Category: Basketball

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Darryn Peterson was happy to finally finish a game for No. 11 Kansas, and the Jayhawks certainly needed the standout freshman at the end against No. 13 Texas Tech.

“This is the first game I got through to the end,” Peterson said. “I've been trying to all year, so to finally be able to do it, it's a blessing.”

Peterson scored 19 points while playing a season-high 35 minutes, but his only two field goals in the second half were late 3-pointers. He made the tying basket on a contested shot from the right corner with 1:20 left, and hit again from the left wing with 44 seconds left in a 64-61 victory Monday night.

Two days earlier, Peterson scored 18 points in the first half but didn't play the final 16:46 of a win over then-No. 13 BYU because of cramping. He is averaging 21.1 points per game.

An expected top pick in the NBA draft in June, Peterson had missed a win over Kansas State the previous game because of an ankle injury. The 6-foot-5 guard has also dealt with hamstring and calf issues this season while missing 10 games overall for Kansas (17-5, 7-2 Big 12).

Before hitting the late 3s, Peterson was only 3-of-12 shooting against the Red Raiders (16-6, 6-3).

“He’s got something that I guess you’re born with and can’t teach. He’s got just an unbelievable ability to raise his level when it counts the most,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “That’s what he did tonight. I mean, those two plays he made were obviously the two biggest plays of the game for us.”

The tying shot, after a Tech turnover, was made over preseason AP All-America forward JT Toppin, who then had his shot blocked at the other end by Flory Bidunga before missing on a second chance. Peterson then made what proved to be the game-winner.

“Two crucial 3s ... that was crazy,” Bidunga said.

“Coach Self told me to go make a play,” said Peterson, who was then asked where his confidence came from to finish that way. “The work I put in and then my teammates and coaches. I had a bad game ... shots weren’t really going. They guarded me kind of well, but I just trusted the work, so those shots I feel like I should make."

And he did when they counted most for the Jayhawks in their sixth consecutive victory.

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LeBron James’ time with the Lakers is reportedly coming to an end soon.

NBA Insider Jake Fischer said during a livestream Monday “the Lakers are ready to move on from LeBron James and I think LeBron James is ready to move on from the Lakers as well.”

Fischer reported he believes the divorce will happen in June.

“That’s kind of the foregone sentiment in Los Angeles right now about what’s to come this summer,” Fischer said.

James has been with the Lakers since 2018, when he signed on as a free agent after leaving the Cavaliers for the second time in his illustrious NBA career.

During his seven-plus years in purple and gold, James has averaged 26.3 points, 8.0 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

He helped lead the team to the 2020 NBA Championship.

His relationship with Jeanie Buss, though, reportedly soured over the last few years, after the Lakers governor allegedly grew tired of James’ “outsized ego” and didn’t appreciate that he had been viewed as the “savior” of the franchise.

James said in the days after the bombshell Buss report dropped he didn’t “care about the articles” and that the stories “don’t bother me.”

“I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day,” he said. “I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody [feels] about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all [that] matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.” 

Fischer reported the Lakers will be looking to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after moving on from James this offseason.

James is currently in the final year of his Lakers contract.

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 7
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Paul George – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

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The Sixers started off their West Coast trip in the win column following a dominant 128-113 victory against the Clippers.

The Sixers started the game on an 18-2 run which was emblematic of most of the matchup. Of course, the Clippers brought it to within 12 in the third quarter, but were never able to breach single digits in the fourth.

Also, Quentin Grimes absolutely postered John Collins.

QUENTIN GRIMES POSTER ON JOHN COLLINS pic.twitter.com/KBO9c5Ih08

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 3, 2026

Plenty of Bell Ringer nominees to chose from, but a clear star shined in Inglewood.

Dominick Barlow: 26 points, 10-of-16 FG, 16 rebounds (10 offensive), 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

It was quite the night for Barlow, who finished with a career high in points and offensive rebounds.

Barlow helped set the tone for the Sixers as he was a force on the boards throughout the game. In the halfcourt, was rolling or finding himself open in the dunker spot on multiple occasions for driving guards.

