Several games on Saturday, Jan. 24 have been either postponed or had their tip-off times pushed up, including Duke's ACC bout with Wake Forest and North Carolina's conference game against Virginia, which would have also included the dedication of Virginia's court to former head coach Tony Bennett.
College basketball looks like it's going to deal with quite a few shake-ups, with several situations pending.
Here are the events that have been affected in anticipation of the inclement weather.
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College sports rescheduled due to winter storm warning
All times Eastern
Men's basketball
Saturday's Virginia vs North Carolina tip-off pushed up to noon from 2 p.m. (court dedication to Tony Bennett postponed) (ESPN2)
Saturday's Wake Forest vs Duke tip-off pushed up to noon from 5:45 p.m (The CW)
Saturday's Louisville vs Virginia Tech tip-off pushed up to 2:15 p.m. from 3:15 p.m. (The CW)
Saturday's Little Rock vs UT Martin doubleheader postponed
Saturday's Towson vs North Carolina A&T tip-off pushed up to noon
Saturday's James Madison vs Texas State tip-off pushed up to 1 p.m.
Jacksonville State vs MTSU rescheduled to Friday at 6:30 p.m. from Saturday
Lipscomb vs Florida Gulf Coast rescheduled to Friday, Jan. 23 from Saturday, Jan. 24
Women's basketball
UConn vs Seton Hall tip-off pushed up to noon on Saturday, Jan. 24 from Sunday, Jan. 25
Saturday's Princeton vs Brown tip-off pushed up to noon
Saturday's Eastern Kentucky vs North Florida tip-off pushed up to 11 a.m.
Swimming
Tennessee vs Georgia swim meet rescheduled to 1 p.m. Friday from Saturday
Gymnastics
Friday's Georgia vs Oklahoma meet pushed up to 2:45 p.m. from 6 p.m.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN published a mid-season report on Cooper Flagg Thursday. It featured thoughts from opposing teams’ personnel and statistics comparing him to great teenagers of years past, like soon-to-be Hall of Famer LeBron James. The reviews were raving. One Western Conference scout said he was “better than advertised”. An East scout called him a “winning player”. And, my favorite quote, one West general manager said, “his greatest strength is his competitiveness”.
Throughout the piece, the common sentiment became clear: Flagg is an uber-talented, uber-driven star-in-the-making. What he can be is better than you think, and what he will be has a less volatile floor than you realize. And if you have watched him this season, you have seen this play out in real time. I found a draft profile from around this time last year, where they labeled his weaknesses as not being able to handle perimeter pressure, a question mark over his isolation scoring ability, and the fact that he needs to get stronger to handle contact. It has not even been 50 games into his rookie campaign, and his lack of turnovers (2.2 per game), clutch scoring (ninth most in the NBA), and ability to get downhill at will (53.5 percent on 11.4 drives per game) have put those concerns to rest.
To say the sky is the limit for Flagg would be doing him a disservice. He is improving at a rate even bullish analysts have undersold. The narrative he has had since high school is that his defense would translate to the next level, but it remained to be seen how quickly his offense would come along. In 37 college games, he averaged 19.2 points on 48.1 percent shooting. Through 41 NBA games, he is at 18.8 points on 47.8 percent shooting. Every question we have asked has been answered (except for three-point shooting). As a 19-year-old rookie, the eye test tells you Flagg can be anything he wants. And, according to Tim MacMahon, the league agrees.
The most meaningful aspect of MacMahon’s reporting is that it confirms a thought I have had since the Mavericks secured the number one pick last May: the intangibles will define him, not his raw skill. Being a good player does not make you a part of a winning formula (see Bradley Beal and LaMelo Ball). There is plenty of talent in the NBA. What there is not an abundance of is winners. With the amount of money that has been pumped into not only professional sports but also college sports in the last few years, it is easy to lose sight of winning. Flagg is not someone who has fallen victim to that. His physical frame and talent will prevent him from being less than a very good player. But his mindset, his addiction to improvement, and his singular commitment to winning will make him great. How great he will be is something only he can determine.
The Sixers’ year-long celebration of the 2001 Eastern Conference Champion squad reaches its apex this month. When the team hosts the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Jan. 31, it’ll be a big ol’ reunion.
