There are bad teams in the NBA that can spring a surprise at any moment, and the Utah Jazz did upset the San Antonio Spurs less than a month ago.
That said, my Jazz vs. Spurs predictions do not expect that jolt to be sprung twice. Find out why my NBA picks are calling for a first-half statement by San Antonio on Monday, January 19.
Jazz vs Spurs prediction
Jazz vs Spurs best bet: Under 117.5 1H (-115)
Afternoon games often lead to slow starts, with NBA players far more used to their routine than the general public may realize.
This game tips off at 3:00 p.m. on the Utah Jazz players' body clocks. That may seem anecdotal, but combine that reality with the San Antonio Spurs' Under tendencies — cashing eight straight Unders before Saturday's shootout between Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards — and the sluggish start becomes that much more likely.
The stats broadly agree with this thought, too. Utah ranks No. 23 in offensive rating in the last 10 games, while San Antonio ranks No. 4 in defensive rating in that same stretch.
The Spurs should control this game in a rout until it eases to the final whistle.
Jazz vs Spurs same-game parlay
Utah is evading notice thus far, enjoying only the seventh-worst record in the NBA, but the Jazz are very much tanking. They have gone 0-5 against the spread in their last five first halves, somehow losing a first quarter to Charlotte, 45-14.
This all may lead to a blowout, but Stephon Castle should clear his assist prop early. Ball movement is ripe against Utah.
Jazz vs Spurs SGP
Under 117.5 1H
Spurs -10 1H
Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby gets some rest
Doubting Wembanyama to score aplenty today is very much a doubt that the French star will need to play much in the fourth quarter, if at all.
Jazz vs Spurs SGP
Under 117.5 1H
Spurs -10 1H
Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists
Victor Wembanyama Under 25.5 points
Jazz vs Spurs odds
Spread: Jazz +16.5 | Spurs -16.5
Moneyline: Jazz +700 | Spurs -1100
Over/Under: Over 241 | Under 241
Jazz vs Spurs betting trend to know
Before Saturday’s shootout against Anthony Edwards, the previous eight Spurs games had all gone Under their totals and by an average of 19.9 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Spurs.
How to watch Jazz vs Spurs
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Southwest, KJZZ
Jazz vs Spurs latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Arizona managed to avoid the upset bug for another week. Thus the still-undefeated Wildcats remain at No. 1 for a second consecutive poll, this time claiming all 31 first-place votes. Last week’s second-ranked team wasn’t as fortunate, as Iowa State tumbles all the way to No. 9 after dropping a pair of road games in the Big 12.
New No. 2 Michigan leads a succession of teams moving up a notch as a result of the Cyclones’ fall. Connecticut, Purdue and Duke round out the top five, followed by Houston, Nebraska and Gonzaga. The Cornhuskers, now at No. 7 and one of only three remaining teams yet to lose, continues to establish new all-time high rankings for the program. Michigan State is back in the top 10, followed by No. 11 Illinois and No. 12 Texas Tech, as those three each move up two positions.
Vanderbilt is another team falling back after slipping six spots to No. 14.
North Carolina went 0-2 in the Bay Area last week but hangs on to a spot in the poll at No. 24, down nine places. Making its season debut in the poll is No. 23 Saint Louis, the first top-25 appearance for the Billikens since January of 2021. No. 25 St. John’s also rejoins the rankings, as Utah State and Iowa drop out.
Even though Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears were unable to pull it off against the Los Angeles Rams, the Chicago Bulls were able to give their city a tad bit of comfort as they manhandled the Nets all game last night. Of course, having your best player in Michael Porter Jr. out of the lineup did hurt some, okay a lot, as so they are now 0-8 without him. But for a team that was so successful on the defensive side just last month, Brooklyn just did not have it in them.
Tonight, the Nets will travel back to Brooklyn for the second half of their back-to-back to take on the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, even though only seventh in the Western Conference standings, have tremendous strides so far in the season. This will be no cake walk, but with MPJ back, the Nets definitely have their chance.
Where to Watch
Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.
Injury Report
Nets have not been announced yet but expect players who’ve been on injury management and played yesterday will be out. That would include Cam Thomas and Egor Demin to sit and those who rested to return, meaning MPJ. Lots of speculation about CamT’s role as Jordi Fernandez made clear: he’s likely to come off the bench rather than start. No word on any trade possibilities just yet.
For the Suns, good news for them as Jalen Green has been upgraded to questionable after his troubles with his hamstring that has sidelined him for 32 consecutive games. And the bad news, Devin Booker is also questionable with left ankle soreness. Jamaree Bouyea (concussion) will also miss action tonight.
The Game
Here are some stats that should give you a glimpse of what kind of season the Phoenix Suns are currently having. Through 41 games, they are the only team in NBA history to make over 575 threes and have over 400 steals. Also, they have the highest field goal percentage through 41 games in NBA history at 65.6%.
With a resume like this, you have to applaud the personnel who helped make this happen. Jordan Ott, a former Nets assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson, is a leading Coach of the Year candidate in part because of those numbers, but also because the Suns are now 25-14 out west, only a half game behind the Lakers for the sixth seed and ahead of the Warriors and Clippers among others.
