Category: NBA

I remember last January like it is burned into my brain. As the season hit the halfway point, you could feel the dread creeping in from the corners. The Suns were 21-20, and even then it felt like the ground was already shifting beneath them. Everyone knew the January schedule was supposed to be soft. The hope was that it would act as a springboard after months of underwhelming basketball. Instead, it felt like borrowed time.

Bradley Beal was moved to the bench. Jusuf Nurkic followed, playing his final game as a Sun on January 7 before getting dealt on February 6. The whispers were getting louder. Discontent hung in the air. Mike Budenholzer was yanking every lever he could find, searching for a spark. Any spark. From the outside, it felt like watching a car crash unfold in real time. Every adjustment seemed to stack on top of the last, and nothing slowed the impact.

We know how the story ended.

A year later, I still find myself shaking my head at where this team is and how it got here. Back then, it felt like the only path forward was detonation. Strip it down. Cash in the most valuable assets. Escape the weight of bad decisions, a miserable season, and a cap sheet that read like a cautionary tale. There did not seem to be an exit ramp. It felt boxed in. Trapped.

And yet, here we are.

One year later, there is hope. There is a team worth investing in emotionally again. A group that plays with a style, toughness, and grit that actually mirrors the city it represents. Living in a desert is not normal. Enduring more than 100 days a year above 100° is absurd. That kind of environment hardens you. It demands thick skin. Stubbornness. A little bit of madness. The Suns are starting to personify that. Tough. Relentless. Slightly unhinged in the best way.

So now that we have hit the halfway point, it felt like the right time to take a step back and look at this team year over year. Five different statistics. One simple question. How different does this feel from where the Suns were at this same point a season ago?

Record

Last Year: 21-10
This Year: 24-17

Yes, we start with the record. On paper, the Suns are only three games better than they were a season ago, but the trajectory tells a completely different story. They sit seventh in the Western Conference and are within three games of the four seed.

Last season, they were 21-0 at this same point, but the path there was shaky. They stumbled to a 16-19 mark through their first 35 games, then rattled off five wins in six just to claw back to respectability. That surge landed them in the 10 seed. It never felt stable. It never felt sustainable. This version of the Suns does.

Ratings

Last Year: 114.2 OFF (10th), 115.3 DEF (22nd), -1.1 NET (17th)
This Year: 114.5 OFF (16th), 112.1 DEF (5th), +2.3 NET (11th)

You can feel the difference between this team and last year’s group almost immediately. Last season’s Suns were built around offense. When you have Kevin Durant, you are going to score, and most nights it is going to be efficient. That part always showed up. It was never the concern. The problem was everything wrapped around it. The defense was a mess, and through the first 41 games, they sat at a -1.1 net rating. That told the real story.

This season has flipped the script. The offense can bog down at times, and that is part of why the return of Jalen Green looms so large, because he is an offense-based player who can tilt the floor. But the foundation is different now. The Suns are sitting at a 112.1 defensive rating, fifth best in the league. That defense has pushed them to a +2.3 net rating, which ranks 11th overall.

It is a thin line, but it matters. Last year’s Suns were a bottom-half net rating team. This year’s group lives on the other side of that divide. That is not noise. That is a shift.

Three-Pointers

Last Year: 571
This Year: 594

How many times did I beat the three-point drum last season? With Mike Budenholzer coming in, the assumption was simple. More threes. That was supposed to be the offensive shift. And sure enough, the Suns are taking more threes this season than they did a year ago.

But the real wrinkle is not only that they are letting it fly. It is what is happening on the other end. This team is active. Disruptive. Annoying in the best way. They already have 431 steals this season, second most in the entire league. Last year’s group was at 317 through 41, which ranked 22nd. That gap tells you everything.

The threes are part of the story. The defense is the headline.

Making @NBA history on both ends of the floor ☄️ pic.twitter.com/6v8WiWxQ5x

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 16, 2026

Plus/Minus

Last Year: -47
This Year: +104

Plus/minus is a fickle stat. It gets weaponized far too often in single-game debates. Even over a week, I do not lean on it much, because it is so dependent on who you share the floor with. I could be out there doing absolutely nothing, but if Devin Booker rattles off 15 points in a quarter while I am standing next to him, congratulations, I am a +15.

Over 41 games, though, it starts to tell you something real. And the difference between this season and last season is loud. A 151-point swing in the positive direction.