The organization announced on Thursday that they will “honor the legendary players and coaches who electrified the city, taking the 76ers to the NBA Finals.“ Additionally, the Sixers say that the evening will be ”packed with powerful tributes — pre-game, in-game and at halftime — honoring the grit, heart and legacy of that squad.“
The Sixers, naturally, will be donning their beloved black throwback jerseys as well.
The 2001 team, between Allen Iverson’s MVP heroics and their upset win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers, leaves them as one of the most beloved in the history of Philadelphia even though they didn’t win the championship outright.
Part of it is the way they played: the feisty Iverson scoring in bunches while their defense swarmed everywhere. Part of it is Iverson’s legacy as a transformative presence in the league both on and off the court. Part of it is, simply, that they’re the only truly great Sixers team of the last 40 years.
Though the Sixers appear far away from that level of contention at the momentum even with Tyrese Maxey’s own superstar ascension and the dominant stretches that Joel Embiid has put together this season, celebrating the 2001 team is a reminder of how great things once were for professional basketball in Philly and how maybe, just maybe, they could be that great again one day.
For those wanting to get in on the festivities, the cheapest tickets on Ticketmaster, as of this writing, are $44.18. That’s honestly a bit better than I imagined it would be for a Saturday with all of this going on. I hope Sixers fans pack the house!
For the second time in four days, the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs will face off when the Spurs travel to Utah on Thursday night.
In the two previous meetings between the Jazz and Spurs this season, the teams split wins, with the Jazz coming away victorious in December and the Spurs winning on Monday.
On the Dec. 27 matchup, Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George combined for 57 points and took advantage of De’Aaron Fox’s absence from the lineup in the win.
On Monday, Victor Wembanyama scored 33 for the Spurs in a 13-point victory at home, maintaining San Antonio’s position as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Injury Report
Utah Jazz:
Keyonte George — Questionable (Left forearm strain)
Lauri Markkanen — OUT (Return to competition reconditioning)
San Antonio Spurs:
Jeremy Sochan — Questionable (Illness)
Luke Kornet — Questionable (Left abductor tightness)
LeBron James capped off a noisy Wednesday by sharing a sweet moment with his inner circle.
Just hours after a bombshell report claimed his Lakers boss, Jeanie Buss, had grown tired of him, the NBA superstar took to his Instagram page to show he and his loved ones were hardly bothered.
LeBron James and his family held a makeshift birthday party for their private chef on Wednesday night. Lebron James
In a video he shared on IG Stories, James could be seen helping lead an adorable birthday celebration for his private chef, Dena Marino.
James, his wife, Savannah, and their daughter, Zhuri, presented Marino with a slice of cake and a candle, and serenaded her with a rendition of “Happy Birthday to You.”
Chef Dena Marino looked thrilled with the James’ gesture, reposting the Lakers star’s video on her Instagram page. Lebron James
When the gourmet cook blew out the flame, James and his family let out a big cheer.
LeBron James was at the center of an explosive ESPN report earlier Wednesday. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Marino clearly appreciated the gesture — she reshared James’ video with the caption, “All My favs with my Reese’s Cake!” She included two red heart emojis as well.
The James family and Marino have been tight for years. In fact, back in 2021, LeBron shouted out her special “Creamy Cauliflower ‘Carbonara’” on X, writing that it was one of his favorite dishes she’s ever created.
As for the ESPN report regarding Buss’ alleged thoughts on his “outsized ego,” James appeared to take a page out of his agent Rich Paul’s book on the matter by showing he’s got far more things to concern himself with.
The Suns have shocked many NBA fans by being the underdog story of the year. After trading away Kevin Durant and stretching and waiving the remainder of Bradley Beal’s contract, many thought this team was doomed. Yet the players and coach Jordan Ott did not listen to the outside hate. They invested and ground it out this offseason to prove those doubters wrong, and they have done so in every category.
Now over halfway through the season, a team most outsiders thought was a lottery team once again sits as the sixth seed, 10 games over .500 in a tough Western Conference. The best part? This has all been accomplished despite Jalen Green being out for most of this season.