He cleaned up the offensive glass like a big man in the first half, grabbing five of his eight total rebounds on the offensive end.

His defensive ability was on display as well, picking off a couple passes and taking it the distance for easy finishes.

Dom playing the game of his life pic.twitter.com/iiqlSkl2yc

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 3, 2026

In the second half, he continued his dominance on the boards with an offensive rebound which he dropped off for an easy Embiid bucket once the defense collapsed.

Then an insane extended possession in the fourth where he just completely outplays both of the Clippers’ big men:

Barlow took the rebound from Zubac, gets the ball back, jab fakes him, then finishes the and-one over Lopez pic.twitter.com/AD20oKlrxX

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 3, 2026

It is time to convert that contract, Daryl!

Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 9-of-18 FG, 7-of-14 3PT, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover

Maxey had seven threes find the bottom of the basket for only the second game this season — and the first time since opening night against the Celtics.

Maxey put on a shooting display in the first half, hitting his first four attempts from deep and getting to the foul line early, making all four of his charity stripe attempts. His shooting played as a perfect foil to Barlow’s aggressiveness in the paint as the Sixers jumped out to a massive lead.

Tyrese is on fire and the Sixers are up big after one in LA pic.twitter.com/ny2DGeCzNk

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 3, 2026

He added another three at the top of the third, and a walk in shot from deep at the beginning of the fourth. His seventh three came with just under 4:30 left, and was off a beautiful step back going left.

It should be noted he was successful on almost all of his steal attempts tonight, solidifying his defensive growth from last season.

After a bit of a shooting slump, finding his stroke on the first game of the road trip could be helpful as they continue on the West Coast.

Joel Embiid: 24 points, 8-of-19 FG, 7-of-7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

It took Embiid a bit to get into this one, although he did have a nice skip pass to Kelly Oubre Jr. from the post in the first quarter. He finished the first half 2-0f-10 from the floor with just four free throw attempts.

That would change in the third as he came out a scorching 4-of-4 with a mix of pull up and off-the-catch jumpers, a three, and a drawn foul on a three-point attempt.

He added another smooth midrange jumper in the fourth to push the Sixers lead back up to 15. After a couple buckets from the Clippers, he drilled another one from free throw range to help put them away.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 15 points, 6-of-13 FG, 3-of-6 3PT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Oubre had a phenomenal first half playing off of Maxey and Edgecombe effectively. He was getting to the paint in transition and drained a couple catch-and-shoot attempts from the same spot in the far corner. He finished a tough layup with his left hand over Batum in the fourth to extend their lead to 15, and was the glue in a rather rare wire-to-wire win for the Sixers.

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — William Nylander scored on a breakaway 35 seconds into the game and added two assists that helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Monday night.

Matias Maccelli and defenseman Troy Stecher also scored as the Maple Leafs won their second straight following a six-game losing streak. Toronto halted an 0-5-1 slide by winning 3-2 in a shootout Saturday at Vancouver.

Bobby McMann's empty-net goal sealed it with 25 seconds remaining. Joseph Woll made 28 saves, improving to 5-0-0 against Calgary.

Toronto has won eight in a row versus the Flames, its longest active streak against any team.

Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee each had a goal and an assist for the struggling Flames, who have dropped six of seven. They snapped a five-game skid (0-3-2) with a 3-2 victory Saturday against San Jose when Farabee scored a short-handed goal to break a third-period tie.

Dustin Wolf stopped 18 shots.

Toronto moved within seven points of the Boston Bruins, who occupy the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nylander has 13 goals and 23 assists in 26 career games against Calgary, where he was born. His father, Michael, played for the Flames in the mid-1990s.

Calgary rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh was held without a point in 20:05 of ice time during his first NHL game since Nov. 7. A first-round draft pick in 2024, Parekh has been working his way back from an injury sustained at the World Junior Championship tournament, where he starred for Canada with five goals and eight assists in seven games.

Up next

Maple Leafs: At the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night to conclude a four-game trip heading into the Olympic break.

