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.
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 23: The sneakers worn by Chris Boucher #25 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks talks to= Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers after the game on April 3, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Milwaukee Bucks are actively listening to trade offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with the NBA trade deadline less than a week away.
League sources say Philadelphia, furthermore, has not contacted Milwaukee about a possible Antetokounmpo deal in the wake of a better-than-expected first half, but The Stein Line has learned that the prospect of teaming up with Tyrese Maxey — who, like Giannis, works with prominent NBA trainer Drew Hanlen — does have the 76ers on Antetokounmpo’s radar.
That’s a hell of a nugget.
The idea of Maxey and Giannis playing together is tantalizing, but it might not be realistic without the Greek Freak demanding to come to Philly. Let’s break it down a bit.
No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe will be the absolute first player the Bucks bring up — as well they should. It’s not that Edgecombe is untouchable, but you have to look at the whole picture here.
Antetokounmpo, who is still one of the best players on earth, is 31 and now dealing with his second calf injury of the season. If Edgecombe is the centerpiece of that trade, you’d also have to include Paul George for salary matching purposes.
So, you’re trading away two starters for a team that already lacks depth, while also hoping for the health and fit of Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid to be pristine. There’s an argument to be made it’s worth the gamble. The other argument is it’s a little reckless, especially for the Sixers.
PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck already threw a bit of cold water on the idea of the Sixers moving Edgecombe for Giannis — or anybody.
Spoke to a league source this morning who completely shot down the idea that the Sixers would trade VJ Edgecombe in any move, including in speculative deals people are talking about for Giannis.
Should go without saying, but he’s part of the foundation in Philly
Going into this season, you weren’t even counting on Embiid and George to be healthy. It was all about the growth of Maxey and the team’s young core. Given Embiid’s injury history, it always made more sense to see how the young guys could do while anything Embiid and George gave you was gravy. There’s been more than expected, but it’s still gravy.
And as we saw with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers last season, depth matters. Both those teams were able to reach the Finals throwing waves of athletic players at their opponents. With the struggles of Quentin Grimes and Jared McCain — who hopefully is turning a corner — no real wing options off the bench and an unproven backup center in Adem Bona, how can the Sixers contend with such unreliable depth?
Could a Giannis-for-Embiid (plus other assets) swap work? It’s hard to see how. If Milwaukee takes back Embiid, there’s so much risk involved. If Embiid can’t stay healthy enough to keep the Bucks relevant, that’s a lot of money for a lot of years to eat. For as good as Embiid has looked recently, it’s hard to imagine a team wanting to take on that extension, which doesn’t even kick in until next season.
The other path is something like George, McCain and all the picks they can muster. It’s a not terrible return, especially when you consider the LA Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-rounder and 2029 pick swap, but would it be the best offer out there? The fact that this feels like a no-brainer for the Sixers makes it hard to believe it would be something Milwaukee accepts … unless Giannis forces them to.
For what it’s worth, Fischer added this:
“They’re asking for the moon,” one general manager told me on Thursday morning. “All of your young players and all of your draft picks.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the initial report, listed the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors as “serious suitors.” Fischer and Marc Stein narrowed that down to Miami and Minnesota. The Timberwolves have a couple valuable players on their roster in Jaden McDaniels, Joan Beringer, Terrance Shannon, Jr. and Rob Dillingham.
There’s also the very real possibility that Milwaukee simply holds off and reconvenes with teams after the season, where the return could possibly be greater. But Pandora appear to already be out of the box.
So, the question becomes, how badly does Antetokounmpo want to be a Sixer? We’ll see.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 31: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket around Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Rocket Arena on December 31, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Suns 129-113. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (29-19) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-20)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center – Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Suns look to keep the win streak going at home and secure back-to-back wins for the fans against another formidable Eastern Conference opponent. This time, it is Jordan Ott’s former club, the Cavaliers, coming to town, and they got the best of them earlier this year, 129-113.
In this game, the Suns struggled against the physicality and interior presence of the double big lineup their opponents were using. I’d expect to see some version of that used for the Suns in this match-up. Knowing how innovative Ott has been with his coaching and schematics this season, some changes will come for him to seek his redemption.
The Cavaliers themselves are on a five-game win streak and clicking at the right time. This will not be an easy game for the Suns, especially as Devin Booker remains out for this contest. Hopefully, with Jalen Green getting some rest on the front end of the back-to-back, we can see him back in action to take some off the offensive workload.
Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
Devin Booker — OUT (Ankle)
Jalen Green — QUESTIONABLE (Hamstring)
Cavaliers
Evan Mobley — OUT (Calf)
Darius Garland — OUT (Toe)
Max Strus — OUT (Foot)
What to Watch For
One thing to watch is how the Suns will stop Donovan Mitchell. Even if he is not an All-Star starter, he is having a fantastic year for the Cavs and is a significant reason they are not falling completely this season. Having key defenders like Jordan Goodwin and Dillon Brooks to throw on him late in the game will be crucial.
