Category: NBA

Observations after Maxey nabs career-high 8 steals in Sixers' win over Pacers  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers worked through some shaky patches and handled business Monday night against the Pacers.

They notched a 113-104 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena to improve to 23-18 on the season. Indiana fell to 10-34. 

Newly minted All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey had 29 points, eight assists and a whopping eight steals, setting a new career high.

Joel Embiid posted 30 points and nine rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18 points.

Pacers star Pascal Siakam tallied 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 25 points.

Paul George (left knee injury management) sat for the Sixers on the first night of a back-to-back. The team will host the Suns on Tuesday.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ victory over the Pacers:

Turnovers fuel Sixers again 

Oubre slotted into the Sixers’ starting lineup for George. He began brightly, scoring the night’s first four points on a couple of driving layups.

Embiid soon settled into an excellent mid-range rhythm and started 5 for 5 from the floor. He drained a Dirk Nowitzki-style one-legged fadeaway over Nembhard and then hit a face-up jumper on Jay Huff. 

Dominick Barlow brought his usual hustle in his first stint, including two offensive rebounds and two steals. A coast-to-coast Barlow layup put the Sixers up 22-19. 

Maxey also picked two steals in the first quarter. As was the case in their loss Wednesday to the Cavs, much of the Sixers’ early success stemmed from forced turnovers. They scored the game’s first 13 points off turnovers and the first 13 fast-break points. 

Woes without the stars

The Sixers’ half-court offense was rough early in the second quarter without Maxey and Embiid.

Head coach Nick Nurse turned to a bench-heavy lineup with no conventional point guard. The Sixers did not outperform that on-paper description.

Trendon Watford missed two free throws and three close-range shots in his opening stint. Quentin Grimes got little reward for his aggression, going 1 for 5 from the floor in the first half. VJ Edgecombe was largely a spectator. The rookie only took four field goals in 20 first-half minutes and was scoreless until he made a free throw with 1:55 left in the second quarter. 

The offensive struggles continued once the Sixers’ stars re-entered. The team remained cold beyond the arc (2 for 10 from three-point range in the first half) and the Pacers’ bench played very well. Former Sixers center Tony Bradley gave Indiana good minutes and helped the Pacers build a lead as high as 10 points in the second quarter. 

Maxey at ball-hunting best

The Sixers’ starters regained the lead in the third quarter. Edgecombe laid in his own miss to lift his team to a 63-62 edge.

Edgecombe was far more involved in the Sixers’ offense in the third quarter, often bringing the ball up, running two-man actions with Embiid, and finding opportunities to drive downhill. The highlight of the third period came when he jammed in a giant one-handed, and-one dunk on Bradley. 

The Sixers still did not dramatically improve their shooting night. The team was subpar from both three-point range (29.4 percent) and at the foul line (66.7 percent).

Siakam’s corner three gave the Pacers an 88-86 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers replied with a 7-0 run capped by Maxey swiping a steal, surging ahead and ultimately knocking down two free throws.

The Pacers’ sloppiness was a problem throughout the game — the final points off turnovers margin was 28-7 — and Maxey was at his ball-hunting best. On top of the possession, his steals tend to carry extra weight because of the strong odds that he profits in transition. There’s sometimes a fine line between sniffing out steals and playing sound defense, but Maxey is generally the kind of player who should have the green light and he’s made great progress defensively overall the last several years.

Led by Maxey and Embiid, the Sixers pulled away and avoided any tension in the final minutes. They’ll look for a 2-0 start to their week Tuesday night vs. the Suns.

I’m going to be so real here — I hate the NBA trade deadline! It’s weeks of baseless rumours, being on edge, waiting for the shoe to drop… even though it might never drop. It has me on edge every year, and I sit here every February just counting down the seconds until it’s over. It doesn’t help that we are sitting here talking about a team that is super wishy-washy about the trade deadline historically.