Aside from Booker, who can score 25 points in his sleep, Ott has specialized in unlocking a players’ true potential. Dillon Brooks, the league’s most infamous villain, is averaging 20.7 on 44.5% shooting, both career highs. Collin Gillespie, a scrappy Villanova product who went undrafted in 2022 is having a stellar season, averaging 13.2 PPG on 44/41/84 shooting splits, as well as over a steal per game. And finally, Grayson Allen is also putting up career high numbers, including 33 points including seven 3-points three days ago
The Nets have seen some good production from members of the Flatbush 5 as of late. Danny Wolf has been in double figures in the last two contests, Nolan Traore is coming off a career high 16 points and a career high in 3 pointers made, going 3-of-4 vs. Chicago and Egor Demin has been… Egor Demin.
Drake Powell has looked a lot more comfortable as of late as well, and if he could provide his level of defense against this fiery Phoenix offense, it would help tremendously. Along with the rookies, Day’Ron Sharpe needs to have a better game than last night. In the first game against the Bulls he was active, providing 14 points and six boards in 19 minutes. In the same amount of minutes last night, it wasn’t the same story.
It’s as simple as this. Defend the three, don’t turn the ball over. If these things can happen, a Brooklyn win could be in store.
Player To Watch: Jalen Green
Jalen Green just posed on Instagram saying
“Can’t wait to get out there wit my bruddas”
He listed as questionable to play tomorrow. I wonder if he’s hinting he will play tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7e34o2RKaT
According to some hints on his Instagram story, there is a chance that Jalen Green will return and play today. If he does, he would be another weapon the Suns will have on the offensive end. While in Houston, Green averaged 20 points with an array of high flying dunks and difficult jumpers. He was offered to the Nets at the trade deadline two years ago along with some of the Nets picks, but Brooklyn ultimately felt the Knicks offer of five firsts, a first round swap and a second plus the injured Bojan Bogdanovic was a better deal.
While helping the Rockets reach the playoffs, Green was criticized for showing up when it mattered, ultimately falling to Golden State and the hands of Steph Curry. With a fresh new start after being included in the Kevin Durant trade, Green will hope to bring success to the Suns organization.
There might be something else to watch … if he plays. The Suns had cameras in their draft room as they sweated out picks in hopes of winding up with Duke big Khamen Maluach at No. 10. When the Nets surprised by taking Egor Demin at No. 8, there were expressions of surprise and smirks. Demin tends to take slights like that personally.
From the Vault
There was some sad news from within the Nets history book this weekend. John Forte, the Brooklyn-born rapper and producer died at age 50. Forte was best known for his work with the Fugees but among Nets fans, his and J.Pride’s “”Brooklyn: Something To Lean On” will always have a place in their hearts. Forte and Pride composed it as as a tribute to Brooklyn as the Nets made their move 13 years ago from Newark and their New Jersey past…
The Phoenix Suns started one of their two six-game road trips of the season with heartbreaking losses to the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons, but ended it strong with a 106-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday. Devin Booker missed the team’s game against Detroit, but returned to score 27 points against New York.
Here are the main questions for Week 13 that we want your thoughts on:
Clutch Game Woes
Since all three of the Suns’ games this week were at one point within five points, all of their games were clutch games. Down the stretch with opportunities to beat the Pistons and Heat, Phoenix struggled to make shots and execute defensively. Against the Knicks, the Suns did a better job of weathering storms. When the Knicks cut the lead to five late, the Suns responded swiftly to secure the win. Both games in which the Suns struggled to execute late Devin Booker was either playing injured (he hurt his ankle in the second half against the Heat), or didn’t play.
Are you concerned about how the Suns played down the stretch this week, or was it a product of their best player’s health?
Jalen Green’s Return Looming
Listed as Questionable tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, Jalen Green could make his return from his hamstring injury after missing more than two months. It has been reported that Collin Gillespie will return to the bench when Green returns so the team’s starting lineup will consist of: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale and Mark Williams.
How should Jordan Ott handle the starting lineup and bench rotations with a career 20-point-per-game scorer about to return? How should Ott handle his minutes? Would you play him on both sides of a back-to-back?
Enduring Shooting Struggles
Dillon Brooks had a rough shooting week, to say the least. He shot 32% from the field and 17% from three, including 1/10 from deep on Tuesday against the Heat. Despite struggles from its second-leading scorer, the team stayed competitive in all of its games, and Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and others stepped up. When Devin Booker was struggling with his shot last month, his teammates stepped up to secure victories.
How have the Suns been able to withstand some of their best players struggling to make shots? Are you concerned about Brooks’ efficiency for the longterm?
For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.
Suns fall to hear 127-121 after rallying from double double-digits in the second half.
Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks all score at least 24 but it wasn't enough.
We are now past the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, and what started as a year of heightened expectations and optimism for the Knicks has quickly torpedoed in the last 10 games.
After winning the NBA Cup, completing an incredible comeback on Christmas Day and closing 2025 strong, New York has gone 2-8 since New Year’s Eve, falling from the clear No. 2 seed to a game ahead in the third spot entering play Monday.
Fans have suffered whiplash from the shift in quality of play from dominant contender to lottery fodder, but it’s important to keep context from the whole season, understand that even the best teams go through bad stretches, and remember the sample of New York outperforming is much larger.
To help us do that and take objective stock on where the team is at the midpoint, let’s give out midseason grades to each member of the rotation.
New York’s captain is having a career offensive season, averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists on some of the most efficient shooting of his career. He immediately bought in to Mike Brown’s new system and has once again proved himself one of the clutchest players in the league when the Knicks get down to the wire.
However, his defense as a whole this season has been worse, which has impacted the team at large. And when the last 10 games of shlock can be largely attributed to a lack of effort, energy and focus, that falls on the team’s leader.
In his defense, Brunson missed three of these losses, but it’ll be on him to help right the ship down the stretch.
