Category: Basketball

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors run it back for a second straight meeting Monday.

Golden State stifled Minnesota in a 111-85 win Sunday, with T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards as the lone bright spot for the home side.

He poured in 32 points in the loss, but my Warriors vs. Timberwolves predictions aren’t as bullish on Edwards tonight.

Here are my best NBA picks for January 26.

Warriors vs Timberwolves prediction

Warriors vs Timberwolves best bet: Anthony Edwards Under 30.5 points (-120)

The Minnesota Timberwolves were mired in an offensive funk Sunday. Anthony Edwards shot 13-for-20 from the floor while the rest of the Timberwolves combined to go just 17-for-59 (29%). 

The loss extended Minnesota’s slide to five games and has the media questioning the T-Wolves’ focus with the All-Star break about two weeks away. Edwards made no excuses and called out his team for their lack of effort.

The second of back-to-back outings is tough enough when you’re not facing a defense as sound as the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State sits sixth in advanced defensive rating, and if Minnesota is going to bounce back, it will need a team effort — not just a solo show from Ant.

He’s tried to carry the team during this losing streak, averaging more than 36 points in his last four games since missing two outings due to a foot injury. But based on projections, this is a solid “buyback” spot on the Under for his scoring output.

Monday’s player models top out at 28.4 points from Edwards, with forecasts as low as 25.8. My number boils down to 27.4 points from the Minny superstar, which should have the Under 30.5 points priced closer to -200.

Warriors vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Curry went 3-for-10 from beyond the arc in only 28 minutes last night. Given his usual playing time, he’s projected for five triples.

Gobert logged only 24 minutes on Sunday, but he can beat up an undersized Golden State frontcourt.

Warriors vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Under 30.5 points
• Stephen Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Rudy Gobert Over 9.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Warriors, Come Out And Play...

Edwards tries to kick start his team's struggling offense, with projections calling for four or more assists.

Warriors vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Under 30.5 points
• Stephen Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Rudy Gobert Over 9.5 points
• Anthony Edwards Over 3.5 assists

Warriors vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Warriors +7.5 (-115) | Timberwolves -7.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Warriors +225 | Timberwolves -275
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5

Warriors vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

Minnesota is 6-4 straight up at home when coming off a loss, but just 3-7 against the spread in those bounce-back spots. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Warriors vs Timberwolves

Warriors vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. team released its 232-athlete roster for the Milan Cortina Olympics on Monday and it includes Lindsey Vonn and bobsledders Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor, who are among the seven Americans making their fifth trip to the games.

Other five-timers are hockey player Hilary Knight, figure skater Evan Bates and snowboarders Faye Thelen and Nick Baumgartner.

Meyers Taylor leads a group of 33 returning medalists. She has won three silver medals and two bronze while Humphries has taken three gold. Mikaela Shiffrin and Chloe Kim have two golds each.

The team consists of 117 men and 115 women ranging in age from 15 (freeskier Abby Winterberger) to 54 (curler Rich Ruohonen).

The opening ceremony is set for Feb. 6 in Milan, with some competition beginning Feb. 4.

These will be the most spread-out Olympics in history, with Milan serving as a home base for hockey, figure skating and speedskating and Cortina and a handful of other mountain clusters hosting skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, sliding sports and the new Olympic sport of ski mountaineering. ___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

The Pistons may have dropped a tight contest against a strong Houston Rockets team, but they are still sitting alone at the top of the Eastern Conference. With the trade deadline right around the corner, Wes and Blake break down that loss to the Rockets and what it might mean for the playoffs to come. How should the team counter the Rockets’ defensive strategy? How often will Cade see that defense? They also dive into a mock trade deadline that Wes was fortunate enough to participate in, hosted by the Bird Rights Podcast. What trades were these fake Pistons able to make? What do we think about the value of those deals and how the roster fits together in that scenario? Finally, the guys answer the big question… would this team be better with Malik Beasley than they are with Duncan Robinson?

We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!

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The Portland Trail Blazers hit the road this evening to face Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. 

