Category: Basketball

The Brooklyn Nets hosted the Phoenix Suns at the Barclays Center Monday evening. It was the first time in a while where the two teams meeting didn’t feel like running into an ex out in public.

No Kevin Durant. No Cam Johnson. No Mikal Bridges. Not even any of Phoenix’s future first rounders were in the backdrop tonight — just a whole lot of buckets on a day to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Brooklyn and Phoenix collectively began tonight shooting 6-of-10 from deep. Two were put in Drake Powell, who returned to the starting lineup with Egor Dëmin held out for injury management…

Drake Powell drains back-to-back threes to start tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/eGRuiURHRd

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 20, 2026

Although Powell’s name fell into the point guard slot on the pregame lineup card, ball-handling was done by a committee for Brooklyn. Terance Mann got some reps, even dishing seven assists in the first half, as did Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton. (Cam Thomas was also out for injury management.)

Despite the group effort, the Brooklyn’s offense was overshadowed in the first, and for most of the game. While the Nets came out hot, the Suns were white dwarfs, posting 71/67 splits in the first quarter. Dillon Brooks added seven points while shooting 4-of-5 from the field. Phoenix also controlled the game’s pace, grabbing eight points on the break.

The Nets (naturally) caught up a bit when Nolan Traoré checked in at the 4:19 point of the period. He, Jalen Wilson, Danny Wolf, Tyrese Martin, and Ziaire Williams, who returned after missing a week of ball with an illness, cut the deficit to nine after it had ballooned to 15 at one point, yet Phoenix maintained a 40-26 lead after one…

Nolan Traoré just put Grayson Allen in the spin cycle pic.twitter.com/28YKzZkwOM

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

“I’m just grateful just to be out here,” Williams said of his return. “Woke up one morning feeling fine, and then I ended up sick, and missing games, and it was just a reminder of just how anything can be taken away from you by any time…I missed playing with these guys.”

It was the first time the Nets gave up 40 points in a quarter since November 9th. In the second, Michael Porter Jr. looked to get it all back.

After going scoreless in the opening frame, MPJ dropped 13 points while shooting 5-6 from the field. Traoré also continued his run of impressive play since coming up from Long Island. The sequel to his career night in Chicago on Friday started with 10 first half points while shooting a perfect 3-3 from the field. He didn’t get any more in the second half…but still finished the game as a +4.

Williams also hit two threes in the period’s final two four minutes. Mann also put one in for submission seconds before the deadline…

Terance Mann makes it a four point game at the half buzzer pic.twitter.com/6Vk4mZ0Lrz

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

But again, every positive at the offensive end doubled as a negative at the other. Rather than switching, Brooklyn played more of in a drop this evening. Devin Booker and company went to work with the extra space provided. The Suns added 32 more points in the second, maintaining 63/46/91 splits as a team at half, where theu led the Nets by a 72-68 tally.

The Nets also probably threw one too many high doubles at Booker, who had the poise and precision all night to pass out of them and find open shooters.

“We were kind of giving them that shot, trying to live with that rather than Booker ISO,” Mann said. “So, just the ability to make shots down the stretch. They’re a veteran team.”

Even as the shots continued to fall for Phoenix, the Nets did well to keep the deficit from fully reinflating in the third. But while the Phoenix lead didn’t boil, the frustrations for Brooklyn did. Booker and Dillon Brooks each found success baiting the Nets and befooling officials early in the period. The Suns drew nine free throw attempts in the quarter’s first eight minutes after getting 11 in the entire first half.

Fernández said the game was “called like a rugby match,” post game. Williams also noted he felt there were one or two wrongful whistles, but he also tipped his cap to his old teammate.

“I love Dillon to death, man,” he said. “That’s my guy. That’s my big brother. He taught me so much. It’s really dope to see him really flourish this year. I feel like he’s an all star, in my opinion…He’s a great teammate. I hate playing against them but love him on your team. His competitiveness is second to none and I definitely learned a lot of tips and tricks from him.”

The Nets made it a 112-105 game with 7:04 to go after Tyrese Martin connected on a transition three. Porter Jr. followed that up with a quick five, getting three with glam and two with grit…

Michael Porter Jr. gets a flashy one, then a gritty one next time down the floor. pic.twitter.com/A9A72fcuYd

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

But the mounting pressure from Brooklyn only caused Phoenix’s offensive crystallize and its ball movement to shine. As the Nets repeatedly looked to trap Booker, the Suns the rock with pace and precession, pulling the Brooklyn defense as if it were pizza dough before baking it with a bucket.

“They’re a good ball club, man,” Williams said. “They play really well together, ball was moving.”

The Nets had possesson down nine with a little over a minute to go, but could only draw up a Powell step back three out of the timeout. It clanked off the side rim. Down too much and too late to make playing the foul game acceptable, Brooklyn didn’t down quietly, but a bit quieter than usual.

Final: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117

Milestone Watch

• Terance Mann’s seven assists in the first half against the Suns are tied for his most in a game this season (fourth time) and tied the most in a half in his career (2/8/22, LAC at MEM).
• This was Nolan Traoré’s second career half with 10+ points, joining his 14 points in the second half last night against Chicago.

