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Houston Overcomes Infection By Dallasites, Wins 111-107

Here comes your man. No, really. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

This one wasn’t pretty, but it was effective in the end.

Tonight none of the big names for the Rockets had a good offensive night. Sengun just looks broken right now, but of course he’s playing because Adams is out for the season, and no one has seen fit to reward Capela’s generally very good play of late with more minutes for him. The Rockets did enough late in the game, and held on to a lead that persistently narrowed as they once again had great difficulty with late game offense.

The Rockets finally got to play the Mavericks in Houston, and the game was close. Some people might wonder how Dallas, without Day-To-Davis, and Kyrie Irving can be competitive. One is they drafted what looks to be a truly amazing player in Cooper Flagg, who is doing what he’s doing at 19, and two, their roster is actually set up to work around such a player. It was built for Luka Doncic (and Irving was the second PG, and mostly an off ball scorer) but it largely works for Flagg as they are, without much fanfare now, using Flagg almost exactly as they did Doncic. That team reached the Finals, so being competitive, minus Irving, isn’t actually a miracle.

The Rockets lead at the half 59-51, and it might be hoped that they’d continue to build on their lead and have an easy time of it. But if you’ve watched the Rockets much this season, “Win, Over Easy” is rarely on the menu these days.

Cooper Flagg, coming off a 49 point outburst (in a loss) to Charlotte, scored scored 34 tonight, and seemingly all of Dallas’ points from midway through the 4th quarter that weren’t free throws, sort of lucky, or Klay Thompson annoyingly realizing he was in Houston, and making a few shots late, too. It wasn’t quite enough.

Durant, Thompson and Sengun all scored late, but the Rockets made it harder than it needed to be on themselves. They are persistently bad at trying to pass, and overpassing, on what should be easy looks, or an opportunity to go strong at the basket and get free throws. One example late was Tari Eason, on a fast break, deciding to pass to Jabari Smith at his feet. Jabari probably needed to slow down, and be a trailer rather that running beside or ahead of Eason, but these are offensive fundamentals, and best ignored in favor of More Defense. The point being, they do this sort of thing a lot. Some of it is being young, but for a bunch of young athletes to clank as many fast breaks as they do is distressing.

The shooting for the likely scorers was just bad, to make things more interesting. The two usual top scorers went Durant – 6-17, Sengun – 6-20. They did have 8 and 7 assists respectively, so they contributed to the team that way. Fortunately Jabari was 7-13 and 3-5 from three. Tari Eason was 7-15, also 3-5 from three. Amen Thompson was, you guessed it 7-15 as well, and took zero threes (yay). Sheppard was only 3-8, mainly due to going 0-4 from three. He looks to be rushing his shot, and there’s rarely a reason for him to do so. Josh Okogie, though, continues to be a nice surprise, 5-11, but recorded that great number again, 3-5 from three. If the Rockets are shooting it well from three, their lives could be made a lot easier by simple Shooting More Threes. They did take more than Dallas tonight, 26-23.

Many of the non three point misses for Eason, Jabari and Okogie came from unforced errors, and bad decision making on some shots. Okogie overall has been a great surprise, and very valuable to the Rockets. This is fortunate, as Dorian Finney-Smith has effectively contributed nothing to the team so far. His ten minutes tonight were slightly disastrous. This is worrisome, as the Rockets need him to play better, so hopefully the second half sees him being the player we’ve hoped to see since the signing last summer.

Tonight we also saw the offense only be initiated by Thompson, Sengun, and to a limited extent Sheppard. We saw Durant positioned far better to score and pass, as well. What we didn’t see, thankfully, was the Rockets spamming the same Durant high dribble hand off, ISO, play, very much at all. It appears to have registered that defenses key on that. This had positive effects. The Rockets turned the ball over only 5 times. Durant turned it over once, to his 8 dimes, Sengun 2 to his 7. Thompson? Say Amen, somebody, 9 assists and no turnovers.

Just eliminating so many live ball turnovers, ones that are very difficult to defend in transition because they occur above the top of the three point arc, may have been the difference in this game.

Sengun really, really, seems to need a rest and to heal up. He’s moving poorly, and has trouble getting to where he needs to be on both offense and defense. It’s affecting his shooting as well. You could take the past few weeks as evidence Sengun is now a bad player, or go with the overwhelming weight of his previous seasons and consider what might be wrong with him.

Why Capela can’t take another 8-10 minutes per game, to let Alpie rest a bit, is beyond me. His offensive chemistry with Reed is very good, as well. Capela does the traditional center PNR, with strong, real, pick setting. He rolls to the rim pretty well even now. Alpie almost doesn’t do it at all. This is a shame, because Sengun rolling and diving to the basket to score, dime a say, cutting Amen, Tari, Jabari or Durant on the baseline, or pass to a shooter in the opposite corner strikes me as something that would be incredibly difficult to stop.

In the end, the team got it done, and I’m sorry for a shorter recap, but I’m pinch hitting tonight. More wordy recaps will surely follow, but not tonight. Tonight we can be grateful the Rockets got a win, after things got dicey late.

The Old TC continues to be a fortress for the Rockets, their record there is 17-4.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Embiid notches season-high 40 points

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Joel Embiid – 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

The Sixers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Finals team with a 124- 114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

It was their first matchup without Paul George, who was suspended earlier on Saturday for 25 games due to violations of the league’s anti-drug policy.

Despite having a large lead for the majority of the game, the Sixers defense left a lot to be desired, and opened the door for the Pelicans to make it close in the second half.

Fortunately, the Sixers were able to pull things together in the fourth quarter.

There were strong performances all over the floor for the Sixers, but none better than our leading Bell Ringer nominee.

Joel Embiid: 40 points 13-of-27 FG, 3-of-5 3PT, 11-of-14 FT, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 5 turnovers

Embiid is making a strong case for an All-Star selection, earning his first 40-point game of the season. He got started early and did not let up on Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, hitting a flurry of pull-up shots over him. He had his shooting stroke early and carried that into a more aggressive second quarter, where he would earn nine free throw attempts to help bring his first half total to 23.

