EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 points and 12 rebounds, Elliot Cadeau scored 17 and Morez Johnson added 12 points to lead No. 3 Michigan to an 83-71 victory over seventh-ranked Michigan State on Friday night.
The Wolverines (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of first place in the conference, coming off a win over previously unbeaten and fifth-ranked Nebraska.
The Spartans (19-3, 9-2) missed 14 of their first 18 shots. They finished the half with more turnovers (11) than field goals (seven) and trailed by as much as 18 points.
Michigan State went on a 13-2 run early in the second half to pull within three and Jaxon Kohler made a tying 3-pointer with 7:57 left.
Jeremy Fears, who scored a career-high 31 points, had a steal and layup that put the Spartans ahead 57-55 with 7:27 to go for their first lead that didn’t last long.
Michigan responded with clutch shooting, making 5 of 6 shots, while holding Michigan State scoreless for more than three minutes to seal its sixth straight victory.
Kohler had 12 points while Coen Carr and Jordan Scott scored 10 points apiece for the Spartans, whose seven-game winning streak was stopped.
NO. 21 SAINT LOUIS 102, DAYTON 71
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Trey Green made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Ishan Sharma added 18 on six more 3s and Saint Louis beat Dayton.
Quentin Jones also had 18 points for the Billikens (21-1, 9-0 Atlantic 10), who made 15 of their first 22 attempts from 3-point range and never trailed. It was SLU’s 15th straight win overall and its 18th in a row at Chaifetz Arena.
De’Shayne Montgomery had 23 points and Amael L’Etang scored 12 to lead Dayton (14-8, 5-4), which has lost four consecutive games for the first time since January 2014.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nothing like playing the Wizards to make a team look elite. Los Angeles destroyed Washington on Friday night, with Luka Dončić ending the first half with a triple-double.
The Lakers’ offense was too much for the Wizards to handle, and the game quickly got out of hand.
Long term, there’s not much to take away from this game beyond the Wizards being bad and the Lakers being better.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Luka was an offensive monster in Washington. He obliterated the Wizards. His most impressive basket was a bank shot 3-pointer that left the crowd gasping in amazement.
This was about as good a game as Luka could’ve had.
Ayton scored LA’s first points of this game, and it was a precursor of things to come. He stayed aggressive the rest of the way, ending the night with 28 points.
It was also good to see Ayton register three blocks and zero fouls in this game. Ayton had a plus-minus of +30, which was the best on the Lakers.
While many Lakers played well, Smart was rather pedestrian in this one. He had a few ill-advised passes that led to turnovers and provided little to nothing offensively.
In this blowout win, his defensive tenacity was minimized because the Lakers were just outscoring the Wizards, especially in the second half. Even so, Smart should’ve played better.
Hayes played his role well, scoring inside and being a ball of offensive energy off the bench. He had some nice dunks and will showcase that skill as a participant in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend.
Vincent passed up a wide-open layup to pass the ball to LaRavia for a corner 3-pointer. LaRavia missed and that was the most memorable moment for Vincent in this game.
Vando was a defensive disruptor and an overall positive for the Lakers. His offensive possessions are always going to be an adventure, but he was more good than bad in this game.
Timme gives LA a two-big lineup that Lakers head coach JJ Redick can go to. He didn’t necessarily shine in this game, but he can stretch the floor a little and always brings the energy.
Grade: C-
Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht
This trio only played in garbage time, so they will not receive a grade.
JJ Redick
The Lakers won this game easily, and Redick deserves credit for that. Sure, LA fell asleep in the third quarter, but he called timeouts to try to regain control.
The Wizards still won that period, but it wasn’t a disaster, and he was able to empty the bench midway through the fourth, giving his starters some much-needed rest.
Grade: B+
Friday’s inactives: Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon, Austin Reaves, Nick Smith Jr.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks reacts to a 3-point basket during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Knicks (30*-18) battled the Portland Trail Blazers (23-26) earlier this month, they had struggled a bit to contain the youngsters, only putting the game away late in the fourth quarter. Tonight, New York was clearly intent on putting a stamp on the game early, and so they did with a 24-point first-half lead. As is usually the case, they let the rope slip after building such a comfy cushion. Still, Portland never cut the deficit to single-digits in the second half and instead watched it reach 33 points before the final, merciful buzzer. Their 127-87 wire-to-wire win was New York’s fifth straight and marked the fifth time in seven games that the Knicks have held an opponent under 100 points. Vibe check: pretty, pretty,pretty good.
