Stars end Bruins' 6-game winning streak with a dominant 6-2 victory

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored two goals, Justin Hryckowian had a goal and two assists, and the Dallas Stars ended a three-game skid while snapping the Boston Bruins' six-game winning streak, 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque and Esa Lindell also scored for the Stars, who had just three goals in their previous three games. Miro Heiskanen had three assists and Jake Oettinger had 16 saves.

The Bruins trailed 6-0 when Morgan Geekie scored on the power play to end Oettinger's shutout bid with 7:49 to play. Geekie ended a personal 12-game goal-scoring drought when he tipped in David Pastrnak's shot.

Fraser Minten also scored for Boston while Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves before he was lifted in favor of Joonas Korpisalo, who had three stops.

The Stars played without leading scorer Mikko Rantanen (19 goals, 44 assists), who was out with an illness.

Johnston's goal with 3:52 left in the first was his NHL-leading 16th power-play goal this season. Bourque's first-period goal also came on the power play.

Johnston has six goals and six assists over the past 12 games.

Robertson scored his 28th and 29th goals of the season early in the third period.

The Bruins had allowed two goals or less per game during their six-game winning streak.

The Stars outshot the Bruins 37-18 and won 65% of the faceoffs.

Up next

Bruins: Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

Stars: Visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

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

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Miami (Ohio) basketball improves to 20-0, makes MAC history in Kent State win

Miami (Ohio) basketball made MAC history on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and is on track to be among the top non-Power Four contenders come March Madness time.

The RedHawks (20-0, 8-0), who received 19 votes in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, improved to 20-0 with their 107-101 overtime win over Kent State behind a near-triple double performance by Peter Suder, who scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists in the win.

The win marks the best start ever by a MAC program, as Miami is now 8-0 in conference play. The RedHawks have a long way to go before the NCAA tournament starts and are currently ranked No. 52 in the NCAA's Net Rankings, but an at-large bid could potentially be in their sights if they keep at its current pace.

Kent State took a 92-88 lead on a 29-foot 3-point shot by Cian Medley with 57 seconds left in the second half. Suder then responded with a layup before Luke Skaljac tied the game at 92-92 with six seconds remaining. The RedHawks then outscored the Golden Flashes 15-9 in the first overtime to secure the win.

Fourth-year coach Travis Steele could be one of the hottest potential names in the coaching carousel after the regular season ends, given Miami's strong start to the season and his previous experience at Xavier, a solid Big East program.

His team plays an exciting style on offense, as well. Miami (Ohio) ranks first nationally in 3-point percentage (41.92%) and ranks second in scoring offense (93.9 points per game), both of which could bode well come March.

Miami (Ohio) is looking to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when it was a 14 seed despite finishing the season with an 18-15 record under former coach Charlie Coles. Steele went 12-20 in his first season and 15-17 in his second, but improved to 25-9 in 2024-25 and already has 20 wins this season.

There are only three unbeatens remaining in college basketball, as Miami (Ohio) is joined by No. 1 Arizona (18-0) and No. No. 7 Nebraska (18-0). The RedHawks are a team to watch in the final half of the college basketball regular season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami (Ohio) improves to 20-0, makes MAC history in Kent State win

Punch has double-double, scores go-ahead basket as TCU comes back to beat Oklahoma State 68-65

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — David Punch had a double-double and scored the go-ahead basket with 6.3 seconds remaining to give TCU a 68-65 comeback win over Oklahoma State on Tuesday and end the Horned Frogs four game losing streak.

Punch had 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, pairing it with 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Horned Frogs (12-7, 2-4 Big 12) used a 10-0 run starting at the 4:13 mark to turn a seven-point deficit into a three-point advantage, with Punch driving the lane to finish a layup and take the lead with 6.3 seconds remaining.

Xavier Edmonds also had a double-double, with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Liutauras Lelevicius had 10 points and six rebounds, and tied the game with a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining.

Isaiah Coleman had 14 points to go with six rebounds for the Cowboys (14-5, 2-4), who have now lost eight consecutive games at Schollmaier Arena. Anthony Roy scored 13 and had three steals. Kanye Clary added 11 points, six assists and two steals.

The Cowboys stacked up a 41-37 lead at the half after falling behind 9-0 to open the game. They used a 15-4 run with back-to-back 3s from Roy to flip a seven-point deficit into a four-point lead. Vyctorius Millers' 3 less than two minutes into the second half sparked a 10-3 run to build as much as a nine-point lead.

Up next

Oklahoma State will host a meeting with No. 9 Iowa State on Saturday.

