LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Otega Oweh, without a field goal in the first half, scored 20 of his 23 points after the break and Kentucky beat Mississippi 72-63 on Saturday for the Wildcats' fifth straight win.
Oweh was 6-of-12 shooting and 10 of 14 at the line and has scored in double figures in 23 straight games dating to last season. Collin Chandler added 12 points and Jasper Johnson 11 for the Wildcats (14-6, 5-2 SEC).
AJ Storr scored 20 points and Malik Dia added 16 for the Rebels (11-9, 3-4). Corey Chest grabbed 10 rebounds.
Chandler was only 2-of-10 shooting but hit a 3-pointer in the final minute for a six-point lead that Malachi Moreno extended to eight with two free throws. Zach Day hit a baseline 3 for the Rebels but the Wildcats finished the scoring with four free throws.
Except for a lone tie, the Wildcats led throughout the second half but never by double figures. Their largest lead of 10 came in the first half after Johnson hit a pair of 3s early in a 18-4 run that Noah capped with another 3. Ole Miss finished the half with four free throws to cut the margin to 29-23.
The 23 points added up to the Rebels' lowest first-half total this season with Storr accounting for 10. The Rebels shot only 25% in the first half when they were 1 of 10 from the arc.
Neither team finished above 36% shooting in a game that had 59 free throws with Kentucky making 28 of 38.
Kentucky has won 15 straight home games over Ole Miss.
Up next
Mississippi is home against Vanderbilt next Saturday.
Luka Doncic is no stranger to being the headline act, and his second return visit to Dallas is the standout contest on today’s seven-game hoops schedule.
While Doncic will get nothing but love from the Mavs fans, expect chippier atmospheres elsewhere on the slate, including the latest installment of the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers rivalry.
My favorite NBA picks for the January 24 action include another dose of Luka magic and a big night for Evan Mobley.
The post-trade emotions were still raw for Luka Doncic’s first game in Dallas as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Look for less tension in the air tonight – after all, Nico Harrison won’t be lurking in the tunnel – but I still expect Luka to put on a show.
Doncic continues to lead the NBA in scoring at 33.4 PPG, and he’s gone past this O/U points prop in six of his 11 outings this month. Once you layer on a few extra shots in a game that’ll mean a lot to him, the Over feels like a strong play – and we saw that when he returned to American Airlines Center back in April and made 16 of his 28 shots to finish with 45 points.
Luka dropped 38 points on the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, and he’s posting huge totals despite only shooting 33% from downtown this year. Even so, he’s knocked down 3+ triples in five straight outings.
The Lakers are just 4-6 in their last 10 games, and they’ll need Doncic to ball out against a Mavericks team that’s won four in a row. In an arena he knows so well, Luka will be up to the task.
The Cleveland Cavaliers finally seem to be turning a corner in an underwhelming season. They’ve won four of their last five games, and Evan Mobley has stuffed the stat sheet in back-to-back outings, including a 29-point, 13-rebound effort against the Sacramento Kings last night.
That’s the level of production that Cleveland needs to climb further in the East standings, and I like this Mobley combo prop here as the Cavs host the Orlando Magic, especially with Darius Garland sidelined again with a toe injury. When Donovan Mitchell gets bottled up on the perimeter, Mobley has to embrace being the No. 2 option.
Just don’t let his dreadful three-point numbers put you off. Mobley has regressed from beyond the arc this season, but he’s shooting 56% overall in January and his two-point game continues to be solid.
While he’s averaging a respectable 8.8 RPG this year, he’s capable of even more, as we’ve seen this week. Don’t be surprised if he chips in with a third straight double-digit haul on the boards against the Orlando frontcourt.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida
Prop #3: Keyonte George Over 30.5 points + assists
The Utah Jazz appear comfortable sinking in the Western Conference standings while still getting an extended look at their young core, and Keyonte George’s development is the most promising sign for Will Hardy’s squad.
George is putting together a terrific third NBA season, averaging 24.4 PPG and 6.7 APG, and he’ll have every opportunity to pad those numbers tonight against the banged-up Miami Heat, who’ll be without Kel’el Ware, Tyler Herro and perhaps more of their usual rotation.
He’s gone past this combo prop number in three of his last four games, headlined by a 43-point explosion in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’s going to have the ball in his hands a lot here, particularly if the illnesses for Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic keep them off the court.
George is having a steady season from downtown, making his three-pointers at a 38% clip, and the up-tempo Heat should provide extra possessions for offensive numbers. He’s carrying a heavy burden for the Jazz on that end of the floor, but I’m banking on another eye-catching stat line tonight.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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***UPDATE: Today’s game between the Warriors and the Timberwolves has been postponed for Sunday (Jan. 25) at 2:30 PM PT. More information here.
The Golden State Warriors continue their road trip with Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip-off is set for 2:30 PM PT in Minneapolis and can be watched on ABC.