At the start, the Knicks charged the paint to set a physical tone. Eight of their first fifteen points came in the paint, with Josh Hart acting as a primary bulldozer. He took 17 shots tonight and finished with 20 points, six boards, six assists, two steals, and a block. The rim was also where the league’s top two rebounders squared off, with Karl-Anthony Towns outperforming Donovan Clingan 2:1 on the glass. School was in session tonight! Towns finished the game with 14 points, 20 rebounds, and one foul—two nights after grabbing a season-high 22 boards and committing no fouls in Toronto. 42 rebounds in two games is impressive, no? Clingan ended the game with just six boards and seven points.
From the tip, Portland heaved a bushel of threes (as is their nature) and missed most of them (as is their nature). Overall, they would shoot 13-of-43 from downtown.
Jalen Brunson (26 points, 5-of-12 3PT) met little resistance tonight and, in Q1, he executed a four-point play, getting fouled on a made three. Portland did not look like a very disciplined team. Midway through the quarter, Mohamed Diawara, Mitchell Robinson, and Landry Shamet subbed in and, with them on the floor, New York pushed the lead to nine. From there, the Blazers unraveled quickly, Mitchell Robinson picked up where KAT left off, and the home team was ahead 37-22 heading into the second period.
Tyler Kolek must be back in Mike Brown’s good graces. The sophomore led the troops to start the second quarter, giving Brunson a blow. Over the first leg of the frame, the Knicks rolled their lead out to 24—but the Oregonians answered a 12-0 Knicks’ run with a 15-2 stretch of their own, cutting the deficit to 13. Portland had a chance narrow the score even further, but couldn’t stop giving the ball away. By halftime, they’d committed eight turnovers to New York’s four.
As the second quarter progressed, New York’s shooting regressed. That gave Portland some oxygen and Shaedon Sharpe provided the spark, knocking down a couple of threes. Jerami Grant chipped in a few, too, and soon the visitors had cut the leash to eight with a minute left. During that stretch, New York went over five minutes without a bucket, taking their contractually obligated post-big-lead respite. With the relief of a triple from Brunson, New York crept into intermission up 59-49.
Through the half, New York shot better overall (46% to 41%) and from three (50% to 41%), and had won the paint (22–16). Part of the problem for Portland? Their Deni Avdija, the ice cream maven and rising star forward, was sufficiently neutralized by the Knicks all night. A game-time-decision with a back issue, he shot 4-of-14 from the field and finished with 11 points. Usually, he shoots almost 10 free throws per game. Tonight, the refs were stingy in his direction, giving him just three shots from the stripe.
New York began the third period with a 14-9 stretch. Portland tried to push the pace but could never build a head of steam. Jalen Brunson kept things orderly and, with this bucket, scored the 10,000th career point of his career.
The Blazers could not reduce the deficit to single digits and headed into the final frame behind, 87-69. Recently, Jrue Holiday had been mentioned as a player New York was monitoring before the February 5 trade deadline. Tonight, he shot 2-of-7 from the field. Maybe don’t hurry to make that trade, Leon?
Kolek continued to make the most of his opportunity, lacing 3-of-5 from deep for 13 points and dishing four dimes in 17 minutes. Also having a good time: OG Anunoby, who scored 10 of his 24 points (10-of-17 FG, 4-of-8 3PT) to help slam the door early. Around the four-minute mark, with a 29-point lead, Coach Brown sent in Ariel Hukporti, Dillon Jones, and Guerschon Yabusele to join Kolek and Diawara in riding out the win. This was a first appearance for Jones, who signed a two-way deal ten days ago. He celebrated the moment with a three-pointer, and by the curtain, New York celebrated a 127-97 win.
Up Next
For you folks, Professor Miranda is preparing his lesson plan. For the Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers roll into Manhattan for a showdown on Sunday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
The Atlanta Hawks squared off against the Houston Rockets on January 29 at State Farm Arena, and their outing didn’t seem to go the way they wanted it to. The Hawks were fresh off a win against the Boston Celtics, defeating them 117-106, and the Rockets recently lost to the San Antonio Spurs, but Houston defeated Atlanta 104-86, losing by double digits.
Jalen Johnson’s Absence
Hawks’ forward Jalen Johnson did not play against the Rockets last night due to calf tightness. Johnson has been averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season.