Shaedon Sharpe is showing out lately, and I’m eyeing him to keep it rolling in my Trail Blazers vs Celtics predictions and NBA picks below. 

Trail Blazers vs Celtics prediction

Trail Blazers vs Celtics best bet: Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points (-115)

Shaedon Sharpe showed promise from Day 1 for the Portland Trail Blazers, but he’s really stepped it up in Year 5. The Canadian guard is averaging a career-best 21.9 points across 42 games. Sharpe is one of Portland’s best players, and he continues to prove it on a nightly basis. 

The former Kentucky standout has cashed the Over in points in four of his last five appearances, and even though he did cash the Under in his most recent contest, Sharpe still finished with 21 points. 

Sharpe is averaging 21.9 ppg on the road, and he already balled out earlier in the campaign against the Boston Celtics, dropping 26 points. Sharpe is playing with boatloads of confidence, and he’ll bring his best again tonight.

Trail Blazers vs Celtics same-game parlay

Payton Pritchard has taken on a bigger role this season without Jayson Tatum around, averaging a career-high 16.7 ppg. He's cashed the Over in two of his last four games and three of his last five at home.

Sam Hauser is a sniper from deep, draining 2.7 triples on 6.6 attempts for a 40.7% clip. The 28-year-old has cashed the Over in five of his last six. 

While the Blazers are holding opponents to a 27.6% clip from beyond the arc across their last three games, Hauser is feeling it right now from 3-point territory. He’s averaging exactly 2.5 makes at home as well for a 42% clip.

Trail Blazers vs Celtics SGP

• Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points
• Payton Pritchard Over 15.5 points
• Sam Hauser Over 2.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Over and Out

Jrue Holiday is averaging 7.1 dimes per contest, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back outings.

Trail Blazers vs Celtics SGP

• Shaedon Sharpe Over 21.5 points
• Payton Pritchard Over 15.5 points
• Sam Hauser Over 2.5 threes
• Jrue Holiday Over 5.5 assists

Trail Blazers vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Trail Blazers +8.5 | Celtics -8.5
• Moneyline: Trail Blazers +260 | Celtics -330
• Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5

Trail Blazers vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Trail Blazers have won 14 of their last 21 games for +13.25 units and a 49% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Celtics.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Celtics

Trail Blazers vs Celtics latest injuries

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

The Atlanta Hawks welcome the Indiana Pacers to State Farm Arena today for an Eastern Conference affair. 

Andrew Nembhard is dropping dimes lately, and my Pacers vs Hawks predictions target him to pick apart Atlanta’s defense. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, January 26. 

Pacers vs Hawks prediction

Pacers vs Hawks best bet: Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists (-112)

Andrew Nembhard has had to take on a larger role in 2025-26 with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, and while the Indiana Pacers are struggling, he’s played well.

From a playmaking standpoint, the Gonzaga product is averaging an impressive 7.3 assists per game. That ranks eighth in the entire Association. 

Nembhard has cashed the Over in dimes in three of his last four appearances, and he just registered 11 assists on Friday evening against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Atlanta Hawks are nowhere near OKC in terms of defense, and they’re Top 10 in most assists allowed. Atlanta is also considered an easier matchup for point guards, allowing 9.24 dimes per contest to the position. 

He’ll cook as a facilitator this afternoon. 

Pacers vs Hawks same-game parlay

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a career year for the Hawks. However, the guard hasn’t been at his best lately, cashing the Under in points in four of his last five. 

NAW has scored just 24 points combined across his last two appearances, and he’s cashed the Under in two of his previous three outings on home court as well. 

Corey Kispert has given the Hawks more shooting since coming over in the Trae Young trade, and he’s been draining triples lately. The ex-Gonzaga star has cashed the Over in three of his last four appearances. 

Pacers vs Hawks SGP

• Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 19.5 points
• Corey Kispert Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Long ball delivers

Pascal Siakam has cashed the Over in treys in five consecutive appearances, and he’s averaging 2.4 makes on the road.