Previously with the Warriors:
The Warriors dropped the opener of their four-game road trip on Thursday night, losing 123–115 to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite a 38-point performance from Stephen Curry, Golden State struggled to generate consistent offense — an issue that has become more pronounced following the season-ending ACL injury to Jimmy Butler. Dallas, meanwhile, relied on a balanced attack, with six players scoring in double figures, led by guard Naji Marshall, who finished with a team-high 30 points.
Golden State has now lost two straight games since Butler’s injury and continues to search for answers offensively. Jonathan Kuminga was expected to help fill that void, but he suffered ankle and knee injuries early in Thursday’s loss and will be sidelined again Saturday against Minnesota.
Jonathan Kuminga will miss tomorrow's game in Minnesota with left knee soreness after the ankle twist/hyperextension last night.
With Kuminga unavailable, the Warriors will need to find another source of scoring off the bench. De’Anthony Melton, who has been trending upward as of late, is coming off a 22-point performance against Dallas and will likely be leaned on heavily to stabilize the second unit as Golden State looks to regroup.
The Mavericks will host the Lakers Saturday night, much to the chagrin of the Dallas residents who have to brave the cold and ice to see Luka Doncic play. Dallas is hot! They have won four in a row and five of their last six games. The Lakers, however, are struggling. They are 3-6 in their last nine games and, if you pay attention to the online discourse, are one of the worst “vibes” teams in the league. Doncic famously killed Dallas in his return in April, but this time around, I am not sure the Lakers have enough firepower to supplement the emotion this game will have. The Mavericks have a great chance to win their fifth in a row.
Before getting into our picks, here is how we stand so far:
Last week’s results
Tyler: 3-1 (+$263)
David: 3-0 (+$286)
Season to date
Tyler: 17-26-0 (-$772)
David: 25-17-0 (+$933)
Even though Tyler is still negative on the season, we are heating up as the weather cools down.
Game Details
Fixture: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers | NBA 2025-2026
Date and Time: Saturday, January 24th, 2026; 7:40 PM CST
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX.
Odds up to date as of 12:00 PM CST from FanDuel
Game Lines
Spread Mavericks +3.5 (-108)
Total O/U 233.5 (-110/-110)
Moneyline Mavericks +146
Tyler’s Plays
Cooper Flagg over 29.5 points + rebounds + assists (-110)
Luka Doncic to score 12+ points in the first quarter (+118)
Over 233.5 points (-110)
Luka’s going to come out gunning, so let’s capitalize with a 12+ point quarter at plus money. In their first matchup against each other in Dallas, I expect Cooper Flagg to meet the moment and deliver a great all-around game. Finally, neither team has been guarding lately, so let’s go over the total.
David’s Plays
Luka Doncic to score 35+ points (+120)
Naji Marshall to score 20+ points (+122)
Max Christie to make 3+ threes (+100)
Luka will torch this Mavericks defense. Conversely, Marshall is a matchup nightmare for a Lakers team with no paint defense and no perimeter physicality. Christie will benefit from the penetration Dallas will get and have plenty of open looks.
Squad Ride
Mavericks to win (+146)
The Mavericks are probably not a good team. But they are playing very well, and the Lakers are not. Plus, there is motivation for the Dallas guys to show the fans that they don’t need Luka (we still do). We love the Mavericks to pull off another primetime upset.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is expected to miss at least the next three weeks due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
The injury occurred Wednesday during the Grizzlies’ 124-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Grizzlies announced the severity of the injury Saturday and said the two-time All-Star would be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
This represents the latest setback in a tumultuous season for Morant, who had missed six games with an injured right calf before returning Sunday for the Grizzlies’ 126-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in London.
Morant has appeared in only 20 of the team's 43 games this season and has averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds amid trade speculation.
NEW YORK (AP) — Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker has been arrested after police say he presented a firearm for inspection without proper credentials at LaGuardia Airport.
Port Authority police said Walker was arrested Friday morning after they responded to a request for a firearms check at LaGuardia’s Terminal C. Police said the 25-year-old had checked in at Delta and had presented a firearm for inspection without proper credentials.
Arthur Aidala, the lawyer representing Walker, said his client voluntarily disclosed an unloaded, secured firearm upon his arrival at the airport. Aidala said Walker was arrested because his license wasn’t valid in New York.
“We are confident the matter will eventually be dismissed,” Aidala said via email.
The Packers’ season ended Jan. 10 with a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.
Walker has been Green Bay’s first-team left tackle for the last three seasons and has started 48 games since the Packers selected him out of Penn State in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Walker just completed the final year of his contract and is set to become a free agent in the offseason. He has started each of Green Bay’s four playoff games over the last three seasons.
Two hot teams clash tonight as the Boston Celtics visit the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Nikola Vucevic has been in his bag lately, and my Celtics vs Bulls predictions are eyeing him to score the rock at a high level.
