The New York Knicks have owned the Toronto Raptors, winning 10 straight matchups against their division rival. However, Toronto is a slight favorite for tonight’s game.

My Knicks vs. Raptors predictions explain why the 3-ball will be the key to Toronto potentially ending this skid, and my NBA picks bring you an outright winner, plus some juicy SGPs for this Atlantic Division clash on Wednesday, January 28. 

Knicks vs Raptors prediction

Knicks vs Raptors best bet: Raptors moneyline (-125)

The New York Knicks have dominated this matchup, but the Toronto Raptors are playing well, winning their last four games, and more importantly, they play a style of basketball that can frustrate New York.

The Knicks rely heavily on the 3-ball this season, ranking eighth in attempts and fourth in makes per game. The Raptors allow the second-lowest 3-point shooting percentage.

Meanwhile, New York is a middling 16th in defensive rating, while Toronto’s offense is starting to come around again, thanks to a healthy RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley playing his best basketball.

There’s value in the Raps to win this one outright.

Knicks vs Raptors same-game parlay

Let’s get back to Quickley. The Raps’ guard has looked like his best self for a while now, but sportsbooks are still undervaluing his ability to get buckets.

Quickley is averaging 19.4 points and 6.3 assists over his last 17 games. Yet we are still getting points and assists props at 16.5 and 5.5.

The Knicks allow the most points and assists per game in the NBA to opposing guards.

Let's bank on a big night for IQ vs. his former team.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

• Raptors moneyline
• Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
• Immanuel Quickley Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Knicks die by the 3

The Knicks live by the three-ball, and tonight they could die by it with their 24th-ranked 3-point defense hurting them.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

• Immanuel Quickley Over 2.5 threes
• RJ Barrett Over 1.5 threes
• Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 threes 
• Jamal Shead Over 1.5 threes 

Knicks vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Knicks +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
• Moneyline: Knicks -105 | Raptors -125
• Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221

Knicks vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Knicks have only hit the 1H Moneyline in 19 of their last 45 away games for -15.55 Units and a -23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Raptors.

How to watch Knicks vs Raptors

Knicks vs Raptors latest injuries

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

With the NBA tradeline rapidly approaching, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the move, and the Knicks very well could be suitors. 

After Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the nine-time All-Star is “ready for a new home,” either ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline or in the offseason, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported that the Knicks “will be among teams making aggressive offers” for him. 

Begley adds that the Miami Heat will also be involved. 

The Knicks have also been linked to Portland Trail Blazers point guard Jrue Holiday, and Begley reported that teams interested in Antetokounmpo are under the impression that he would like to reunite with Holiday, as the duo previously played together in Milwaukee. 

The Knicks’ interest in Giannis is nothing new at this point. Begley previously reported that the Knicks and Bucks had cursory talks about an Antetokounmpo deal in August. The talks did not reach an advanced level, however.

Winning a title in New York appeals to Antetokounmpo, per Begley, and would be one reason why he sees them as a destination.

A two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists this season, but he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a calf strain.

One of the Lakers’ underlying issues throughout the season has been their paltry bench scoring. While their starting lineup has been great, their bench has left much to be desired.

Rui Hachimura’s emergence in recent games as a viable scoring option off the bench has been a huge boost in that regard. For really the first time since joining the Lakers, Rui is not in the starting lineup but he’s not letting that impact him, as evidenced by Monday’s showing in Chicago.

When Austin Reaves soon returns, the Lakers should be healthy for the first time in a long time. So, on the precipice of that, let’s look at the current rotation.

Starters: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton

Rui Hachimura

It’s still early in this new role for Rui, but his willingness to come off the bench and the groove he’s in are all encouraging signs for what could be coming.

Jarred Vanderbilt

It feels long ago that Vando was out of the rotation entirely. Now, he’s a consistent piece and while he’s never going to be able to offer much offensively, he’s found ways to impact the game again defensively.

Jaxson Hayes

Hayes certainly has the trust of Redick, at least relative to Deandre Ayton. Redick has turned to Hayes in recent games to close the contest.

Ideally, this is a short-term trend, but Hayes has also done well in that span, too. His high motor in contrast to Ayton certainly stands out.

Gabe Vincent

It’s been quite the fall for Vincent this season. After being a stalwart in the rotation last year, Vincent’s spot seems as tenous as ever. With Reaves set to return, someone is going to fall out of the rotation. Right now, it seems like that will be either Vincent or Drew Timme and there isn’t much of an argument for the former to keep getting minutes.

Drew Timme

Could Timme be the newest two-way signing to make an impact for the Lakers? It’s only been a handful of games, but he’s given the Lakers something they haven’t had. And with him in the rotation, the Lakers have a new look they can go to with multiple bigs on the floor.

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

Brad Stevens may have done it again. In the ongoing search for a big man rotation capable of anchoring Boston’s next championship run, Amari Williams has flashed the traits of a player who could fit that role. The sample size is small, but Williams has already been a catalyst in several high-leverage moments this season. Let’s break down what’s driving his early success — and how he can continue developing into a center Joe Mazzulla can trust.

For a big man to have a realistic hope at playing big minutes deep into the playoffs, playing effective defense and specifically providing high level rim protection, is a prerequisite. Amari Williams’ rim protection is already jumping off the screen.

A good way to make a strong first impression on Joe Mazzulla is to check into a game because both Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are in foul trouble — then immediately deliver a game-clinching block. As Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard scramble to contain Nolan Traore, Williams reads the breakdown instantly and sends the ball back the other way. He could have blocked it with his elbow if he wanted to.