Halfway There

It’s a common misconception that the All-Star break marks the halfway point in the NBA regular season. That’s usually when we’re about two-thirds of the way there. Believe it or not, tonight was Brooklyn’s 41st game, meaning they’re now at that halfway point. Here was Ziaire Williams’ answer on what the Nets have learned and want to take into second half:

“Yeah, for sure, man, just a whole list of things. Off the top of my mind, we just got to start better. We start off 0-7 and we figured out, but even with tonight, we figured it out, and came up just short. But it’s all a growing process, growing pains, and the best part is, we have a full locker room of guys who want to win and wan’t to compete at the highest level. I feel like that’s the hardest part, is finding a group that loves each other and enjoys going to war with each other every night, and we have that, and that’s the culture that Jordi and the rest of the staff are building. So, we’ll figure it out, and there’s a lot of better days ahead, just got to stay in the process.”

No change in the Tankathon rankings. Nets still is sixth, still two games out of fourth.

Injury Report

The only Net to miss tonight’s game not for injury management or a G-League assignment was Day’Ron Sharpe. The Nets tagged him with an illness/throat contusion injury designation pregame. We’ll monitor the situation and update as we learn more.

Next Up

Brooklyn hasn’t beaten their cross town rival since January of 2023, and even with the Nets sporting the league’s fifth-worst record, it feels like they’ll have a solid chance to break that streak on Wednesday night. The Knicks are in one of their worst losing spells in the Leon Rose era right now, having dropped eight of their last 10 games. The quest for redemption tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

• Boxscore: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Ziaire Williams PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Terance Mann PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Brooks and Booker power Suns to a 126-117 win over the struggling Nets – Adry Torres – AP
• Suns bomb in 20 3-pointers, stave off Nets – Reuters
• Nets’ putrid defense far too much to overcome in loss to Suns – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• There’s no denying Cam Thomas’s Nets destiny at this point ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets torched from deep again in 126-117 loss to Suns – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets player grades: Michael Porter Jr. nets 23 in 126-117 loss to Suns – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self was reportedly hospitalized on Monday and did not travel with the team to Colorado "out of an abundance of caution," according to ESPN.

Per ESPN, the school said Self was feeling "under the weather" and was later taken to LMH Health, where he was reportedly given IV fluids. According to a statement released by the school, Self is "feeling better but did not accompany the team to Boulder."

Self had another health scare last summer, when he was hospitalized in July after experiencing "some concerning symptoms," wrote Bozello. He was released two days after undergoing a medical procedure in which two stents were placed. He also underwent a similar procedure in 2023 and missed that year's Big 12 and NCAA tournaments due to chest tightness and balance concerns.

Self has been one of the most decorated coaches in college basketball history since taking the helm at Kansas in 2003, leading the Jayhawks to 14 consecutive Big 12 championships from 2004-2018. He's coached Kansas to four final four appearances and national titles in 2008 and 2022 — making him the only coach in school history to win multiple national championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. On Nov. 12, 2024, Self passed Allen Phog as the winningest coach in Kansas history.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self hospitalized

NEW YORK— The Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 126-117 on Monday night. The team is 26-17 on the year and winners of two straight. Collin Gillespie, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks all scored at least 22 points and combined for 73 points. Phoenix hit 20 threes for just the fourth time this season in one of their best shooting performances of the year.

Brooklyn stayed resilient throughout the matchup. It was not an easy win for the Suns. Despite multiple 20-point leads, the Nets clawed back to cut the lead down to four in the fourth quarter.

Phoenix is now 2-2 on their road trip with two games left, and as head coach Jordan Ott eluded to pregame, Jalen Green could make his return to the court tomorrow against the Philadelphia 76ers for his first game action since November 8th. Phoenix looks to be getting some help soon.

Jordan Ott on Jalen Green playing tomorrow:
"That where we're headed."

1/

— Holden Sherman (@HoldenSherman1) January 19, 2026

The Suns continue to take advantage of lesser opponents. Brooklyn now 12-29 on the year after the loss, they haven’t loss a game to a team not in the play-in or in the playoffs since October. Phoenix is now tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for 6th in the Western Conference.

Game Flow

First Half

The Suns started hot from the field, hitting five of their first eight shots. Dillon Brooks made three early triples, an encouraging sign considering he shot 17% from three last week. Strong ball movement and penetration gave the team a 30-15 lead early on.

BULLSEYE BROOKS 🎯

Perfect from beyond the arc for 9 PTS on 3 3PM in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/hL0KA0DTJk

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 20, 2026

Grayson Allen got in on the strong shooting action. He hit two triples early on. Just like Brooks, he struggled with his shot last game going 4/13 behind the arc against the Knicks.

After one the Suns led 40-26.

Phoenix stayed hot from behind the arc to start the second quarter with Gillespie and Ryan Dunn getting in on the action. When the Nets started to gain some momentum leading to a Suns timeout, Phoenix stayed looking for threes with a Royce O’Neale wing three.

With a firm lead, the Suns were spreading the ball around. Jordan Ott was relying on his second unit in the second frame. Isaiah Livers got in the game and had some touches and Oso Ighodaro was doing a lot of ball handling.

Around the halfway point of the quarter, the Suns’ lead started hovering around 20 points, but the Nets cut into it with threes, ball movement and physical defense. The Nets ended the half on a 24-8 run.

At the end of two the Suns lead 72-68.