Flames: Host the Oilers on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the break.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in “advanced discussions” to trade for LA Clippers’ All-Star James Harden. The deal would seemingly include a swap of Harden for Darius Garland.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix broke the news, and ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed it. The Clippers are looking for a suitor to take Harden, and the Cavs, along with other teams, are expressing serious interest.

It’s worth noting that Harden has a no-trade clause and would need to approve of any deal the Clippers make. That adds another layer to consider. Harden would have to sign off on playing in Cleveland before the Cavs could acquire him.

Mannix also added that Cleveland is seeking additional draft compensation in the trade. This has been a holdup for LA.

Cavs have pushed for a draft pick/swap in Harden talks, sources told @SInow. Clippers have resisted. More ⬇️ https://t.co/XcfDBxVJNr

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 3, 2026

This is somewhat of a shock. We’ve known the Cavs are turning over every stone to find potential upgrades. But 36-year-old Harden wasn’t on many people’s radar. It feels insane on the surface to trade Garland for a player who is 10 years older than him and hasn’t proven he can get the job done in the postseason.

Granted, Garland hasn’t proven himself either, but he’ll presumably have many more chances to do so before his career is all said and done. Harden might be running out of time.

Numerous teams have convinced themselves that Harden can put them over the top. Thus far, no franchise has won that bet. I believe that Harden is better than he gets credit for in the playoffs—but I’m not eager to make the same mistake that the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Clippers have already made.

This is where I have to mention how great Harden still is on the basketball court. He’s averaging an efficient 25 points and 8 assists, all while playing 44 of LA’s 49 games this season. Harden has been more impactful and more durable than Garland this season. That’s a fact.

Also true is the age difference. It’s a bold move to hitch your wagon to a player who turns 37 this summer. The Cavs’ window won’t be open forever; we know this. But trading for a star who is closer to retirement than his prime is a risky move.

I’ll save the rest of my thoughts on this until we find out more. For now, keep your notifications on and brace for impact. Trade season is in full swing.

It feels like a lifetime since the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks met on the NBA’s biggest stage in the 2024 Finals. Much has changed since then as the red-hot Celtics (31-18) visit the Mavericks (19-30), who are looking to end a four-game skid. Here are three things to watch ahead of Dallas’s matchup with the East’s second-best team.

The Celtics shoot threes, lots of threes

The Celtics and Mavericks play two completely different styles. Boston is second in the NBA this season in threes attempted per game at 42.9, and second in made threes per game at 15.6. As a team, they shoot 36.7% from three, ninth in the NBA. In comparison, Dallas is 26th in the NBA in three-point shot attempts per game at 32.0, 28th in makes at 11.0, and 26th in percentage at 34.3%.

One thing that has not changed since the 2024 NBA Finals is Boston’s ability to shoot volume threes, which can demoralize opponents when the threes are falling. In today’s NBA, the math of three being worth more than two is a big part of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategy. In the absence of perennial All-Star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics lean on the three-point shot even more than before. Boston has six players who shoot above 39% from three this season — Anfernee Simons, Sam Houser, Josh Minnott, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. This doesn’t include veteran sharpshooter Derrick White, who has struggled from three this season at 32.4%. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have one player who shoots north of 39% from three — Max Christie.

Dallas’s style of bully-ball and relentless attacking in the paint can work on teams that aren’t efficient from three, but three is still worth more than two, and the math favors the Celtics.

The Celtics are deep

Even without Jayson Tatum, this Celtics team has been finding its groove lately, and a lot of that success stems from its depth. Boston is 7-3 in its past 10 games with a plus-nine point differential. After a 5-7 start, the Celtics are 26-11 since and sit in a second-place tie with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Boston has five players who score in double digits per game: Jaylen Brown (29.4), Derrick White (17.2), Payton Pritchard (16.8), Anfernee Simons (14.2), and Neemias Queta (10.1).

The depth of the Celtics is also a big reason why they have the league’s second-best offense at 121.3 points per game. One particular player that could cause problems for the Mavs is Queta, who has shown real promise in his fifth year. The seven-footer is averaging 10.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 63.5% shooting. Dallas’s lack of men in the middle could give the Celtics second and third opportunities to hoist from three.

