under 224.5
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 1.5 three-pointers

Thunder vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Thunder -6.5 | Timberwolves +6.5
• Moneyline: Thunder -240 | Timberwolves +195
• Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5

Thunder vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games against the Thunder. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Thunder vs Timberwolves

Thunder vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of a breakup after months of intense speculation about his future, and it is the potential move that looms over the entire NBA trade deadline this year. The Bucks are finally listening to offers for the two-time MVP, according to multiple reports, as the team's hopes of being an Eastern Conference contender again dwindle and Antetokounmpo is on the shelf with a calf injury.

Teams are lining up their best assets to try to pry Antetokounmpo away from Milwaukee before the Feb. 4 NBA trade deadline, with front offices willing to part with players and assets not previously mentioned as available with a superstar still in the back-end of his prime on the market. But that could also slow trade talks for other players over the next week, as everybody holds off until Antetokounmpo's situation is resolved. The Bucks also may wait until the offseason to move Antetokounmpo, when draft picks are settled.

It nonetheless adds another layer to this year's NBA trade deadline and the list of notable players who could be on the move keeps growing. What happens in the coming days may shake up the playoff race and, in Antetokounmpo's case, change the trajectory of the only NBA franchise he's called home.

Here's a breakdown of the top candidates potentially available at the 2026 NBA trade deadline and how they rank:

GIANNIS LANDING SPOTS: Best trade partners for Bucks

Other players to monitor: Ochai Agbaji, Jose Alvarado, Lonzo Ball, Nic Claxton, DeMar DeRozan, Ayo Dosunmu, Keon Ellis, Daniel Gafford, Jerami Grant, Jrue Holiday, De'Andre Hunter, Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, Zach LaVine, Naji Marshall, Bennedict Mathurin, Khris Middleton, Malik Monk, Jusuf Nurkic, Immanuel Quickley, Chris Paul, Jakob Poeltl, Jordan Poole, Bobby Portis, Kristaps Porzingis, Collin Sexton, Dennis Schroder, Anfernee Simons, Jeremy Sochan, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Guerschon Yabusele

10. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Golden State's situation at the NBA trade deadline changed when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury, but Kuminga is still a player who could be traded. He filled in well for Butler in one game before suffering his own knee injury that has him currently sidelined. Now, with Antetokounmpo talks heating up, the Warriors are being mentioned as a prime candidate to land the Bucks' superstar. That potential deal would likely include Kuminga's contract, which has a team option for next season.

9. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are reportedly looking to upgrade their roster after a strong start to the 2025-26 season and their No. 3 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft could be the piece Toronto is willing to part with to find another player to team with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji have also been mentioned as possible trade chips.

8. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Sabonis has returned from a knee injury just as the Kings appear ready to move on from most of the veterans on their roster, including Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan. Sabonis is more intriguing because he's younger and more accomplished. But he has two more years left on his contract and serious defensive limitations that have muted his effectiveness in the playoffs. Sabonis is just a year removed from consecutive all-NBA nods and could help a playoff contender with a need at center. A trade involving Barrett has been mentioned as a possibility.

7. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are listening to trade offers for Morant, though it's unclear exactly what his trade value is after several years marred by durability issues, off-court concerns and declining production. Morant indicated publicly he wants to remain in Memphis. He's injured again and unlikely to return before the trade deadline, complicating any potential deal. When properly motivated, the 26-year-old point guard can still impact NBA games in a major way.

6. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Herro is having an injury-riddled season, but he was an all-star last season and continues to be an effective offensive threat from multiple levels when he does play. The Heat have long been rumored as a team that would go all-in to get Antetokounmpo if he were made available, and they would certainly part with Herro to get a deal done.

5. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

Randle has performed well with the Timberwolves since coming over in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade before the 2024-25 season and agreed to a 3-year, $100-million extension with Minnesota less than a year ago. But like Herro, Randle is on this list now because of recent developments surrounding Antetokounmpo. The Timberwolves are among the teams pursuing the Bucks' star and Randle (and perhaps Naz Reid and/or Jaden McDaniels) would likely have to be part of a potential deal to make it work.

4. Michael Porter, Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Porter has turned into a potential trade-deadline asset after taking on a leading role and producing a career year in Brooklyn following an offseason trade from the Nuggets. Porter's combination of size and shooting would help any contender, much like he did as a role player in Denver during its 2023 NBA title run.

3. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Trading Davis is complicated due to his ongoing hand injury, but he could be available for the postseason and remains a dominant two-way player when he's available. His lengthy injury history and contract, with two years and more than $120 million remaining after this season, will limit his options. But he could nonetheless alter the postseason picture if he goes to the right contender.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

There have been conflicting reports about Towns' potential availability at the NBA trade deadline over the past week, but Antetokounmpo's status change in Milwaukee means speculation about Towns' future with the Knicks will persist. If New York were to pull off an Antetokounmpo trade ‒ the Knicks reportedly held trade talks with the Bucks this past offseason – Towns would likely be the major salary in the deal. His transition under new Knicks coach Mike Brown hasn't gone as smoothly as hoped.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

There is little doubt at this point that Antetokounmpo is the biggest prize at this trade deadline and reports this week suggest he and the team have reached a breaking point after 13 seasons together. But it still remains to be seen if the Bucks can get the kind of haul they want, like a young star and a plethora of first-round picks. The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are considered serious suitors, according to ESPN, but the Bucks might be able to extract more by waiting to trade Antetokounmpo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade deadline power rankings 2026: Ranking best players available

Coming off a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Spurs took two days off before traveling to Houston to take on the Rockets. What followed was a tale of two halves. The first half consisted of the Rockets shooting the lights out and the Spurs bricking their shots with a side of turnovers. The Spurs trailed by 10 after the first quarter, and trailed by as much as 16 in the second. However, they made a small run to cut the deficit to eight at halftime. The second half flipped the script. The Spurs started to crawl their way back, and Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper kick-started it. After outscoring the Rockets 30-24 in the third, the Spurs dominated the fourth. They started the quarter on an 11-0 run and shut down Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant. From the 3:41 mark to 40 seconds remaining, the Rockets could not score. The Spurs outscored them 27-13 in the quarter, and ultimately won 111-99.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with a double-double: 28 points (8-15 FG, 12-15 FT) and 16 rebounds to go along with five blocks, three assists, and two steals. Vic battled with multiple defenders all game. The Rockets were rough and physical, so Wemby drew contact almost every time he touched the ball in the paint. As far as his defense, Wemby showed up and showed out. After not blocking a single shot against the Rockets on the 20th, Wemby swatted five- a truly dominant performance in a rivalry game.

TWO-WAY PLAYER! After Wemby comes up with the steal, Stephon Castle lobs it back to him on the fastbreak, and he posterizes Amen Thompson!

OH MAMAAAAA 🤯 👽

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/z1dLN6V30F

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

Here’s another angle!

⚠️ ENTERING AREA 51 ⚠️

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/YdBEpd04Hy

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

ANOTHER POSTER! After Vic secures the rebound, De’Aaron Fox throws a nice bounce pass to a cutting Vic, who spins for a reverse poster over Josh Okogie!

VICTOR. AGAIN. 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/GmB5l1Fi9g

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE! After Castle bodies up Durant, Wemby helps out with a rejection that forces a Rockets shot-clock violation!

Locked down 🔒

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/AlvMeOFcn8

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

De’Aaron Fox dropped 18 points (6-11 FG), eight assists, five rebounds, and a block. After struggling to take care of the ball in the first half, D-Fox’s scoring climbed up as the Spurs inched their way back in the second half. His craftiness allowed him to get into the paint and create easy shots for himself and his teammates. Swipa continues to be the scorer San Antonio needs.

SPLASH! D-Fox fakes out Thompson and then knocks down the open three!

SWIPA FOR THREE 🎯

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/z4LvoCL1p3

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

Keldon Johnson dropped 17 points (8-15 FG), seven rebounds, and five assists. If it wasn’t for KJ’s constant pressure getting the basket, the Spurs might not have completed their comeback. He was fearless posting up players like Sengun in the paint. He continues to be the Spurs’ savior off the bench, and his energy sparked the rest of the team as the comeback was completed. It has been said in almost every Spurs game this season: KJ deserves 6MOTY.

SPIN X2! KJ pulls out the double spin move on Thompson and converts a tough bucket!

KJ with the double spin 🌀🌀

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/HjkkcETw9p

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

KJ DAGGER! As the shot clock dwindled, KJ caught the Rockets falling asleep and slammed home the finishing touch on the game!

KJ THROW IT DOWN 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/HyRGub61PZ

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

Stephon Castle dropped 16 points (7-12 FG), six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Steph was an absolute game-changer on defense. Mitch Johnson had him guard Durant and Sengun, and he managed to hold his own against two near-seven-footers. His strength and balance are excellent for a second-year guard, and he frustrated the Rockets’ top scorers. Steph also managed to fill up the stat sheet on offense, and he continues to impress.

