Category: NBA

Friday night in the NBA is made for big boards and even bigger payouts. I'm building a three-leg moneyline parlay for January 16, targeting a trio of squads with the momentum to carry your slip to the finish line.

First, I'm backing Joel Embiid and the Sixers to avenge their recent stumble against the Cavs. Then, I'm riding the Clippers’ four-game win streak as they head North to tame the Raptors. Finally, I'm banking on the Timberwolves to outmuscle the suddenly reeling Rockets.

This parlay has been BOOSTED by our friends at bet365. Let's get the party started with my NBA picks!

NBA moneyline parlay for January 16

76ers moneyline

Clippers moneyline

Timberwolves moneyline

+775 at bet365

Cleveland Cavaliers vs  Philadelphia 76ers

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena
• TV: ESPN, FDSN, NBCSP
• Pick: 76ers (-125)

The market has shrunk this edge as the 76ers were -125 on the opener but there's still one there as I believe the 76ers should be trading closer to a -155 favorite on the moneyline against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The Cavaliers demolished the 76ers on Wednesday but the rematch will look a lot different as Darius Garland has been ruled out for this one. This is a huge bailout for the 76ers defense, which isn't filled with multiple point of attack defenders to slow down two high usage guards that can create a ton of offense in Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

Now the 76ers defense can solely focus on Mitchell, matching the offense of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid on the other side becomes a lot more difficult for the Cavaliers.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Toronto Raptors

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Scotiabank Arena
• TV: NBA League Pass, FDSN, Sportsnet
• Pick: Clippers (-125)

The Los Angeles Clippers are trading as a -125 favorite on the moneyline against the Toronto Raptors on Friday and I'm hitting the button on that number as I believe they should be trading closer to a -150.

The Raptors defense is very vulnerable to high usage pick-and-roll ball handlers which is a massive problem when you're facing James Harden and Ivica Zubac, or when Brook Lopez is setting screens.

The Raptors have the better record and appear as the better team in this matchup on the surface, but don't get it confused. There's a reason the Clippers are favored on the road. The Clippers are much better than their record and are fourth in net rating in the NBA over their last 10 games.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs  Houston Rockets

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Toyota Center
• TV: ESPN, SCHN, TSN
• Pick: Timberwolves (+145)

No Anthony Edwards? No problem. At +145 give me the Minnesota Timberwolves on the moneyline. I think the Wolves should be trading closer to a +115 underdog than a +145.

Everything in the Houston Rockets offense flows through Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun and the Wolves have the perfect defensive matchups for these two players in Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

It's the second night of a back-to-back for the Rockets after getting beat up by the Thunder, and let's face it, Houston is reeling a bit at the moment. Plus, do you really think Julius Randle will have any problem picking up the extra usage that's available with Ant out?

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

Coming off a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs returned home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. Devin Vassell remains out with his adductor injury. The contest started with a gigantic scare of Victor Wembanyama banging knees with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Vic would clutch his knee on the ground and hobble to the locker room. However, he would return in the second quarter. After leading by as much as 17 in the second quarter, the Spurs led the Bucks 66-53 at halftime. Usually, this is when the Spurs would allow their opponent to close the gap and make it a down-to-the-wire game. Except this time, the Spurs took care of business. Thanks to their hot shooting, they outscored the Bucks 40-16 in the third quarter and led by as much as 39. The Spurs ultimately won 119-101.

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 22 points (7-12 FG, 5-6 3PT) and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks and an assist. After the OKC game, Wemby and Keldon Johnson decided to shave each other’s heads as a means of togetherness and ultimate focus. After surviving another injury scare, Wemby played decoy for most of the second quarter before going off in the third. He splashed five threes and dropped highlight plays on both ends. This was the first game of Bald Wemby, and he played like a seven-foot-five avatar.

Just throw it up there! Harrison Barnes finds Wemby on the lob, and Wemby finishes the play with a reverse tap layup!

Signature Wemby play! Wemby turbo blocks Ryan Rollins off the backboard and finishes with a transition three on the other end!

ALIEN-LIKE ACTIVITY! Wemby catches the ball on AJ Green and simply drains the turnaround three-ball!

Stephon Castle dropped a double-double: 19 points (6-9 FG, 6-6 FT) and 10 assists to go along with a board and 0 turnovers. Steph played a fantastic game as the Spurs’ primary playmaker. For someone who is averaging 3.7 turnovers a game, Steph took care of the ball by recording his first zero-turnover game of the season. He also finished with a team-high +36. Coming into the season as a combo guard, Steph is averaging three more assists than last season. His versatility and frame allow him to continue to be a combo guard, but it is clear the coaching staff is having him handle the ball more than De’Aaron Fox.

ST3PH! D-Fox drives in, draws multiple defenders, and dumps it off for a wide-open Steph splash!

CLEAR THE WAY! Steph uses his strength to drive into the paint and dunks it home with two hands!

Had him frozen! Steph puts the moves on Giannis and skips past him for the lay!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 18 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 3PT), four assists, and four rebounds. D-Fox had a solid bounce-back game in terms of efficiency. His three-ball laced the nylon, and he seems to be embracing more of an off-ball guard role next to Steph. Even though he did not play the fourth quarter due to the score, the former Clutch Player of the Year will still have the confidence to run the offense in the clutch.

Stepback sniper! D-Fox toys with Myles Turner by creating space for the stepback trey!