Read more in my NBA picks for Saturday, January 24.
Celtics vs Bulls prediction
Celtics vs Bulls best bet: Nikola Vucevic Over 16.5 points (-115)
Nikola Vucevic isn’t having the best season of his career, but the numbers are still respectable. The big man is averaging 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest. Vooch’s numbers from a scoring standpoint have been up a tad in January, averaging 19 PPG.
The center has cashed the Over in points in four of his last five appearances, and he even erupted for 35 points around the middle of the month against the Utah Jazz. The Chicago Bulls are at home this evening, and Vucevic is averaging 17.7 PPG in Chicago compared to 15.9 on the road.
While Vooch only dropped 15 points against the Boston Celtics earlier this season, the Bulls are rolling with four straight victories, and they’re playing like a confident group as a whole. He’ll play his part here.
Celtics vs Bulls same-game parlay
The C’s head into this matchup as winners of two straight, beating the Indiana Pacers and then the Brooklyn Nets on Friday evening. In fact, they’ve won four of their last five contests.
While Chicago is hot, Boston has notched three victories in a row against them, and they’ve also won four in a row against the Bulls at the United Center dating back to February of 2024. The Celtics will get the better of Chicago tonight.
Jaylen Brown is doing it all for the Jayson Tatum-less C’s, and he’s been really dominating on the glass lately. While Brown is averaging only 6.7 boards, he’s comfortably cashed the Over in three straight.
Brown averages 10 rebounds per night during that span, making his presence felt on the glass. Back on January 5, he also brought down eight boards against the Bulls.
Celtics vs Bulls SGP
Nikola Vucevic Over 16.5 points
Boston Celtics moneyline
Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: White Out!
Coby White is showing out right now, hitting the Over in points in three straight appearances.
Celtics vs Bulls SGP
Nikola Vucevic Over 16.5 points
Boston Celtics moneyline
Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds
Coby White Over 18.5 points
Celtics vs Bulls odds
Spread: Celtics -3.5 (-110) | Bulls +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Celtics -105 | Bulls -115
Over/Under: Over 232 (-110) | Under 232 (-110)
Celtics vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 45 away games (+9.45 Units / 8% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bulls.
How to watch Celtics vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Boston, Chicago Sports Network
Celtics vs Bulls latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers will meet for the third time this season.
My Knicks vs 76ers predictions call for a close, high-scoring matchup and a dominant performance from Joel Embiid.
Here are my free NBA picks for this heavyweight Eastern Conference showdown on Saturday, January 24.
Knicks vs 76ers prediction
Knicks vs 76ers best bet: Joel Embiid Over 38.5 points+rebounds+assists (-115)
After some early-season struggles, Joel Embiid is rounding into form. Across his last 11 games, he’s averaged 40.6 PRA and hit the Over on his line seven times.
Embiid has been more productive at home than on the road this season, averaging 35.8 PRA at Xfinity Mobile Arena compared to 34.9 on the road. He’s also reached the Over on this combo line in three straight and four of his last six at home.
Saturday’s matchup against a healthy New York Knicks team will require Embiid to be at his best. He went for 26/10/5 in his first matchup with New York, and I expect him to stay productive in a key game in front of the home crowd.
Knicks vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Philadelphia 76ers are 12-12 straight up at home, while New York is just 8-12 on the road. This game is essentially a pick 'em, and picking the Sixers to win outright is slightly more profitable than picking them to cover a one-point spread.
I'll give the home team the advantage, which has a surprisingly clean injury report.
Both teams are expected to be at full strength on Saturday, which should lead to plenty of scoring. Embiid has been hot as of late, and Tyrese Maxey is one of the top scorers in the Association.
With a pair of great scorers and strong role players, Philadelphia can put up points here. Likewise, Jalen Brunson is an electric scorer with a strong supporting cast, and New York should have no problem getting buckets.
Knicks vs 76ers SGP
Joel Embiid Over 38.5 points+rebounds+assists
76ers moneyline
Over 229
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brunson balls out
Jalen Brunson has scored at least 28 in 21 of 39 games overall, and he dropped 31 in his last matchup with Philadelphia.
Knicks vs 76ers SGP
Joel Embiid Over 38.5 points+rebounds+assists
76ers moneyline
Over 229
Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points
Knicks vs 76ers odds
Spread: Knicks -1 (-105) | 76ers +1 (-115)
Moneyline: Knicks -110 | 76ers -110
Over/Under: Over 229 | Under 229
Knicks vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Philadelphia 76ers have hit the team total Under in 26 of their last 40 home games (+10.10 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. 76ers.
How to watch Knicks vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Tip-off
3:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Knicks vs 76ers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Two teams jockeying in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff pack collide for the first of a home-and-home set, as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Orlando Magic.
The Cavs, with wins in four of their last five, still find themselves as one-point underdogs in the NBA odds.