Second Half

Phoenix got their lead back up to double digits early in the second half. Brooks, Booker and Collin Gillespie all got some easy looks as the team kept a steady lead as the pace started to slow down. Phoenix had a lot of strong ball movement.

DON'T LET COLLIN GET HOT 🔥

16 PTS and 3-5 from beyond the arc tonight.@PayPal | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/Os00EpZBFt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 20, 2026

After three, the lead that the Suns built to end the first quarter was completely back. Suns led 103-89 heading into the fourth.

Brooklyn did not lay down to start the fourth. Thanks to their hot shooting and the Suns struggling to score, the Nets cut the lead to 5. With four minutes to go the Nets cut it down to four after a Noah Clowney And-one for their 27th point of the quarter in less than 8 minutes, but never got any closer.

Despite Dillon Brooks picking up his 14th technical of the season, the Suns built a sizable lead to take home their 26th win of the year.

---

Up Next

Phoenix will head to Philadelphia to face the 76ers tomorrow. Jalen Green is set to return for his first game since November 8th. Bright Side will be on the scene with live coverage. Follow HoldenSherman1 on X for updates throughout the game.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t able to get their offense going as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 136-104.

The stats in the table below are from Cleaning the Glass.

	Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	41.8%, 3rd percentile	36.1%, 82nd percentile	19.8%, 10th percentile	30.8, 87th percentile
Thunder	68.3%, 97th percentile	16.3%, 5th percentile	12.3%, 72nd percentile	14.4, 17th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• The Cavs couldn’t get anything to fall, going 8-35 (22.9%) from three (5th percentile). This was their lowest three-point percentage for a game this season. It’s a make-or-miss league. The best teams are typically the ones that make the highest percentage of threes. Their inconsistent outside shot is part of the reason why the results have been as they are.
• This was Cleveland’s fourth time shooting 25% or worse from beyond the arc. They’ve lost all four times they’ve done so. Last season, the Cavs only shot 25% or worse three times.
• The Cavs’ eight three-point makes tie their fewest for a game this season. The Cavs’ three-point volume has gone down considerably lately. They were in the 25th percentile for three-point attempts on Monday. Shooting fewer threes has been a recent trend. They’re 12th in three-point attempts since Dec. 13 and 18th in January. This comes after leading the league in attempts at the start of the season. The Cavs didn’t need more three-point attempts, considering how bad they were shooting it. However, it is alarming how much the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. I’m not sure what the offensive identity of this team is on nights like this.
• The Thunder outscored the Cavs by 45 points from three. It doesn’t matter how good you are in other areas. There’s no overcoming being outscored by this much from three. The Thunder shot extraordinarily well from deep as they connected on 23 of their 47 attempts (48.9%).
• The poor shooting was compounded by not being able to finish inside as the Cavs converted just 47.2% of their shots at the rim (3rd percentile). The Cavs did their best to get to the rim. They went 17-36 on shots in the restricted area (90th percentile for attempts). But that doesn’t matter if you aren’t able to get anything to fall. The Thunder were able to pack the paint because of how bad Cleveland was shooting from three. They never could establish any kind of offensive flow.
• Oklahoma City registered a 130.7 half-court offensive rating (99th percentile). The Thunder executed exceptionally well in the half-court. They swung the ball to the open man and trusted their offensive process. The Cavs dared players like Lu Dort to beat them with their outside shot, and they did.
• The Cavs turned it over 21 times. This led to Oklahoma City getting 23 points off turnovers compared to Cleveland’s eight.
• Cleveland outscored Oklahoma City 22-5 on second-chance points. The Cavs secured 24 second-chance opportunities to the Thunder’s four. The Cavaliers did this without letting the Thunder run in transition, as Oklahoma City was in the 9th percentile in transition points off of live offensive rebounds. This is the only area of the game the Cavs excelled in.
• Cleveland’s 24th different starting lineup was outscored by 12 points in just over 10 minutes of play. The Cavs went with a starting group of Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. That group struggled to get anything going offensively due to their lack of ball handling. They also didn’t do enough defensively to make it work. I understand and even agree with the reasoning behind this group. It just didn’t work.
• The Cavs are 2-8 when Mitchell scores 21 or fewer points in a game he plays. The Cavs have gone as Mitchell has from a scoring perspective this season. When he scores more than 35, they usually win. When he scores 21 or fewer, they almost always lose.
• Mitchell shot just 27.8% from the field. It was his third-worst shooting percentage for a game this season. Similar to his scoring numbers, the Cavs are 2-6 when he shoots under 40% from the field.

Well, if you’re only going to play well for like five minutes, the last five minutes of the game are probably the best time to do it.

The Sixers played with their food all night but still came away with a 113-104 win over the Indiana Pacers Monday night.

Tyrese Maxey again didn’t live up to the All-Star starter status he had just earned for most of the night, but he did have a career-high eight steals and got going in the fourth to finish with 29 points shooting 12-of-24 from the floor. Joel Embiid cooled off after a scorching first quarter, but also found it again in the fourth, leading all scorers with 30 points and nine rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting.

VJ Edgecombe didn’t make a field goal in the first half but got his coveted poster in the second, putting up 11 shooting 3-of-9 from the floor. Kelly Oubre Jr. started in place of Paul George and had his best scoring output since returning from injury, going for 18 on 8-of-14 shooting while Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 25.

