The San Antonio Spurs have exceeded expectations this season and fans are clamoring to get in on the action. On Sunday, February 1st the Spurs are hosting the Orlando Magic. For one night only, they are offering a Sesame Street Fan Experience.
PTR Offer Includes:
Your game ticket comes with a limited edition Sesame Street Spurs shirt (while supplies last) and the Courtside Experience.
Join the Sesame Street Pre-Game Party at 1:00 p.m. Then at 2:00 p.m., head into the Frost Bank Center’s lower bowl for the Courtside Experience. Get up close and personal with members of the Spurs as the warm up.
Activties include:
Kid DJ: The AM Project, a local nonprofit, teaches kids how to DJ.
Butcher Paper Coloring Activity.
Sesame Street X NBA coloring books.
Bubble artists Fiesta Magic and more brings family-friendly activities to the party.
Photo area with a Sesame Street backdrop and character standees.
If you can’t make it on the 1st (or even if you can), there is a second PTR night in February. On February 4th, the Spurs play the Oklahoma City Thuder for the fifth time this season. The Spurs have all ready clinched the regular season series, but beating the champs a fourth time could be the icing on the cake.
If you get your ticket HERE, you’ll receive a food voucher (Chicken Fingers/Fries or Hot Dog or Nachos and Fries). Additionally, you’ll get to step down to the court and take a post game free throw. Don’t miss this chance to see the Spurts live.
Charles Barkley said he’s “complained” to ESPN over scheduling of “Inside the NBA.”
During a Wednesday appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Barkley didn’t mince words while discussing his move from TNT to the Worldwide Leader — after both companies agreed to distribute “Inside the NBA” exclusively on ESPN and ABC for 11 years, starting with the 2025-26 season.
“We’ve complained, we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months,” Barkley said referring to co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. “I don’t like that at all.
Charles Barkley in attendance for the Phoenix Suns-Minnesota Timberwolves game during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center November 21, 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“What I was talking about working all the time, because I love watching basketball – I’m not going to do all these damn shows … I’m not gonna be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not gonna be doing all that. But I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season.”
Barkley added that “Inside the NBA” is scheduled to air this Saturday (Jan. 24), next Wednesday (Jan. 28) and Saturday (Jan. 31).
“So they’re gonna start making up some of the days,” Barkley said. “But we only worked one day in December, that was Christmas Day… I wish we had worked more. The guys at ESPN have been great but we will know more when we get schedule heavy the last half of the season.”
Barkley also joked that ESPN will have to pay him for the seven years left on his contract if they fire him for calling his coworkers “idiots, punks, fools and jackasses.”
“I’m 100 percent retired, but if I can do something just a little bit stupid so they have to fire me, they’ll have to pay me for the whole seven years,” he said.
(L-R) Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk before the Knicks-Pacers Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 31, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NBAE via Getty Images
“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals and NBA playoffs.
TNT Sports will continue to independently produce “Inside the NBA” from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement.
Scoring ability in the NBA is most often discussed by looking at who is among the league leaders in points per game.
The assumption that players who score the most must be the best scorers makes sense on the surface, but that method of evaluation does nothing to discriminate between efficient scorers and those who simply have a high-usage role. Looking at raw points per game is also an improper way to compare scoring ability across eras.
Put another way – players who score a lot simply because they shoot a lot aren’t the most effective scorers in the league.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, we can identify underrated scorers and potential breakout stars by looking at Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation.
Explaining Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation
FGOE measures how much better or worse a player’s field goal percentage is compared to league expectation after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defensive contest on the field goal attempt.
In more digestible language, FGOE isolates pure shot-making skill by accounting for more than simply whether or not the ball went in the basket.
Unlike field goal% or true shooting%, FGOE:
Adjusts for shot difficulty
Removes free throws from the equation
Accounts for the quality of the defense on the shot attempt
A player who has a high FGOE is making a higher rate of similar shot types than his peers.
