The Boston Celtics hit the road tonight for a matchup with the new-look Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Jaylen Brown continues to torch his opponents, but his total is too high for my liking. I’ll explain in my Celtics vs. Hawks predictions why I see value in the Under.
Read more in my NBA picks for Saturday, January 17.
Celtics vs Hawks prediction
Celtics vs Hawks best bet: Jaylen Brown Under 30.5 points (-112)
Jaylen Brown is having an All-Star campaign for the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics. The guard is averaging 29.4 PPG, which ranks fifth in the Association.
This is undoubtedly the best season of his career, and it’s clear that a bigger role without Tatum is bringing out the best in him.
However, Brown’s total is set at 30.5 this evening, and given his recent numbers, the Under makes the most sense here for a best bet. The former California Golden Bear has cashed the Under in points in three straight, and in four of his last five.
Brown has 27 points in each of the last two games, which is still remarkable. But, he’s only hit Over 30 points twice in January across seven contests.
Celtics vs Hawks same-game parlay
Onyeka Okongwu has developed into a very nice piece for the Atlanta Hawks over the years, and he’s averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per night. The USC product is coming off a 26-point performance on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
He’s hit the Over in points in three of his last five appearances, and Okongwu also finished with 15 points in one of those games as well. He’s averaging 15.4 PPG at home this season.
Derrick White is never afraid to chuck up triples. After all, he’s averaging 3.1 makes on 9.5 attempts for a 32.8% clip. Not the most efficient, and White has hit the Under in triples in six of eight games in January.
In fact, he’s averaging 2.5 makes this month for a 26% clip. White isn’t shooting the rock with much confidence lately – he’ll stay under four treys tonight.
Celtics vs Hawks SGP
Jaylen Brown Under 30.5 points
Onyeka Okongwu Over 15.5 points
Derrick White Under 3.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Queta crashes the glass
The Hawks are allowing 15 rebounds per game to centers, and Neemias Queta has cashed the Over in three of his last six outings.
Celtics vs Hawks SGP
Jaylen Brown Under 30.5 points
Onyeka Okongwu Over 15.5 points
Derrick White Under 3.5 threes
Neemias Queta Over 9.5 rebounds
Celtics vs Hawks odds
Spread: Boston -3.5 (-110) | Atlanta +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Boston +135 | Atlanta -160
Over/Under: Over 230 (-110) | Under 230 (-110)
Celtics vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Moneyline in 32 of their last 45 away games (+11.45 Units / 9% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Hawks.
How to watch Celtics vs Hawks
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSB, FDSN SE-ATL
Celtics vs Hawks latest injuries
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The Dallas Mavericks will look to sweep a 2-game home set Saturday when they meet the Utah Jazz again.
Dallas dropped a season high in a 144-122 victory Thursday and enters this as 4.5-point favorites in the NBA odds.
My Jazz vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks have the scoring binge settling down, with these teams settling in Under a monster line on Saturday, January 17.
Jazz vs Mavericks prediction
Jazz vs Mavericks best bet: Under 241.5 (-110)
The Dallas Mavericks are not a high-powered offensive machine, averaging just 113.6 points per game (23rd), but the Utah Jazz certainly made them look good.
The Jazz are the NBA’s worst defensive team, allowing an incredible 127.4 points per game, which enables teams to shoot a league-high 49.3% against them, including 37.6% from 3-point range, the second-worst mark in the league.
A lot of things just went right to have Dallas ring up 144 points, including hitting 19-for-46 from 3-point range, a 41.3% clip, from a team that ranks dead last in 3-point shooting at 33.8%, while also converting 17 Utah turnovers into 30 points.
This is a team that still won’t likely have Cooper Flagg (ankle) back in the lineup, as he’s listed as doubtful, along with big man Daniel Gafford (ankle). They’ll be joining Anthony Davis (hand) on the sideline.
The good news is that both Max Christie (illness) and P.J. Washington (ankle) are probable after missing the last meeting.
Utah will still be without its best player, as Lauri Markkanen (illness) has already been ruled out. That didn’t slow down the Jazz scoring machine, currently sixth in the NBA, from putting up points.
Over has cashed in two of the last three, but Dallas and Utah have gone Under the total in seven of the previous nine.
The Mavericks have also gone Under in six of their last eight. While there will still be a bunch of points, I think the track meet of buckets slows down here.
Jazz vs Mavericks same-game parlay
I think it goes from heat check to reality check for Brice Sensabaugh. A guy who’s averaging 11.8 points just had 27 against Dallas, and he’s scored 26 or more in three of four games, including 43 against Chicago. Consider that in his previous 30 games, he has cracked 19 points just three times.
Klay Thompson is on a mini-heater, hitting at least six triples in every other game over his last six. But he’s been lights out vs Utah, drilling at least three money balls in five straight games against the Jazz.
Jazz vs Mavericks SGP
Under 241.5 points
Sensabaugh Under 18.5 points
Thompson Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thompson stays hot
Isaiah Collier dropped 12 dimes against the Mavs last game, and has had at least eight assists in three of his last four, and in both games against Dallas this season.
Dwight Powell has grabbed eight or more boards just once in his last five games. Even on a team without many of its big men, Dallas’ team collective rebounding effort should keep Powell’s numbers down.
