ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Lake Nona member Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 on Friday for a share of second-round lead with Lottie Woad in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Ko, the 2024 tournament winner and a Hilton Grand Vacations ambassador, is the lone player in the 39-woman field without a bogey after two days. The Hall of Famer has 23 LPGA Tour victories.
“I’ve had to hole some good par putts, but I really haven’t put myself in that many difficult positions as of yet,” said Ko, from New Zealand. “I think that’s why I had the two bogey-free rounds. I’m hoping to kind of continue that good momentum this weekend.”
Woad shot a 69 to match Ko at 8-under 136 in mostly sunny conditions with 12 mph wind at the most in the 70-degree afternoon.
“I looked at the leaderboard quite a lot today because I was getting annoyed,” Woad said. “Seemed like there weren’t that many low scores out there, so kind of knew I was still in it. The pins were probably a little trickier so weren’t as many birdies as yesterday.”
The 22-year-old English player won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last year, weeks after taking the KPMG Women’s Irish Open as an amateur on the Ladies European Tour.
Nasa Hataoka, also a Lake Nona member, was a stroke back with Amy Yang. Hataoka had a 71, and Yang shot 69.
Defending champion A Lim Kim was 6 under after her second 69. Youmin Hwang (67) and Ingrid Lindblad (69) also were 6 under.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and Kelly Korda were 5 under. Thitkul had a 72, and Korda shot 71.
“I think the weather is going to get a little worse so I’m going to go to the putting green, go to the range because wasn’t hitting it the best today,” Korda said. “Just going to figure some things out ahead of the weekend.”
Baseball player Aaron Hicks topped the celebrity field.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 17: Donte Divincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball to the basket against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies in the third quarter at Target Center on December 17, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 116-110. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies Date: January 31st, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Location: FedEx Forum Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
If there was one major takeaway from the Wolves’ demolition of the defending champs on Thursday night, it’s this: Minneosta absolutely has the proverbial light switch. And not the “sometimes we lock in, sometimes we don’t” light switch that every NBA team claims to have in January. I mean the full-on, how are these even the same people? version—where you watch them torch Oklahoma City Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back, build a 20-point lead, and control the game basically start-to-finish… and then you think back to Sunday afternoon’s sleepwalking fiasco against Golden State Warriors and you feel like you’ve been watching two different franchises sharing the same jerseys.
And sure, you can try to explain it away. Emotions. Turmoil. The off-court noise that’s been swirling around Minneapolis. Fine. Maybe that’s part of it. But the deeper issue is that the “off” games didn’t start last week. They’re sprinkled all over this season like landmines: the abysmal effort against Chicago Bulls, the fourth-quarter collapse against the Utah Jazz, the late-December face plants against Brooklyn and Atlanta. Those were choices. Those were “we didn’t feel like it” nights. And that’s why the Wolves are sitting where they’re sitting: the No. 5 seed out West, a half-game behind Houston Rockets for the four spot, rather than hanging with Denver and San Antonio in that scrum for the 2 and 3 seeds.
So yes, it probably sounds like I’m being harsh and doom-and-gloom after the most impressive win of the season. But it’s only because the OKC game was a reminder of what this team is when it decides to be serious. When the defense is connected. When the ball moves. When the pace is controlled. When the Wolves stop treating possessions like optional. When they play like a team that has been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals and remembers what that feels like. Because when they play like that… they’re a nightmare.
And here’s the other reason that Thursday mattered: it reframed the fear. Early in the season, the biggest nightmare scenario was ending up on OKC’s side of the bracket and getting wiped off the map by the champs. But now? The Wolves have taken two of three from OKC. They’ve looked good doing it. And if they had hit free throws in that first matchup (yes, I’m dragging us back to that crime scene again) they might honestly be 3–0 against them. The Thunder weren’t at full strength Thursday, missing key guys, and we don’t get to pretend that doesn’t matter. But the larger point stands: Minnesota can absolutely take OKC to the wire and impose their will. Anthony Edwards is one of the few guys in the league who can hold serve with the offensive robot that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and when Minnesota is rolling, they can make the Thunder look small and uncomfortable in a way not many teams can.
Which brings us to the dangerous part.