Pacers vs Hawks SGP

• Andrew Nembhard Over 7.5 assists
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 19.5 points
• Corey Kispert Over 1.5 threes
• Pascal Siakam Over 1.5 threes

Pacers vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Pacers +5.5 | Hawks -5.5
• Moneyline: Pacers +180 | Hawks -220
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5

Pacers vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Indiana Pacers have hit the game total Under in 32 of their last 50 games (+12.20 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Hawks.

How to watch Pacers vs Hawks

Pacers vs Hawks latest injuries

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

For about 12 minutes, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs were going to pull off a big comeback against the New Orleans Pelicans. After going down 20 points in the third quarter, the Spurs came all the way back to take a 5-point lead with 5 minutes to go in the game. San Antonio couldn’t sustain the lead as New Orleans came away with a 104-95 upset victory.

CB FOR THREE 🎯

📺 FanDuelSN SW pic.twitter.com/1wp7auktHm

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

The Spurs’ comeback started midway through the third quarter when Mitch Johnson subbed out his five starters for a bench lineup that included rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. The two first-year players immediately brought energy and helped the team get back in the game. Bryant has looked great in his last few outings. He’s been confident and aggressive in his minutes. Bryant had 6 points on a pair of threes in his 7 minutes.

DYLAN DUNK 🚨

📺 FanDuelSN SW pic.twitter.com/mYTZ3MgUHH

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

Harper did what he does best – get downhill and make things happen in the open court. He had 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench. They aren’t eye-popping stats, but he provided a real spark when the team needed it.

Harper has caught a few defenders off guard this season with his bounce. At 6-6, he has the size to finish over the top in transition, even if he isn’t a high-flying athlete.

Welcome back @Yvngdevo 👌

📺 FanDuelSN SW pic.twitter.com/48PYi0XeJa

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

The game was Devin Vassell’s first in a month. He did exactly what you’d expect with 13 points off the bench. Vassell knocked down shots and gave the Spurs another floor-spacer from deep. It’s nice to know that a skip pass to the corner is going to fall into the hands of a shooter like Vassell.

Back like he never left 🫡@Yvngdevo | #PorVidapic.twitter.com/QizjoxXuYB

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

Vassell’s tough shot-making ability will be a huge help for the Spurs as they enter the second half of the season. Vassell knocked down a few contested shots on Sunday night, including this tough mid-range jumper off the baseline out-of-bounds play.

OH MY VIC 😳

📺 FanDuelSN SW pic.twitter.com/RnqTuppO3G

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

Victor Wembanyama got in on the highlight action despite a relatively quiet night. Wemby had 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks. This poster slam over Derrick Queen was Blake Griffen-esque. Just a big man throwing the ball into the basket through contact.

Climbing on 🆙@wemby is now SIXTH on the Spurs all-time block list! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/N0NOgGo2XQ

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

This sequence included some classic Wembanyama defense. He just had to go straight up against the smaller Yves Missi. He blocks him twice to stop the Pelicans’ big man from a sure layup.

⚠️ AREA 51 ⚠️

📺 FanDuelSN SW pic.twitter.com/YE0QvhmKOC

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 26, 2026

We got a rare Area 51 sighting on Sunday night. It’s been a while since these two have found each other in the half-court, but here Stephon Castle draws two defenders and then finds the big man for the lob.

Next, San Antonio will travel to Houston for a rematch with the Rockets on Wednesday night. Catch the full game highlights from Sunday’s game below.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ extended road trip moves east with a stop in the Windy City to battle the Chicago Bulls tonight.

Deandre Ayton hopes a two-day break can bust his current funk. He’s struggled on both ends of the floor, which has led to him being benched in each of the past two games.

However, Chicago’s soft interior defense could be just what Ayton needs to get back on track. His scoring output is the focus of my Lakers vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks below.