This is not the offensive machine that last year’s blueprint was chasing. And I am fine with that. This team has something far more valuable. A defense that can actually shut people down. That defensive backbone is what shows up in this metric. I will take the ability to stop someone every time over trying to bludgeon teams with offense.

Maybe that is the scar tissue talking. I am a product of the Seven Seconds or Less era. I watched those Suns teams light up scoreboards year after year. Beautiful basketball. Historic offense. And every postseason, when it came time to get one stop, they could not do it. That lesson sticks. Defense travels. Defense survives. And this version of the Suns finally understands that.

Deflections

Last Year: 589 (26th)
This Year: 829 (6th)

This team hustles. We have seen it all season, and it is one of the reasons people connect with this group. You cannot flip the game off because they are down 15 in the first half. Not with this team. They keep coming. They keep scrapping. They do the small things that drag them back into games possession by possession.

Deflections tell that story better than almost anything. It is the clearest measure of effort. Are you standing around watching the ball move, or are you hunting passing lanes? Are you sitting back, or are you crowding entry passes and making life uncomfortable? This season, the difference is not subtle. It is not even close compared to last year.

That single statistic captures what your eyes already tell you every night. This team plays harder. It plays with intent. And that hustle is the foundation of everything else they have built.

What a difference a year makes for Phoenix. Thru 41 games last year vs this year.

Deflections:
Last year: 589 (26th)
This year: 829 (6th)

Turns out effort is a skill. Who knew? pic.twitter.com/KJhBBsBgux

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 17, 2026

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I did not think we would get here. Not this fast. I was bracing myself for a rebuild and thankful it has been, on the surface, a successful retool. Credit where it belongs. Mat Ishbia. Brian Gregory. The decision to bring in Jordan Ott. Those moves are the reason we can even have these conversations right now.

Watching this team does not feel like homework anymore. It feels energizing. You tune in to see how aggressive they are going to be, how hard they are going to play, how they try to impose themselves on the game.

One of my favorite parts of this season, especially as someone who hosts a post-game podcast after every game, has been lurking in opposing teams’ subreddits. It is unfiltered chaos in there. Sometimes insightful. Sometimes completely unhinged. But there is one consistent theme that keeps popping up: nobody wants to play Phoenix.

Opposing fans keep comparing this team to the Bad Boys Pistons from the late 80s. Annoying. Disruptive. Physical. A team they complain about while secretly respecting. They might hate Grayson Allen. They might hate Dillon Brooks. But they all say the same thing. They would love those guys on their roster. That is what the Suns have become in one season.

Last year, this was a cupcake team. A date circled on the schedule. A matador defense where stars could stroll in, put up numbers, and leave happy. This year is different. Sure, the flight to the Valley in January still sounds nice. Warm weather. Sunshine. But once you walk into that arena, you know exactly what you are in for. A dog fight. I will take that version of the Suns every single time.

41 games down and 41 games to go. Seems like a fair spot to take pulse of how the Spurs season is going thus far.

To be clear, the Spurs have been exceeding expectations all season. They have adjusted to multiple players being injured at various times. From different starting lineups to a spree of seven straight games were the leading scorer was a different member of the squad, the players continue to elevate their on-court connections when it has mattered most.

One of the most telling aspects of the Spurs depth was when they went 9-4 while the emerging superstar was sidelined with a calf strain.

That said, they’re not perfect. They came up short in the NBA Emirates Cup. But be honest, at the beginning of the season did anyone see them making it that far? They’re the only team to have bested the NBA champs three times, but it’s the most recent meeting that still hurts. And I don’t know about you, but when I watch Victor Wembanyama, I see all the greatness a generational player has, and in one moment he makes some move that leaves me shaking my head.

One of the best highlights this season is watching Mitch Johnson come into his own as the official head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. His press conferences reveal a young, confident leader who is aware of where he and the team are. He’s not afraid to let them grow at a natural pace. It’s his pre-and post-game conferences bring the viewer into his mindset. One more than one occasion I have been reminded of just how young Wemby is. And all of a sudden I don’t see a bumbled play, I see the potential that Coach Johnson sees.

Patience has been the watchword ever since Wembanyama was drafted. For many fans, a couple of years is too long to wait. We must keep in mind that since Wemby donned a Spurs cap on draft night the team has added another Rookie of the Year, a nineteen-year-old downhill guard who plays beyond his years, and the 2023 Clutch Player of the Year.