Removing Volume Privilege
Not all high-volume scorers have their numbers inflated simply based on opportunity. Nikola Jokić (+12.6% FGOE), Kevin Durant (+8.9%) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+8.1%) are widely regarded as some of the league’s best scorers, and for good reason. Their teams trust them to take a lot of shots, in large part, because of how skilled they are at making them.
Yet, they are not the only players who deserve to be held in high regard for their shot-making ability.
NBA StatsHub has a filter function that allows us to look exclusively at players in smaller roles, who are quietly delivering impressive results over expectation for their respective teams.
Lower Shot Volume (FGA) + High Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation (FGOE)
DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
During the 2021-2022 campaign, DeMar DeRozan ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. Since that point, his per-game scoring has taken a major hit – all the way down to 19.0 per game this season — but he’s still making the most of his opportunities.
DeRozan is averaging 6.7 fewer field goal attempts per game than he did in 2021-2022, but he would likely still be putting up big numbers if he was on a team that allowed him to shoot more frequently.
Among 73 players averaging between 10-15 FGA per game this year, nobody has a higher FGOE than DeRozan (+7.0%).
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Is it possible that Kon Knueppel is part of the NBA’s next class of superstars? The fourth overall selection in this past summer’s draft is having a superb rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 19.0 points. Even more impressive, he’s doing so on only 13.6 field goal attempts per game.
Only seven players are averaging more points per game than Knueppel on fewer than 15 shot attempts this season. All seven of those players are established veterans who are well beyond their rookie contracts.
Miles McBride, New York Knicks
Miles McBride is a fan favorite in The Big Apple, and for good reason. Since entering the league, McBride has seen his playing time increase in each subsequent season – all the way up to a career-high 28.3 minutes per game this year.
He’s making the most of his opportunities for the Knicks, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 43.1% from beyond-the-arc. In fact, McBride has the highest FGOE of any New York player so far this season.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only high-quality player stuck on a bad Milwaukee team. Bobby Portis doesn’t have the athletic upside of Antetokounmpo, but his shot-making ability is up there with the best role players in the league.
Portis is shooting a career-best 47.4% from 3-point territory this season, averaging 13.1 points on only 10.6 field goal attempts per game. If the Bucks choose to be sellers ahead of the league’s trade deadline, there will surely be a number of active suitors hoping to add Portis for their team’s playoff run.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Nikola Jokić isn’t the only big man in the NBA who makes tough shots look easy. Among centers averaging at least 10 field goal attempts per game this season, Ivica Zubac ranks second in FGOE.
Through 37 games this year, Zubac is averaging 14.8 points on 60.5% shooting – his fifth consecutive season scoring in double figures while shooting north of 60% from the floor. Since 2000, Zubac is one of only seven players to have at least seasons meeting such criteria.
The Takeaway
Through the conclusion of play Tuesday, there are 20 players in the NBA this season averaging at least 25 points per game. On this date a decade ago, only five players were averaging better than 25 points per game.
Suffice it to say, we can no longer simply look at points per game to determine who is a skilled scorer. We need metrics like FGOE to help us determine who is truly performing better than their peers.
Early on, against the Clippers, the Lakers’ offense was humming.
This was largely due to Luka Dončić. He was aggressive, like he typically is at the start of games, which helped LA jump out to a four-point lead midway through the opening quarter.
However, LA’s offense quickly stalled. While Luka’s shot diet consisted of double-digit attempts, no other Laker took more than four shots in the opening quarter.
With the Lakers struggling to stop Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the court, and scoring becoming a challenge, the Clippers took control of the game before the second quarter even began.
The Clippers led by as many as 26 points, but the Lakers didn’t go away quietly. They went on multiple runs in the second half and got to within two points of their rival.
After the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick broke down why his team couldn’t complete the comeback.
