Crow. Best served cold, apparently. I should know. I have spent plenty of time eating it myself after takes that aged poorly. But around the league, there is a whole lot of crow getting passed around right now as the Suns keep churning out an unexpectedly successful season and quietly building one of the better stories in the NBA so far.

You do not have to take my word for it. National outlets are starting to say it out loud. Phoenix is earning respect.

John Schuhmann of NBA.com has the Suns slotted at the fifth overall spot in this week’s power rankings.

The Suns were without Devin Booker in Detroit on Thursday, when they blew a 16-point lead and lost by three, scoring just 15 points on 25 fourth-quarter possessions. Their offense hasn’t been great (115.8 points scored per 100 possessions) with Booker on the floor, but they’re now 1-3 without him, having scored just 101.3 per 100 over those four games. Of course, all four have been on the road and against teams — Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Detroit — that rank in the top nine defensively.

Booker returned on Saturday, when the Suns beat the Knicks, who were playing without Jalen Brunson. Mitchell Robinson was there, but the Suns outscored New York (21-17) on second chances. While Phoenix is one of nine teams that have scored fewer points per 100 possessions than they did last season, it’s seen the league’s biggest jump in offensive rebounding percentage, from 26.4% (26th) last season to 33.6% (sixth) this season.

The Suns’ starting lineup didn’t have its best night at Madison Square Garden, but bench minutes were huge as they erased two separate, 10-point deficits. Grayson Allen continues to close games, and the Suns have outscored opponents by 13.4 points per 100 possessions in 486 minutes with both Jordan Goodwin and Oso Ighodaro on the floor, and they have the league’s fifth-ranked bench overall.

ESPN dished out midseason grades, and Kevin Pelton gave the Suns an “A” for their efforts thus far.

Thus far, team owner Mat Ishbia was right and the experts (myself included) were wrong about the Suns’ offseason makeover, which saw them say farewell to marquee additions Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. In their place, Phoenix has built a hard-playing squad in the image of newcomer Dillon Brooks that excels at forcing turnovers and has barely dropped off offensively from last year’s star-studded team, going from 13th in offensive rating to 15th. Collin Gillespie’s emergence as a capable starting point guard has been one of the season’s best stories — earning him the nickname “Villain Jr.” from Brooks — and new coach Jordan Ott looks like he’ll put an end to the revolving door on the Suns’

The Athletic is a bit more bullish on the Suns than most. They have Phoenix sitting ninth in their power rankings, tucked right behind the Golden State Warriors. Because of course they do. The Warriors are always going to live near the top of those lists. Clicks are undefeated.

Law Murray put it this way:

I don’t think it is likely that Booker gets selected as a starter, but I feel like he should be rewarded for a Suns team that basically is in the same spot in the standings as the Lakers despite significantly less talent. Jalen Green is expected to finally play his sixth quarter of the season this week. Booker is one of 20 players averaging at least 25 points per game, and of those 20 players, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham and Jamal Murray have won more games than Booker this season.

ESPN’s power rankings have the Suns sitting in 9th, and despite a three-game winning streak, they dropped one spot in their rankings. Make it make sense. Dave McMenamin had this to say:

How will Jalen Green be integrated into their success?

After making his return Tuesday, his first game action since early November because of a right hamstring issue, the Suns’ rotation will now shift to fit Green into the rotation. Adding a 23-year-old dynamic scorer is undoubtedly a good problem to have for first-year head coach Jordan Ott; shuffling things on the fly, however, is always a challenge, and Phoenix has had a good thing going so far this season and is riding a three-game win-streak. 

Does any of that actually matter? Not really. The Suns still have to look inward and keep doing the work. They are in the middle of reintroducing Jalen Green into an offensive and defensive system that has been working. That is not plug and play. A player with that kind of shot appetite is going to require adjustment. If they can navigate that while stacking wins, that is success.

What someone writes in The Athletic is noise. And yes, I know I contribute to the noise. Sometimes loudly. But what I think does not matter. What matters is what happens in that locker room, the alignment inside the organization, and the way this team performs on the floor.

This season has already been fun. The national guys are starting to notice. The best way to keep their attention is simple. And to keep doing it the same way.

The NBA season is long and I am aware that not everything with the schedule can be perfect, but it is strange to me that the NBA insists on doing these random 1-game road trips, especially to face a Western Conference team. Granted, New Orleans is not as far West as a team like the Lakers, but it is still a further trip than playing somebody in the Midwest.

With that being said, the New Orleans Pelicans are not a very good team, but this game feels like it could be a bit of a trap game given the above information. Plus, the Pistons are coming off a physical, hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics on Monday.

This game could be used as a “rest game” for players that are clearly nursing injuries like Cade Cunningham. He is not currently listed on the injury report, so that may not be the plan, but as the Pistons have proven many times this season, they are equipped to win games against lesser teams without Cade.

The Pistons have also done a pretty good about not looking past teams that they are heavily-favored against for the most part this season, but this just feels like one of those games. The only time they seem to have done it is while on the road against a team from the West.

Game Vitals

Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
When: Wednesday, January 21 at 8 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-9.5)

Analysis

The New Orleans Pelicans have been a mess this season. They have every incentive to win as many games as possible, given the fact they owe their first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, but they just cannot seem to put things together.