Johnson’s offensive production was definitely missed as they struggled to get things going in the second half. Hawks’ guards CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker picked up the slack, with McCollum having 23 points and Alexander-Walker scoring 20. Forward Corey Kispert was third in scoring with 17 points.
The Hawks did well in the first half, keeping the score close — their backcourt got hot early, and they were only down one at 43-42. The Rockets were ranked in the top five in scoring defense, so the Hawks would have had to make the most of their offensive possessions, but Houston’s defensive prowess rang true. But things got away in the second half with players like Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr. having productive games.
Hawks’ Defensive Struggles
The Hawks’ defense struggled against the Rockets, with Kevin Durant scoring 31 points on 12-for-22 shooting. The Hawks had a tough matchup guarding Durant on the perimeter.
Size differential could’ve been an issue for the Hawks as well. Houston was able to take control of the paint with 59 total rebounds to the Hawks’ 46. Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. had five blocks while guard Reed Sheppard had 13 points.
In the postgame press conference, Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder said that when Durant is “at the nail of the foul line, it’s very difficult to double team there.” Also emphasizing that when Durant is doubled, that hurt them in rebounding.
Hawks Injuries
To the Hawks’ credit, they did well in the first half, but things just went negative in the second half. But they also have quite a few injuries with Jalen Johnson not playing due to a calf issue. Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, and Kristaps Porzingis did not play either.
In the postgame presser, Snyder iterated that Okongwu and Johnson are among their better players. Against a team with a size differential, such as Houston, this was evident in rebounding.
The Atlanta Hawks will go against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. For the Hawks, a key to getting back on track for the rest of the season is getting players healthy and having their core players available.
Atlanta is now 24-26 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
For more sports media content, follow me on X(Twitter) and Instagram @BJT_ERA
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elise Mertens marked her return to the No. 1 ranking in women's doubles by combining with China's Zhang Shuai to win the Australian Open title on Saturday, joined later by American Christian Harrison and Britain's Neal Skupski who won the men's doubles trophy.
Back together after four years apart as a team, Mertens and Zhang trailed 3-0 and 4-1 in the first set but rallied to beat Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (4), 6-4. Mertens and Zhang led the final set 5-0 before withstanding a comeback attempt when Danilina and Krunic won four straight games.
Harrison served an ace on match point to give he and Skupski a win in the men's final by the same score as the women — 7-6 (4), 6-4 — over the Australian pair of Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans. Kubler went into the match with a 14-3 doubles record at his home major.
Harrison and Skupski, who both competed at last year’s ATP Finals with different partners, joined as a team for the first time in Adelaide earlier this month, where they reached the semifinals.
Currently ranked No. 6 in doubles, Mertens, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year with Veronika Kudermetova, will return to the No. 1 ranking after the Australian Open.
That will mark the Belgian player's 40th cumulative week as No. 1 in doubles and was guaranteed regardless of the outcome of the Melbourne Park final Saturday.
The win Saturday was Mertens' sixth Grand Slam doubles title, including 2021 and 2024 at Melbourne Park. Zhang now has three, including the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 U.S. Open.
It was their first Grand Slam trophy as a team, having lost the 2022 Wimbledon final in their last appearance together.
“This is like cherry on the cake,” Mertens said. “We paired up as a team very last-minute . . . this was our first tournament back together. In the second round we saved three match points, so that kind of took us to another level. An unbelievable two weeks."
Mertens reached the fourth round of women’s singles at Melbourne Park this year before being beaten by eventual finalist Elena Rybakina.
Zhang says she and Mertens adapt well.
“We know how to play finals, we know how to win finals,” Zhang said. “We are both very calm. If something doesn't work . . . we always adjust.”
The mixed doubles final was played on Friday, when Australians Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first team to win consecutive titles since 1989 after beating the French pair of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics defends against Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half at the TD Garden on January 30, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics were coming off of a tough loss at the hands to the Atlanta Hawks and needed a bounce back. They found it on Friday night, with a wire to wire 112-93 win over the Kings. It was Payton Pritchard’s night as he scored 29 points while dishing out 8 assists.
Jaylen Brown missed Friday night’s game with left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion. The Celtics started Baylor Scheierman in Brown’s place with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta in the starting unit. The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook. They started Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa and Maxime Raynaud.
The Celtics got off to a quick 9-1 start, making their first 4 shots, as the Kings called a timeout not even 2 minutes into the game.
The first quarter featured a lot of Payton Pritchard stuffing the stat sheet during the Celtics first 10 field goals, scoring or assisting on 7 of them.