Towns is having a bad season. We always preach patience, but 42 games is more than enough sample to call it what it is, and Towns has simply not found any consistent comfort this year.
Perhaps it’s the new offensive system, the layers of added defensive complexity, injuries, or a mix of the above and more. But Towns’ scoring is near all-time-lows, his efficiency is already there, and the defensive end looks worse than ever after a promising start.
Now, a bad season from Towns will likely still result in an All-Star appearance, and he’s putting up 20 and 12 with the occasional breakout shooting night. But this remains a departure from previous Towns seasons, a departure from what we should expect given he’s fighting for the best shot at his first ring, and it needs to turn around fast.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts with center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at T-Mobile Arena / Kirby Lee - Imagn Images
Anunoby looked like a top performer on the team, embracing the new offense to the fullest and making a case for a long-deserved Defensive Player of the Year award on the other end. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him for nine games in late November, and his impact hasn’t been the same since.
He was hitting 39 percent of his threes before the injury, and is only converting 30 percent since returning, while his defense has slipped as well. We’ve seen similar, recurring short-term dips from Anunoby, so he should recover quickly to get his season back on track.
Welcome to Year 2 of the Bridges enigma, where he’s spending another regular season with perfectly valid production on impressive efficiency and few mistakes to really gripe about — yet it remains some of the most frustrating basketball to watch. The reason being, for all his talent (and the cost to acquire it), his day-to-day impact feels marginal when he could be much more aggressive, especially now that his team needs him.
The other issue is Bridges seemed to be one of the loudest voices opposite Tom Thibodeau’s last season, and for the new head coach New York’s brought in, Bridges still isn’t looking for layups, or getting to the free throw line, or showing any additional physicality. Chances are fans will be calling his name for a trade up until he makes all his value up in the postseason again, but in the meantime, it’s difficult not to feel mixed emotions about his play.
Hart’s quietly had a career year and perhaps the best individual season of any Knick thus far. After a bad first four games, Hart has averaged 13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists, injecting energy as a starter or reserve, and most shockingly hitting 42.1 percent of his threes on over four attempts a night.
Those hoping McBride would develop more of a handle or penetration game to give the Knicks some extra points in their guard rotation may be disappointed, but McBride’s seemingly doubled down on the things of which he’s already great. His three-point shooting is up to a sizzling 43.4 percent on over seven tries a game — numbers met only by Jamal Murray, Sam Merrill and Kon Knueppel, and he remains one of the team’s most valuable defenders.
Robinson’s consistently been putting in a good effort in a new system amidst fluctuating teammate availability, without getting increased touches, and while still dominating the glass unlike anybody but few in the league. He also took a few weeks to find his legs defensively and is at a new low from the charity stripe, but however his regular season ends up grading out, his true value is realized in the playoffs.
Oct 31, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center. / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
These grades are relative to expectations, and if you expected more or less from Clarkson than a nice handling-plus-scoring spark off the bench at unimpressive efficiency with high highs (NBA Cup) and low lows (pick a random game of the week), you were bound to be disappointed.
You really wish you’d seen more of it this past month, but Kolek’s emergence into a reliable backup guard that closes big games for the Knicks this season, including the NBA Cup, was the development of the year. If he can shake this downturn off, it will do much to restore the confidence of Knicks fans.
Stepped into a more consistent bench role and hit 40 percent of his threes, defended hard and put up a big 36-point game before getting injured. He’s back in uniform now and hopefully won’t need much time to get back in rhythm.
New York’s biggest signing of the offseason has been their biggest disappointment of the regular season thus far. It’s beyond adjusting to scheme and playing into shape — Yabusele hasn’t looked the part anywhere on the court, seemingly only getting minutes over unproven rookies to try to build some trade value.
The Knicks’ new head coach and their controversial decision to remove their previous one after a Conference Finals trip will ultimately be judged on one thing: whether or not they win a championship. If you want to judge the first half of this season as a marker for how things are going, there’s been more good than bad.
Until lately, New York was in control of the standings and had great team numbers, even winning the NBA Cup on the heels of experimentation, thoughtful adjustments, and the newly integrated offense. The bad news has centered around Towns’ season and the last 10 games, setting up Brown’s latest and greatest challenge as coach.
How he and the team respond will ultimately decide how the regular season plays out and beyond.
We've reached the midpoint of an NBA season that has been filled with surprises — Detroit and Boston lead the East, San Antonio is second in the West — and also far too many injuries to stars. It's also given us jaw-dropping moments, and not just the ones Victor Wembanyama seems to deliver us on a nightly basis.
The midpoint also means it's time to take stock of the NBA postseason awards. All week long, I will make my picks for some of the NBA's top awards at this point in the season, plus get betting angles from NBC Sports experts. Today: MVP.
NBA MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic 3. Luka Doncic 4. Jalen Brown 5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Note: I have excluded from my list only players who have already missed more than 17 games and will not reach the league's (unnecessary) 65-game threshold to qualify for the award. While multiple players on this list ultimately may not qualify, we're not trying to predict the future here.
Analysis of MVP
This is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's race to lose.
As it was a year ago, this was really a two-man race between SGA and Nikola Jokic, but Jokic's injury not only puts him behind now, it basically dooms his case as long as Gilgeous-Alexander stays healthy — at the end of the season, if Jokic has played 66 games and Gilgeous-Alexander 76, voters will factor that in.