“Just a poor job of just defensive coverage execution and then just didn’t trust each other on the offensive end,” Redick said. “Not enough passing. That was a lot of the game, not enough passing. I think that’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well. We don’t pass to each other and we don’t execute defensively.”
Not a lot of passing from the Lakers? That sounds like something the team’s point guard, Luka, would be responsible for.
While it’s true that Dončić is the best player on the Lakers and is averaging the most points in the league, as the primary ball handler, he has to help keep the ball moving.
“There’s got to be a trust factor with all our guys just to trust the pass,” Redick said. “That starts with Luka. He’s going to have the ball the most of everyone. He’s got to trust the pass. He gets two on him and he’s playing in a crowd, he’s got to pass the ball. I think as much as we can talk about being connected on defense, you got to be connected on offense.”
It’s great to hear Redick calling out Luka needing to trust the pass and making the right play. This is almost certainly something he has told him privately, and making it public only hammers home the fact that this is a top priority.
Luka can do it all, but he can’t do it alone. He needs the role players to do their job, and that happens when they get looks at the basket and knock them down.
Also, when players don’t get the ball for long stretches, then when they do they might get a bit ansy and feel they have to take a shot even if it’s not a good look.
Afterall, it’s been a while since they’ve gotten the ball, who knows when they’ll get it again.
“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything,” Redick said. “Guys are worried about their futures and that’s what happens when you have a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there. You can get in your head a little bit. ‘I played five minutes. I haven’t got a shot yet.’ That’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”
The Lakers are in a unique situation where the majority of their team is not under contract for next year.
So, things can go sideways for them if players start getting frustrated with a lack of ball distribution, start thinking about their numbers and begin looking out for themselves more than the team.
This is where LA benefits from Redick being a former player. He understands this situation and is sensitive to it. He should be able to navigate these potential issues and work through them.
More than anything, though, the ball needs to move. No one can move faster than the ball. If Luka and the Lakers focus on getting the best shot possible, that should lead to a faster pace, a better offense, more points and ultimately more wins.
Now that it’s been called out, it’s up to Luka to step up as the leader, trust his teammates and make that extra pass.
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
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The Suns are staring down the final stop of a six-game road trip, and after face-planting out of the gate with two losses, they have steadied themselves and ripped off three straight wins. That alone makes this a good trip. Beat Atlanta, and it turns into a great one. 4-2 on the East Coast is nothing to sneeze at. Gesundheit
The problem is history. The last time Phoenix won a game in Atlanta was March 24, 2014. A different era. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were cooking, the vibes were sneaky good, and that team felt fun in the same unexpected way this one does now. Since then, Georgia has been a house of horrors. Why Georgia? Why?!
Atlanta is different now, too. The post Trae Young Hawks are scrappy, annoying, and hanging around the Play-In picture. Jalen Johnson is turning into an All-Star in real time. Dyson Daniels is a full-blown menace. And the scars are fresh. Phoenix blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead against this team earlier this season.
So this is not a scheduled win. This is an exorcism. A chance to close the trip strong and bury a few demons while they are at it. Grab your sword. This one is going to be a fight.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
Hawks
N’Faly Dante — OUT (Right ACL)
Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Left Achilles)
Zaccharie Risacher — OUT (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
We will start on the Suns’ side of the ball, because that is where the intrigue lives. The big thing to watch is the continued integration of Jalen Green and how those minutes shake out. Ryan Dunn was the one who took the hit against Philadelphia, but Atlanta is longer and more athletic across the board. That opens up a different question. Is it Collin Gillespie? Is it Jordan Goodwin? Somebody is going to feel the squeeze as Green works his way back in.
As for Atlanta, do not let the 21-25 record lull you to sleep. This team is frisky. They are eighth in the league in three-point percentage on the ninth-most attempts. Even without Trae Young, they continue to move the ball as well as anyone, leading the league in assists. They play fast, second in pace, and they hunt passing lanes, ranking fourth in steals per game.