When fans take a moment to realize that Fox and Wemby have barely played two dozen games together, restraint on everyone’s part is really unwarranted.

Although the team is young and developing, they’ve managed to bring in a great mix of experience. Fox, Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo can offer so much. Even the latter two who aren’t getting as many minutes offer a valued presence and support to a locker room full of youth and vitality.

41 games down. With a record of 28-13 they are on pace to end the year with a record of wins in the mid-50s, a best since the 2016-2017 season.

Lots to celebrate and lots to be excited about.

How are you feeling now that the season is halfway done?

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Having Mitchell Robinson available only twice a week and the occasional Tuesday continues to undermine the Knicks. It is time for him to go. There, I said it. Load up your bows.

At times, Mitch has been my favorite Knick. He is one of the best rebounders to ever do it, a fun personality, and the longest-tenured ‘Bocker, too. That gives him a lot of rope. But load-management prevents the seven-foot center from playing back-to-backs, making for an erratic availability that must be disruptive to game planning. We have no confidence that he will survive through the playoffs, either. And this season’s numbers don’t justify the special treatment.

Indisputably, he is a prodigious talent on the glass, where he averages nine boards in 19.4 minutes per game. Almost five of those rebounds are offensive and lead to second (or third) shots. On the scoring side, his numbers have always been ugly. This season has been the worst. Mitch is averaging a career-low 4.6 points per game. His free throw percentage is forty, and he is far too cool to try granny-style.

This season, he has missed 13 of 41 games. The team has gone 17-11 with him, 8-5 without. Sure, it’s a flawed metric, but his plus-minus statistics suggest he has added to 13 games, of which the team won 11. In the 15 games where he was a zero or negative plus-minus, the team went 6-9.

Forgive my math (and tired eyes), but it looks like he’s played in 68% of the games so far this season, and contributed most positively in roughly half of his appearances. So, if he plays and he’s good, the team wins. The rest of the time—like 75% of the time—the team needs a reliable center.

Pipe down, I know Karl-Anthony Towns often starts at that position. But we have seen first-hand what Minnesota knew, which is that KAT cannot be your last line of defense. The guy is a turnstile whose natural inclination is to foul at the rim. That’s why Minny gave up so much to get Rudy Gobert. The big Frenchman made up for the defensive sins of Karl, who is otherwise a scoring-savant.

(These are the days I’m especially grateful for all those years of the venerable Patrick Ewing.)

The solution does not appear to be on the roster. Early this season, back-up center Ariel Hukporti had us hyped enough at times to bandy about potential nicknames. Then he crashed back to Earth with some truly dud performances and a bagful of DNPs. I’m not entirely out on him, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of coaching up going on.

Guerschon Yabusele is not a center. Period. He may also not be a Knick . . . let me refresh my news feed.

So there’s KAT, Mitch, and Ariel on the depth chart. Those are your centers. Do you have faith in those guys landing the Larry O’Brien trophy? If so, you’re more generous than this writer.

A smart decision, from a basketball and business standpoint, would be to trade Robinson for a seven-footer by the February 5 deadline. He’s making $12.95 M this year and will likely hit the open market this summer as a UFA.

As for a trade: Who would want this oft-injured player who needs a new contract and plays limited games? And what big men are possibly available on the market before the deadline? Let’s ponder those topics with fresh eyes in another article. I just woke up at 4 a.m. with a burning desire to get this out of my system. Because: crazy.

Truly, I thought to unburden myself of this belief would be a relief (try saying that like Clyde, it’s fun). What I feel is bummed. There are numerous reasons, beyond basketball ability, to be fond of Mitch. The guy is a genuinely good egg; for starters, Google what he did for his grieving high school coach. In the locker room, his teammates seem to have enjoyed his jester personality (maybe with the exception of Randle). His is always the next jersey I will buy if I ever decide that I don’t have too many in the back of my closet already. Sure, his taste in music sucks. He still commits crimes on the free throw line. No one’s perfect. To see him leave New York will hurt the regions of my heart that have not yet hardened, and it will make the product even more bland. But if the Knicks are serious about raising another banner, it’s time to replace Mitch with a dependable, durable, and available center.

Go Knicks.

The Washington Wizards play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Let’s get to it

Game info

When: Saturday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injuries: For the Wizards, Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Bilal Coulibaly (back) and Trae Young (quadriceps) are out. Khris Middleton and Tristan Vukcevic are day-to-day.