They have dealt with injuries to players like Zion Williamson as they do every season, but for the most part, their main building blocks have been healthy this season. Trey Murphy III has played 41 games, even Zion has still played 29 games, and Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have played in most of the games this season.

For tonight, the only regular rotation player for sure missing is Jose Alvarado, although they could also be without Herb Jones, who has missed the last few games and is a game-time decision.

Despite all of that, the Pelicans just have not been very good. If you look at their roster and even their bench, they have some solid players. Trey Murphy III has been great this season and is a popular trade candidate around the league. Zion Williamson has been his usual efficient self when he has played. Derik Queen has been fun and is one of the contenders for Rookie of the Year. Even Jeremiah Fears is having a solid year for a young rookie guard. Even old friend Saddiq Bey is even having a great year starting for the Pelicans in his return from a Torn ACL.

For whatever reason, the formula just has not worked. The team has talent, which is why I am concerned by a trap game due to the quick road trip, but things could also come unraveled and the Pistons blow out the Pelicans. You really do not know what you are going to get.

I mentioned it above, but based on the initial injury report I do not foresee it happening, but this would be a good game to give somebody like Cade Cunningham a rest. He has been able to impact the game offensively through his passing, but his wrist contusion he suffered against the Knicks has clearly been bothering him when it comes to shooting. He shot 4-of-17 in the win against the Celtics on Monday, but also had 14 assists and no turnovers.

He went back to the locker room towards the end of the game and had some ice on his ribs, so he is clearly beat up. That is life as a number one option in the league when you play with a team full of guys that are not anywhere near the level of threat offensively as you are, but it could also be beneficial to give him a rest with games against the Rockets and Kings still coming up this weekend.

Right now, the only player on the injury report for the Pistons is Caris LeVert with an illness. And if we are being honest, that is more of a positive than a negative given LeVert’s struggles this season. If he does not play, Daniss Jenkins will get his minutes, I would anticipate.

I think this game goes one of two ways, the nearly-full strength Pistons run the New Orleans Pelicans out of the gym early and get their starters a rest night, or they look past the Pelicans and end up in a dog fight to the final buzzer like they had to on Monday. The Pistons rarely get blown out due to their defense, but they have had some weird games against lesser Western Conference teams on the road like losing to Jazz and almost blowing a huge lead against the Kings just last month.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (31-10): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

New Orleans Pelicans (10-35): Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Derik Queen

The Knicks (25*-18) assemble on their home court again, desperate to avoid a season-worst, fifth-straight loss. They couldn’t ask for a better opponent to right the ship. The Brooklyn Nets (12-29), mired in a rebuild season, limp into the Garden having lost seven of their last eight games.

The Knicks’ four-game skid (as well as the one that came before it) has exposed familiar vulnerabilities on both sides of the ball. In Saturday’s 114-97 home loss to Dallas, the Knicks coughed up 17 turnovers and allowed one of the league’s worst three-ball teams to shoot 47% from beyond the arc. New York never led in a game against a shorthanded squad that ranks near the bottom of the Western Conference.

There’s always a silver lining. In this case, the Knicks are still loaded with the same talent that had some predicting them to go all the way this season. If they haven’t given up on coach Mike Brown or each other, this adversity might help to fortify their resolve, to make them stronger. A victory against an outclassed Nets squad could be the first step on New York’s road to redemption.

If they lose? Commence the firesale!

The Knicks will have their full rotation available tonight, while Brooklyn’s depth could be tested. Haywood Highsmith is out with a knee injury, and Day’Ron Sharpe is listed as questionable with an illness.

The Knicks demolished Brooklyn 134-98 at the Garden in their first meeting, then cruised to a 113-100 road win on November 24 behind Karl-Anthony Towns’ 37-point, 12-rebound performance. That victory extended New York’s winning streak over Brooklyn to 12 consecutive games—the longest in the rivalry’s history.

Prediction

ESPN.com has the Knicks as heavy home favorites, picking them at almost 80%. That seems generous, given the recent fumbles and stumbles, but New York has good reason to be considered favorites. Brooklyn is a try-hard club under Jordi Fernández, but New York is the better team on paper and should be desperate for a win. Emphasis on should be. A win won’t drastically change minds about the state of the Knicks, but it will help. In an encouraging display of pride and talent, New York wins this one by a dozen.

Game Details

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 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.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City’s players will refund ticket costs for fans who traveled to Norway for the team’s shocking 3-1 loss to tiny Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.

City striker Erling Haaland apologized immediately after Tuesday’s game for City’s performance, saying it was “embarrassing.”

Haaland is in a captains' group also containing Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Rodri, and they said in a joint statement Wednesday that the players will reimburse the 374 supporters who made the long journey to Bodø, which is located north of the Arctic Circle.

“Our supporters mean everything to us,” the statement read. “We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world.

“We also recognize that it was a lot of traveling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch. Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who traveled to Bodo is the least we can do.”

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Austin Reaves’ career season will ultimately go unrewarded.

As a result of his calf strain, which has had him out since Christmas Day and cost him three games before that, Reaves can now not meet the 65-game minimum, making him ineligible for any awards or All-NBA consideration.

The NBA’s 65-game minimum for award eligibility is certainly a controversial rule. It also means that Reaves, who certainly was playing at an All-NBA level before this calf injury, is going to see his strong start to the year go completely for naught.

