NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 03, 2025 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Wizards 119-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview.
Game info
When: Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Tre Johnson (ankle), Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring), Trae Young (knee, quad) and Cam Whitmore (shoulder) are out. Anthony Gill is day-to-day.
For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Miles McBride (ankle) and Kevin McCullar are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards kicked off February on the right note with a win against the Sacramento Kings last Sunday. The Knicks will be a much tougher opponent to beat tomorrow night, however. They have won six straight, with their most recent win coming against the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday.
Hopefully, Washington won’t be caught flatfooted like they were against the Lakers last Friday. Let’s see how things shape up as we head toward the NBA Trade Deadline as well.
Dominick Barlow had the game of his NBA life Monday night.
The 22-year-old forward was tremendous in the opening contest of the Sixers’ five-game West Coast road trip, a 128-113 win over the Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Barlow had a career-high 26 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Ten of those boards were offensive.
Tyrese Maxey posted 29 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Joel Embiid scored 24 points.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard recorded 29 points and six assists.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the 23-26 Clippers’ absences included James Harden (personal reasons) and Derrick Jones Jr. (right ankle sprain).
The 28-21 Sixers will visit the Warriors on Tuesday night and aim for a fifth consecutive win. Here are observations on their victory vs. the Clippers:
Brilliant Barlow start
Maxey hit two early three-pointers in a row and scored an extremely efficient 16 first-quarter points, shooting 4 for 6 from the floor.
Barlow was also outstanding. The Sixers seemed to beat the Clippers to every contested ball in the first quarter and Barlow’s energy was everywhere. While the Sixers are obviously a better, more well-rounded team with George, Barlow’s shown he shouldn’t be viewed as a last-ditch starting option.
The two-way contract player (for now) has started 32 times this season and frequently fit well by doing the dirty work alongside the Sixers’ stars. On Monday, Barlow earned a major chunk of the spotlight. He had two put-back buckets, an and-one layup in transition and a chase-down block on Leonard in the first quarter. All told, Barlow posted 11 points and seven boards in the opening period. The Sixers raced to an 18-2 lead.
Especially with Harden out, it was no surprise that the Sixers’ defense constantly slanted toward Leonard. He missed his first five field goals and the Sixers held Los Angeles to 19 points in the first quarter.
Sixers turn to three-guard look
Jared McCain swished a three on his first shot of the night. He played in a three-guard lineup with VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes to begin the second quarter.
Edgecombe was scoreless until he made two free throws with 9:10 left in the second, but he looked good at point guard and threw several sharp passes in a seven-assist outing.
Grimes’ first points were of the highlight variety. He exploded for a big dunk on John Collins that the Sixers’ sideline enjoyed.
The Clippers eventually found some success in the second quarter as Leonard and his teammates adjusted to the Sixers’ many double teams. Leonard had a 5-for-5 stretch and the Clippers made a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to 58-44.
No trouble going wire to wire
Coming off of a 40-point performance vs. New Orleans, Embiid shot 2 for 10 from the floor in the first half. Edgecombe had a very cold shooting game and finished 1 for 11.
Embiid made four throws over the last minute of the second quarter and got into a typical scoring groove in the third. The Sixers still couldn’t turn the game into a no-doubt blowout. They left Jordan Miller free for a wide-open dunk late in the third quarter and head coach Nick Nurse asked for a timeout.
Grimes and McCain both stalled the Clippers’ momentum by knocking down threes in the the closing stages of the third quarter. However, McCain committed a turnover on the Sixers’ last possession of the third and Miller’s subsequent layup trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 100-87.
Barlow reached his career high in satisfying fashion with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter, converting an and-one lefty layup seconds after he’d grabbed an offensive board. He sunk a long-range jumper on the Sixers’ next trip, too.
The Clippers weren’t nearly precise enough in the fourth quarter to pull off a massive comeback. L.A. never led and the Sixers kept a double-digit advantage. Following two straight Leonard missed free throws, Maxey drilled a step-back three. He was able to soak in the final three minutes and change from the bench.
It marked Detroit’s largest margin of victory in franchise history.
It wasn’t just a typical blowout.
The Nets appeared to silently quit.
This brand of losing is starting to take a toll.