Alley-oop! Speaking of pick and rolls, D-Fox finds Luke Kornet on the lob for the slam! Luke finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and a dime on a perfect five of five from the field!

Dylan Harper dropped 13 points, five assists, and four rebounds. The rookie continues to bounce back after a rough stretch. The shiftiness of Dyl was lightning quick for the Bucks to handle. Not only is he shifty, but his vertical is scary. Even though he went zero of five from three, all the threes he attempted were open shots. Once that shot becomes more consistent, he has the potential to be unguardable. However, the 19-year-old has plenty of time and will let the game come to him.

SHIFTY! Speaking of shifty, Dyl puts the behind-the-back on move on Gary Trent Jr. in transition and finishes off the glass!

GET UP! Wemby finds an open Dyl near the basket, and he catches and slams home the lob pass!

Julian Champagnie dropped a double-double: 13 points (3-5 3PT, 4-4 FT) and 11 rebounds to go along with a steal. Julian dropped multiple threes and got to the free-throw line by drawing fouls on his three-point attempts. He even drew a flagrant foul on Green. Despite the scoring, Julian continues to sneakily grab defensive rebounds when players fall asleep on the boards. His hustle and defense remain the most underrated part of his game.

All in all, this was a much-needed bounce-back win. As soon as Wemby returned from injury, this team’s confidence stayed high and never got low. No better way to reignite the shooting slump than by making the Bucks pay for defensive mistakes. The way the silver and black played in the third quarter is a great tone-setter of how they need to approach the rest of the season. Take care of huge leads. This team’s chemistry continues to shine through the ups and downs, no matter who shaves their head. Next up, revenge against Minnesota.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs continue their homestand with a revenge matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves this Saturday at 7:00 P.M. (CST) on FDSN-SW.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without their best player tonight, but they still have a chance to push the Houston Rockets toward the Play-In Tournament.

That would mark a steep fall for a team that entered the season with legitimate title aspirations following the arrival of Kevin Durant.

My Timberwolves vs. Rockets predictions recognize the immediate Minnesota value in Anthony Edwards’ absence.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, January 16. 

Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET at Toyota Center in Houston, with the game airing on ESPN.

Timberwolves vs Rockets prediction

Timberwolves vs Rockets best bet: Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points (-105)

Jaden McDaniels scored 14 points in Tuesday’s first quarter at Milwaukee, which is the reason he cashed this same prop by only half a point, adding a second-quarter 3-pointer. The Minnesota Timberwolves were so walloping the Bucks that McDaniels eased up.

He has now cleared this prop in six of eight games without Anthony Edwards in the lineup this season, averaging 19.9 points in those eight games, up from 13.5 points in 31 games alongside the Minnesota superstar.

McDaniels takes 10.1 shots per game with Edwards in the lineup, jumping to 13.75 without the MVP candidate. Maybe even more notable, McDaniels’s field-goal percentage rises to 55.5% in that increased usage, up from 51.0%. 

The 25-year-old is a more complete player than given credit for, and that often shows up when the Timberwolves’ best offensive player is on the bench.

Timberwolves vs Rockets same-game parlay

Doubt Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard in all defensive matchups. He logged 19 minutes last night and finished a team-worst minus-10.

Yes, it was a 20-point loss to Oklahoma City, but some of that stemmed from Sheppard’s defensive issues. Minnesota point guard Donte DiVincenzo shouldn’t need much space to score in this matchup.

The McDaniels–DiVincenzo pairing has been a key reason the Timberwolves are 5-1 ATS in their last six games without Anthony Edwards, compared to just 13-17 ATS with Edwards since Nov. 1.

As brilliant as Edwards is, Minnesota often plays with sharper focus in his absence.

Timberwolves vs Rockets SGP

• Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
• Donte DiVincenzo Over 14.5 points
• Timberwolves +4.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Gobert or Go Home

Prior to Rudy Gobert’s one-game suspension on Tuesday, he had cleared this prop in six straight games. Minnesota's center may be playing the best basketball of his career.

Timberwolves vs Rockets SGP

• Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
• Donte DiVincenzo Over 14.5 points
• Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds
• Timberwolves moneyline

Timberwolves vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Timberwolves +4.5 (-110) | Rockets -4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves +150 | Rockets -180
• Over/Under: Over 222 (-110) | Under 222 (-110)

Timberwolves vs Rockets betting trend to know

Houston has lost seven straight games against the spread, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 13.1 points. That includes four outright losses as a favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Rockets.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Rockets

Timberwolves vs Rockets latest injuries

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

Winning isn’t the assignment in Brooklyn right now. Growth is.

This Nets team is unlikely to be competitive today, tomorrow, or anytime soon. Unless patience becomes a box-score category.

The process may be frustrating, but Jordi Fernández appears to be the ideal coach for the long, unglamorous road ahead.

The second-year coach is built for the slow burn, handling the delicate mindset of his young players with a mix of patience, constructive criticism, and encouragement.

Tough Love Pays Off

Fernández has had no problem identifying where his young players fall short, both privately and in public. Each rookie has taken a turn under the spotlight, with Fernández addressing his concerns to the media when necessary.

His messages are blunt and direct, and they often come with immediate results.

After rookie Drake Powell played just over two minutes during a 119–111 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on December 12, Fernández didn’t sugarcoat his decision to sideline the rookie. When asked about the 20-year-old’s limited playing time, he made it clear that Powell’s performance leading up to that moment didn’t meet his standard.