The third quarter saw only one shot attempt for Embiid at the beginning of the frame, and he was quiet until the fourth quarter.

As the Pelicans closed the gap, Embiid hit a three, baby jumper and layup to maintain the lead until an 8-0 New Orleans run sprung them out in front 107- 104 with exactly six minutes remaining. He hit another big three to end the run and tie the game. A few trips later, he hits a beautiful turnaround fade over Yves Missi.

As the Sixers began to pull away, Embiid hit another big three to help seal the deal, pumping the lead to seven with just under a minute left in regulation. A free throw late brought him to 40 points for the first time this season and first time since he scored 50 against the Knicks in Gam 3 of the 2024 first round.

He got to share the moment with his son postgame:

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 19 points, 7-of-13 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

In the first game following George’s suspension, Oubre found himself involved often and was a vital part in keeping the Sixers afloat in non-Embiid minutes. It was the perfect example of how to stay involved offensively without being a primary ball handler.

In the first half, he was consistently getting in the paint in transition, where VJ Edgecombe assisted him with savvy passes deep in the defense, and helping out on the defensive boards.

He was responsible for some of the only offense in the third quarter, hitting two threes before the team as a whole went dormant. In the fourth, he had some sneaky good passes, including a skip pass to Edgecombe for the dagger three.

VJ Edgecombe: 15 points, 6-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3PT, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover

Edgecombe earns a nomination tonight because of four plays.

The first, this beautiful alley-oop finish from a Tyrese Maxey delivery.

Second, a slick behind-the-back dime to Oubre.

Next, this sneaky steal and transition slam.

Lastly, his dagger three to send the Sixers on their five-game road trip winners of three in a row.

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Lakers trade targets Keon Ellis, De’Andre Hunter dealt for one another

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are just a few certainties in this world. Death, taxes and no one understanding what the Kings are doing.

On Saturday night, the Kings, Cavs and Bulls completed a three-team trade that involved two Lakers trade targets. Cleveland sent De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento, who will send Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis to Cleveland. Chicago will receive Dario Saric and a pair of second round picks.

Every so often, the Kings pop up with a move that reminds everyone they are still the Kings.

In Keon Ellis, they had a very highly coveted player who they could get at least a good draft pick for. As a team without much to look forward to in the future, getting a pick and a chance at a young prospect should be appealing.

Instead, they attached him to Schröder, a player they signed to a three-year deal this summer despite having Malik Monk, Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook (eventually) on the roster. They could have simply not signed Dennis, had more playing time available and, if they were set on trading Ellis, gotten a pick and value back.

Or, they could just attach him to Dennis to salary dump him for Hunter, a player who is having a career-worst year, is older than Ellis and is under contract next season, too.

What are they doing?????

Alas, this takes two of the few names connected to the Lakers off the market. Ellis was an intriguing young option while Hunter was a much riskier option. After rumors heated up over the last week, they were tempered down on Saturday ahead of the trade itself.

Realistically, the Lakers weren’t going to be able to match a package including Ellis to acquire Hunter, nor should they have attempted to. The Lakers will now have to move on to other options ahead of the deadline.

And what the hell are the Kings doing?

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

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The Pacific Division is still there for the Warriors to take

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

By late January, the NBA begins to stop lying to you. The schedule has done its damage, the injuries have told their stories, and the standings have enough scar tissue to matter. You can’t hide anymore, you can only adapt, scramble, or fold. This is the point in the season where illusions die quietly. No more small-sample optimism, no more “once we’re healthy” excuses. Just records, tendencies, and teams revealing exactly who they are.

Sometimes comparison really is the thief of joy. But when you’re deep in the trenches of an NBA season, it helps to look around and see where everyone else stands. The Pacific Division as of January 31st tells five very different stories with four teams fighting for playoff positioning, and one franchise that’s basically waving the white flag before February even starts.

The Lakers (29-18) and Suns (30-19) are locked in a proper division race, basically tied at the top. Both teams are rolling: the Lakers just demolished Washington 142-111 behind Luka Doncic’s casual 37-point triple-double, while the Suns are riding a three-game win streak despite Devin Booker nursing a sprained ankle. Dillon Brooks has been Phoenix’s unlikely savior, dropping 40 against Detroit and 27 against Cleveland while Booker recovers.

What’s wild is how different their paths look. The Lakers are 20-12 at home but a dismal 9-13 on the road, which could haunt them come playoff time. Phoenix doesn’t have that same home/road split issue—they’re just winning games regardless of venue, though their 2-3 division record suggests they struggle when facing their neighbors.

Golden State (27-23) sits 3.5 games back in third place, definitely in the playoff conversation still trailing the top two. The injuries to Jimmy Butler’s ACL (out for season) and Stephen Curry knee (left the loss vs Pistons early) have only created a fever pitch for a trade before the deadline. The Warriors are what they are at this point: a solid team that can beat anyone on a good night but lacks the consistency to truly compete with the division’s elite. Their 17-8 road record is their saving grace, because that ghastly 10-15 record on the road is killing their season. But the team that they are now and who they will be at the trade deadline could be two different things hmmmm.

Meanwhile the Clippers (22-25) occupy that dangerous fourth-place spot where they are close enough to smell the playoffs, far enough to worry about the play-in tournament. They just saw their impressive 16-3 stretch over 19 games get snapped by Denver, and now they head to Phoenix for a measuring-stick game Sunday. Kawhi Leonard (27.7 PPG) and James Harden (25.4 PPG, 8.1 APG) are doing their part, but Bradley Beal’s season-ending hip surgery stripped away crucial depth.

Even still, this team was thought to be dead in the water until they apparently jettisoned Chris Paul and locked in.

Then there’s Sacramento (12-38), currently perfecting the art of losing basketball games. The Kings are on an eight-game skid, 0-5 on their current road trip, and sporting a putrid 3-22 road record overall. They’ve dealt with injuries to key pieces like Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Russell Westbrook. They’re 17 games back of the Lakers and functionally eliminated from playoff contention before Valentine’s Day.