On the front end of a back-to-back, PG was ruled out for this one with left knee injury management while the Pacers were without Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and, obviously, Tyrese Haliburton.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• Oubre kicked off what was a pretty fast offensive start, blowing past Johnny Furphy on his first two touches of the game to get right to the basket. Embiid eased into the game, stepping into his midrange early and often. The Pacers started just as well, getting the Sixers to overplay passes and swing to wide open baskets.
• No one’s start was more impressive than Embiid’s though, automatic with his jumper, making his first five shots of the night. That was the type of pace required at the start of this with Indiana starting the game 8-of-12 from the field. A couple tie-ups that led to steals were the only resistance the Sixers offered early.

Joel Embiid with 10 early points!

He's 5/5 to start the game 😃 pic.twitter.com/2Yu66FNjba

— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2026

• The majority of that defense was thanks to Dominick Barlow, who not only grabbed a couple of steals, but created a couple layup opportunities running off of rebounds. Maxey picked up that baton once more of the second unit checked in, cheating off a couple of times to poke the ball away for three steals as the Sixers led by three after a high-scoring first.

Second Quarter

• The second unit of Adem Bona, Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford all out there together was asking a lot offensively. That only became a tougher burden when Maxey subbed out for Edgecombe to start the second quarter. Even swapping out Barlow for Walker, that lineup was only able to score one basket in the half-court and that was a difficult layup by Quentin Grimes.
• Despite the starters trickling back into the game, it remained a struggle to score as well as stopping the Pacers. Maxey got himself open looks off the dribble but missed his first two jumpers off the dribble and was not looking to get to the basket at all outside of transition. Edgecombe, scoreless, was again not looking for his shot much.
• Just as Oubre hit a three that could have settled things down, they had another breakdown getting back on defense and the Pacers got those three points back instantly. Even if they wanted to just run everything through Embiid to fight back that wouldn’t have worked as he shot 0-of-3 in the quarter. The only thing keeping the Sixers in this game was their ability to generate turnovers. The Pacers turned it over five times in the second after giving it away six times in the first. A T.J. McConnell-esque backcourt steal from Maxey cut the Pacers lead to five, but they couldn’t get a good shot up on the last possession of the half to make it any closer.

Tyrese Maxey turns a sneaky steal into two points pic.twitter.com/ehawxHZpyM

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 20, 2026

Third Quarter

• The Sixers only looked slightly better coming out of the break. Edgecombe looked to attack the basket more, got fouled a couple of times, though he split both trips at the line. Maxey attacked the basket once, missed the layup but it was putback by Barlow. They got a bit of good luck to bounce their way when Aaron Nesmith smoked an open dunk, the rebound leading to an open Oubre three.
• Edgecombe’s continued attack to the basket paid off — he finally got his first field goal of the night with a layup and putback his own missed floater a few moments later. Perhaps most importantly he finally got that poster he’s been looking for all season, throwing it down over Sixers legend Tony Bradley.

THE ROOK. 👋 pic.twitter.com/c9mzMbFpMI

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 20, 2026

• It wasn’t a perfect defensive quarter by any means. Indiana’s guards were doing a lot of cooking off the dribble, and the two turnovers were the fewest the Sixers had generated in a quarter so far. On the Pacers’ final possession they finally swarmed T.J. McConnell so he couldn’t get his 10-footer off, kicking out for a missed three that allowed the Sixers to hang on to a one-point lead.

Fourth Quarter

• Some more up-and-down minutes to start the quarter from Maxey, who opened it with his fifth steal of the game and yet another fastbreak layup. He missed his next two shots, tough looks in the midrange, but got the rebound on the second and was able to put that back.
• The second unit frontcourt of Walker and Bona gave the Sixers really strong minutes, helping them hold the Pacers scoreless for over two and a half minutes. Walker’s hustle doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it certainly did in this one with his three steals. The only bad thing was the Sixers’ half-court offense once again stalled out and they only extended their lead to six.
• It took them way longer than anyone would have wanted, but the Sixers finally looked like a team that could put the lowly Pacers away in the final minutes of the game. Embiid knocked down a three upon returning and that seemed to relax everyone. Maxey continued his attack on the following possession, one more basket from Embiid followed and the Pacers were ready to call timeout to pack it in for the night.

Joel Embiid for three to extend the Sixers lead here in Q4! pic.twitter.com/YtGTOmvRVN

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 20, 2026

Carmelo Anthony saw firsthand what he believed had been ailing Knicks star Kar-Anthony Towns. 

It’s no secret that Towns has been struggling this season for the Knicks under Mike Brown’s offensive system and is having one of the worst shooting seasons of his career. 

Anthony, who recently took in a Knicks game courtside, explained what he’s been seeing with KAT’s game during NBC’s “NBA Showtime” Monday afternoon ahead of the Knicks’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day 114-97 blowout loss to the Mavericks.

“When it comes to KAT, [he] shot an airball in the fourth quarter the other day and I…screamed out, ‘it’s over with. Leave it alone, on to the next one,’” Anthony explained. “He looked back and said, ‘Aight I got you OG.’ But for him to shoot that airball and for him to acknowledge what I said in that moment, you were thinking about it. So you cannot think like that throughout the course of the game when you’re playing basketball, because now you’re worrying about what people are saying about me.”

Towns finished Monday’s game tied for the team lead in points, with 22 on 9-of-19 shooting. 