“Man, we just got to learn from it. We just can’t keep getting beat by 50 though,” Nic Claxton said after the loss. “It’s really demoralizing as a group for us. We got to come together and figure out ways to, at least, keep the games closer.”
The Nets are in another rebuilding season with a young squad after using a league record five first-round picks in the 2025 draft.
The front office has made its tanking mission known from the beginning.
“We spent all of our [2025] picks — we had five first-round draft picks this past summer. We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick,” team owner Joe Tsai said in October. “So you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”
Jordi Fernández looks on during the Nets’ Feb. 1 loss to the Pistons. Imagn Images
Losing has not necessarily been the problem during their 13-35 season.
They currently find themselves fourth in the race for the bottom, with the hope of having favorable odds to land the No. 1 pick.
However, what the Nets have done the last two weeks is a different level of losing.
Prior to their humiliation in Detroit, the Nets were embarrassed by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 21, losing by 54 points, 120-66.
It was the biggest margin of victory in Knicks history while the Nets earned the lowest-scoring effort in the entire NBA this season.
The Nets attempt to grab a rebound during their Feb. 1 loss to the Pistons. Imagn Images
Four days later, the Clippers beat Brooklyn by 37 points.
There’s losing and then there’s this — utter embarrassment.
“It’s not just that you don’t play consistently hard, it’s then you quit and we cannot allow that,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “It starts with me, gotta create habits, we’ve done it. We’ve done it well. Even in this game you can say the way we started playing basketball, we were trying to match their physicality and play the right way and find ways to score. From there, it was a complete fall down. So, obviously this one hurts. Gotta help them be better.”
After a 5-0 run in the final seconds against the Knicks bench, the Nets were spared from the worst defeat in franchise history — a 59-point thrashing at the hands of the Clippers last season on Jan. 15.
Going into the season, the second-worst Nets blowout loss was by 52 points in Houston on Oct. 18, 1978.
The losses to the Knicks and Pistons, however, have surpassed the mark to make up the top three of the Nets worst losses in franchise history.
“We found ways to get good shots early on and then we couldn’t. We couldn’t match that, and then it was from frustration to whatever you want to call it,” Fernández added. “It’s forgetting what you’re supposed to do. So, we’ll run it back. We’ll hold [our team] accountable, we’ll give them a hug, whatever the case may be. [We have to] go out there and play better than this.”
For a team that was 7-4 in December with the top defensive rating across the league (105.4) during that span, this is likely not the kind of tank job the Nets leadership had in mind.
It will be on Fernández to guide his young team after a shameful two weeks.
Nov 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić (77) moves the ball against Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Lakers always find themselves near the center of trade rumors regardless of the state of the team or the situation.
This year, there’s plenty of reason for them to be surrounded by rumors. A flawed roster and a competitive Western Conference have upped the pressure on the Lakers to make a move.
Will that pressure lead to a trade actually being made? It feels unlikely, both because of a lack of trade assets and a barren market. And with two targets in Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter already being dealt, it slimmed the market even more.
So, let’s dive into the latest updates on those available, unavailable and the expectations of the Lakers in coming days.
Backing off De’Andre Hunter
The Lakers were involved, to some degree, with Hunter before he was dealt to the Kings in a truly confounding move. The interest may have been real at the start, but once the asking price was revealed, the Lakers backed away.
On Monday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints revealed that the trade package of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht in which the Cavs were asking for was too much without getting more in return.
The Lakers had been going back and forth on a package that would’ve involved Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht being traded for Hunter. The idea of including at least one other team had come up in discussions between the Cavs and Lakers, with the Brooklyn Nets being mentioned by league sources as a team willing to take on salary for draft picks.
Although the Lakers did hold a level of interest in Hunter’s skills as a 3-and-D wing, the idea of flipping Hachimura and Knecht for him without receiving any additional assets or draft compensation for the final year of Hunter’s contract was viewed as a negative. This resulted in Los Angeles taking a step back in discussions with Cleveland.
There were rumors of the Lakers being interested in the Nic Claxton of the Nets, so perhaps a framework of a deal that saw them get Hunter and Claxton is something they were seeking. However, with Brooklyn ultimately not being involved in the deal, it appears there wasn’t much traction there with Cleveland or the Nets.