TCU will travel to face Baylor on the road on Saturday.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Philadelphia eclipsed by the Suns

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 18
VJ Edgecombe – 5
Paul George – 5
Joel Embiid – 4
Andre Drummond – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1


Hello, darkness third quarter struggles, my old friend.

On Tuesday night, we got to watch a classic Philadelphia 76ers episode: the team getting their doors blown off in the third quarter. Going into halftime down by four, the Sixers actually had a nice couple minutes to open the second half and take the lead, but were then outscored, 38-18, by the Phoenix Suns to close the third quarter. The Sixers were completely out of sorts defensively, and it was a curious move by Nick Nurse to play a bigger lineup against a Suns group that features a lot of guard/wing types who are very capable outside shooters. Philadelphia went small in the fourth quarter and did make it a two-possession game late, but it was not an especially encouraging performance in the 116-110 loss.

Now losers of four of their last six contest, the Sixers have two games remaining on this homestand, with Houston next up on Thursday night. Tonight, though, let’s talk Bell Ringer.

VJ Edgecombe: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers

The rookie looked to have somewhat fresher legs than most on the second night of the back-to-back. Edgecombe helped the Sixers get off to a good start with 10 points in the first quarter, hitting a handful of tough middies that are a continued evolution to his game. All night long, he was everywhere on the court, tracking down loose balls and corralling offensive rebounds. Edgecombe’s transition block of Jalen Green in the waning seconds of the first half was the ultimate combination of hustle and athleticism. He missed a couple more threes than you’d like, and had a few “learning on the job” turnovers as a primary ball handler, but overall, it was an outstanding 37-minute run from Edgecombe. I missed the headband, however.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers

Facing his former club, Oubre assumed more offensive responsibility with Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined. He generated some points as a driver, and also knocked down open looks when defenses paid extra attention to Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe. Kelly’s five made three-pointers were his most in a game since March 2024. He also was the Sixers’ primary wing defender with George unavailable, and put forth a tough, spirited effort on that end of the court. After this outing and his 18 points on Monday night, it looks like Kelly might now be back in the swing of things following the sprained LCL injury.

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Caufield scores late winner, lifting Canadiens 4-3 over Wild

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored the winner with 15 seconds remaining to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

Caufield took a pass from Nick Suzuki and fired a shot from the top of the right circle for his 25th of the season.

Phillip Danault — with his first of the season — Alexandre Carrier and Lane Hutson also scored for Montreal.

Rookie winger Ivan Demidov provided two assists and Jakub Dobes made 16 saves.

Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice and Brock Faber also scored for Minnesota, which beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Monday. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 29 shots.

Tarasenko opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 10:44 of the first period, beating Dobes on Minnesota’s second shot with a one-timer.

Danault jammed in a rebound to break his goal drought and tie the game at 15:22.

Carrier doubled the lead with 52 seconds remaining in the opening period, redirecting Mike Matheson’s point shot after carrying the puck into Minnesota’s zone.

Faber equalized with a wrist shot from the point that trickled under Dobes’ left pad at 10:16 in the second, but Montreal regained the lead when Hutson hammered home a Demidov pass from a sharp angle at 12:35.

Penalties to Hutson and Matheson put the Wild on a 5-on-3 power play with 8:11 remaining in regulation, and Tarasenko converted his second of the game moments after Hutson exited the box to make it a 5-on-4.

Canadiens forward Kirby Dach returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his foot from blocking a shot on Nov. 15. Winger Alexandre Texier missed the game with a lower-body injury.

The Wild played without forwards Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy, and defensemen Jonas Brodin and Zach Bogosian.

Up next

Wild: Host Detroit on Thursday night.

Canadiens: Host Buffalo on Thursday night.

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

Elliot Cadeau shines as Michigan defeats Indiana 86-72

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Elliot Cadeau scored 10 of his 19 points in the opening minutes of the first half and Yaxel Lendeborg had 13 of 15 points in the second half, leading No. 3 Michigan to an 86-72 win over Indiana on Tuesday night.

The Wolverines (17-1, 7-1 Big Ten) led by 17 points midway through the first half and by 25 points in the second half of a game that wasn’t in doubt after a one-sided start.

The Hoosiers (12-7, 3-5) began by missing 14 of 15 shots and finished with a fourth straight loss under first-year coach Darian DeVries.

Indiana’s Tucker DeVries scored 15, Nick Dorn had 14 points, Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey scored 11 points apiece.

UCLA 69, NO. 4 PURDUE 67

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Bilodeau hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining, and UCLA rallied to edge Purdue, snapping the Boilermakers’ nine-game winning streak in their first visit to Pauley Pavilion in 26 years.