“These young guys need to understand how important every minute you play is,” Fernández said. “If the intentions are there, I’m completely fine. But if the mistakes are from easing into the game, that’s not how we do it here.”

Powell responded the next game by scoring 13 points while adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal during Brooklyn’s 127–82 blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s continued to show steady improvement on both ends of the floor over the past month, highlighted by a career-high 16 points in Wednesday’s 116–113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, even knocking down a clutch three to cut the deficit with five seconds left…

Powell said he welcomed the honesty and understood where Fernández was coming from.

“I respect him for that,” Powell said of Fernández. “It just shows that he cares, not only about me as a basketball player, but as a human being.”

Following the Dallas game, he delivered a similar, but shorter, message to fellow rookie Egor Demin, who shot just 14 percent from the field while forcing several contested attempts.

“He’s gotta be better, otherwise the minutes are gonna go down, and somebody else will take advantage of them,” Fernández said.

Demin responded with a statement game of his own, leading Brooklyn with 17 points against Milwaukee and carrying that momentum throughout the month. At this point in the season, he ranks second among all rookies in three-pointers made with 79 on 39.1% shooting and is on pace to break Kerry Kittles’ franchise rookie record of 158 made threes. Moreover, in the month of January, he’s shot better and made more threes than Kon Knueppel in one fewer games.

Fernández’s criticism is direct, but it’s also balanced. Just as quickly as he challenges his young players, he’s willing to praise them when they deserve it. Less than a week after calling out the two rookies, he highlighted the way they bounced back.

“I think they both did a great job. We knew that that was in them,” Fernández said. “Our guys care and we know how much they care, especially these two kids. They came back and they did what was best for the group and their performance was up to our standards.”

For inexperienced players who are still acclimating and adjusting, sometimes they simply need to be reminded of what they are capable of.

A Different View of the G League

In many organizations, being sent to the G League can feel like a punishment.

For Jordi Fernández, who spent several seasons as the head coach of the Canton Charge, the league is viewed as a developmental tool that allows players to log meaningful live reps as they adjust to the pace and physicality of professional basketball.

“We have a system in place. It’s important for players to see what the path is to get better,” Fernández said. “I’ve been in the G League as a head coach. All of our players but one have played in the G League. It’s something that we embrace and believe in.”

All but one Nets rookie — Demin — has spent time with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, as Fernández maintains a consistent line of communication with the developmental staff out in Uniondale.

Fresh off Danny Wolf’s 25-point, 13-rebound performance against the Capital City Go-Go on Nov. 10, the rookie forward pointed to the continuity between both staffs.

“We’re one big group. My position coach here and my position coach back in Brooklyn are in communication,” Wolf said. “They talk about the same things, watch the same film and help me. They do a great job sharing ideas with each other.”

By the end of the month, the Michigan product was ready for consistent NBA action, scoring a career-high 22 points while adding four assists and four rebounds in a 116–99 loss to Milwaukee.

Within the span of three months, fellow rookie first-round pick Nolan Traore went from struggling in the G League and looking unplayable at the NBA level to earning a call-up and averaging 21.6 minutes per game for Brooklyn this month.

“He took full advantage of the opportunities he had with Long Island,” said Fernández. “And when he came back here, he did so with a different spirit and a lot more confidence.”

Just this week, Long Island’s Grant Nelson who played for Brooklyn in the Summer League and training camp, credited the Brooklyn and Long Island performance teams with helping him get beyond knee soreness than has troubled him since his freshman year in college five years ago.

“I think it really shows how good the performance staff is here and what they’ve done to get me back on the court and be ready for when I get back on the court,” Nelson told ND’s Scott Mitchell. “The performance staff did a great job, and everyone really cares about me, which really meant a lot.”

Letting The Work Show

While the process doesn’t need to be rushed, each of the team’s young investments appears to be trending upward, despite the scrutiny and confusion that followed the team’s draft decisions.

What was once questioned as drafting three players at the “same position” has proven to be far from it. While the media guide may list Demin, Traore and Ben Saraf as point guards, Fernández has found a way to emphasize their unique skill sets to the team’s benefit.

Meanwhile, Powell’s strengths are being maximized to make him look like a value pick after serving a limited role in college, while Wolf has surprised many by translating his unique combination of size and coordination to the NBA after earning Fernández’s trust.

So far, so good. The Nets were heavily criticized on Draft Night for using five first round picks, the first time any team had done that. One issue was developing that many firsts all at once. It will be a while before final grades are handed in but at the moment, the professor and his students seem to be doing fine.

Games on the road against quality competition are never easy, and the margins can get razor-thin in a hurry. The Phoenix Suns are coming off two losses where they easily could have walked away with wins in both. When that starts happening, the ‘disease of what if’ begins to creep in.

In this case, that conversation circles around Dillon Brooks.

Everything Brooks has brought to Phoenix, the attitude, the toughness, the edge, has reshaped this team. His brand of basketball, and the way he pulls teammates into that same mindset, is stamped all over the Suns you see now. I would not trade that for anyone. This team needed a cultural overhaul, and Brooks delivered it.

With that said, the next hurdle for him is self-awareness. If that part sharpens even a little, the Suns probably add a few more marks in the win column.

Look at last night. With Devin Booker and Jalen Green out, a combined $86.4 million in payroll, it was clear someone had to carry the load. That someone was Grayson Allen. He finished with 33 points on 11-of-25 shooting and set the tone offensively from the opening tip. Doing that on the road, against the top team in the Eastern Conference, a group with the second-best defensive rating in the NBA, is no small ask. What stood out most, though, was how the Suns stayed true to who they are. They competed. They absorbed the contact. They gutted it out. That says plenty about the culture they are building.