In the Masai-Era of Raptors basketball, the trade deadline was used as a levelling-up tool, something to make “right now” moves. Even if the moves at the deadline were more “for the future” moves, the “future” we were discussing was likely the immediate season after. Even the Raptors’ busiest deadline in recent history, in 23-24, when OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were dealt, it was more to usher in a new era.

Masai was pretty outspoken about the fact that he didn’t like to deal at the deadline unless necessary. He preferred to wait until free agency, when no one was rushing him, and he could see who was available before making any decisions. Yet, with Masai gone and the Raptors in a new era, things might be different.

Don’t expect them to be too different, though. Bobby Webster went to the Masai Ujiri School of How to Operate an NBA team, and his tactics are likely similar to those of his predecessor and mentor. I wouldn’t expect Bobby to do much at the trade deadline, but here is what could happen if he does decide to pull the trigger on some deals.

Trading for a Big Man

The Raptors clearly have a Jakob Poeltl problem. Even since I wrote that linked piece in December, it’s gotten worse. Poeltl has been out for weeks trying to figure out why his back won’t get better, seeing if time makes it heal. So far, it doesn’t seem like much is working.

It seems like the Raptors’ biggest priority at the deadline may be trading for another 7-footer. We’ve known this. Yet, it’s hard to know if they are going to be willing to pay the price for what is available. Jake Fischer wrote on Jan. 15 that the Raptors want to “make an addition,” but with Davis’s new injury, what’s the point of adding ANOTHER injured big man to the mix?

Sabonis may be an option as well, but he’s only played 13 games so far this season due to (you guessed it) an injury.

It may be a matter of having no deal to make, not that the Raptors decide themselves not to do anything here.

A Change at the PG Position

There’s also chatter of replacing Immanuel Quickley with another starting point guard at the trade deadline. Quickley has been hot and cold all season long, especially struggling since his primary pick-and-roll buddy, Poeltl, has been out. He’s played more games this season after an injury-riddled year last season, but he’s looked disjointed and isn’t shooting well. His biggest problem may be consistency — when he’s good, he’s GOOD — but those instances are becoming few and far between.

This is why Toronto seemed to be in the mix for Trae Young. Yet, Young seemed to want a guarantee that he was going to receive a contract extension from whichever team he signed with, and Bobby likely wasn’t down. Thankful for that, though. Young doesn’t play good defense and it was a no from me.

Ja Morant is floating around conversations now, as apparently, his time in Memphis is dwindling. Maybe I know too much about these guys, but I’m not into the idea of Morant here. Sure, he has some history with Darko Rajakovic, but he hasn’t really impressed over the past few seasons, between injuries and off-court behaviour violations leading to lengthy suspensions. I heard someone say “the best trait a player can bring is availability” recently, and that’s kinda my vibe here.

SO, do the Raptors do anything at the deadline? My gut says no, but my brain says maybe.

The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) head back out on the road after a four-game homestand. They face the New York Knicks (25-17) on a Martin Luther King Jr. day game showcase on Peacock and NBC. Dallas has won two in a row after playing the shamelessly tanking Utah Jazz. The Knicks are looking to stop a three-game slide, most recently falling to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night

Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks
• WHAT: Primetime MLK Day basketball
• WHERE: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
• WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
• HOW: Peacock, NBC, KFAA, MavsTV

The injury report for Dallas is absurd. Cooper Flagg is questionable still as of this writing. I hope he plays or this one is gonna be ugly. The Mavericks are without the following players for various legitmate reasons: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, Dante Exum, Daniel Gafford, D’Angelo Russell, and PJ Washington. That’s a big list. The Knicks are playing everyone, including the recently injured Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

The Mavericks have their work cut out for them in this one. The Knicks play hard and have a variety of talented players. If Flagg does miss this one, I don’t see them having much of a chance. If Flagg does play, him exerting his will along with getting Klay Thompson going is the surest path to victory. Dallas simply isn’t big enough now and I worry the rebounding problems Dallas has every few games will rear it’s ugly head against a Knicks team that can crash well from every position. Stein seems to think Flagg is playing, but who knows.