That puts a big red circle around one thing for Phoenix tonight. Ball security. If the Suns are loose with it, this game can get sideways in a hurry.
Key to a Suns Win
Stay focused. This is a tough one, not only because Atlanta can throw real problems at you, but because this is the final stop of a six-game road trip. From a human standpoint, you can feel it. Guys are ready to go home. Ready to get on a plane. Ready to land back in Phoenix and settle into a five-game home stand. That temptation is real.
But there is work left to do.
The Hawks are not going to roll over. They scratch. They claw. They hang around. They are fifth in the league in points off turnovers at 20.2 a night, and the Suns sit sixth-most in points allowed off turnovers at 19.7. That is not a coincidence waiting to happen. That is a warning sign.
If Phoenix gets loose with the ball, this game will turn fast. Ball security has to be the headline. Handle that, and the flight home feels a lot better. Ignore it, and Atlanta will make you pay.
Prediction
I want the good vibes to keep rolling. Coming into this trip, 3-3 felt like the reasonable outcome. Respectable. You take it and move on. But now there is an opening for 4-2, and that changes the conversation. That turns a solid trip into a great one.
So go finish it the right way. Lock in. Handle the ball. Do not let the end of the road trip creep into your head. Devin Booker pours in 28. Jalen Green gives you 20 off the bench and bends the game with his speed. Phoenix closes the book, boards the plane, and flies home with momentum humming.
“We are aware of the investigation, but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or been served with any subpoenas,” the Colts said in Friday’s statement.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league would not comment on the report.
The Post reported Thursday that a federal grand jury subpoena it reviewed indicated the FBI is seeking records and information relating to Irsay’s death, his “substance (illegal and prescription) use,” and his “relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian,” an addiction specialist based in California. The subpoena was reportedly issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this month.
The Associated Press left a message Friday seeking comment from Haroutunian, whom the Post reported had prescribed pain pills and ketamine to Irsay in the months before his May 2025 death.
In August, the Post reported Irsay was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died. The Post's earlier report said Haroutunian, was staying at the hotel and overseeing Irsay’s treatment and that Haroutunian signed the death certificate.
The Post wrote that Irsay's official cause of death was listed as “cardiac arrest due to pneumonia and heart issues” but no autopsy was performed, and Beverly Hills police closed their investigation into the death days later.
When the first Post story was published in August, Irsay's three daughters who now run the Colts — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — issued a statement saying their father “never claimed to be perfect” and acknowledging he used his voice “to reduce the stigma” of addiction and mental health issues to advocate for those who fought similar battles.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
The battle for basketball supremacy in Los Angeles on Thursday night brought out plenty of big-name celebrities.
Chris Pratt and Jason Bateman were two of the many A-listers who pulled up to Intuit Dome to catch LeBron James and the Lakers take on Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers.
Chris Pratt was one of many celebrities at Lakers vs. Clippers on Thursday. Getty Images
Jane Fonda was in attendance, as was Zooey Deschanel, who came to the big event with her boyfriend, “Property Brothers” star Jonathan Scott.
Singer Jhené Aiko had courtside seats for the tilt, and at one point during the game, Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor swung by to snap a picture with her.
Zooey Deschanel and her boyfriend, Jonathan Scott, were at Intuit Dome on Thursday night. Getty Images
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman and, of course, Clippers billionaire owner Steve Ballmer all also sat near the hardwood to catch the action.
Singer Jhené Aiko posed for a picture with the Clippers mascot. Getty Images
The celebs got to watch a pretty good game, though if they were there to back the Lakers, they went home disappointed, as the Clippers won, 112-104.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 32 points. He added 11 rebounds and eight assists. James, meanwhile, poured in 23 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Jane Fonda sat with Steve Ballmer during the big game. Getty Images
Leonard was the Clips’ top scorer with 24, though Ivica Zubac was the star of the night for the home team with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
The drama off the floor might have been just as intriguing to fans, as the night was the first time James had been seen in public since an explosive report surrounding his relationship with his boss, Jeanie Buss, was published.