They had plenty of hurdles to clear. Jalen Duren living in the paint. A physical team more than willing to push back. But one of the biggest hurdles ended up being Dillon Brooks himself.

The inefficiency was brutal. He finished 4-of-16 from the field for 16 points and fouled out with 6 personals. On paper, that looks like a familiar Dillon Brooks night, especially when the stars are sidelined. He is always willing to take the shots, and I am not going to crush him for that instinct. But there are nights when you can feel it early. When you know you do not have it. Last night was one of those nights for Brooks.

I would have much rather seen more deference to Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin than what we got offensively from Brooks. Gillespie took 10 shots and turned them into 18 points. Goodwin took 8 shots and finished with 7 points. Both were giving the team something cleaner within the flow.

The same theme showed up against Miami. The over-aggressiveness. The emotions creeping over the line. The flow of the game getting junked up late when the Suns were still in it. Every team needs an enforcer, and Phoenix needed one that night. But self-awareness has to step in at some point. No need to exaggerate follow-throughs. That is how Brooks picked up a technical that was later rescinded. That is how he ended up with a flagrant 1 after a missed three that would have tied the game in the final minute. Those moments matter. The Heat capitalized, the lead ballooned, and the Suns never recovered.

Over the last two games, Brooks is shooting 3-of-16 from deep. That comes out to a cool 18.8%. No one is asking him to be something he is not. This is about self-awareness. About understanding what helps the team most in that moment.

The best thing he can give this group is opportunity. Opportunity comes from recognizing when the shot is not there, staying engaged on the floor, and resisting fouls that add nothing and disrupt the rhythm. The Suns are a team built on flow. When that flow gets interrupted, everything tightens.

Brooks can bring the antics. He can bring the edge. Those things have value, especially when Devin Booker and Jalen Green are out there to steady the offense. That is part of his role. When those two are missing, and he is asked to be a stabilizing force, the role changes. The edge still matters. Going over it does not.

So far on this trip, he has crossed that line. Two games. Eleven fouls. Two flagrants. One technical that later got rescinded. The point Norman Powell made still counted. That part does not get taken back.

Yeah, it really is the 85%, 15% equation with Dillon Brooks. You love what he gives you most of the time, and you brace yourself for the part that makes your blood pressure spike. That is the deal. That is the Dillon Brooks experience. You live by the Dillon. You die by the Dillon. Over the last two games, the Suns have died by it.

That is why getting Devin Booker and Jalen Green back matters so much. Their presence shrinks Brooks’ shot diet and lets him slide back into the role where he thrives. The disruptor. The irritant. The emotional anchor who tilts the floor without having to carry the offense. If that comes with a little more cerebral feel and self-awareness layered on top, even better. That is the version of Dillon Brooks this team needs when it is whole again.

Until then? The focus needs to be on making winning plays, not plays that prevent you from winning.

With mounting injuries, contradicting sourced reporting, and a will-they-won’t-they soap opera of trade rumors involving Anthony Davis, very little is going right for the Dallas Mavericks. The league’s trade deadline needs to get here asap so fans can accept whatever reality is next, and the team needs to refocus their vision. Part of that is accepting reality and positioning themselves as best they can for this summer’s NBA Draft.

All that considered, there are still some bright moments to hold to in these games. Cooper Flagg continues to flash brilliance. He is now nursing an ankle injury, but his composure and ability remains on display most nights. Players like Naji Marshall, mentioned below in this week’s Power Rankings Watch, has stepped up his game — perhaps just in time for said deadline. And Klay Thompson just moved himself into fourth all time in three-pointers. With so much in limbo it’s important to celebrate those mini victories.

ESPN

Rank: 24

Last week: 23

Forward Naji Marshall has been one of the bright spots of a difficult season in Dallas. He’s averaging career bests of 13.6 points and 54% shooting, and his production has increased to 16.9 points on 58.6% shooting in his 17 starts. He has been especially productive attacking off the dribble, shooting 60.7% off of drives. According to NBA Advanced Stats, only Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have a higher field goal percentage among the players who rank in the top 50 in points off of drives. — MacMahon

The Athletic

Rank: 24 (Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear)

Last week: 23

Preseason win total: 41.5
On pace to win: 29

Vegas and the national broadcasters were on NicoVision when it came to projecting this Mavericks team. Some even thought Kyrie Irving would be back by now. Alas, here the Mavericks are, with their injury-prone big men out of commission, top free-agent acquisition D’Angelo Russell playing zero 20-minute games since Thanksgiving and Cooper Flagg splitting awesome games with forgettable outings.

NBA

Rank: 25

Last week: 25

• At this point, Davis has played in just 29 of a possible 74 games since he was acquired (along with Max Christie) for Luka Dončić. This season, the Mavs are 10-10 with Davis in uniform, but they’ve been outscored by 4.6 points per 100 possessions in his 626 minutes on the floor.
• The Mavs were outscored by 28 points (54-26) in the restricted area in Chicago on Saturday, falling to 4-15 without Davis. They’ve scored just 106.7 points per 100 possessions over those 19 games, only slightly better (107.5 scored per 100) in Cooper Flagg’s 844 total minutes on the floor without Davis.
• The offense was ugly on both ends of the floor in Sacramento on Tuesday, but the Mavs got the win with two go-ahead buckets in the final minute. Flagg had the first (a tough, lefty finish off the glass) and assisted on the other (a Brandon Williams 3), and he’s now 4-for-6 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime. Those four buckets are tied for fourth league-wide.