TOO SLOW! Steph catches Jabari Smith Jr. flat-footed and drives right past him for the easy jam!

Steph comin' through 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/aE6mtbaVuC

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

SPIN AND-ONE! Steph spins off of KD and finishes through contact for the and-one!

TUFFFF 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/ptmAzuNgEf

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

Dylan Harper dropped 16 points (8-11 FG), four rebounds, three assists, and a block. Dyl co-led the comeback team in the third with KJ and made quick work of the Rockets’ defenders in the paint. His confidence continues to grow as he slashes his way into the paint without fear. Games like these remind fans that his potential is limitless, and he will continue to shine off the bench for the silver and black.

A familiar sight! Dyl finds Devin Vassell on the sideline, and he drains the contested three!

D3V 🏹

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/kl3iXnTRCX

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

TOO FAST! Dyl takes it coast to coast, speeds past Reed Sheppard, and finishes over KD!

Rook goes all the way 🚗

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/xSAzhZTbpj

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

DEEP IN HIS BAG! Dyl drives on KD and finishes with the reverse layup off the glass! So smooth!

ROOK BIG TIME BUCKETS 💪

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/KpC175g4QA

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 29, 2026

All in all, this was an inspiring comeback win. After it looked like the Spurs were dead in the water during the second quarter, they continued to claw their way back and buckled down defensively. A key moment in the game came when Mitch decided to let Thompson shoot, and it completely derailed the Rockets’ offense. This is when this team is at its best. They put pressure on defense, and it resulted in key buckets. Defeating a playoff team is never easy, but when the Spurs play like this, they can beat anyone.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs travel to Charlotte this Saturday to take on the Hornets at 2:00 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video/KENS.

Shockwaves were felt across the NBA on Wednesday when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were, for the first time, genuinely listening to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. A number of teams have since been linked to the former Finals MVP, with Miami, New York, Minnesota and Golden State emerging as the most frequently mentioned suitors. So far, however, the Sixers have not been connected to the superstar forward.

Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have been closely tracking the developing trade market and recently shed light on Philadelphia’s position. Their reporting suggests the Sixers’ level of interest, or lack thereof, while also offering an intriguing detail about how the situation is unfolding:

“League sources say Philadelphia, furthermore, has not contacted Milwaukee about a possible Antetokounmpo deal in the wake of a better-than-expected first half, but The Stein Line has learned that the prospect of teaming up with Tyrese Maxey — who, like Giannis, works with prominent NBA trainer Drew Hanlen — does have the 76ers on Antetokounmpo’s radar.“

Many will focus on the latter detail in the quote, but the more surprising revelation is that the Sixers have not contacted Milwaukee at all. I’m not arguing that they should trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, or that it would even make sense. Still, this is Daryl Morey we’re talking about. He’s a known star hunter, the executive who’s always willing to make a call about your best player. The fact that there hasn’t been even a preliminary inquiry is notable and reinforces the idea that the Sixers are operating on a longer timeline, one that likely centers on Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

That said, it’s still interesting that Maxey was mentioned as a potential running mate for Antetokounmpo. That part isn’t much of a surprise, given how seamless the fit would be. Maxey has arguably been the best guard in the Eastern Conference, and Philadelphia would still have flexibility to build around those two. So far, the only other player reported as a possible partner alongside Antetokounmpo is Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Despite interest from Antetokounmpo’s side, the path to a Giannis-to-Philadelphia deal is murky at best, which likely explains why the Sixers haven’t shown much interest. For salary-matching purposes alone, Philadelphia would have to include at least one of Paul George or Joel Embiid. Embiid has been playing his best basketball in years, while George, despite some ups and downs, has done a solid job filling gaps on both ends of the floor.

And that’s before factoring in what Milwaukee would almost certainly demand on top of the contracts, likely a significant haul of draft capital and young players. When viewed through that lens, the lack of movement from the Sixers becomes far easier to understand.

Despite the overwhelming odds that nothing ultimately develops between the Sixers and Antetokounmpo, it’s worth noting that he singled out Maxey as one of just two players he’d be interested in playing alongside early in the process. That detail alone makes it difficult to completely dismiss the idea.

Still, unless there’s a significant shift in the Sixers’ stance, this appears more like an interesting footnote than a realistic outcome. For now, Philadelphia seems committed to a longer-term vision, one centered on Maxey and the pieces around him, rather than making a franchise-altering swing for a superstar whose fit, cost and timing don’t quite align.

It’s a great night of hoops action with eight games on the NBA board, highlighted by the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, heading to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.