When Towns was subbed out at one point during the game, the Madison Square Garden crowd booed him, according to The Post’s Stefan Bondy. 

Towns entered the game shooting a career-worst 46.6 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range. He’s averaging 20.9 points per game this season. 

The Knicks have struggled as of late, with Monday’s loss their fourth straight.

Carmelo Anthony on Karl Anthony Towns:

"When it comes to KAT. KAT shot an airball in the 4th the other day and I said 'its over with, leave it alone. Onto the next.' He looked back and said 'ight i got you OG.' For him to shoot that airball and acknowledge what I said in that… https://t.co/oQ833AolYBpic.twitter.com/9EegJm3RtW

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 19, 2026

They’ve lost nine of their last 11 games dating back to New Year’s Eve.

After a close, tense win over the Timberwolves, the Spurs got a nice blowout against an inferior opponent, closing out their homestand the right way. Victor Wembanyama put on a show on the day he was announced as an All-Star starter, dropping seven three-pointers on his way to 33 points to lead San Antonio to a 123-110 victory over the Jazz.

The win is not a surprise, since the Jazz didn’t have Lauri Markkanen and have been likely purposefully dropping in the standings, but Utah shocked the Spurs earlier in the year, showing there’s something about them that can give San Antonio fits. At least for a while, that proved to be true on Monday. The recipe for a blowout was there early, but the visitors weathered a Victor Wembanyama three-point onslaught and a focused, high-pace attack in the opening frame, mostly by making a few threes, hitting some tough looks inside the arc, and avoiding turnovers. Had it not been for a few slow rotations by a Spurs team that looked a little lackadaisical on defense, the lead would have probably been larger than eight after the first 12 minutes, but the Jazz deserve credit for starting strong and staying within striking distance even as their second unit struggled.

Likely thinking about the second game of a back-to-back set in Houston on Tuesday, Mitch Johnson decided to go deeper into his bench than usual, sending in Lindy Water III and Kelly Olynyk to start the second quarter. It turned out to be a bad decision, as the lack of familiarity in the units they were a part of was evident. Even when those two sat, the defense remained shaky at times against a Jazz offense that moved the ball beautifully and consistently found the open man, finishing the half with 18 assists in as many made buckets and getting to the line at will as the Spurs’ players tried to scramble back to contest open looks. Fortunately, the Spurs had built a buffer earlier and scored enough to prevent the lead from fully evaporating. San Antonio was still ahead at the break, but only by four, and Utah seemed to have had momentum on their side.

The memories of the awful third quarter against the Timberwolves were fresh in everyone’s minds, and the Spurs have been known to head into the second half with less than ideal effort, so the threat of a close game in which the rotation players would have to log heavy minutes to squeak out a win was real. Fortunately, no one looked nonchalant this time. Stephon Castle was aggressive, attacking the rim to help San Antonio erase a significant first-half free-throw disparity. The threes continued to fall, and the defense got stops, which led to transition opportunities. All three guards had great stretches, and even Carter Bryant, who has had some rough rookie moments this season, looked comfortable on the floor, knocking down shots and playing with physicality on the other end. Keyonte George tried to keep his team afloat, but couldn’t. After three, the Silver and Black were up 16.

No lead is safe in the modern NBA, as the Wolves reminded San Antonio two nights ago, but the Spurs were locked in, and without Markkanen, the Jazz simply lacked the firepower to threaten a comeback. The lead ballooned to 24 past the halfway mark and Wembanyama sat the rest of the way. Utah made some shots that made the final score look closer than it felt in the second half, but the win was never in question.

Game notes

• Wembanyama edged out Anthony Edwards to be the fifth All-Star starter in the West thanks to the fan vote. He showed on Tuesday why he has earned the attention of the viewing public by hitting jumper after jumper and being a formidable defensive presence, finishing the game with 33 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals on just 27 minutes. Next accomplishment? An All-NBA team, health permitting.
• De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper combined to score 47 points in 27 shots to go with 21 assists. Granted, it came against a bad team, but performances like this one, in which none of them dominate the ball and all find their moments to shine, are what made the trio so tantalizing earlier in the year.
• Both teams logged over 30 assists. It wasn’t always the prettiest of games, but the ball moved a lot. The Jazz, even when not at full strength, run a good offense. If they add one extra piece and a rim protector, Will Hardy will lead them back to the playoffs in no time.
• It wasn’t a good Keldon Johnson game, but the rest of the regular rotation players were all productive. The starting forwards stepped up, with Champagnie hitting outside shots and pulling down boards and Barnes attacking the rim and dishing out assists. Luke Kornet was also rock-solid off the bench.
• There was also a surprisingly strong performance from a fringe rotation guy: Carter Bryant. It wasn’t looking good after he passed up two shots and was called for a charge in his first possessions, but he steadied himself and had arguably his best night of the season. He was a disruptive defender and strong finisher, showing off the tools that made him a lottery pick. Yet the most impressive aspect of his game was how he reacted to that initial adversity. It will take time and patience, but he could be a good two-way wing eventually.

Play of the game

Dylan Harper has been praised for looking mature beyond his years, but don’t confuse maturity with a lack of fire. The staredown on Nurkic after the dunk shows that the rookie has an edge to him.