With him just returning in their last game vs the Philadelphia 76ers, we got to see what he can add to this team. Some great playmaking and downhill attacking, while working nicely with the bigs in this lineup. He came off the bench in his return to action, but coach Jordan Ott has stated that he will eventually be in the starting lineup.
Just landed in Miami.
In regards to what Dillon Brooks said about Jalen Green.
He's saying Green will start, be 1st starter to check out game and check back in later in 1st quarter to lead 2nd unit.
Coach Jordan Ott already said Green will start when he returns.
So who comes out of the lineup, and how does this new bench lineup work as a successful unit?
Well, there are two options, and it all depends on the balance you want in the starting lineup. If you take out Collin Gillespie and put in Green, that would leave the Suns with two guards, two wings, and a center, compared to a three-guard lineup if you replaced Green with Royce O’Neale. I know the league has gone positionless, but I do think that, without a true playmaker/initiator for the secondary unit, it troubles them.
Personally, even though I am the Big East Believer and have agreed that Gillespie has earned this starting spot, he is more valuable as the lead offensive guard for the secondary unit than as the third-best scorer in the starting lineup. That would then leave the Suns with an exciting bench unit, and one that can show some great success, like the starters once fully healthy.
The lineup that I think would be the bench is Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro.
Based on the statistics and the fits of these players, this bench unit will be one of the best by the end of the year. Just as I was discussing it, it makes sense.
Gillespie and Allen are the offensive guards who are going to rain three pointers, which the Suns have succeeded in this year. They will be the main offensive focal points, while also being relentless on defense, making key hustle plays. Dunn and Goodwin are going to be the scrappy defenders who take those defensive assignments to heart. They both crash the boards relentlessly, and can both get hot from three at specific points that make you think they should be in a three-point contest. Last but certainly not least is Oso Ighodaro, the man in the middle, the actual connective engine that would keep this unit going with his solid ability to do it all, rebound, score, and defend when you need it most.
Now, looking at the stats, all those words are proven true.
Looking at the stats from Databallr, we can see that this lineup is very successful. An almost +30 net rating is just ridiculous, especially given their very low offensive turnover percentage. This bench unit would prove lethal not only from three-point land, where they shoot 46% from beyond the arc, but also at limiting opponents to 27% from three.
That aggressive on-ball nature from Goodwin and Dunn would be prevalent here, but you also have the hustle and hard work from both Allen, Ighodaro, and Gillespie. Everyone on this lineup has that bruiser mentality of outworking you and having to do that their whole career. This is what brings out the scrappiness and relentless effort on both ends from these guys, their passion and effort, which Ott has embraced. The underdog mentality has prevailed.
By looking at Cleaning the Glass, we can see some similar stats to Databallr, but also some more in-depth analysis. The lineup we are discussing has the fifth-most possessions together this season, yet it is the second-best for this team. Their strength mainly comes from their defense in this unit. As I stated above, they got those dogs, and with a 99.2 pts per possession and 24.6% turnover rate, I’d say they represent that to a tee. This basically means that almost one out of every four defensive possessions results in a turnover for the bench squad, which is just mind-blowing.
Most starting lineups cannot contribute a stat like that, which shows how locked in defensively this team is under coach Ott now.
The culture has shifted for the better, and this is a prime example; this bench will prove it, too. Now that this team is finally fully healthy, we can actually evaluate it at its best potential, which is higher than where it is now, given all the great stories of guys growing internally in this system.
As we hit the halfway point in the NBA schedule, the Los Angeles Clippers finally seem to be salvaging their season, but that progress will be tested tonight when they host the Los Angeles Lakers at Intuit Dome.
The Battle of L.A. season series sits at 1-1 heading into this matchup, and my Lakers vs. Clippers predictions expect LeBron James to be one of the swing factors.
Let's dive right into my NBA picks for Thursday, January 22.
Lakers vs Clippers prediction
Lakers vs Clippers best bet: LeBron James Over 12.5 rebounds + assists (-112 bet365)
LeBron James' injury issues may point to a 41-year-old in his 23rd season, but his stat lines suggest he’s got something left in the tank. James has been able to keep his sciatica and arthritis at bay while starting 2026 with a bang, so look for his fingerprints to be all over tonight’s clash with the Los Angeles Clippers.