These teams have found a way to turn most games into rockfights, so my Cavaliers vs. Magic prediction and NBA picks are targeting the Under.
Cavaliers vs Magic prediction
Cavaliers vs Magic best bet: Under 228 points (-110)
Not a banner week for the Orlando Magic, who were crushed 126-109 in London against the Memphis Grizzlies, before returning stateside and getting hammered by 27 at home against Charlotte.
Their offense is already middling (19th), but as the Magic have dropped three of their last five, they are averaging just 99.0 points per game in their losses.
It's been a lot of the same offensive futility recently for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were blown out 136-104 by OKC, while scoring just 94 points in a win over Charlotte.
Most recently, they beat Sacramento 123-118, and while that might have been a get-right game, SacTown owns a Bottom-4 scoring defense in basketball.
Injuries should play another role in this potential slugfest.
Orlando F Franz Wagner (ankle) has already been ruled out, though Jalen Suggs (knee) has been upgraded to probable.
For the Cavs, they're still without regulars Darius Garland (hand) and Max Strus (hand), while Sam Merrill (hand) missed Sacramento, and his status is uncertain.
Orlando allows just 113.7 points per game at home this season, which would rank inside the Top 10 overall, a big reason the Under has cashed in each of the last four games between these teams at the Kia Center.
While the Under has hit in six of the last 10 head-to-head meetings, these two have landed Under the 228.0 scoring line set for Sunday a whopping nine times.
Cavaliers vs Magic same-game parlay
Evan Mobley has been the Cavs' leading rebounder the past two games, pulling down 13+ in both. But he's struggled against Orlando, pulling down at least nine boards just three times in nine games.
Desmond Bane had hit multiple threes in a game just once in his last seven, but he sure likes lining it up from deep against Cleveland, hitting at least two 3-pointers six times in eight career meetings with the Cavs.
Cavaliers vs Magic SGP
Under 228 points
Evan Mobley Under 8.5 rebounds
Desmond Bane Over 1.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dime Droppers!
Let's go deep with a pair of leading scorers who have been dealing the rock well lately. Paolo Banchero has led Orlando in assists in five of the last six, with 5+ assists in each of those games.
Donovan Mitchell has led the Cavs in assists in six of the last eight, but he's mostly a bucket-getter against Orlando. Mitchell has just a pair of 7+ assist games vs the Magic in nine games since joining the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers vs Magic SGP
Under 228 points
Evan Mobley Under 8.5 rebounds
Desmond Bane Over 1.5 made threes
Paolo Banchero Over 4.5 assists
Donovan Mitchell Over 6.5 assists
Cavaliers vs Magic odds
Spread: Cavaliers -1 (-110) | Magic +1 (-110)
Moneyline: Cavaliers +100 | Magic -120
Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Magic betting trend to know
Orlando has won eight of its last nine home games following a loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Magic.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Ohio, FDSN Florida
Cavaliers vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Patrick Reed will take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic after shooting 5-under 67 on Saturday, as Rory McIlroy's chances of a record-extending fifth title virtually disappeared.
Reed, the former Masters champion who now plays on the LIV Golf circuit, tapped in at No. 18 for his seventh birdie of the third round at Emirates Golf Club to move onto 14-under 202 for the week.
Leading the chase was David Puig, another LIV player, who shot 66 to jump to second place. A further shot back was Viktor Hovland, who had a 65 that tied the lowest round of the day, and Andy Sullivan (71).
“I know it’s not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have," said Reed, who won nine times on the PGA Tour — including at Augusta National in 2018 — before joining LIV in 2022.
As a LIV player, the American won LIV Golf in Dallas last year and then in Hong Kong on the Asian Tour in 2024.
As for No. 2-ranked McIlroy, the tournament headliner started the round seven strokes behind overnight leader Reed and talking up his chances of a weekend charge on a course where he has won four times.
The Northern Irishman made par on each of his first nine holes and bogeyed the last after missing a 2-foot par putt to shoot 71, and was 11 back.
Tommy Fleetwood, ranked No. 3, has yet to break par this week after adding a 73 to rounds of 73 and 72.
Another high-profile name, Tyrrell Hatton, made six bogeys in a 76 to drop to a tie for 42nd.
Puig has already won on the European tour in the 2026 season — at the Australian PGA Championship in November — and the 24-year-old Spaniard was tied for third at the Dubai Invitational last week.
Hovland eyes second title
Hovland's last win on the European tour was at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2022, when he started the final round six back and triumphed in a playoff over Richard Bland.
The No. 14-ranked Norwegian has changed his swing in recent years and still doesn't feel entirely comfortable, despite being bogey-free on Saturday.
“Still doesn’t feel like I can stand on the tee and kind of swing for the fences and swing loosely,” said Hovland, who is playing his first event of 2026. "It’s all very contrived and manufactured, and it happened to go straight today. If I get off the tee and in a decent position, I can really do some damage.