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

A record streak of longevity achieved by LeBron James will officially come to an end this year at the NBA's reimagined 2026 All-Star Game.

The Los Angeles Lakers star was not voted as starter for February's NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, next month, after 10 players – five from each conference – were revealed during the league's MLK Day coverage on Monday, Jan. 19.

It breaks a record run of 21 consecutive All-Star Games in which James has been selected as a starter, dating back to his second season in the league.

The five starters from each conference were chosen through voting conducted through the fans (50%), media (25%) and current players (25%).

The 41-year-old still has an opportunity to make this year's All-Star Game as a reserve in his record 23rd season. Those will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 1 after being picked by the league's coaches.

PODCAST BACKLASH: LeBron James says agent's take on Austin Reaves doesn't reflect on him

This year's All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on Feb. 15, features a round-robin style USA vs. World format with the goal of having 16 American selections and eight international picks.

The NBA is trying again to jolt life into its All-Star weekend after years of waning interest from players and fans alike. The solution this year has been to attempt to replicate some of dynamics from the successful 4 Nations Faceoff event held in lieu of an NHL All-Star Game in 2025.

James was a late scratch from playing in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game after citing foot and ankle discomfort, though he did appear on the bench after being chosen as a starter.

His candidacy as an All-Star during got more complicated after he missed the opening 14 games of the Lakers' regular season while dealing with sciatica. James was nonetheless averaging nearly 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists through, Sunday, Jan. 18.

James has been selected as an All-Star in every year of his NBA career except his rookie season (2003-04) and won All-Star Game MVP three times.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA All-Star Game 2026 starters: LeBron James record streak snapped

The NBA tips off early on MLK Day, which means NBA player props to bet on all day long. 

I’ve found my three best bets for today, including Devin Booker dishing out the dimes against the Nets, and one of my favorite trends going, which is fading the Miami Heat on the glass.

Check out those and more of my NBA picks for Monday, January 19.

Best NBA player props for MLK Day

Prop #1: Kyle Filipowski Over 2.5 assists 

+130 at bet365

How do you keep out of Victor Wembayama's long reach? By passing the ball, of course.

That’s exactly what Kyle Filipowski will have to do when he and the Utah Jazz take on the San Antonio Spurs.

Filipowski averages 2.0 assists per game, but has nine since being inserted into the starting lineup three games ago. He also had six assists in a matchup against the Spurs at the end of December.

Opportunity combined with pressure from Wemby means Filipowski is a great bet to hit the Over on his assists prop here.

• Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KJZZ, FDSN Southwest

Prop #2: Devin Booker Over 6.5 assists

+100 at bet365

Devin Booker has been dishing out the dimes, and there’s no reason to think he’ll slow down when the Phoenix Suns visit the Brooklyn Nets.

Booker averages 6.4 assists per game overall, and 7.0 over his last seven games, topping 6.5 assists five times over that stretch.

Tonight, he faces a Nets team that has struggled defensively, particularly when opponents are willing to make the extra pass. The Nets rank 24th in defensive rating and allow the second-most assists per possession.

Book will cook the Nets with his playmaking ability.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KTVK, YES

Prop #3: Brandin Podziemski Over 4.5 rebounds

+100 at bet365

The Miami Heat are playing basketball. This means I am fading them on the glass.

It’s not that the Heat are a bad rebounding team (they’re not great, ranking 21st in rebounding rate), it’s that they play at the highest pace in the NBA, and take the most shots per game.

More shots inherently mean more rebounds, and the only question is which Golden State Warriors player to target tonight.

My favorite option is Brandin Podziemski. The shooting guard averages 4.4 rebounds per game and has topped 4.5 four times in his last eight games.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN Sun, NBC Sports Bay Area

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

The NBA has announced its All-Star starters.