Not to take anything away from SGA, who has more than earned a repeat MVP win, averaging 31.8 points, 6.2 assists and four rebounds a game, shooting 39.6% from 3 and being a quality defender on the other end of the court. He is again a team that is on pace for about the 68 wins it had a season ago. Gilgeous-Alexander may have won this award even if Jokic had been healthy.
The rest of this list will look different at the end of the season because there is a real chance Jokic (who has to return from his knee injury by Jan. 30, then not miss any more games) and Antetokounmpo (can only miss three more games this season) could well fall short of the league's 65-game cutoff. Also on the bubble of making the cutoff is Wembanyama, who can only miss three more games this season and was sixth on my list. This could open up spots for Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey, who were in serious consideration for the top five as well.
Doncic deserves his No. 3 seed because of the make-Mavs-fans-cry stats he is putting up, including leading the league at 33.3 points per game. He is the driving force of a top-10 offense, and the Lakers are top-six in the West because of him.
Jalen Brown has been the driving force in Boston and, by the end of the season, could be higher on this list, but he more than deserves his spot. Antetokounmpo has put up statistics this season that are in line with the top three here, but the struggles of the Bucks knock him down a peg.
Betting MVP Race
We reached out to the NBC Sports betting experts for their thoughts on the MVP race and how they might bet it.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst
Barring a miraculous 65-game qualification by Nikola Jokic, this should essentially be a bet on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander staying healthy. The Thunder are pacing for 68 wins and Shai's stats - basic and advanced - are otherworldly as usual. Even if Jokic were to improbably squeak across the qualification threshold, Shai is still the likely favorite given games played matter in an award about "value", and Jokic will have missed a month of the season.
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 12: The hunt for the Spurs’ 2025 offense continued into the second week of 2026, with them splitting another set of games. Despite only hitting 4 threes, they got their most comfortable win since Christmas against a Lakers squad missing LeBron James and Austin Reeves, followed by upsetting a hot Celtics team in a defensive slugfest in their own building. However, sandwiched around those wins were one-point losses at Memphis and Minnesota, both of which featured the Spurs blowing double-digit leads and losing focus in the fourth quarter.
The joy that came from beating the Thunder three times in less than two weeks — with the climax of the Spurs’ hot December being embarrassing them on their own court on Christmas — was finally gone as they hit rock bottom of their 10-game slump ever since. After a tight first half, OKC returned the favor with a second half offensive thrashing that the Spurs had no answer for, with plenty of trash talk and taunting to let out all their pent up frustration from last month. This is officially a rivalry.
After going 4-6 across the last 1o games, the Spurs needed a confidence-boosting win, and they finally got one against a Bucks team that is dealing with its own turmoil and had nothing going beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo and a little spurt from Kyle Kuzma. Meanwhile, the Spurs achieved all three points needed to bust out of their slump: they hit their threes (16-37, 43%), the guards all had good games (De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper combined for 47 points and 19 assists in three quarters of work), and the Spurs took their opponent seriously, resulting in a blowout win that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated, with the Spurs leading by as much as 39.
The Spurs got revenge against one of the teams who gave them trouble during their slump, but they had to sweat it out first. Similar to their two losses in Minnesota this season, the Spurs got out to a big lead early, leading by 25 at halftime, but took their foot off the gas in the second half. A 55-point outing from Anthony Edwards, including 26 points in fourth quarter, brought his team surging back to take the lead late, but fortunately for the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama was able to match him shot-for-shot in the clutch, and a big three from Keldon Johnson sealed the deal (but not without plenty of free throw drama to give everyone a heart attack first).
The Spurs suffered their first loss to the Thunder last week, but they remain comfortably in the top three in the West after surviving a wild game against fourth-place the Wolves on Saturday.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs’ loss in Oklahoma City on Tuesday was the end of their worst five-game stretch of offense (103.4 points scored per 100 possessions) this season, with their trio of guards – De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper – combining to shoot just 34% over the five games. San Antonio ranks 26th offensively (111.0 scored per 100) since Christmas. 2. But the offense returned as they returned home to beat the Bucks and Wolves. The three guards scored more efficiently, Castle had 19 assists and just two turnovers over the two games, and Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points against Minnesota. Though he’s first in defensive rebounding percentage, he’s just 61st in offensive rebounding percentage (6.9%) among 289 players who’ve averaged at least 15 minutes per game. But he sealed the win by rebounding Julian Champagnie’s missed free throw in a crowd of Wolves with four seconds left. 3. With that win, the Spurs are 21-1 when they’ve scored at least 116 points per 100 possessions and 6-3 within the top five in the West, set to visit the fifth-place Rockets (1-0) twice in the next 10 days. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage for the first of those two visits (Tuesday).
Coming up: The Spurs are 9-1 against the eight teams that have lost at least 60% of their games, with the one loss having come (at home) to the Jazz. They’ll face Utah twice this week and also complete their season series with the Pelicans.
The Spurs are tied with the Denver Nuggets for the second-best record in the Western Conference*. What has made this Spurs team so unique throughout the season to this point is their ability to find production from a lot of other players outside of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
Not to mention, San Antonio’s defense has been among the best in the league lately, only surrendering an average of 105.6 points per game over its last seven contests.
(*Note: the Nuggets lost to Charlotte last night, so the Spurs are now a half game ahead of them.)