“But I really would like to be able to stand on the tee box and swing hard and know that the ball is going to go fairly straight.”
We are two weeks from the trade deadline, and the Celtics are among a handful of teams rumored to be buyers seeking a positional upgrade to prepare for a postseason run.
The rumor mill has swirled around Boston’s frontcourt in particular, and anyone even a little online has seen the team linked to big names like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ivica Zubac over the past month. Both options would require a substantial trade package, likely involving draft capital and the expiring $27.6 million contract of Anfernee Simons, but what if the Celtics aren’t looking at a splashy move?
At this point, you’re probably wondering why, in the year of 2026, the name Mike Muscala is holding any relevance to this franchise. Muscala is perhaps the quintessential modern journeyman by force, a living and breathing trade throw-in whose 11-year career featured seven teams, seven trades and a lot of perfectly fine stretch shooting off the bench.
To some, he’s a hero (he may never buy a beer in Philadelphia again for his contributions to the selection of Tyrese Maxey); to others, he was a welcome bench piece, and to the Celtics specifically, he was a passing ship, whose 26-game pit stop started right at the trade deadline for a team in need of an additional bench big.
Boston finds itself in a similar spot. Between Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, the Celtics have surprised many NBA pundits that predicted a league-worst frontcourt, but they’re still in search of another big man to round out that spot. The bigger names will earn all the headlines, but today we’ll be searching for low-cost, low-risk options that likely don’t push the needle significantly, but also don’t require significant trade assets to improve the position.
Utilizing the Muscala Model (not a real thing, nor quantifiable), we’ll see if this dive into the bottom and mid-level of the NBA’s frontcourt barrel can help the Celtics in the short-term.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 04: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics competes for position against Marvin Bagley III #35 and Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on December 4, 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Marvin Bagley III
There’s a reason we’re starting with Marvin Bagley on this list.
Bagley, in his second stop with the Washington Wizards and fourth team overall in his seven-year NBA career, may fit the Muscala Model better than anyone.
In fact, Bagley was miraculously involved in a trade with the Moose himself, getting moved by Detroit alongside Isaiah Livers and a second round pick in a swap for Muscala and Danilo Gallinari. We all remember where we were for that Shams notification right?
In all seriousness, Bagley, currently on a one-year minimum deal with Washington, is having a fine season off the bench for one of the league’s premier tanking organizations.
In 36 games and under 20 minutes a night, the 6-foot-10 center is averaging 10 points on a career-best 62% efficiency, 6 rebounds and 1.5 assists. In seven starts in place of an injured Alex Sarr, he’s averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.
When it comes to Bagley, what you see is what you get. In a lot of ways, he’s exactly the player he was when he came out of Duke as one of the most hyped one-and-done freshmen in the country.
His shooting range never extended beyond the arc in a way many hoped it would out of Duke, and he’s long been considered a negative defender in his various career stops, yet he has earned a living as a capable, and still quite athletic, paint finisher.
This year, Bagley has cut a lot of the fat out of his scoring, and focused entirely on the areas he already thrived in. He has taken shots out of the mid-range and beyond almost entirely out of his shot diet, and his current 91% shot volume from inside of 10 feet would easily mark a career-high.
Bagley’s game is not complicated. While still a frequent post-player, something we likely see little of if he was traded to Boston, he makes his living as a putback glass-crasher, dunker spot dump-off threat and play-finishing roll man.
Defensively, while a fine rim deterrent and solid rebounder, the expectation would be that, for a third center option, he’s fine, albeit unexceptional, if occasionally frustrating. If we were talking about him as a starter? It’d likely be a different, more concerning story.
All to say, while it can be hard to separate the Bagley that could have been from the Bagley we see today, I think it’s safe to call him an entirely playable backup big, and on his minimum contract, it would take pennies to acquire him, with zero strings attached beyond this season.
Washington is easy to please these days: a late draft pick in any form is a win to them, considering Bagley willingly came back after the trade that netted them Marcus Smart. Between some form of a second round pick attached to the minimum contracts of either Xavier Tillman or Chris Boucher, the Celtics could be bringing in a third center to their rotation that’s a capable rebounding and scoring threat.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 4: Nick Richards #2 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 4, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nick Richards
Keeping in trend with their current frontcourt options, obtaining the services of Nick Richards would provide the Celtics with their third big man option to have been drafted in the second round that worked their way from the G-League into an NBA rotation.
Before last year’s deadline, Richards was the first of a few trades around the fringes for the Suns, who picked him up in a swap with Charlotte for Josh Okogie in an attempt to solve their interior defensive dilemma.
But now, Richards has found himself low on the Phoenix pecking order behind Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, and the small-ball tenacity of Dillon Brooks. Add to that the lottery selection of Khaman Maluach, and it’s clear Richards really doesn’t have a place in the Suns rotation in the short or long-term once his contract expires this summer.