Jazz vs Mavericks SGP
Under 241.5 points
Sensabaugh Under 18.5 points
Thompson Over 2.5 threes
Collier Over 7.5 assists
Powell Under 7.5 rebounds
Jazz vs Mavericks odds
Spread: Jazz +3.5 | Mavericks -3.5
Moneyline: Jazz +140 | Mavericks -165
Over/Under: Over 241.5 | Under 241.5
Jazz vs Mavericks betting trend to know
The Mavericks have won each of their last eight home games against the Jazz. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Jazz vs Mavericks
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, KFAA
Jazz vs Mavericks 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) — Nacho Elvira will head into the final day of the Dubai Invitational with a two-shot lead after a 3-under 68 in Saturday's third round, while Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry also remained in contention.
Elvira started the day tied for the lead with Lowry and started slowly with six pars and a bogey on the seventh, but birdies on the ninth, 10th, 13th and 17th meant he pulled away with an 8-under total of 205.
Lowry is in a three-way tie for second with Marcus Armitage and Dylan Fritelli, who recorded the best round of the day with 65.
McIlroy is one shot further back in fifth after making three birdies on the back nine for a 68.
Elvira's only previous wins on the European tour came at the Cazoo Open in 2021 and the Soudal Open in 2024.
The Dubai Invitational is held every other year. Two years ago, Tommy Fleetwood benefited from two huge errors on the back nine from McIlroy to win the tournament following a back-and-forth final-round duel. Fleetwood was tied for 20th on even par Saturday.
Next week sees the Dubai Desert Classic, which McIlroy has won four times. He has also won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai three times.
The NBA trade deadline is three weeks away, leaving plenty of time for movement and speculation among the 30 teams in the league.
The trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks served as the biggest trade in the days leading up to the 2025 deadline. While 2026 has already seen the Atlanta Hawks trade away Trae Young, both were drafted early in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft before being traded for each other.
Guard Trae Young may not be the only point guard moved before the deadline. Here’s who else could be on the move.
Point guard market
Ja Morant could be on the move from Memphis, with his career stalling in recent years. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Sacramento Kings could be a team to watch, as long as it doesn’t "involve giving the Grizzlies any significant draft capital."
The Minnesota Timberwolves could be in the market to add a point guard, according to an ESPN report, but it remains to be seen if that happens and who those potential candidates could be.
The Timberwolves would be expected to move on from one of their key players to make a notable trade happen due to the lack of “tradable first-round picks” available for the franchise.
What could the Warriors do?
Jonathan Kuminga made his intentions clear earlier this week with his demand for a trade. The Golden State Warriors make the most of the situation and bring in a player who may be better suited for them in the process.
ESPN's Kevin Pelton believes Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. could be a player Golden State could consider. Porter has a $38 million salary, but would add another long-range shooter with size to the lineup. The Warriors would likely have to send a player over, such as Moses Moody, to make that deal come together.
Who else is in the market for Porter? ESPN's Zach Kram believes Porter could also be a major upgrade for the Detroit Pistons, who remain a contender at the top of the Eastern Conference.
There will always be the consideration of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded away by the Milwaukee Bucks. Whether it will actually happen remains to be seen.
"I'm just not sure who the team is that would be willing to go all-in right now for him," a scout told ESPN's Jamal Collier regarding Antetokounmpo. "Teams are looking to hold onto their cards until the summer."
The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped four of their last five games, but they’ll be shorthanded tonight as they search for a win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Both teams are playing the first legs of back-to-back sets, and my Lakers vs. Trail Blazers predictions expect a low-scoring game, with young center Donovan Clingan active on the glass.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this showdown at Moda Center on Saturday, January 17.
Lakers vs Trail Blazers prediction
Lakers vs Trail Blazers best bet: Donovan Clingan Over 11.5 rebounds (+100)
Donovan Clingan is pulling down a career-high 10.7 boards per game this season, but he's averaged 11.9 rebounds across his last eight games. In that span, Clingan has secured 12+ rebounds five times, including 12 in his last game out.
Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable, giving Clingan a favorable matchup against a banged-up Los Angeles Lakers frontcourt. The Lakers will be without their two leading scorers. The Portland Trail Blazers will likely be missing its top scorer and will potentially be without its second-leading scorer.
I’m expecting a low-scoring game and plenty of missed shots from two banged-up rosters. That should lead to ample rebounding opportunities for the second-year man out of UConn.
Clingan has averaged 11.2 rebounds per game at home compared to 10.2 on the road. Given his favorable matchup at Moda Center, I’ll take the Over at even money.
Lakers vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Austin Reaves is still out, and Luka Doncic will sit out Saturday, too. With so much offensive firepower on the sideline, someone else will need to step up for the Lakers.
Jake LaRavia has averaged 14.1 points across his last nine games as a starter, and he scored at least 16 points five times in that span, including two straight.
Without its two leading scorers, Los Angeles will struggle to score points in this one. Likewise, Portland is expected to be without leading scorer Deni Avdija, and second-leading scorer Jerami Grant is questionable.
The Lakers have hit the Under in six of their last 10, and the Blazers have gone Under in seven of 10.