No traction on Andrew Wiggins
Over the summer, Andrew Wiggins was someone connected with the Lakers, though a deal never felt particularly close. However, with the Lakers not having anything more appealing to offer and the Heat eyeing a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, Siegel also reported that nothing is close.
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Lakers are now pressed for time to find a key wing upgrade before the trade deadline, now that Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter are off the table. Where do the Lakers go from here with all of their expiring salaries?
Despite continued interest in Andrew Wiggins, the Heat don’t appear to have interest in anything the Lakers have offered.
There is a small possibility the Lakers could get involved in a Heat-Bucks deal for Giannis that re-routes Wiggins to LA, but it would likely require a first rounder, which doesn’t feel likely.
Asking price for Naji Marshall
The last name mentioned by Siegel is yet another player previously linked to the Lakers…and Luka Dončić, for that matter. Naji Marshall is a player who has excelled in Dallas and, at least originally, alongside Luka. Naturally, he makes sense alongside Luka in Los Angeles, but the Mavs have a high asking price for him, according to Siegel.
Naji Marshall is another player being linked to Los Angeles, among other playoff contenders, but Dallas has held a high asking price of a first-round pick for the 28-year-old wing. The Mavs don’t appear eager to trade Marshall over the likes of Gafford, Thompson, and others.
Everyone sure loves to seek out first round picks for everything. At least with Marshall, it makes a bit of sense as he’s guaranteed for a relatively low salary next season, too. But not everyone is worth a first round pick, guys.
Unlikely to make a move
Taking all that into account, it’s probably not a surprise that the belief is the Lakers will do nothing. On Monday morning, Brian Windhorst of ESPN spoke on “Get Up!” about the team’s current negotiations (h/t The Lakers Review/Twitter).
“The trade talks that they have had have largely been offering their expiring contracts. They haven’t been willing to include much of future draft picks or taking on future money. They are basically spinning their wheels waiting to rebuild this team around Luka Dončić.”
Prior to that, he gave his own thoughts on what he expects the team to do at the trade deadline, which is not much.
“I don’t think so because I think you really look and read what the Lakers have actually done over the last months, they’ve been leaning towards retrofitting their team in the summer of 2026…That is when they will get access to three first round picks to trade. Right now, they’re only permitted to trade one.”
Having said all that, this front office is very insulated and, traditionally, very quiet about its actual intentions. Sometimes that results in a shocking trade like Luka, but often that’s meant the team quietly does nothing.
We’re just days away from finding out which way it goes this season.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the best teams in basketball since mid-December — especially at home — and they’ll try to carry that over into February when they open the month against the Philadelphia 76ers.
My Clippers vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks break down why tonight will be no different.
76ers vs Clippers prediction
76ers vs Clippers best bet: Clippers -2 (-110)
The Los Angeles Clippers are an NBA-best 17-4 since mid-December and rank third in net rating during that stretch.
The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t have a bad January either, but their recent wins have come against soft competition, and they rank 26th in defensive rating over the past 10 games.
This version of the Clippers has also been a great bet at home, going 10-1 ATS in their last 11 at the Intuit Dome.
76ers vs Clippers same-game parlay
One reason the Clippers have been better lately is their offense has become more balanced, and John Collins is a part of that.
He's averaging 16.3 points over his last 13 games while topping this number of 14.5 nine times over that stretch.
Meanwhile, I expect VJ Edgecombe to go over his point total thanks to some added opportunities with George sidelined for the next little while. Edgecombe has always logged plenty of minutes, but he'll get more shots up now as well.
Let's add the big boys, Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard, to go Over their point totals as well, as each has been on a tear in recent outings.
76ers vs Clippers SGP
John Collins Over 14.5 points
Kawhi Leonard Over 24.5 points
VJ Edgecombe Over 12.5 points
Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points
76ers vs Clippers odds
Spread: 76ers +2 | Clippers -2
Moneyline: 76ers +110 | Clippers -130
Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5
76ers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Clippers have hit the moneyline in 10 of their last 11 home games, good for +10.85 units and a 37% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Clippers.
How to watch 76ers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
76ers vs Clippers latest injuries
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Heading into the NBA trade deadline, the Lakers are in sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 29-19, not bad considering LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have only played 140 minutes together because of injuries to James and Reaves.
But we do know this: The Lakers need help on defense.