Like many late-round draft projects, the bet starts with the tools. Amari Williams is an explosive athlete with a 6-foot-11 frame and a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan. In theory, that physical profile should translate into some outrageous defensive plays.

Jerami Grant does an excellent job of dislodging Amari, creating what looks like a clean look at the basket. Unfortunately for Grant, Amari Williams is able to close the gap and reject the shot comfortably. The athletic ability to be bumped, end up on your heels, but then recover for a block is absurd.

Guarding a Cade Cunningham/Jalen Duren pick and roll is a tall task for any player, let alone a second round rookie. Cade has the ability shoot from anywhere, and with his giant frame for a ball handler, it makes it easier for him to execute passes over the top of the drop defender for lobs.

Amari Williams does an awesome job of eating up the space of both the ball handler in Cunningham, while also being in position to take away the lob to Duren, who converts pick and rolls as the roll man at a 1.38 points per possession clip. That puts him in the 85th percentile. Impressive work from the rookie.

Being able to play effective drop coverage is a premium and necessary skill in today’s pick and roll heavy NBA. It’s difficult to consistently navigate the space between ball handler and lob threat, but Amari appears to have the feel, IQ, and athleticism to make it look easy at times. I love the way Amari stays down until he is sure the shot is going up, and can get to the block.

These plays are the foundation of an effective big man defender in the modern NBA.

Shifting to the offensive end, the equation remains simple. If Amari Williams can hold his own in drop coverage defensively and function as a competent roll threat offensively, then he has a clear path to being an NBA player. Early returns have been encouraging.

Amari sets a somewhat non-traditional screen in this two-man action with Derrick White. But due to Amari’s sheer size (and subtle moving screen), Jerami Grant gets held up, forcing old friend Robert Williams to step up, D White freezes Rob with a ball fake, and Amari is in perfect position to treat Celtics fans to a loud two hand slam.

I hate to invoke the name. However, anytime I see an explosive big man that collects rude blocks, loud dunks, and spicy passes, I can’t help but be reminded of Robert Williams. I hesitate to compare anyone to Rob, because the peak version of Robert Williams was a one of one type player. But I do see shades of Rob in Amari.

It’s not an overly complicated pass, but the comfort Williams shows catching the ball, faking over his right shoulder, and simultaneously dropping a pass to Hugo Gonzalez is a thing of beauty.

If that’s not enough, how about a mid-air pass to Payton Pritchard to breathe life into a Celtics team trying to steal a victory from the jaws of defeat?

There are very few six-foot-eleven guys that can catch and fire an on target pass to the wing all before they hit the ground. I am tantalized.

Amari has been stuffing the stats sheet on offense with the Cetlics G-Leauge affiliate up in Maine. Playing drop coverage requires an element of chemistry, but it’s on offense where the reps with teammates are truly required. It’s hard to fully unleash Amari Williams’ passing ability when he has had such limited court time with the Celtics main rotation players.

These are the sorts of plays that would connect with more reps. It’s a great pass from Amari, throwing Simons open for a clean midrange jumper. I would love to see Amari earn more minutes, as his passing would bring an element to the court that the Celtics are currently lacking.

There’s already plenty of promising film from a rookie who has logged just 88 total NBA minutes. It’s not hard to see a clear pathway for Amari Williams to become a high-level big. He has the size and feel to execute drop coverage competently, along with the vision and IQ to be highly effective as both a lob threat and a short-roll playmaker. Feed him more minutes, Joe Mazzulla.

Joel Embiid is doing things I never imagined he’d do again. After an MVP campaign in 2023, an All-World performance in 2024 that was cut short due to injury and a disastrous season for both him and the franchise all around last year, I was pretty out on this whole ordeal. Oh, the Sixers added 59-year-old Paul George on a contract worth approximately $5 billion into the mix as well? Awesome stuff, everyone. I’m so glad I devoted my life to writing about this sports scene!

I’m jaded, but something is changing.

Despite the mountains of snow piled up around Philadelphia, my heart continues to thaw when it comes to this season’s Sixers team.

VJ Edgecombe is a foundational guard already in his rookie season. Tyrese Maxey will be an All-Star starter in a few weeks. George himself even turned back the clock nearly a decade and dropped 32 points with nine made threes in a victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday night. What’s shaken up my ever-seesawing feelings about the Sixers as an overall entity as of late, however, is truly Embiid.

In 12 games this calendar year, Embiid is averaging a crisp 28-8-4 while being an efficient beast and living at the free throw line once more. Even if the crowds down in South Philadelphia may not be as raucous as they once were, I am having fun watching this team again! I want the arena to be back to what it was too!

Embiid remains a divisive figure, not just nationally, but locally as well. Look at the replies to any media member on social media and you’ll see people complaining about Embiid’s absences, injuries and playoff shortcomings as much as you’ll see fawning devotion for torrid scoring and what he’s meant to the team for so long.

You see performances like Monday where the team was down literally 50 points after three quarters sans both Embiid and George to a hapless Hornets team and thinking, “We’re an injury away from these two old, fragile players from this being a twice-weekly occurrence.” It’s enough to make people not want to buy back into this all after dedicating so much to the Process era, the build-up, the hype and the second-round ceiling they could never break through.