Coming up: With their loss in Utah on Thursday, the Mavs are 0-6 (one of three winless teams) in rest-advantage games. They’ll have two more – vs. Brooklyn and Denver – as they play a four-game homestand this week.

Bleacher Report

Rank: 26

Last week: 25

The Dallas Mavericks pummeled the Utah Jazz on Thursday, but it’s tough to find big takeaways from a game without Cooper Flagg and Lauri Markkanen.

Dallas lost to Utah just one week earlier, is 4-7 in its last 11 and recently got some bad news on Anthony Davis. He may not need surgery on his injured hand, but he’s going to be out for several weeks and could still be traded before the deadline.

With Flagg now nursing his own ankle injury, all signs are pointing to the Mavericks more aggressively chasing improved lottery odds down the stretch.

After a disapointing loss following a bad fourth quarter, the Houston Rockets look to get back on track with a win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

With a solid defensive effort and team intensity, Minnesota is on the rise. Anthony Edwards leads the Wolves’ excellent scoring balance, and Julius Randle and Naz Reid provide strong interior play.Additionally, they recently defeated the Bucks handily, which gives them confidence. Meanwhile, Houston’s recent performance has been inconsistent, including a 20-point loss to the Thunder in which offensive difficulties were a significant problem. The Rockets average about 119 points per game and have impressive rebounding stats, but they have cooled off in recent games. Kevin Durant leads the Rockets in scoring ar 25-26 points per game, and has been receiving contributions from Alperen Şengün and other pieces (Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. etc).

The big story tonight is Anthony Edward’s injury. It was confirmed yesterday that the star guard would miss a second straight game with a foot injury. This should drastically alter the game plaan for Houdton as they can now focus more of their deffensive efforts on pl;ayers like Julius Radle and Rudy Gobert/

Tip Off

8:3o pm

How To Watch
ESPN, or Space City Home Network

Injury Report
Rockets
Fred VanVleet: Out (Acl),
Dorian Finney-Smith: Day-To-Day (Ankle),
Tari Eason: Day-To-Day (Ankle)

Minnesota

Anthony Edwards: Out (Foot)

Terrence Shannon Jr: Out (Foot)

The Lakers haven’t made any significant roster moves during the season so far, but they have a couple more weeks to do so before the NBA trade deadline arrives.

While the team hasn’t officially stated the ways they might want to improve in the immediate future, we do have some reports hinting at the direction they want to go.

For starters, getting younger appears to be a key for Los Angeles. That makes sense given that their biggest star is now Luka Dončić, who is 26 years old.

So, all moves the Lakers make must be based on building sustainable winning for years to come.

On a recent episode of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Kevin discussed a way the Lakers could gain the assets needed by trading away their first-round pick for multiple future firsts as part of a trade package.

Kevin O’Connor: “Now, the really interesting thing with them is they’ve been shopping around their future 2032 first round pick for multiple first round draft picks similar to what the Suns did a year ago when they traded their 2031 pick to the Jazz for three lesser firsts in ‘25, ‘27 and ‘29. So, it seems like the Lakers are looking for two or three than future firsts that are worse individually than their future firsts, giving them more parts to put together in Vincent-plus-Vanderbilt or Vincent-plus-Kleber types of packages.”

As O’Connor mentioned, the Suns made a similar move last year, trading away their 2031 first for three lesser first-round picks.

If Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka can turn his draft pick into two or three and then acquire the wing they need before the Jan. 5 deadline, this would be one of the most impressive trades he’s done.

This type of deal would make a ton of sense for LA. It would increase their limited draft capital, and if it brings in a young wing, like say Herb Jones, that’d be a great move for the franchise.

It’s been reported that the Lakers called the Pelicans about Jones, but the price point was above LA’s means. If they can offer multiple firsts instead of one, maybe that’s enough to convince New Orleans to part with Jones.

The most recent reports indicate the Pelicans aren’t interested in trading away Jones or any of their other core players, but it’s an ongoing situation and things can always change.

Besides Jones, there are other young wings the Lakers can try to trade for. Players like Jonathan Kuminga have connected with LA, and it’s clear when you watch this team that adding wing depth would be a great way to improve this roster.

Now, it’s a matter of execution, and if Pelinka can find the right partner to help him execute this multifaceted deal.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

First there was a back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Nick Nurse and featuring the G.R.O.A.T himself, Kyle Lowry, in what was likely his last appearance in a game in Toronto. Then there was Wednesday’s game against Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers.

Now, the Raptors’ week of familiar faces culminates in a contest at Scotiabank Arena against Kawhi Leonard, the franchise’s only ever Finals MVP (to date), and the Los Angeles Clippers.

While the Clippers’ 17-23 record isn’t anything to write home about, they are currently on a four-game winning streak, and have won 11 of their last 13 games. As the Clippers continue their steady ascent into the middle of the Western Conference pack, they face a Raptors team that is just one game out of second in the East.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.

Here are some storylines to consider ahead of the matchup:

Everybody flex

With Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter all out, plus Jamison Battle leaving mid-game, Gradey Dick was afforded an opportunity on Wednesday night to play an increased role coming off the bench. Dick was fairly pedestrian from three, shooting just 1/5 from beyond the arc — and yet it was one of his best games of the season.