The Lakers ultimately lost to the Clippers, 112-104. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles,” he said. “I really don’t. I don’t care about stories. They don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody [feels] about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all [that] matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.”
Lakers play next in Dallas on Saturday, while the Clippers get the Nets at home on Sunday.
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Moses Moody is facing a lawsuit from his former landlord, who claims the NBA player racked up thousands of dollars in damage to a San Francisco condominium he rented early in his career allegedly due to his poor laundry skills.
The lawsuit, filed this week in small claims court by property owner Amir Tabarrok, alleges that Moody’s failure to use the required ventilation during laundry caused extensive water damage to the Mission Bay unit’s hardwood floors, ceilings, walls and carpeting.
The complaint also cites damage to electrical switches and window frames, which the landlord says resulted from holes drilled into the surfaces.
According to the filing, Moody rented the 7th-floor condo from 2021, when he was drafted by the Warriors, until October 2025, and paid $6,495 per month. After he moved out, Tabarrok said he discovered damage that he estimated at $28,053.90.
Because of the limits of small claims court, the landlord is seeking $12,500, the maximum allowable, plus about $870 in unpaid rent.
The former San Francisco landlord of Moses Moody (right) alleges that the NBA player’s improper laundry ventilation caused extensive water damage and that holes were drilled into the condo’s window frames and electrical switches (Getty Images)
The Warriors’ 2021 first-round pick, 14th overall, now lives in downtown San Francisco’s Millennium Tower, a 419-unit luxury building. Each unit features hardwood floors, and marble or quartzite countertops. Leases range from about $3,200 per month for studios to over $18,000 for high-floor luxury units.
This year, Moody is set to pocket $11.57 million under his contract as the Warriors hold a 25‑21 record, sitting 8th in the Western Conference.
Moody rented the 7th-floor Mission Bay condo from 2021 to 2025 for $6,495 per month, according to the lawsuit (Google Images)
Moody also has a growing interest in real estate, having interned with San Francisco’s Shorenstein Properties in the summer of 2024 and invested in the real estate tech company Drafted, the suit noted.
The Independent has contacted representatives for Moody, the Golden State Warriors and the condo owner for comment.
The Washington Wizards play the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Here is the preview.
Game info
When: Saturday, Jan. 24 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly (back) and Tristan Vukcevic (rest) are questionable, while Trae Young (knee, quad) and Cam Whitmore (shoulder) are out.
For the Hornets, Mason Plumlee (groin) is out. Grant Williams, KJ Simpson and Tre Mann are questionable because they missed yesterday’s game against the Orlando Magic.
What to watch for
The Wizards will look to do two things tomorrow afternoon. First, they need to snap this eight-game losing streak. And the Hornets are a team Washington could defeat. They are coming off a 124-97 win against the Magic yesterday. And the Hornets also had some impressive road wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets!
Charlotte is now on a two-game homestand and may be looking to feel a bit comfortable at home before an ice storm hits Saturday evening. But for the Wizards, they may be a bit excited about winter weather, because the same storm will dump at least 6 inches of snow locally. The less …. distracted team will win this one in my opinion. Hopefully, Washington comes out on top.
The New Orleans Pelicans are rebuffing most trade conversations despite being in the Western Conference cellar. That is a choice.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are atop most trade conversations in the NBA, though the traction in those conversations is quite debatable.
My Pelicans vs. Grizzlies predictions and NBA picks assume these rosters may not remain as they are, but one New Orleans shooter should be trusted on Friday, January 23.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies prediction
Pelicans vs Grizzlies best bet: Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points (-105)
Only two teams have given up more 3-point attempts in the last 10 games than the Memphis Grizzlies have, opponents pulling up from deep 42.0 times per game.
