Tyson is averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s gone from a fringe rotational player to a bona fide starting-caliber talent in the first half of the season. His leap as a three-point shooter (46% this season) is only one of many reasons for his success.
“He’s just built up the equity, and that’s confidence in himself,” Atkinson said. “It started in Summer League, then he just built it with his work.”
The Cavs have fully embraced Tyson’s breakout. He’s started in 27 games this season and is playing close to 30 minutes per game. No one would have predicted this in the summer, but even Cleveland’s veterans have recognized his importance. Donovan Mitchell, especially, has taken Tyson under his wing.
“Donovan has believed in him since day one,” said Aktinson. “He’s anointed him, like, ‘okay, I need you, we’re going to get you better.‘ So I think that when your superstar believes in you, that’s even more important than when the coach believes in you.”
Tyson is joined by other rising stars such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and Alex Sarr. He’s the first Cavalier on a standard contract to play in the game since Evan Mobley in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Emoni Bates was selected to the G-League Rising Stars in 2024.
The Cavaliers, who have the most expensive roster in the NBA, are hamstrung by their financial situation. That limits them from adding talent at the trade deadline or in the offseason — and makes young talent like Tyson all the more important. This is their easiest, if not only, option for improving the roster without making any major changes. That means Tyson’s development is more than an inspiring story; it’s pivotal to the future of the franchise.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad.
Blatter was the latest international soccer figure to call into question the suitability of the United States as a host country. He called for the boycott in a post on X that supported Mark Pieth's comments in an interview last week with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund.
Pieth, a Swiss attorney specializing in white-collar crime and an anti-corruption expert, chaired the Independent Governance Committee's oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago. Blatter was president of the world's governing body for soccer from 1998-2015; he resigned amid an investigation into corruption.
In his interview with Der Bund, Pieth said, “If we consider everything we’ve discussed, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! You’ll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please the officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home. If they’re lucky.”
In his X post, Blatter quoted Pietha and added, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
The international soccer community's concerns about the United States stem from Trump's expansionist posture on Greenland, travel bans and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis.
Two weeks ago, travel plans for fans from two of the top soccer countries in Africa were thrown into disarray when the Trump administration announced a ban that would effectively bar people from Senegal and Ivory Coast from following their teams unless they already have visas. Trump cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” as the main reason for the suspensions.
Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will be barred from entering the United States as well; they were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
Tyrese Maxey – 18 VJ Edgecombe – 6 Joel Embiid – 6 Paul George – 5 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
The Sixers traveled to Charlotte for a Monday afternoon tilt against Eastern Conference foe the Charlotte Hornets. The Sixers were without the services of Joel Embiid and Paul George in this one as part of their respective knee injury management plans.
The Sixers struggled from the opening tip in this one. The Hornets’ ball movement, pace and balanced scoring attack jumped them out to an early 28-22 advantage at the conclusion of the first period. It would only get worse from there.
The Hornets really blew this game open in the second quarter. Charlotte shot a blistering 57% from the floor in the first half. The Sixers struggled on the glass and even when the Hornets missed it seemed that they would get an extra possession on the glass. Charlotte outrebounded the Sixers by 10 in the first half. The Hornets’ ball movement and player movement had the Sixers defense in a bind. Charlotte finished the half with 19 assists on their 25 made field goals. The Sixers’ backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe combined to go 3-for-17 from the field in the first half. The Hornets held a 69-44 lead at the halftime break.
The Hornets’ barrage continued in the third as they outscored the Sixers by a resounding 40-15 score in the third period. The Sixers seemingly waved the white flag as they emptied the bench less than halfway through the quarter, facing a 40-point deficit. The Hornets led 109-59 after three quarters of play.
The Sixers won their lone quarter of the game in the fourth, by a 13-point margin, courtesy of strong play from Quentin Grimes and Jared McCain to close out the game that was well out of hand.
Time for the Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre Jr: 17 points, 7-for-12 from the field
Oubre was the lone Sixers starter to crack double figures in this game. Regardless of the situation, you can always count on Oubre for effort and energy. Kelly got to the rim for a few nice drives and scores early in this one to keep the Sixers attached in the first quarter. There was a lot of blame to go around for this game playing out in the manner that it did — Oubre shouldn’t get any.