With Luka Doncic doing so much of the scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers, I’m targeting LeBron’s rebounds and assists here, and he’s gone past this combo O/U number in four of his past five outings.
James has been getting the job done in both these categories so far this month, with averages of 7.7 RPG and 7.6 APG in January, and he was closing in on a triple-double in L.A.’s win over the Denver Nuggets earlier this week.
Until Austin Reaves returns, LeBron is going to have a larger share of the playmaking, particularly when Luka is on the bench, and there’s just not a lot of secondary ball-handling in the current rotation. Equally, he’s got a big role to play alongside Deandre Ayton on the boards.
At this stage of his career, James can still do the little things that drive winning, and the Lakers will need all of that veteran savvy to hold off their cross-city rivals tonight.
Lakers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Lakers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Clippers, and an impressive 14-8 on the road this season. With Kawhi Leonard still listed as questionable, the burden on James Harden could once again be massive, and the hosts gave up 138 points to the Chicago Bulls this week.
Harden continues to put up big numbers, and I’ll take the Over on his rebounds prop here. He’s grabbed 4+ boards in six of his last seven games, and the Clippers will gladly keep him closer to the rim if it avoids the Luka defensive assignment.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
James Over 12.5 reb+ast
Lakers moneyline
Harden Over 3.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brick by brick
Ivica Zubac has had some miserable possessions trying to guard Doncic on switches in the past, but the Clippers will lean on him for big minutes here. Zubac has posted three straight double-doubles, and he’s finished with 11+ rebounds in his last four games.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
James Over 12.5 reb+ast
Lakers moneyline
Harden Over 3.5 rebounds
Zubac double-double
Lakers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Lakers -1.5 (+100) | Clippers +1.5 (-120)
Moneyline: Lakers -110 | Clippers -110
Over/Under: Over 223.5 (-110) | Under 223.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Lakers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Clippers latest injuries
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Victor Wembanyama plus the Utah Jazz means buckets. The San Antonio Spurs star is in the zone, and the Jazz are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, but they’ve been putting up a fight on offense lately.
So, my Spurs vs. Jazz predictions explain why these Western Conference foes will light up the scoreboard tonight, and bring you all manner of NBA picks, including a Wemby-fueled SGP.
Wemby has averaged 25.8 points per game over the last 12 games, and helping San Antonio put up 119-plus in three of their last four. He’ll keep cooking against the Utah Jazz.
Utah doesn’t play defense, ranking dead last in defensive rating while surrendering an NBA-worst 127.5 points per game. They allowed 123 points to the Spurs just two games ago.
But the Jazz aren’t rolling over. Even without Lauri Markkanen, they’ve scored 121 ppg over the last six games, cashing the Over in four of their last five.
Spurs vs Jazz same-game parlay
Wemby has a point total of 26.5 for this matchup. He’s topped that number in six times in the last 12 games, including putting up 33 in that recent meeting against the Jazz.
Utah also struggles to defend the perimeter, ranking dead last in opponent 3-point attempts per game, and surrendering the third-highest 3-point shooting percentage.
So, let’s add Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes to this SGP. He’s shooting 39.1% from deep over the last five games and has gone Over this number three times during that stretch.
Spurs vs Jazz SGP
Over 237
Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: George puts in the work from three
Keyonte George will do his part to send this game Over. He went for 30 in that recent game against the Spurs and has hit four or more threes in three straight games.
Spurs vs Jazz SGP
Over 237
Victor Wembayama Over 26.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes
Keyonte George Over 2.5 threes
Spurs vs Jazz odds
Spread: Spurs -12.5 | Jazz +12.5
Moneyline: Spurs -650 | Jazz +475
Over/Under: Over 237 | Under 237
Spurs vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 30 of their last 40 games at home for +19.00 Units and a 43% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Jazz.
How to watch Spurs vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, FDSN-SW
Spurs vs Jazz latest injuries
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Kuminga has a standing trade demand, one that Golden State has openly scoffed at. Before Tuesday, Kuminga had sat for 16 straight games, all while the Warriors' front office publicly knocked his trade value.
This stalemate had simply gotten ugly.