Coming up: Mon. 1/19 vs. Utah Jazz (14-28); Tues. 1/20 at Houston Rockets (25-15); Thurs. 1/22 at Utah Jazz (14-28); Sun. 1/25 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction: 4-0 — I predicted a game too early for the Spurs to get out of their slump last week by choosing them to go undefeated, but I’m throwing caution to the wind and predicting the same this week. The Spurs will have zero excuses against two of the three worst teams in the West, and while Houston can sometimes be a house of horrors for them, the Rockets have struggled of late. Granted, this is the second game of a back-t0-back for the Spurs, but its an early tip-off today, and Houston is just a 45-min flight away. (I also just flat out hate the Rockets and want this win!)
Kevin Durant described Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki as "somebody I looked up to, I idolized," and then went out and, with a fourth-quarter free throw, moved past Mavericks legend into sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
Durant finished the game with 31,562 points, two more than Nowitzki (31,560). Next up on the scoring list for KD is Michael Jordan at 32,292.
"To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against," Durant said postgame, via the Associated Press. "We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, you know to be up there with a legend like that, it's just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan, it's crazy, man. I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish. It's been amazing so far."
Nowitzki had nothing but praise for Durant after the milestone.
Houston went on to beat the Pelicans 119-110 behind seven 3-pointers and 32 points from Jabari Smith Jr., plus 21 points and eight rebounds from Alperen Sengun.
Week 13 has come and gone, and fantasy managers can go confidently to the waiver wire to add some more quality options.
A young Utah player is lighting up the scoreboard, while a Bulls backup big man continues to show off his versatility. High-scoring guards are getting it done in Dallas and Golden State, while Indiana can officially say that it’s found a starting center.
Cleveland’s premier role player has filled in for numerous injured Cavs this season, and after dominating in Friday’s narrow win over Philadelphia, he’s got at least another week in the starting five.
Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 14.
Priority Adds
1. Jaylon Tyson
2. Jordan Miller
3. Jay Huff
4. Brice Sensabaugh
5. Jalen Smith
6. Naji Marshall
7. Brandon Williams
8. Sam Hauser
9. De’Anthony Melton
10. Sandro Mamukelashvili
Since joining the starting lineup, Marshall has posted 18.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 triples across 30.9 minutes. In those seven games, he’s ranked 66 in per-game fantasy value, yet he’s widely available in Yahoo! leagues. Dallas continues to deal with injuries across the roster, and Marshall has taken full advantage of his new opportunities. With Anthony Davis on the shelf indefinitely, Marshall has the runway to be a useful fantasy option for the rest of the season.
Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz (27 percent rostered)
Sensabaugh has been on a roll, averaging 25.6 points and 2.6 triples across his last five games while shooting efficiently from the field and from the charity stripe. Sensabaugh has scored 25+ in four of his last five, and three straight, including a monstrous 43 points on Wednesday against the Bulls. He won’t stay this hot all season, but Utah should be incentivized to get him more playing time, and Lauri Markkanen has a well-documented history of being unavailable.
Over the Bulls’ last four games, Smith has averaged 13 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 triples across 29.8 minutes. Chicago has deployed a double-big lineup in two of those, with Smith starting alongside Nikola Vucevic. Smith’s minutes will surely trend down once Josh Giddey is back in action, but he’s proven to be a capable backup big man who can deliver meaningful production off the bench.
Tyson is enjoying a breakout campaign, and his strong production was on display Friday night when he delivered a career-high 39 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the final seconds of a tied game, Tyson drove baseline and dished to Evan Mobley who converted the game-winning dunk. He’s a top-90 player on the season and a top-50 guy over the last week. Darius Garland (toe) is going to be re-evaluated in 7-10 days, which means Tyson should have at least four more starts on the horizon. It’s preposterous that he’s still available in 80% of Yahoo! leagues, and Tyson is this week’s top add off the wire.
Huff has provided top-100 value to fantasy managers over the last month, and he’s been a third-rounder over the last two weeks. Across his last seven games, the big man has turned 22.9 minutes into 13.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.0 triples. A guy who can hit triples and block shots while limiting turnovers and shooting efficiently will always have a place on fantasy rosters.
Across his last three games, B-Will has posted 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks. He’s been highly efficient from the field and mildly efficient from the charity stripe. He ranks inside the top 120 in per-game fantasy value over the last three weeks, and he should see plenty of run down the stretch for the injury-riddled Mavericks.
Sandro Mamukelashvili (11 percent rostered)
Collin Murray-Boyles has been the more productive backup center for Toronto in recent contests, but CMB left Sunday’s loss to the Lakers early with a thumb injury. Mamu stepped up and delivered a 20/6/2/1/1 line across 24 minutes. Toronto plays a back-to-back on Tuesday-Wednesday to kick off its upcoming road trip, and if Murray-Boyles and Jakob Poeltl (back) remain sidelined, Mamukelashvili could be in line for big minutes.
Hauser has started each of his last seven appearances for Boston, and he’s offered strong numbers to fantasy managers. Across his last four outings, Hauser has averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 5.0 triples. He went off for 30 points and 10 treys in Saturday’s win over the Hawks, becoming the first player in Celtics history to record at least 10 three-pointers in multiple games.
Sam Hauser was LETHAL from downtown in the @celtics' road win tonight!
30 PTS
10 3PM
It's his second career game with 10+ 3PM, making him the only player in Celtics history with multiple such performances! pic.twitter.com/cZOt2tWMHA
Jordan Miller, Los Angeles Clippers (9 percent rostered)
Miller ranks as a third-rounder over the last week, averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 triples across 35.7 minutes in his last three outings. Miller has seen increased run with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr. sidelined, but Kawhi Leonard is also set to miss at least two more games after sitting out Friday against the Raptors. Though Kobe Sanders has started the Clippers’ last two games, Miller has been far more productive.