Jared McCain: 16 points, 6-for-13 from the field, 4-for-8 from three, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Jared McCain poured in 16 points in 23 minutes in this one — a lot of those coming late in the game when the outcome was already decided. It was nice to see McCain knock down some shots as he has struggled this year in his return from injury. Let’s hope this can be a confidence builder for McCain that springboards him into a bounce back second half of the season.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
When injuries hit, the math changes. The vibes change. The pecking order gets shoved into a blender, and someone hits “high.” And when the guy who normally calms the room, the one who bends defenses just by standing there and breathing, goes down, the ripple effects are impossible to ignore.
That’s Devin Booker. Fringe All-Star or not, the Suns orbit around him, and Sunday in Miami was our first real reminder of what life looks like when the sun disappears behind the clouds.
Booker hasn’t had his most efficient shooting season, and that’s fine. That’s not the point. His gravity still warps the floor. His decision-making still lubricates the offense. With him out there, everyone else knows where to stand, when to cut, and why the ball is coming their way. Through 41 games with Booker, the Suns average 41.8 made field goals on 25 assists per night, good for a clean 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. Things make sense. The ball hums. The gears stay oiled.
Take him out, and the picture gets fuzzier. In the five games he’s missed, that drops to 37.4 made field goals and 22.8 assists, with the assist-to-turnover ratio dipping to 1.5. Not catastrophic. Not a five-alarm fire. But noticeable. You feel it. You see it. The offense hesitates, like it’s waiting for someone to raise their hand and say, “Alright, I’ve got this.”
And that’s the real question now. If Booker isn’t there to conduct the orchestra, who’s grabbing the baton?
Is it Grayson Allen, leaning harder into his ability to put the ball on the deck, touch the paint, and kick it back out before the defense can blink? Is it Royce O’Neale, quietly keeping things organized and unsexy while doing the connective tissue work no one puts in the box score? Is it Jordan Goodwin, turning pressure into playmaking? Or does Dillon Brooks need to embrace his inner point forward and focus less on shot hunting and more on keeping the ball alive?
Because against Miami, the ball stuck. It stalled. Possessions ended in isolation purgatory instead of movement and advantage. That’s not who this team has been, and it’s not who they can afford to be while Booker heals up.
That’s what this week’s Suns Reacts is all about. If the offense has to run through someone else for a stretch, who do you trust to steer the ship? Who should Jordan Ott lean on to initiate, organize, and keep the whole thing from drifting sideways?
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is suddenly less than two weeks away and the clock is beginning to tick for teams trying to pull off a deal. The rumors and speculation have been a constant, from the preseason all the way up until now, and already one big star, Trae Young, was dealt earlier this month ahead of the deadline crunch.
Giannis still in-demand despite injury, potential agent drama
Antetokounmpo continues to lead the conversation surrounding the NBA trade deadline, even after he suffered another calf injury on Friday, Jan. 23 that is likely to sideline him past Feb. 5. The Milwaukee Bucks star spoke afterwards about making a playoff push when he returns, and the team has reportedly been trying to beef up its roster around Antetokounmpo at the deadline, not trade him. But teams around the league are nonetheless still preparing as if he could become available in hopes the Bucks change their mind, according to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
Antetokounmpo's representation moving forward could also be an added layer in discussions about his future after a report from Henry Abbott of True Hoop that "Giannis was close to firing his longtime agent Alex Saratsis over his failure to get Giannis traded from the Bucks." The report also states LeBron James' agent and longtime friend, Rich Paul, is believed to be trying to recruit Antetokounmpo to be his client with the pitch that "he’s the guy who can get a star player where he wants to go."
Not so fast on Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns trade talk
Forward Karl-Anthony Towns came up in trade speculation last week as the Knicks endure some unexpected headwinds and pressure mounts due to their NBA championship expectations. He was even floated as a possible piece in a potential trade for Antetokounmpo.