Lakers vs Trail Blazers SGP
Donovan Clingan Over 11.5 rebounds
Jake LaRavia Over 15.5 points
Under 223.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: James Dishes
King James is dishing just 6.9 assists per game this season, and he's recorded nine or more in just six of 22 appearances.
I'll take my chances on the Over with plus-money odds as Luka Doncic is sidelined. Doncic is averaging 8.7 assists per game, and with him out of action, LeBron James should be the team's primary facilitator tonight.
Lakers vs Trail Blazers SGP
Donovan Clingan Over 11.5 rebounds
Jake LaRavia Over 15.5 points
Under 223.5
LeBron James Over 8.5 assists
Lakers vs Trail Blazers odds
Spread: Los Angeles +3.5 (-110) | Portland -3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Los Angeles +135 | Portland -160
Over/Under: Over 223.5 (-110) | Under 223.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
The Portland Trail Blazers have hit the Moneyline in 24 of their last 40 games at home (+15.15 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Lakers vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBA TV
Lakers vs Trail Blazers 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
The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) meet the Utah Jazz (14-27) Saturday in a game with an early 4:00pm CST tipoff at American Airlines Center. If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because the two teams faced off Thursday, with the home team Mavericks winning in a blowout, 144-122. Both teams were coming off a loss the night before (Dallas lost to Denver 118-109, while Utah fell 128-126 to Chicago) and both teams were without their leading scorer, but Dallas’ crew of bench and two-way players made an effective supporting cast for Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall as the Mavs nursed a 30-point lead for much of the second half. Saturday’s clash, the finale of the season series between these clubs, caps a four-game homestand for Dallas.
Big and rich
The presence of forward Lauri Markkanen, who missed the Jazz’ last two contests with illness, has been the difference between the Jazz looking like a pretty competent outfit, as they did Monday in an impressive 123-112 road win against Cleveland, and the Jazz team that gave up 150 points to Charlotte Saturday and 144 to the Mavericks Thursday. Markkanen scored 33 and 28 in these teams’ first two meetings, both Jazz home wins in which they outmuscled Mavs lineups with and without Anthony Davis. Markkanen and center Kyle Filipowski took over in overtime Dec. 15 after the Mavericks had spent much of the game outscoring their opponents in the paint. In their next game Jan. 8 when the Jazz needed buckets after the Mavericks erased a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, they went after Daniel Gafford as Markkanen drew Davis away from the basket. With Markkanen sitting Thursday, the Mavericks turned the tide and pushed the smaller Jazz lineups around, harassing Filipowski into 1-of-5 three-point shooting and coming up with rebounds as they protected their lead.
Brice cooker
Guard Brice Sensabaugh was electric down the stretch against the Mavericks Jan. 8, drawing a charge on Cooper Flagg, finding Keyonte George and Markkanen for baskets, and doing some scoring on his own, including a huge three-pointer and a steal and layup in the final two minutes. Thursday’s contest was not as competitive but he scored 27 on 10-of-15 shooting, the latest in a run of recent efficient performances. Sensabaugh and Lewisville-born George, both third-year players, join a core of young players for the ostensibly tanking Jazz who are developing ahead of the team’s rebuilding schedule. Second-year forward Cody Williams is finally rounding into form after a shaky start to the season; the Jazz are not yet a good defensive team but Williams is a good perimeter defender whose offense is catching up. Ace Bailey, the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft, scored 15 most recently against the Mavericks but was held to one make on five tries from three.
Today is tomorrow
The Mavericks’ bossiness near the basket Thursday was all that more impressive considering that the team was missing the top three big men on the depth chart, plus PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg, both out with ankle sprains. To make it work, the Mavericks leaned heavily on center Moussa Cisse, guard Miles Kelly, and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who all topped 20 minutes. Kelly made three of eight three-pointers, Cisse tallied his first career double-double, and Robinson-Earl debuted with 12 points and seven boards. While Flagg is considered doubtful to play Saturday, the possible return of Max Christie, who missed Thursday’s game with illness, would give the Mavericks some shooting and scoring at the rim which will be much needed if the Jazz have more of their starters available.
For the second straight season, injuries have the Mavericks needing to get creative to field a healthy lineup, using their recently awarded 10-day hardship exception to sign Robinson-Earl. There has been no shortage of tough news lately for the Mavericks, and the forecast after this game calls for six more weeks of winter- of the Mavs’ next 13 opponents between now and Feb. 20, all but two (the Bucks and Hornets) have a winning record.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game on KFAA Channel 29 or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (español)
After a rocky road trip, the Knicks (25*-16) return to Madison Square Garden tonight for a rematch with the Phoenix Suns (24-17).
Not ten days ago, New York lost in Arizona, 112-107. The game was tight until Phoenix hit the gas, leaning on Devin Booker’s shot-making and a timely third-quarter surge to seize control. Jalen Brunson led New York with 27, and the Knicks got balanced support from Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, and Mikal Bridges, but a 14–0 Suns run lopped off their heads.