De’Anthony Melton, Golden State Warriors (8 percent rostered)
Melton still isn’t ready to play both games of back-to-back sets, so he’ll sit out Monday. Prior to Monday’s absence, he appeared in seven straight games with averages of 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.4 triples across 22 minutes. He’s a top-100 player in that span, and he’s become a regular part of Golden State’s rotation, making him a worthwhile waiver wire addition.
Other options:Jake LaRavia (20%), Ace Bailey (20%), Keldon Johnson (19%), Ryan Kalkbrenner (18%), Miles McBride (17%), Egor Dëmin (17%), Klay Thompson (16%)
See below for additional information on how to watch the Mavs v Knicks game and all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Mavs beat the Utah Jazz 138-120 on Saturday night, headlined by three 20-plus point scorers. Klay Thompson led the way for Dallas with a team-high 23 points, sinking six 3-pointers, all off the bench. Brandon Williams got the start and recorded 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Max Christie finished with 22 points.
Despite recent team injuries, Dallas has won its last two games, and are 3-2 in its last five contests.
Rookie forward Cooper Flagg, averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on the season, is questionable after missing the last two games with a left ankle sprain.
Dallas is 17-26, currently in 12th place in the Western Conference, only 2 games behind the 10th-placed Memphis Grizzles.
The Knicks lost to the Phoenix Suns 106-96 on Saturday night. Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride each scored 23 points in the loss. Towns also finished with 11 rebounds.
Guard Jalen Brunson, ninth in the league in scoring (28.2 ppg), is questionable after missing the last two contests with a right ankle sprain.
New York has gone 2-8 in its last 10 games, and is currently on a three-game losing streak.
Tonight's game is the second meeting between the Mavs and Knicks this season. New York won the first contest back on November 19, 2025, 113-111.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
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The scene in the home locker room was not an unusual one after the Sixers fell to Cleveland on Friday night, 117-115. Reporters milled about the center of the oval-shaped room. Attendants, dressed all in black, scurried here and there, cleaning up after the players.
Veteran guard Eric Gordon, who did not play for the 34th time in 40 games this season, dressed quickly and headed for the door. Jabari Walker and Kyle Lowry lingered at their lockers. Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford, long-time friends and next-door neighbors in this space, commiserated at theirs. And Jared McCain, the slumping sophomore guard (also a non-participant on this night, and soon to be assigned to the G-League), was still in uniform as he sat and stared at his phone.
At the far end of the room, next to the door leading to the areas that are off-limits to civilians, an illuminated message board listed the menu for the players’ postgame spread: Meatloaf (with sweet, tangy glaze, crispy onions) … Honey-glazed chicken … Blackened barramundi (and Cajun remoulade) … Collard Greens … Hoppin John’s (rice and black-eyed peas) …
Somehow home cooking has not agreed with the Sixers this season. Somehow they are 10-11 within Xfinity Mobile Arena (and 12-7 outside it), a troubling trend for a team that at the very least has playoff aspirations.
They are the only team in the league that is above .500 overall, and below it at home. Moreover, they have never in their history finished above the break-even mark while losing more than they’ve won in their own gym.
Strange, no?
When asked point-blank why they can’t win at home, veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. playfully recoiled.
“Oooh, that’s a hard-hitter right there,” he deadpanned, before saying that the Sixers are prone to “lapses where we’re up, the (opposing) team gets momentum, goes on runs and we get a little bit frantic.”
Certainly the team’s spate of ill health has played a part in its home struggles. Paul George and Joel Embiid have each missed nine games in Xfinity, while Oubre sat out 12 (and 19 overall) after suffering a knee injury in mid-November. Watford also had an extended absence.
Coach Nick Nurse was not eager to pin the problem on injuries, though he is hard-pressed to explain it otherwise.
“But I would say that the prep has been great here at home,” he said. “The guys have been great as far as their concentration, the way they’re approaching the practices in the morning, all those kinds of things.”
Still, they have dropped nine of their last 14 home games, including four of their last five, after going 5-2 to start the season. Nurse said he and his staff have mulled lineup changes, changes to the group opening the second half and strategic tweaks.
“Hopefully,” he said, “it will just be one of those funky things we can just turn around. We need to, because we’ve got a lot of games coming up at home.”
There are four this week — Monday against Indiana, Tuesday against Phoenix, Thursday against Houston and Saturday against New York. There are also home dates against Sacramento, Milwaukee and New Orleans the last week of the month.
Friday’s game, the Sixers’ second straight against the Cavaliers in South Philly, was a study in frustration. While the Sixers got off to a slow start in Wednesday’s 133-107 drubbing, they faltered down the stretch in this one, frittering away an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and ultimately losing on Evan Mobley’s dunk with 4.8 seconds left, off a feed from Jaylon Tyson.
Tyson, a second-year wing, was brilliant all game long, with a career-high 39 points, including seven three-pointers in nine attempts. As Oubre said, “He had a halo over him tonight. He was shooting to God’s net.”
Tyson rescued the Cavs on a night when their leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell, missed nine of 13 shots and settled for 13 points, nearly 17 beneath his average.
“We made someone else beat us, and (Tyson) did,” Maxey said.
There were other oddities on Cleveland’s side of the ledger. Philly native De’Andre Hunter, who seemingly can’t make a shot against anybody else this season, lit up his hometown team for the second straight game, scoring 16 off the bench. Another Cavs sub, Tyrese Proctor, came in shooting 29.5 percent from the arc, but nailed three of five triple tries while scoring 13.