That has been survivable because opponents are hitting only 34.5% of those looks, but here comes Trey Murphy III.
No one on the New Orleans Pelicans roster is more equipped to take advantage of that defensive choice than Murphy, taking 11.9 shots from long range per game in his last nine games, helping him average 27.8 points since New Year’s.
He has made 39.3% of those 3-point attempts. No wonder the Pelicans refuse to entertain trade overtures for Murphy.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
Murphy has scored at least 22 points and hit at least four 3-pointers in six of his nine games since New Year’s, a data set chosen only to align with Memphis’s defensive trend in the last 10 games.
And yet New Orleans is just 3-6 against the spread in those nine games.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies SGP
Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points
Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
Grizzlies -6
Our "from downtown" SGP: Treys!
Adding Herbert Jones’s made threes prop is entirely a reflection of Memphis’s defense and very little a reflection of Jones’s shooting.
He has taken 4.2 threes per game this season and hit just 33.3% of them, but against the Grizzlies, Jones could easily take six, at which point there is a reasonable chance he hits multiple shots from deep.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies SGP
Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points
Herbert Jones Over 1.5 threes
Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
Grizzlies -6
Pelicans vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Pelicans +6 | Grizzlies -6
Moneyline: Pelicans +185 | Grizzlies -225
Over/Under: Over 239.5 | Under 239.5
Pelicans vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
Despite Murphy’s hot shooting, New Orleans has gone 3-6 ATS in his last nine games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Pelicans vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, FDSN SE-MEM
Pelicans vs Grizzlies latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
As winter storm warnings continue to reshuffle college basketball schedules, one particularly high-profile matchup is going to tip off an hour earlier than expected.
Rick Pitino's St. John's Red Storm and Richard Pitino's Xavier Musketeers will now play at 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati as the father and son face off for the fifth time in their respective coaching careers.
"Due to the impending winter weather warning throughout the BIG EAST footprint, tipoff for Saturday's game featuring St. John's at Xavier has been moved forward one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET.
St. John's is entering the game 14-5 (7-1 Big East) while Xavier comes in 11-8 (3-5). St. John's has won five consecutive games after dropping a game to Providence, whereas the Musketeers are looking to build on a two-game winning streak after dropping the previous three.
Cincinnati weather forecast
Cincinnati is projected to have a high of 14 degrees and a low of 11 degrees on Jan. 24, with snow expected to start around 3 p.m., per Weather.com. The winter storm warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to noon Monday.
You may not realize it, but the Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the best teams in basketball since the calendar hit 2026.
Tonight, they’ll be home underdogs against a scrappy Toronto Raptors team that sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
One of the reasons Toronto is favored here is that Immanuel Quickley is playing great basketball again.
My Raptors vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks highlight a player prop for IQ in what should be an entertaining nightcap on Friday, January 23.
Raptors vs Trail Blazers prediction
Raptors vs Trail Blazers best bet: Immanuel Quickley Over 17.5 points (-110)
The Toronto Raptors 27-19 record is more impressive when you consider the rash of injuries they’ve dealt with. Even tonight, Jakob Poeltl is out while RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles are questionable.
Luckily for the Raps, Immanuel Quickley has picked up his game. IQ is averaging 19.1 points with a 50.5 eFG % over his last 15 games.
The Portland Trail Blazers are playing great ball in 2026, going 9-2 SU/ATS. But they play at a high pace (seventh in the NBA) and foul a lot (sixth most opponent free throw attempts).
Quickly averages 5.1 free throws per game during this stretch.
Raptors vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
The Raptors will also need good ball movement against a solid defensive team like the Trail Blazers, and that’s something Brandon Ingram has provided lately.
Ingram averages 3.8 assists per game this season, and that’s up to 4.8 over the last seven games, topping 3.5 six times over that stretch.
Both teams enter this game playing well, and are Top 10 defenses, but the Raptors have slightly more offensive punch, so I like them to pull out the win.