Another player to watch is reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard. A lot of focus on the court tends to shift to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and for good reason. But Pritchard has quietly had another fantastic year for the Celtics, averaging 16.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His ability to attack off the dribble and shoot from three is a big reason why the Celtics’ offense has remained efficient without Tatum.

And of course, there’s Jaylen Brown, who’s statistically having his best season at 29.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Brown usually takes on the form of Robin, with Tatum being Batman, but Robin has done a pretty good job at keeping the ship afloat without the captain.

Cooper Flagg is the new Jayson Tatum?

One of the most common player comparisons Cooper Flagg has drawn is Jayson Tatum. And it makes sense. Both went to Duke. Both were one-and-done. Both are widely viewed as elite two-way players. Flagg is listed at 6’9, 205 pounds. Tatum is listed at 6’8, 210 pounds. Both have the size and length to guard one through four on defense. Both have great court vision and passing ability to lead an offense. They do feel all too similar. So how are Flagg’s rookie numbers comparing to Tatum’s?

The situation Tatum was drafted into had some similarities to Cooper Flagg’s. The 2016-2017 Celtics were 53-29 and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics took Jayson Tatum third overall. Tatum was thrust onto a good roster right away and was able to fit into his role. In his rookie year, he averaged 13.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. In comparison, Cooper Flagg is averaging 19.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his rookie campaign.

Tatum’s team success in his first year was far greater than Flagg’s, with the Celtics going 55-27 and coming one game shy of the NBA Finals, losing once again to LeBron James’s Cavaliers. As of now, the Mavericks sit at 19-30, 11th in the Western Conference. But Tatum was surrounded early by veterans who helped him figure things out – Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, to name a few. Flagg has that in Dallas — Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson. Veteran leadership matters, it’s just that most of the Mavericks veterans are hurt. Tatum has now grown himself to a top five to 10 player in the NBA. That may not even be the ceiling with Flagg. His ceiling may be top one.

Flagg will have his hands full on Tuesday night, being guarded by some of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Let’s see how the next Jayson Tatum fairs against the team that grew the original one.

How to watch

The two teams, going in seemingly opposite directions, will take the court on Tuesday night. But if there’s one thing we know, Dallas tends to beat the good teams. Go figure. The Mavs and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. Central time on NBC and Peacock.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jaylin Henderson scored 30 points to lead Portland State to an 88-65 victory over Idaho State on Monday night.

Henderson made 10 of 18 shots, including both of his 3-point attempts, and 8 of 10 free throws for the Vikings (15-6, 9-1 Big Sky Conference). He also handed out seven assists.

Terri Miller Jr. totaled 22 points and three steals for Portland State. Kelcy Phipps scored 11 off the bench on 4-for-4 shooting with a 3-pointer.

Caleb Van De Griend came off the bench to score 13 for the Bengals (10-13, 3-7), who trailed 43-32 at halftime. Evan Otten had 12 points and Connor Hollenbeck scored 10.

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James Harden appears to be on the doorstep of wearing yet another NBA jersey.

The Clippers are in “advanced” talks with the Cavaliers about a trade for the future Hall of Famer, Sports Illustrated reported on Monday.

A potential Harden swap would net the Clippers Darius Garland in return, the outlet added.

Harden did not play in Los Angeles’ home game against the Sixers on Monday night after head coach Ty Lue said the point guard was “home in Phoenix” due to “personal reasons.”

Harden also missed the Clippers’ Sunday matchup against the Suns.

The 11-time All-Star joined the Clippers in 2023 in a trade from the 76ers.

In his two-plus seasons with the team, he’s averaged 21.1 points, 8.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Harden’s played for five total teams — the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, Sixers and Clippers — in his 17 years in the NBA.

Garland, meanwhile, has played his entire career in Cleveland after he was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. 

He’s made two All-Star teams.

He, though, has been limited to 26 games this season while dealing with a toe injury.

The NBA’s trade deadline is 12 p.m. PT on Thursday.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Prophet Johnson had 35 points to match his career high and propel Sacramento State to a 104-90 victory over Weber State on Monday night.

Johnson made 11 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers and 10 of 13 free throws for the Hornets (9-13, 5-5 Big Sky Conference). He added seven rebounds.