Lakers vs Bulls prediction

Lakers vs Bulls best bet: Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points (-120)

Deandre Ayton’s recent struggles have ignited a firestorm of criticism from NBA analysts and basketball fans, but this game against the Chicago Bulls could help get things on track. The Bulls are among the softer defenses in the league, especially when it comes to protecting the interior.

Chicago allows the fifth most points in the paint (53.3) and the seventh-highest points per game to the center position (25.7). The Bulls are undersized around the hoop, topping out with 6-foot-9 center Nikola Vucevic, who has lost a step defensively.

The 7-foot Ayton had scored 12+ points in four straight games and six of his last eight before this current three-game backslide, and averages almost 14 points on the season.
 
NBA player projections for Monday have Ayton ranging from 11.1 to 15.5, with the majority of models sitting closer to 13 points. My number, given Ayton plays his normal 29 minutes, comes out to 13.6 points against Chicago. That should have the Over 11.5 priced around -170.

Lakers vs Bulls same-game parlay

The Lakers and Bulls aren’t the stingiest teams in the NBA, and Chicago’s up-tempo style will see a faster pace for this game.

LeBron James continues to impact games besides points. He’s dished out 7+ dimes in seven of his last 12 outings.

Lakers vs Bulls SGP

• Over 237.5 
• Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points
• LeBron James Over 6.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Running with the Bulls

Rui Hachimura has started to find his stroke from deep after missing time with injury, including 2+ triples in three of his last four outings.

Lakers vs Bulls SGP

• Over 237.5 
• Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 points
• LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
• Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 threes

Lakers vs Bulls odds

• Spread: Lakers -1.5 (-108) | Bulls +1.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Lakers -115 | Bulls -105
• Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5

Lakers vs Bulls betting trend to know

The Lakers are 7-5 Over/Under in non-conference games while the Bulls are 9-6 O/U against Western Conference foes this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Bulls.

How to watch Lakers vs Bulls

Lakers vs Bulls latest injuries

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

Basketball was played in Minneapolis on Sunday, Jan. 25, but the atmosphere surrounding Golden State's 111-85 victory over Minnesota was unlike any game those in attendance ever experienced.

Originally scheduled to be nationally televised on Saturday, it was postponed for 24 hours after federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti earlier that morning not far from the Timberwolves' home arena.

"I thought the vibe in the stands was one of the most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said afterward. "Their team ... We could tell they were struggling with everything that's been going on and what the city has been through. It was very sad. It was a sad night."

Steve Kerr called the arena atmosphere in Minneapolis today one of the most “bizarre, sad” vibes he’s experienced at a game

Warriors blew out the Timberwolves.

“Honestly what I felt was that their group was suffering.” pic.twitter.com/K1EsR6Fr8j

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 26, 2026

Before the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch fought through tears as he reflected on the city's second deadly interaction between agents and residents this month.

"As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch," Finch said. "We just want to extend our thoughts, prayers and concern for Mr. Pretti, (his) family, all the loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are, by nature, peaceful and prideful. We just stand in support of our great community here."

Both Finch and Kerr said they discussed the situation with their players and everyone agreed with the decision to postpone the game on Saturday.

Emotions were still raw throughout the community as thousands of sign-carrying protesters marched in freezing conditions outside Target Center before the game shouting "ICE out! ICE out!"

And inside, several members of the trampoline dunk team wore shirts that also said "ICE OUT" in block capital letters.

"I know there’s a lot of heavy hearts," said Warriors star guard Stephen Curry, who scored 26 points in the win and moved into 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

"A lot of things – especially (for) this Minneapolis community (Saturday) – was rough. It’s been rough. … You can kind of feel it when we got here two days ago. The protests that were going on downtown, it was amazing to watch the turnout, and peaceful protests, the unified voice that was here. You feel like that would kind of turn the tide to a more positive direction, and then, you wake up in the morning, and you see what happened."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Kerr, Chris Finch, Steph Curry address unrest in Minneapolis

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing their second straight game against the Orlando Magic. They won their previous game in Orlando 119-105.