For the Nuggets, Christian Braun (ankle), Nikola Jokic (knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Cameron Johnson (knee) and Tamar Bates (foot) are out. Aaron Gordon, Bruce Bowen and Jamal Murray are day-to-day.

What to watch for

This week has been tough for Wizards fans since the team is in the middle of a five game losing streak with no end in sight. Losing last night/early this morning to the Sacramento Kings doesn’t help things because that was the most winnable game on paper.

Tonight, Washington will play a Denver team that is 28-13 and winners of five out of their last six games — and all of those games being decided by single digits. Franchise player Nikola Jokic and numerous others are out. But it will still be an uphill battle to get an upset on the second end of a back-to-back while the Nuggets have rested since last Wednesday when they beat the Dallas Mavericks, 118-109 on the road.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.

There was Crowded House, the band, playing a set of four hits. There was a full house — a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat stadium.

Rod Laver, the great Australian player of Grand Slam fame, was in the house. The 87-year-old Aussie was sitting courtside in Rod Laver Arena, the center court at Melbourne Park named in his honor.

Federer, the six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.

It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.

Novak Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian titles among his record 24 major championships, was there to watch.

The Australian Open main draw singles competitions start Sunday. Djokovic plays his opening match on Monday.

Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 edition into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.

Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour.

“It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said. “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars.

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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The Washington Wizards lost to the Sacramento Kings 128-115 on Friday in a battle between bottom feeders at Golden 1 Center.

The Wizards had to fight their way out of a huge hole they dug themselves in during the opening period. A three-pointer from Bub Carrington gave the Wizards a 7-6 advantage at the 9:33 mark of the first quarter. Washington held that lead for all of 17 seconds before Sacramento took it back for good. The Kings went on a 19-0 run to close out the first quarter, as the Wizards went scoreless for nearly five minutes.

Washington battled back in the second quarter. Alex Sarr led the way with his 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first half. One of his buckets came off a sweet dime from Tre Johnson.

Tre dishin' an absolute DIME to Alex 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/IWzRANZ7jd

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 17, 2026

Jamir Watkins also flashed more of his defensive potential on a strip and slam off DeMar DeRozan. He helped the Wizards trim the halftime deficit to 67-61.

A steal & slam for the rook 🔥#ForTheDistrict | @CapitalCityGoGopic.twitter.com/LNqWuPUAzf

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 17, 2026

The Wizards got the game to within three in the opening minutes of the second half. But the Kings once again closed the quarter strong, thanks to our old friend Russell Westbrook. The lead ballooned to 17 heading into the final period.

A Carrington triple and a pair of Tre Johnson treys to open the fourth quarter helped get the Wizards within single digits. The Kings managed to stifle any moment for a run, holding on for a 13-point win.

Johnson finished with 18 points and 4 assists, while Sarr’s quiet second half left him at 19 points. Justin Champagnie and Kyshawn George each tacked on 15.

While Washington lost the battle, it won the tank war as the Kings went a full game ahead of the Wizards in the standings. The Wizards close out their road trip against the Nuggets in Denver.

Sometimes it just takes one statement victory to get things back on track. The San Antonio Spurs burst out of a rough 10-game stretch after Christmas with a blowout victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. All of a sudden, it feels like the team can once again conquer the Western Conference. But one game overreactions are a fool’s errand. Saturday night’s contest is a chance to prove the team is back on track against a team that is biting at their heels in the standings.

The Spurs will host the Minnesota Timberwolves after losing a heartbreaker to them in Minneapolis last Sunday. San Antonio will have the rest advantage, as the Wolves are coming off a late-night 110-105 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Minnesota has been without its superstar, Anthony Edwards, for two straight games due to a foot injury, but his status for Saturday’s game is unknown.

The Wolves present a tough matchup for the Spurs, with their size, strength, athleticism, and shooting ability. San Antonio has collapsed late in both losses to Minnesota this season. A strong performance on both the offensive and defensive ends, as they had against Milwaukee, would help them earn their first win against the Wolves this season and create some separation in the standings.