There is something freeing, however, even if it may ultimately prove foolish, about allowing yourself to be sucked back into the Sixers’ postseason aspirations even after everything that’s transpired. Embiid is the lone connective tissue throughout all of this. He was the draft pick that stemmed from the Sixers’ first tank-a-palooza season. He’s withstood a revolving door of co-stars. He’s battled through injures that appeared career-threatening at various times and is still hanging, still dropping 30 points with ease whenever he’s out there on the court.

I’m well aware of Embiid’s injury history what that means every April and May. I’m under no pretense that I’m watching a team that will be playing in the NBA Finals in June, but I’m watching one that, come the spring, will have me soaking up the warmer weather, breaking out my latest Sixers eBay find and hopelessly dreaming, as I’ve done for the last quarter of a century.

These are the Knicks, so obviously they lost a thousand games only so they could then win another thousand straight.

Best of all (for us fans)? It’s the second leg of a home-road back-to-back, so we get to enjoy New York Basketball once again today!

Here’s what was said after the third consecutive dub.

"We had a group on the floor playing well. Tight ballgame so I just rode that group til the end…we need to get the win…"

– Mike Brown to @Krisplashed on benching Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points on 5-15) down stretch

KAT 21 minutes per game during Knicks 3-game win streak pic.twitter.com/QgdfbKhHK7

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 28, 2026

Mike Brown

On what needed to improve after the last meeting with the Kings:

“Everything. They punched us in the mouth, and we didn’t respond well.”

On sticking with a KAT-Out closing lineup late:

“I know at the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that’s playing well, and it’s a tight ball game so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before. We had Deuce out there, who’s not a starter, and Mitch out there, who’s not a starter. So again, we need to get the win, and the biggest thing was Mikal was at 37 minutes, but other than Mikal, everybody was at decent minutes especially knowing we’ve got a game tomorrow.”

On riding an alternative lineup for the final minutes vs. Sacramento:

“During the flow of the game, you find a group of players that you feel are playing well together. And you roll with it as long as you can.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s defensive impact:

“He brought a level of energy to us tonight, especially on defense. That got us over the hump.”

On self-inflicted turnovers on Tuesday:

“I thought the turnovers were self-inflicted. That’s not taking anything away from Sacramento. I thought we didn’t do a great job of playing off of two feet. Whenever you play off of one foot, you’re gonna get yourself in trouble. If you leave your feet with no place to go, you think somebody is open, there’s a good chance that the defense is gonna rotate and take that away and now you’re in trouble. We just have to do a better job of playing off of two feet.”

On grinding out the win defensively:

“It was an ugly game, but our defense stayed solid throughout.”

Jalen Brunson has HAD IT

Award the DPOG or it's weapons https://t.co/6Scl50UxK8pic.twitter.com/WHx7K4HuJL

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 28, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On winning an ugly game against the Kings:

“It was an ugly game. It wasn’t pretty, but we were able to grind it out and find a way to win, and I think that’s very important for us.”

On focus and attention to detail leading NYK to a win vs. Sacramento:

“Our attention to detail, our focus, those are big components for us. We have the ability to be a really good team if we do those things. The little things have to be important.”

"[Mike Brown] saw what he saw. We've got to win. That's the most important thing. That's all I care about, New York cares about, this team cares about – is wins"

– Karl-Anthony Towns on not playing down the stretch in tonight's win over the Kings pic.twitter.com/GHd1LuGpHK

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 28, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On being removed from the closing lineup once again:

“[Brown] saw what he saw. We got a win. That’s the most important thing. That’s all I care about. That’s all this team cares about is the win.”

On beating Sacramento after the previous loss:

“It’s good to win any game. We beat a team that had our number the last game and against whom we showed one of our worst versions of ourselves. It was good to come out here and find a better version of ourselves and find ourselves winning.”

Mitchell Robinson said missing games as part of Knick medical staff’s plan for him was “rough at first.”

“I want to play every game. And with this plan…I kind of just have to embrace it…So I put my pride & ego to the side (and)… it’s working out.” pic.twitter.com/KaeZwUmjDV

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 28, 2026

Mitchell Robinson

On embracing the lower-minutes plan:

“It was rough at first. I want to play every game. This plan we have in place for me. I just kind of embrace it and roll with it. I put my pride and ego to the side and just stick with the plan and it’s working out. Why fix something that’s not broken?”

On the Knicks’ turnaround:

“It’s all about coming out with the right mindset. And being ready to go.

“It feels great. We’re really making a turn and we’re really getting our s–t together.”

Hang in there JC 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Da1urr4Tiq

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 28, 2026

With nine games on the board, it’s a jam-packed Hump Day of basketball action, which means a ton of NBA player props to bet on.

I’ve found my three favorites for today, which include a continuously undervalued Immanuel Quickley as he goes against his former team, and LaMelo Ball will create a buzz with the 3-ball when the Hornets take on the Grizz.

Those and more NBA picks for Wednesday, January 28.

Best NBA player props today

Prop #1: Jalen Smith Double-Double

+185 at bet365

Jalen Smith has been a bit of a revelation for the Chicago Bulls lately. The big man has taken advantage of extended minutes, averaging 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds over his last 14 games.

That stretch includes five of his seven double-doubles this season, and I’m betting he has another big night against the Indiana Pacers.

It’s been a tough season for the Pacers, particularly on the glass. Indiana has the fourth-lowest rebounding rate and surrenders the third-most rebounds per game.