C.J. Cox missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and Xavier Booker grabbed the defensive rebound as time expired. Fans stormed the court and jumped up and down in celebration on a night when the Bruins honored John Wooden, the Indiana native and Purdue alumnus who coached them to a record 10 national championships.

Donovan Dent, who assisted on the winning basket, had 23 points and 13 assists to lead the Bruins (13-6, 5-3 Big Ten). Bilodeau finished with 14, and Eric Dailey Jr. added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Cox led the Boilermakers (17-2, 7-1) with 16 points and Braden Smith scored 12. Their first loss in league play kept them from taking sole possession of first place over idle Nebraska.

NO. 9 IOWA STATE 87, UCF 57

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Joshua Jefferson had 17 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists for his second triple-double of the season as Iowa State defeated UCF.

Milan Momcilovic scored 20 points as the Cyclones (17-2, 4-2 Big 12), coming off their first losses of the season, bounced back in their return home, building a 44-26 halftime lead and pulling away in the second half.

Jefferson became the second NCAA Division I player this season with more than one triple-double. Jefferson’s other triple-double was in an 80-59 win over West Virginia on Jan. 2.

Killyan Toure and Jamarion Batemon each had 12 points and Blake Buchanan added 11 for the Cyclones.

Iowa State forced 19 turnover from the Knights (14-4, 3-3).

Riley Kugel and Jordan Burks each scored 15 points for UCF.

NO. 10 MICHIGAN STATE 68, OREGON 52

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Carson Cooper scored 19 points and Michigan State won its fifth straight game, over struggling Oregon.

Coen Carr added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (17-2, 7-1 Big Ten), whose lone conference loss this season was to undefeated Nebraska.

Takai Simpkins scored 15 points for the Ducks (8-11, 1-7), who have lost five straight.

NO. 12 TEXAS TECH 92, BAYLOR 73

WACO, Texas (AP) — Christian Anderson had 26 points while making eight of Texas Tech’s program record-tying 17 3-pointers and the Red Raiders beat Baylor for their fourth win in a row.

Donovan Atwell had 21 points on seven 3s, all in the first half, and JT Toppin scored 22 points for the Red Raiders (15-4, 5-1 Big 12). They never trailed while making 17 3s for the third time this season — and 14 before halftime, which was a conference record.

Toppin’s career-best streak of seven consecutive double-doubles ended with only four rebounds.

Cameron Carr had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead Baylor (11-7, 1-5).

NO. 19 KANSAS 75, COLORADO 69

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Melvin Council Jr. scored 10 of his 18 points over the final 5:07 and Kansas held off Colorado with assistant coach Jacque Vaughn leading the Jayhawks as Bill Self recovers from a precautionary trip to the hospital.

The Jayhawks (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) led 60-59 with 5:50 to play, but clamped down on defense. They kept Colorado scoreless for a three-minute stretch to pull away. Council was the offensive catalyst, putting an exclamation point on the game with an emphatic dunk.

Council had back-to-back layups that gave Kansas some separation after Colorado had a chance to take the lead. On one of his layups, Council knocked the ball away from the inbounder while still out of bounds. It wasn’t called, which drew the ire of the crowd after a replay.

Tre White had 17 points 15 rebounds for Kansas for his fifth double-double this season. Darryn Peterson finished with 16 points. He hobbled to the bench in the second half after appearing to turn his left ankle, but returned.

Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with 19, while Barrington Hargress added 17. Colorado has dropped three in a row.

NO. 20 ARKANSAS 93, NO. 15 VANDERBILT 68

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Darius Acuff Jr. scored 17 points and Arkansas routed Vanderbilt 93-68 on Wednesday night to hand the Commodores their third consecutive loss.

The freshman shot 7 of 14 from the field and had five assists as Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) shot 58% from the field and had 25 assists on 37 field goals.

Malique Ewin and Karter Knox each scored 16 points, while Meleek Thomas had 13 and DJ Wagner added 11. Trevon Brazile had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Tyler Nickel led Vanderbilt with 17 points, all in the first half, and Tyler Tanner added 11.

NO. 16 FLORIDA 79, LSU 61

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Rueben Chinyelu scored 15 points and tied his career high with 21 rebounds, becoming the first Florida player in two decades with four consecutive double-doubles, and the Gators handled LSU for their fifth straight victory.

Chinyelu matched David Lee’s double-double streak from 2005 as Florida (14-5, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) extended its home winning streak to 16.

It was Chinyelu’s second 20-plus-board game of the season, making him the third player in school history to accomplish the feat.

Urban Klavzar hit a career-high five 3-pointers and scored 18 points for Florida. Alex Condon and Boogie Fland added 10 points apiece.