Because after a win like that, after a statement game, after the crowd buzz, after the “we’re back” energy, here comes the ultimate letdown spot. The Wolves now get a weekend trip to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies without Ja Morant and Zach Edey, with a couple more rotation guys floating around as questionable game-time decisions. This is exactly the kind of game where Minnesota, especially this version of Minnesota, can start reading its own press clippings, take a few sloppy possessions early, and accidentally turn the night into a street fight. And the worst part? If they do that, Thursday’s masterpiece starts to feel like a wasted work of art. This is the “make it count” game. You don’t beat the champs and then hand it back by losing to a wounded opponent two days later. That’s how you end up in the play-in and spend April pretending it’s “not a big deal.”
So with that, here are the keys to the game.
#1: Don’t play down to the competition—because Memphis has already proven they’ll take your lunch money if you let them. This is where the Wolves have to stop treating urgency like a special occasion. Memphis, especially shorthanded Memphis, should not be allowed to hang around. And yet the Wolves have had this recurring habit this season: the moment the opponent looks “boring,” Minnesota starts acting like the game is a suggestion. They can’t do that here. The whole point of Thursday was rediscovering what “serious basketball” looks like: shrinking the floor, defending the perimeter with real resistance, rotating like you actually like your teammates, protecting the paint, and making the other team earn everything. If the Wolves come out flat and start giving Memphis easy drives, open threes, and second chances, then they’re basically telling everyone, the fans, the conference, themselves, that Thursday was a one-night rental.
#2: Dominate the paint like you’re supposed to—because this is a size matchup that should tilt hard in Minnesota’s favor. One of the underrated parts of the OKC win was how physical Minnesota played. They didn’t treat it like a track meet. They treated it like a “we’re bigger than you and we’re going to remind you” game. Now they get a Memphis team still without Edey, and the Wolves should smell blood. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid need to own the glass and own the restricted area. Gobert should be living on lobs and put-backs. Randle has to punish mismatches without turning into a black hole. Naz has to keep doing what he’s been doing in stretching the floor, forcing bigs to move, and making Memphis choose between protecting the rim and respecting the pop. This is a game where Minnesota can win with grown-man basketball if they actually commit to it.
#3: Do the little things that stop a “letdown game” from turning into a crisis—turnovers, free throws, and basic professionalism. This is the annoying part, because it’s the same lecture every time. But it’s the truth: Minnesota’s losses during this ugly stretch have been loaded with self-inflicted damage. Sloppy live-ball turnovers that turn into easy points. Missed free throws that turn into a tight fourth quarter you never should’ve had to play. Possessions where the Wolves just… stop making the simple play. If you want to be a top seed, you don’t live on the edge against undermanned teams because you can’t complete the fundamentals. You bank these games by taking care of the ball and converting the freebies. Not glamorous, not fun, but it’s how you stop the season from spiraling.
#4: Keep the shooting quality high—because the OKC flamethrower night only matters if you keep generating good looks when the percentages cool off. Nobody should expect the Wolves to shoot like they did against OKC every night, especially with the schedule tightening and the legs getting heavier. But the key isn’t “make every three.” The key is “take the right threes.” Thursday worked because the ball moved, the defense collapsed, and Minnesota got clean looks, shots that didn’t require a miracle or a heat-check ego trip. Against Memphis, the Wolves can’t fall back into the bad habit of hero-ball possessions that turn into contested jumpers with four guys watching. If the ball is hopping, Minnesota doesn’t need a perfect shooting night. They just need a steady diet of good shots and the discipline to live with the results.
#5: The Edwards-Randle tone-setting has to be consistent—because this team follows their mood like it’s a weather pattern. Ant was phenomenal against OKC. He set the tone early, he controlled the emotional temperature, and he made it clear the game was going to be a battle. Randle had a rougher outing, and that’s okay, everybody has those games. But now, against Memphis, he needs to get right in the exact way this Wolves team needs him: play physical, make quick decisions, facilitate when the doubles come, and punish when they don’t. And Ant has to keep doing the thing that separates contenders from pretenders: bring the same edge when the opponent isn’t glamorous. This team becomes whatever their two stars decide it’s going to be. If they’re locked in, everyone locks in. If they’re casual, the whole thing gets casual.