So, with a rebounding prop of 8.5, a double-double looks like a much better bet.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CHSN, FDSN Indiana

Prop #2: Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 Points

-120 at bet365

The Toronto Raptors are stringing together wins again, and Immanuel Quickley is a big reason why.

The Raps’ guard has looked like his best self for a while now, but sportsbooks are still undervaluing his ability to get buckets.

Quickley is averaging 19.4 points while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range over his last 17 games. However, oddsmakers are still setting his point total at 16.5, a number he’s eclipsed 13 times over that stretch. 

Defending guards have been a huge problem for the New York Knicks. The Knicks have surrendered the most points per game to opposing guards this season.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MSG, Sportsnet

Prop #3: LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 Made Threes

+122 at bet365

LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets are creating a buzz these days, winning four of their last five games.

After a start to the season that was hampered by multiple injuries, Ball has now played 21 games in a row and is shooting a crazy good 41.3% from 3-point range on a whopping 9.6 attempts from deep per game.

Melo will let it fly against a declawed Memphis Grizzlies team. Not only are the Grizz dealing with a ton of injuries, but their perimeter defense has been putrid all season, resulting in the fourth-most opponent made threes per game.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN Southeast-Charlotte, FDSN Southeast-Memphis

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

LeBron James is slowing down at age-41, and it’s becoming clear that his NBA career is reaching its conclusion. James will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. The Los Angeles Lakers are now Luka Doncic’s team, and James doesn’t fit his timeline. James could retire this summer, but it’s hard to imagine one of the greatest players of all-time will walk away from the NBA without being celebrated for his contributions to the game.

It sure feels like the LeBron James retirement tour is coming for the 2026-27 season, and there’s only one team that makes sense to host it.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are open to James returning to the team this summer, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The report comes as the Lakers visit Cleveland on Wednesday night for the final time this season. Will this be the last game James ever plays in his hometown? It could be, but probably not.

It was easy to see the rumors of LeBron’s second return to Cleveland for his third stint with the franchise coming. One of my preseason bold predictions is that James would line up a move to the Cavs this summer. It makes sense for both sides, especially after the way Cleveland’s contention dreams went sideways this season.

This was supposed to be an NBA Finals-or-bust season for the Cavs, and it sure looks like they will go bust. Cleveland isn’t even in the top-3 challengers in the lowly Eastern Conference at the midway point of the season. The Cavs have struggled for a variety of reasons, but it’s easy to blame injuries. Darius Garland hasn’t been right all year as he’s battled a toe injury, Max Strus hasn’t played a game, and almost everyone else has been dinged up at times.

The Cavs may have to make some moves to bring in James depending on what type of salary he’s looking for. It’s possible Jarrett Allen could be sent packing, and the team finally commits to Evan Mobley as a full-time center. It’s also possible James would play on a smaller salary and try to maximize his chances of getting a storybook ending.

There will be other suitors for LeBron this summer. The Golden State Warriors would love to get involved, and more teams will come calling. It just feels like the LeBron retirement tour has to happen in Cleveland. It sure seems like that’s the way the wind is blowing right now.

After the victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked to assess what he saw from Anfernee Simons on the defensive end. 

“Just his continued growth,” Mazzulla said firmly. It was a simple answer, but one layered with meaning. As the season has unfolded, Simons’ development has become harder to ignore. Mazzulla underscored that evolution, noting that he is “really starting to see the two-way player” emerge. 

Before the season began, Simons shared a moment with reporters that offered insight into the foundation of that growth. Mazzulla, he recalled, reassured him about his defense, telling him, “You’re not as bad as people think you are.” Simons later added that the felt “pretty excited about being pushed to a new level.” 

Fast forward to Simons’ 39-point performance in a win over Miami, and the tone shifted from reassurance to affirmation. Mazzulla was direct in his assessment: “I think he’s taken it to another level with his defense.” 

That growth hasn’t lived only in postgame quotes. It’s been unfolding on the floor, in moments that don’t always make the box score, but stand out on film. 

Simons has continued to show that he not only possesses the tools, but also the want-to, to give the game what it demands on that end of the floor. His physicality at the point of attack has taken a significant leap this season, and he’s consistently walling off straight-line drives, which is super important.  

On this first play, Simons shuts down the initial drive before contesting Caleb Love’s shot. Stopping drives is crucial for any team, of course, but on this roster, it’s especially important because it allows the new swarming-to-the-ball defensive scheme to function at its best.  

Once a player turns their back on the Celtics or is forced to reset after being stopped, multiple defenders swarm to the ball, as you can see here. Rayan Rupert quickly gives up the ball as Hugo Gonzalez and Payton Pritchard converge.  

Here, Simons makes multiple efforts. In transition, he stops the ball, and Baylor Scheierman follows trying to contest the pass.  

Then Simons uses the baseline as his ally, staying chest-up to contain the drive. This appears to be a tactic the coaches are emphasizing, as Scheierman has employed the same technique frequently this season. He even pokes the ball loose as Rupert tries to spin.  

Here, Simons fights around two off-ball screens to get back to Love at the opposite wing. I really want to credit Mazzulla and the staff for instilling this mindset in Simons.  

When we traded for Simons, I watched a bunch of his defensive possessions with Portland. From that tape, I can say with confidence that the level of defensive aggression and the want-to simply didn’t seem to present itself.  

Here is how he graded out as a perimeter defender last season per Bball-Index.  

But when you take a look at his numbers this year, the improvement is shown.  