So far this year, Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. Impressively, he’s doing it on improved efficiency, too, as he’s shooting 50.7% from the field. While his 36.5% shooting from range is just below his career number, his effective field goal percentage is 59%, the second-best mark of his career.

Reaves helped the Lakers weather rough waters to start the year after early injuries to LeBron James and Luka Dončić, elevating to a superstar in the process. He poured in 51 points in a win over the Kings and hit a game-winner against the Wolves days later, the highlight of his season so far.

As for the NBA’s rule, it has come under greater scrutiny this season than ever before. Injuries to Nikola Jokic and LeBron James mean both are unlikely to be eligible for awards.

It won’t be something changed midseason, but don’t be surprised if it’s something that is addressed in the offseason.

The good news is that head coach JJ Redick said the expectation is for Reaves to return during this upcoming road trip. However, it’ll still be a bit too little, too late when it comes to awards.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Nothing doing. The Brooklyn Nets returned home to face a revitalized Phoenix Suns team on Monday night. Brooklyn battled, but the Suns were too much to handle. The L was their second in a row and dropped the Nets to 2-9 in January.

The opponent tonight… boy I don’t know. The New York Knicks walked in to this season with championship expectations and an Eastern Conference that was theirs for the taking. After winning the NBA Cup, it looked like they were on the road to a top seed and a run of good feelings. And then … things fell apart in a hurry. They got embarrassed at home on MLK Day on national tv against the Dallas Mavericks and have lost four straight games and eight out of their last ten. In fact, the Nets and Knicks have the same record over the last 11: 2-9. The sky isn’t falling, but things aren’t pretty on 33rd and 7th right now.

Where to follow the game

Ah we’ve got a full house tonight. YES Network and MSG on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. ESPN Radio and WFAN on radio. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.

Injuries

Day’ron Sharpe is questionable. Ben Saraf remains with Long Island.

Nothing doing for the Knicks.

The game

New York won the first two meetings in November. The season series wraps up in March.

There will be tons of scoring in this one. In January, the Knicks’ team defensive rating is 118.4, 27th in the league. After a great December, the Nets’ defense has fallen off a cliff as they’re allowing 121.3 points per 100 possessions, 29th in the league. Considering how talented this Knicks team is on both sides of the ball, that’s unacceptable and as Josh Hart said in postgame, he and his teammates have to “be professional.” Eek.

Speaking of players that need to be better, Mikal Bridges, welcome to the big time! When he got his wish to get out of Brooklyn a few summers ago, he wanted to go to a team that could compete and be on a team that’s one of the centers of attention in the NBA. He’s gotten his wish and when you struggle on the Knicks, that attention becomes a pain to deal with. We mentioned the defense falling off a cliff earlier, and he + OG Anunoby were supposed to be the top dogs on that side of the ball that would lock up elite perimeter players. If Bridges doesn’t turn things around on that side, things are going to get really rough for him.

Can Noah Clowney do it again? The last time he played the Knicks, he set career highs in points (31) and 3- pointers made (seven). Clowney’s had a good season for the most part, but there have been some rough patches every so often. He only grabbed one rebound against the Suns on Monday, and the Nets will need all the help they can get on the glass when Hart and Mitchell Robinson are on the court. A game like this will be a great test of his progress this season.

If Brooklyn wants to end their record 12-game losing streak against the Knicks, they’re going to need a big outing from Michael Porter Jr. MPJ returned to action after a day off on Sunday and led the team in scoring with 23 points. With the Knicks defense being a wreck right now and Porter Jr having the ability to heat up at a moment’s notice, tonight could be the right mix for an All-Star showing.

The Nets will also need to slow down Jalen Brunson. JB was named an All-Star starter on Monday, and it’s a well deserved honor for the franchise guard. He’s got bigger things to worry about these days, such as ensuring his team is on the same page and playing basketball that meets the expectations of a title contender. For the Nets, having Drake Powell chase Brunson around will be a great test for the rookie and one they’re excited to see. Powell has played well in his minutes and is carving out a solid role for himself on this team. A big time outing tonight will give him a boost as we enter the dog days of the season.

And there’s another rivalry we should mention: that between the two head coaches, Jordi Fernandez and Mike Brown. Fernandez started off his career in the U.S. as youth coach who worked with Brown’s son. Brown gave Fernandez his first NBA job as an assistant with the Cavaliers’ G League club and the rest as they say is history written by Brian Windhorst.

For more on the Knick situation, listen to our Lucas Kaplan talk with Erik Slater on Erik’s Locked on Nets podcast.

Player to watch: Karl-Anthony Towns

So I’m not on Twitter, the Everything app, much these days. The only time I hop on there is to share my Women’s Basketball Roundup newsletter (you should subscribe and tell a friend!) and then get the hell out of there. When I do get on there, the algorithm feeds me SO MUCH negativity on Karl-Anthony Towns. Between the despair from Knick fans (more than usual) and Mike Brown being brutally honest about Towns’ miscues

Mike Brown to @JLEdwardsIII on KAT play: "When you fall down you gotta get up…That wasn't the only play, there were a handful we did that, but there was no sense of urgency…it was a 5-point swing…we watched at halftime & he didn't even cross halfcourt. That sums up our night" pic.twitter.com/eEs1N5vae4

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 15, 2026

I’m starting to get the impression a turn is occurring against Towns.