And for the first time in 21 seasons, LeBron James was not selected as one of the first five, though he still has the chance to extend his record streak of consecutive All-Star selections.

The NBA made the announcement Monday, Jan. 19, during the pre-game show leading into the Oklahoma City-Cleveland Cavaliers game that’s part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day showcase.

Starters were selected through a fan vote (50% weight), and a survey of NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%). Players were selected without regard for position. Accounting and services giant Ernst & Young managed and certified the surveys.

The format for this year’s game, however, will be different this season. The league is going to a USA versus the world format in which three, eight-player teams will compete in a round-robin tournament. The East and West starters, therefore, will be slotted into those eight-player teams. NBA coaches will select All-Star reserves, but if there are not enough domestic or international player, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will intervene to fill out the teams.

Here are the 10 starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which will be held Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles:

NBA All-Star Game starters

Eastern Conference

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (second All-Star selection)

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (third)

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (second)

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (fifth)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (10th)

Western Conference

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (12th All-Star selection)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (fourth)

Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers (sixth)

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (second)

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (eighth)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters: Wembanyama, Dončić, Giannis lead list

Jalen Brunson is taking his show from the Broadway stage out West for a Hollywood premiere.

The Knicks' leading man has been named a starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, the league announced Monday afternoon.

It's Brunson's third consecutive All-Star nomination, and second straight as a starter, as he's having arguably his best season in the league with 28.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game over 37 contests this year.

He joins the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, and Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown as the East starters. 

The Western Conference starters will consist of the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama.

Brunson recorded 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds over 17 minutes in the 2024 All-Star Game (East vs. West format) and then scored three points with three assists in the 2025 All-Star Game for Kenny Smith's Young Stars team (three-team single elimination tournament format).

This year, the All-Star Game will adopt a new USA vs. World format with a round-robin tournament consisting of three teams. There will be two teams made of American players and one of international players with each team having eight players. If the teams fall short of the required numbers, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will add to the player pool. Overall, there will be four, 12-minute long games and the two teams with the best record will advance to the championship round.

The 2026 All-Star Game reserves will be selected by the league's coaches on Feb. 1.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A record-breaking third-wicket stand between Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli led Afghanistan to a commanding 38-run win over West Indies on Monday in the first Twenty20 of their three-match series.

Zadran made a career-best unbeaten 87 off 56 balls and Rasooli scored 84 off 59 balls as they combined in a 162-run stand in a strong total of 181-3.

The West Indies top-order struggled against the experienced spin duo of Rashid Khan (2-19) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-29) before cameos from debutant Quentin Sampson (30) and Gudakesh Motie (28) carried them to 143-9.

The series is part of the teams' build-up for next month’s T20 World Cup with West Indies yet to finalize its squad for the mega event to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“As long as we are bringing our best skills to the game, it doesn’t matter whether we bat first or second,” Afghanistan captain Rashid said. “As a team, we are fit and hopefully we will have a good World Cup.”

West Indies made a promising start when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out on the first ball and captain Brandon King took a spectacular one-handed catch of Sediqullah Atal in the slips as Afghanistan slipped to 2-19 in the third over.

But Zadran and Rasooli then raised Afghanistan’s highest-ever third-wicket partnership in T20s off 113 balls against some wayward West Indies bowling. Motie stemmed the flow of runs briefly in the middle overs with his economical four-over spell of 0-18, but both Afghan batters showed plenty of aggression against pace in the second half of the innings.

West Indies was also scrappy in the outfield and dropped at least three catches in the death overs as Zadran and Rasooli upped the ante and scored 70 runs in the last six overs. Fast bowlers Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph gave away 91 runs in their eight overs while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre (0-42) was also expensive.

Forde had a consolation wicket on the final ball when Rasooli holed out in the outfield after striking eight boundaries and two sixes.