Luka Doncic at Madison Square Garden during the Lakers’ game against the Knicks. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
They’re 25th in defense rating and they’re allowing their opponents to make 68.3 percent of their shots from five feet or less, with only the Jazz and Kings allowing better percentages.
Remember when Rudy Gobert looked like Shaquille O’Neal in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against Minnesota last April? Well, that wasn’t an anomaly.
The Lakers are trying to target a big defensive-minded wing who can patrol the paint as well as spread the court by making 3s. But they’re hampered by being pressed against the first luxury tax apron, they only have a single tradable first-round pick and a single second-round pick and they don’t want to take on contracts past this season.
But when it comes to the trade deadline, general manager Rob Pelinka is hard to predict.
He stood pat in 2022 and 2024. But in 2023, he moved Russell Westbrook and acquired six players, which led to the team reaching the Western Conference Finals. Last February, Pelinka helped orchestrate the most shocking trade in NBA history, dealing Anthony Davis for Doncic.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick yells to his team during the second half against the Clippers. AP
Heading into this year’s trade deadline, if Pelinka makes a move, it will likely be around the margins.
Focusing on the offseason makes the most sense for the Lakers.
They can create substantial cap space then and make big-time moves to build around Doncic. They’ll go from having one tradable first-round pick to three at that time. Not to mention, James, Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes will become unrestricted free agents, while Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart could join them if they decline their player options.
That said, it would be a shame to waste Doncic’s MVP-caliber campaign this season — as well as potentially James’ final year with the team — by not making a move that would put the Lakers in a position to compete for a championship now.
LeBron James (drives to the basket against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Lakers had been eyeing De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis, but they were just traded for each other as part of a three-team deal. Walker Kessler has been a dream target for a while, but he’s sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
With the dearth of available 3&D players, the Lakers’ restrictions and their long term goals, their options are limited.
New Orleans’ defensive wiz, Herb Jones, would be a great fit, but apparently his asking price is too high and would include two first-round picks.
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Some other names the Lakers could target include Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Donte DiVincenzo and Troy Murphy III.
Some of those players also have steep asking prices, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll come down in the next 72 hours so the Lakers could get a deal done to bolster their defensive presence.
The Lakers are going to pour their resources into reshaping the team this offseason.
So, until then, Doncic, James and Reaves might have to hope that their offensive becomes so stellar that it can compensate for their defensive holes, unless Pelinka can make something happen by Thursday.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All-Star forward Kevin Durant is not playing for the Houston Rockets on Monday night after spraining his left ankle when he stepped on a fan's foot during a recent game.
Coach Ime Udoka provided the update about 90 minutes before his team was scheduled to play at the Indiana Pacers, saying Durant “tweaked” the ankle. He provided no timetable for a return.
Durant has not previously missed a game this season because of injuries. He missed two games in November for personal reasons. The 37-year-old Durant is averaging a team-best 26.2 points per game.
Jan 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie (20) reacts with forward Tari Eason (17) after a play during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
But on Monday, Feb. 2, an arbitrator ruled in favor of Rozier and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), dictating that his salary should be paid in full.
"We are pleased with the arbitrator's ruling and remain committed to ensuring that Terry's due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process," an NBPA spokesperson texted USA TODAY Sports.
What does this mean for the Miami Heat and their trading strategy?
This carries significant implications for Rozier and the Heat in the trading market.
For one, Rozier is on an expiring deal, which can be attractive to teams that are looking to clear up cap space for the following fiscal year. And since Rozier's salary is substantial, he suddenly becomes a potential asset that could be used in a trade. So as the Heat remain engaged in conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks over a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, Rozier could eventually become part of that framework or in any other potential deal.
This, in essence, removes any uncertainty that may have been hanging around the Heat front office about its ability to include Rozier in any potential trade package.
If Miami is unable to move Rozier before the Thursday, Feb. 5 trading deadline, he would be on the books through the remainder of the season, and Miami would get a sizable chunk of cap space once his contract expires.
Rozier is in the final season of a four-year deal that pays $26.6 million, per Spotrac.com. The NBA and Heat had been holding Rozier's salary in escrow, pending the results of the ongoing investigation; Rozier has been away from the Heat since his arrest.