If the Suns can limit his ability to carry this offensive workload, they should have an easier time. Even if Evan Mobley is out, the Suns do need to win the paint battle and control the rebound game.
For the Cavs, it’s about seeing how well Jaylon Tyson performs in this matchup. He has been an underrated sophomore player who has found a significant role in this system. If he were to find his rhythm, it could cause some problems for this sun’s team, so trying to make sure he does not have a wonder story would be great.
Keys to a Suns Victory
One thing is for sure: They need to keep this streak of making threes from last night into tonight. After having some struggles early on this week, this is something that needs to shine through to match the Cavs’ scoring. Adding Collin Gillespie back made it easier for Grayson Allen to get going. With the possibility of adding Green and Jamaree Bouyea into this mix, the shot creation has to be efficient. Dillon Brooks cannot go off for 40 points every night (well, maybe he could lol).
Another key will be out-rebounding this Cavs team and making sure they can keep pressure on the glass. With no Mobley, a fun match between Allen and Williams could take place, and I’d very much enjoy that. We all know that if Williams gets his touches, he can get it going for this squad, and we saw that already this week vs. the Nets. Another screening of a Mark Williams special feature would definitely cap off a great week without Devin Booker.
Let’s hope for no egregious foul calls tonight!
Prediction Time
With no restrictions on Mark Williams in these back-to-backs anymore, the Suns continue to fuel the fire and get a big win for their coach against his former team.
Jokic has been out since Dec. 29, when he hyper-extended his right knee and suffered a bone bruise. The Nuggets went an impressive 10-5 in his absence, with Jamal Murray carrying the team (and looking like he should make his first All-Star team as a reserve, announced on Sunday).
Missing 15 games means Jokic can miss one more this season and still be eligible for postseason awards. Jokic was an MVP frontrunner when he was injured, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. His chance at a fourth MVP award is a long shot if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays 10 or more games than him, but Jokic certainly would still make an All-NBA team and be in consideration for other awards.
Getting Jokic back on the court is a big plus, but this is a Nuggets team still ravaged by injuries. The Nuggets are without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring strain, out 4-6 weeks), Christian Braun (ankle) and Cameron Johnson (knee). Murray is day-to-day with a hamstring issue himself.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 9: Austin Reaves #15 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 9, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have struggled without Austin Reaves. They’ve gone 9-8 during his time away due to his calf strain, unable to stack wins against the NBA’s top teams.
Considering that Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, his productivity should help bolster the Lakers’ offense and lighten the load for Luka Dončić, who is leading the NBA in scoring.
“He gives us three decision-makers on the court that have great talent,” Luka said. “We can’t wait to have him back. He’s been working out. I saw him. I think he wants to be back, too. We’re excited for him to be back.”
Reaves has yet to return, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he was “progressing well.”
He mentioned that Reaves could play during LA’s current road trip, and he’s been upgraded to questionable for their upcoming game in Washington.
As Luka has stated, Reaves’ return would provide LA with another playmaker and ballhandler. It would also mean the team could get more minutes with their best trio featuring Reaves, Luka and LeBron James. Currently, these three players have played together for just eight games this season, spanning 140 minutes.
It’s not just Luka who is looking forward to Reaves returning, Rui Hachimura is equally as ecstatic.
“I’m excited that he’s coming back,” Hachimura said after LA played Chicago. “For us, the whole team is going to be healthy, right? Of course, it’s going to be a different rotation again, a different rhythm again but I think we’re going to be ok. Especially with how we’re playing right now, it’ll be perfect for him to come back.”
Hachimura is right that once Reaves returns, Redick will have his full rotation available. It’s been amazing that the Lakers have been able to survive without Reaves, but they need him to maximize their chances of going on a deep playoff run.
The good news is his return is imminent. And once he’s back, he can continue his career year and be prepared for the final stretch of the season.
Jokic must meet the NBA's 65-game threshold to be eligible to win MVP and missed his 16th game of the season when the Nuggets beat the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 29. He can only miss one more game the rest of the regular season and still be eligible for the league's end-of-season awards.
Here's the latest injury update on Jokic ahead of the Nuggets' game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30:
Jokic is officially listed as questionable on the Nuggets' latest NBA injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Clippers. But ESPN reported Jokic is planning to return to action when Denver hosts the Clippers.
Nikola Jokic injury update
Jokic suffered a hyperextended knee that the team later diagnosed as a bone bruise in a Dec. 29 loss to the Miami Heat. The initial diagnosis called for the team to re-evaluate him in a month.
Jokic has been seen ramping up his on-court activity during recent pre-game warmups, appearing on the floor for light dribbling and shooting. He has worn a black pad over the injured knee during these sessions. Nuggets coach David Adelman said during a recent interview on Altitude Sports Radio that the team hoped he would be back before the NBA All-Star break begins on Feb. 14.
That timeline looks to have sped up and Jokic's return is suddenly imminent.
Nikola Jokic stats
Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists over 32 games during the 2025-26 NBA regular season. He's also shooting a career-best 43.5% from 3-point range.