Dick registered his first career double-double, playing 30 minutes and putting up 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on 9/15 shooting. His effort earned him the Raptors’ chain, and led to the post-game photo we’ve all been waiting for: the whole team doing the customary Gradey Dick flex. Tonight, with the Raptors still short-handed, Dick will look to build off his recent success, which has involved finishing strong at the bucket and playing well as a roller. Now the key question is whether he can get out of his shooting funk.

Klawing back

The Clippers have won 11 of their last 13 games, and Kawhi Leonard has been the engine behind their turnaround. Leonard is averaging 32.7 points per game across that 13-game span, including a 55-point performance against the first-place Detroit Pistons. His dominance is a familiar sight for Raptors fans (apparently it’s been six years??!!) — but now the Raptors will need to throw everything they can to slow down the surging 34-year-old forward. Look for a mix of sturdy wings like Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji and even the rookie Collin Murray-Boyles to have a go at defending him.

Next man up

The Raptors’ stretch of playing shorthanded will continue tonight, with Barrett, Poeltl and Walter all being ruled out with their respective injuries. The team is also likely to miss the spacing that Battle affords them, as he’s doubtful with an ankle injury, and Quickley and Mamukelashvili are both questionable. While All-Star voting is now closed, Barnes and Ingram can continue to make their cases for the team by carrying the load for the shorthanded squad. Players like Agbaji and A.J. Lawson also figure to play “next man up” roles for the team.

But the biggest revelation from the team’s shorthanded stretch has been the rookie, Collin Murray-Boyles. Poeltl’s absence has given CMB a runway to establish himself as an impressively stout defender — he’s 99th percentile in the league in deflections — and a promising offensive player who’s just scratching the surface of his upside. Over his last six games, Murray-Boyles is averaging 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 57% shooting.

Now for another Bucks trade candidate! So far, we have mulled over Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. This time, we analyse Charlotte Hornets wing/forward Miles Bridges.

The Player

Miles Bridges, 27, 6’7”, 225 lb, forward

Season averages: 19.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, .445/.335/.842

Miles Bridges has been a serviceable wing/forward for some time now after the Hornets selected him in the lottery back in 2018. He’s another one who fits into the “more of a power forward than a small forward” category; however, he floats my boat a tad more than another player we’ve applied that term to, Jerami Grant, because he has a slightly more well-rounded arsenal. I think Bridges is much more capable of toggling between the SF and PF than Grant is.

Over Miles’ last four seasons, he has scored the rock at a decent level, averaging 20.3 PPG, though it’s not as if he’s done it on great efficiency (45.9% from the field and 33.1% from deep). Where Bridges separates himself from Grant, though, is in his passing and rebounding. As a secondary playmaker, Miles has been able to get his teammates more involved, boasting an assist-to-turnover ratio very close to 2/1. Additionally, Bridges isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and rebound, hauling in 7.1 boards per game.

On the defensive end, I was unable to find much on the trusty NBA Reddit, so I have nothing to give you guys other than what I know firsthand: he’s athletic, got good size, and has been the designated “Giannis guy” in most Bucks-Hornets matchups. He’s obviously very powerful and seems to have decent feet; I have no clue where he’s at as an off-ball player. He does average 1.5 stocks per game, though, which is a decent sign that he’s at least active off the ball. And so here we are, the Bucks need help on the wing, and Miles seems as good a bet as any. Thus, it makes sense that Milwaukee is showing interest in the former Michigan State Spartan, per Matt Moore’s latest reporting:

“Speaking of Bridges, the Hornets forward— who should absolutely not be in the NBA and who has a -2.5 on-court net rating and -8.5 on/off split— has drawn interest from Milwaukee as they continue to try and troll for an upgrade to magically unlock some version of the team that keeps Giannis from leaving.”

The Trade

Look, the mechanics of acquiring Bridges in a trade that would satisfy the Hornets are not simple. We have looked at a few trade candidates in which the other team would be expected to send Milwaukee assets to acquire their player. But in the case of Miles—considering his relatively cheap contract and the fact that he is a clear upgrade on the likely outgoing salary of Kyle Kuzma—the Bucks would need to send assets the other way. The problem is that the Bucks don’t really have the “right assets” to trade. Put simply, Bridges is not worth a first in general, let alone one five years out, which is all the Bucks have to offer; what he’s worth is some second-round picks, and the Bucks have none! The only guy on the Bucks roster that might equate to the value of a second-round pick (or two) would be Andre Jackson Jr. Ergo, the deal would have to look something like this:

If you’re the Bucks, I think you’d do this deal in a heartbeat. I’ll try my best to make the case for why the Hornets might do it, though. You could argue that, with their new influx of young talent—namely Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel—Charlotte might be looking to turn over a new leaf and leave the old(er) players from yesteryear behind. It’s also worth noting that they might be looking to move on from Miles, in particular, because of his off-court transgressions (people can Google those themselves if they aren’t aware). Additionally, they’d get to take a flyer on a gifted defender in Jackson, who the Bucks simply don’t have the time to give a real shot. Also, if Charlotte wasn’t interested in AJax, he wouldn’t have to be included; they’d still shave $2.6m off their books just trading for Kuzma (who has the exact same contract length as Bridges).