Payton Pritchard has scored or assisted on 7 of the Celtics' first 10 makes
The Celtics led 40-25 after the first quarter. Payton Pritchard led the team with 11 points and 5 assists; Boston shot 17/24 in the quarter, 70.8%, and had 12 assists.
Fouls are what kept the Kings within striking distance, 11 of their first 28 points came at the foul line. Fouls have been an issue for the Celtics this season and it was an issue early in the game.
The Celtics turned up their pressure as the 2nd quarter went on, Pritchard hit a deep three and Baylor Scheierman had a transition layup, putting the Celtics up 21 points.
Boston finished the half on a 25-6 run to lead 72-46 at halftime. It was the Payton Pritchard Show in the first half, he scored 22 points along with 8 assists, going 9/11 from the floor and 4/5 from three point range.
At the midway point of the third quarter, the Celtics led by 28 points, 80-52. Baylor Scheierman was having a great game after a really solid performance in Wednesday’s game against the Hawks. He finished the game with 16 points.
Indeed, Kings took zero shots at the rim with Queta on the floor in the first half https://t.co/ICmSxP4qcP
Can we talk about the leap that Neemias Queta has taken this season? He might just be the Celtics center of the future and at this point last season, I was not a very big fan of his. His rim protection and overall defensive leap has been significant and so has his screening. We are seeing him be much quicker at getting out of screens and committing less illegal ones. He is the third or fourth most important player on the team and it has been very fun to watch.
The Kings could use a player like him…
ESPN Sources: After signing JaVale McGee to a free agent deal, the Sacramento Kings are waiving centers Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta to give them a chance to play elsewhere. Both signed partially guaranteed one-year deals with Kings this summer.
Maxime Raynaud hit a buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter to cut the Celtics lead to 89-66. Payton Pritchard led the team with 26 points while Neemias Queta had 10 points and 15 rebounds against his former team.
We had Chris Boucher minutes in the last 3 minutes of the game in the first time we have seen him play since November 23rd. He was rusty, airmailing his first three point attempt but he hit a buzzer beater at the end to get on the board.
The fourth quarter happened, the Celtics kept the lead at around 20 points the whole time. The Kings never made a real push.
The Celtics shot 45% from the field and 38% from three while the Kings shot 37% from the field and 32% from three. Boston’s next game is Sunday at home against the Bucks at 3:30 EST for the NBA Pioneer Classic.
Luka Doncic had 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds against Jamir Watkins and the Wizards on Friday. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
The “competitive edge” Lakers coach JJ Redick requested from his players showed itself right away in the form of dominance from Luka Doncic, more outstanding play from LeBron James and an impressive outing from center Deandre Ayton.
By the time Doncic, James and Ayton completed their night, they had combined for 85 points and 27 rebounds in helping the Lakers build a 38-point lead en route to a 142-111 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday. The Lakers improved to 4-2 on their season-high eight-game trip.
And it centered around the brilliance of Doncic, his triple-double of 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds the catalyst for the Lakers (29-18) winning for the fifth time in their last seven games. He was efficient too, shooting 13 for 21 from the field and six for 13 from three-point range.
"He just came out again with the right mentality, the right mindset," Redick said. “And I do want to just reiterate just how decisive he was ... and obviously to get the defensive rebounds and get a triple-double is fantastic."
Ayton was a tower of strength with 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting, 13 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists.
James had the crowd engaged all game with his play that led to 20 points and six assists.
The left ankle soreness that had Doncic listed as questionable was not an issue for the All-Star guard, his first half showing he was playing at another level with a triple-double of 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes against the overmatched Wizards.
Doncic became the first Laker in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to record a triple-double in a half, a feat he also achieved with the Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic dazzled with no-look and lob passes along with three-pointers that seemed to impress even him, considering he looked over to the Lakers’ bench after several spectacular threes.
“It’s not easy, for sure,” Doncic said. “It might look easy, but it’s not easy. But it just feels good to have that going. ... It’s just fun to be like that in that position.”
The 41-year-old James put on a show, throwing down lobs for dunks, drawing cheers and applause from the fans inside Capital One Arena.
There was the lob from Ayton that James threw down left-handed, making teammates leap off their seats and fans gasp and cheer. For added emphasis, James stared at his left hand as he made his way down the court, a knowing look on his face.