Jahni Summers made 8 of 9 shots with five 3-pointers, scoring 22 with five assists for Sac State. Mark Lavrenov totaled 18 points and nine rebounds.

Ty Saine Jr. had 22 points and six assists to pace the Wildcats (11-12, 5-5). Malek Gomma finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Nigel Burris totaled 17 points and eight rebounds.

Summers had 17 points, Johnson scored 12 and Shaqir O'Neal scored all 10 of his points in the first half to help the Hornets take a commanding 53-32 lead.

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#SixersAfterDark with only a small risk of blowing a 20-point lead. How pleasant.

Philadelphia won their fourth game in a row, taking down the LA Clippers 128-113 Monday night.

Tyrese Maxey caught fire from three, going for a game-high 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting as well as six assists. Joel Embiid came alive in the second half to finish with 24 points shooting 8-of-19 from the floor.

VJ Edgecombe was cold from the floor but found ways to be productive, having five points on 1-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and seven assists.Dominick Barlow put up a career-high 26 going 10-of-16 from the floor along with 16 rebounds and two steals. Kawhi Leonard led LA with 29 as well.

Paul George was the lone Sixer out with his suspension while the Clippers were without James Harden and Derrick Jones Jr.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• It was quite a start for the Sixers, opening the game on a 18-2 run. Maxey started hot with a couple threes falling away. The Clippers looked every bit like a team that played the night before. Three of their first four turnovers were just because they dropped the ball.
• Barlow got a couple of hustle buckets, putting back two missed Embiid shots and finishing a backdoor cut. He was quickly fueling the offense with his putbacks. He intercepted a bounce pass and took it all the way, reaching 11 points, which was a career-high for him in a first quarter.

.@Dominickbarlow_ is in double digits early! pic.twitter.com/v2GNFM0vEv

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 3, 2026

• Things looked a bit more conventional when Maxey got going again, drilling another pair of threes after getting to the line. He seemed to really want to show off his stepback three, trying it on three of his five attempts. His heat check to close the quarter didn’t go, but he still helped power the Sixers to a 21-point lead.

Second Quarter

• The staggering changed up again, with Edgecombe leading the second unit along with Jared McCain. Edgecombe found McCain coming off a screen for a three. Adem Bona rolled open to the basket and kicked it to Quentin Grimes to take advantage of a wide open runway and posterize John Collins. The dunk was not only Grimes’ best play in quite some time, but encouraged Edgecombe to drive to do the same over the next few possessions.

bench going CRAZY for this one. https://t.co/Nv0eOPuA20pic.twitter.com/PmpmIthUc7

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 3, 2026

• It was quickly becoming the Dominick Barlow Game, with him picking up another putback upon returning to the game and shortly picked up a steal as well, completing that fast break with a give-and-go with Edgecombe. The Clippers’ eight turnovers had really kept them in a hole despite shooting 56% from the field.
• The heavy doubles the Sixers threw at Leonard helped generate some of those turnovers, but they didn’t slow him down much with his 13 points in the half. LA’s offense predictably wasn’t able to do much without him. On the other end of the floor, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Grimes hit corner threes, and Edgecombe finally made his first field goal with one as well to keep the Sixers at a 19-point lead at the half.

Third Quarter

• After a slow start, Embiid knocked down a jumper on three possessions in a row, surpassing his first half total. While Edgecombe did not find the same rhythm, missing on the open threes swung to him, he was plenty involved. He assisted on two of those Embiid jumpers working the two-man game.
• The game came screeching to a halt thanks to two Clippers challenges — one successful, one unsuccessful. The Clippers finally started to take advantage of the odd man advantages, slowly chipping away at the lead. Embiid settled things down with a couple looks from the nail before Barlow got another putback, getting fouled in the process as well.

Dominick Barlow has 9(!) offensive rebounds and is a point away from matching his career high pic.twitter.com/4w6B5R6qEq

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 3, 2026

• The offense slowed down again after Maxey followed up that and-1 with a jumper. Some fresh faces helped that as Grimes checked into the game and knocked down a three coming off a screen. On the next possession he kept his head up on a drive to find McCain wide open in the corner, helping the Sixers stay ahead by 13.