But The Athletic reported Friday, Jan. 23 that the Knicks have "not engaged in any discussions about a possible Towns trade this season and plan to stick with him through this rough patch.
Though the Grizzlies are fielding offers for Morant for the first time ahead of the trade deadline, he could remain with the franchise past Feb. 5. Morant indicated previously he wants to stay in Memphis, and concerns about his durability and contract situation linger as obstacles for the Grizzlies.
Domantas Sabonis linked to four teams
It's been no secret the Sacramento Kings want to be active in trying to overhaul their roster at the trade deadline, and Sabonis is seen as one of the players most likely to change teams. The Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns are teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Sabonis, according to The Athletic, with the Raptors of particular interest given their spot near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Sabonis has appeared in five of the Kings' past six games after missing nearly two months with a knee injury. He's averaging 12.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists while averaging less than 23 minutes per game since his return.
Boston Celtics looking to add 'big-time starting center'
The Celtics remain an Eastern Conference contender this season despite the absence of star Jayson Tatum, and they could be buyers at the trade deadline after spending this past offseason as sellers getting off the contracts of Jrue Holliday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks), Daniel Gafford (Dallas Mavericks), and former Celtics big man Robert Williams III (Portland Trail Blazers) are potential targets, according to NBC Sports, if Boston can't land an elite option like Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers) or Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies).
Sixers open to trading Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon
The Philadelphia 76ers are in a weird spot with a new star in Tyrese Maxey, one of the league's best rookies in VJ Edgecombe and the aging and expensive Paul George and Joel Embiid on the roster. It's come together functionally this season, with the Sixers sitting within the top-six of the Eastern Conference standings before games played on Jan. 26.
But the team is $7 million above the NBA's luxury tax threshold and only about $1 million from being a first-apron team and facing penalties under the league's collective bargaining agreement, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The report goes on to state the expiring contracts of Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon could be dealt to stay out of the luxury tax, although Philadelphia could be forced to attach a second-round draft pick to facilitate a transaction.
MADRID (AP) — Victor Reis scored with a diving header in injury time to give Girona a 1-1 home draw against Getafe on Monday and extend its unbeaten run to four matches in the Spanish league.
Girona was one of La Liga’s form sides coming into the game at the Estadio Municipal de Montilivi but it went behind after 59 minutes when Luis Vazquez got on the end of a nice delivery from Juan Antonio Iglesias Sanchez.
However, Reis threw himself at a last-gasp cross from Alex Moreno to lift the home side into 10th place on 25 points.
The late goal meant Getafe's winless run extended to seven games in the league, but the point lifted it out of the relegation zone into 16th place, one point above Mallorca.
Only four points separate Mallorca and ninth-place Osasuna.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 30 points, and the Charlotte Hornets took a 50-point lead for the second time this month on the way to rolling past the Philadelphia 76ers 130-93 on Monday afternoon.
All five Hornets starters finished in double figures. Kon Knueppel and Moussa Diabate scored 12, LaMelo Ball added 11 and Miles Bridges finished with 10 for Charlotte, which has won three straight games for the first time this season.
It was 28-22 after one quarter — and then Charlotte outscored Philadelphia 81-37 over the next two quarters, taking a 109-59 lead into the fourth.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 for Philadelphia. Jared McCain added 16 and Quentin Grimes had 14 for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey was held to a season-low six points on 3-for-12 shooting in 25 minutes. Maxey's scoring average dropped a full half-point to 29.4 per game.
Charlotte became the first team since Phoenix in February 2009 to lead by 50 or more points in two separate games within the same calendar month. The Hornets led Utah by 57 on their way to a 150-95 win on Jan. 10.
The Hornets had one other lead of 50 or more points in the NBA's play-by-play era, which goes back to 1996. It's now happened twice more in a span of just over two weeks.
The game was moved up to a 3 p.m. start because of extreme weather conditions in the Charlotte area, all related to Winter Storm Fern.
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Charlotte. Philadelphia outscored the Hornets 34-21 in the fourth quarter and still took its second-worst loss of the season. The 76ers lost to Orlando by 41 on Nov. 25.