And that’s the real maturity test here.
Thursday night was the kind of win that can change a season’s emotional trajectory. It reminded everyone that Minnesota can absolutely beat the best team in the league when they’re connected. But the NBA doesn’t hand out trophies for “best single-game performance in late January.” The league rewards consistency. And the Wolves are about to hit the 50-game mark, which is usually when you stop being what you think you are and start being what you actually are.
They’ve proven they can flip the switch. That’s real.
Now comes the harder part: proving they can keep it on. Because when April and May arrive, there’s no “we didn’t feel like it tonight.” There’s no letdown spot. There’s no hiding. If Minnesota wants to make a real run, if they want to get back to that third straight Western Conference Finals, if they want do something this franchise has never done and get to the last round, then games like this Memphis one can’t be treated like chores.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks reaches out for the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) 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. | Getty Images
Tonight, New York (29*-18) hosts the Portland Trail Blazers (23–25) at Madison Square Garden in the teams’ second and final meeting of the season. The Knicks had their hands full when they tussled earlier this month, but if they apply the same defensive juice that’s fueled their four-game winning streak, this one should be far more manageable.
Tip off is 7:30 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Blazers Edge. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good. And go Knicks!
* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup Final doesn’t count.
"Right now I'd be a senior in college," Bailey told ESPN in a statement. "I'm not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that's their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?"
Per ESPN's report, the 6-foot-3 guard has already hired an agent and an attorney to represent him in his case, in which he is looking for the NCAA to give him the right to play one more season.
"It's not a stunt," Bailey continued. "I'm really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win."
The Chicago native joins a growing list of players to re-enter college basketball, though unlike the others, he has NBA regular-season experience. His request also comes at a time when the NCAA is currently in court fighting against the temporary restraining order that former Alabama and G-League forward Charles Bediako received from Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge James H. Roberts Jr. to return to play for the Crimson Tide.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley said that the NCAA "has and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract."
The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract. Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students. https://t.co/hrSqL7xr8b
"@NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an @NBA contract (including a two-way contract)," Baker wrote in a statement posted on social media. "... Rules have long permitted schools to enroll and play individuals with no prior collegiate experience midyear. While the NCAA has prevailed on the vast majority of eligibility-related lawsuits, recent outlier decisions enjoining the NCAA on a nationwide basis from enforcing rules that have been on the books for decades -- without even having a trial -- are wildly destabilizing. I will be working with DI leaders in the weeks ahead to protect college basketball from these misguided attempts to destroy this American institution."
Bailey was a one-and-done at UCLA, where he started 28 games during the 2022-2023 season. In 30 games for the Bruins, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc.
He declared for the NBA draft after the Bruins were upset 79-76 by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He was drafted by the Hornets with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, where he'd play in just 10 games that NBA season.
Bailey spent most of the 2023-24 NBA season with the Hornets' G-League affiliate, Greensboro Swarm, before spending the entire 2024-25 season with the Long Island Nets, the G-League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. He's on a G-League roster this season, according to his G-League profile.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 08: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will play their 50th game of the season with Friday night’s home matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State finished its recent four-game road trip on a high note after defeating the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, 140–124. After sitting out a game in Minnesota, several Warriors veterans — including Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton — returned in a big way. Curry led the team with 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while Moses Moody benefitted from the extra attention paid to Curry, knocking down 5-of-9 three-pointers on his way to a 26-point night. Moody has done his part to keep the Warriors afloat recently, making over 50 percent of his threes over his last five games.
The Warriors return to the Chase Center tonight, where they are 17–7 this season. However, they’ll be tested by a tough Pistons team that currently holds the best record in the Eastern Conference at 34–12.
Detroit gets the job done defensively, ranking second in the league in defensive rating (108.9). While the Pistons are more middle of the pack offensively (11th in offensive rating), they’re led by Eastern Conference All-Star starter Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is showing his superstar potential this season, nearly averaging a double-double with 25.3 points and 9.7 assists per game, along with 5.7 rebounds.