That’s your Pacific Division, two teams battling for top 4 seeding, your Dubs trying to figure out what they have, the Clippers crawling back in to the edges of the conversation on sheer grit and swag, and the rolling dumpster fire that is Sacramento.

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NBA trade grades for 3-team deal with Cavs landing Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Sacramento Kings controls the ball against the Boston Celtics 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

NBA trade deadline week is here, and the deals got started on late Saturday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Chicago Bulls agreed to a three-team swap. Here’s the details, via ESPN insider Shams Charania:

Cavs get: Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis

Kings get: De’Andre Hunter

Bulls get: Dario Saric, two second-round picks

The deal saves Cleveland $50 million in payroll, according to Charania. Hunter makes $23.9 million this season and $24.9 million next season as he arrives in Sacramento. Meanwhile, Schröder makes $14 million this season, $14.8 million next season, and then has a partially guaranteed third season as he heads to Cleveland. Ellis is slated to be a free agent this summer.

This deal bolsters the Cavs’ rotation heading into the playoffs, while the Kings ditch Schröder and get to try out another wing in Hunter. The Bulls swoop in and land two second-round picks just for eating some salary. Let’s grade this move for every side.

Cavs trade grade Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis acquisitions

I like this for Cleveland. The Cavs haven’t been the same this year coming off a 64-win season in part because of injuries, in part because they’re just not as deep as they were last season. This trade at least helps fix the second part of the problem. Cleveland needed another ball handler with Darius Garland’s lingering big toe injury, and they also have missed Ty Jerome, who departed over the summer in free agency to the Memphis Grizzlies. Schröder gives them some insurance on Garland as the playoffs approach, and he can also easily slide into a bench role where he can lead second units as a shot-creator.

I’ve always liked Ellis as a tough defender with low-volume three-point shooting ability, so that’s a nice addition for Cleveland’s stretch run, too. I have no idea why a hopeless Kings team wouldn’t play him much this season, but it was clear they weren’t going to resign him, so now the Cavs get an extended look at him before he hits free agency. Cleveland won’t miss Hunter: the Cavs have a -0.5 net-rating with Hunter on the floor this season, and a +9.5 net-rating with him off. He just couldn’t hit a shot this season, and his defense has never been that impactful. I like every bit of this deal for Cleveland.

Cavs grade: A

Kings trade grade for De’Andre Hunter deal

Hunter has a reputation as a 3-and-D wing, but he hasn’t been good in either area this year. He’s only making 30.8 percent of his threes this season on 5.5 attempts per game, and his 55.3 percent true shooting so far is below league-average. Defensively, the Cavs posted a 117.2 defensive rating with Hunter on the floor this year, and a 110.6 defensive rating with him off the floor.

Hunter was shooting 40.5 percent from three for the Atlanta Hawks when they traded him to the Cavs at last year’s deadline, so maybe he can get his shooting stroke back. The Kings needed another wing to fill out lineups, and Hunter can at least do that. Sacramento takes on Hunter’s inflated salary next year so they don’t have to deal with Schröder’s partial guarantee in 2027-28.

Kings grade: C

Bulls trade grade for Dario Saric, second-round pick

This is a nice margin move for the Bulls. Saric has barely played the last two years, and has been terrible when he has been on the court, but whatever. This is about adding two second round picks just for the cost of eating his money.

These aren’t great second-round picks, but it’s still nice to get them for just a little bit of money. The Bulls reportedly waived Jevon Carter in a corresponding move.

Bulls grade: A

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Cavaliers trade De'Andre Hunter for Kings' Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis: Details

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder in a deal that sends De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings and also involves the Chicago Bulls, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Kings received Hunter, a small forward, and are also sending Dario Saric and two future second-round picks to the Bulls.

Ellis and Schroder join a Cleveland roster that already includes Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, adding more depth to the Cavs' backcourt as they look to make a deep playoff push. Ellis and Schroder can help stretch the floor and also hurt defenses with penetration. Both players are active defenders that give ballhandlers headaches.

The Cavaliers currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings at 29-21.

Keon Ellis 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Ellis' average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular season:

  • Games played: 43
  • Minutes: 17.6
  • Points: 5.6
  • Rebounds: 1.3
  • Assists: 0.6
  • Steals: 1.1
  • Blocks: 0.5
  • Field goal: 39.7%
  • 3-point field goal: 36.8%
  • Free throw: 62.5%

Keon Ellis career stats

Here are Ellis' average statistics so far though his four-year NBA career:

  • Games played: 196
  • Minutes: 19.2
  • Points: 6.3
  • Rebounds: 2.0
  • Assists: 1.2
  • Steals: 1.1
  • Blocks: 0.6
  • Field goal: 46%
  • 3-point field goal: 41.6%
  • Free throw: 76.9%

Dennis Schroder 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Schroder's average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.

  • Games played: 40
  • Minutes: 19.2
  • Points: 12.8
  • Rebounds: 3.1
  • Assists: 5.3
  • Steals: 0.8
  • Blocks: 0.2
  • Field goal: 40.8%
  • 3-point field goal: 34.3%
  • Free throw: 82%

Dennis Schroder career stats

Here are Schroder's career average statistics so far though his 12-year NBA career:

  • Games played: 882
  • Minutes: 27.3
  • Points: 13.9
  • Rebounds: 2.9
  • Assists: 4.9
  • Steals: 0.8
  • Blocks: 0.1
  • Field goal: 43.1%
  • 3-point field goal: 34.2%
  • Free throw: 83.5%

De'Andre Hunter 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Hunter's average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.

  • Games played: 43
  • Minutes: 26.2
  • Points: 14.0
  • Rebounds: 4.2
  • Assists: 2.1
  • Steals: 0.7
  • Blocks: 0.1
  • Field goal: 42.3%
  • 3-point field goal: 30.8%
  • Free throw: 86.9%

De'Andre Hunter career stats

Here are Hunter's career average statistics so far though his seven-year NBA tenure.