The Golden State Warriors face the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second night of a sudden back-to-back. The game will tip off Monday at 6:30 PM PT in Minneapolis and will be broadcast on Peacock.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the Warriors–Timberwolves matchup was postponed to Sunday as protests intensified throughout Minneapolis in the wake of recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents. Many questioned whether the one-day delay provided enough time for fans, players, and the broader community to process the events surrounding the city.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says the Timberwolves were “suffering” through play amid the unrest in Minneapolis.
“They were struggling with everything that’s been going on and what the city has been through. So, it was very sad. It was a sad night.”
Regardless, the league moved forward with Sunday’s game, and the Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak with a 111–85 win over the Timberwolves. Golden State’s defense set the tone, as the team recorded 20 steals — the most in any NBA game this season — and turned those takeaways into a comfortable 22-point lead by the fourth quarter.
Kerr said the Warriors were sharp with their game plan and defensive rotations: “We didn’t make many mistakes. Took advantage of opportunities that were there. Lots of guys diving on the floor for loose balls.”
The blowout victory should prove helpful heading into Monday’s rematch, now the second game of a back-to-back. Steph Curry, who was able to rest Sunday’s game early after playing just 28 minutes, is listed as questionable with a knee injury but says he hopes to play Monday night.
Steph explains his knee flare-up yesterday and said he hopes to play again tomorrow pic.twitter.com/AeUf5vXqJj
However, with De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford inactive after playing the day prior, Golden State’s rotation will be short on experience and depth. Playing shorthanded, the Warriors will once again need their defense to carry them.
A major focus will be slowing down the Timberwolves’ backcourt of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Edwards led Minnesota with 32 points and was a consistent mismatch on the perimeter, while DiVincenzo scored 22 points, including six threes.
So, did they only tell Kelly Oubre Jr. the time of the game had been moved up?
The Sixers turned in their worst performance of the season, getting boat raced 130-93 by the Charlotte Hornets Monday afternoon.
Tyrese Maxey had perhaps the worst game of his career, finishing with just six points and six assists shooting 3-of-12 from the floor. VJ Edgecombe was only slightly better, putting up nine points on 2-of-11 shooting and six rebounds.
Oubre was the only Sixer to show up in the first half, leading them with 17 points, going 7-of-12 from the floor. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 30.
With this not being just the front, but the road end of a back-to-back, Joel Embiid and Paul George were both out with left knee injury management while Charlotte was only down Mason Plumlee.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
This shorthanded bunch certainly didn’t start as crisp with the matinee tip off. Of the Sixers’ first three baskets of the game, two of them were putbacks and two of them were also transition baskets. Oubre knifing his way through the paint for a right-handed layup was their first clean look of the day.
They weren’t stopping Charlotte, who made eight of their first 10 shots of the floor with every member of their starting five getting involved. When the Sixers finally did get a good contest in the form of an Andre Drummond block, the loose ball found its way to Moussa Diabate who unexpectedly buried a long jumper to beat the shot clock.
Jared McCain checked in late in the first, getting his first action in four games and first non-garbage time minutes in six. He was too long on his first three-point attempt and his second one just bounced on — both of those came on the same possession. Between his struggles and Quentin Grimes’ recent play, they are just getting no scoring production from the bench. Grimes shot 28% from three over his last 12 games coming into this one. While Grimes was able to draw a foul shooting one, it was Jabari Walker who hit their first three of the game with just over 30 seconds left, cutting the Hornets’ lead to six.
Second Quarter
Even if it was Kon Knueppel, it was good to see McCain go right at a defender and transition for a layup. His next drive attempt though was blocked by Miles Bridges. He finally got a three to fall but an illegal screen by Drummond wiped it off the board. Defensively, the Sixers continued to get shredded off the dribble and gave up a ton of open baskets in the paint as a result.
So many struggles start from the top, and it didn’t help that the Sixers’ offensive engine was off to another slow start. A 1-of-4 start saw Maxey start to defer a bit early. Checking back into the game, he came off a screen to get a three off and missed everything — it wouldn’t be his first airball of the quarter. They went over three minutes without a field goal before Edgecombe got on the board there with a three and a fast break dunk.