San Antonio Spurs (28-13) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-15)

January 17, 2025 | 7 PM CT

Watch: Fan Duel | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Stephon Castle – Questionable (illness), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Stanley Umude – Out (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Devin Vassell – Out (adductor)

Timberwolves Injuries: Not posted until 1 pm CT

What to watch for:

Julius Randle on Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama experienced offensive success against a fellow Frenchman, Rudy Gobert, in San Antonio’s last game against the Wolves. That success stopped when Randle became his primary defender. Randle was able to play physical and get underneath Wembanyama, forcing him off of his spot and making it nearly impossible for him to make a move toward the rim. If the Wolves decide to give Randle the Wemby assignment again, and they probably should, San Antonio will have to find a way to get Wembanyama open for good looks. Watch for the Spurs to use flex screens or even fade screens on the perimeter to open up some space for Wembanyama against a physical defense.

Three-point defense

The Spurs found out the Wolves can get hot in a hurry in both of their losses to Minnesota this year. The Wolves do a great job of spreading the ball out with their bigs, as Randle and Naz Reid are both threats from deep. Donte DiVincenzo is a flamethrower, and if role players like Bones Hyland and Jaden McDaniels get hot, the game can get out of hand quickly. San Antonio will need to close out to shooters and force tough shots to keep the Wolves down and out of the game.

Guard play

San Antonio’s guards looked great against the Bucks on Thursday. Stephon Castle was efficient, De’Aaron Fox looked comfortable with the ball in his hands, and Dylan Harper provided a spark off the bench. The Spurs have a ball-handling advantage if the trio plays up to its usual standards. Minnesota has long, tough perimeter defenders capable of making their lives difficult. San Antonio will need the most from their guard trio to secure a victory on Saturday.

Minnesota Timberwolves (27-15, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (28-13, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spurs -6.5; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Minnesota in a matchup of Western Conference teams.

The Spurs are 15-11 in conference games. San Antonio ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 49.9 points per game in the paint led by Victor Wembanyama averaging 10.4.

The Timberwolves are 14-11 against conference opponents. Minnesota ranks second in the Western Conference shooting 37.3% from 3-point range.

The Spurs score 117.6 points per game, 3.1 more points than the 114.5 the Timberwolves give up. The Timberwolves average 14.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Spurs give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won 104-103 in the last meeting on Jan. 12. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 23 points, and Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is shooting 51.6% and averaging 23.9 points for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Julius Randle is averaging 22.6 points, seven rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 18.6 points and 6.5 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 5-5, averaging 110.0 points, 49.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 7.1 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points per game.

Timberwolves: 7-3, averaging 123.9 points, 47.0 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: Stephon Castle: day to day (illness), Devin Vassell: out (thigh).

Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot), Anthony Edwards: out (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Brooklyn Nets (12-27, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (19-22, 10th in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Sunday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn hits the road against Chicago looking to break its four-game road slide.

The Bulls have gone 13-15 against Eastern Conference teams. Chicago ranks second in the league with 35.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 7.8.

The Nets are 9-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn is 8-19 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Bulls score 117.3 points per game, 3.5 more points than the 113.8 the Nets allow. The Nets' 44.6% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.8 percentage points lower than the Bulls have given up to their opponents (47.4%).

The two teams play for the third time this season. The Nets defeated the Bulls 112-109 in their last matchup on Jan. 17. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 26 points, and Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 19 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Matas Buzelis is averaging 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Bulls. Vucevic is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.

Noah Clowney is shooting 38.9% and averaging 13.3 points for the Nets. Egor Demin is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 4-6, averaging 112.4 points, 44.7 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.7 points per game.

Nets: 2-8, averaging 106.5 points, 39.7 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring), Zach Collins: out (toe), Patrick Williams: day to day (ankle).

Nets: Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Ziaire Williams: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Orlando Magic (23-18, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (17-23, 11th in the Western Conference)

London; Sunday, 12 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -5.5; over/under is 227.5

BOTTOM LINE: Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies host Desmond Bane and the Orlando Magic in out-of-conference play.

The Grizzlies are 9-11 in home games. Memphis gives up 116.2 points and has been outscored by 1.4 points per game.

The Magic have gone 9-11 away from home. Orlando is 11-11 against opponents with a winning record.

The Grizzlies are shooting 45.3% from the field this season, 2.2 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Magic allow to opponents. The Magic are shooting 46.7% from the field, 0.4% higher than the 46.3% the Grizzlies' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won 118-111 in the last matchup on Jan. 15. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points, and Jackson led the Grizzlies with 30 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cedric Coward is scoring 14.0 points per game and averaging 6.6 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Jackson is averaging 21.6 points and 6.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Bane is averaging 19 points and 4.5 assists for the Magic. Anthony Black is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 114.2 points, 46.8 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points per game.