LeBron James passes the ball around Wizards guard Bub Carrington during the first half. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
“That was terrible,” Ayton said about his high pass to James. “I told JJ, I said, ‘If it was not LeBron James at the end of that alley-oop, I’d be right there sitting next to you!’ And he started laughing. It’s just a fact, 'cause I’m like, ‘Yo, I threw the ball out of bounds.’ It was one of those things you see on Bleacher Report, where LeBron does some spectacular things, and that was one of them.”
There was the lob from Marcus Smart that James threw down for a reverse dunk, again bringing fans and teammates out of their seats.
There was the moment James drove by Washington's Alex Sarr and threw down another dunk, causing teammates to jump out of their seats again and fans to cheer even louder.
When asked to rank his dunks, James deferred.
“I don't know. I’ll let my LeBron Faithful fan group rate them,” James said. “I love those guys.”
One player who will be rated on his dunks is Jaxson Hayes. The Lakers center accepted an invitation from the NBA to compete in the All-Star dunk contest at Intuit Dome on Feb. 14.
Etc.
Though Austin Reaves (left calf strain) was upgraded to questionable for the game, the Lakers guard did not play. He has missed 18 straight games since suffering the injury on Christmas against the Houston Rockets.
Reaves has been working out as he progresses toward a return. The Lakers play again Sunday at the New York Knicks.
"He continues to progress. He hasn't had any setbacks,” Redick said. “Yesterday was five weeks from the injury. He's right on schedule, if not a little bit ahead of schedule. So it's just him being fully confident in his body. And he continues to get great work on the court."
WASHINGTON — Luka Doncic could do no wrong in the nation’s capital.
And the perpetually struggling Washington Wizards didn’t stand a chance against the offensive onslaught Doncic and the Lakers brought with them inside Capital One Arena, where the Lakers picked up a 142-111 win to continue a strong eight-game “Grammy” trip.
Doncic was in full control of Friday’s game from the moment he first touched the ball.
Luka Doncic celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins. Getty Images
The Lakers’ first possession: Doncic assisting Deandre Ayton, whose declining usage and production has been under significant scrutiny as of late, on a layup that started one of Ayton’s best performances since November.
Doncic’s first shot: a nine-foot floater that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Because regardless of the problems the hapless Wizards tried to present, Doncic and the Lakers had the answer.
Force Doncic to pick up his dribble with a double team right after he crosses halfcourt after he scored 16 points in the opening 9 ½ minutes? He responded with an effortless pass that flew by four Wizards defenders to assist Jarred Vanderbilt on a dunk that gave the Lakers a 40-22 lead.
Provide a strong contest and get Doncic off-balance on a pull-up 3-pointer with strong iso defense like Washington guard Jamir Watkins did late in the second quarter? Doncic will bank in the 3 to loud cheers from the crowd.
The result was Doncic having his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Ayton finished with a 28 point-13 rebound double-double, shooting 85.7% (12-of-14) from the field.
LeBron James added 20 points and six assists.
Doncic shoots over a defender. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers not only improved to 29-18, but they also expect to get Austin Reaves back sometime within the next two games, furthering their offensive onslaught.
Turning point
The moment Doncic stepped onto the court.
Seriously.
The Wizards looked helpless trying to figure out how to slow down the MVP candidate.
Doncic had 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the opening quarter, making the game uncompeitive from the outset.
The Lakers not only led by double digits since midway through the opening quarter, but had at least a 20-point lead for the entire second half.
MVP: Luka Doncic
When you make positive history for a storied franchise like the Lakers, this honor becomes easy.
Doncic became the first Laker to record a triple-double in a single half with his 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the opening two quarters at Washington.
It was the second time in his career Doncic recorded a single-half triple-double, with the first coming on Dec. 6, 2023, while he was with the Mavericks.
Doncic shoots over the double team. Getty Images
Stat of the game: First half triple-double
Doncic posted a triple-double… in the first half. In 19 minutes, he put up 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
It was the second time of the play-by-play era (1997-98) that a player recorded a 25+ point triple double in the first half.
The only other person to do it?
Doncic in 2023 when with the Mavericks.
Up next
After bouncing around the country for the last 1½ weeks, the Lakers will be able to be settled for a few days.
They’ll travel to New York for matchups against the Knicks and Nets on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, to close out their eight-game trip.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket as Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, 142-111 at Capital One Arena.