Embiid poured in 33 points to top the Sixers. Maxey added 22 but shot 9-for-23 from the floor against Tyson’s sticky defense.
Then there was VJ Edgecombe, the prize rookie. Somehow he took only five shots, making four. Nurse acknowledged that Edgecombe could have been more aggressive, especially in the open court. At the same time the coach said it was “just one of those games where the ball didn’t find him much.”
Little things like that added up. Quentin Grimes missed a layup and Maxey came up empty on a corner three, either of which could have stanched the bleeding when Cleveland went on a game-tying 13-2 flurry midway through the final period.
The Sixers recovered and went up seven, but Tyson sandwiched his last two bombs around Hunter’s fast-break dunk over Embiid, leading to a hectic final two minutes. Cleveland ultimately won it when Tyson collected Lonzo Ball’s inbounds pass against a fronting George, drove the baseline from left to right and shoveled a pass to Mobley, who was left unattended when Embiid came with defensive help.
And just like that, the home fans were left disappointed. Again.
“They were just kind of in their own rhythm and their own flow,” Oubre said of the Cavs, “and we’ve got to disrupt that. We could be more disruptive throughout the game and be more physical and tough with our play – not being dirty, but just going out there and letting the other team know that we’re here to stand in front of you. We’re not going to let you get what you want.”
That’s correct in a larger sense, too. The Sixers need to make a stand on their own court, need to find a recipe for success. Otherwise the home cooking is going to continue to be unsatisfying, no matter how much tangy glaze or Cajun remoulade is added to it.
Is it to constantly pursue new goals, to push ourselves towards our best possible selves? Is it to contemplate the horrors of the indifferent universe in the face of mass human suffering? Is it to gain control over our feeble existence, or simply to delude ourselves into thinking we can ever control anything, let alone ourselves?
However sad, however existentially depressing or brutally nihilistic your answer is, I promise mine is worse. Because right now, the meaning of my life… is to figure out what the heck is going on with this Celtics season.
I’ve often used philosophy — particularly the existential variety — to explain important concepts in Celtics discourse. Existentialism, and its component branches, are (to me) the extension of human reason to try to explain things that resist understanding. Sports, while played by humans, is a lot like that, given that, despite mountains of “understanding” about it, we are for some reason still unable to predict the results of sporting events. Isn’t that crazy?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 26: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
So philosophy has been my outlet for Celtics thoughts that never had real-world applications, and the 2021-2025 arc was perfect for that. It was a four-year microcosm of life itself, complete with failures, triumphs, self-doubt, perseverance, intrigue, boredom, and then… conclusion. Glorious conclusion! No more hope, only recollection and blissful finality.
But right now… things have unconcluded themselves. Right now philosophy is FAILING me and I don’t know what to do guys. Please help me I’m scared and the darkness is closing in and I’ve stared so long into the void it’s now staring back at me.
It was over! Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were gone. Jayson Tatum was out for the year. This was a gap year. I was moving on. I had astral-projected myself from this mortal coil and begun to see things big picture, biding my intellectual time until there was something concrete to dissect, something serious to discuss and get emotionally invested in.
But Jaylen Brown said no, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White said no. Lately, Anfernee Simons has been saying no. Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza have repeatedly been saying no. Neemias Queta won’t stop saying no!
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 22: Xavier Tillman #26 celebrates with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 22, 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)
They all, in one voice that sounded a lot like Joe Mazzulla, said “no, you are REQUIRED to believe in us. You are required to hope that Jayson Tatum comes back this season because you are required to think we can win a championship THIS year.”
And faced with this ultimatum, I have officially blinked.
The Celtics are the two seed right now, and barring a truly unfathomable collapse, they will make the playoffs outright and avoid the Play-In. In point of fact, they might be in the EXACT SAME SITUATION THEY WERE IN LAST YEAR going into the playoffs: two seed, careening towards the Knicks in the second round. What?
I don’t think society is adequately discussing how ridiculous this is, so let me break down this blueprint for success very slowly for us:
Step 1: Lose your best player to an Achilles tear, get eliminated from the playoffs
Step 2: Use that as the excuse to gut your roster of expensive contracts, salary-dump two All-Stars
Step 3: Do not make any significant additions in Free Agency besides castoff journeymen, rely on unproven wings and bigs for massive rotational minutes
Step 4: Every single player on the team gets simultaneously better all at once, while the Eastern Conference gets simultaneously worse
Step 5: Profit
Existentialism is the extension of human reason onto the unknowable, but that is irrelevant when human reason dictates that the Celtics cannot possibly be succeeding at this level. But they are… and you can check this piece out if you want my efforts to explain why.
Because beyond the why are the implications of this whole shabang. Sports discourse is primarily driven by two things: groupthink and reactive takes. Most people in the regular person world will say what they hear other people around them saying, it’s a safe bet, and that is generally a reaction to explain why of course that happened I mean it’s so obvious for reasons x, y, z, and yada yada yada.
But find me who said x, y, or z OR yada yada yada before said thing happened! You cannot, because the people brave enough to actually try to predict the outcomes of things have to use flimsy things like logic and analytics and evidence-based argumentation rather than simply reacting to narratives and saying things will happen to sustain them.
That’s why this Celtics season is freaking me out. Because unless you said something like, “I think Jaylen will go up a level” (no prior evidence to suggest he would, his efficiency had been decreasing year over year) or “Pritchard can become a three-level scorer playing 30+ minutes” (he’d never been anything close to that) or “I think we’re primed for a Luka Garzassaince” (are you kidding me, bro?), then you should be as shocked as I am. But I don’t feel like people are sufficiently shocked.