Raptors vs Trail Blazers SGP
Immanuel Quickley Over 17.5 points
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Raptors moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Mamu!
Let's switch the Raps moneyline to covering the spread, and a red-hot Sandro Mamukelashvili should get another big run going against Donovan Clingan.
Raptors vs Trail Blazers SGP
Immanuel Quickley Over 17.5 points
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Raptors -3.5
Sandro Mamukelashvili double-double
Raptors vs Trail Blazers odds
Spread: Raptors -3.5 | Trail Blazers +3.5
Moneyline: Raptors -140 | Trail Blazers +120
Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5
Raptors vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
The Raptors have covered the 1Q spread in 28 of their last 40 away games (+14.30 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Raptors vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, KUNP
Raptors vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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The Dallas Mavericks may be the hardest playing team in the NBA. They certainly play the hardest among teams not currently in the playoff picture. They’ve accumulated their fair share of dumb losses this season — and stolen several eye-catching wins — but one guarantee every time the ball is tipped is that Jason Kidd’s group is going to give effort. Maybe that says more about the state of the team, that they play hard and still lose a considerable amount, but it’s worth applauding while they ride a win streak amidst the deepest darkest parts of the NBA season.
It is that season best four-game win streak (winners of five of their last six) that highlights this week’s power rankings watch. These next two weeks may tell us a lot about the future direction of this team, with the trade deadline looming. For now, it’s a waiting game.
The team announced that Davis would be sidelined six weeks because of ligament damage in his left hand. And while the Mavs’ interim co-general managers continue to engage in trade discussions involving Davis, sources said that ownership does not feel pressure to make a deal if Dallas doesn’t get offers that it deems as good value. If Davis remains on the roster past the Feb. 5 deadline, expect discussions about whether it’s in the franchise’s best interest for the star forward to return at all this season. — MacMahon
Flagg is the No. 1 overall pick, so this one is easy. But some thought that Flagg may have had a shot at being a rare rookie All-Star. Not happening. The Mavericks had a decent week overall, aided by two home games against a Jazz team sitting Lauri Markkanen. But Dallas is squarely in the bottom five in the West, and that should keep them from having an All-Star for the first time since Luka Dončić’s rookie season.
The Mavs scored 124.4 points per 100 possessions during the homestand, their best four-game stretch of offense this season. They saw a jump in 3-point rate in the two games without Flagg, totaling 37 3-pointers over the two games. Additionally, their 12 corner 3-pointers on Thursday were the most for any team this season.
The Mavs are now the only team without a lineup that’s played at least 75 minutes together. Thompson is actually one of three Mavs who have played in at least 40 games, with Naji Marshall the only one who has played in all 43.
Coming up: Thompson has shot 22-for-48 (46%) from 3-point range in his five games against the Warriors over the last two seasons. He’ll face his former team again on Thursday as the Mavs continue a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 13 at home.
The Dallas Mavericks are on a four-game winning streak. And although two of those came against the sub-.500 Utah Jazz, and another was over a Golden State Warriors team reeling from the loss of Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL, Monday’s was over the New York Knicks. And wins are wins.
Now, there may be a contingent of fans who’d prefer those not add up right now. The idea of adding one of this upcoming draft class’s top prospects to Cooper Flagg is intriguing. But he might already be too good to tank.
For the season, Flagg is averaging 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per 75 possessions when Anthony Davis (who’s out for the foreseeable future and could be traded ahead of the deadline) is off the floor.