One night after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, there was certainly optimism about what Washington could do tonight against LA. However, the talent disparity showed.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a triple double, scoring 37 points, dishing 13 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds. DeAndre Ayton added 28 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron James scored 20 points and dished 6 assists. The Lakers shot 61.2 percent from the field while the Wizards shot 44.4 percent themselves. The game was effectively decided when the Lakers shot 70.8 percent from the field with Doncic scoring 16 points. LA never took their foot off the gas from there. That tells all you need to know about a game like this.
For Washington, Malaki Branham led scoring 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting. Alex Sarr led the Wizards’ starters with 16 points and 5 assists.
The Wizards’ next game is on Sunday when they host the Sacramento Kings. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. See you then.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket as Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an ugly loss against the Cavs, the Lakers bounced back with a 142-111 blowout victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. It was LA’s largest win of the season.
The game began with Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton shouldering the offensive load with a combined 16 points. Bub Carrington had a strong start for the Wizards, knocking down two triples for six points. LA went up by eight thanks to an 8-0 scoring run.
Luka was on triple-double watch, notching 11 points, six rebounds and five assists with 4:26 left in the quarter.
Alex Sarr started to take over for Washington, scoring eight points. Out of a timeout, Luka connected with Jaxson Hayes for the third time for two. Hayes was up to eight points off the bench.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by 14.
The second period started with LeBron Jamesscoring seven points for the Lakers. He was now in double figures with 12 points. Marcus Smart also drained his first 3-pointer of the half. Ayton added two more points with a layup, pushing the lead to 22 for LA.
Washington called a timeout, and out of the break, Bilal Coulibaly scored on a dunk.
Sarr was the first Wizard in double figures with 12 points. LeBron threw down an emphatic dunk that had everyone buzzing.
Luka connected with Ayton three times for six quick points. That gave Luka his eighth, ninth and tenth assists of the half. He continued his ridiculous dominant half by finishing with a triple-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He was shooting 64% from the field and 62% from behind the arc.
Ayton and Hayes combined for 24 points, both in double figures. At halftime, the Lakers were up by a massive 29 points.
The second half began with Sarr converting on a jump shot. Jake LaRavia finally put some points on the board, cleaning up a missed layup by LeBron. A reverse dunk by LeBron, off the assist from Smart, forced the Wizards to call a timeout.
Washington was now down by 30.
After the break, the Wizards turned the ball over, a perfect depiction of how badly things were going for them. The Lakers and Luka were putting on an absolute clinic, shooting 80% to start the third quarter.
Luka drained his sixth 3-pointer of the game, shooting 60% from behind the arc. With 4:12 left in the period, Los Angeles was up by 34. Rui Hachimura scored a quick five points for LA. The Lakers did slightly take their foot off the gas pedal, allowing the Wizards to score a couple of easy buckets.
What had grown to a 38-point lead for Los Angeles was down to 24 going into the fourth period. Washington ended the quarter on a 10-1 scoring run.
The final frame began with both teams missing their first shots. Ayton scored LA’s first field goal with a dunk.
Jarred Vanderbilt drained a 3-pointer to go with the four steals and two rebounds he racked up in this game. At the 8:52 mark, Los Angeles was up by 28. LeBron dunked the ball for what felt like the 75th time in this game.
With 5:29 left, LA emptied its bench.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished the game with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. LeBron scored 20 points with three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Ayton pitched in with 28 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
Hayes had 10 points off the bench. Hachimura notched 11 points with two rebounds and two assists. Vanderbilt ended with eight points, two rebounds and four steals.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the New York Knicks on Sunday at 4:00 PM PT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 08: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons need to remember how to shoot or this road trip is going to end on a sour note. The Pistons were held under 100 points for the fifth time this season, and the primary factor is the team’s inability to hit outside shots. Detroit made just six of 29 3-pointers. Essentially, it’s been Duncan Robinson or nothing behind the line, and if he’s having an off night, Detroit’s offense grinds to a halt. Tobias just isn’t as effective or as prolific as he has been in year’s past, Javonte Green has been cold after being more reliable than not, and Daniss Jenkins tailed off. Ron Holland’s a willing shooter, but misses plenty, and Isaiah Stewart has been more focused on the interior lately. It’s creating problems for Cade Cunningham, it’s made Ausar Thompson’s inside driving completely inert, and the bench unit, one of the team’s superpowers, really struggles for long stretches.