West Indies stumbled to 3-42 inside the power play when Mujeeb clean bowled King in the first over; Rasooli held on to Evin Lewis’ top-edge in the outfield and Johnson Charles was out lbw while attempting a switch hit against Mujeeb’s quicker delivery.

Rashid then made an immediate impact by grabbing two wickets in his successive overs that included the key wicket of Shimron Hetmyer, who scored only three off seven balls, as West Indies further slipped to 5-50 in the ninth over.

Sampson and Forde (25) combined in the best West Indies partnership of 45 before fast bowler Ziaur Rahman, who conceded 16 runs off his first four balls, claimed two wickets in his return spell and finished with 3-36.

“We are disappointed to lose the game,” King said. “We showed glimpses of good cricket but it wasn’t good enough. Afghanistan are a team that have quite a few good spinners, we will talk about it on the day off and review the game.”

The next two games will be played on Wednesday on Thursday.

___

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

The New York Knicks will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks to Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

New York hasn’t been able to cover with any regularity lately, and I’m taking Dallas with a boatload of points in my Mavericks vs. Knicks predictions.

Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup in New York in my free NBA picks for January 19.

Mavericks vs Knicks prediction

Mavericks vs Knicks best bet: Mavericks +10.5 (-110)

The New York Knicks may be getting Jalen Brunson back tonight, but how much that will matter remains to be seen.

New York is 0-3 since Wednesday, when Brunson went down early in a 112-101 loss to the Kings. It’s not as though the Knicks were lighting the world on fire before Brunson got hurt, as they had won just two of their previous seven games.

The Dallas Mavericks are also getting a key player back tonight. Rookie Cooper Flagg (18.8 ppg) was also hurt early in a Wednesday loss to the Nuggets, but is expected to come back from his sprained ankle in New York tonight.

Unlike the Knicks, the Mavericks were able to work around the loss of Flagg, winning two straight games against the Jazz on Thursday and Saturday.

Dallas is still trying to find itself — this is still a rebuilding season — but they’ve gone 4-3 in their last seven games overall, and have proven they have weapons that can win games.

That includes 35-year-old Klay Thompson, who is averaging 12.0 ppg and put up 23 and 26 points in the two games Flagg missed.

The Knicks have been awful for bettors lately, covering in just two of their last 12 games. Given those struggles, it’s hard to see them covering a double-digit spread against a healthy Mavericks team.

Mavericks vs Knicks same-game parlay

Dallas has his the Over on its last three games, and with both Flagg and Brunson likely back tonight, we should see enough points on the board to hit the Over again.

I’m also going to take Flagg to hit at least two 3-pointers tonight, as he hit that target in three of his last four complete games before getting injured in Wednesday’s contest.

Mavericks vs Knicks SGP

• Mavericks +10.5
• Over 230
• Cooper Flagg Over 1.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Fabulous Flagg

Flagg has dished out five or more assists in 10 of his last 11 full games, and should once again be able to move the ball tonight against the Knicks.

Mavericks vs Knicks SGP

• Mavericks +10.5
• Over 230
• Cooper Flagg Over 1.5 made threes
• Cooper Flagg Over 4.5 assists

Mavericks vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Mavericks +10.5 | Knicks -10.5
• Moneyline: Mavericks +350 | Knicks -450
• Over/Under: Over 230 | Under 230

Mavericks vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Knicks are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Knicks.

How to watch Mavericks vs Knicks

Mavericks vs Knicks latest injuries

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

ATLANTA (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher will both miss at least another week for the Atlanta Hawks while recovering from injuries.

Porzingis sat out his sixth straight game when the Hawks hosted the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. He has been dealing with left Achilles tendinitis in another season married by injuries and illness.

Risacher, the top overall pick in the 2024 draft, missed his sixth straight game because of a left knee bone contusion.

Both players will be reevaluated in about a week, the team said.

Porzingis has played just 17 games for the Hawks after being acquired last summer from the Boston Celtics. He is averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Risacher is averaging 11.2 points in 36 games.