But with Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear, Golden State needs to not only play Kuminga but also feature him. It was no coincidence he scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first game after Butler’s injury.
Ahead of tonight's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors lack dynamic wings to take the pressure off Steph Curry. Kuminga is one of their only remaining options.
Warriors vs Mavericks same-game parlay
Kuminga isn’t a strong deep shooter, but he takes more shots with Butler out, including from beyond the arc. He averages 3.3 attempts from deep per game without Butler, up from 2.7 when Butler plays.
However, taking more long-range shots — and missing most of them — won’t help Golden State navigate life without the player meant to extend Steph Curry’s title window.
Warriors vs Mavericks SGP
Jonathan Kuminga Over 11.5 points
Jonathan Kuminga Over 0.5 threes
Mavericks +5.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dray Fell Off
If Draymond Green was going to summon some gusto to keep the season alive sans Butler, it did not show up on Tuesday, posting a -27 in 22 minutes in an 18-point loss to the Raptors.
Including that night, Green has fallen short of this modest rebounding prop in three straight games and in seven of nine since New Year’s Day.
Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)
Warriors vs Mavericks betting trend to know
Dallas has gone 4-1 against the spread in its last five games, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 9.7 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Warriors vs Mavericks
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Warriors vs Mavericks latest injuries
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The organizing committee announced Thursday that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will take part in the torch relay. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 6.
The series based off “Game Changers” books has captivated viewers with the fictional story of a Canadian and a Russian hockey player sustaining a decade-long secret relationship.
The first season became the the No. 1 series on HBO Max. Originally developed for the Canadian streaming service Crave, the show scored a distribution deal with HBO and has already been renewed for a second season, and it will broadcast in Italy beginning next month.
The Houston Rockets start a two-game road swing tonight, while the Philadelphia 76ers finish a five-game homestand, looking for just their second win of the stretch.
The Rockets will be without big man Steven Adams, while Philadelphia may get both Joel Embiid and Paul George back into the rotation.
That’s why my Rockets vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks call for Philly to win outright as a home dog on Thursday, January 22.
Rockets vs 76ers prediction
Rockets vs 76ers best bet: 76ers moneyline (+115)
Veteran Houston Rockets center Steven Adams suffered a serious ankle sprain in the last game. “I don't think he'll be back anytime soon,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka later said.
Adams leads the NBA in offensive rebounding, so his absence will be felt on a team that is also No. 1 in the league in that category. The Rockets’ No. 6 shot blocking performance will also suffer.
That lack of a presence in the paint will be a problem, as the Philadelphia 76ers should welcome Joel Embiid back after he missed the last game with an ankle injury.
There’s also a chance Philly gets Paul George back. He’s missed two games with a knee injury and is questionable. The Sixers are just 4-7 this season with neither in the lineup, and seven games over .500 with one or both active.
Regression to the mean should work in Philly’s favor.
Tyrese Maxey, shooting 47% and 40% from three this season, has hit 33 of 88 — 7 of 28 from three — over the last four. He’s ripe for a bounce back, especially with two other scorers in the lineup to help draw attention away from him.
Rockets vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Rockets have gone under in nine of their last 10 games. They are 28th in pace, while the Sixers are 19th.
This cutoff is in line with what Houston has been seeing recently, however. The Rockets faced four Over/Unders this low in the last 10 games and went Under on all of them. Philly faced two this low in its last 10 and split.
Amen Thompson has 34 rebounds in his last four games, nearly one rebound per game higher than his season average. And that was with Adams in the paint. With Adams out, he’s unlikely to see his workload on the boards go down.
Rockets vs 76ers SGP
76ers moneyline
Under 221.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: By George, He's Still Got It
George playing is the big question mark here, and if he doesn’t, this pushes. So we’ll take him reaching 15 if he suits up.
Rockets vs 76ers SGP
76ers moneyline
Under 221.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Paul George Over 14.5 points
Rockets vs 76ers odds
Spread: Rockets -2 (-110) | 76ers 2 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets -135 | 76ers +115
Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-110)
Rockets vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Houston Rockets have only hit the Moneyline in 20 of their last 45 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. 76ers.