The conversation about mindset comes into focus when watching how aggressively he defends when going over screens. Using his quickness to get over, Simons then defends with his chest forward, effectively stopping the ball in its tracks.  

In a post training camp interview, Simons shocked most Celtics fans when he admitted that he had “never really worked on or been taught” when speaking about the defensive playmaking drills, he started doing when he got to Boston.  

Here, he shows good effort trailing the play and ends up knocking the ball off of Love, giving the Celtics the final possession of the half.  

The fight is evident on this play.  

Simons was often tasked with guarding the much taller Jerami Grant, listed at 6’7”. On this play, the Blazers feed him in the post, giving him space and anticipating a mismatch.  

Simons does an outstanding job playing with the physicality the Celtics require on defense, giving up very little ground in the post. He even puts his defensive playmaking drills into action, poking the ball loose and nearly forcing a steal.  

Mazzulla talked about this play postgame and said, “We may have been able to challenge that one, but we were down a timeout and we couldn’t risk it.”  

Next, we see Simons against Grant again showing the aggressiveness going over the screen. Pass goes to Clingan and he misses it.  

The Blazers go to their own version of the Killer Whale Pick and Roll trying to go at Simons. He passes Rupert to Gonzalez and has to move his feet quickly to contain Jrue Holiday on the drive. He plays with his chest as Holiday euro-steps then nicely contests the layup.  

Lastly, the aggression going over the screen pays off once more as this time he stabs at the ball and goes the other way. Celtics end up getting a three off the nice steal.  

Most fans had very valid questions about whether Simons could improve an overall underwhelming defensive career with the Trailblazers. The Celtics’ coaching, culture, and insistence on accountability has helped reshape his game.  

Where once his defense lacked bite, he now approaches possessions with purpose, body and mind aligned. He doesn’t just guard the ball; he challenges it, contests it, and forces the game to respect him. Simons hasn’t just grown; he’s exceeded expectations, emerging as the player coach Mazzulla thought he could be.  

LeBron James returns to his hometown when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday.

James has helped Los Angeles win four of its last five games, contributing in various ways. Tonight, my Lakers vs. Cavaliers predictions call for a packed stat sheet from LeBron, focusing on his assists and rebounds.

Here are my best NBA picks for January 28.

Lakers vs Cavaliers prediction

Lakers vs Cavaliers best bet: LeBron James Over 12.5 rebounds+assists (-105)

At this point in his career, every trip to Cleveland could be LeBron James' last. Does that shrinking window make tonight’s game extra important to the former face of the franchise?

Maybe.

Since signing with the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2018, James has only played in Cleveland six times. On his first few trips back home, he put on a show with great effort.

But James’ role on the Lakers has changed in the past two seasons, becoming a complementary piece to Luka Doncic that does the little things.

That’s been especially true over the past month, as James worked his way into form after missing the start of the season. So far in January, he’s averaging 6.9 assists and 7.3 rebounds over 13 games.

The Cleveland Cavaliers come into Wednesday with a patchwork rotation, missing some key players on both ends of the floor. Cleveland’s trademark defense of past seasons is absent, with the team sitting in the middle of the league in defensive rating.

The Cavs are 23rd in opponent assist-to-FGM ratio and have also struggled to keep foes off the glass, rated 22nd in rebounds allowed. That’s compounded by the loss of leading rebounder Evan Mobley (8.8 rpg) for the next week (ankle).

James’s player projections for this homecoming call for another busy box score, with my numbers at 6.9 assists and 6.9 assists. That should have his combo prop of rebounds + assists priced at Over 12.5 -145.

Lakers vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

The Lakers are rolling on this road trip and face a Cavs lineup that is getting shuffled due to injuries.

LeBron will let it fly from outside. While he’s not shooting well, he’s still taking 4.5 attempts from beyond the arc.

Lakers vs Cavaliers SGP

• Lakers moneyline
• LeBron James Over 12.5 rebounds+assists
• LeBron James Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: The King Has Returned

In six games in Cleveland as a Laker, James has posted a triple-double twice.

Lakers vs Cavaliers SGP

• Los Angeles Lakers moneyline
• LeBron James triple-double

Lakers vs Cavaliers odds

• Spread: Lakers +3 | Cavaliers -3
• Moneyline: Lakers +115 | Cavaliers -150
• Over/Under: Over 235 | Under 235

Lakers vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

Los Angeles is 5-2 SU and ATS in non-conference road games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Lakers vs Cavaliers

Lakers vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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

The Milwaukee Bucks stayed with the Philadelphia 76ers for three quarters, but a Sixers explosion in the opening minutes of the fourth was the Bucks’ undoing. Paul George and Joel Embiid combined to drop 61 points. Milwaukee has now lost all three matchups this season. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

38 minutes, 24 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, 9/17 FG, 2/4 3P, -4

This was a really solid game from Rollins after a slump. He got heaps of on-ball reps and made very few mistakes. I loved the pace he played with and his will to stay aggressive, even when it felt like he wasn’t getting the calls most players get. The dude is just smooth.

Grade: A-

Myles Turner

35 minutes, 31 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 10/16 FG, 4/8 3P, –6

Myles just looked so much more involved than he had been, hunting his shot at every opportunity. I’m not saying his lack of production was Giannis’ fault, but Doc needs to watch this film and figure out how to get him the same looks when/if GA comes back this season.