Although the Warriors lack elite point-of-attack defense to slow Cunningham down, they’ll look to make up for it on the weakside. Steve Kerr recently said he’s leaning toward keeping Horford in the starting lineup at center, which places another high-IQ help defender alongside Green to compensate for the loss of Jimmy Butler. Horford had a strong showing Wednesday against the Jazz — which included three blocks and one steal on defense — and will look to continue that upward trend against Detroit.
Steve Kerr said he is leaning toward keeping Al Horford as the starting center. Minutes limit is up to 24. Kerr likes him next to Draymond. He’s started last two games he’s been available. pic.twitter.com/J64N4StL5d
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Espanyol was stunned by visiting Alaves 2-1 to extend its run of winless games to five in La Liga on Friday.
Lucas Boyé finished from close range a counterattack to complete a comeback by the visitor.
Roberto Fernandez headed in the opening goal for Espanyol and Alaves captain Antonio Blanco equalized with a deflected left-foot shot from outside the area.
Espanyol was fifth but the loss was a blow for its European hopes with Real Betis and Celta Vigo trailing by two points.
Alaves was previously just a point outside the relegation zone and has jumped to 10th in the table.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 28, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ Saturday game against the Hornets will start earlier than originally scheduled, the league announced. Due to the weather conditions in Charlotte, the league has moved up the tip-off time from 2 p.m. CT to 11 a.m. CT.
The National Weather Service has placed a winter storm warning affecting Charlotte, with heavy snow expected on Saturday. The extreme weather conditions that have been affecting the East Coast have already resulted in rescheduled games, so this is not the most surprising news.
By moving the matchup to earlier in the day, the expectation is that the Spurs should have an easier time getting out of the city in time to return to San Antonio for the second game of a back-to-back against Orlando on Sunday, according to The San Antonio Express-News’ Jeff McDonald:
In all seriousness, there was/is understandable concern about the Spurs' ability to get out of Charlotte after Saturday's game.
The team is slated for a 3 p.m. tipoff Sunday against Orlando at the Frost Bank Center.
Early starts can often have unpredictable results, and the Hornets have been playing well lately, so it could be a tough game for the Silver and Black. Fortunately, they landed in Charlotte on Friday with enough time to have a workout and will be well rested since they last played on Wednesday against the Rockets.
The game will be televised by KENS 5 and Prime Video.
Jan 23, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Last Friday was a tough one for Jalen Green. After returning the game before against the Philadelphia 76ers, he suited up in Atlanta for the Suns’ final stop on that road trip. It lasted 4:14. Then came the exit. Hamstring tightness. Precautionary, we were told. The contrast was immediate. Back on the floor one night, back in street clothes the next. And we have not seen him since.
That appears ready to change tonight as the Suns take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jalen Green is not on the injury report for tonight's Suns game against the Cavaliers.
Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) remains out.
No Darius Garland (right toe sprain), Evan Mobley (lefet calf strain) or Max Strus (left foot surgery) for Cleveland.
That is real news. The good kind. For Green, and for the organization. We do not know the minutes. We do not know the workload. We do not know how much stress that hamstring will see. But suiting up a week later matters. It signals optimism. It signals confidence.
Because hamstrings carry ghosts. A tweak, a return, another tweak, weeks lost, then doubt creeping in. That cycle can linger. It can mess with rhythm and trust.
This does not feel like that. This feels measured. It feels controlled. And if he is available tonight, it suggests the Suns believe it is stable. Calm after concern. Availability after uncertainty. And for a team that needs continuity, seeing Jalen Green back on the floor is a step in the right direction.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
ROME (AP) — Danilo Cataldi converted from the spot 10 minutes into stoppage time to lift Lazio 3-2 over Genoa in Serie A on Friday.
Lazio was cruising after taking a 2-0 lead early in the second half. Pedro converted a penalty for the opener and Kenneth Taylor doubled the advantage.
Although Lazio is one of three teams in Serie A with the most clean sheets — 11 — Genoa was unbeaten in its previous five games and came back to tie the score. Ruslan Malinovskyi scored from the spot and Vitinha leveled 15 minutes before the end.
Lazio moved up one place in the standings to eighth.