It is possible that the meaning of sports — not unlike the meaning of life — is the perceived throughline between a collection of completely random events. Because if you stop and actually dissect the reasons for all the things happening, you’re probably going to find more questions than answers.
In short, this Celtics season has taught me the folly of sports prediction in general. If I call something exactly — like when I said we should trade for Jrue Holiday or when I unironically said the Bucks would trade Khris Middleton and a swap for Kyle Kuzma a month and a half before it happened — am I actually smart? If I’m demonstrably wrong about something — like I was with this entire Celtics season — am I actually dumb? Or is this just one big cumulus cloud of randomness swirling around and I just think it looks like a seahorse?
We can draw a line of best fit only after we have all the data, but we can’t possibly predict the data itself. Reactive takes in sports work because that’s just the best we can do. If every take was proactive, we’d have a bunch of losers like me claiming credit when I was right when I was really just lucky.
I use philosophy to talk about the Celtics, and other stuff, because I have a desire to understand the world. But these Celtics have taught me that sometimes it’s okay not to understand things, but to just embrace what’s going on anyhow. In the weirdest possible way, this is me officially embracing them.
The Miami Heat swap coasts when they travel to the Bay Area to battle the Golden State Warriors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Miami is traveling light, with standout guard Tyler Herro skipping the trip due to a rib injury. All-Star forward Bam Adebayo has done his best to fill that gap, with my Heat vs. Warriors predictions focusing on his playmaking.
Here are my best NBA picks for this non-conference clash on Monday, January 19.
Heat vs Warriors prediction
Heat vs Warriors best bet: Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists (-150)
On top of scoring and hitting the boards, Adebayo has dished out a total of 17 assists the last four games.
While Miami expects to have Davion Mitchell in action, the offense will continue to run through Adebayo with Herro sidelined.
On the season, Bam is averaging 2.8 dimes on 4.6 potential assists. But in that four-game frame, his potential helpers have jumped to 5.5.
There’s been a spike in his playmaking over the past month, with Adebayo averaging 3.5 assists in his previous 11 games.
With Herro out, the Golden State Warriors’ defense can focus its attention on Adebayo and force the undersized center to move the ball and create for his teammates.
In his last matchup with the Dubs, Adebayo handed out three assists in another game with the limited Herro in action.
Player projections for tonight’s tilt in San Francisco range from 3.0 to 4.2 assists from Adebayo tonight, with my number at 3.5. That should have the Over 2.5 priced closer to -200 than its current ask of -150 at bet365.
Heat vs Warriors same-game parlay
The Warriors, 16-6 SU at home this season, are heating up and face a Miami team still missing its top offensive threat.
Adebayo has taken on a bigger playmaking role the past month, averaging 3.5 dimes over his last 11 outings. Bam is projected for as many as 4.5 assists.
Stephen Curry hasn’t been as active from outside the last four games, but his projections still call for five or more triples. Curry faces a Heat defense allowing 13.8 triples per game (10th most).
Heat vs Warriors SGP
Warriors moneyline
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Stephen Curry Over 4.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big night for Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins scored 17 in this “revenge” matchup last time and is forecasted for 15+ tonight.
Heat vs Warriors SGP
Warriors moneyline
Bam Adebayo Over 2.5 assists
Stephen Curry Over 4.5 3-pointers
Andrew Wiggins Over 14.5 points
Heat vs Warriors odds
Spread: Heat +5.5 | Warriors -5.5
Moneyline: Heat +185 | Warriors -220
Over/Under: Over 238.5 | Under 238.5
Heat vs Warriors betting trend to know
The Warriors are 5-1 SU and ATS when hosting Eastern Conference foes this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Warriors.
How to watch Heat vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Sun, NBCS-Bay Area
Heat vs Warriors 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 Indiana Pacers are effectively a G-League roster right now. Without Tyrese Haliburton, their offense has dipped toward the bottom in the league, and they don’t have much interior defensive resistance.
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a tough loss and get a get-right game at home. When healthy, the Sixers are formidable, and they should have a full roster tonight.
Tyrese Maxey is playing at an MVP level, and rookie VJ Edgecombe is a defensive nightmare for Indiana’s guards, setting up a clear talent gap that should show for four quarters tonight.
Pacers vs 76ers same-game parlay
Edgecombe is on a tear, averaging 20.8 PPG over his last ten, clearing 16 in seven of those.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s league-worst offense won't provide the scoring push needed to hit the game total, and I expect a gritty, low-scoring affair.
Pacers vs 76ers SGP
76ers -8
VJ Edgecombe Over 14.5 points
Under 228.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Huff and Puff
Jay Huff is a versatile scoring threat, averaging 12 PPG over his previous 10, and meets a middle-of-the-pack 76ers interior scoring defense, allowing more than 50 PPG in the paint.
Pacers vs 76ers SGP
76ers -8
VJ Edgecombe Over 14.5 points
Under 228.5
Jay Huff Over 10.5 points
Pacers vs 76ers odds
Spread: Pacers +8 (-110) | 76ers -8 (-110)
Moneyline: Pacers +260 | 76ers -320
Over/Under: Over 228.5 (-110) | Under 228.5 (-110)
Pacers vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Indiana Pacers have only hit the Game Total Over in 18 of their last 50 games (-17.20 Units / -31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. 76ers.
How to watch Pacers vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Indiana, NBCS-Philadelphia
Pacers 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
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