Repeating success

Beating the same team twice in a row isn’t easy. There’s added motivation for the other team to get their revenge, and what worked in the first matchup isn’t guaranteed to work the second time. This, combined with a wild winter storm that can throw a curveball into everyone’s pre-game preparation, is something to keep in mind.

The Cavs took it to Orlando in their first matchup. It was an encouraging, feel-good win led by the best game of Donovan Mitchell’s season. Or at least, one of his most impressive performances. The Cavs have taken some great steps forward during this month. Let’s try to avoid stumbling after winning three in a row.

A win tomorrow would match the Cavaliers’ longest streak of the season.

Donovan Mitchell

We might have seen Mitchell’s best game of the season in Orlando. It was definitely one of his more entertaining. The array of floaters and over-the-head swim moves he used was nothing short of incredible.

Mitchell has had to carry a heavy load with Darius Garland on the sidelines. He hasn’t always balanced his responsibilities as a playmaker and scorer. But when he’s at his best, this team is tough to beat. Cleveland’s recent win puts them at 10-1 this season when Mitchell scores 35 or more points.

Taking care of the ball

One of the only things holding this team back from truly taking off in the standings has been their turnovers. Even in their recent success, the team is turning it over at an unsustainable rate.

Cleveland had 17 turnovers in their first meeting with the Magic. This is more than you’d like, but it was actually an improvement from the way they had been carelessly turning it over in the games before. The Cavs are 26th in turnover percentage for the month of January.

That will have to be better for them to continue trending in the right direction.

When you are a gunslinger, you show up to the dusty road at high noon. You lock eyes with the opponent. Somewhere, a stereotypical tumbleweed drifts through the silence. The moment arrives. You reach for the holster. You take your shot.

That is what the Suns tried to do against the Miami Heat on Sunday night. They showed up. They stood in the street. But when it was time to fire, there was not enough ammunition to finish the job.

And they did not help themselves. I don’t know if they knew where they left their bullets.

The shooting was rough. 37% from the field. 7-0f-35 from deep. That is not surviving a duel, that is misfiring before the bell rings. The rebounding was no better. 15 chance points allowed in the first half, extra bullets handed right back to the opponent. Ball movement never found a rhythm either. 14 assists on 37 made shots, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4, possessions ending without purpose.

Miami plays at the fastest pace in the league, and on this night they were quicker to everything. Quicker to loose balls. Quicker to decisions. Quicker on the draw. Phoenix finished with 6 steals, never able to flip the script or tilt the floor.

It did not matter that Miami was on the second night of a back-to-back. It did not matter that they did not get into Sky Harbor until 4:30am after being stuck on the tarmac in Utah. None of it mattered. They had more ammunition. They were sharper with their shots. And when the dust settled, that was the difference.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Kudos to Devin Booker for the effort against the Atlanta Hawks. He picked up his 12th Bright Side Baller of the season, though I am sure he would trade every one of them for a healthy ankle without a second thought.

“I’m too sad” got plenty of votes, which felt appropriate given the night, but the rightful winner still earned it.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 46 against the Heat. Here are your nominees:

Dillon Brooks
26 points (11-of-23, 2-of-5 3PT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, -7 +/-

Grayson Allen
18 points (4-of-18, 1-of-11 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls drawn, 1 turnover, -4 +/-

Mark Williams
11 points (4-of-6), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, +10 +/-

Collin Gillespie
11 points (4-of-12, 3-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -9 +/-

Isaiah Livers
9 points (4-of-4, 1-of-1 3PT), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, -5 +/-

Royce O’Neale
8 points (2-of-10, 0-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, -10 +/-

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Vote here:

On Sunday night, the Spurs hosted the New Orleans Pelicans. Before the game, interim head coach James Borrego spoke with the media.

If his name sounds familiar it is because he served as assistant coach to Gregg Popovich twice. The first time was from 2003-2010 where he started as assistant video coordinator before working his way up to assistant. He rejoined the Spurs from 2015 to 2018.

Since 2023, Borrego has served as associate head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. Last November, after a 2-10 start, the Pelicans fired Willie Green and named Borrego interim.