The rumor mill backs that up, and it’s clear it wouldn’t take a lot to get Richards off their books to duck the tax.
Despite falling out of Phoenix’s favor, Richards has been a proven commodity in a bench capacity during his six years in the NBA. In Charlotte and in his first season with Phoenix, Richards proved to be a physical paint deterrent and a scrappy rebounder, whose mission on offense was to screen hard and roll straight into board-crashing duties. His 5.58 defensive rebounds per game last season had him in the 93rd percentile in that category, and his 2.6 on the offensive glass had him even higher in the 95th percentile.
While he has an interior-minded defensive game, he shows enough foot speed to defend out to the perimeter, not exclusively sticking his feet in the paint and waiting for a slasher to attack.
Richards’ game is not complicated, and his effort in the minute details has always stood out, particularly during his final season and a half in Charlotte. He does not need to be significantly involved with the ball in his hands to make an impact, something we’ve seen from Garza this year as a screener and rebounder in his own right.
For a Celtics team looking for additional rebounding and paint protection, Richards checks the box as a career bench big that’s willing to play his role in an effectively high-motor manner.
It helps that Richards is also a quality rim protector. Last year’s tape shows a player whose 7-foot-4 wingspan aided a Suns team that desperately lacked shot-blocking options. It was a temporary breath of fresh air for one of the league’s worst defenses.
Like Bagley, obtaining Richards would not require a significant haul. It’s unlikely a trade would take more than a second round pick to acquire Richards. In Boston’s case, that deal could work as is, however, they could also attach one of their veteran minimum contracts alongside the pick to also make it happen.
Jalen Smith
This has long been a rumored low-cost center of interest for the Celtics, really up until Jalen Smith penned a 3-year, $27 million contract with the Bulls in 2024.
Smith, a former 10th overall selection for the Suns, has carved out a respectable NBA career as a bench stretch big, ramping up his outside shooting volume this season with the Bulls. In the past four seasons to this point, he’s averaged 9 points on 50/34/75 splits in under 20 minutes, and in Chicago, he’s been heavily encouraged to shoot the rock, with 55% of his shots coming from beyond the arc.
In this new role in Chicago, he’s been less of a pick-and-pop big, and more of a jumbo, movement-shooting compliment to Nikola Vucevic, who is the team’s primary screening operator. Chicago runs an entirely different brand of offense from Boston behind Josh Giddey and Coby White, pushing one of the fastest paces in the league and relying on first-read shooting that can often leave Smith in the corner or trailing up the floor with the intent to fire off the catch. In Boston, the role would certainly look a little different, possibly utilizing him in the screen game similar to Al Horford’s role as a stretch shooter.
While it’s inherently intriguing to see a big man with that confidence and range, he has been a mostly below-average 3-point shooter since he shot 42% from deep in his final season with the Pacers, which played a big role in his new contract.
So, does he provide anything else? Luckily, he is more than just an off-the-catch shooter. Smith has proven to be a strong rebounder, averaging 1.97 offensive boards per game, which places him in the 88th percentile in that category according to Basketball Index, and he is in the 98th percentile in defensive rebounding talent, a value that factors in opportunity creation and conversion on the defensive glass.
He is also a solid interior defender despite being slightly undersized at 6-foot-8, using his strength to handle business in the post while being an athletic and active help defender. The field goal percentage for opponent shots contested at the rim by Smith compared to expectations is -7.10%, and while not often a switch defender, Smith is a mobile big that displays swift foot speed in drop coverage and good instincts defending the rim.
Of the three players listed, he probably fits the Muscala Model the least, having been traded just a single time with a price tag that’s possesses more risk/reward than your average Bagley or Richards transaction (although his lone trade was Muscala-coded with a swap of second round picks and Smith moved for Torrey Craig).
Yet, everything outside of Matas Buzelis and Giddey seems to be on the table for the Bulls, who once again find themselves in Play-In Purgatory.
When it comes to Smith, you’re getting a pretty intriguing stretch forward/center capable of getting Boston back into its double-big roots, but the only way a direct trade makes real sense is if it involves the contract of Sam Hauser, a championship piece currently on a fiery hot streak that’s not easy to part with, even with Boston’s wing depth being a strength area so far this season. A more expansive multi-team deal is not out of the question to get it done in a way that adds more moving parts, but if Boston was looking at this option, a hard decision would need to be made.
Barring a trade next week that settles Boston’s trade market strategy, I’ll be back next week for another search for that Muscala-sized void the Celtics could look to fill.
What low-cost trade options do you see as a possible boost to Boston’s rotation?
I’m still shell-shocked. As I type this, I’m still trying to process what Friday night actually was. What it was supposed to be was simple. The end of a road trip. The last stop before coming home for five games, a chance for the home crowd to applaud the effort, the grit, the survival of a long six-game slog away from Phoenix. What it was supposed to be was an exorcism in Atlanta. Instead, the demons won.