Golden State is a middling shot-making team, ranking 12th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, but boy, do they love to get their shots up. The Warriors attempt the most threes in the league, hoisting 13 more than the Pistons on a nightly basis. That can turn a nine-point Pistons lead into a one-score game awfully quick. And Detroit will need ways to keep pace. Luckily for the Pistons, there might be a path to some easy points. The Warriors are near the bottom of the league in opponent’s fast break points, and are a below-average rebounding team. This is a chance for Detroit to get second looks and turn defense into offense.
Game Vitals
When: 10 p.m. ET Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons +2.5
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Perri Page scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half, Fliss Henderson had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Columbia beat No. 19 Princeton 73-67 on Friday night.
Columbia (14-5, 5-1 Ivy League) extended the longest active winning streak in true road games to 16 games. The Lions also secured their second win against an AP Top 25 opponent in program history, with the other coming in the 2023-24 season against then-No. 25 Princeton.
Princeton (17-2, 5-1) entered with the third longest win streak in nation at 15 overall.
Columbia scored six of the opening seven points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 60-51. Columbia’s lead was just 62-59 with 3:43 remaining before scoring the next seven points to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 69-59.
Riley Weiss, Columbia’s leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, fouled out with 8:46 remaining in the fourth with 12 points. Susie Rafiu and Mia Broom each added 10 points. The Lions were coming off an 89-32 victory over Dartmouth — the fewest points allowed and largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent in program history.
Madison St. Rose and Olivia Hutcherson each scored 17 points, and Skye Belker added 16 for Princeton. St. Rose left in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury and did not return.
Princeton trailed 37-36 at halftime despite 17 points, five rebounds and four assists from St. Rose.
Up next
Columbia: Continues a three-game trip at Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Princeton: Stays at home to battle Cornell on Saturday.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at American Airlines Center on January 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What feats of strength will Cooper Flagg perform next?
Find out when the Dallas Mavericks (19-29) visit the Houston Rockets (29-17) on Saturday at the Toyota Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
We can confidently say that, because as of the NBA’s 4:30 p.m. injury report on Friday, Flagg is no longer listed with the “ankle injury management” designation we’ve become accustomed to seeing lately. He’s coming off Thursday’s 49-point explosion in the Mavericks’ 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets while the Mavericks are looking to halt their current three-game losing streak as a tough stretch of games gets even tougher starting this weekend.
The Rockets, meanwhile, have won six of their last eight, including two wins over the San Antonio Spurs, an overtime victory at the Philadelphia 76ers and a narrow win over the Detroit Pistons. Houston has gotten four 30-point outings from Kevin Durant and one apiece from Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. in the team’s last eight games.
This is a bad matchup for the Mavs on paper, which probably means they’ll find themselves in a four-point game down the stretch, so be sure to tune in! Dallas has somehow won two of three matchups with Houston this year, falling 110-102 in Houston on Nov. 3, before beating the Rockets 122-109 in one of the team’s best wins of the year on Dec. 6 and following that up with a 110-104 win at the AAC earlier this month.
Here are three storylines to watch when the Mavs visit the Rockets on Saturday in a nationally televised game.
The Davis deficit
Anthony Davis led the Mavericks in scoring in both the Mavericks’ wins over the Rockets this season. He will famously be unavailable for the fourth and final meeting between these two teams. Davis scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Dallas’ win in early December, then had 26 and 12 in the Mavericks’ first win of 2026. He would injure his finger five days later while brushing his hand on Lauri Markannen’s jersey as Markannen scored an easy bucket at the tail end of Dallas’ 116-114 loss at the Utah Jazz.
Without Davis’ presence inside, it will be tough for the Mavericks to manufacture as solid a night on the boards as Dallas had in the most recent game against the Rockets, when Houston out-rebounded Dallas by a slim 51-47 margin.
Flagg has had down games in two of the three games against the Rockets this year. He scored 12 points and grabbed five boards in the Nov. 3 matchup, then had 19 and five on Dec. 6 before managing just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in the most recent meeting. The Rockets sit at fifth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.9) coming into the game and feature several long defenders capable of disrupting shooters and bottling up driving threats like Flagg. Coming off his 49-point outburst against the Hornets, it will be interesting to see if Flagg can follow it up against a better defense without the motivation of playing against his friend, former roommate and closest competition for this season’s Rookie of the Year award, Kon Knueppel.
Broad side of a barn
Which team will have the shooting edge on Saturday? Looking at these teams’ season averages may lead you to a different conclusion than looking at their shooting in the last four games. Houston enters as the eighth-best 3-point shooting team in the league, at just over 37% on 3-point attempts, while Dallas has struggled all year from deep, shooting just over 32%. That puts Dallas at 25th in the league this year.