___

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

While college football is set to crown its national championship on Monday, Jan. 19 after Indiana's game against Miami, the race for men's college basketball's ultimate prize is heating up about two months before the start of the NCAA Tournament.

In a week, the number of undefeated teams in the sport dwindled from five to three, with No. 2 Iowa State and No. 8 Vanderbilt both suffering two losses. The Cyclones were blown out 84-63 on the road by Kansas before following that up with a 79-70 setback at Cincinnati four days later. The Commodores, meanwhile, lost by 16 on the road against Texas and fell 98-94 at home to reigning national champion Florida.

No. 1 Arizona continued its perfect start to the season, moving to 18-0 with wins against rival Arizona State and at UCF. No. 10 Nebraska, the only other unbeaten team from a power conference, also kept its unblemished record intact, drubbing Oregon and Northwestern by a combined 54 points.

REQUIRED READING: NCAA tournament bracketology: Race for No. 1 seed leads March Madness projection

Then there's the nation's unlikeliest undefeated squad, Miami (Ohio), which moved to 19-0 thanks to a 105-102 overtime thriller over Buffalo.

Will it be enough to get the RedHawks ranked? And how will results elsewhere in the country affect the newest batch of national rankings?

Here's a look at the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 for men's college basketball:

Men's college basketball rankings on Jan. 19

First-place votes are in parentheses.

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

1. Arizona (31)
2. Michigan
3. UConn
4. Purdue
5. Duke
6. Houston
7. Nebraska
8. Gonzaga
9. Iowa State
10. Michigan State
11. Illinois
12. Texas Tech
13. BYU
14. Vanderbilt
15. Virginia
16. Florida
17. Alabama
18. Clemson
19. Kansas
20. Arkansas
21. Louisville
22. Georgia
23. Saint Louis
24. North Carolina
25. St. John's

Others receiving votes: Iowa 52; Wisconsin 20; Miami (Ohio) 19; Utah State 14; Villanova 10; Tennessee 10; Saint Mary's 9; Miami (FL) 8; Texas A&M 5; Kentucky 5; SMU 4; Seton Hall 2; UCF 1; George Mason 1

AP Top 25 poll

1. Arizona (61)
2. UConn
3. Michigan
4. Purdue
5. Duke
6. Houston
7. Nebraska
8. Gonzaga
9. Iowa State
10. Michigan State
11. Illinois
12. Texas Tech
13. BYU
14. Virginia
15. Vanderbilt
16. Florida
17. Alabama
18. Clemson
19. Kansas
20. Arkansas
21. Georgia
22. North Carolina
23. Louisville
24. Saint Louis
25. Miami (Ohio)

Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 64; St. John's 64; Iowa 30; Kentucky 27; Tennessee 20; Utah State 15; UCF 14; Miami 10; George Mason 10; Saint Mary's 5; SMU 3; Villanova 3; Texas A&M 2; NC State 1

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Men's college basketball rankings: Updated Coaches Poll, AP Top 25

There are bad teams in the NBA that can spring a surprise at any moment, and the Utah Jazz did upset the San Antonio Spurs less than a month ago.

That said, my Jazz vs. Spurs predictions do not expect that jolt to be sprung twice. Find out why my NBA picks are calling for a first-half statement by San Antonio on Monday, January 19.

Jazz vs Spurs prediction

Jazz vs Spurs best bet: Under 117.5 1H (-115)

Afternoon games often lead to slow starts, with NBA players far more used to their routine than the general public may realize.

This game tips off at 3:00 p.m. on the Utah Jazz players' body clocks. That may seem anecdotal, but combine that reality with the San Antonio Spurs' Under tendencies — cashing eight straight Unders before Saturday's shootout between Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards — and the sluggish start becomes that much more likely.