How to watch Rockets vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, SCHN
Rockets vs 76ers latest injuries
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With eight games on the NBA schedule, there is no shortage of options in the player prop market.
I’ve dug through the league's odds and found my three favorites for today, which include a bounce back for LaMelo Ball and a solid shooting night for Stephon Castle.
Check out those and more NBA picks for Thursday, January 22 below.
LaMelo Ball is in a bit of a slump, but that’s creating some value in tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic.
Ball has scored just 27 points over his last three games, including just two in a 1-of-15 shooting night last time out against the Cavaliers.
That is resulting in a low 16.5-point total tonight. Ball is still averaging 19.4 points and went over 16.5 points in 10 of his previous 13 games, including putting up 22 vs. this same Magic team on Dec. 26.
Orlando’s best perimeter defender, Jalen Suggs, is also banged up and is questionable to play.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports NetworkSE-Charlotte, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida
Castle is shooting 39.1% from three-point range over the last five games, and now he faces the team with the worst perimeter defense in the NBA.
The Jazz enter this matchup, surrendering the most three-point attempts per game while allowing opponents to shoot the third-highest percentage from downtown (37.6%).
Castle has hit two or more threes in three of his last five games, and at this price, I love backing him to drain a couple more here.
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The star forward who has expressed his frustrations over Milwaukee’s play multiple times this season once again questioned his team’s performance, this time saying that some of his teammates were being “selfish.”
Antetokounmpo has taken just 48 shots over his last four games, including 11 Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a 20-point loss against the Thunder.
"We’re not playing hard," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. "We’re not doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own.
"At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work – we’ve just got to keep on chipping away, possession by possession."
Antetokounmpo has had an eventful season with the Bucks.
Recently, he booed back to the home fans at Fiserv Forum after they had booed the team’s performance. Earlier in the year, he scrubbed his social media of most mentions of the Bucks, leading to rampant speculation that he was looking to be traded.
According to multiple reports, Antetokounmpo broached the topic with Bucks management through his representatives, but he addressed the rumors and said "there will never be a moment that I will come out and say: ‘I want a trade.’ " In mid-December, however, he didn’t rule out that his agent may be having conversations about his future with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo has maintained that he wants to compete for a championship, but the Bucks (18-25) are languishing in the East and have lost five of their last seven games.
Thursday marks yet another reunion between the Splash Bros, as Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are in town to face off against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks. This is the second matchup of the season between these two teams, with Golden State winning by ten on Christmas Day to start the season series.
The Mavericks have won four out of five games since suffering a four-game losing streak. Granted, three of those wins were against the Jazz and Nets, so it’s not exactly something to write home about. However, a 17-point beatdown of the reeling New York Knicks on Monday was fun to watch.
<p> (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)</p><br>
Golden State comes in under a cloud of their unfortunate new reality, as Jimmy Butler has officially torn his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season. It’s a shame for the Dubs, as they were playing by far their best basketball of the season before he went down. In their first game without Butler on Tuesday, the Toronto Raptors blew the doors off the Warriors, winning 145-127. Golden State trailed by as many as 30 points in the second half.
Can Golden State get off the mat in this contest? Or will Cooper Flagg and the Mavs prove to be too much? Let’s get into the cap.
Tipoff: Early tip alert! The ball will be in the air shortly after 6:30p CT from the American Airlines Center.
How to watch: Prime Video has the national telecast of this one.
Game odds as of 10:30a CT
Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!
Spread: Golden State -5.5
Over/Under: 234.5 points
Moneyline: Dallas is +176 to pull the upset tonight
Prop bets of the night
Naji Marshall over 16.5 points (+100)
Klay Thompson, Max Christie and Steph Curry to combine for 10+ made threes (-130)
<p>(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p><br>
Come on, we can’t have a reunion of the Splash Bros without them having a great night, right? Beyond that, we get to add the scorching hot Max Christie to complete our trio. Sign us up for that one. As far as Marshall goes, the Knife has been playing unbelievably well as of late. Expect that run to continue here.
Game pick
Mavericks moneyline (+176)
At the opener of Warriors -3, we would’ve considered Golden State strongly. However, now on the precipice of being over two possessions, we’ll take the home dog Mavericks outright.