  • Games played: 370
  • Minutes: 29.6
  • Points: 14.7
  • Rebounds: 4.1
  • Assists: 1.6
  • Steals: 0.7
  • Blocks: 0.3
  • Field goal: 44.8%
  • 3-point field goal: 36.5%
  • Free throw: 82.5%

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers-Kings trade details, what we know about De'Andre Hunter deal

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Hornets extend win streak to 6 games, hold off Spurs 111-106

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 26 points, Collin Sexton made all five 3-point attempts off the bench and finished with 21 points and the Charlotte Hornets held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to six games.

LaMelo Ball 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help give the Hornets their longest win streak in nearly a decade. Charlotte won seven straight games in March 2016.

Dylan Harper scored 20 points to lead the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama was held in check for most of the game, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting and eight rebounds.

Charlotte’s 17-point lead in the third quarter disintegrated after Harrison Barnes hit back-to-back 3s and the Spurs turned a Sexton turnover into a De’Aaron Fox layup to cut the lead to two with less than five minutes to play.

But the Spurs could never regain the lead.

With 36 seconds left and Charlotte leading by three, officials initially whistled Fox for a foul on a Miller 3-point attempt. But after reviewing the call, it was overturned and resulted in a jump ball, which the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama easily won.

Wembanyama launched a hurried a 3-point shot moments later and the Hornets snagged the rebound. Down 3, the Spurs inexplicably allowed 15 seconds to elapse before fouling Miller, who made both free throws with 10.6 seconds left to seal the game.

PACERS 129, HAWKS 124

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25 and Indiana held off Atlanta.

Indiana nursed a single-digit lead for much of the third quarter and led 103-100 entering the fourth. It was tight the rest of the way before Siakam hit a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to push the Pacers ahead 127-123.

Aaron Nesmith added 23 points, Nembhard had 10 assists and Siakam shot 11 of 15 from the field. The Pacers won despite 23 turnovers.

Atlanta dropped its second straight game despite Jalen Johnson’s eighth triple-double of the season. The forward finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points.

The Pacers have won seven of their past 12 games, enjoying a solid stretch of basketball after starting the season with a 6-31 record. Indiana has played all year without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.

Indiana jumped to an 80-73 lead by halftime, spurred by a 45-point second quarter. Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points before the break while Nembhard also had 21 for the Pacers.

76ERS 124, PELICANS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 40 points and 11 rebounds to help Philadelphia win hours after Paul George was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, beating New Orleans.

The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance that was involved, and George released a statement to ESPN saying he took something that was “improper.”

Without George, the 76ers couldn’t shake the 13-win Pelicans until the final minutes.

Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points and hit one of his four 3-pointers that gave the Sixers a 117-111 lead and Embiid and VJ Edgecombe followed with consecutive 3s for the 123-113 lead.

Embiid heard “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants as he stepped to the free-throw line with 11.3 seconds left. He sank his first one to hit the 40-point mark.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points and the 76ers hit 17 3-pointers to end the night on a high note after they learned they would have to make a playoff push largely without George.

Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 34 points and Zion Williamson had 11.

TIMBERWOLVES 131, GRIZZLIES 114

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 33 points, Julius Randle added 27 points and seven assists, and Minnesota won its fourth straight, beating Memphis.

Minnesota’s winning streak was punctuated by a wire-to-wire victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. All four wins have been by double-digits.

Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels had 20 points apiece for the Timberwolves, Reid adding nine rebounds. Rudy Gobert grabbed 16 boards and added a pair of blocks.

Ty Jerome, playing in his first game of the season after recovering from a right calf strain, led Memphis with 20 points and six assists but could not prevent the Grizzlies from losing their sixth straight.

GG Jackson added 19 points and Jaylen Wells had 15.

BULLS 125, HEAT 118

MIAMI (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored a season-high 29 points and short-handed Chicago topped Miami.

Dosunmu added nine assists and eight rebounds. Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Isaac Okoro added 20 for the Bulls, who hit 20 3-pointers.

Pelle Larsson scored 22 and Bam Adebayo had 15 of his 21 in the fourth quarter for Miami, which tied the game four times in the final 3:37 but didn’t reclaim the lead in any of those instances. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 20 for Miami.

The teams play again in Miami on Sunday. It’ll be the first time since Baltimore and Houston in 1972 that two NBA teams play three consecutive games in the same regular season against one another; the Heat won at Chicago in a rescheduled game on Thursday night.

ROCKETS 111, MAVERICKS 107

HOUSTON (AP) — Amen Thompson had 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead Houston to a victory over Dallas.

An alley-oop dunk by Thompson put Houston up four with under two minutes left before the Mavericks scored the next four points, with baskets from rookie Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall, to tie it about a minute later.

Alperen Sengun’s layup put Houston on top with 28.6 seconds left before Flagg missed a shot in the lane on the other end. The Rockets grabbed the rebound and a dunk by Tari Eason made it 111-107 with 14.4 seconds remaining.

A 3-point attempt by Flagg bounced off the rim after that to end it.

Flagg led the Mavericks with 34 points and 12 rebounds a game after the 19-year-old set the NBA record for points by a teenager with 49 in a loss to Charlotte on Thursday night. Saturday was the fifth game this season with at least 30 points for the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points for the Rockets and Sengun had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

_____

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No. 14 Kansas beats No. 13 BYU 90-82 in 1,000th game at Allen Fieldhouse

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Darryn Peterson scored 18 points in 20 minutes and No. 14 Kansas beat No. 13 BYU 90-82 on Saturday in the 1,000th game played at historic Allen Fieldhouse.

Bryson Tiller had career-high 21 points and seven rebounds for Kansas (16-5, 6-2 Big 12).

Although the Jayhawks led by as many as 21 points, BYU stayed within striking distance in the second half, cutting the lead to six as the clock ticked under two minutes to go. Kansas outscored the Cougars 8-4 in the final minute to withstand the late rally.