Magic: 6-4, averaging 114.7 points, 44.6 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.6 points.

INJURIES: Grizzlies: Ja Morant: day to day (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

Magic: Jalen Suggs: day to day (knee), Jett Howard: day to day (illness), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

New Orleans Pelicans (10-34, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (24-15, fifth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Sunday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Trey Murphy III and the New Orleans Pelicans visit Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in Western Conference play.

The Rockets have gone 2-4 against division opponents. Houston leads the league with 49.2 rebounds per game led by Alperen Sengun averaging 9.2.

The Pelicans have gone 4-24 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is seventh in the NBA with 12.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 2.9.

The Rockets are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points lower than the 48.6% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pelicans are shooting 46.5% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 46.2% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pelicans won 133-128 in overtime in the last matchup on Dec. 19.

TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is scoring 26.3 points per game with 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 20.9 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 51.4% over the last 10 games.

Murphy is averaging 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 5-5, averaging 107.5 points, 50.6 rebounds, 21.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points per game.

Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 113.3 points, 43.7 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.6 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Tari Eason: out (ankle).

Pelicans: Jose Alvarado: out (oblique), Dejounte Murray: out (leg), Herbert Jones: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

That was a fun one, just wish it had started a little bit earlier.

Late Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Houston Rockets. It was the second straight game for the Wolves without Anthony Edwards as he recovers from an infection in his toe. Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said he is still day-to-day with the injury.

Without their best player, it was always going to be an uphill climb for the Wolves, but they came out of the gates strong, taking a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. The defense was limiting Houston’s quality shots, the ball movement on offense was great, and they did a good job getting out in transition, scoring 16 fast break points in the first half.

RUDY STEAL

➡️

JULIUS SLAM pic.twitter.com/gixiaspejN

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 17, 2026

The Rockets eventually whittled the Wolves’ lead down to two going into the halftime break. The slim margin would hold until the early parts of the fourth quarter when Houston scored seven straight points to give them an eight-point lead, their largest lead of the game to that point.

Without their best player on the floor, the Wolves could not find enough effective offense down the stretch of the game, turning the ball over eight times in the fourth quarter while making only a single 3-pointer on just three fourth-quarter attempts. Minnesota fell by a final score of 110-105.

Julius Randle and Kevin Durant were each the offensive engines for their team, each scoring 39 points. Randle’s scoring is now up to 27.7 points per game in the ten games Edwards has missed this season. Durant, like he always does, shot the ball incredibly well, going 11-18 from the field, 6-8 from beyond the arc, and 11-14 from the free-throw line.

Naz Reid was the other standout for the Timberwolves in the game, scoring 25 points as he made 8 of his 11 shots, including 5 makes from deep. After getting his first taste of rotation minutes on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, Joan Beringer kept his spot in the rotation, playing a total of six minutes as the Wolves experimented with a three-big lineup with Beringer, Randle, and Reid sharing the court together.

The centers for each team struggled mightily from the free-throw line as Rudy Gobert went 2-10 and Alperen Şengün shot 3-9. The two teams combined to go 40-69 from the free-throw line, both leaving a good number of points available that could have swung the balance of the game.

While any close loss is a missed opportunity for a team like the Wolves with lofty goals, this game will not come with a ton of baggage for the Wolves. Not having Edwards available made getting a win tough against a solid and potentially desperate Houston team, which had just gotten shellacked by the Oklahoma City Thunder a night ago.

It’s also easy to wonder how the game may have gone differently if Edwards had been able to suit up. Not having him available made it tough offensively for the Wolves against Houston’s ninth-rated defense.

Some losses make it feel like the sky is falling. Other losses, like tonight, you can shrug your shoulders and just try to get the next one.

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Up Next

The Timberwolves don’t get much time to rest, as they have less than 20 hours to prepare for their next game, a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs at 7:00 PM CT. It is a quick turnaround between games, as you will see in the NBA, making it a real test as Minnesota takes on the team with the second-best record in the West. Fans can watch tomorrow’s game on FanDuel Sports Network.

Highlights

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets outplayed the Minnesota Timberwolves to secure a 110-105 victory on Friday night.

Durant, who is in his first season with Houston, powered the Rockets with a season-high scoring effort.