Rozier is accused of manipulating his performance during an NBA game to benefit illegal betting. The game took place on Thursday, March 23, 2023, when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
He had averaged 35.3 minutes and 21.1 points per game that season, and entered the night with no injury designation.
He started the game, but played only 9:34 minutes before he left the game with a supposed foot injury. He did not return and would subsequently miss the remaining eight games of the season.
That night, Rozier took just four shot attempts, making two of them, and scored five points, while adding four rebounds and two assists.
According to the indictment, Rozier informed his childhood friend, De'Niro Laster, that he “was going to prematurely remove himself from the game in the first quarter due to a supposed injury and not return to play further.”
Per the indictment, Laster then allegedly sold the information about Rozier’s participation to multiple co-conspirators so that they could place fraudulent wagers.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. called the alleged setup, “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 20: Stephen Curry #30 and Jonathan Kuminga #1 looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It hasn’t been a great couple of weeks for the Golden State Warriors’ knees. With Jimmy Butler sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL, the Warriors will face the Philadelphia 76ers without Steph Curry and his sore right knee or Jonathan Kuminga and his bruised left knee.
Kerr says Steph is out tomorrow vs. Sixers. He’s day to day. Kuminga is also still out.
The 76ers have been rounding into health recently, with Joel Embiid back to playing big minutes and putting up big scoring numbers and Paul George regularly logging 30+ minutes. However, the Warriors might miss Embiid since the Sixers will be on a back-to-back after facing the Los Angeles Clippers Monday night. They will definitely miss Paul George, who received a 25-game suspension from the NBA for violating the league’s Anti-Drug program.
As a result, the Warriors will get to see a lot of their old friend Kelly Oubre, Jr., the stylish swingman averaging 14.2 points. He’s been red-hot from three-point range over his past 10 games, which is a shot the Warriors often seem disinclined to defend. The backcourt duo of All-Star Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe should present a challenge in their speed and athleticism, though they have both been struggling with their shots. In other words, expect them to combine for 12 threes Tuesday night.
Curry is suffering from what the team is calling “runner’s knee.” This author consulted with Dr. WebMD and learned that the condition is known as “patellofemoral pain syndrome” and refers to pain at the front of the knee, sometimes also called “jumper’s knee.” He appeared to hurt it on a drive to the basket for an and-one during the third quarter of the Warriors’ loss to the Detroit Pistons Friday.
The All-Star guard is still considered “day-to-day” (aren’t we all?) but sitting out until Thursday’s road game against the Phoenix Suns would give Curry five full days off. The next possibility would be Saturday’s nationally-televised game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Until the All-Star break, the Warriors get one day off between each of their games.
For Kuminga, this means he won’t take the court again before Thursday’s trade deadline. He’s probably too hurt to play but even if he wasn’t, the Warriors might sit him out just in case a deal develops in the next 72 hours. Or Steve Kerr might prefer to get another extended look at Gui Santos.
Seth “Sethen” Curry remains out with a back injury but is working out on the court and will be re-evaluated Feb. 14.
MADRID (AP) — Vedat Muriqi scored his ninth goal in nine La Liga games as Mallorca beat Sevilla 4-1 to leapfrog its rival and escape the relegation zone on Monday.
Muriqi’s first half penalty put Mallorca ahead and continued his rich vein of form. The 26th-minute strike was his sixth this year and his 15th of the season. It keeps him second in the league goalscoring chart, seven behind Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.
Neal Maupay leveled for Sevilla on the stroke of halftime but Mallorca took control again soon after the break.
Samú Costa put Mallorca ahead after great work from Jan Virgili on the left wing and 20 minutes later Muriqi helped to set up Sergi Darder to make it 3-1.
Pablo Torre added a fourth in stoppage time to give Mallorca its first four-goal haul of the season and end Sevilla’s encouraging run of four undefeated games.
Sevilla fell to 15th place, just two points above the relegation zone. Mallorca was 14th.
Only four points separate the teams from ninth to 18th in a hyper-competitive mid-table.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The NFL will look into New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch and his association with Jeffrey Epstein after his name showed up more than 400 times in files released by the U.S. Justice Department regarding Epstein.
“Absolutely we will look at all the facts,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday. "We’ll look at the context of those and try to understand that. We’ll look at how that falls under the (league personal conduct) policy. I think we’ll take one step at a time. Let’s get the facts first.”