The Fit

As I alluded to above, I’d feel much better starting Miles Bridges at the three than I would Jerami Grant. Do I think he’s some perfect fit? Absolutely not. Sidenote: Michael Porter Jr. would be my first choice, though the price of a future first is simply off the table for me. Teams would sag off Bridges in the half-court and force him to make threes, which makes me nervous. However, this team just needs firepower in general, and although Miles isn’t some elite shooter, he’s a 20-PPG scorer who also gets his teammates involved. Put simply, he can be a key primary cog in Milwaukee’s offence, and the Bucks need more key cogs if nothing else but to replace certain guys who don’t deserve that title.

I also want to mention that Bridges would have learnt a lot playing with LaMelo Ball in how to play off a special player like that, which might help him play with Giannis. I’m talking about when to set the screen, when to slip out, when to cut, when to stay spaced, etc. Miles seems to have a decent mind for the game, and I think he’d work through how to impact the game next to the Greek Freak. Additionally, I think Bridges would be a solid fit next to Ryan Rollins and KPJ (especially in the non-Giannis minutes), playing the two-man game with those guys.

Arguably, though, the biggest impact he’d have would be on defence and rebounding, both of which the Milwaukee struggles with. The Bucks play smaller lineups a lot of the time and have gotten monstered by dominant wings and centres. Bringing in the 225-pound Bridges would immediately assist in those two areas. Moreover, Miles is durable. He’s averaged 34.7 minutes over his last four seasons and hasn’t played fewer than 64 games in his seven-year career; the Bucks would be able to count on him being on the court. All in all, I think Bridges is one of the best fits of all the candidates we’ve looked at so far. The issue is the mechanics that would go with acquiring him.

Are people with me on Miles Bridges, or am I overrating him? Let us know, as well as if there are any other guys we should cover!

The Los Angeles Clippers look to pick up their fifth straight win, but they’ll have to go through the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena tonight.

Scottie Barnes has been a jack of all trades for the Raps this season, but it’s his playmaking that’s really caught my attention.

I’ll break down why Barnes should stack up plenty of dimes in my Clippers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 16. 

Clippers vs Raptors prediction

Clippers vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists (-135)

The Toronto Raptors have been dealing with injury issues for a few weeks now, and three starters remain out or questionable for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Toronto has managed to stay afloat, though, and that’s largely due to Scottie Barnes’ ability to play a variety of roles.

Need 25 points? Barnes is there.

Need someone to clean up the glass? Scottie’s got it.

However, perhaps his most important skill for the Raptors has been his playmaking.

Barnes is averaging 6.7 assists per game since December 28 — that’s the seventh-best mark in the NBA among all forwards over that span.

The Raptors star is also averaging 50.2 passes made per game, second only to starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (56.1), who may be out tonight with a back injury.

Barnes is coming off a 13-assist game on Wednesday, while topping 4.5 dimes in six of his last 10. He hits that number with ease against the Clippers tonight.

Clippers vs Raptors same-game parlay

Just like Barnes, Brandon Ingram has had to step up into other roles to help his team down the stretch. The Raptors forward has snagged Over 5.5 boards in six of his last seven contests, and they’ll need him to be a factor on the glass with Poeltl sidelined.

The Raptors may be banged up, but so are the Clippers, who could be without three starters of their own in Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac. Toronto is 5-2 in its last seven home games and appears somewhat undervalued as the underdog here.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Raptors moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Zub Cleans the Glass

Zubac missed LA’s last game, but the 7-foot center is undeniable on the glass.

He’s posted Over 10.5 rebounds in three of his last five outings and is averaging 10.7 rpg this season — tied for 10th in the NBA.

Clippers vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Raptors moneyline
• Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 rebounds

Clippers vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Clippers -2 (-110) | Raptors +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers -130 | Raptors -115
• Over/Under: Over 216 (-110) | Under 216 (-110)

Clippers vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Raptors.

How to watch Clippers vs Raptors

Clippers vs Raptors latest injuries

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

Michael Jordan’s contributions to the NBA coverage on NBC have been lacking.

The GOAT’s addition to the lineup for his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment has been one single long-form interview with Mike Tirico, with clips shown throughout the season — leaving fans who wanted to hear from the six-time NBA champion on the league’s current events unfulfilled.

“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not,” Tirico said on “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” this week. “Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha. In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time.”

The issue, however, is that Jordan was pitched to fans and viewers as a “special contributor,” a role that would seemingly include more than one two-hour interview filmed over two days months ago.

There is no doubt that basketball fans want to hear from Jordan, a six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, 14-time All-Star and 10-time scoring champ.

He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and his Jordan Brand remains a major part of the league’s culture.

“Every time one airs, people say, ‘Oh, this is from the same interview.’ But they also talk about what he said,” Tirico said. “It starts a topic of conversation. His voice still resonates.”

Tirico confirmed that there are no plans for a second interview with the 62-year-old at this point.

“Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility,” he said. “I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome.”

Just when things looked like they couldn’t get any worse for the Milwaukee Bucks, they got absolutely embarrassed by the San Antonio Spurs last night. After winning six of nine, the Bucks have now dropped three in a row and sit at 17-24 on the season, two games behind the 10th-placed Atlanta Hawks. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

22 minutes, 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 7/12 FG, 1/1 3PT, 6/9 FT, -31

Giannis looked primed for another epic performance against Victor Wembanyama in his first stint (more on that later), but with the his only help coming from a trigger-happy Kyle Kuzma, he too succumbed to the Spurs’ suffocating defence and was a non-factor thereafter. He was the Bucks’ best but it didn’t matter one bit.