LSU leading scorer Dedan Thomas Jr. returned from a five-game absence and looked rusty. He missed his first six shots after missing nearly three weeks with a leg injury. He finished with two points, two rebounds and three assists.

NC STATE 80, NO. 18 CLEMSON 76 OT

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Ven-Allen Lubin scored 22 points and Derrion Williams’ 3-pointer with 2:40 left in overtime put N.C. State ahead to stay as the Wolfpack ended Clemson’s nine-game win streak.

Williams finished with 17 points and Quadir Copeland 16 for N.C. State.

The Wolfpack (13-6, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) were up 11 points late in the first half and were still ahead 58-51 with 10 minutes to play when the Tigers (16-4, 6-1) closed with an 18-11 run to force the extra period.

But once Williams’ basket went in, the Tigers couldn’t rally again. Lubin followed with a basket after Williams and Clemson got no closer than three the rest of the way.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation. Dillon Hunter missed an open 3-pointer with 33 seconds left for Clemson while Williams came up short on a midrange jumper. Hunter’s long, desperation 3 hit off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

RJ Godfrey led Clemson with 16 points.

NO. 21 GEORGIA 74, MISSOURI 72

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Marcus “Smurf” Millender scored 18 points and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 5.5 seconds left to lift Georgia to a victory over Missouri.

Jeremiah Wilkinson had 14 points and Kannon Catchings added 12 for the Bulldogs (16-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference), who were held to a season low in scoring. Georgia entered leading the country with an average of 96 points per game.

Mark Mitchell scored 18 points and Jayden Stone had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Missouri (13-6, 3-3), which lost at home for the first time this season.

NO. 24 SAINT LOUIS 81, DUQUESNE 77

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Robbie Avila, Dion Brown and Trey Green each scored 14 points as Saint Louis held off a frantic late rally by Duquesne.

The Billikens (18-1, 6-0 Atlantic 10) extended their winning streak to 12 despite blowing most of a 17-point second-half lead. Saint Louis can tie the best start in the program’s 110-year history set by the 1993-94 squad with a win Friday at St. Bonaventure.

A day after entering the AP Top 25 for the first time in five years, the balanced Billikens fended off the Dukes (10-9, 2-4) behind a deep bench and a relentless pace.

The only team in the country with six players averaging at least 10 points had five players in double figures against the Dukes. Brady Dunlap chipped in 11 points, including a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left after Duquesne had moved within one.

Jimmie Williams, who scored a career-high 28 points for Duquesne, missed a contested 3-pointer on the Dukes’ ensuing possession. Brown grabbed the rebound and made one of two at the line to seal it.

NO. 25 MIAMI (OH) 107, KENT STATE 101, OT

KENT, Ohio, (AP) — Peter Suder scored 27 points, Elan Elmer added 25 and Miami (Ohio) remained unbeaten, rallying past Kent State in overtime before a standing-room-only crowd at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.

Ranked for the first time since 1999, the RedHawks had to rally in the final minute to force overtime. Miami is off to the best start in Mid-American Conference history at 20-0 overall and 8-0 in conference play.

It was also the 700th MAC win for the RedHawks.

Miami, top-ranked Arizona and No. 7 Nebraska are the lone unbeaten teams in Division I.

Rob Whaley Jr. had season highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds while Cian Medley scored 23 for the Golden Flashes (14-5, 5-2 MAC).

Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear leaves Warriors with more questions than answers

The Golden State Warriors need to do right by Steph Curry. 

That’s what they did last season when they pulled off a big swing at the Feb. trade deadline, acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami in an attempt to breathe new life into the league’s flailing modern day dynasty. 

It worked. 

Ayehsa Curry and Steph Curry watch the match of Jannik Sinner of Italy against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Men’s Final of the US Open Tennis Championship. Annie Wermiel/NY Post

The first night that Butler was around the Warriors — during a game in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Feb. 6 — Draymond Green told me that acquiring Butler “1,000 percent” put them in contention to compete for a championship. Butler told me: “We’re going to bring hell to a lot of people.”

Those hopes were dashed Monday when Butler suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a game against Miami. Butler needs surgery and will miss the rest of the season, a major blow for a team that had won 12 of their last 16 games.

Now, the Warriors’ future remains incredibly fuzzy. 

Do they tank in an attempt to get a high draft pick? Do they keep Jonathan Kuminga, who requested a trade as soon as he became trade eligible Jan. 15? 

Stephen Curry arrives to the arena before the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

No and no. 

As long as Curry is on the Warriors, they need to have a win-now mindset.