Genoa, despite having one of the worst defenses in Serie A, was 13th and tied on points with Cremonese, Parma and Torino.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Cotie McMahon scored 27 points, Christeen Iwuala had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 17 Mississippi beat No. 5 Vanderbilt 83-75 on Friday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The game was originally scheduled for Thursday night on the Ole Miss campus before moving due to icy conditions outside.
Ole Miss built a 44-25 lead at halftime behind 25 combined points from McMahon and Iwuala. Vanderbilt scored just 10 points in the second quarter on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor. The Commodores had 12 turnovers and just 10 field goals in the first half.
Vanderbilt rallied in the third quarter after making 11 of 17 shots and turning it over just twice. Mikayla Blakes scored 11 points in the third to get the Commodores within 60-51.
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda converted a three-point play with 5:56 left in the fourth to give Vanderbilt its first lead, 67-64, since it was 11-9. But Ole Miss responded by scoring the next seven points to begin an 11-3 run for a 75-70 lead with 1:57 left.
McMahon and Debreasha Powe combined to make four straight free throws in the final minute to secure Mississippi's sixth straight victory in the series.
Latasha Lattimore added 12 points and Kaitlin Peterson had 11 off the bench for Ole Miss (18-4, 5-2 Southeastern Conference).
Blakes led Vanderbilt (20-2, 6-2) with 29 points. Aubrey Galvan added 18 and Mwenentanda finished with 11. The Commodores were off to their best start through 21 games since the 1992-93 Final Four team.
Up next
Vanderbilt: Scheduled to host Florida on Sunday.
Ole Miss: Remains in Birmingham to play Auburn on Monday.
LENS, France (AP) — Lens bounced back from a defeat to Marseille by beating Le Havre 1-0 and retaking the lead of Ligue 1 on Friday.
Ruben Aguilar volleyed the winner in first-half stoppage time. Adrien Thomasson had a goal disallowed in the second half after a video review due to a foul.
Paris Saint-Germain can return to the top at Strasbourg on Sunday.
Le Havre was unbeaten in its previous three games and remained 15th in the table.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings shoots a three-point shot over Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics in the first half at Golden 1 Center on January 01, 2026 in Sacramento, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sacramento Kings (12-37) at Boston Celtics (29-18) Friday, January 30, 2026 7:30 PM ET Regular Season Game #48, Home Game #23 TV: NBCSB, NBCSCA, NBA League Pass Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 1140 AM Sactown Sports, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics continue their home stand after a win over the Trail Blazers on Monday and a loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. This is the 2nd, and final, game between these two teams this season. The Celtics won 120-106 in Sacramento on January 1. hey split the series 1-1 last season with each team winning on the road. The Celtics are 194-120 overall all time against the Kings and 104-34 in games played in Boston.
The Kings have made a few moves since last season. They traded Jonas Valanciunas to Denver for Dario Saric in what is likely a salary move. They lost Jake LaRavia as a free agent to the Lakers. They signed Drew Eubanks, Dennis Schroder, Precious Achiuwa, and Russell Westbrook as free agents. They drafted Nique Clifford with the 24th pick in the 2025 draft that they acquired from OKC for a 2027 protected first round pick. They also drafted Maxime Raynaud with the 42nd pick.
The Celtics have slipped back to 3rd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are tied with 2nd place New York, 1 game ahead of 4th place Toronto and 5th place Cleveland, 3 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 4 games ahead of 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 8-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 14-8 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Kings are 14th in the West, 26 games behind 1st place Oklahoma City, 11.5 games behind 10th place Los Angeles Clippers, and 7.5 games behind 12th place Dallas. They are tied with 15th place New Orleans. They are 4-12 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 3-21 on the road and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 7 games.
This game is the 3rd game of a 4 game home stand where they won over Portland on Monday and lost to the Hawks on Wednesday. They will face Milwaukee on Sunday to close out the home stand. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break. After the break, they will head out on a 4 game Western road trip through Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver.
This is the 5th game of a 6 game road trip for the Kings. They lost to Cleveland, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia in the first 4 and will complete the trip at Washington. They return home to host Memphis, LA Clippers, and Cleveland before heading on the road to play at New Orleans and at Utah before the All Star break.