New York’s offense runs through Brunson, whose sprained ankle makes him a game-time decision. When the Knicks stall, it’s usually because secondary creation dries up or the three-pointers aren’t falling. Or they turn over the ball too often. Or their defense degrades to one-ply. Or their bench players look like Encino Man discovering sports. Or their coach has a postgame, sideline rubdown with that night’s villain. For a team with championship aspirations (and Dolan’s expectations), the problems are manifold. When their troubles are all activated at once, as we saw on the recently completed road trip, the disappointment is spectacular.
Towns remains a confounding puzzle piece: his rebounding and interior scoring can fill up a scoresheet, but foul trouble, turnovers, and general aloofness are regular bugaboos. The eye test alone will tell you that something is off, and the numbers support it. Towns is shooting at, or almost at, career lows from the field and from deep. Furthermore, he is averaging below 21 points for just the third season of his career.
From our distance, we have no idea why the highly decorated big man is decomposing. He could be playing hurt, confused by the playbook, incompatible with his teammates, performing badly in Fortnite, getting old, annoyed by trade rumors, or anxious about his wedding engagement. Maybe he just wants a hug from Mike Brown, but instead watched the coach give that bully Draymond Green a full bear wraparound. Whatever it is must be addressed soon, for two reasons. First, the Knicks can’t win the Finals with their Number Two player underperforming like this. Second, he’s tanking his trade value. Has anyone else drawn a heart around February 5 on your calendar?
Is KAT alone to blame? Of course not. OG Anunoby has played inconsistently for a month, with some nice quarters (he tried to spark a rally on Thursday) offset by stretches when he looks positively wiped out. That can happen when you defend the opponent’s best player nightly, and clean up the slop let through by the point guard and center. The reticent Ogugua never spills tea, but aren’t you dying to know his thoughts about his teammates?
While I’m piling it on: the bench usually fails to contribute meaningfully. You can blame injuries to an extent. It definitely hurt to have Landry Shamet miss twenty-some games and Deuce McBride eleven. Mitch, I wrote about here.
The healthy guys haven’t been much help, either. Veteran Jordan Clarkson has logged a zero or less in the plus-minus column twenty times this season. He has recorded double-digit plus-minus figures seven times, but only three of those games came against teams with winning records. Fellow guard Tyler Kolek has by turns glowed like a savior and looked as lost as a jay-vee high schooler. Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr. both had fleeting moments in the sun, followed by disappearances. Who knows what’s up with Trey Jemison III? And I’m blanking on someone. Wasn’t there another kid, way down there on the pine, partial to baguettes? Pac Man something?
What does all this add up to? Me feeling less optimistic than ESPN.com is about today’s tilt, that’s what (they give New York a 65% chance). Maybe the oddsmakers factored in that Booker is a game-time decision due to a sore ankle. Ignore all that. Booker loves to play at the Garden, and Brunson knows his team needs a hero. I’d bet you a donut—if I knew you and had a donut—that both suit up.
Back home and looking to reset, the Knicks will need sharper defense and steadier offense. Controlling the glass, defending the arc, and finishing possessions are what it takes. Phoenix won the first meeting late by loading up on Brunson and capitalizing on 18 turnovers. New York must counter more strongly this time, and perhaps they will with the Garden crowd at their backs. Let’s predict that our heroes dig deep, wipe the smugness from Dillon Brooks’ and Grayson Allen’s faces, and prove they still got it down the stretch. Knicks by four.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost a close one to the Houston Rockets on Friday, and the path forward doesn’t get any easier when they travel to Frost Bank Center to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
San Antonio is rested and healthy, and my Timberwolves vs Spurs predictions expect the home team to cover the spread and get back in the win column against the Wolves.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Saturday, January 17.
Timberwolves vs Spurs prediction
Timberwolves vs Spurs best bet: Spurs -6.5 (-110)
Anthony Edwards hit a game-winner to take down the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Target Center, but Ant-Man is banged up, and the Spurs are playing at home. Saturday’s rematch offers a great opportunity for San Antonio to deliver a win and cover the spread.
The Spurs are 11-7-1 ATS at home and 9-7-1 as the home favorite. The Minnesota Timberwolves are 9-12 ATS on the road, 3-4 as the road dog, and 5-9 with a rest disadvantage. The Spurs sport a +7.2 point differential per game at home, good for the sixth-best mark in the Association.
Minnesota is on the second leg of a back-to-back set and will play its third road game in four days. Anthony Edwards is questionable after sitting out Friday, and even if he plays, he’ll likely be at less than 100%. I'll take the healthier, rested Spurs and the points as they get revenge against the Wolves.
Timberwolves vs Spurs same-game parlay
The Wolves and Spurs are two of the NBA's best defenses. Minnesota has hit the Over in 13 of 21 games on the road, but San Antonio has done so in just seven of 19 home games, including five of 17 as the home favorite. The Spurs have hit the Under in eight straight, and I don't expect that streak to end against the tired legs of Minnesota. Add in Anthony Edwards' injury, and this looks like a low-scoring game.
Victor Wembanyama has scored at least 24 points in 14 of 27 games overall, including eight of 14 at Frost Bank Center. He posted 29 points against the Wolves on Sunday, and he delivered 34 in his final matchup of the 2024-25 campaign with them. The superstar has averaged 25.4 points across his last five at home.
Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP
Spurs -6.5
Under 228.5
Wembanyama Over 23.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby Spurs San Antonio to victory
Naz Reid is averaging 14.9 points per game this season, and he's scored 15+ in 22 of 42 games overall, and 11 of 20 on the road. Reid has reached the Over on this line in four straight games, including a 17-point performance against the Spurs on Sunday. With Anthony Edwards banged up, Reid could see a bump in offensive usage.
Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP
Spurs -6.5
Under 228.5
Wembanyama Over 23.5 points
Naz Reid Over 14.5 points
Timberwolves vs Spurs odds
Spread: Timberwolves +6.5 | Spurs -6.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves +210 | Spurs -260
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Timberwolves vs Spurs betting trend to know
The San Antonio Spurs have hit the 1Q Game Total Under in 29 of their last 40 games (+16.45 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Spurs.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN
Timberwolves vs Spurs 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
The Rockets got back on the winning track on Friday night with a 110-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were playing without Anthony Edwards. Kevin Durant had a season-high 39 points to lead the way for the Rockets. Durant was 11-for-18 from the field, 6-for-8 from deep, and evem showed off some of his playmaking chops with 7 assists to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block. He did have 5 turnovers, however.
Houston also got a double-double from Alperen Sengun. He finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, while shooting 11-for-22 from the field. He also seems to finally be feeling better, as he was back to doing Alpie-like things.
The only other two Rockets in double figures were Amen Thompson, who finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists on 5-for-12 from the floor, while Reed Sheppard woke back up a bit, also finishing with 14 points. He was 5-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from three, though he’s still struggling getting minutes out of Ime Udoka, finishing with just 19 minutes of court time. As a comparison, Josh Okogie had 1 point on0-for-4 shooting, and he still played 33 minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. continued struggle, hitting just 3-for-12 from the field, he still played 38 minutes. Reed just can’t get any love, even when he’s playing relatively well.
Outside of Reed, Houston got just 8 more total points from its bench, with Dorian Finney-Smith throwing up another stinker with 0 points in 16 minutes.
The Rockets sat Steven Adams and only played Clint Capela 12 total minutes, so the Rockets actually lost the rebound battle in this one, but they shot 46 percent and were 12-for-28 from deep, so perhaps the offense is waking up a little bit.
The Wolves were led by Julius Randle with 39 points, and Naz Reid had 25 off of the bench, while Rudy Gobert had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double along with 2 blocks, despite being put in a blender by Sengun.
The Rockets now move to 24-15 on the season and are in the five seed, three games back of the second seed. They’ll be back in action on Sunday versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
Dončić injured his groin while warming up before a game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday. He'd managed to play in the three games since the injury, with the team going 1-2 during that stretch.
He is one of three players who have been ruled out for Los Angeles, along with Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain).
Luka Dončić stats
Dončić has averaged 33.6 points, 8.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game in 32 games played this season. He ranks first in points and fourth in assists this season.
Who is Luka Dončić's backup?
Kobe Bufkin is listed as the primary backup behind Dončić at point guard, according to ESPN. Bufkin has averaged 1.5 points and two rebounds per game. Gabe Vincent would also be considered. He's averaged 5.1 points and 1.4 assists per game in just 19 games this season, averaging 20.1 minutes per game.
When do Lakers play next?
The Los Angeles Lakers will play the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT). The game will be played at the Moda Center in Portland.
WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Marco Odermatt already has no equals on the World Cup skiing circuit.
Now the Swiss star is set to claim the record in the biggest event on home snow, too.
Odermatt led a shortened race Saturday to set up his fourth career downhill victory in Wengen – breaking a tie for the most downhill victories on the famed Lauberhorn course with Franz Klammer and Beat Feuz.
Austrian standout Klammer claimed his three Wengen downhill wins in the 1970s while Feuz, another Swiss skier, claimed his third victory in 2020.
What’s more is that Odermatt’s four wins would come in succession.
Odermatt finished a massive 0.79 seconds ahead of Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and 0.90 ahead of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni, who claimed his first caeer victory in Friday's super-G.
Lower-ranked skiers were still coming down the course.
Strong winds prompted organizers to drastically shorten the course — making the narrow and tactical “Kernen S” section the key to the race. Odermatt mastered the section perfectly and carried away a faster speed on the exit than anyone else.
Franjo von Allmen and Alexis Money, two other Swiss skiers, stood fourth and fifth, respectively.
Von Allmen, the world champion in downhill last season, took a riskier approach and skied into a television camera lining the course inside the “S” section. Then he crashed in the finish area — although appeared unhurt.
Dominik Paris of Italy was sixth after registering the top speed at 151.57 kph (94 kph).
It’s the first of the two weekends at the circuit’s classic venues, with Kitzbuehel, Austria, up next. Then the focus will switch to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy — with the men to ski in Bormio.
Overall, it was set to be Odermatt’s 52nd World Cup victory, moving him within two wins of matching Hermann Maier for third place on the all-time men’s list. He's also got a massive lead in the standings as he chases a fifth consecutive overall World Cup title.
Odermatt immediately knew he had done something special again, screaming with delight in the finish area and waving to the crowd, which was made up almost entirely of fans waving Swiss flags.