During his pregame presser, he was asked about Herb Jones. Jones, who recently returned to action after being sidelined with an ankle sprain, is considered an elite defender. In his first game back last Friday, he failed to score but impacted the game defensively, leading to a win for the Pelicans.

Considering his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Borrego’s response was telling:

“He impacts winning at the highest level…he raises everybody’s standard — their level, their energy, their focus…he’s gotta own that defense, hold his group accountable…hye’s an example guy. And, I think, the greatest to do it here, Tim Duncan same thing. He led by example. Over time though, [Duncan] found a voice to lead. There’s a leadership quality through his words as well. When Tim Duncan spoke up everybody listened. When Herb Jones speaks up, everybody listens.”

Borrego stressed that when a player takes ownership, the team as a whole elevates. And he knows. He witnessed two championships here in San Antonio. The former Spurs assistant understands the value of leadership required to make a team compete.

And he wasn’t wrong.

The Pelicans, who had the second-worst defensive rating without Jones, handled the Spurs last night despite coming in to San Antonio with an 11-36 record. While Jones contributed only 9 points, it was his +/- of 21 and his disruptive defense that kept the Spurs at arms length for a majority of the night.

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Over halfway into the season, the Boston Celtics find themselves sitting at second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28-17. They’ve set high standards for themselves by consistently sitting at or near the top over the past decade, but this year is different. Prior to the start of the season, the basketball world was debating whether they would be tanking for a top pick, or if they would somehow find themselves fighting for a play-in spot.

There’s still a lot of season left, so Boston may not be able to maintain their position throughout. There’s no doubt that tanking has always been out of the question for a team with championship DNA, though. The Celtics play to win, plain and simple. Soon enough they may also be getting a top-5 player in the league back on the court, which should make winning a little easier.

That doesn’t mean we should lose sight of the people who have carried them this far. There is plenty of praise and credit to go around, from Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff who have prepared the players, to Jaylen Brown who has shouldered a lot of the load during an MVP-level season, to the young guns who are making the most of every opportunity, and everyone in between.

Of course, there are two guys who may be getting slightly overlooked at the moment: Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Fans were expecting a huge jump from both in terms of offensive production, but the stats haven’t exactly backed that up so far. That being said, they provide a whole lot more than the numbers could never capture.

Let’s start with the bad. Derrick only saw an increase of 1.2 points per game (PPG) while his efficiency took a big hit, 38.8% on field goals (FG%) and 32.1% on threes (3P%). The FG% is a career low for Derrick, and a steep drop-off from the 44.2% he was shooting last year. Similarly, the 3P% is the second lowest of his career, and another big drop from last year’s 38.4% from range.

Payton has been more efficient than Derrick, but he’s been having some struggles of his own. His FG% sits at 45% at this point in the season, which isn’t bad, but is his lowest mark of the past three years, down from his 47.2% from last year. The real struggles are coming from behind the arc for Pritchard, 34.4% from three, a career low, and far below his 40.7% from last year.

And as far as the bad goes, well, that’s just about it. Once you look past the efficiency, Derrick White is averaging career highs in every major statistical category: 17.6 PPG, 5.4 assists per game (APG), 4.6 rebounds per game (RPG), 1.3 steals per game (SPG), and 1.5 blocks per game (BPG). Payton is averaging career highs in points (16.7 PPG), rebounds (4.4 RPG), and assists (5.4 APG), while being just 0.1 steals per game and 0.1 blocks per game off of career highs in those categories as well, though neither have ever been his strong suit, 0.8 SPG and 0.1 BPG this season.

Per our Riser/Fallers tool, these 5 players have risen most over the past 3 seasons in our Offensive Talent metric:

Up +4.18: Deni Avdija
+3.14: Austin Reaves
+2.60: Anthony Edwards
+2.52: Shai-Gilgeous Alexander
+2.31: Payton Pritchard

These players are seeing the largest… pic.twitter.com/tGq4eBGIOb

— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) January 22, 2026

If we listen to Joe Mazzulla and take a step further out, things look even better. After a solid win against the Pacers, Joe had this to say about the two of them: “Those are always two guys that – they’re not defined by shot making… It’s not just the stats with them. They’re always doing the intangibles, and they always give us a chance to win.”