He’s 37. He’s healthy.

The four-time NBA champion, who’s the oldest All-Star starter by six years, is averaging a stunning 31 points on 47 percent shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists a game. 

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is fouled by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. AP

The Warriors need to figure out a way to give Curry another fighting chance. 

They’re in eighth place in the Western Conference with a record of 25-19, but they’re only 2 1/2 games behind the fourth-place Minnesota Timberwolves and 1 1/2 games behind the sixth-place Lakers. They’re still very much in the playoff hunt at the midway point in the season. 

The one silver lining of Butler’s awful injury is that it happened just over two weeks ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

The Warriors still have time to prevent this season from swirling the drain. They can get their ducks in a row to give Curry another shot at a fifth title, even though it’s unlikely with young powerhouses like Oklahoma City and San Antonio lying in wait. 

But Curry deserves a shot.

Stephen Curry plays against the LAkers. Brian Prahl / SplashNews.com

And if he’s healthy in the playoffs, the Warriors have one. They can’t wait until he’s a year older, which, at this point in his career, should be calculated with a similar equivalency to dog years.

As for Kuminga, they must trade him. He wants to leave. His relationship with Warriors coach Steve Kerr has long soured, with him not having played since Dec. 18, missing the team’s last 16 games. 

Jonathan Kuminga looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on January 19, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Kerr said “sure, absolutely” when asked if Kuminga could re-enter the rotation in Butler’s absence. And in the short-term, Kuminga should absolutely start playing again, which could benefit both him and the Warriors by raising his trade value. But ultimately, he just can’t be on the roster past Feb. 5. The trust between him and Kerr has eroded too much to try to put a bandaid on that wound.

Curry deserves to share the court with a player who really wants to be here. And Kuminga deserves the opportunity to turn into the star he believes he can become elsewhere. The fit wasn’t right. And even though Kuminga shined at times, his inconsistency ultimately became his greatest consistent. 

So, what do the Warriors do now? 

Do they use some combination of their three tradable future first-round picks, gambling with their future? Do they try to bolster their roster with the likes of Trey Murphy III, Michael Porter Jr. or Lauri Markkanen, the latter of whom they were linked to two summers ago before he signed his four-year, $196 million extension with Utah. 

Do they trade Butler, who has a $56.8 million expiring contract next season? Do they attempt to go after another star like Ja Morant?

Jimmy Butler III holds his right knee as he goes down with an injury during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Chase Center. Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

This much is for sure: They have to do something. 

Franchises always have to weigh whether it’s smarter to gamble on the now or play the long game, an equation which is especially tricky given Curry’s current skills combined with his short runway.

But here’s the thing. Curry is still Curry. He’s still the player who’s capable of erupting with jaw-dropping scoring sprees. Green is still a defensive wiz. De’Anthony Melton is starring in his role. Al Horford is capable of swinging things on any given night. 

Losing Butler was a huge blow, but the Warriors still have a chance to make things right. And they must go all in, trading some combination of their first-round picks alongside Kuminga…or even Butler to give it a shot. 

The Warriors may be a fading dynasty, as Kerr recently called the team. But Kerr knows better than anyone how quickly a gerund can transform into the past tense after witnessing it first-hand with the Chicago Bulls. 

The Warriors aren’t necessarily there yet. 

For Curry’s sake, they need to put one last great effort into tweaking the ship’s direction before it’s forever lost at sea. 

Johnson, Knox lead balanced South Carolina past Oklahoma 85-76

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Meechie Johnson scored 20 points and Kobe Knox scored 18 points and South Carolina beat Oklahoma 85-76 on Tuesday night and ended its three-game losing streak.

Johnson made 13 of 15 from the foul line and Knox went 7 of 11 from the floor. Elijah Strong scored 17 points, Miles Stute 10 and Mike Sharavjamts 10 for South Carolina (11-8, 2-4), which saw all five starters reach double figures in scoring.

Xzayvier Brown scored 22 points, Tae Davis scored 20 points and Derrion Reed 13 for Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5), which has dropped five straight.

The Gamecocks built an 11-0 lead and never trailed. Stute made a pair of foul shots with 7:26 before halftime and the Gamecocks doubled-up Oklahoma 28-14.

Oklahoma recovered and proceeded to outscore South Carolina 22-11 for the rest of the half to get within 39-36 at intermission. Mohamed Wague made 1 of 2 foul shots 59 seconds in to get Oklahoma within 51-47 but the Sooners never got closer.

Up Next

The Sooners will travel from one Columbia to another when they face Missouri on Saturday.