For the Celtics, Neemias Queta missed Wednesdays game with an illness. He has been upgraded to available for this game. Jaylen Brown is listed as out due to a right knee contusion and left hamstring tightness. Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues to rehab his torn Achilles.
For the Kings, Zach LaVine missed the last 2 games as he was dealing with back issues but came off the bench against the 76ers on Thursday. I’m guessing that he returns to the starting lineup for this game. If he once again comes off the bench, Nique Clifford will likely start once again in his place.
Russell Westbrook missed Thursday’s game with a foot injury and is out for this game. I’m guessing that Dennis Schroder will likely start in his place. Malik Monk missed Thursday’s game and is off the injury list for this game at this time. Keegan Murray is out with an ankle injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Dennis Schroder
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesDennis Schroder | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Hugo Gonzalez Xavier Tillman Josh Minott Jordan Walsh Luka Garza Chris Boucher 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Jaylen Brown (knee/hamstring) out Neemias Queta (illness) available
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Kings Reserves Devin Carter Nique Clifford Keon Ellis Drew Eubanks Doug McDermott Malik Monk Dario Saric
2-Way Players Dylan Cardwell Daeqwon Plowden Isaiah Stevens Injuries/Out Domantas Sabonis (knee) Keegan Murray (ankle) out Russell Westbrook (foot) out
Head Coach Doug Christie
Key Matchups Payton Pritchard vs Zach LaVine LaVine is averaging 19.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He is shooting 48.6% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc. He missed the first game against the Celtics and came off the bench for the Kings on Thursday after missing the previous 2 games. I’m guessing that he will return to the starting lineup for this game. If he doesn’t, Nique Clifford will likely get the start.
Baylor Scheierman vs DeMar DeRozan DeRozan is averaging 19.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 33.7% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he has averaged 21.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 56.3% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. DeRozan especially needs to be defended for mid-range shots where he excels.
Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Dennis Schroder Schroder is averaging 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. He is shooting 41.6% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. With Westbrook out, I’m guessing that Schroder gets the start and he is likely to give a little extra effort to beat his former team.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning every game. The Kings have a defensive rating of 119.5 (28th). The Celtics defensive rating is 113.7, 12th in the league. The Celtics need to defend the paint as the Kings average 48.5 points in the paint per game. The Kings average 30.1 three pointers attempted per game, which is 30th in the league and they are last with 10.5 3 pointers made per game. The Celtics need to play tough lock down defense both inside and out.
Rebound – The Celtics have to put out extra effort to grab the rebounds on both ends of the court. By doing so, they limit the second chance points and fast breaks for the Kings and also give themselves extra possessions. The Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per game to 40.9 rebounds per game for the Kings. The Celtics have to beat the Kings to rebounds and not allow them to get second chance points and extra possessions.
Don’t Underestimate – Once again, the Celtics are facing a team that is under .500. It would be easy for the Celtics to underestimate the Kings and expect an easy win against a 12 win team. That would be a mistake because this Kings team has beaten Denver, Minnesota, Miami and Houston so they aren’t an easy team to beat if you don’t bring the effort. The Celtics have to come out strong from the start and play hard right up until the final buzzer. The Kings are very capable of beating them if they don’t play their best.
To 3 or Not to 3 – The Celtics are 2nd in the league, attempting 42.3 threes a game. When they fall, the Celtics are tough to beat. But, when they aren’t falling, the Celtics struggle. Against the Hawks, the Celtics shot just 26.5% on threes. If the Celtics aren’t hitting their 3s, they have to go to Plan B and take the ball to the basket or shoot from midrange. If the 3s are falling, great!! If not, go to Plan B. Most of all, they need to focus on taking good shots and making them.
X-Factors Home Court Advantage – The Celtics are at home and need to use that to their advantage. They are playing in front of their own fans and on their own familiar court while the Kings are playing on the road and have travel and a hostile crowd and road fatigue to distract them. The Celtics need to bounce back from their loss at home against the Hawks and start a home win streak with a win here.
Officiating – Officiating can always be an x-factor. Every crew will call the game differently. Some will call every little thing and the game will have no flow. Others will let a lot go and let them play. Some crews favor the home team while others call it evenly or have a personal agenda. The Celtics need to adjust to how the game is called and not let the officials take away their focus.