Determined to not have Twitter cook my brain or steer me down the wrong path, I went searching for analysis from experts who follow the game and not reactions designed to gin up outrage, so I went looking for some real analysis from folks who know what they’re talking about. So I turned to Michael Zeno and our friends over at Posting and Toasting, and buddy lemme tell you what I found was concerning:

“KAT doesn’t seem comfortable in Mike Brown’s system, for whatever reason, but that doesn’t explain the lapses in effort. The team themselves are not putting him in the best positions to succeed on that end, but there’s been an alarming amount of stupid plays, drives, and offensive fouls.

When the Knicks are at their best this season on offense, they’re driving and spraying to open shooters. Defenses naturally collapse when someone is going hard to the basket, which allows for a kick to the corner. They just aren’t doing that lately. Looking at KAT specifically, when he gets the ball at the three-point line and drives, it’s rare that it actually results in a basket.

Whether it’s not going up strong, phishing for fouls that don’t get called, committing dumb offensive fouls, or just getting the ball stripped, it’s just not working. It’s getting to a point where it feels mental with him, where the struggles and the team’s horrifically bad whistle of late is getting to him and bleeding out to the team.“

Yeesh.

In looking at the numbers, Towns’ field goal percentage is at career lows, thanks in part to a career worst shooting percentage on shots inside of three feet and a lack of success (compared to his standards) from 3-point range. And although he had a good game by the numbers on Monday, he got booed as he exited the court for the final time. After the game, he was asked about it and gave a fair, thoughtful answer

Karl-Anthony Towns on the boos at MSG directed at him and the team

"You spend $140 to represent your favorite player with a jersey. You come to MLK Day here at The Garden and tickets are 3x the price. I'd be disappointed too" pic.twitter.com/vrTAznt1mV

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 20, 2026

I see no lies here. Luckily for KAT, he works at The Garden so the boss won’t spy on him… I think.

Nic Claxton will look to continue Towns’ struggles. Rim protection will be essential to any chances of a Nets victory, and Clax will be tasked with forcing Towns into tough shots at the rim when he’s in the post and silly fouls on the other end. The frustration levels are off the charts for the Knicks, and Claxton being able to put another bad outing on KAT’s ledger can turn the temperature up even more at MSG. These two teams are at vastly different stages of their basketball journeys, but all the pieces are there for the Nets to finally get a win against their cross-town rivals.

From the Vault

Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. It’s always good to hear Dr. King speak, so let’s take you back to 1967 and listen to Dr. King talk about militarism and the Vietnam War

More reading: Posting and Toasting,  SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter, City of Nets

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• New York Knicks Game Notes – New York Knicks
• New York faces Brooklyn, aims to break 4-game skid – AP
• What the Nets must accomplish in season’s second half to fulfill lottery-fueled dreams ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• What the fast-approaching trade deadlines could mean for the Knicks, Nets, Rangers and Isles ($) – Peter Botte – New York Post
• Jalen Brunson’s telling answer is at crux of everything for flailing Knicks – Jared Schwartz – New York Post
• Knicks’ Jalen Brunson laughs off ‘embarrassing’ ankle injury – Jared Schwartz – New York Post
• Mike Brown ready to implement ‘significant changes’ to get Knicks out of ugly funk – Jared Schwartz – New York Post
• Michael Porter Jr., Nets have a real chance to embarrass struggling Knicks ($) – Kristian Winfield – New York Daily News

It was a tale of two halves yet again for the San Antonio Spurs in their 111-106 loss to the Houston Rockets. The Spurs were red hot in the first half, scoring 70 points, but lost steam quickly in the second half as they finished the game shooting 39% from the field and 28% from three. Their first-half offense was among the best stretches they’ve played this season.

JULIAN FOR THREE 🔥

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/bfbbsK5e1K

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

It started with Julian Champagnie going nuclear from three. He finished the game with 27 points on 8-16 shooting from deep. He was hitting everything in the first half, whether he shot the ball off movement or with a tight closeout. Champagnie’s heaters are thrilling and make the Spurs’ offense nearly impossible to stop.

STARTS THE 3RD 🔥

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/9p4Wr1J2nJ

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

Unfortunately, he slowed down in the second half. He only hit two of his 8 three pointers in the second half. The Rockets started to smother him on the perimeter, making it difficult for Champagnie to get a three-pointer off. It was one of the main reasons Houston was able to make their comeback late in the third and into the fourth quarters.

Barnes in rhythm 😎

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/iXWsnV4oe3

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

It wasn’t just Champagnie who was hitting shots. Harrison Barnes was 2-5 from deep. San Antonio had four players hit multiple threes on Tuesday night.

Cash from Steph😮‍💨

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/BnMA3EqVrW

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

One of those players who hit multiple threes was Stephon Castle, who had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in the loss. It wasn’t a very efficient night, as Castle shot 5-19 from the field and 2-8 from deep, but he hit some important shots to take the top off of Houston’s defense early.

OH MY STEPH CASTLE 🤯

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/S48U7gGaRL

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

Castle’s best play came in the third quarter when he did what he does best: get out in transition and finish with authority. This windmill is something you’d usually see in the dunk contest, not with a defender coming to contest the finish. And-1 windmill finishes are rare. If anyone has the strength and athleticism to pull it off, it’s Castle.