Richie Saunders scored a career-high 33 for BYU (17-4, 5-3). His six three-pointers tied a career-high.

Kansas carried a 20-point lead into halftime, shooting 64.3% from the field. That included 18 points from Peterson and the Jayhawks made 9 of 12 from beyond the arc.

BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, who entered the game averaging a nation-leading 23.6 points, went without a shot until the 11:24 mark in the first half. Dybantsa scored his first basket with 7:22 left in the period, ending a 13-0 run by the Jayhawks with a 3-pointer. He finished with 17 points.

NO. 1 ARIZONA 87, ARIZONA ST. 74

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Koa Peat scored 21 points, fellow freshman Brayden Burries added 17 and Arizona beat rival Arizona State, setting a school record with 22 straight wins to start the season.

Arizona (22-0, 9-0 Big 12) is one of just two unbeaten teams in the nation, along with Miami (Ohio). The Wildcats’ winning streak also tied the Big 12 record to start a season, originally set by Kansas in 1996-97.

The Wildcats — who shot 60% in the second half — scored the first six points after the break to take a 44-38 lead and never trailed again. Burries found Peat on a pinpoint full-court pass that led to a dunk for a 56-47 lead with 13:10 left.

The gritty Sun Devils cut into the deficit several times, but could never quite generate enough offense to keep pace. Noah Meeusen scored 16 points while Maurice Odum added 15.

Arizona State (11-11, 2-7) has dropped nine of its last 11 games.

NO. 2 UCONN 85, CREIGHTON 58

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Braylon Mullins scored 16 points and Alex Karaban and Silas Demary Jr. had 15 apiece to lead UConn in a rout of Creighton.

The Huskies (21-1, 11-0 Big East) won their 17th straight game and posted their biggest winning margin in a conference road game in two years.

Creighton (12-10, 6-5) has dropped two straight games by a total of 51 points. The 27-point loss to the Huskies matched the most lopsided at home in coach Greg McDermott’s 16 seasons at Creighton, according to Sportradar.

The Huskies had won five of their previous six games by six points or less, but this turned into a blowout after Creighton went into an offensive lull late in the first half and never recovered. The Huskies shot 54.1% from the field, their best mark in a Big East game this season, and turned 13 offensive rebounds into 23 points. They were 16 of 31 from 3-point range (52%).

NO. 4 DUKE 72, VIRGINIA TECH 58

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Cameron Boozer scored 24 points to lead Duke to a victory over for its ninth straight win.

Boozer, coming off a 19-point effort in the Blue Devils’ 83-52 victory over No. 20 Louisville on Monday, connected on 9 of 12 from the floor, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists for Duke (20-1, 9-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which moved to 7-0 in true road games this season.

Duke has won 31 of its past 32 games against ACC opponents.

Amani Hansberry paced Virginia Tech (16-7, 5-5) with 20 points.

Duke never trailed and led by as many as 13 in the second half before the Hokies rallied. Desperately seeking a Quad 1 victory in hopes of bolstering its NCAA Tournament hopes — the Hokies have just one all season — Virginia Tech cut the Duke lead to 62-56 on a jumper by Jailen Bedford with 6:10 remaining.

NO. 6 GONZAGA 73, SAINT MARY'S 65

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Graham Ike scored 30 points in his first game back from injury and Gonzaga beat rival Saint Mary’s in their final West Coast Conference meeting at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Jalen Warley had 10 points and seven rebounds as the Bulldogs (22-1, 10-0) won their 15th straight game and improved to 11-0 at home. Emmanuel Innocenti also scored 10, all during a three-minute stretch in the second half.

Joshua Dent led the Gaels (19-4, 8-2) with 16 points. Paulius Murauskas scored 15 and Dillan Shaw added 13 for Saint Mary’s, which led by four at halftime.

Ike picked up where he left off after missing three games with right ankle soreness. The fifth-year forward scored Gonzaga’s first basket on a left-handed push shot before knocking down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Bulldogs a 9-2 lead.

NO. 10 HOUSTON 76, CINCINNATI 54

HOUSTON (AP) — Milos Uzan had 16 points and Houston won its 38th straight game over an unranked opponent with a victory against Cincinnati.

Emanuel Sharp, Chris Cenac Jr. and Isiah Harwell each scored 13 for the Cougars (19-2, 7-1 Big 12).

Cenac scored all of his points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting as the Cougars built a 32-20 lead at the half.

Houston won its 16th straight home game and its 14th straight over the Bearcats (11-11, 3-6).

Houston shot 46% and 9 of 26 on 3-pointers. It forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 26 points.

UCF 88, NO. 11 TEXAS TECH 80

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Themus Fulks scored 21 points, including a jumper with a minute to play to key a late run that led UCF to a win over Texas Tech.

The win marked UCF’s third straight conference win, the first time they have done that since joining the Big 12 three years ago.

The Knights led for all but 1:20 of the game, but were clinging to a two-point advantage with 1:30 to play after Fulks turned the ball over. But Jaylen Petty fumbled the outlet pass after the steal, and UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) recovered to set up Fulks’ jumper to go up by two possessions.

The Red Raiders (16-5, 6-2) missed many opportunities to close the gap as the Knights outworked them in the paint throughout the game.

J.T. Toppin scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, his 13th double-double this season and his 10th in the last 12 games, to lead Texas Tech.

But the Knights dominated the interior, outrebounding the Red Raiders 35-23. UCF outscored Texas Tech 21-4 on second-chance points.

KENTUCKY 85, NO. 15 ARKANSAS 77

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Otega Oweh led four Kentucky players in double figures with 24 points to help the Wildcats to a win over Arkansas in a game that featured six technical fouls.

Oweh, who picked up the first technical foul in the first half, scored 11 points in the final 10 minutes to put Arkansas away as Kentucky closed the game on a 26-18 run. Collin Chandler added 13 for the Wildcats while Malachi Moreno scored 11 and and Denzel Aberdeen added 10.