South Carolina travels to play Texas A&M on Saturday.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Sarah Wozniewicz's OT goal helps Charge beat Sirens 4-3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sarah Wozniewicz scored a goal in overtime and Ottawa blew a three-goal lead before the Charge beat the New York Sirens 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Gabbie Hughes, Rebecca Leslie and Brianne Jenner each had a goal and an assist for Ottawa (3-5-0-6), which had a six-game win streak snapped last time out by a 2-1 loss at Montreal. Gwyneth Philips had 31 saves.

New York (7-0-2-5), which beat the Charge 4-0 in the season opener for both teams, has a seven-game point streak.

Jaime Bourbonnais, Kristin O’Neill and Anne Cherkowski each scored a goal for the Sirens and Sarah Fillier had two assists. Callie Shanahan stopped 17 shots.

Hughes opened the scoring about 8 1/2 minutes into the game, Leslie added a first-period goal and Jenner scored 6:38 into the second to give the Charge a 3-0 lead.

Bourbonnais got New York on the scoreboard about six minutes later. O'Neill made it a one-goal game with 8:05 left in regulation and Cherowski tied it less than two minutes later.

Up next

Ottawa: The Charge visit Montreal on Saturday.

New York: The Sirens play Sunday at Minnesota.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Struggling New York Knicks call players-only meeting after fans boo

The New York Knicks have hit a rough patch.

After they were blown out at home Monday, Jan. 19 by a middling Dallas Mavericks team – marking their fourth consecutive loss and ninth in 11 games – team captain Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting to sort through their struggles, according to ESPN.

Per the report, Brunson challenged his teammates to uncover solutions for their poor play, rather than to wait and defer to the coaching staff.

This came after the Knicks were booed at home Monday night, down by as many as 30 points. New York would lose 114-97, and it was the offense that once again let the Knicks down. Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 44 points, but the rest of New York’s starters (Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges) contributed only 24 points.

“I mean, I’d be booing us, too,” Brunson told reporters after the game. “Straight up.”

The Knicks began the year with promise, jumping to the No. 2 seed and winning the NBA Cup in mid-December. Once the new year began, however, the team has struggled to find consistent offense, with the ball stagnating; in January, the Knicks have scored 109.4 points per 100 possessions, which ranks 26th in the NBA.

“We’ve got to lock in,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said Monday night after the loss. “We’ve got to do our job for 48 minutes. They scored 75 points in the first half. And at halftime, we usually (show) the clips and talk about technical Xs and Os and crap that coaches do and teams do. There was nothing to be said at halftime, except ‘Lock in and do your (expletive) job,’ excuse me on that.”

Brown pointed out how the Mavericks scored 39 points in the second half, compared to 44 in just the second quarter.

“It’s within our guys,” Brown said. “But we all have to do our job for 48 minutes.”

The Knicks (25-18) are still third in the Eastern Conference, and they have the chance to course correct against crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets (12-29) on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks call players-only meeting after fans boo blowout loss

Josh Giddey could return from strained left hamstring this week after being sidelined since Dec. 31

CHICAGO (AP) — Guard Josh Giddey is just about ready to return to the Chicago Bulls’ lineup after being sidelined the past three weeks because of a strained left hamstring, coach Billy Donovan said Tuesday.

Donovan said prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers that Giddey could return at Minnesota on Thursday. The Australian missed his 11th game in a row.

“Feels pretty good,” Donovan said. “I think it’s just waiting to hear from the medical of what they want to do and how Josh feels. But everything that I’ve gotten from Josh in medical is that there were no setbacks and he’s doing well.”

Giddey has not played since a loss to New Orleans on Dec. 31. He walked off the court gingerly in the first minute of the second half in that game.

Giddey has performed at an All-Star level in his second season in Chicago since a trade from Oklahoma City. He is averaging a team-high 19.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 9 assists, and has seven triple-doubles.

“I don’t know what the cutoff point is in terms of missed games and things like that, but before he got hurt, I think you could certainly make the argument he was playing at that level for strong consideration,” Donovan said.

The Bulls were ninth in the Eastern Conference at 20-22 entering Tuesday's game. Forward Patrick Williams sat out because of a sprained right ankle and is day to day. ___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cavs at Hornets: How to watch, odds, and injury report

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to bounce back from a one-sided loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday afternoon when they take on the Charlotte Hornets. Even though the Hornets don’t have an impressive record, they’ve been playing well lately.

The Hornets come into this game with the fourth-best net rating over the past two weeks. That’s partially juiced by a 55-point win over the Utah Jazz. But it’s also a reflection of how good they’re playing right now. The offense has been good all season, but they’ve taken another step forward with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Kneuppel.