YANBU, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Luciano Benavides exploited a navigation blunder by Ricky Brabec minutes from the finish of the Dakar Rally to sensationally win the motorbike title on Saturday by two seconds — the smallest margin ever.
Meanwhile, Nasser Al-Attiyah safely secured his sixth car title on the 13th and final stage, a flat-out 105-kilometer sprint along the Red Sea coast to Yanbu.
Brabec was hurtling toward his third Dakar victory. While Benavides' KTM was faster in real time, Brabec's Honda was collecting time bonuses for opening the way and extending his overnight lead of 3 minutes, 20 seconds.
Then seven kilometers from the finish Brabec took a wrong turn. Benavides didn't. He saw a headlight turn around and slowed to see who it was. When he realized it was Brabec, Benavides knew the “almost impossible” was possible.
“I saw the opportunity and I took it,” he said. “I felt ready all day. I told everyone at the start of the stage ‘This Dakar is for me.’”
Benavides finished second on the stage to teammate Edgar Canet, who won his third stage of this Dakar. When Brabec arrived 3:22 behind Benavides, the Argentine's team lifted him on their shoulders and shouted “Lu-chan-oh, Lu-chan-oh.”
“It's unreal,” Benavides said. “Two seconds after two weeks and almost 8,000 kilometers is something that is hard to understand.”
The previous closest margin was 43 seconds by Luciano's older brother Kevin. That was another stunning comeback. Kevin started the 2023 final stage 12 seconds behind and won his second motorbike title.
Brabec's Honda teammate Tosha Schareina was a distant third after coming second last year.
Luciano started his ninth Dakar never having reached the podium and just three months after tearing knee ligaments in the Moroccan Rally.
Even after he started the second week with consecutive stage wins, he rode in the shadow of teammate and defending champion Daniel Sanders, who was dominating the race until he crashed on Wednesday and broke his collarbone and sternum. Sanders continued practically riding one-handed and finished fifth for valuable points in the defense of his world rally-raid title.
Brabec won Friday's stage to gather an overall lead that even Benavides thought “was mathematically almost impossible” to overcome.
But, he said, “I never stopped believing. For me there was no strategy any days, I just give my best. I never tried to slow down. I feel bad for Ricky. He did a mistake and (it) cost (him) the Dakar.”
No. 6 for Al-Attiyah
Al-Attiyah confirmed his sixth car title — two behind the record of former teammate Stéphane Peterhansel -- and first for Dacia after a cautious final drive, nearly nine minutes behind Mattias Ekström, who won his car-leading fourth stage.
Nani Roma could hack only six minutes off the overall leader's pace and Al-Attiyah ultimately beat Roma by 9:42, easily the lowest margin of his six victories.
Al-Attiyah has won for four different manufacturers in 2011 and 2015 in Argentina, in 2019 in Peru and in 2022, 2023 and this year in Saudi.
Roma, the 2014 car champion, earned his first podium finish since 2019. Ekström's Ford held off Sébastien Loeb's Dacia by 37 seconds for consecutive third-place finishes.
I remember last January like it is burned into my brain. As the season hit the halfway point, you could feel the dread creeping in from the corners. The Suns were 21-20, and even then it felt like the ground was already shifting beneath them. Everyone knew the January schedule was supposed to be soft. The hope was that it would act as a springboard after months of underwhelming basketball. Instead, it felt like borrowed time.
Bradley Beal was moved to the bench. Jusuf Nurkic followed, playing his final game as a Sun on January 7 before getting dealt on February 6. The whispers were getting louder. Discontent hung in the air. Mike Budenholzer was yanking every lever he could find, searching for a spark. Any spark. From the outside, it felt like watching a car crash unfold in real time. Every adjustment seemed to stack on top of the last, and nothing slowed the impact.
We know how the story ended.
A year later, I still find myself shaking my head at where this team is and how it got here. Back then, it felt like the only path forward was detonation. Strip it down. Cash in the most valuable assets. Escape the weight of bad decisions, a miserable season, and a cap sheet that read like a cautionary tale. There did not seem to be an exit ramp. It felt boxed in. Trapped.
And yet, here we are.
One year later, there is hope. There is a team worth investing in emotionally again. A group that plays with a style, toughness, and grit that actually mirrors the city it represents. Living in a desert is not normal. Enduring more than 100 days a year above 100° is absurd. That kind of environment hardens you. It demands thick skin. Stubbornness. A little bit of madness. The Suns are starting to personify that. Tough. Relentless. Slightly unhinged in the best way.
So now that we have hit the halfway point, it felt like the right time to take a step back and look at this team year over year. Five different statistics. One simple question. How different does this feel from where the Suns were at this same point a season ago?
Record
Last Year: 21-10 This Year: 24-17
Yes, we start with the record. On paper, the Suns are only three games better than they were a season ago, but the trajectory tells a completely different story. They sit seventh in the Western Conference and are within three games of the four seed.
Last season, they were 21-0 at this same point, but the path there was shaky. They stumbled to a 16-19 mark through their first 35 games, then rattled off five wins in six just to claw back to respectability. That surge landed them in the 10 seed. It never felt stable. It never felt sustainable. This version of the Suns does.