It was 63-all with 8:07 left when Arkansas’ Malique Ewin was whistled for a technical foul following a personal foul. Kentucky made 5 of 6 from the free-throw line before Moreno threw down a dunk 43 seconds later and the Wildcats led the rest of the way.

Kentucky (15-7, 6-3 SEC) committed four technical fouls before that, including three in a span of 38 seconds early in the the second half. Arkansas, which trailed by seven at halftime, took its first lead of the game following the last technical when Billy Richmond’s dunk made the score 52-51.

Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas (16-6, 6-3) with 22 points, 17 in the second half, and was one of five Razorbacks players in double figures. But Arkansas shot just 3 of 14 from 3-point range and 16 of 26 from the free-throw line.

NO. 16 NORTH CAROLINA 91, GEORGIA TECH 75

ATLANTA (AP) — Caleb Wilson dominated in the return to his hometown, scoring 22 points as North Carolina cruised past Georgia Tech for a victory.

The 6-foot-10 Atlanta native set a school record by scoring 20 points for the 15th time as a freshman. He had been tied with Tyler Hansbrough, who had 14 games with 20 points for the Tar Heels in 2005-06.

Wilson set another school record by reaching double-figure points in the first 21 games of his college career. He broke a tie with Rashad McCants, who had at least 10 points in his first 20 games in 2002-03.

With a light snow falling outside McCamish Pavilion, Henri Veesaar gave North Carolina (17-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) a devastating 1-2 punch on the inside with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Tar Heels won their third in a row, with Wilson adding three more dunks to what was already his nation-leading total of 62.

NO. 17 VIRGINIA TECH 73, BOSTON COLLEGE 66

BOSTON (AP) — Thijs De Ridder scored 17 points, Malik Thomas had 14 and 17 Virginia held off Boston College.

Chance Mallory added 11 points for the Cavaliers (18-3, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Donald Hand Jr., son of former Cavaliers’ star Donald Hand (1998-01), led the Eagles (9-12, 2-6) with 20 points. Fred Payne added 17 points for the Eagles.

Getting to the basket relatively easily most of the game, Virginia took its first lead of the game, 41-38, on Sam Lewis’ three-point play 4½ minutes into the second half.

The Cavaliers pushed their advantage to seven a few minutes later on Thomas’ twisting layup when he was in a stretch of scoring eight of their 11 points.

NO. 18 VANDERBILT 71, MISSISSIPPI 68

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored 24 points and Vanderbilt survived a late scare to beat Mississippi at Memorial Gymnasium.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Oxford, Mississippi, but due to severe winter weather this week, the university has closed its campus until Feb. 8. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt switched home games, with the Commodores now traveling to Oxford on March 4.

Vanderbilt (19-3, 6-3 Southeastern) was still without its second-leading scorer, Duke Miles, but once again got a massive lift by Tanner, who is averaging 17.5 points a game this season.

AK Okereke broke into double figures with 17 points, making 11 of 13 free throws.

Malik Dia and AJ Storr each had 16 points for Ole Miss (11-10, 3-5).

NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 88, SMU 74

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mikel Brown Jr. scored 20 points off the bench, Isaac McKneely added 14 and Louisville used a 10-0 second-half run to rally past SMU 88-74.

The Cardinals (15-6, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) overcame a cold start and 47-44 halftime deficit to take their first lead at 55-53 on Kobe Rodgers’ transition layup with 14:37 remaining. SMU eventually went ahead 62-61, but Aly Khalifa (eight points) scored five during their pivotal spurt and Louisville steadily stretched the lead to bounce back from Monday night’s 83-52 rout at No. 4 Duke.

Mustangs guard Boopie Miller, the ACC’s No. 4 scorer, had 20 points for his 28th consecutive double-digit scoring game. SMU (15-6, 4-4) entered the game with the league’s top offense (87.3 points per game) and had won its past two.

Louisville entered averaging 86 points and reached that mark behind 52% shooting after halftime and 49% overall. The Cardinals’ bench provided the biggest boost, dominating the Mustangs 47-5 while holding them to 37% shooting in the second half.

NO. 22 CLEMSON 63, PITTSBURGH 52

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Carter Welling and Nick Davidson scored 12 points each and Clemson used a big first-half run to take control on the way to its 15th straight win over Pittsburgh.

Welling and Davidson combined for 17 second-half points for the Tigers (18-4, 8-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who opened a 17-point lead at halftime and gave Clemson coach Brad Brownell his 200th home win over 16 seasons.

The Panthers (9-13, 2-7) used a 14-4 run at the start of the second half to get the lead into single digits. But RJ Godfrey had two inside baskets and Welling scored six straight points to restore Clemson’s large lead.

Pitt has struggled during ACC play. It had hoped to carry momentum from an overtime win against Wake Forest earlier this week into Clemson.

But the Tigers’ defense kicked in midway through the opening half as they went on a 26-9 run over a 13-minute span to take control. Efrem “Butta” Johnson had two of Clemson’s five threes during that surge while the Panthers shot just shot 21% and were 2-of-18 from behind the arc the first 20 minutes.

NO. 24 MIAMI (OHIO) 85, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 61

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Brant Byers scored 21 points and Miami (Ohio) set a Mid-American Conference record with its 22nd straight win, pulling away in the second half for a victory over Northern Illinois.

The RedHawks (22-0, 10-0) surpassed the 2001-02 Kent State squad for the longest winning streak in conference history.

Miami and Arizona remain the lone unbeaten teams in Division I.

Miami has also won 28 straight games at Millett Hall for Division I’s longest home winning streak.

Peter Suder added 19 points and Antwone Woolfolk had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

Gianni Cobb and Taj Walters paced Northern Illinois (7-14, 3-7) with 17 points apiece. The Huskies have dropped three of their last four.

The RedHawks came into the game leading the nation in field-goal percentage (53.7%) and third in 3-point percentage (40.9%), but had an off night shooting. They were 31 of 64 from the field and only 7 of 28 from beyond the arc.

Where Miami was able to win the game was on defense. It forced 17 turnovers, which led to 22 points.