Houston, despite winning three of their last four, has hit a bit of a lull from long range, converting just 40 of their 117 (34.2%) 3-point looks in their last four games, while Dallas has matched their dismal season average, making 37-of-115 (32.1%) in the same short span. However, the recent four-game sample for the Mavericks includes a particularly bleak 3-of-18 outing on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Aside from that game, Dallas has been shooting it a little better recently.
Fits and starts
The Mavericks have been an up-and-down team this year, with the downs outnumbering the ups. They’ll follow a run of watchable ball with a fart-and-fall-down moment timed with comedic precision. It’s anybody’s guess what version of the team will trot out of the tunnel at Toyota Center on Saturday. The current scheduling stretch is a tough one, and though the results haven’t been there in the team’s last three, there have been moments that jump off the stat sheet and get the fan base chattering.
The Mavericks are giving fans just enough to keep true sickos engaged. The sane among us have found better ways to occupy their time as basketball’s winter of discontent settles in. Here’s hoping for something, anything to hold onto from Saturday’s game at the Rockets.
How to watch
The Mavericks and Rockets will tip off at 7:30 p.m. from Houston’s Toyota Center. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 29: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on January 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Close but no cigar. Michael Porter Jr. was fantastic with 38 points in 37 minutes, but the Nets couldn’t get over the hump against a depleted Denver team. They’ve now dropped seven straight games, and most eyes are headed toward the trade deadline rumor mill.
The road trip is almost over.
🏀 KEY INFO
WHO: NETS (12-34) AT JAZZ (15-33)
WATCH: YES NETWORK
WHEN: 9:30 PM
💬 DISCUSSION
Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
As former college stars continue pushing boundaries to try to return to the NCAA, Amari Bailey is taking his case one step further.
The 21-year-old wants to go back to school and play college basketball — despite having already seen the NBA court, ESPN reported Friday. He told the outlet he’s hired an agent and a lawyer to gain college eligibility.
“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey told the outlet. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that’s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?”
However, it’s also highly unlikely this will be allowed to happen, according to Tim Buckley, the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the NCAA. He said on X in the wake of the report that the NCAA “has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract.”
Amari Bailey played 10 games with the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season. Getty Images
Bailey, who played at UCLA in the 2022-23 season, was selected with the No. 41 overall pick by the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-3 guard signed a two-way contract with Charlotte, meaning he was allowed to move back and forth between the NBA and the Greensboro Swarm of the G League.
A two-way deal offers players a limited number of days in the NBA before a team has to decide whether to convert them to a standard contract or waive them altogether.
Bailey did play 10 games with the Hornets that season, logging 65 total minutes and averaging 2.3 points, though he was never converted to a standard NBA contract and remained on a two-way deal.
Amari Bailey was a second-round pick, selected No. 41 overall in 2023, after one year with UCLA. Getty Images
Nonetheless, he played NBA basketball.
James Nnaji, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 draft by the Pistons and later moved to Charlotte, was able join Baylor’s basketball program earlier this season and is currently playing games in college.
Nnaji was an overseas prospect and remained with Spanish club FC Barcelona before and after being selected, later joining Girona — also in Spain — and Merkezefendi of Turkey.
Nnaji’s rights were traded to the Knicks in 2024 as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he played for New York in the 2025 summer league, as he did with the Hornets in 2023, but he never technically played an NBA or even G League game.
NBA Draft 2023 second-round pick James Nnaji, who joined the Baylor Bears, left behind a pro career overseas. Getty Images
Nnaji is averaging 1.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game across seven appearances since joining Baylor.
Charles Bediako, who played for Alabama in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, is back with the team for the 2025-26 campaign after previously leaving early to pursue the NBA.
Bediako joined the Spurs for the summer league in 2023 and later signed a two-way contract with the team, but was waived that December following a meniscus tear.
Charles Bediako, posing for a portrait at Detroit Pistons Media Day in 2025. Getty Images
From 2023 through the 2025-26 season, Bediako played in 46 G League games before being allowed to return to Alabama, where he has played two games.
Bailey, a former UCLA and Sierra Canyon star, played alongside other notable high school athletes, like Bronny James — son of LeBron James — Zaire Wade — son of Dwyane Wade — and current Nets forward Zaire Williams.
Bailey averaged 11.2 points per game at UCLA in his lone season with the team in 2022-23.
He later played in the G League for 34 games across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