He finished the first half of play with 18 points after making 7-of-11 shots from the field and helped the Rockets close the gap only trailing Minnesota by two points after a 3-pointer with just a second remaining in the second quarter.

For the game, Durant made six of his eight shots from long range.

Here’s Durant’s full stat line from Friday night:

Kevin Durant stats vs. Timberwolves

• Points: 39
• FG: 11-for-18
• 3PT: 6-for-8
• Free Throws: 11-for-14
• Rebounds: 4
• Assists: 7
• Steals: 2
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 5
• Fouls: 3
• Minutes: 40

Kevin Durant, Rockets vs. Timberwolves highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant stats, points tonight, Timberwolves vs Rockets highlights

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Domantas Sabonis scored 13 points in his return from a knee injury, Russell Westbrook had 26 and the Sacramento Kings beat the Washington Wizards 128-115 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.

Sabonis returned after missing 27 games because of a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. The three-time All-Star forward/center came off the bench, entering with 5:11 left in the first quarter.

Sabonis also had seven rebounds and five assists in a little over 21 minutes. He was 5 of 6 from field, with the miss coming from 3 -point range.

Dennis Schroder also was back for the Kings after serving a three-game suspension for confronting Lakers star Luka Doncic after a game in Los Angeles. Schroder had 15 points and five assists.

Westbrook was 9 of 14 from the field, hitting 6 of 9 3-pointers, and had six assists. DeMar DeRozan scored 17 points, and Precious Achiuwa and Zach LaVine each had 16.

The Kings have won the first three games of a seven-game homestand to improve to 12-30. They opened the run against Houston, then beat the Lakers and New York.

Alex Sarr led Washington with 19 points, and Tre Johnson had 18. The Wizards dropped to 10-30 with their fifth straight loss.

Washington newcomer Trae Young — acquired from Atlanta in a deal that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks — is sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries. He will be re-evaluated in mid-February.

Sacramento led 67-61 at the half after scoring 41 points in the first quarter and giving up 39 in the second. The Kings had a 34-23 edge in the third.

Up next

Wizards: At Denver on Saturday night.

Kings: Host Portland on Sunday night.

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

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 39 points, Evan Mobley’s dunk with 4.8 seconds left was the winner and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers completed a two-game sweep of the 76ers in Philadelphia with a 117-115 victory on Friday night.

Donovan Mitchell added 13 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday.

Joel Embiid scored 33 points and Tyrese Maxey had 22 points, nine assists and five steals for the 76ers.

Cleveland was without Darius Garland (right big toe soreness) and Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), who were both injured on Wednesday. Coach Kenny Atkinson said both will be reevaluated when the team returns to Cleveland this weekend.

The 76ers looked in control when Paul George hit a jumper with 8:47 remaining for an 11-point lead. But the Cavaliers used a 13-2 run, capped by De’Andre Hunter’s 3-pointer with 5:53 left, to tie it at 102. Philadelphia moved ahead by seven points after turnovers by the Cavs on three straight possessions, but Cleveland hung around.

Hunter’s layup with just over a minute left put the Cavs up a point. After Mobley made one of two free throws with 22.7 seconds remaining, Maxey tied it on a runner with 8.1 seconds left. After a timeout, Tyson set up Mobley near the basket for an easy dunk to put Cleveland in front by two. Maxey’s shot from just beyond half court that could have won the game went long.

PACERS 127, PELICANS 119

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Center Jay Huff had a career-best 29 points and nine rebounds and led five players in double figures as Indiana beat New Orleans.

The 7-foot-1 Huff, who entered Friday averaging 8.4 points, shot 13 for 17 from the field and 3 for 6 from 3-point distance. The center’s previous high was 22 points, achieved last year while with the Memphis Grizzlies in a win over the Dallas Mavericks. Huff was acquired by Indiana in a trade with Memphis during the offseason.

Pascal Siakam scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half, and Andrew Nembhard added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who won for the fourth time in five games. Aaron Nesmith and Quenton Jackson scored 12 points apiece as Indiana closed out a 3-1 homestand and improved to 8-16 at home.

Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 27 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field and 7-for-10 shooting from the line. Williamson was 8 for 8 from the field in the first half, when he scored 21 points.

Trey Murphy III scored 22 points, Saddiq Bey added 20, Jeremiah Fears finished with 16, Derik Queen had 14 and Jordan Poole 11 for the Pelicans, who are 3-16 in road games. Queen also had 12 rebounds.