OH MY ROOOOOK PT. 1 🤯🤯🤯

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/Bf0o66zHRI

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 20, 2026

Next game: at Houston Rockets on Tuesday

The Spurs will visit one of their rivals in the second game of a back-to-back. It should be an intense and physical battle between two of the West’s best.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Will Smith scored in his second consecutive game after missing a month because of injury, and the San Jose Sharks spoiled Matthew Tkachuk's season debut by beating the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 4-1 on Monday night in a game highlighted by a rare goalie fight.

Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky beelined out of his crease and all the way down the ice to take on San Jose's Alex Nedeljkovic, who had inserted himself into a scrum in the corner with 14 minutes left. Fans chanted, “Bobby! Bobby!” and cheered the netminder nicknamed “Bob” who has backstopped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

The second meeting between the teams this season, and first since Nov. 8, got increasingly chippy with pushing and shoving after whistles and more than a few punches thrown.

Between the whistles, the Sharks also got goals from defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Mario Ferraro and 36 saves from Nedeljkovic. Barclay Goodrow sealed it with an empty-netter, and San Jose won hours after general manager Mike Grier signaled his team is going for it this season following a lengthy rebuild by acquiring winger Kiefer Sherwood in a trade with Vancouver.

Tkachuk skated just under 21 minutes and had three shots on goal in his first game since helping Florida repeat and hoisting the Cup in June. The 28-year-old winger, who was picked to play for the U.S. at the Olympics next month in Milan, underwent surgery last summer to deal with a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle.

Eetu Luostarinen scored the Panthers' goal. Bobrovsky allowed three on 27 shots, giving up several juicy rebounds that San Jose capitalized on.

Puck drop was moved up an hour to a 6 p.m. EST start after the Miami Hurricanes made the college football national title game, which was being played in their nearby home stadium.

Up next

Sharks: Wrap up their road trip Tuesday night at Tampa Bay.

Panthers: Open a three-game trip Thursday night at Winnipeg.

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

Another day, another dominant victory from the Dallas Mavericks, as they defeat the New York Knicks 114-97 Monday evening. Part of the NBA’s slate of games honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the game started earlier than usual and the Knicks didn’t get the memo.

The Mavericks played one of their best games of the season from the opening tip, beating the Knicks handedly from end to end, who continue their collapse down the Eastern conference standings. Transition scoring and 3-point excellence propelled the Mavericks to an excellent offensive game, as they were able to leverage their speed and athleticism to outwork the Knicks.

The Moose is loose

Is it a bit sad that Moussa Cisse is the Mavericks best big man?

Yes.

Has he shown real flashes?

Also yes.

The rookie two-way big man recorded perhaps his best game yet as a pro, contributing 15 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. His effort and intensity has been a joy to watch, and he also brings real physical tools. His offensive skill is also not to be scoffed at, as his vertical leaping ability provides value in pick-and-roll situations. While the Mavericks do have a glut at center, Cisse could become an important piece if trades materialize.

Mad Max Christie shines again

There has been no player on the Mavericks who have raised their stock more than Max Christie this season. His development as a 3-point shooter has completely changed my outlook on him as a player. Rather than just being a good defender and athlete, he has become a legitimate offensive weapon.

Christie is shooting over 45% from three this season, and his volume is only increasing.

His archetype as a a player has become increasingly more valuable over the past few years, as the days of pure three-and-D players is over. Christie’s combination of shooting, defense, and tertiary creation makes him the ideal modern day role player. This ascension has made him an invaluable piece for the future of this team going forward, as he is a perfect partner in crime for Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks win track meets

If there is one thing the Mavericks do at an elite level, it is run in transition.

That was no more apparent than in this game, as the Mavericks racked up 32 fast break points, compared to only four for the Knicks. This type of easy offense is invaluable for this team, seeing as how they can struggle so mightily to generate consistent half court offense. Specifically against the older, slower teams, ones that often don’t have the effort or energy that the Maverick’s play with. The Mavs were able to snag rebounds and run immediately, often catching the Knicks in a lackadaisical jog back to play defense.

Semi-transition was also a major factor for the offensive success. This worked due to the Mavericks generating bad matchups, most often being Jalen Brunson having to guard Naji Marshall or Cooper Flagg, which did not go well for the Knicks. This type of fast paced barrage is one that has won Dallas games against contenders, as they often do not treat the Mavericks with any level of respect.

The Knicks are a failed experiment

While this is a Mavericks site, I feel the need to vent about this Knicks team, as they continue to play horrible basketball. The biggest fear surrounding the Knicks was the defensive paring of Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns, which has been realized in this recent stretch of games.

This game specifically was an embarrassing performance from both, as Brunson was hunted relentlessly by the Mavericks wings. His lack of size and effort is an incredibly hard combo to build around, as having a weak link of that severity is usually a death sentence for a contender.

Towns wasn’t much better, as he was not only a complete non-factor at the rim, but had a mission to inflict as much pain as he could upon Dwight Powell. At this point, I do not think a team built around Towns and Brunson can win a title, no matter how many 2-way wings you surround them with.

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Harden scored 36 points, and when he finally missed a couple big free throws in the final seconds, the ball came right back to him as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Washington Wizards 110-106 on Monday for their sixth straight victory.

Harden made two free throws with 36.9 seconds left to give the Clippers a 108-106 lead, and after the teams traded scoreless possessions, Kyshawn George missed a 3-pointer for Washington. Harden was fouled with 5.9 seconds left. At that point, he was 16 for 16 from the line, but he missed both free throws.