We are approximately two weeks away from this season’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. The Sixers have been hovering around the middle of the Eastern Conference’s playoff seeds for most of the season’s first half. They appear good enough to make the postseason, and perhaps avoid the play-in tournament. But they’re certainly not the favorite to win the East either.
Now, you might say, before last season’s disaster, Philly was a staple in the Eastern Conference postseason and rarely was the oddsmakers’ choice to get to the NBA Finals and that didn’t deter the Sixers from adding to their roster. You’d be correct. Whether it was a big swing like the Ben Simmons-James Harden trade or a smaller acquisition like the countless backup centers Philadelphia tried to put behind Joel Embiid for a few months before the postseason began, the Sixers have always tried to supplement their playoff rosters adequately in the regular season.
But eventually all of that trading and roster reshuffling catches up to you. By now, I think most fans know that Philadelphia owes its first-round pick this year to Oklahoma City after retaining the first rounder in last year’s draft lottery. Technically the pick is top-four protected this year, but the Thunder will almost certainly be getting the Sixers’ 2026 first-rounder. That will finally wrap up the debt owed to Oklahoma City when the Thunder took Al Horford’s contract in December 2020. Remember that Simmons-Harden trade at the 2022 trade deadline? That trade won’t finally be completed until Philadelphia sends Brooklyn one final first-rounder in 2028 that is top-eight protected.
Naturally when you are a deadline buyer, it’s nice to be able to control your first-round picks. Philly does not have that luxury in two of the next three drafts which could certainly limit Daryl Morey’s options these next couple weeks. There is one high-valued asset that Morey could put on the table in trade talks and that’s the 2028 unprotected Los Angeles Clippers first-round pick that he got in the trade of Harden to the Clippers. Given the current state of the Clippers, that’s certainly looking like it could be a very high draft pick in two years. Is now the time to dangle that kind of a pick in trade talks? You’d have to feel really good about the team’s chances of making a deep playoff run. While the team isn’t bad, I’m not sure it makes the most sense with where the organization is at.
Entering the season, there were plenty of concerns about what the team might get from Embiid and Paul George as both players were a year older, injured a bunch last season and making boatloads of money for multiple seasons ahead. Embiid has given them some solid games on some nights while George continues to look like a bad investment. But the Sixers’ success this season has mostly been rooted in Tyrese Maxey taking the next step towards superstardom, VJ Edgecombe looking like a Rookie of the Year candidate, and some good ancillary acquisitions from Morey in the frontcourt behind Embiid. It has felt like a welcomed change to a newer and younger era of Sixers basketball. Therefore, is an “all-in” move which trading the team’s lone high-valued draft asset in the next three drafts would be, really the smartest decision right now?
Unlike previous trade deadlines, when Philadelphia was more clearly defined as a “win-now” team, the Sixers should not be looking for the veteran types like Harden and the countless backup big men they’ve acquired over the years behind Embiid. As we mentioned, they’re starting to turn the page and get younger, and that’s a goal that needs to be furthered at this year’s trade deadline and beyond. Players in their early 20s like Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona and Jabari Walker have been regulars in the rotation and have helped the team win games this season. If Morey can acquire another younger player like that who is also able to come right into the rotation and contribute for the remainder of 2025-26, he absolutely should.
But how many of those players are available at trade deadlines? Often times, sellers are looking to offload veterans and expiring contracts and hold on to their own younger players. That’s why the Sixers are in a tough spot these next few weeks. It makes sense to add, but they need to add strategically and often times younger players with club control are more expensive in trades and we already detailed the shortage of first-round picks that Philly currently has to offer.
So, where does that leave Morey and his staff as they work the phones these next few weeks? It means they will probably have to shop in the clearance aisle. That’s an aisle they can afford to shop in as they do have some second-round picks in future drafts that would allow them to have some conservations about some bench players on other teams or players that need a change of scenery. There are also the expiring contracts of Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. that could be attractive to other teams as well. In other words, they’re not out of options, but they’re also not picking from a menu at an expensive steakhouse either. If Morey can successfully thread the needle, we might be in for a fun second half and enter the offseason with optimism about the future of the franchise.
LaMelo Ball
Jabari Smith Jr.
Stephon Castle