WAY UP THERE 😳

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/AUdAYi8Gd8

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

Victor Wembanyama didn’t get a lot of shots around the basket on Tuesday, but this one was great. He just goes right through Clint Capela and uses his length to dunk over the top of him. The Spurs could have used a lot more of this on Tuesday. Wemby had 14 points and 10 rebounds on 5-21 shooting from the field in the loss.

RIGHT HAND HAMMER 💥

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/18gppxsu0a

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

With Wemby struggling, Luke Kornet stepped up. He was awesome on defense, picking up 2 blocks, and finished around the rim in the pick-and-roll on his way to 8 points on an efficient 4-5 shooting.

LUKE WITH THE REVERSE 😤💥

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/e49zvgKzOG

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

He and Dylan Harper have established solid chemistry off the bench for the Spurs. Here Harper finds him wide-open off the jump ball for an easy reverse slam.

Dylan with the jumper 😮‍💨

📺 FanDuelSN SW, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/fqV6lx3b8J

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 21, 2026

When the Spurs were struggling in the fourth quarter, it was Harper who got them back on track a bit. When the whole team was settling for threes, Harper took initiative and got shots in the paint. Harper had 8 points and 5 assists off the bench in the loss.

The Spurs will have a chance to get back on track on Thursday night as they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz. Watch the video below for full-game highlights from their loss to the Rockets.

Did you think we were trying to dodge the bullet of covering the ugliest defeat in Knicks’ history here in the Bulletin?

Not really. I was just inside on a 13-hour transatlantic flight and could barely do enough to keep breathing all throughout Tuesday.

Here’s a whole lot of excuses and promises from your New York Knickerbockers.

Ramona on Draymond hugging Mike Brown:

"From what I understand that didn't land well with a lot of folks there in New York"

"People not happy with Mike Brown after Warriors game when Draymond tripped KAT" pic.twitter.com/VlidKTAX5d

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 20, 2026

Mike Brown

On Jalen Brunson’s All-Star recognition:
“It’s great. He’s having a great season. It’s definitely an honor that’s well deserved.”

On halftime message after defensive collapse:
“They scored 75 points in the first half. At halftime, we usually do the clips and talk about technical X’s and O’s and all that crap that coaches do, teams do. There was nothing to be said at halftime except for lock in and do your f–king — excuse me on that — do your job.”

On frustration and doing the little things:
“It’s frustrating; it’s frustrating to me, it’s frustrating to every person in that locker room. And we all can’t get it back by thinking we’re going to go score and get this many shots. We have to embrace doing the little things and right now we’re not.”

On belief in the locker room despite struggles:
“There’s no doubt in my mind. I believe in everybody in that locker room. You can ask them — I feel they believe in each other, too. We’re going through it. We’ve got to figure out how to get out of it.”

On team communication and collaboration:
“I talk to management all the time, Leon and I talk all the time. Even when we were playing well, we were talking. So that hasn’t changed and that’s not going to change. I’m big on collaboration, not just with the players, but with the coaches, too. I will take input. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to make the decision.”

On effort-driven improvement in second half:
“We didn’t change anything schematically in the second half. There were more clips from the second half that showed us doing our job the right way. We have to try to do it for 48 minutes.”

On defensive execution against hot shooters:
“The two guys that we labeled hot were 9-for-11 in the first half. Most of those shots were open or we left our feet. No changes to the X’s and O’s. Just do your job. Play with physicality and do your job early. We all have to do our job for 48 minutes, and it didn’t happen tonight.”

On being fine with boos at MSG:
“I’m OK with the boos. If we’re playing crappy, boo. If I was in the stands, I would boo, too. You pay hard money to come to the games and this is a form of entertainment for the fans. They know good basketball from bad basketball.”

On early-season rhythm and post-Cup decline:
“We felt like we were in a pretty good spot through the Cup on both sides of the ball. For whatever reason, it’s changed. I’m not sure of the reason, but it changed after the Cup. We have to keep trying to find different ways to put them in the best possible position.”

On evaluating everything during downturn:
“When you’re in the area that we’re in right now, you gotta look at everything. You gotta keep trying to find ways where you can help the group on both sides of the ball.”

ESPN reported Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting postgame & said they "need to find answers among themselves rather than the coaches"

He appears to have said similar midgame: https://t.co/RX8ovnOHCa

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 21, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On accountability within the team:
“There’s been a lot of things to pinpoint. But as a team we know what we have to do. Either we do it — we care enough to do it — or we don’t.”

On accepting boos from fans:
“I mean, I’d be booing us, too. Straight up.”

On failing to execute the game plan:
“We just didn’t follow the game plan at all. As a team, we know what we have to do. It’s either we do it, we care enough to do it or we don’t.”

On urgency to fix issues quickly:
“We gotta figure this out fast.”

On belief in the locker room:
“I have the utmost confidence in every person in this room, in this locker room. Just things haven’t gone our way. But we have the ability to do it.”

On effort and care level:
“We just have to care a little more about what we’re doing. It has to mean a little more to us.”

On his ankle injury embarrassment:
“It’s as embarrassing to say versus watching. Just tripping over my own two damn feet. It’s that simple.”