Jalen Green, injured. Devin Booker, injured, leaving the building on crutches. Sit with that for a second. What the fuck just happened?
Injuries have been everywhere across the NBA this season, like a creeping fog that eventually finds everyone. For the most part, the Suns had avoided it. They ducked. They weaved. They stayed upright. Then Friday night arrived, and the bullet did not miss. It caught them square in the chest, center mass, no warning.
Now comes the waiting. Waiting for updates. Waiting for timelines. Waiting to understand what the next phase of this season even looks like, and how long these guys might be gone. Waiting while wondering why there always seems to be a tax for loving a team that dons purple and orange.
The irony stings. I spent most of the night before the game writing about my favorite Suns teams I’ve ever watched. A love letter, really. A piece I’ll probably publish later today once I finish sanding down the edges. And like every Suns story I’ve ever told, there’s a familiar thread running through it. No matter how bright the vibes feel in the moment, no matter how hopeful the setup, it always bends toward disappointment. Not immediately. Not gently. Eventually, and violently.
So yeah, I’m sitting in the doom tonight. I’m swimming in frustration. I’m carrying that heavy, familiar depression that only comes with the very specific experience of being a Phoenix Suns fan. None of this is their fault. Nobody asked for this. And yet somehow, every time, we’re the ones left paying for it in emotional damage.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
You ain’t stopping J Good! His energy is infectious, and it infected the second team unit in the Suns’ win over the 76ers. Make it 4 BSB’s for the Dogg.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 45 against the Hawks. Here are your nominees:
Before the big snowstorm of 2026 hits us here on the East Coast, the Sixers will look to turn up the heat at Xfinity Mobile Arena as they host the New York Knicks. While the Knickerbockers have generally had Philadelphia’s number in recent years, the Sixers have turned the tide this season, securing a pair of wins at the Garden in December and earlier this month. With the great Bo Bichette debacle this baseball offseason, Philadelphia sports fans will take our wins over New Yorkers where we can get them.
Head coach Nick Nurse may have his full complement of players to work with, as only Joel Embiid and Paul George were on the injury report, both probable to play. On the opposing sideline, New York just has Karl-Anthony Towns lists as questionable (back).
Despite their third-place position in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have been in something of a freefall lately. Prior to their comical 120-66 win over the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week (winning by 54 points is good, so credit where it’s due there), New York had lost nine of 11 games. It seems like Towns is being scapegoated here, with all sorts of media and blogosphere types coming up with trade proposals in recent weeks to ship him out of the Big Apple. Sourced reporting has indicated, though, that the Knicks have no plans to trade him before the deadline in February. I would agree that the Jalen Brunson-Towns pairing is not viable defensively, something the Sixers have greatly taken advantage of in the meetings this season. Brunson is certainly more of the favored son in NYC, so moving Towns makes sense from that perspective.
The Sixers will have their own decisions to make at the trade deadline, but for now, they’ll hope to see what sort of team they have with everyone available. Tyrese Maxey is an All-Star starter for the first time. Joel Embiid just played 46 minutes and put up a 32-point triple double. VJ Edgecombe will be in the Rookie of the Year conversation. Paul George is having an excellent defensive campaign and settling in as a third or fourth offensive option. Kelly Oubre Jr. is playing the best ball of his career. Dominick Barlow will be getting a well-deserved standard contract any week now. The East is a strange kettle of fish, and this Sixers group deserves to see where they fall in the pecking order.
Zooming back into this afternoon, my main focus will be on VJ Edgecombe vs. Jalen Brunson Chapter III. The rookie did an outstanding job slowing down the All-Star guard in the first two meetings, and I’m eager to see how Brunson responds without the “we were on a back-to-back” excuse Knicks fans threw out after the games in New York. The Joel Embiid vs. Mitchell Robinson matchup is also interesting given the history of that feud(?) and how Robinson’s relentless attacking of the glass falls under a weaker area of Joel’s game.
Make sure you have your groceries stocked up and settle in for what should be a fun afternoon of basketball before the skies open up and blanket us in a foot-plus of powder.
Game Details
When: Saturday, January 24, 3:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: ABC Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
The Houston Rockets were struggling on the road and on the second night of a back-to-back, but they went into Detroit and beat one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference anyway, downing the Pistons 111-104 behind a total team effort.
Kevin Durant once again led the way, scoring 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including 5-for-11 from deep. He also pitched in 7 boards. 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He also played pretty good defense all night, and the middie game was working.
Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 5 assists on 6-for-11 shooting. He had a lovely poster dunk, but he also doesn’t look completely healthy, which he has been open about. Reed Sheppard had 18 off of the bench, and though his three-ball wasn’t there, going just 1-for-7, he contributed down the stretch, hitting Cade Cunningham with a nasty hesi to take him to the cup for a bucket.