Grade: A

AJ Green

29 minutes, 8 points, 3 assists, 3/6 FG, 2/4 3P, -1

AJ was fine in this one. Wasn’t a negative out there in any real way, but the shots just didn’t find him, as can be the case for a specialist like himself.

Grade: C+

Kyle Kuzma

31 minutes, 17 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 6/12 FG, 2/4 3P, –5

While he had some ugly plays, I really liked Kuzma’s game overall. He utilised his screening ability and took what the defence gave him, making plays for himself and others. Another part of his game that I liked was his attacking in transition, which is the only real spot where you feel comfortable with him going one-on-one.

Grade: B

Bobby Portis

35 minutes, 17 points, 8 assists, 12 rebounds, 8/16 FG, 0/3 3P, -4

Bobby had some horror possessions on defence and missed an easy layup at one point. But for Portis to have eight assists is amazing. I mean, we may never see something like that ever again! Nah, but seriously, Bobby’s made some real strides this year and deserves all the credit in the world. Love the rebounds too.

Grade: A-

Gary Trent Jr.

20 minutes, 13 points, 4/9 FG, 4/9 3P, -16

Some poor possessions on D from GT, but as a shooter, he did his job on offence.

Grade: C

Gary Harris

13 minutes, 0 points, 2 assists, 0/0 FG, -9

Ummm, well, Gary did play in this one. I don’t recall him doing much to hurt the team, so I’ll give him that.

Grade: C

Cole Anthony

14 minutes, 10 points, 2 turnovers, 3/8 FG, 1/2 3P, –17

I didn’t hate Cole’s game. He’s been more measured of late on offence, but for a low-minutes player like him, he can’t be turning the ball over too much.

Grade: C-

Jericho Sims

10 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers 0/0 FG, –11

Sims had two of the ugliest giveaways I’ve ever seen. I mean, just throwing the ball into the fourth row. Not good. I’d be playing Pete Nance the rest of the way.

Grade: D

Doc Rivers

Overall, I have to give Doc credit for the way the team played through three quarters. They were crisp, sharp, but just not as talented. That said, the decision to go back to Jericho Sims was an odd one. I don’t love how he played Rollins nearly 40 minutes; it seems somewhat dangerous.

Grade: B-

Garbage time: Andre Jackson Jr., Amir Coffey, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Pete nance

Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince

Bonus Bucks Bits

• I thought this quote from Kyle Kuzma about Myles Turner was… illuminating: “he hasn’t really been involved this year from an offensive perspective, outside of typical kick-out threes.”
• Doc thought their defence let them down, calling it “awful.” Said they weren’t physical enough, referring to them having just 12 fouls for the game. Said he loved what they did on offence.
• Doc said he opted to go with Jericho Sims because they needed more size against the Philly front line. I guess that makes sense in theory, but the 76ers had 15 O-boards and 31 second-chance points. Now, would that have been worse with Pete Nance? We don’t know. Sims had just 1 rebound, though.
• I mentioned it above, but Ryan Rollins gets no respect from the refs. He seems to get hit a lot, and you’re expecting them to call a foul, and then there’s nothing.
• Tyrese Maxey is just so good, man. The league really missed on him in the draft. Joel Embiid and Paul George really turned back the clock in this one as well.

Up Next

The Bucks have a day off today and play tomorrow night at Washington, tipping off at 6:00 p.m. CST. Catch the game on Prime Video.

The NBA Trade deadline is in about a week and seeing the comment count on the previous lounge thread means it’s time for a new one.

As usual this is your one stop shop for talking about whatever in the world you want to. Potential Maverick topics likely include the usual: trades, tanking, and the various prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Trade front has gotten weird. When Anthony Davis went down with his one millionth injury, the market for rumors cleared right up. I hope that’s a good thing because Dallas needs to move someone, they’re too bad to be this expensive. While I’d love for them to keep Naji Marshall, if they can get a future first for him they simply have to. Daniel Gafford should be movable, but there hasn’t been any chatter about him. It’s all very weird. But a lot can change in a week.

As for tanking or pushing towards the play-in… I think the loss to the Lakers broke the hope. That would’ve made five straight wins. But who knows. If thye win half these games going to All Star maybe they give it another go. But I somewhat wish they wouldn’t because…

The guys in the draft rule. I love watching these guys and hearing people argue about them. The top 5 seems to fun and then the depth at guard looks great. This is a real key for the Mavs future. Who is your guy at the moment?

LONDON (AP) — Corinthians captain Gabi Zanotti scored late as her team beat Gotham FC 1-0 in the semifinals of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup intercontinental competition on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Zanotti connected with a cross and shot with her left boot to the right of Gotham’s German international goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who got her hands to the ball but couldn’t stop it slipping through in the 82nd minute.

It had been a scrappy game of few clear-cut chances for either team.

Gotham, which qualified for the inaugural FIFA event by winning the first CONCACAF Champions Cup, had pushed hard for the opener in the second half. Jaelin Howell forced Leticia in the Corinthians goal into action, then fired another good chance high and wide.

Gotham made a desperate push for a late equalizer with Berger going up for a free kick deep in stoppage time. Jaedyn Shaw sent it to the right of the post.

Corinthians, the Copa Libertadores champion, awaits the winner between Arsenal and African champion ASFAR of Rabat, Morocco in the second semifinal later.

Both the final and third-place match are to be played Sunday at Arsenal’s stadium.

___

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

It’s a “Battle of Texas” as the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets meet for the third time this season.