The Wizards couldn’t secure the rebound, and the ball bounced back to Harden, who was fouled again. This time he made both shots to seal the win.

Washington has lost seven straight.

Although the two teams have been headed in opposite directions of late, this game was close basically the whole way. Harden’s layup put the Clippers up by three, but Khris Middleton was fouled while shooting a 3 with 57.6 seconds left, and he made all three free throws to tie it at 106.

The Clippers were without the injured Kawhi Leonard for a second straight game. Trae Young (knee, quad) still hasn’t played since being traded to Washington from Atlanta.

Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 28 points. George had 18 points, six assists and six rebounds, but he missed a trio of key shots in the last couple minutes for Washington.

BUCKS 112, HAWKS 110

ATLANTA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 17 rebounds and Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak, holding off Atlanta after squandering a 23-point lead in the second half.

The Hawks led 105-104 on Jalen Johnson’s 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining before dropping their fourth in a row in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game played in the hometown of the civil rights icon.

AJ Green and Bobby Portis hit back-to-back 3s, Johnson turned the ball over and Antetokounmpo powered inside for a basket that made it 109-105 with 36 seconds to go.

The Hawks still had a chance after Nickeil Alexander-Walker connected from outside the stripe and Ryan Rollins missed a free throw for the Bucks. But CJ McCollum bobbled the ball and wound up flinging an off-balance shot that clanked off the rim to seal it for Milwaukee.

Atlanta nearly won after missing its first 21 shots from 3-point range. The Hawks trailed 54-38 at halftime and 74-51 approaching the midway point of the third period before finally coming to life.

THUNDER 136, CAVALIERS 104

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, Chet Holmgren added 28 and Oklahoma City rolled to a victory over Cleveland.

It is the 30th time in 42 games Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30. The reigning NBA MVP is second in the league in scoring, averaging 31.8 points.

The Thunder — who improved to a league-best 36-8 — tied a season high with 23 3-pointers and made 48.9% from beyond the arc. Luguentz Dort made five 3’s and finished with 18 points, while Isaiah Joe (16 points) and Holmgren made four apiece.

It is Cleveland’s worst loss in a regular-season game in nearly two seasons since Kenny Atkinson became coach. The last time it lost by at least 30 was a 37-point defeat at Miami on March 24, 2024.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 19 points, while Jaylon Tyson had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Jarrett Allen had 16 points in his 600th NBA game.

MAVERICKS 114, KNICKS 97

NEW YORK (AP) — Max Christie scored a season-high 26 points, Cooper Flagg had 18 in his first pro game at Madison Square Garden and Dallas rolled to a victory over New York, who were booed frequently in the first half while falling behind by 30.

The Knicks lost their fourth straight and ninth in 11 games, even with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart back from ankle injuries to return them to full strength.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are missing numerous injured players but the ones who did suit up ran the Knicks off the floor in the first half to win their third straight game. Flagg had missed the previous two, both victories over Utah, with a sprained left ankle. The No. 1 pick also had seven rebounds, while Naji Marshall scored 18 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 18 rebounds for the Knicks, and Brunson also had 22 points. Mitchell Robinson had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

SPURS 123, JAZZ 110

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had a season-high seven 3-pointers and finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds hours after being named an All-Star starter for the first time as San Antonio beat Utah.

Wembanyama, named to his second All-Star team and the eighth San Antonio player to start, shot 7 for 12 from 3-point distance and finished one shy of his career best, set Nov. 13, 2024, against Washington.

The Spurs had seven players score in double figures in winning their third straight and for the fifth time in seven games.

The backcourt trio of Stephon Castle (18 points), Dylan Harper (15) and De’Aaron Fox (14) combined for 47 points for San Antonio.

Keyonte George had 30 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 20 for Utah.

The Utah Jazz continued their quest toward a top pick in the draft with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs 123-110.

The final score looks like a dominant win, but Utah was in this game, and even led through three quarters when the Spurs pulled away. We don’t need to pretend, like the broadcast does, that the Jazz were interested in anything other than losing this game. Lauri Markkanen didn’t play for the third game in a row because of illness. Had Markkanen played, this one would have been a lot more interesting. Don’t forget, the last time Utah came to San Antonio, they won.

That said, the Spurs played well. Victor Wembanyama had 33 points and 10 rebounds. Wemby avoided contact with Jusuf Nurkic for most of the night, and so he stuck to his three-point shot, and it went well. Wembanyama shot 7/12 from three (58.3%), which is bonkers. It goes without saying, but Wembanyama’s ability at 7’∞“ is insanity and will keep the Spurs as contenders for years to come.

For Utah, they have a clear star in Keyonte George. George had 30 pointson 7/20 shooting and 4/10 from three. It’s nota great night from the field for George (likely because of Wemby’s defense), but he was able to get to the line and take 14 free throws. That ability to feel contact and generate points from the line is elite. He is really figuring out how to score night after night, regardless of who is guarding him. He also has the mentality you need to be a dominant player in the league. The Spurs were locked in on him all night, and he would find ways to score regardless of whether it was on-ball running a pick and roll or off-ball with cuts, pin downs, or other plays to get daylight. And if he has space going towards the basket, it’s over. If you give him room, he’s fast enough to get to the rim. If you’re in front, you have to have otherworldly body control, or he’ll create a foul when you make a mistake. It’s fun to watch!