In a game full of stars, you know I’ve got an NBA player prop pick for that one, plus my other favorite NBA picks for Thursday, January 29.

Best NBA player props today

Prop #1: Kyshawn George Over 6.5 rebounds

-105 at bet365

It’s hard to be one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on your roster. But the Milwaukee Bucks have figured it out.

Now, Giannis is injured and the subject of many trade rumors. So, I’m fading Milwaukee on the boards even against a team like the Washington Wizards.

Tonight, I’m targeting sophomore Kyshawn George. The 22-year-old is showing some promise, averaging 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season.

He’s got those rebounding numbers up to 8.0 over his last six games, grabbing eight or more four times. His rebounding total is 6.5.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Jalen Smith double-double

+185 at bet365

I’m getting greedy by taking Chicago Bulls big man Jalen Smith to go for a double-double in back-to-back games.

Smith is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 12.3 points and 9.2 rebounds over his last 13 games, which includes six double-doubles over his last 13 games.

Tonight, he faces one of my favorite rebounding fades, the Miami Heat.

The Heat aren’t the worst rebounding team, but their high pace means they take a lot of shots and, in turn, a lot of rebounds. They allow the second-most per game, meaning Smith hauls down enough boards for another double-double.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN, CHSN+

Prop #3: Naz Reid Over 2.5 threes

+120 at bet365

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t about to let the Oklahoma City Thunder run away with the Western Conference. 

And the T-Wolves are one of the few teams that can outshoot OKC. The trio of Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid can take advantage of a shockingly suspect Thunder perimeter defense.

OKC surrenders the fifth-highest three-point shooting percentage and the sixth-most made threes per game.

So tonight, I’m backing Reid. The Timberwolves’ stretch big is scorching, knocking down 45.9% of his threes over the last 10 games and clearing three-plus in seven of those. No reason that trend stops tonight.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

Cade Cunningham is the high-octane petrol fueling the Detroit Pistons offense.

The point guard is at his best creating for his teammates in the open floor and has dished out double-figure dimes in three of his last four outings. But there’s a speed bump in the way when Detroit visits the Phoenix Suns tonight. 

My Pistons vs. Suns predictions are buying back Cunningham’s inflated assist total against one of the best defenses in the NBA.

Here are my NBA picks for Thursday, January 29.

Pistons vs Suns prediction

Pistons vs Suns best bet: Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists (-112)

Cade Cunningham has eclipsed his assist prop total in five of his last seven appearances, including 11 assists against this very same Phoenix Suns squad on January 15.
 
Cunningham was mired in a shooting funk in that matchup, including a 0-for-7 night from 3-point range, but found ways to spark the Detroit Pistons with his passing. 

Player projections for tonight’s trip to the desert aren’t as advantageous when it comes to his assists. Models range from 7.7 to 9.5 dimes, with the majority of those forecasts falling short of the 9.5 O/U. 

And for good reason. The Suns are a Top 10 defense and do an exceptional job putting the brakes on foes who want to push the ball. 

They give up the fourth fewest fast-break buckets and limit those teams to the second-lowest transition points per play. Phoenix also holds opponents to the fourth fewest assists and, more importantly, the sixth lowest assist-to-FGM rate.

The Pistons record the eighth most points per play in transition and sit third in average fast-break points (18.0). Cunningham sets the tempo for that transition attack, but will be forced to play more half-court sets against the Suns.

My number for Cunningham comes out to 8.6 assists Thursday night.

Pistons vs Suns same-game parlay

The Suns have some offensive weapons nursing ailments, but can put the brakes on the Pistons’ fastbreak attack.

Cunningham’s projections call for a downtick in dimes compared to his recent distribution.

Dillon Brooks battles on the boards with models calling for 4.7 rebounds tonight.

Pistons vs Suns SGP

• Under 214.5
• Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists
• Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Check engine light

Our game predictions forecast both teams staying short of 210 points.

Cunningham’s projections sit as low as 7.7 assists tonight.

Brooks is averaging more than four rebounds this month, with the Suns' backcourt running thin.

Royce O’Neale is forecasted for double figures with a busy night beyond the arc.

Pistons vs Suns SGP

• Under 214.5
• Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists
• Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds
• Royce O’Neale Over 9.5 points

Pistons vs Suns odds

• Spread: Pistons -4.5 | Suns +4.5
• Moneyline: Pistons -185 | Suns +155
• Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Pistons vs Suns betting trend to know

Detroit has produced a 5-9 Over/Under count in non-conference games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Suns.

How to watch Pistons vs Suns

Pistons vs Suns latest injuries

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