Ratings
Last Year: 114.2 OFF (10th), 115.3 DEF (22nd), -1.1 NET (17th) This Year: 114.5 OFF (16th), 112.1 DEF (5th), +2.3 NET (11th)
You can feel the difference between this team and last year’s group almost immediately. Last season’s Suns were built around offense. When you have Kevin Durant, you are going to score, and most nights it is going to be efficient. That part always showed up. It was never the concern. The problem was everything wrapped around it. The defense was a mess, and through the first 41 games, they sat at a -1.1 net rating. That told the real story.
This season has flipped the script. The offense can bog down at times, and that is part of why the return of Jalen Green looms so large, because he is an offense-based player who can tilt the floor. But the foundation is different now. The Suns are sitting at a 112.1 defensive rating, fifth best in the league. That defense has pushed them to a +2.3 net rating, which ranks 11th overall.
It is a thin line, but it matters. Last year’s Suns were a bottom-half net rating team. This year’s group lives on the other side of that divide. That is not noise. That is a shift.
Three-Pointers
Last Year: 571 This Year: 594
How many times did I beat the three-point drum last season? With Mike Budenholzer coming in, the assumption was simple. More threes. That was supposed to be the offensive shift. And sure enough, the Suns are taking more threes this season than they did a year ago.
But the real wrinkle is not only that they are letting it fly. It is what is happening on the other end. This team is active. Disruptive. Annoying in the best way. They already have 431 steals this season, second most in the entire league. Last year’s group was at 317 through 41, which ranked 22nd. That gap tells you everything.
The threes are part of the story. The defense is the headline.
Plus/minus is a fickle stat. It gets weaponized far too often in single-game debates. Even over a week, I do not lean on it much, because it is so dependent on who you share the floor with. I could be out there doing absolutely nothing, but if Devin Booker rattles off 15 points in a quarter while I am standing next to him, congratulations, I am a +15.
Over 41 games, though, it starts to tell you something real. And the difference between this season and last season is loud. A 151-point swing in the positive direction.
This is not the offensive machine that last year’s blueprint was chasing. And I am fine with that. This team has something far more valuable. A defense that can actually shut people down. That defensive backbone is what shows up in this metric. I will take the ability to stop someone every time over trying to bludgeon teams with offense.
Maybe that is the scar tissue talking. I am a product of the Seven Seconds or Less era. I watched those Suns teams light up scoreboards year after year. Beautiful basketball. Historic offense. And every postseason, when it came time to get one stop, they could not do it. That lesson sticks. Defense travels. Defense survives. And this version of the Suns finally understands that.
Deflections
Last Year: 589 (26th) This Year: 829 (6th)
This team hustles. We have seen it all season, and it is one of the reasons people connect with this group. You cannot flip the game off because they are down 15 in the first half. Not with this team. They keep coming. They keep scrapping. They do the small things that drag them back into games possession by possession.
Deflections tell that story better than almost anything. It is the clearest measure of effort. Are you standing around watching the ball move, or are you hunting passing lanes? Are you sitting back, or are you crowding entry passes and making life uncomfortable? This season, the difference is not subtle. It is not even close compared to last year.
That single statistic captures what your eyes already tell you every night. This team plays harder. It plays with intent. And that hustle is the foundation of everything else they have built.
What a difference a year makes for Phoenix. Thru 41 games last year vs this year.
Deflections: Last year: 589 (26th) This year: 829 (6th)
I did not think we would get here. Not this fast. I was bracing myself for a rebuild and thankful it has been, on the surface, a successful retool. Credit where it belongs. Mat Ishbia. Brian Gregory. The decision to bring in Jordan Ott. Those moves are the reason we can even have these conversations right now.
Watching this team does not feel like homework anymore. It feels energizing. You tune in to see how aggressive they are going to be, how hard they are going to play, how they try to impose themselves on the game.
One of my favorite parts of this season, especially as someone who hosts a post-game podcast after every game, has been lurking in opposing teams’ subreddits. It is unfiltered chaos in there. Sometimes insightful. Sometimes completely unhinged. But there is one consistent theme that keeps popping up: nobody wants to play Phoenix.
Opposing fans keep comparing this team to the Bad Boys Pistons from the late 80s. Annoying. Disruptive. Physical. A team they complain about while secretly respecting. They might hate Grayson Allen. They might hate Dillon Brooks. But they all say the same thing. They would love those guys on their roster. That is what the Suns have become in one season.
Last year, this was a cupcake team. A date circled on the schedule. A matador defense where stars could stroll in, put up numbers, and leave happy. This year is different. Sure, the flight to the Valley in January still sounds nice. Warm weather. Sunshine. But once you walk into that arena, you know exactly what you are in for. A dog fight. I will take that version of the Suns every single time.
41 games down and 41 games to go. Seems like a fair spot to take pulse of how the Spurs season is going thus far.
To be clear, the Spurs have been exceeding expectations all season. They have adjusted to multiple players being injured at various times. From different starting lineups to a spree of seven straight games were the leading scorer was a different member of the squad, the players continue to elevate their on-court connections when it has mattered most.
One of the most telling aspects of the Spurs depth was when they went 9-4 while the emerging superstar was sidelined with a calf strain.