A quick five points for VJ Edgecombe and the Sixers are showing signs of life. pic.twitter.com/aNbz1b1DO6
The Hornets called a timeout to squash momentum and it worked. They immediately broke the Sixers’ full-court press for an open layup. After an Oubre three they scored on their next four trips down the floor. Trendon Watford checked into the game for the first time, got some good looking runners off the dribble, but couldn’t get either of them to go. His dunk attempt over Ryan Kalkbrenner went even worse. After playing a half that would have looked bad even for last year’s team, the Sixers went into the break trailing by 25.
Only a few minutes into the second half and plenty were ready to shut Maxey and Edgecombe down for the night to finally get them some rest. That’s not typically Nick Nurse’s way though. He left both of them out there, but at least started to go deeper down his bench by throwing Justin Edwards out there for the first time.
Both were finally pulled with a little over five minutes to go in the third. Even better, McCain was able to see the floor for some extended run. It was good to see the white flag finally be waved but falling down by 50 was still embarrassing. For as many blowouts as there are in the modern era only teams trying to lose every night like the Nets and Jazz have trailed by that much this season. McCain got himself another layup off the dribble but still struggled to build on that as the Sixers went into the fourth quarter in a 50-point hole.
Fourth Quarter
Yeah, by this point it was just Jared McCain watch, so here’s how he finished out his day. He finally got a three to fall when Dominick Barlow swung it to him, but missed his next open attempt. He is a better shooter than the amount of open looks he’s missed, but the way he’s pressing to make up for that and his inconsistent minutes are more than enough to hamper that development. He was quiet for much of the quarter but got a few more threes up, getting two more to fall, finishing with 16 points shooting 6-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-8 from deep.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — French striker Thierno Barry scored his fourth goal in five games to give Everton a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds on Monday.
Leeds was dominant in the first half and took the lead in the 28th minute when Anton Stach’s low cross from the right ran across the 18-yard box to James Justin, who stormed in at the far post to score with a low shot.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin almost doubled Leeds lead three minutes later but hit the post from about four meters out. Leeds' early superiority was highlighted by the visitors having more shots in the first half — 10 — than in any league game since September 2021.
However, Everton coach David Moyes changed to a back three for the second half and the switch brought his side right back into the game.
Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow denied Barry an earlier equalizer and Iliman Ndiaye, back in the side after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, also came close for Everton.
But it was Barry who finally got the goal 14 minutes from time when the big forward got in front of a Leeds defender to stab home a low cross from Idrissa Gueye, another of Everton’s returning Senegal contingent.
"His workrate is always really honest and he works hard but we need goals and he got one for us tonight,” Moyes said of the former Basel and Villarreal striker.
“The first half we weren’t at it and in the second half we were much better," Moyes added. “Thankfully, we got a goal back. We were fortunate to only be 1-0 down at halftime, but I could say the same as the second half — we could have maybe got a second goal.”
The draw was a blow to Everton’s European hopes. A win would have taken it into seventh, but it remained in 10th, one of four teams on 33 points.
Leeds moved to 26 points, six above the Premier League relegation zone and two points behind the clubs above it, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
“Overall, it is a good result for us," Leeds coach Daniel Farke said. “It is another sign we are on a very good path. We edge another point closer to what we want to achieve. To come here with such a brave performance and come away with one point is encouraging but the job is not done yet. We still need to win a few more points.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have the start to the season many expected, but they’re starting to head in the right direction. Going into Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic, the Cavs have won three straight, six of their last eight, and 10 of their last 14. This has landed them just two games out of the second spot in the Eastern Conference.
Despite being 47 games into the season, the Cavs still haven’t gotten a chance to see how this group looks when fully healthy. Max Strus (foot) has yet to play, and Darius Garland (toe) has admitted to not being 100% so far this season, and there’s no guarantee that he will be. Both injuries can make it difficult to evaluate what this team needs.