On managing recurring ankle issues:
“Obviously I’ve had things with my ankle the past couple of years. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be in the gym and doing all my treatment to get back to full strength.”

Karl-Anthony Towns on the boos at MSG.

Does he make a fair point?

(via: @sny_knicks) pic.twitter.com/sJPnAU5JNs

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 20, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On team accountability amid struggles:
“It doesn’t matter when. It matters that it did happen. So we’ve gotta figure it out. We have a special team and we’ve got a special opportunity and we can’t just let it go to waste.”

On responding to boos from fans:
“You spend your hard-earned money to come here and for us to not only not win, but to not really have a chance? I’d be disappointed too. Fans are doing their part and we’ve gotta do our part.”

On cutting through excuses:
“You just gotta win at the end of the day. Fans nor us want to hear any excuses. We’ve just gotta wanna get the job done.”

On lack of resistance in a loss:
“We was gettin’ beat, beat to the punch, beat to the basket. We didn’t do the job we needed to do today to come out with a win.”

"We have to make sure we have a professional mindset to everything. We gotta come in & be locked in. We can't go into practice & have things said several times; we can't come out & not execute an ATO…At the end of the day that's the guys that have this jersey on"

– Josh Hart pic.twitter.com/ABTDVyU2yC

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 20, 2026

Josh Hart

On urgency as losses mount:
“We have to go out there with a sense of urgency. At this point, 40 games in, we have to play desperate, because that’s what we are right now.”

On embarrassing level of play:
“We all need to do some soul searching. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal.”

On effort compared to last season:
“Last year, no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today. It was embarrassing.”

On diagnosing ongoing issues:
“If I could answer that question, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation right now.”

On dog days and physicality:
“We just have to play with more energy, more physicality. We have to figure out how to do that for the whole game.”

On professionalism and execution:
“We have to make sure we have a professional mindset. We can’t come out and not execute. At this point, we have to play desperate.”

On building identity through adversity:
“It’s a new philosophy, a new coach, a new system. It’s gonna take time to really build that, and you really only build that through adversity.”

"That's been the main thing over the last 11, teams are coming out more hungrier than us. When you get comfortable, when you've won, I think that's human nature and we have to fight against it"

– Deuce McBride pic.twitter.com/q3pAs2uecq

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 20, 2026

Miles McBride

On opponents outworking the Knicks:
“They just came out more hungry. Teams are coming out more hungry than us.”

On defensive breakdowns:
“They were getting to the paint, finishing, kicking out. We just had no cohesiveness on that end.”

According to Nick Kelly of AL.com, former Alabama center Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order after suing the NCAA. This means he is immediately eligible to participate in basketball-related activities with the Crimson Tide, including games.

“News: Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order and is immediately eligible to participate in all Alabama basketball activities and games, per court documents obtained by @aldotcom,” Kelly said via X. “This will remain in effect for 10 days or until a hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction is conducted. A hearing is set for Jan. 27.”

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There is only one game on the schedule for Alabama before Jan. 27. Tennessee will come to Tuscaloosa for an important SEC showdown on Saturday. Alabama actually has a game on Jan. 27, scheduled to face the Missouri Tigers at 8 p.m. CT. But for now, Bediako appears only guaranteed to face the Vols.

Bediako is a few years removed from college basketball, last suiting up in 2023. He left in favor of the NBA Draft, not getting picked during the process. The San Antonio Spurs quickly picked Bediako up for the NBA Summer League, eventually signing him to a G-League contract.

At one point, Bediako got a two-way contract from the Spurs. However, he never saw playing time with the NBA team. Bediako has also suited up for the Grand Rapids Gold (Denver Nuggets) and Motor City Cruise (Detroit Pistons).

Shortly after news broke of Bediako suing the NCAA, a statement was released on the matter. The NCAA maintains they will not grant eligibility to players who have signed contracts with NBA organizations.

“The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako,” the statement said. “Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract. Eligibility rules ensure high school students get a shot at earning scholarships, and we will continue to consistently apply and defend these rules.”

Bediako was a key figure on a nice run that head coach Nate Oats led the program on, making two NCAA Tournaments and even earning the No. 1 overall seed in 2023. Bediako averaged 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 70 games played. Now, Alabama is hoping similar numbers can be put up moving forward, at least against Tennessee.

The Milwaukee Bucks try to start another of those pesky winning streaks tonight in Fiserv against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As we’ve all been patiently waiting for, it’s NBA Rivals Week, so who better for the Bucks to lock horns with than the Pacers, Celtics, Heat, Suns Thunder! Of course, this extremely bitter rivalry was born out of these teams competing on the highest stage last season in the NBA Finals*. The Bucks reigned supreme, steamrolling the Thunder and cementing their place in league history as one of the few teams to win the trophy!

_{^{*NBA Cup}}

Where We’re At

Well, Milwaukee did win on MLK Day against Atlanta, but it was anything but convincing—as most of their wins are these days. The Bucks squandered a 23-point lead in the second half, needing big threes from AJ Green and Bobby Portis to get them over the line against a struggling Hawks team. Moreover, Atlanta did them a solid by going 1/22 from three (yes, one for twenty-two)—the worst three-point shooting half in NBA history! Prior to that game, Milwaukee got rinsed by Minnesota (down Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert) and San Antonio. So yeah, the Bucks still have a lot of work to do to.