Coming off a tough loss against the Houston Rockets, the Spurs traveled to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz. Luke Kornet did not play due to an adductor injury, and Lauri Markkanen did not play due to reconditioning. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Spurs started the second quarter on a 15-0 run. They outscored the Jazz 34-22 in the quarter and took a 12-point lead into halftime. The Jazz mounted a comeback and tied the game, but the Spurs still held a seven-point lead going into the fourth. That lead quickly dissipated, and the game was tied once again with 10:28 remaining. Then, the Spurs finally locked in on both ends to shut the Jazz out. After a 9-0 run by the silver and black, the Jazz countered with bits of scoring. However, the lead kept growing, and De’Aaron Fox caught fire from three. The Spurs outscored the Jazz 29-17 in the quarter, closed the game on a 9-0 run, and ultimately won 126-109.
De’Aaron Fox led the way with 31 points (10-13 FG, 6-9 3PT, 5-6 FT), five rebounds, five assists, and a block. D-Fox dropped his highest scoring game since December 3rd versus Orlando, and most of his damage came in the fourth. The former Clutch Player of the Year cashed in 11 points in the quarter, including swishing three three-pointers in the span of two minutes. Without his clutch heroics, this young Spurs team may have once again struggled to close out a game in which they held a double-digit lead.
D3’AARON! D-Fox knocks down the corner three early in the first!
Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 26 points (9-14 FG, 4-7 3PT, 4-4 FT) and 14 rebounds to go along with five blocks and three assists. After struggling against Houston, Vic shot efficiently from the field and was even better defensively. He recorded his first five-block game since December 27th against the Lakers. As far as the buckets go, Vic scored in the paint, from the midrange, from the three, and even converted all four of his free throws. Because of Kornet’s injury, Wemby played 33 minutes, which is the most he’s played since November 14th versus Golden State.
W3MBY! Vic gets his early scoring going with a three in the first!
Keldon Johnson dropped 21 points, five assists, a rebound, a steal, and a block. KJ attempted a season-high 19 shots and drained nine of them. There was a stretch in the fourth quarter where Mitch Johnson deployed a small-ball lineup where KJ played center and guarded Nurkic. KJ held his own and drained buckets by cutting off screens and using his patented spin move, driving in the post. He is currently one of the favorites for Sixth Man of the Year.
KJ BIG BODY AND-ONE! After the block by Dylan Harper, the Spurs pushed the ball up the court in transition to a leaking KJ who fights through the contact from Cody Williams for the and-one!
Julian Champagnie dropped 17 points (6-10 FG, 5-9 3PT), three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. After catching fire in Houston with 27 points on eight threes, Julian continued his hot shooting against the Jazz. He provided the Spurs with a scoring boost in the first quarter, swishing most of his threes. He has done an excellent job since Devin Vassell’s injury, and it looks like he may receive an invite to the 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend.
On the board! Julian scores the first points for the Spurs on a sniper three from the wing!
Stephon Castle dropped 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Steph played a season-high 38 minutes and filled the stat sheet. Despite struggling from the field, he did a decent job limiting Utah’s guards from having an explosive game. Steph also got his money’s worth at the free-throw line, making seven of 10 attempts. It is clear Steph is still trying find consistency on his shot, but this team’s shooters will continue to give him assists.
Keeping them honest! Steph knocks down the three-pointer after the defender left too much space!
Carter Bryant dropped seven points, four rebounds, an assist, and a block in just 13 minutes. The game is slowing down for Carter, as he showed a solid 3&D performance in a short burst. No matter who was in front of him, he showed no fear defensively. As far as the offense goes, he drained a three and pulled out this eurostep move on a fastbreak layup!
This was a nice bounce-back win for the silver and black. Even when it looked like the Spurs might blow another game in which they held a double-digit lead, the team buckled down defensively in the fourth and used their two best players on offense down the stretch. The Fox/Wemby pick-and-roll was deadly, and it might spark more usage for the rest of the season, especially in the fourth. Remember the cold streak of games where the Spurs could not buy a bucket from three? Well, 18 made threes against the Jazz has cemented a hot streak of at least 14 made threes in the last week.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs return home to take on the New Orleans Pelicans this Sunday at 6:00 P.M (CST) on FDSN-SW.