The stats broadly agree with this thought, too. Utah ranks No. 23 in offensive rating in the last 10 games, while San Antonio ranks No. 4 in defensive rating in that same stretch.

The Spurs should control this game in a rout until it eases to the final whistle.

Jazz vs Spurs same-game parlay

Utah is evading notice thus far, enjoying only the seventh-worst record in the NBA, but the Jazz are very much tanking. They have gone 0-5 against the spread in their last five first halves, somehow losing a first quarter to Charlotte, 45-14.

This all may lead to a blowout, but Stephon Castle should clear his assist prop early. Ball movement is ripe against Utah.

Jazz vs Spurs SGP

• Under 117.5 1H 
• Spurs -10 1H
• Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby gets some rest

Doubting Wembanyama to score aplenty today is very much a doubt that the French star will need to play much in the fourth quarter, if at all.

Jazz vs Spurs SGP

• Under 117.5 1H 
• Spurs -10 1H
• Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists
• Victor Wembanyama Under 25.5 points

Jazz vs Spurs odds

• Spread: Jazz +16.5 | Spurs -16.5
• Moneyline: Jazz +700 | Spurs -1100
• Over/Under: Over 241 | Under 241

Jazz vs Spurs betting trend to know

Before Saturday’s shootout against Anthony Edwards, the previous eight Spurs games had all gone Under their totals and by an average of 19.9 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Spurs.

How to watch Jazz vs Spurs

Jazz vs Spurs latest injuries

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

There is unanimity at the top of the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll for the first time this season.

Arizona managed to avoid the upset bug for another week. Thus the still-undefeated Wildcats remain at No. 1 for a second consecutive poll, this time claiming all 31 first-place votes. Last week’s second-ranked team wasn’t as fortunate, as Iowa State tumbles all the way to No. 9 after dropping a pair of road games in the Big 12.

New No. 2 Michigan leads a succession of teams moving up a notch as a result of the Cyclones’ fall. Connecticut, Purdue and Duke round out the top five, followed by Houston, Nebraska and Gonzaga. The Cornhuskers, now at No. 7 and one of only three remaining teams yet to lose, continues to establish new all-time high rankings for the program. Michigan State is back in the top 10, followed by No. 11 Illinois and No. 12 Texas Tech, as those three each move up two positions.

TOP 25:Complete USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll

Vanderbilt is another team falling back after slipping six spots to No. 14.

North Carolina went 0-2 in the Bay Area last week but hangs on to a spot in the poll at No. 24, down nine places. Making its season debut in the poll is No. 23 Saint Louis, the first top-25 appearance for the Billikens since January of 2021. No. 25 St. John’s also rejoins the rankings, as Utah State and Iowa drop out.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball rankings: Arizona leads shuffled coaches poll

Even though Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears were unable to pull it off against the Los Angeles Rams, the Chicago Bulls were able to give their city a tad bit of comfort as they manhandled the Nets all game last night. Of course, having your best player in Michael Porter Jr. out of the lineup did hurt some, okay a lot, as so they are now 0-8 without him. But for a team that was so successful on the defensive side just last month, Brooklyn just did not have it in them.

Tonight, the Nets will travel back to Brooklyn for the second half of their back-to-back to take on the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, even though only seventh in the Western Conference standings, have tremendous strides so far in the season. This will be no cake walk, but with MPJ back, the Nets definitely have their chance.

Where to Watch

Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Injury Report

Nets have not been announced yet but expect players who’ve been on injury management and played yesterday will be out. That would include Cam Thomas and Egor Demin to sit and those who rested to return, meaning MPJ. Lots of speculation about CamT’s role as Jordi Fernandez made clear: he’s likely to come off the bench rather than start. No word on any trade possibilities just yet.

For the Suns, good news for them as Jalen Green has been upgraded to questionable after his troubles with his hamstring that has sidelined him for 32 consecutive games. And the bad news, Devin Booker is also questionable with left ankle soreness. Jamaree Bouyea (concussion) will also miss action tonight.