On the other hand, the Thunder—despite having long-term injuries to key players—just keep on keeping on, winning seven of eight. They did go through a rocky patch before that, dropping games to the Hornets and Suns, but have course-corrected since. Over the last eight games, they own the NBA’s fifth-best net rating, but rank atop the league for the season at large. Put simply, this team remains a wagon, and tonight will be a tough one for Milwaukee to win. That said, OKC are beatable on the right night, which Miami showed on Saturday in a 122-120 upset. Godspeed, Bucks.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) and Myles Turner (ankle) are both questionable. Taurean Prince (neck) is out.

For the Thunder, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, and Jalen Williams (the wing) are all out. Jaylin Williams (the big) is questionable.

Player To Watch

I’m going with Pete Nance, who, after dominating the G League with the Herd, got his first shot at real minutes with the Bucks against the Hawks, and did not disappoint. Nance made a major impact with five points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 15 minutes; the big man was +13 for the game. I’m looking at what his role develops into going forward. Does he become a regular in the rotation, or was that game more of a flash in the pan?

How To Watch

8:30 p.m. CST on ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

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Former NBA forward Lamar Odom had bloodshot eyes and eyelid tremors when police pulled him over for speeding at 106 mph in Las Vegas on Saturday, according to a police report obtained by TMZ.

Police said Odom’s black SUV had an “overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” and that the two-time NBA champ confessed to smoking marijuana earlier in the day.

Odom, 46, was arrested for DUI after failing a series of field sobriety tests, and received two traffic violations for driving more than 41+ miles per hour over the limit and improper lane change/failure to maintain lane.

Police said that Odom claimed at first that he “does not smoke marijuana,” and that his passenger was smoking a “little bit” of weed.

The report added that Odom was “driving like he was in ‘Back To The Future,'” the 1980s sci-fi movie.

Odom, who won back-to-back titles with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 during his 14-season career, also forgot to put the car in park when police asked him to get out of the vehicle, and it started to move before he hit the brake.

Police said in the report that Odom failed his field sobriety tests for a number of reasons, stating he swayed, lost balance, started too soon, failed to touch the tip of his nose on six attempts and stopped mid-way through, among other things.

The report also states that police asked Odom if he ever had a traumatic brain injury.

Odom laughed and said that he “had 12 strokes and six heart attacks and that he was poisoned at a brothel in Pahrump,” per the report.

Odom, who is open about his history of drug and alcohol abuse, was referring to the October 2015 incident when he was found unconscious inside the Nevada brothel Love Ranch following an overdose.

The incident resulted in Odom falling into a coma for three days, and he previously said he suffered 12 strokes, six heart attacks and damage to his kidney and liver.

He nearly died three months after his divorce from Khloé Kardashian was finalized.

Odom was arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles in 2013 and retired a year later.

In 2021, he admitted to taking ketamine to aid his sobriety.

The red-hot Detroit Pistons will be looking to extend their win streak to four games tonight as they visit the last-place New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. 

Cade Cunningham’s assist total is extremely high, but my Pistons vs. Pelicans predictions are eyeing him to pick apart a poor New Orleans defense. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 21.

Pistons vs Pelicans prediction

Pistons vs Pelicans best bet: Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists (+102)

While the Detroit Pistons are a well-oiled machine, Cade Cunningham is undoubtedly the focal point of this team, leading the way with 25.7 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. The former first overall pick is an incredible playmaker, and he ranks second in the Association in dimes.

No matter the opponent, Cunningham finds a way to facilitate the rock at a high level. The guard has cashed the Over in assists in four of his last six outings, and he just had 14 dimes on Monday against the Boston Celtics. 

Cunningham is up against a poor New Orleans Pelicans perimeter defense that is allowing over nine assists per night to point guards, and they’re considered an easy matchup for the position. Also, NOLA is giving up 28.9 dimes per contest overall, which is second-worst in the NBA. 

He’ll cook tonight as a passer.

Pistons vs Pelicans same-game parlay

Jalen Duren is a physical specimen down low, and he’s proving to be an irreplaceable piece to the Pistons on both ends of the floor. On the boards, Duren is a monster, and he’s averaging 10.7 rebounds per contest. 

While Duren has only cashed the Over once in his last four appearances, he’s up against a Pelicans team that is giving up over 15 boards per night to centers. Duren will take advantage and have a big game on the glass. 

Trey Murphy is one of the lone bright spots for the Pels. He’s averaging a career-best 22.2 points, and the University of Virginia product is cooking in January. 

This month, Murphy is averaging 29.1 PPG. He’s hit the Over in points in eight straight contests, and during that span, Murphy had three 30+ performances, and also a 42-point eruption.

Pistons vs Pelicans SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Robinson on a roll

Duncan Robinson is on fire from deep right now, cashing the Over in made triples in five consecutive games.

Pistons vs Pelicans SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points
• Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes

Pistons vs Pelicans odds

• Spread: Pistons -9.5 | Pelicans +9.5
• Moneyline: Pistons -420 | Pelicans +330
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5

Pistons vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Pistons have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 40 games (+16.70 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Pelicans.

How to watch Pistons vs Pelicans

Pistons vs Pelicans latest injuries

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

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a tall order for the Milwaukee Bucks, with the Oklahoma City Thunder installed as a big road favorite on Wednesday.