Joe couldn’t be more right. With how young the Celtics are this year, strong leadership makes a world of a difference. When you see Derrick taking charges, opening himself up to poster opportunities, challenging guards and centers alike at the rim, and giving his all on every possession no matter which side of the ball he’s on, how could you not be inspired? So much of this team’s identity is their grit, which the young guys embody night in and night out – but it always starts with Derrick.

As for Payton, he currently ranks as the most efficient isolation scorer in the NBA, yet the ball never sticks with him. He does a masterful job of controlling the pace of the offense, whether that’s creating opportunities for himself or others. He increased his APG average by nearly 1.9, and is currently tied with Derrick in leading Boston in that category. Pritchard has always been an undersized guard as well, but still does a great job holding his own on defense, and is tied for fourth on the team in rebounds per game despite being the shortest one on the court more often than not.

Most efficient Isolation scorer in the league this season? Payton Pritchard pic.twitter.com/9PdrpFgIG2

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) January 21, 2026

Boston’s starting backcourt plays with incredible poise, averaging less than 3 turnovers combined. Pritchard even has the highest assist to turnover ratio in the league, 4.74, and set the franchise record this season for most 20+ point games without a turnover at 13. They are one of the big reasons why Jaylen can play as great as he has this season, and why the Celtics are as competitive as they are.

Going back to the Pacers game, Derrick earned a lot of praise that day. Joe added on to his previous comments, saying this about White: “He’s not defined by shooting efficiency. I think, to me, that’s a bonus… I just think it’s hard to recognize all the other stuff and it’s easy just to notice the shooting.”

Before the game even started, Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Pacers, started off his presser by saying that White should be an All-Star before he was even asked a question. Jaylen Brown had a lengthy answer after the game echoing the sentiment, and added on that Derrick should be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year as well. Neemias Queta got in on the love circle by calling White a “Swiss Army Knife.”

Like Joe said, it’s easy to get caught up in the shooting numbers, but the impact Derrick and Payton make on a game is immeasurable. It’s clear that their teammates feel the effects. Stats may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole story. At the end of the day, Boston can always like their chances when those two are on the court.

Good morning, it’s Monday, January 26th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 27-20 and play the Orlando Magic at home tonight at 7 PM. We wish you warmth and a clear driveway today.

Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points in the Cavaliers’ win over the Magic in Orlando on Saturday. Cleveland has now won 10 of their last 14 games and is back in the mix for the second seed of the Eastern Conference.

Today’s Game of the Day

• Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics – 8 PM, Peacock

Let’s switch it up and talk about some different teams.

The Trail Blazers (23-23) and Celtics (28-17) are each having better-than-expected seasons. Portland has been led by the breakout of Deni Avdija (who is listed as questionable for this matchup) while the Celtics have proven that sticking to a strong identity can lead to positive results, no matter who is in the rotation. This should be a fun one.

The Rest of the NBA Slate

• Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks – 1:30 PM
• Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets – 3 PM
• Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7 PM
• Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls – 8 PM
• Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets – 8 PM
• Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves – 9:30 PM

There are plenty of games to choose from today if you’re able to stay home and avoid the snow. The NBA has you covered.

Cavs links of the day

• Teams have been trying to trade for important Cavs’ forward – Fear the Sword
• Cavs receive much-needed good news from latest injury report – Fear the Sword
• Donovan Mitchell shows resilience among Cavs struggles, speaks on mindset – Cavs on SI

NBA links

• NBA Postpones Nuggets-Grizzlies, Mavericks-Bucks due to winter storms – Yahoo Sports
• NBA Moves up Pacers-Hawks due to winter storm – Peachtree Hoops
• Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff named head coach for Eastern Conference All-Star Game – NBA.com