Fourth Quarter

• A bad pass that didn’t make it to Embiid to close the third got McCain benched to start the fourth though. The shot quality had dipped a bit, but tough makes from Maxey and Oubre kept them afloat. Truly everything was coming up Barlow. After an and-1 drive he had a corner three take three or four bounces off the rim before falling in.

Have yourself a night, Dominick Barlow!

He has set a NEW career-high in PTS (26) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YG0mWAObKI

— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2026

• For every time the Clippers did threaten to make things interesting, the Sixers were able to come up with a shot or two to keep them at bay. Embiid made up for a turnover by capping off a nice second half with a couple more jumpers. Another Maxey stepback three made the Clippers wave the white flag with about four minutes to go.

For fans eager to see Austin Reaves back on the court, the last week has been frustrating.

On two separate occasions, Reaves was listed as questionable heading into a game and on two occasions, he was downgraded to out before tip. After Redick said Reaves would likely return on the current road trip, the Lakers are down to one game before returning to Los Angeles.

Even if the Lakers are taking an understandable cautious approach, fans are rarely reasonable and the idea of Austin returning had them excited, only to be let down twice. After Sunday’s loss, head coach JJ Redick was asked about Reaves’ status.

“I just would say he’s day-to-day, game-to-game, however you want to phrase it,” Redick said. “We’ll hopefully have him for Tuesday but he’s got to feel 100% confident.”

This is not the first time Redick has given some form of a quote like this during the road trip either. The team is clearly being extremely cautious with his return. Unsurprisingly, Reaves is listed as questionable for a third straight game ahead of the Lakers’ clash with the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

Austin Reaves and Bronny James are both questionable for Tuesday pic.twitter.com/k3KRRe8fOO

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 2, 2026

In a vacuum, a game against the Nets would be a perfect time to bring a player back from injury. That likely factored little into the Lakers’ calculus considering how important each win is in the Western Conference, but this should be a comfortable on-ramp for Reaves.

It’s clear Reaves’ return is very close. As frustrated as Lakers fans may be about having to wait, it shouldn’t factor into the team or Reaves’ decision of when to finally suit up.

But, man, It’s about time Reaves got back on that court.

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

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nick Schmaltz had his second hat trick of the season and added two assists for a five-point game in the Utah Mammoth's 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Schmaltz had his third career NHL hat trick to push his season goals total to 22, one shy of his career high set with Arizona in 2021-22.

JJ Peterka scored his 20th of the season, John Marino had a goal and two assists and Mikhail Sergachev also scored to help Utah end a two-game losing streak. Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves.

Schmaltz scored twice in the first as Utah took a 2-1 lead. In the second, Sergachev connected on a power play and Marino and Peterka pushed the advantage to 5-1. Schmaltz completed the hat trick with 7:38 left in the third, scoring off a feed from Clayton Keller on a break.

Liam Ohgren and Teddy Blueger scored for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen stopped 14 shots.

Vancouver has only two victories in its last 18 games — both on an eight-game homestand that ended Saturday night with a 3-2 shootout loss to Toronto.

Up next

Canucks: At Vegas on Wednesday night in their final game before the Olympic break.

Mammoth: Host Detroit on Wednesday night in their final game before the Olympic break.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

After a tough loss against the New York Knicks, the Lakers (29-19) look to redeem themselves against the Brooklyn Nets (13-35) on Tuesday. This is the last stop in their Grammy road trip.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets

When: 4:30 p.m. PT, Feb. 3

Where: Barclays Center

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

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The Lakers were once again confronted with some harsh realities in Sunday’s loss against the Knicks:

• They’re not going to win many games whenever they shoot 12-45 (28.6%) from the 3-point line
• Losing one quarter by a wide margin can significantly affect the game’s outcome
• They have a tough time against opponents who rebound the ball well
• Their struggles against teams above .500 continue (9-11) has become a concern

Frankly, these points have been reccurring issues throughout the season and the purple and gold have shown very little to no signs of improving. Whether that’s because of roster construction, injuries, JJ Redick’s coaching, players underperforming or everything at once, it’s fair to say that the Lakers won’t go far if these issues continue.