Both defenses have been particularly stingy as of late, and my Spurs vs. Rockets predictions call for a low-scoring matchup.

Here are my top NBA picks for this Southwest Division showdown at Toyota Center on Wednesday, January 28.

Spurs vs Rockets prediction

Spurs vs Rockets best bet: Under 220.5 (-110)

On the season, the Houston Rockets have allowed the fourth-fewest points (110.5), and the San Antonio Spurs have allowed the seventh-fewest (112.4).

Over the last 10 outings, both teams have been even better on the defensive end. The Spurs have surrendered the fifth-fewest points (106.7), and the Rockets have given up the 10th-fewest (109.8). They’ve combined to allow just 216.5 points, four fewer than tonight’s line.

The Spurs are 1-9 to the Under across their last 10 games, and the Houston Rockets are 2-8 in that span. The Spurs are 9-14 to the Under on the road and 4-8 to the Under as the road dog. San Antonio is 18-29 to the Under overall.

The Rockets are 7-11-1 to the Under at home and 7-10-1 as the home favorite. Houston is 21-23 O/U overall. 

The teams have hit the Under in seven of their last 10 head-to-head matchups, including six of seven in Houston. I’ll take the Under in this clash of top-tier defenses.

Spurs vs Rockets same-game parlay

Houston sports the best home record in the Association at 16-3, but the Rockets are just 8-11 ATS at Toyota Center. San Antonio is 14-9 straight up on the road and 11-11-1 ATS, including a 7-5 mark ATS as the road underdog. 

Amen Thompson has taken a step back in the scoring department, but he's been excellent as a rebounder and facilitator. Across his last five games, he's averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.4 assists, hitting the Over on this combo line in each contest. He handed out a career-high 14 assists to go with eight rebounds in Monday's win over Memphis.

Spurs vs Rockets SGP

• Under 220.5
• Spurs +2.5
• Amen Thompson Over 13.5 rebounds + assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sengun Stands Tall

Alperen Sengun has grabbed 9+ rebounds in 21 of 37 games overall, including 10 of 15 at home. He pulled down 13 and nine rebounds in two matchups with the Spurs, and he should be leaned on more in that department with Steven Adams out indefinitely.

Spurs vs Rockets SGP

• Under 220.5
• Spurs +2.5
• Amen Thompson Over 13.5 rebounds + assists
• Alperen Sengun Over 8.5 rebounds

Spurs vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Spurs +2.5 (-105) | Rockets -2.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Spurs +125 | Rockets -150
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Spurs vs Rockets betting trend to know

The San Antonio Spurs have hit the Moneyline in 17 of their last 30 away games (+19.95 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Rockets.

How to watch Spurs vs Rockets

Spurs vs Rockets latest injuries

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The Wizards ended a nine-game losing streak by beating the Portland Trail Blazers, 115-111, in a chippy and kinda entertaining game, despite being nearly devoid of offensive competence.

Some of the fun was delivered by the return of Deni Avdija, who’s much improved and might be an All-Star this season. He’s been limited a bit lately with a back injury but still flashed what’s made him special for Portland — rocket-propelled transition pushes, physical drives that draw fouls, crafty (yes, crafty!) moves inside to get buckets or trips to the free throw line, and some accurate three-point shooting.

One thing I’ve liked about Avdija this season was on display last night. Some players seem to drive with a singular purpose. They’re either looking to score, or to get fouled, or to pass. It seems like their end decision is made before they put ball on deck. Avdija seems not to have made up his mind until he gets into the paint and the defense reacts, at which point he’ll try to score or kick to an open teammate. This is a good thing, and it gave his teammates several open looks. They missed a lot of them, but Avdija made some good basketball plays.

The biggest weakness of his game was also on display — six turnovers. For the season, he’s over five turnovers per 100 team possessions, which is high. His overall offensive efficiency is still very good (+5.5 points per 100 possessions relative to league average) and on a career-high 29% usage rate. This is quite good considering the dearth of offensive talent on the Portland roster.

Shaedon Sharpe is probably the best hope for an offensive helper, and he had a good game against Washington. For the season, his offensive efficiency is also nearly nine points per 100 possessions below average. Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday might help — Holiday is finally healthy and playing. Grant has been coming off the bench because of significant limitations in his overall game.

That’s more Trail Blazers stuff than I meant to write given that the Wizards won. They pulled off the victory despite giving up 29 offensive rebounds and an offensive rebounding percentage of 47.5%. Yes, Washington allowed Portland to get back nearly half their missed shots.

Big man Donovan Clingan sent a Trail Blazers franchise record with 13 offensive rebounds.

Washington won because they made threes (17-39, 43.6%) and free throws (18-21), and avoided turnovers (just 13 turnovers in 106 offensive possessions), and Portland didn’t (14-38 on threes, 13-23 from the free throw line, 20 turnovers). Portland shooting their “normal” free throw percentage would have given them 4-5 more points, which could have been interesting.

The Wizards starting group was bolstered by the returns of Khris Middleton and Bilal Coulibaly, and they won the minutes their starters played. Their bench was rough, and gave back most of the advantage the starters earned.