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According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, the Cavs aren’t planning on having a “drastic shake-up” at the deadline. Right now, this includes hanging on to Dean Wade and De’Andre Hunter. Both are players the Cavs have received offers for.
That doesn’t mean that the Cavs couldn’t make a minor move. Fedor pointed to Lonzo Ball as the player “most likely to depart.”
Ball does have value as an expiring contract. He is making $10 million this season and has a team option for next year. That could make him an attractive piece for a team looking to shed money going into next season.
The issue from the Cavs’ perspective is that they can’t take back anyone making more than $10 million in any deal for Ball, and they can’t aggregate contracts. This limits who they could possibly trade Ball for.
Fedor mentioned Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall as players that the Cavs could target. The issue if you’re trying to trade for Marshall is that the Dallas Mavericks are currently over the first apron. Since Ball makes more than Marshall, the deal wouldn’t be legal from Dallas’s perspective unless a third team were to be involved.
The Cavs’ current cap sheet, combined with the injuries they’ve had to deal with this season, makes it difficult to predict what exactly the Cavs will do. But we’ll find out soon enough.
VERONA, Italy (AP) — Former Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis scored for the seventh time this season as his Udinese beat struggling Verona 3-1 on Monday.
Verona remained second bottom of Serie A, equal on 14 points with last-placed Pisa, and it rarely looked like recording its third win of a dismal season.
Udinese took the lead after 23 minutes with a deflected shot from Arthur Atta. Although Emmanuel Orban equalized for Verona three minutes later, Verona’s hopes did not last long into the second half.
Alessandro Zanoli put Udinese back in front 13 minutes into the second period. Jordan Zemura’s free kick was blocked by the wall and while the ball fell awkwardly for Zanoli, his deft volley with the outside of his boot sailed into the top corner.
Davis’ confident finish after 66 minutes sealed the points for Udinese.
It remains in 10th but is now on 29 points, equal with ninth-placed Lazio, and one point behind Bologna.
Portland Trail Blazers (23-23) at Boston Celtics (28-17) Monday, January 26, 2026 8:00 PM ET Game #46, Home Game #21 TV: Peacock Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Rip City Radio 620, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics return from a 2 game road trip to host the Portland Trailblazers for the second and final game between them this season. The Celtics lost 114-108 in Portland on December 28. The Celtics won the series between these two teams 2-0 last season. The Celtics are 77-50 overall all time against the TrailBlazers and they are 41-22 in games played in Boston. The Trailblazers have not played since Friday and the Celtics are playing in their 3rd game in 4 days, including a double overtime game against the Nets.
There are a few story lines to watch in this game. Anfernee Simons is playing against the team for whom he played the first 7 years of his career. Jrue Holiday will be playing his first game against the Celtics and in Boston where he won a championship. Robert Williaams missed the December 28th game and is questionable for this game. He has yet to play against his former team since being traded.
The TrailBlazers are not much different from last season. They have 4 of the same starters as they did when they played the Celtics last season. The starter that is missing is Anfernee Simons who was traded to the Celtics for Jrue Holiday. They signed Damian Lillard, who was waived by Milwaukee after he tore his Achilles last season and who is expected to miss this season. They bought out DeAndre Ayton, who was signed by the Lakers. They signed Blake Wesley as a free agent and they took Yang Hansen with the 16th pick in the draft.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 2 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland, 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 4.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 7-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 13-7 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The TrailBlazers are 9th in the West, 14 games behind first place Oklahoma City, 4.5 games behind 6th place Phoenix, and 7th place Phoenix, and 2 games behind 8th place Golden State. They are 2 games ahead of the 10th place Clippers and 3.5 games ahead of 11th place Memphis. They are 5-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 10-12 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. They played 2 back to back games on the road. This game begins a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.
The Trail Blazers are playing in the first game of a 3 game road trip and will play Washington on Tuesday and complete the trip at New York. They will return home for a 5 game home stand where they will host Cleveland, Phoenix, Memphis twice, and Philadelphia. They will then head back on the road to play at Minnesota and at Utah. That will take them into the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott has missed the last 10 games with a sprained ankle and has been upgraded to questionable for this game. Neemias Queta has been battling an illness for the past 2 games and has played through it but he is questionable for this game. Luka Garza was a late addition and is questionable due to an illness. Jaylen Brown has been dealing with hamstring tightness in recent games and is not on the injury list at this time but may be a late addition.