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NBA Final Score – Timberwolves 131, Grizzlies 114: Sleepwalking to a Victory

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 31: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on January 31, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game Story

The Minnesota Timberwolves were coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season. A wire-to-wire dismantling of the reigning champions despite being at the end of a back-to-back. The Memphis Grizzlies? They were coming off a road loss to the second to last place New Orleans Pelicans, and now on the end of their own back-to-back.

Not only was Memphis already down several key players such as Ja Morant, they would be without the services of two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. and other key starters such as Santi Aldama. It was a classic “trap game” which Minnesota fell prey to in December. A game which Head Coach Chris Finch called “a horrendous night” and Jock Landale went off for season-high in three-pointers made.

Who they would have tonight was Ty Jerome. Jerome, the second runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year last season, made his long-awaited season debut for the Grizzlies. He would make his presence felt early, scoring the first four points and taking an early lead for his team.

The 7-2 lead would be the only lead for Memphis.

Julius Randle was red hot from perimeter early, draining three straight treys in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards was testing the perimeter defense of the zombie Grizzlies, scoring on a bevy of beautiful jumpers. Memphis tried to do their best the hang in there, even goading Rudy Gobert into an early technical foul. However, it was clear from the first quarter that the talent difference was going to be too much for them to overcome. Even to the Timberwolves.

The Wolves had a nine-point lead heading into the second quarter, then quickly ballooned that up to 16 in the third. Naz Reid was superb once again, dialing in from deep over and over again. Nine of his 20 points came in the second period.

Minnesota did show a typical lack of intensity on the defensive end though. Many times, it felt that they were opting to exchange baskets with Memphis, hoping that eventually the Grizzlies would just give up. To their credit, the Wolves upheld their end of the bargain, converting on 12 mid-range jumpers and 18 three-pointers. They shot an impressive 52.8% from the field.

The Grizzlies final push came early in the fourth quarter, drawing eight free throw attempts early to slice the lead down to 13, but that was as close as it ever got. It was nearly seven full minutes of Yakety Sax basketball with both teams throwing the ball all over the place, but Minnesota just had too many shot makers on their team.

At the end of the day, it was a fairly easy win against a team they should have have steamrolled.

Sometimes, games just aren’t that exciting. Tonight was one of them.

Comment of the Night

Malastare loved Joan Beringer’s 5 minute, +6 stint tonight

Box Score

Up Next

Both teams get a day off before they do it all over again. The play the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, February 2 at 8:30 pm CT. The rematch will be available for the national audience to watch on Peacock / NBC or FanDuel Sports North, for some reason.

Highlights

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Mavericks vs Rockets Final Score: Houston escapes Dallas, 111-107

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Max Christie #00 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (19-30) fell to the Houston Rockets (30-17), 111-107, on Saturday night in a grindy, back-and-forth affair. Amen Thompson led Houston with 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Cooper Flagg was stellar in defeat, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing five assists.

Both the Mavericks and the Rockets started the game with many, many bricks. When Dallas called a timeout down 13-8 at the six-minute mark, the two teams had shot a combined 8-of-26 from the field. Flagg and Durant come out of the stoppage dueling, with the former driving the lane with authority and the latter connecting on beautiful jumpers. Dallas managed to hang with Houston early on as Alperen Sengun seemed to forget how to play basketball, missing all six of his attempts in the quarter. Brandon Williams’ efforts helped keep Dallas in the mix late into the frame with his paint probing, but Houston would end the quarter up 31-28.

The second quarter saw the Rockets continue to take Dallas lightly. The Mavericks went shot-for-shot with their betters in the first six minutes of the quarter. Following a Houston timeout, the Rockets finally managed to string together a few defensive possessions while converting on the other end. Sengun finally broke the seal on the basket with 5:05 left in the half to give the Rockets a five-point lead, forcing a Jason Kidd timeout. The lead grew to as large as eight, with Dallas managing to chop the lead to three with 30 seconds to go. But a Jabari Smith ally-oop and Durant 3-pointer gave the Rockets an eight-point lead heading into the half.

After outworking Houston on the boards on both ends in the first half, Dallas got hammered on the glass in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Rockets grew their lead to 13 twice before Kidd called a timeout to settle the troops. The Mavericks just kept coming and had a chance to cut it to four on a Caleb Martin lay in, but it was blocked by two Rockets, which led to a Houston 3-pointer on the fast break. Martin later atoned with a made 3-ball and a free throw to cut the lead to five. Dallas entered the fourth down 87-82.

The final frame was more of the same: good basketball from both teams, with Houston being just a bit better. The Rockets managed to hold a double-digit lead for a significant portion of the period, but the Mavericks kept firing away. Klay Thompson’s back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth gave the Mavericks some momentum, and a Flagg bucket with a foul gave Dallas a chance to make it a clutch game with under four minutes remaining. But he missed the free throw and Durant answered the possession to give Houston an eight-point lead.

Daniel Gafford made a pair of free throws to make it a clutch game with 2:30 to go, and he followed that up with a loose-ball dunk to pull Dallas within two. The Mavericks and Rockets traded baskets only for Naji Marshall to tie the game at 107 with 50 seconds left. Sengun answered the next possession with a post bucket over Max Christie, and Dallas called a timeout with 29 seconds to go. Flagg drove to the basket on the ensuing possession and pushed it too hard (there may have been uncalled contact). Dallas failed to foul and allowed an open-court dunk as Houston escaped Dallas, 111-107.

Have to make your free throws, guys

In a four point loss, the Mavericks missed 11 free throws. That can’t happen. The margins for the Mavericks are too tight most games, they’re *right there* in many contests so these self inflicted wounds really hurt. Flagg and Marshall combined to miss seven of them, and that will gnaw at them following this one.

Amen Thompson, everywhere all at once

Thompson’s the kind of player I struggle to explain to casuals. Everyone sees the top tier athleticism, but they also see the really bad 3-point shooting percentage. Here’s what I see: a guy who appears all over the basketball court. I don’t know how many deflections he had in this game, but his two steals don’t tell the tale. He pestered every passing lane he was near. Offensively, he grabbed five offensive rebounds. As a forward, that’s ridiculous. His nearly 80% free-throw shooting tells me there’s some hope yet to his shot, so this is a guy NBA watchers should keep a close eye on.