Tisch said last week he knew Epstein and that they “exchanged emails about adult women” and “discussed movies, philanthropy and investments.” But Tisch, 76, denied going to Epstein’s island and was never charged in the investigation.
SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — Habib Diarra turned in a decisive first half performance to set Sunderland on its way to a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Monday.
The midfielder signed from Strasbourg last summer scored one and had another deflected into the net during a commanding first half, and Chemsdine Talbi completed the scoring for the Black Cats.
Sunderland’s unbeaten home run was extended to 12 games — a record for a promoted side — and the team moved above Fulham and Everton into eighth place in the table.
There was a healthy dose of fortune about Diarra’s ninth-minute opener, as his right-foot shot took a nasty deflection to wrong-foot Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The touch was later given as an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe, making him the 12th player in Premier League history to score three own goals for three different clubs (Manchester United, Ipswich Town and Burnley).
However, there was nothing lucky about Diarra's second, which he fired from almost exactly the same position 23 minutes later. Dubravka got a hand to the fierce shot but could not stop it.
Talbi added the third after cutting in from the left and unleashing a superb shot.
Burnley did not have a shot on target and ended the night second-to-last in the table.
Scott Parker’s men have not won in 15 league games since October. The Lancashire side was seven points clear of last-placed Wolves but five behind West Ham and nine adrift of fourth-from-bottom Nottingham Forest.
Jan 24, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) makes a jump shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Postgame press conferences for head coach JJ Redick have begun to sound like something of a broken record.
While this could apply to multiple aspects of the Lakers as currently constructed, this time, it’s regarding their shooting. On Sunday, the Lakers had their latest stinker from beyond the arc in their loss to the Knicks, finishing 12-42 from the 3-point line with five of those makes coming from Luka Dončić.
“I thought we got good looks,” Redick said. “The defense in the first half in our zone, we played 23 possessions of it, held them to 19 points. Did enough throughout the game to play to win at the end. But, yeah, the shooting, their shooting killed us and our shooting didn’t help us.”
One of the benefits of having Luka and even this version of LeBron James is the open looks they can create. For years, the simple formula to building a contender was surrounding LeBron with four shooters, a memo that seemingly never made its way to Rob Pelinka.
Now, though, the Lakers are creating open looks. And yet, since LeBron’s return, the Lakers are shooting 33.4% on open looks, classified by NBA as the closest defender being between 4-6 feet away, which ranks in the middle of the road. On wide open 3-pointers, where the defender is further than six feet away, they are 37.4%, 10th-worst in the league.
Compare that to the Knicks, who shoot 40.8% on wide open threes (fourth in the NBA) and 35.9% on open looks (seventh) and you can see why Sunday’s game played out the way it did.
“Obviously, 3-point shooting, we couldn’t consistently make shots from the perimeter,” LeBron said. “And then extra possession. They kicked out for [threes] and knocked them down. I think that was the game right there.”
You wouldn’t fault LeBron for having that approach and mindset because, in theory, if you create open looks, they should eventually fall. Except the players on the Lakers getting those open shots aren’t shooters stuck in a slump. They’re players who aren’t shooters.
After Luka and Austin Reaves, the player with the most three-point attempts is Marcus Smart at 4.8 per contest, just one tenth of a point below his career average. He’s shooting 32.6% from range, marginally above his 32.4% career mark.
Gabe Vincent, a career 34% 3-point shooter, is shooting 37% this season, though I doubt many are clamoring for him to get more playing time. Any hope of Jarred Vanderbilt magically finding a 3-point shot is gone as his 30.3% mark this year is a tick above his career mark of 29.2%.
Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura are the only outliers on opposite sides. Rui has blossomed into a legit laser from range while LaRavia is having the worst season of his career from range.
Outside of that, though, these Lakers are, more or less, shooting exactly as they’d be expected to shoot based on their career. This is not an issue of the Lakers being in a slump. This is an issue of the Lakers being a team of non-shooters.
With that context in mind, many of Redick’s and LeBron’s comments ring hollow. It’s not their fault. They should believe in the team and, in theory, creating open looks is the best chance for winning.
However, this team is not one that will knock down those shots, leaving the Lakers hoping for shooting improvements that will never come.