He only scored 8 points in this one, but Ace Bailey is finding ways to impact games night after night. There might not be a more misunderstood prospect than Ace Bailey coming into this season. He was pegged as a selfish chucker, and he’s anything but that. He is playing solid defense that gets better night after night. He is also playing off the ball and knocking down threes at an impressive level. Tonight, he was 2/3 from three, and each shot was within the offense. We also had some of Bailey running the offense tonight, and it turned out well! He’s still extremely raw, but he is making quick reads, usually the first option, and he is making them work. A lot of the time, he’s running a two-man game with Nurkic, and it’s ending well. Tonight, Bailey had 4 assists, not bad for a “selfish chucker”, right?

The Jazz are well on their way to contention next season, they just have to get through one more year of losing games. They have a great duo in Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen, a very nice prospect in Ace Bailey, and they will likely have a high-level starter in Walker Kessler next season when he returns from injury. If they get lucky come lottery night, they will be one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference next year. All Jazz fans need right now is patience.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — A goalie fight broke out with 14 minutes left in a game Monday night between the Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks that had gotten increasingly chippy with post-whistle pushing and shoving.

Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky beelined from his crease to even things up after San Jose’s Alex Nedeljkovic got involved in a scrum in the corner.

Panthers fans chanted, “Bobby! Bobby!” after the two netminders were done tussling. Cheers followed when Bobrovsky returned from a brief trip to the locker room.

Bobrovsky and Nedeljkovic each got a 5-minute major penalty for fighting and an additional 2-minute penalty for leaving the crease to take part in an altercation. They stayed in the game.

The goalie nicknamed “Bob” has backstopped the NHL’s southernmost team to consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

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

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self did not accompany the Jayhawks to Boulder for their game Tuesday night at Colorado after being taken to a hospital in Lawrence on Monday, the school said.

Kansas' athletic department said in a statement that Self was feeling under the weather and went to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. Self felt better after receiving IV fluids, the school said.

It was not immediately clear if Self would attempt to travel for the game or if an assistant would run the bench for the 19th-ranked Jayhawks.

Self, 63, missed the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments in 2023 because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries. He had two more stents inserted in July.

Now in his 23rd season, Self led Kansas to national titles in 2008 and 2022 and is the program's career wins leader with a 609-156 record. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, the former Oklahoma State player also coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois.

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Despite being at full strength once again, the Knicks lost to the Dallas Mavericks from start to finish on Monday night by a score of 114-97.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Things started off innocently enough as the Mavericks took an early 8-2 lead thanks to some deep shots falling early on. That lead grew to 16-4 as Max Christie continued to knock down threes with New York unable to stop anybody on defense. Rather than trying to slow the game down while in an early hole, the Knicks tried matching Dallas' pace but kept coming up empty following quick possessions. The most glaring issue was New York's three-point shooting, going 0-for-9 from deep in the first quarter.

-- Jalen Brunson was the only starter who was able to get going offensively in the opening quarter, putting up nine points with little help anywhere else. With hardly anybody else contributing on offense, Mitchell Robinson added eight points off the bench and was a force on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds (four offensive) in just six minutes off the bench.

-- Meanwhile, the Mavs had no problem getting to their spots and hitting shots. They shot 6-for-10 from three-point range in the first quarter, with Christie and Klay Thompson combining to go 5-for-5 from behind the arc. After one, Dallas led 31-22.

-- The second quarter was even worse for the Knicks. After missing their first 10 three-point attempts to start the game, Mikal Bridges finally saw one go through the net early in the second, but that was quickly negated after Cooper Flagg drilled one from deep on the next possession. 

-- After a quiet first quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns countered with a vicious dunk that got the MSG crowd on their feet before Robinson slammed home an alley-oop that cut New York's deficit to seven points. That was the closest the Knicks would get for the rest of the game, though, as the Mavericks went on a 13-0 run that ballooned their lead to 20. 

-- Towns ended the scoring drought with a three-pointer and followed it up with another dunk, but soon after, he was called for a flagrant 1 foul that sucked all of the remaining energy out of MSG. From there, Dallas got whatever they wanted on offense and put up 44 points in the quarter to go into halftime with a 75-47 lead.

-- New York held the Mavs to 39 points in the second half, but the damage had already been done. Overall, it was a night to forget for the Knicks, who shot 40 percent (38-for-95) from the field and 29 percent (9-for-31) from three. 

-- Brunson and Towns each had 22 points while Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart (in his return to the starting lineup from an ankle injury that he admitted before the game was not 100 percent healthy) combined for 24 points. Towns added a game-high 18 rebounds, but also had a game-high five turnovers.

-- Robinson also had a double-double, ending with 12 points and 15 rebounds. He was the only other Knick to score in double-digits.

-- For Dallas, it was just the opposite as the team shot 48 percent from the field and 47 percent from three. Christie led the charge with a game-high 26 points on an incredible 9-for-13 shooting performance (8-for-10 from downtown).

Game MVP: Max Christie

Christie had the green light all game and lit it up by knocking down eight of his 10 three-point attempts.

Highlights

Jalen up top to Mitch! pic.twitter.com/crQ2xe9qF7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 19, 2026

What's next

The Knicks close out their three-game homestand with a meeting against the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night in a battle of the boroughs. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.