NETS 112, BULLS 109

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. made a go-ahead layup with 5.4 seconds remaining after Brooklyn had blown a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, and the Nets beat Chicago.

Porter scored 26 points and Noah Clowney had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Day’Ron Sharpe scored 14 points and rookie Danny Wolf had 13.

Nikola Vucevic scored 19 points and Ayo Dosunmu had 18 for the Bulls in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Coach Jordi Fernandez thought the Nets could’ve won all three games on their just-completed road trip, but it appeared they wouldn’t need to worry about another close finish after a 15-0 run in the second quarter helped them take a 17-point halftime lead, their second-largest of the season.

Cam Thomas’ 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter made it 92-72 before the Bulls scored the next 11 points. Thomas hit another 3 to stop that surge, and the Nets still led by six with under a minute remaining.

The Bulls then scored seven straight points to go ahead 109-108 on Tre Jones’ layup with 11.4 seconds remaining. The Nets ran a play to get Porter the ball near the basket, and he put the Nets back on top. Rookie Drake Powell then stole Chicago’s pass in from the sideline and Clowney’s two free throws made it 112-109 before Vucevic missed a rushed 3-pointer.

CLIPPERS 121, RAPTORS 117, OT

TORONTO (AP) — James Harden had 31 points and 10 assists, Jordan Miller scored 19 points and Los Angeles extended its winning streak to five games by beating Toronto.

Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Cam Christie scored 16 points and Kris Dunn had 15 as the Clippers won for the 12th time in 14 games since starting the season 6-21.

Toronto’s Scottie Barnes scored 24 points and Brandon Ingram had 19.

The Clippers are 7-14 on the road. They’ve won four of their past five away from home.

Kawhi Leonard missed his team’s lone regular-season visit to Toronto because of a sprained right ankle. Leonard won the 2019 NBA championship with the Raptors.

The Raptors lost for the second time in 21 games when leading after three quarters.

Toronto led 109-101 with 3:35 remaining in regulation, but missed six straight shots as Harden forced overtime with a personal 8-0 run. Harden made four straight free throws to begin OT.

Harden shot 10 for 27 and finished 2 for 15 from 3-point range. He went 9 for 10 at the free throw line.

KINGS 128, WIZARDS 115

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Domantas Sabonis scored 13 points in his return from a knee injury, Russell Westbrook had 26 and Sacramento beat Washington for its fourth straight victory.

Sabonis returned after missing 27 games because of a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. The three-time All-Star forward/center came off the bench, entering with 5:11 left in the first quarter.

Sabonis also had seven rebounds and five assists in a little over 21 minutes. He was 5 of 6 from field, with the miss coming from 3 -point range.

Dennis Schroder also was back for the Kings after serving a three-game suspension for confronting Lakers star Luka Doncic after a game in Los Angeles. Schroder had 15 points and five assists.

Westbrook was 9 of 14 from the field, hitting 6 of 9 3-pointers, and had six assists. DeMar DeRozan scored 17 points, and Precious Achiuwa and Zach LaVine each had 16.

The Kings have won the first three games of a seven-game homestand to improve to 12-30. They opened the run against Houston, then beat the Lakers and New York.

Alex Sarr led Washington with 19 points, and Tre Johnson had 18. The Wizards dropped to 10-30 with their fifth straight loss.

ROCKETS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 105

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 39 points and made a season-best six 3-pointers to lead Houston to a win over Minnesota.

Alperen Sengun added 25 points with 14 rebounds to help the Rockets bounce back after a blowout loss to Oklahoma City Thursday night.

A 6-2 run by the Timberwolves, with four points from Julius Randle, got them within 105-102 with about 90 seconds to go. Sengun fouled out soon after that and Jaden McDaniels made one of two free throws to get Minnesota within two points.

Durant made two free throws with under a minute left before Randle turned the ball over and Durant was fouled again. He made two more free throws with 22.1 seconds left to seal the victory.

Durant’s big shooting night came after he was 0 for 5 on 3-pointers against the Thunder.

Randle had season-high 39 points for the Timberwolves on a night when Anthony Edwards missed a second straight game with a foot issue.

The Timberwolves trailed by six points after a basket by Bones Hyland before Rudy Gobert missed a chance to close the gap by missing three of his next four free throws. Houston remained up by 5 later in the fourth, but a dunk by Sengun extended the lead to 103-96 with 3½ minutes left.