For the Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Damian Lillard (Achilles), Kris Murray (back), Duop Reath (foot), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), and Blake Wesley (foot) are all listed as out. Deni Avdija is in danger of missing a second straight game due to a lower-back strain he suffered in Thursday’s win over the Heat. He is questionable for this game. If he can’t play, Sidy Cissoko will likely start in his place. Robert Williams III is also listed as questionable due to injury management. Avdija and Timelord will be a game time decision.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jrue Holiday
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Shaedon Sharpe
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Deni Avdija
PF: Sam Hauser vs Toumani Camara
C: Neemias Queta vs Donovan Clingan
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Chris Boucher Xavier Tillman Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Baylon Scheierman Jordan Walsh
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Josh Minott (ankle) questionable Neemias Queta (illness) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Trail Blazers Reserves Jerami Grant Rayan Rupert Robert Williams III Yang Hansen
Two Way Players Sidy Cissoko Javonte Cooke Caleb Love
Injuries/Out Scoot Henderson (hamstring) out Damian Lillard (Achilles) out Matisse Thybulle (thumb) out Blake Wesley (foot) out Duop Reath (foot) out Robert Williams III (injury management) questionable Deni Avdija (back) questionable
Head Coach Tiago Splitter (Acting Head Coach)
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Deni Avdija Avdija is averaging 26 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 47.1% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists 1 block and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 30.3% from beyond the arc. Avdija is questionable for this game and if he can’t play, then Sidy Cissoko should get the start here.
Payton Pritchard vs Shaedon Sharpe Sharpe is averaging 21.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 45.5% from the field and 33.9% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal while shooting 50% from the field and 62.5% from beyond he arc. The Celtics need to do a better job of defending him in this game. Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Jrue Holiday Jrue Holiday is averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 45% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play in the Celtics first game against the Trailblazeers in Portland. This is his first visit back to Boston where he won a championship with the Celtics. This should be a good matchup between former backcourt teammates.
Keys to the Game Defense – I know I say it every game, but defense is the key to winning every game and will be the key to winning another championship. The Blazers have an offensive rating of 113.5 (21st) while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.2 (1st). The Celtics are 12th in the league with a defensive rating of 114.0 while the Blazers are 18th with a defensive rating of 115.1. The Celtics especially need to defend the perimeter as the Blazers are 3rd with 41.7 threes attempted per game. The Celtics allowed the bulls to hit 21 threes on 46.7% shooting. They have to do better at defending the perimeter. The Celtics need to keep making tough defense their priority and identity.
Rebound – As Pat Riley once stated, “No rebounds, no rings.” The Celtics are 11th with 44.9 rebounds per game while the Trail Blazers are 8th with 45.3 rebounds per game. The Celtics must make an extra effort to grab rebounds in order to give themselves extra possessions as well as to keep the Blazers from scoring second chance points, as the Trail Blazers are 2nd with 17.8 second chance points per game. The Celtics were out-rebounded 48-39 in the first game against the Blazers and they have to do better if they want to win this game. Three Point Shooting – The Celtics are 2nd in the league, taking 42.7 threes per game. The Blazers are 3rd, taking 41.7 threes per game. The Celtics make 15.8 threes per game while the Blazers make 14.1 threes per game. The Celtics need to focus on taking good shots and they need to move the ball so as to get open shots. Against the Bulls, the Celtics took 47 threes and made 15 while the Bulls took 45 threes and made 21. If the 3s aren’t falling, the Celtics need to get to the basket or take mid-range shots. They also must defend the perimeter because the Blazers can get hot and put up a lot of 3 pointers if left open.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to be the team that works harder and wants the win more. They have to dive for loose balls, go for every rebound and just hustle on every play on both ends of the court. They have to be aggressive in getting to the basket as well and not settle for outside shots, especially if they aren’t falling. Whether it’s the starters or reserves, they need to go all out with maximum effort. And they need to show that effort for all 4 quarters.