That said, they’re not perfect. They came up short in the NBA Emirates Cup. But be honest, at the beginning of the season did anyone see them making it that far? They’re the only team to have bested the NBA champs three times, but it’s the most recent meeting that still hurts. And I don’t know about you, but when I watch Victor Wembanyama, I see all the greatness a generational player has, and in one moment he makes some move that leaves me shaking my head.
One of the best highlights this season is watching Mitch Johnson come into his own as the official head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. His press conferences reveal a young, confident leader who is aware of where he and the team are. He’s not afraid to let them grow at a natural pace. It’s his pre-and post-game conferences bring the viewer into his mindset. One more than one occasion I have been reminded of just how young Wemby is. And all of a sudden I don’t see a bumbled play, I see the potential that Coach Johnson sees.
Patience has been the watchword ever since Wembanyama was drafted. For many fans, a couple of years is too long to wait. We must keep in mind that since Wemby donned a Spurs cap on draft night the team has added another Rookie of the Year, a nineteen-year-old downhill guard who plays beyond his years, and the 2023 Clutch Player of the Year.
When fans take a moment to realize that Fox and Wemby have barely played two dozen games together, restraint on everyone’s part is really unwarranted.
Although the team is young and developing, they’ve managed to bring in a great mix of experience. Fox, Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo can offer so much. Even the latter two who aren’t getting as many minutes offer a valued presence and support to a locker room full of youth and vitality.
41 games down. With a record of 28-13 they are on pace to end the year with a record of wins in the mid-50s, a best since the 2016-2017 season.
Lots to celebrate and lots to be excited about.
How are you feeling now that the season is halfway done?
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Having Mitchell Robinson available only twice a week and the occasional Tuesday continues to undermine the Knicks. It is time for him to go. There, I said it. Load up your bows.
At times, Mitch has been my favorite Knick. He is one of the best rebounders to ever do it, a fun personality, and the longest-tenured ‘Bocker, too. That gives him a lot of rope. But load-management prevents the seven-foot center from playing back-to-backs, making for an erratic availability that must be disruptive to game planning. We have no confidence that he will survive through the playoffs, either. And this season’s numbers don’t justify the special treatment.
Indisputably, he is a prodigious talent on the glass, where he averages nine boards in 19.4 minutes per game. Almost five of those rebounds are offensive and lead to second (or third) shots. On the scoring side, his numbers have always been ugly. This season has been the worst. Mitch is averaging a career-low 4.6 points per game. His free throw percentage is forty, and he is far too cool to try granny-style.
This season, he has missed 13 of 41 games. The team has gone 17-11 with him, 8-5 without. Sure, it’s a flawed metric, but his plus-minus statistics suggest he has added to 13 games, of which the team won 11. In the 15 games where he was a zero or negative plus-minus, the team went 6-9.
Forgive my math (and tired eyes), but it looks like he’s played in 68% of the games so far this season, and contributed most positively in roughly half of his appearances. So, if he plays and he’s good, the team wins. The rest of the time—like 75% of the time—the team needs a reliable center.
Pipe down, I know Karl-Anthony Towns often starts at that position. But we have seen first-hand what Minnesota knew, which is that KAT cannot be your last line of defense. The guy is a turnstile whose natural inclination is to foul at the rim. That’s why Minny gave up so much to get Rudy Gobert. The big Frenchman made up for the defensive sins of Karl, who is otherwise a scoring-savant.
(These are the days I’m especially grateful for all those years of the venerable Patrick Ewing.)
The solution does not appear to be on the roster. Early this season, back-up center Ariel Hukporti had us hyped enough at times to bandy about potential nicknames. Then he crashed back to Earth with some truly dud performances and a bagful of DNPs. I’m not entirely out on him, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of coaching up going on.
Guerschon Yabusele is not a center. Period. He may also not be a Knick . . . let me refresh my news feed.
So there’s KAT, Mitch, and Ariel on the depth chart. Those are your centers. Do you have faith in those guys landing the Larry O’Brien trophy? If so, you’re more generous than this writer.
A smart decision, from a basketball and business standpoint, would be to trade Robinson for a seven-footer by the February 5 deadline. He’s making $12.95 M this year and will likely hit the open market this summer as a UFA.
As for a trade: Who would want this oft-injured player who needs a new contract and plays limited games? And what big men are possibly available on the market before the deadline? Let’s ponder those topics with fresh eyes in another article. I just woke up at 4 a.m. with a burning desire to get this out of my system. Because: crazy.
Truly, I thought to unburden myself of this belief would be a relief (try saying that like Clyde, it’s fun). What I feel is bummed. There are numerous reasons, beyond basketball ability, to be fond of Mitch. The guy is a genuinely good egg; for starters, Google what he did for his grieving high school coach. In the locker room, his teammates seem to have enjoyed his jester personality (maybe with the exception of Randle). His is always the next jersey I will buy if I ever decide that I don’t have too many in the back of my closet already. Sure, his taste in music sucks. He still commits crimes on the free throw line. No one’s perfect. To see him leave New York will hurt the regions of my heart that have not yet hardened, and it will make the product even more bland. But if the Knicks are serious about raising another banner, it’s time to replace Mitch with a dependable, durable, and available center.