The Cavs’ defense will have its hands full trying to slow down Charlotte’s dynamic offense.

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WhoCleveland Cavaliers (24-20) at Charlotte Hornets (16-27)

Where: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC

When: Wed., Jan. 21 at 7 PM

TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App

Point spread: Cavs -2.5

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Hornets injury report: PJ Hall – OUT (G League), Liam McNeeley – OUT (G League), Mason Plumlee – OUT (groin), Antoni Reeves – OUT (G League), Tidjane Salaun – PROBABLE (achilles), KJ Simpson – OUT (hip)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Hornets expected starting lineup: LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Hornets 139-132 on Dec. 22

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive RatingDefensive RatingNet Rating
Cavs117.3 (10th)115.2 (15th)+2.1 (12th)
Hornets117.4 (9th)117.6 (20th)-0.2 (16th)

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Knicks hold players-only meeting after fourth-straight loss, amid rumors Mike Brown hasn't connected with team

Just a month ago, the Knicks were 18-7 and celebrating winning the NBA Cup (but not by putting up a banner). A couple of weeks ago, Knicks owner James Dolan was proclaiming, "We want to get to the Finals. And we should win the Finals" on New York radio. The team improved to 23-9 at one point.

That seems like a lifetime ago.

New York has gone 2-9 since that high-water mark, having lost four straight and getting booed by its own fans on Monday when shorthanded Dallas blew them out at home. The Knicks have looked like a team searching for an identity.

That led newly-minted All-Star starter and team captain Jalen Brunson to call a team-only meeting, reports Ramona Shelburn at ESPN. Brunson's message was "that the Knicks needed to find answers for their poor play in January among themselves, rather than look to the coaching staff for solutions."

Which ties into the bigger concern — this team has yet to fully buy into what new coach Mike Brown is selling, reports the well-connected Ian Begley at SNY.TV.

Players haven't fully bought into their roles under head coach Mike Brown. Those reasons are cited often when you talk to people about the Knicks' flaws. Now, these issues aren't unique to this year's team. They existed to a degree in the locker room last season. But the Knicks coaching change hasn't rooted them out.

The firing of Tom Thibodeau and hiring of Brown was never going to cure all that ailed the Knicks. But the move definitely raised the stakes for New York.

Brown has opened up the offense, and it's a little better this season, but the defense has been a little worse, and with that, these Knicks are worse than a year ago. Not connecting with his players is partially on Brown, but there is plenty of blame to go around for how this team looks lost, both for the players and the front office.

For example, Karl-Anthony Towns isn't playing poorly — 21 points and 11.6 rebounds a game, he should still be an All-Star reserve — but his counting stats and, more importantly, his efficiency are well off from last season. His true shooting percentage fell from 63 a season ago to 59.9 this season, and his efficiency across the board is down. Is that on Towns, Brown for pushing Towns out of his comfort zone, or both?

The front office went out looking for depth this summer and added Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, neither of whom has added all that much to the team.

Brown, however, is the key variable. ESPN’s Shelburne was on NBA Today and discussed how Brown's recent postgame hug of Draymond Green, who had picked up a technical foul for tripping Towns that night, did not sit well with players.

"From what I understand, that did not land well with a lot of folks there in New York, in that locker room or even in the organization. While you can understand why he might have a bond with Draymond Green, I don't think that landed well, especially in the middle of a losing streak."

Brown spent six seasons as Steve Kerr's right-hand man in Golden State, so he has a relationship with Green forged over multiple title runs. Still, life can be about timing and perception, and Brown missed on both in this case.

While Knicks fans will point to the upcoming NBA trade deadline as a chance to shake things up, the team is hard-capped at the second apron and just $148,353 below that number — they have limited flexibility to really shake things up. Unless the Knicks want to shake up their core, the moves will be on the fringes.

Which means Brunson is right — the answers need to come from inside the locker room. And the Knicks need to come up with that answer fast, as New York has slipped to fourth in the East and is just 1.5 games above the play-in. This is a team that reached the Easter Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years last season, but they fired coach Tom Thibodeau, believing a new voice (and someone who would trust and develop the bench) could deliver more. There were logical reasons to make the move. That said, whatever you think of Thibodeau, his teams had a clear identity.

New York needs to find its identity, and fast.

Salford, the club with Beckham and Neville as owners, advances to FA Cup meeting with Man City

SALFORD, England (AP) — Salford City set up a meeting with Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup by beating Swindon Town 3-2 on Tuesday.

Luke Garbutt curled in a 68th-minute free kick for the winner for the fourth-tier club owned by a consortium containing former Manchester United players David Beckham and Gary Neville.