X-Factors Home and Fatigue – The Celtics are at home after back to back games on the road. They should get a boost from playing at home in front of their home crowd. The Trail Blazers are playing in the 1st game of a 3 game road trip and face the distractions of travel, hotel stays, and playing in front of a hostile crowd. The Blazers have been off since Friday while the Celtics are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights, including a double overtime game. Fatigue could be a factor down the stretch.
Officiating – I know that I say this every game, but the officiating really is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play. Some refs favor the home team and some call it evenly and sometimes they just make a bunch of head scratching calls. The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let themselves get frustrated by the officiating.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Freshman Brynn McGaughy scored 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, Avery Howell added 16 points, and No. 25 Washington beat Rutgers 76-48 on Monday for its fourth straight victory.
Sayvia Sellers, averaging a team-high 18.7 points per game, had 11 points and six assists in 28 minutes for Washington (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten). Yulia Grabovskaia grabbed 17 rebounds to go with nine points. Washington dominated the glass 51-30 and outscored Rutgers 36-14 in the paint.
Kaylah Ivey and Imani Lester each scored 14 points for Rutgers (9-11, 1-8), which was coming off a 94-60 loss to No. 7 Michigan. Lauryn Swann added 11 points.
The Huskies opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run and they scored the final six points of the half, with 3-pointers by Sellers and Howell, for a 43-20 lead. Sellers and McGaughy combined to shoot 8 of 11 from the field in the first half, compared to 8 of 25 for Rutgers.
Washington added an 11-0 run in the third quarter, with five points from Grabovskaia, to go ahead by 29 points at 56-27.
The Huskies made their first-ever trip to Piscataway. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday before getting postponed due to a winter storm.
Up next
Washington: Stays on the road to play No. 16 Maryland on Wednesday.
Rutgers: Continues a three-game homestand on Wednesday against Oregon.
It’s the time of the season when NBA teams are taking stock and figuring out if they need to go all-in.
With the NBA trade deadline a little more than a week away, contenders are going to assess the market and see if there are capitalistic chances to strengthen any deficiencies on their roster.
And with that, there’s a new No. 1 on our weekly power rankings, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown some weakness recently, going 13-9 since Dec. 13, after they had blasted off to a 24-1 record to start the season.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 13 of the 2025-26 regular season:
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
Note: Records and stats through Jan. 25. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.
The battle for the top spot here is extremely close. The Thunder have one fewer loss and four more victories than the Pistons, but Oklahoma City has shown recent vulnerabilities, losing consecutive home games for the first time since Nov. 3 … of 2023! The Pistons, meanwhile, have won eight of their last 10 and have posted the NBA’s top defensive rating (101.7) over that span. The Raptors are proving they’re no fluke with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram starring in key recent wins over the Thunder and Warriors, though it’s guard Immanuel Quickley who has shined most, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. And the Cavaliers have shaken off their slow start to slowly climb up the standings.
Despite the injury to Jimmy Butler, the Warriors pulled off a massive win against a struggling Timberwolves squad that has lost five consecutive games. Over those last five, Minnesota ranks 26th in offensive rating (107.8), which is well below its season average (116.6; seventh). The Suns had been rolling but a sprained ankle to star Devin Booker has derailed their momentum a touch – though Booker shouldn’t be out long. The Clippers are surging and have gone 15-3 since Dec. 20, forcing a fan to eat his words — literally.
Despite injuries, the Mavericks have been stellar; Cooper Flagg (ankle) avoided a significant absence, and he’s improving with each passing week. With Giannis Antetokounmpo now set to miss at least a month and his future with Milwaukee uncertain, this is quickly becoming a lost season for the Bucks, who almost certainly won’t be buyers at the deadline. The Kings have lost five consecutive games and are a strong candidate to sell during the trading window. Two young teams headed in a problematic direction are the Jazz (-13.0) and Nets (-13.9), who have the worst net ratings in January.