Speaking of tall orders, OKC big man Chet Holmgren has had to play even bigger than his slender 7-foot-1 frame over the past month. 

My Thunder vs. Bucks predictions focus on Chet’s spike in rebounding, facing one of the worst teams at cleaning the glass. 

Here are my NBA picks for January 21.

Thunder vs Bucks prediction

Thunder vs Bucks best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds (-110)

Chet Holmgren’s role in the Oklahoma City Thunder frontcourt has been amplified since losing fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein to a calf strain in late December. The most notable change in Chet’s output has come on the glass. 

Before the heftier Hartenstein went down, Holmgren was grabbing 7.9 rebounds per game on an average of 14.3 rebounding chances. In the 11 games without Hartenstein, Holmgren’s pulling down 10 boards on 17.6 rebounding chances a night.

In fact, Chet has been making a conscious effort to be bigger on the boards over the past two weeks.
 
After recording only six rebounds in a shocking loss to the Hornets on January 5, the 7-foot Gonzaga product noted the dip in rebounding without Hartenstein and pointed the finger at himself for not picking up the slack. Holmgren had this to say:

I just got to look in the mirror and be better in that area.

Since that game, Chet has recorded double figures in rebounds in four of his last six outings, and he has an excellent opportunity to add another 10+ boards vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks enter Wednesday with the second-lowest rebound rate in the NBA (47.6%), watching foes collect 54.7 rebounds per game (11th most). Milwaukee could also be down standout center Myles Turner and reserve Kevin Porter Jr. (who combine for more than 10 rebounds an outing).

Holmgren’s projections sit between 8.5 and 10 rebounds, with the majority of models pointing to another 10+ rebounds. My number comes out to 10.5 boards, which should have the Over 9.5 priced around -130.

Thunder vs Bucks same-game parlay

Milwaukee is offensively challenged at the best of times, without the help of the NBA’s stingiest defense.

Ryan Rollins sees a significant split in scoring at home, averaging four more points on 50% shooting.

Thunder vs Bucks SGP

• Thunder -9.5
• Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
• Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Thunder Struck Bucks

The Bucks are one of the best Under bets in the NBA, and they're now facing OKC's top defense.

Thunder vs Bucks SGP

• Thunder -9.5
• Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
• Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
• Under 227

Thunder vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Thunder -9.5 | Bucks +9.5
• Moneyline: Thunder -400 | Bucks +320
• Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227

Thunder vs Bucks betting trend to know

Milwaukee is 4-10 SU and ATS vs. Western Conference opponents this season, including 1-5 SU and ATS at home in non-conference clashes. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Bucks.

How to watch Thunder vs Bucks

Thunder vs Bucks latest injuries

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

The Governor doesn’t approve of The King.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss soured on superstar LeBron James, privately complaining about his “outsized ego” and the control that he and his agency, KlutchSports, allegedly have over the storied franchise, sources told ESPN in a bombshell report published Wednesday.

Buss, 64, reportedly believed James lacked accountability, including with his deflection of blame regarding the unsuccessful Russell Westbrook trade prior to the 2021-22 season.

LeBron James speaks on video of him saying "Happy International Women's Day” to Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis pic.twitter.com/Zi11Zxm7iI

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) September 19, 2025

James is in his eighth and perhaps final season with the Lakers after joining the franchise in a seismic move ahead of the 2018-19 season.

His decision to head West galvanized a proud franchise that had missed the playoffs in five straight seasons before his arrival.

The Lakers missed the playoffs in his first season before winning their 18th championship in 2020 during “The Bubble” campaign.

It’s typical for players, not executives, to receive praise for turning franchises around, but Buss did not like that James was viewed as the “savior,” per ESPN.

Buss reportedly felt that it should have been the team’s executives that received praise for wooing James to the Lakers, rather than the idea he joined them and helped right the ship.

ESPN said team sources have long claimed that James told Lakers’ folks beginning in 2017 that he would be leaving Cleveland to join them in free agency for the 2018-19 season.

The 2021-22 campaign did not help their relationship since that marked Westbrook’s arrival.

While the idea of two of the best players of the 2010s teaming up seemed like it could have potential, the Lakers instead flopped with a 33-49 record that kept them out of the playoffs.

The Lakers reportedly made the trade to placate James, but after it blew up Buss felt the superstar didn’t acknowledge his role in the transaction.

Buss’ views on James dived to the point that she even considered trading him during the 2022 season after failing to give him a contract extension, per ESPN.

She reportedly later felt slighted by James’ response after the franchise drafted his son, Bronny, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft in a questionable move.

Folks close to the organization told ESPN that Buss felt LeBron should have been grateful for what the franchise did, which ultimately allowed the duo to become the first father and son to play alongside one another in league history, but the four-time NBA champ did not display that gratitude to her.

Buss’ attitude toward James even led to her feeling she needed to extend him during the 2024 summer simply to avoid the bad public relations that would come if they let him walk.

These details have come to light with James potentially in his last year with the franchise after opting into his $52.6 million contract for this season.

James is averaging 22.5 points across 25 games, with his historic run of 21 straight years being named a starter for the All-Star Game being snapped.

The Lakers are in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record.

The ESPN deep dive also highlighted the dysfunction in the Buss family that has engulfed the franchise during its $10 billion sale to billionaire Mark Walter.