Reed Sheppard hesi. KD middy.
Rockets playmakers came up big down the stretch to secure the win in Detroit 😤 pic.twitter.com/TCXWKipZx7
He also played 25 minutes, and Ime Udoka must finally be listening to us, as Reed closed the game and was an essential component of the victory.
Amen Thompson pitched in 15 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a block, while Jabari Smith Jr. had 11 points, 10 boards, 2 steals and a block and played the Dillon Brooks role by picking fights and being the emotional backbone on the court. He was also 5-for-9 shooting, the kind of side role we need to see from Jabari every night. Again, the man is just 22, one of the youngest on the team. High-end role player is still the ceiling with some more consistency.
Clint Capela had 5 points, 9 boards and 3 blocks as the backup center, and these type of performances will be needed to weather the storm with Steven Adams potentially out all year now.
This was one of the best team wins we’ve seen in a while, and especially with Houston’s road struggles, it meant much more. The Rockets move to 27-16 and are on roughly a 52-win pace, the same as last season. They currently sit in the four-seed and will be back in action Monday versus the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hope you’re all staying warm out there. Here in Pennsylvania, it’s current -7 degrees outside, and we’re waiting on a storm later today that’s dropping 12-16 inches of snow. A total of 45 states are currently under weather emergencies this weekend. Wherever you are, we hope you’re staying safe.
I am going to try my hardest to remain calm during this. To keep things relaxed, I’ll start with a simple list of things that happened during that Celtics win:
Late substitution, choreographed Hugo Gonzalez game tying three with .4 seconds left in overtime… ok? All that after a comeback to take a big lead before blowing said lead and almost losing however not losing and reversing a dead-to-rights situation because of two of the nastiest plays you’ve ever seen to get two clutch threes and of course only winning in double OT because of massive AMARI WILLIAMS minutes in BOTH OVERTIMES because both Luka Garza and Neemias Queta fouled out?!
We also had Ron Harper Jr. minutes? Baylor Scheierman second on the team in rebounds? Did I mention Hugo Gonzalez had a few plays where he looked like LeBron? And Payton Pritchard had a few where he looked like Curry? Do we have Steph and LeBron at home? Am I freaking out?
More conventionally, we had a Jaylen Brown triple-double (sure), 32 from Pritchard (yep), and the Celtics have played a quadrillion combined minutes without Derrick White on the first night of a back-to-back during a home game against the Brooklyn Nets. Of course, it was in Brooklyn, but it was a home game. Jaylen was getting MVP chants in OT, it was sick.
Yes, the Celtics were playing the Nets, not exactly your idea of a monstrous juggernaut. But come on man… no Tatum, no DWhite, both centers fouled out, not much from Simons, Jaylen Brown is just John Snow standing there alone drawing his sword against charging horses in that one Game of Thrones scene… and we get it done? I mean that’s just a ridiculous win. Ridiculous!
Look, I don’t have any profound thoughts about this other than what I’ve already said about this team: I don’t really understand it, parts of me refuse to accept it, and yet it clearly, unmistakably works. It is the ultimate example of how, in sports, you really just have to judge the results because we really can’t understand what’s up and what’s down. I had no idea any of these guys were going to be playable, let alone half as good as they actually are.
So, in judging the results, we need to decide if the lunacy that just won us that game is a glorious flash in the pan or if there’s real stuff to build on. For Amari Williams, his performance in a position of dire need is the stuff of Greek myths, like both centers foul out and he has to come in and make some ad-hoc home run touch pass to Pritchard while standing on deaths door? And the game-sealing and-one into the block in OT? Though he obviously has a long way to go, that will stick in my head for a while.
And Hugo, my goodness gracious, I do not know what to think of this man. His effort level is breaking the scale; he’s not actually scoring that much, and every game, it feels like he has 20 more points than he actually does. But it’s all well and good because his play is completely additive. Not sure I’d want him playing 30 mins in a playoff series, but he’s like a hot potato to throw at the other team and force them to juggle it for 10-20 minutes per contest. He creates situations to capitalize on.
He also has one “so that might be something” play per night. He had a step-through in transition that, I kid you not, kind of looked like LeBron. He used his physicality to create space in a way that is generally the bag of much more mature players. I’m not saying he’s going to be LeBron, but I’m officially not not saying that. Deal with it.
This might be bad for tomorrow’s result, given that Jaylen Brown just played 46 minutes and now they have to fly to Chicago where it’s like -652 degrees outside. If the snow storm/extreme cold forces the NBA to move the game from 8 p.m. to noon like they did for the Hornets game tomorrow… well then, just pack it up we’ll get ‘em next time. I imagine they would have already announced that, but I just wanted to mark it in case it was still possible.
I know the Celtics are on a serious Boston fan backburner this week with the Patriots playing in the AFC Championship, but I hope you all spent your Friday night watching that absurdity. It was well worth our time.