The Game

Here are some stats that should give you a glimpse of what kind of season the Phoenix Suns are currently having. Through 41 games, they are the only team in NBA history to make over 575 threes and have over 400 steals. Also, they have the highest field goal percentage through 41 games in NBA history at 65.6%.

With a resume like this, you have to applaud the personnel who helped make this happen. Jordan Ott, a former Nets assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson, is a leading Coach of the Year candidate in part because of those numbers, but also because the Suns are now 25-14 out west, only a half game behind the Lakers for the sixth seed and ahead of the Warriors and Clippers among others.

Aside from Booker, who can score 25 points in his sleep, Ott has specialized in unlocking a players’ true potential. Dillon Brooks, the league’s most infamous villain, is averaging 20.7 on 44.5% shooting, both career highs. Collin Gillespie, a scrappy Villanova product who went undrafted in 2022 is having a stellar season, averaging 13.2 PPG on 44/41/84 shooting splits, as well as over a steal per game. And finally, Grayson Allen is also putting up career high numbers, including 33 points including seven 3-points three days ago

The Nets have seen some good production from members of the Flatbush 5 as of late. Danny Wolf has been in double figures in the last two contests, Nolan Traore is coming off a career high 16 points and a career high in 3 pointers made, going 3-of-4 vs. Chicago and Egor Demin has been… Egor Demin.

Drake Powell has looked a lot more comfortable as of late as well, and if he could provide his level of defense against this fiery Phoenix offense, it would help tremendously. Along with the rookies, Day’Ron Sharpe needs to have a better game than last night. In the first game against the Bulls he was active, providing 14 points and six boards in 19 minutes. In the same amount of minutes last night, it wasn’t the same story.

It’s as simple as this. Defend the three, don’t turn the ball over. If these things can happen, a Brooklyn win could be in store.

Player To Watch: Jalen Green

Jalen Green just posed on Instagram saying

“Can’t wait to get out there wit my bruddas”

He listed as questionable to play tomorrow. I wonder if he’s hinting he will play tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7e34o2RKaT

— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) January 19, 2026

According to some hints on his Instagram story, there is a chance that Jalen Green will return and play today. If he does, he would be another weapon the Suns will have on the offensive end. While in Houston, Green averaged 20 points with an array of high flying dunks and difficult jumpers. He was offered to the Nets at the trade deadline two years ago along with some of the Nets picks, but Brooklyn ultimately felt the Knicks offer of five firsts, a first round swap and a second plus the injured Bojan Bogdanovic was a better deal.

While helping the Rockets reach the playoffs, Green was criticized for showing up when it mattered, ultimately falling to Golden State and the hands of Steph Curry. With a fresh new start after being included in the Kevin Durant trade, Green will hope to bring success to the Suns organization.

There might be something else to watch … if he plays. The Suns had cameras in their draft room as they sweated out picks in hopes of winding up with Duke big Khamen Maluach at No. 10. When the Nets surprised by taking Egor Demin at No. 8, there were expressions of surprise and smirks. Demin tends to take slights like that personally.

From the Vault

There was some sad news from within the Nets history book this weekend. John Forte, the Brooklyn-born rapper and producer died at age 50. Forte was best known for his work with the Fugees but among Nets fans, his and J.Pride’s “”Brooklyn: Something To Lean On” will always have a place in their hearts. Forte and Pride composed it as as a tribute to Brooklyn as the Nets made their move 13 years ago from Newark and their New Jersey past…

Rest in peace and power.

More reading: Bright Side of the Sun, The Bigs, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter, City of Nets

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Phoenix Suns Game Notes – Phoenix Suns
• Brooklyn and Phoenix set for out-of-conference game – AP
• Nets’ Cam Thomas’ minutes won’t get a boost even as coach praises play – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Cam Thomas will stay on minutes restriction amid trade speculation – Erik Slater – Clutch Points