Grade: D

Kevin Porter Jr.

23 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 0/9 FG, 0/4 3PT, -35

I’ve arguably been Porter’s biggest supporter around here, but tonight even I can’t find a silver lining. It was the kind of game that had you rethinking his role in the Bucks’ future. He was that awful.

Grade: F

Ryan Rollins

26 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, , 1 block, 2/8 FG, 1/5 3PT, 1/2 FT, -18

Rollins crashed the boards and found some assists. He even rose up for an impressive chase-down block. But he just couldn’t get any penetration agains the Spurs’ defence and, for the fifth time in six games, shot less than 37% from the field (25% on the night and 31% over that span).

Grade: D-

Myles Turner

23 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2/7 FG, 1/5 3PT, -23

Turner was again largely invisible, offering minimal resistance against penetration and hovering around the three-point line on offence. Even there, though, he was bad, clunking several of his five attempts. The contrast between Turner and Luke Kornet—the Spurs’ backup centre—was stark, and not in a good way for the Bucks centre, who often looked timid and lost.

Grade: F

AJ Green

15 minutes, 6 points, 1 assist, 2/4 FG, 2/4 3PT, -25

You could argue that Green was hindered by foul trouble that kept him off the court, limiting him to just 15 minutes of action. But defending without fouling is part of being a productive player and last night Green fell back into old habits. The fact that he recorded a -25 plus/minus in those 15 minutes of action is also telling.

Grade: F

Kyle Kuzma

22 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 6/17 FG, 5/13 3PT, 1/1 FT, -5

Kuzma came out firing, hitting his first two threes—and five in the first half alone—in a bid to keep the Bucks afloat. It didn’t and by the time his night was over he had converted just 6/17 from the field. Overall, he was physical and made a few nice passes, but when Kuz is your leading shot taker, it’s usually a sign of bad times.

Grade:D

Bobby Portis

21 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5/8 FG, 3/5 3PT, 1/1 FT, -15

Close game or blowout, Portis is going to look to score and he did so efficiently, adding a half-dozen rebounds to his baker’s dozen point total in what was another productive box-score night for the Bucks’ sixth man. On offence, he was one of the few Bucks who didn’t look deterred by Wembanyama’s presence. Of course, with the worst plus/minus off the bench, it’s not as if he made much of a positive contribution either.

Grade:D

Gary Trent Jr.

14 minutes, 3 points, 1 assist, 1/5 FG, 1/5 3PT, -9

Last year’s playoff performance now feels like a distant dream, as Trent scored in single digits for the fifth consecutive game (and 10 out of his last 11). To paraphrase our very own Jack Trehearne, whatever deal Horst had lined up for Trent in the offseason has to be broken.

Grade:F

Gary Harris

21 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1/1 FG, 1/1 3PT, -4

Gary Harris is just a pro, quietly having a very unexpectedly solid season for the Bucks. And it’s almost always on the defensive end where he stands out—at least twice in the first half alone he blew-up Spurs’ possessions. But if he’s playing this much for the Bucks, then maybe it’s time to start expecting more—or give those minutes to someone who might be able to win you a game rather than just stabilise it.

Grade: D

Doc Rivers

What do you say? For the second game in a row the Bucks were down in excess of 30 points. Granted, Rivers isn’t the one bricking shots or conceding threes and layups, but the buck stops with him—and the Bucks haven’t ever really started with him. If it wasn’t time before, it is now.

Grade: F (for “Fire”. As in he needs to be fired. Now. Get it?!).

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey, Andre Jackson Jr., Jericho Sims, Pete Nance.

Inactive: Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Giannis gets up for Wemby and last night was no different—at least to start. He had 14 of the Bucks’ first 17 points, and drew two fouls on the Spurs’ unicorn, sending him to the medical room with donuts and one very sore knee.
• Unfortunately, the rest of the Bucks couldn’t follow Giannis’ lead, combining for a measly three points on 1/14 shooting up until a Kuzma three with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.
• The Bucks just couldn’t stop the Spurs getting to the line in the first half, conceding 23 attempts (and earning just 10 of their own). So much for that vaunted paint protection.
• Kuzma’s fivethrees in the first half tied his personal game-high total for the Bucks, a total he reached twice last season.
• By the 8:44 minute mark of the third quarter, Giannis’ early-game dominance was a distant memory. Stuck on 16 points, there was nothing he could do but watch as Wemby hit his fourth three to cap a 15-6 start to the quarter for the Spurs. Moments later, instead of taking Green down low, Wemby decided his fifth three would be of the turnaround fadeaway variety. He really is an alien.
• The Spurs won the third quarter 40-16. Yes, you read that correctly. And by the end of the quarter, the Bucks were down by 37 points, 106-69. You read that correctly too.
• Outside of Giannis, the Bucks’ next three best players—Turner, Rollins, and KPJ—combined to shoot just 4/24 from the field.
• Want more? While Rollins and KPJ combined for just six points on 2/17 shooting, their immediate opponents—Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox—combined for 37 points on 12/19 shooting.
• According to Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network analyst and Locked on Bucks host Justin Garcia, the combined 54-points the Bucks have lost by over the last two games is the largest two-game margin in franchise history. Yikes.
• Bonus crossword: Across 1. Inferno MD (4, 3).

Up Next

Following a three-day break, the Bucks head to Atlanta to take on the new-look Hawks where things have to be better, right? You can find all the action on Peacock—tip off is at 12:00 p.m. Central.