Salford advanced from the third round for the first time and the reward is another trip to Etihad Stadium on Feb. 14.

City beat Salford 8-0 in the third round last season.

___

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

2026 NBA Championship Odds: Spurs Up

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Here come the San Antonio Spurs!

Written off by many as a bubble team when the season began, the Spurs have moved within 2.5 games of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings on the strength of a nine-game win streak. That span includes an impressive 116-106 victory over the aforementioned Thunder, whom the Spurs are now 4-1 against this season.

San Antonio has a golden opportunity to move even closer - and improve its title odds - as OKC deals with an abdominal strain to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been on the shelf since Feb. 3.

Let’s break down the latest odds as the league races towards the playoffs.

🏆 2026 NBA Championship odds

Odds from bet365, one of our best betting apps. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

Teambet365 
Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder+130
Nuggets Denver Nuggets+500
Spurs San Antonio Spurs+1000
Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers+1200
Celtics Boston Celtics+1200
Pistons Detroit Pistons+1200
Knicks New York Knicks+1400
Rockets Houston Rockets+2200
Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves+3300
Lakers Los Angeles Lakers+4000

The Thunder's odds have moved from +230 before the season began to +130 today. Rounding out the Top 5 are the Denver Nuggets (+500), San Antonio Spurs (+1000), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1200), and Boston Celtics (+1200).

The Spurs were the highest risers over the past week, moving from +1400 to +1000 following their latest victory over the Pistons. San Antonio now has five wins this season over a first-placed team in the Eastern and Western Conferences.  

📈 2026 NBA Finals odds over time

Here's a visual representation of how the NBA championship has odds evolved since the offseason.

🔮 NBA Championship prediction

BetOddsBet DateUnits
Thunder+240Oct. 211.0
Thunder+165Dec. 11.0
Spurs+1000Feb. 240.5

Oklahoma City has the cleanest runway to be the best team in 2026: an MVP-caliber engine in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entering the heart of his prime, a two-way star wing in Jalen Williams, and a 7-footer in Chet Holmgren whose blend of rim protection, spacing, and feel supercharges modern schemes. That trio already drives elite half-court efficiency and a top-tier defense, and it’s backed by organizational continuity that reliably turns role players into playoff-useful pieces. Holmgren’s strength and timing appear to be fully NBA-hardened, unlocking more switching and fewer help-and-recover compromises, while SGA’s mid-range and foul-drawing remain matchup-proof in May and June.

Depth and optionality push the Thunder over the top. They can win big or small, play five-out without sacrificing rim protection, and toggle between pressure defense and conservative coverages depending on opponent. Crucially, they still have surplus picks and cap flexibility to plug the inevitable holes that show up in a long postseason, whether that’s a second unit scorer, another stretch big, or a specialist wing.

So, why did I decide to sprinkle half a unit on the Spurs in late February? Health. San Antonio is clicking at just the right time while Oklahoma City deals with injuries to SGA, Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell. That's a lot of star power riding the pine. Consider San Antonio my insurance policy. 

💰 Sportsbook betting splits and insights

Highest ticket percentage
•    Nuggets 8.8%
•    Thunder 8.7%
•    Mavericks 8.2%
 
Highest handle percentage
•    Thunder 17.9%
•    Mavericks 16.3%
•    Lakers 13.3%
 
Biggest liability
•    Mavericks 
•    Lakers
•    Warriors 

Data courtesy of BetMGM.

2026 NBA Championship opening odds

  • Thunder +230
  • Knicks +900
  • Pacers +900
  • Timberwolves +1000
  • Cavaliers +1100
  • Rockets +1200
  • Lakers +1600
  • Spurs +1600
  • Nuggets +1700
  • Celtics +2000
  • Warriors +2300
  • Magic +2500
  • Mavericks +4000
  • Clippers +4000
  • 76ers +4500
  • Heat +5000
  • Pistons +7000
  • Bucks +7500
  • Grizzlies +10000
  • Raptors +15000
  • Suns +17000
  • Kings +20000
  • Pelicans +20000
  • Nets +25000
  • Hawks +30000
  • Bulls +40000
  • Trail Blazers +40000
  • Wizards +60000
  • Hornets +60000
  • Jazz +60000

NBA Championship trends

  • Since the Warriors' 2018 repeat, the NBA has seen seven different champions in seven years. This is the longest such streak since the late 1970s.
  • 22 of the last 25 champions ranked in the Top 10 in Defensive Rating during the regular season.
  • 23 of the last 25 champions were Top 5 in either Offensive or Defensive efficiency.
  • Since 2019, nearly every champion has been led by a non-U.S. superstar or a team built on international depth.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.