From the Notebook

• Avdija on brand — drove on the game’s first possession.
• Coulibaly maybe attempting to establish a brand, attempted a transition dunk on Avdija barely a minute into the game.
• 10:41 of the first quarter — Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Middleton did a nice job defending a pick and roll set. Coulibaly chased Avidja over a strong screen and stayed connected. Sarr switched onto Avdija and corralled the drive. Middleton rotated from the “low man” spot to pick up the roller and arrived in time to break up Avdija’s lob attempt. That’s good stuff.
• Wizards ball and player movement was good in the early going. One example was on a Coulibaly drive. He touched the paint and kicked to Middleton in the corner. Portland closed out well, and Middleton passed it back to Coulibaly. He turned and hit Sarr, who was open at the weakside elbow. Sarr turned down the open midrange shot to drive. He got fouled and turned it into an and-one.
• A theme throughout was Sarr turning down open threes. In the second half, I jotted, “If Sarr took all the threes Portland was conceding to him, the Wizards would never run halfcourt offense.”
• 1:51 of the first quarter: Jamir Watkins stripped Avdija’s dribble and got a transition dunk out of it. I like the play, though in fairness, I thought Watkins fouled Avdija multiple times on the play. Wasn’t called though.
• In the second quarter, Anthony Gill utterly wrecked an offensive possession by turning down a conceded three. Left undefended at the three-point line, he had two good choices — 1) take the shot, or 2) attack the space and force someone to defend him. He chose to stand there and wait for a teammate to come get the ball.
• Sarr had a career-high 29 field goal attempts, making just 11. He struggled throughout the night against Clingan’s size. It was a marked contrast when Hansen Yang was in the game. Sarr seemed to do a little better shooting over Clingan in the second half.
• One defensive possession I liked in the second quarter — Tre Johnson directed a Holiday drive to the baseline where Sarr loomed. Sarr’s presence prevented a Holiday layup and cut off easy passes. The result: a Holiday turnover.
• 3:32 of the second quarter — Avdija hit the turbo button in transition while Kyshawn George jogged back. George was behind the play from that moment on. This should be a teachable moment about what it means to play hard in the NBA. There’s no reason for the guy with the ball to outrun an unencumbered defender.
• Around 1:42 of the second quarter — this is the push-and-shove portion between Sarr and Clingan. The Portland broadcast showed replays that left Sarr’s umbrage taking inexplicable. The preceding second or two made it clear that Sarr was rightfully torqued at Clingan “boxing out” by throwing an elbow. The two got tangled up a few minutes later. I don’t think they like each other much.
• Despite taking just two shots in 28 minutes, this was a pretty strong return to action for Coulibaly. He defended well, coming up with 2 blocks and 2 steals and forcing multiple turnovers. He also got some rebounds and produced 6 assists.
• George shot just 5-16 but still had a very good game — 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and just 1 turnover. He committed just two fouls — one of them a semi-intentional “one to give” foul in the game’s final minutes. He went hard for a steal and ended up fouling, which was perfectly fine.
• Middlton had one of his better games, in part because Portland kept fumbling the ball in his direction (three steals).
• Sarr had 6 blocks to go with 6 offensive rebounds. He’s gotta get stronger. At one point in the third quarter, he got overwhelmed by Clingan’s size and physicality and did the NBA equivalent of tapping out. To his credit, he came right back and battled the rest of the way. The Wizards will want to add a physical presence to play alongside him in future seasons, I think.
• Tre Johnson has become a lethal shooter. The Wizards didn’t seem to run as many actions to shake him loose last night as they have in the previous few games. I’d like to see them show more patience in the halfcourt so they can run off-ball actions for him. Too many of the team’s possessions end in stepback threes early in the shot clock. They can get that same shot 5-7 seconds later — after working to get a better shot.
• The 29-year-old Skal Labissiere — freshly signed to a 10-day contract — made his Wizards debut last night.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	TRAIL BLAZERS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	45.0%	49.5%	54.3%
OREB%	47.5%	25.9%	26.1%
TOV%	18.8%	12.2%	12.8%
FTM/FGA	0.119	0.184	0.210
PACE	106		99.6
ORTG	104	108	115.5

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is 115.1. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Khris Middleton	27	59	127	24.9%	1.7	246	15
Alex Sarr	36	80	99	35.2%	-4.5	176	16
Kyshawn George	37	81	112	21.1%	-0.7	169	19
Bilal Coulibaly	28	61	205	6.8%	3.7	220	19
Tre Johnson	32	71	144	15.7%	3.1	167	4
Will Riley	11	24	151	15.5%	1.3	195	-10
Malaki Branham	2	5	299	15.8%	1.4	440	4
Anthony Gill	6	14	89	21.9%	-0.8	64	-8
Bub Carrington	28	62	76	19.3%	-4.8	2	-6
Skal Labisseire	4	8	0	9.4%	-0.9	-70	-8
Justin Champagnie	18	40	45	12.2%	-3.4	-36	-9
Jamir Watkins	12	27	49	20.7%	-3.7	-61	-16

TRAIL BLAZERS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Shaedon Sharpe	35	78	141	22.3%	4.4	197	-10
Rayan Rupert	19	43	139	14.1%	1.4	291	1
Donovan Clingan	30	66	116	24.9%	0.2	156	-17
Toumani Camara	33	73	148	13.3%	3.2	113	2
Deni Avdija	31	68	94	26.3%	-3.9	50	-9
Hansen Yang	12	26	113	23.9%	-0.1	75	11
Jerami Grant	24	53	65	14.2%	-3.8	-36	-1
Sidy Cissoko	15	34	0	5.6%	-2.2	-58	5
Caleb Love	17	37	75	21.6%	-3.2	-71	-5
Jrue Holiday	25	55	65	27.0%	-7.4	-77	3