Extra Rockets possessions doomed Dallas

Dallas took 16 fewer shots than the Rockets. While they did reasonably well on the defensive glass in spurts against Houston, they didn’t do well enough, surrendering 18 (Dallas didn’t do bad themselves, grabbing 11). But if you get beat on the boards and turn the ball over more (11 to 6 in favor of Houston with fewer), then it’s really hard to win the game.

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Ullmark wins in return from leave of absence, Senators beat Devils 4-1

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in his first start for Ottawa since taking a leave of absence Dec. 28, Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists and the Senators beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday night.

Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens scored his 100th NHL goal for Ottawa. The Senators have won three in a row.

Timo Meier scored, and Jake Allen made 30 saves for New Jersey. The Devils have lost three of four.

The Devils were without Jack Hughes. He's out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Up next

Devils: Host Columbus on Tuesday night.

Senators: At Pittsburgh on Monday night

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

Retired NFL quarterback Eli Manning was at the Senators game and presented a fan a gift certificate for best quarterback celebration as part of an in-game promotion.

KEY STAT

Cozens’ power-play goal was his 100th career goal.

UP NEXT

Devils: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Senators: Visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2026.

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SOURCE: Canadian Press

LANGUAGE: en

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Cavaliers coach receives hefty fine for interaction with NBA official

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined for an aggressive interaction with an official during a game against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 30. 

James Jones, who serves as the NBA’s Executive Vice President/Head of Basketball Operations, announced that Atkinson was fined $50,000 for "aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact" with a referee.

Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game and was ejected with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Friday night's contest. The Suns went on to beat the Cavaliers 126-113, the loss snapping Cleveland's five-game winning streak.

Atkinson was upset about a no-call on Suns guard Collin Gillespie, who was aggressively defended by Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill.

When do Cavaliers play next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 9 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson fined for interaction with NBA official

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Maple Leafs beat Canucks 3-2 in shootout to end 6-game losing streak

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Auston Matthews and William Nylander scored in a shootout and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Saturday night to end a six-game losing streak.

Matthews had a chance to win it in overtime when he was awarded a penalty shot after Conor Garland was called for hooking, but goaltender Nikita Tolopilo made the save.

Nicolas Roy and Max Domi scored for Toronto, and Joseph Woll made 28 saves.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander scored for Vancouver. The Canucks have two wins in their last 17 games.

Domi tied it early in the third with a shot that hit Tolopilo’s shoulder then rolled over his back into the net.

Tolopilo stopped 39 shots.

Up next

Maple Leafs: At Calgary on Monday night.

Canucks: At Utah on Monday night.

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

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Doug Shows tried to royally screw Kentucky at Arkansas: ‘Worst technical foul I’ve ever seen’

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during SEC college basketball Wednesday night at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky January 7, 2026. Pope would be ejected from the game in the second half. | Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Kentucky Wildcats bounce back on the road at No. 15 Arkansas and capture a much-needed win. The final score came out to 85-77 as the Cats picked up their fifteenth win of the season, and Mark Pope got his revenge on John Calipari.

The Wildcats led most of the way, but BBN’s favorite referee, Doug Shows, played a huge role throughout the game. A total of seven technical fouls were assessed during Saturday night’s game at Bud Walton Arena. The Wildcats had 4, and the Razorbacks had 3.

There were five technical fouls given by Shows’ crew during the second half, and three of them were within a 38-second stretch as the Wildcats were trying to hold onto a tight lead. Brandon Garrison, Mo Doiubate, and Pope were the ones who received techs during that gruesome stretch of play.

The most egregious was this phantom technical foul from Shows on Mo Dioubate after he blocked a shot out of bounds.

The Field of 68 reporter Rob Dauster said it best, calling it the worst technical foul he’s ever seen while saying, “Doug Shows should never be allowed to officiate another game after that. Horrendous.”

The Wildcats found a way to win on the road despite just shooting 19-30 (63%) from the charity stripe. Trent Noah came up big from the FT line as he finished the night 6-8.

And to cap off the night, Razorbacks big man Trevon Brazile intentionally fouled Noah and grabbed him by the jersey, and tossed him down court, making that his fifth foul of the night with just 14 seconds remaining.

Stay classy, Razorbacks.

The Wildcats are back in action on Wednesday night as Otega Oweh’s former team, the Oklahoma Sooners, come to Rupp Arena. Everyone knows how well that series went for the Cats last season, so expect another barnburner this time around.

Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

You want more A Sea Of Blue coverage? Then add us to your “Preferred Sources” on Google to get all the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views. And Go CATS!

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Steinbach, Yates III and Diallo combine for 65 points as Washington beats Northwestern 76-62

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Hannes Steinbach, Zoom Diallo and Wesley Yates III combined for 65 points as Washington beat Northwestern 76-62 on Saturday. Steinbach notched 22 points and 14 rebounds for his fourth-straight double-double, and 14th of the season, tying Isaiah Stewart's freshman record for the Huskies (12-10, 4-7 Big Ten).

Diallo added 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting, six rebounds and six assists. Yates had 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go with three steals.

The Huskies built a 39-27 lead at the half after a pair of 10-2 and 12-2 runs. That lead grew to as much as 21 early in the second half before an 11-2 Wildcats run. Another 7-0 Wildcats run trimmed the deficit to eight, but that was as close as it got.

Nick Martinelli, the nation's leading scorer at 24 points per game, had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (10-12, 2-9). The tally snapped a 12-game streak of scoring 20 points or more, the longest in the nation.

Arrinten Page added 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for the Wildcats. Jayden Reed tallied 11 points and five rebounds. Tre Singleton scored 10.

Up next

Washington hosts Iowa on Wednesday.

Northwestern will head on the road to face No. 9 Illinois on Wednesday.

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