In fact, after the annoying loss to New York, Los Angeles fell to seventh in the competitive Western Conference standings which, as we all know, is play-in territory. This didn’t last long thanks to the Suns’ loss a few hours after, but it’s a warning on what can happen if they don’t start stringing some wins.

Luckily for them, they’ll have a good chance of improving their record right away when they take on a rebuilding Nets team on Tuesday. The Nets are pretty much Michael Porter Jr’s team right now along with a bunch of serviceable role players like Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton. They can be competitive at times but truth to be told, there’s no reason for the Lakers to lose to them.

Now in jeopardy of being a play-in team, this has become sort of a must-win game for the purple and gold. They can’t lose games like this anymore, especially with seven of their next 10 games coming against teams above .500. The Nets are one of the very few teams in the league with a bottom-tier offensive and defensive rating. They don’t shoot and rebound the ball well. If there’s a group that’s worse than the Lakers in pretty much everything, it’s them.

The goal is to make sure MPJ — who is averaging 25.6 points a game — doesn’t go off. Same goes with Claxton, who shouldn’t dominate the boards and in the paint against Deandre Ayton. If the Lakers can manage to make sure the Nets don’t have an anomaly type of shooting performance or feast inside the paint, then they should be able to handle them.

The Lakers should also use this as another “get right” game before they head home and their schedule gets tougher. Their biggest competitors will be themselves, especially if their offense underperforms again. Hopefully, the team that shows up is the one that’s determined to close their road trip on a winning note and is serious about being a competitive playoff team this season.

Let’s see if the Lakers can do just that on Tuesday.

Notes and Updates

• The Lakers’ injury report lists Bronny James Jr., (left lower leg soreness) and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) are questionable.
• Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) is out.
• For the Nets, Haywood Highsmith (right knee surgery) is out and Noah Clowney (lower back sprain) is probable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Mikal Bridges’ epiphany came from a bit of personal reflection. 

After the Knicks win over the Raptors in Toronto last week, when Bridges scored 30 points, his answer on the MSG Network broadcast went viral for how honest he was. Bridges admitted that he was “feeling too entitled” and “wasn’t being coachable.” 

That realization wasn’t prompted by the coaching staff or his teammates — it came from within. 

“I think my biggest thing is being accountable, accountability,” Bridges told The Post after the win over the Lakers Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. “You spend a lot of time by yourself, so just trying to realize what I gotta do to be better. I think that was one of the big things — I wasn’t being accountable enough for things that were happening. And not me being coachable as well, as I should.”

Coach Mike Brown on Sunday claimed that he did not see those comments, but stressed that Bridges has been coachable. 

Still, Bridges has noticed a shift in how he’s operating on the floor. 

“It just makes you play more free,” Bridges said. “Not worrying about nothing but playing the right way.”

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Miles McBride will miss his fourth straight game Tuesday against the Wizards with what the team still lists as left ankle injury management. 

Mitchell Robinson is out, with it being the first leg of a back-to-back. 

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Whatever Brown and his staff is saying at halftime, it’s clearly working.

The Knicks have absolutely dominated second halves during their current six-game winning streak. 

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS

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They recorded a net rating of 42.3 points in second halves across those six games.

That’s by far the best in the NBA during that stretch — the next closest is the Cavaliers at 19.7 points.

Compare that to first halves during that stretch, where the Knicks had a net rating of 7.1 points — eighth in the NBA. 

“This is a mature group,” Brown said. “They’re competitive as well. We just tell them what we see, a lot of times they just go out and correct it. It’s more about being locked in and doing the little things, detail-wise, better, and not every other play or every few plays.”

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Across this six-game win streak, opponents have shot just 41.7 percent when Jalen Brunson was the closest defender, according to NBA.com’s tracking stats. 

“I feel like I’ve been better as of recently,” Brunson said after Sunday’s win. “I’m gonna give effort every single time. I’d be a below-the-rim rim protector with my charges. Just find a way to impact the game on that side of the floor as best I can.”