Category: Basketball

The Milwaukee Bucks stayed with the Philadelphia 76ers for three quarters, but a Sixers explosion in the opening minutes of the fourth was the Bucks’ undoing. Paul George and Joel Embiid combined to drop 61 points. Milwaukee has now lost all three matchups this season. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

38 minutes, 24 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, 9/17 FG, 2/4 3P, -4

This was a really solid game from Rollins after a slump. He got heaps of on-ball reps and made very few mistakes. I loved the pace he played with and his will to stay aggressive, even when it felt like he wasn’t getting the calls most players get. The dude is just smooth.

Grade: A-

Myles Turner

35 minutes, 31 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 10/16 FG, 4/8 3P, –6

Myles just looked so much more involved than he had been, hunting his shot at every opportunity. I’m not saying his lack of production was Giannis’ fault, but Doc needs to watch this film and figure out how to get him the same looks when/if GA comes back this season.

Grade: A

AJ Green

29 minutes, 8 points, 3 assists, 3/6 FG, 2/4 3P, -1

AJ was fine in this one. Wasn’t a negative out there in any real way, but the shots just didn’t find him, as can be the case for a specialist like himself.

Grade: C+

Kyle Kuzma

31 minutes, 17 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 6/12 FG, 2/4 3P, –5

While he had some ugly plays, I really liked Kuzma’s game overall. He utilised his screening ability and took what the defence gave him, making plays for himself and others. Another part of his game that I liked was his attacking in transition, which is the only real spot where you feel comfortable with him going one-on-one.

Grade: B

Bobby Portis

35 minutes, 17 points, 8 assists, 12 rebounds, 8/16 FG, 0/3 3P, -4

Bobby had some horror possessions on defence and missed an easy layup at one point. But for Portis to have eight assists is amazing. I mean, we may never see something like that ever again! Nah, but seriously, Bobby’s made some real strides this year and deserves all the credit in the world. Love the rebounds too.

Grade: A-

Gary Trent Jr.

20 minutes, 13 points, 4/9 FG, 4/9 3P, -16

Some poor possessions on D from GT, but as a shooter, he did his job on offence.

Grade: C

Gary Harris

13 minutes, 0 points, 2 assists, 0/0 FG, -9

Ummm, well, Gary did play in this one. I don’t recall him doing much to hurt the team, so I’ll give him that.

Grade: C

Cole Anthony

14 minutes, 10 points, 2 turnovers, 3/8 FG, 1/2 3P, –17

I didn’t hate Cole’s game. He’s been more measured of late on offence, but for a low-minutes player like him, he can’t be turning the ball over too much.

Grade: C-

Jericho Sims

10 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers 0/0 FG, –11

Sims had two of the ugliest giveaways I’ve ever seen. I mean, just throwing the ball into the fourth row. Not good. I’d be playing Pete Nance the rest of the way.

Grade: D

Doc Rivers

Overall, I have to give Doc credit for the way the team played through three quarters. They were crisp, sharp, but just not as talented. That said, the decision to go back to Jericho Sims was an odd one. I don’t love how he played Rollins nearly 40 minutes; it seems somewhat dangerous.

Grade: B-

Garbage time: Andre Jackson Jr., Amir Coffey, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Pete nance

Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince

Bonus Bucks Bits

• I thought this quote from Kyle Kuzma about Myles Turner was… illuminating: “he hasn’t really been involved this year from an offensive perspective, outside of typical kick-out threes.”
• Doc thought their defence let them down, calling it “awful.” Said they weren’t physical enough, referring to them having just 12 fouls for the game. Said he loved what they did on offence.
• Doc said he opted to go with Jericho Sims because they needed more size against the Philly front line. I guess that makes sense in theory, but the 76ers had 15 O-boards and 31 second-chance points. Now, would that have been worse with Pete Nance? We don’t know. Sims had just 1 rebound, though.
• I mentioned it above, but Ryan Rollins gets no respect from the refs. He seems to get hit a lot, and you’re expecting them to call a foul, and then there’s nothing.
• Tyrese Maxey is just so good, man. The league really missed on him in the draft. Joel Embiid and Paul George really turned back the clock in this one as well.

Up Next

The Bucks have a day off today and play tomorrow night at Washington, tipping off at 6:00 p.m. CST. Catch the game on Prime Video.

The NBA Trade deadline is in about a week and seeing the comment count on the previous lounge thread means it’s time for a new one.

As usual this is your one stop shop for talking about whatever in the world you want to. Potential Maverick topics likely include the usual: trades, tanking, and the various prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Trade front has gotten weird. When Anthony Davis went down with his one millionth injury, the market for rumors cleared right up. I hope that’s a good thing because Dallas needs to move someone, they’re too bad to be this expensive. While I’d love for them to keep Naji Marshall, if they can get a future first for him they simply have to. Daniel Gafford should be movable, but there hasn’t been any chatter about him. It’s all very weird. But a lot can change in a week.

As for tanking or pushing towards the play-in… I think the loss to the Lakers broke the hope. That would’ve made five straight wins. But who knows. If thye win half these games going to All Star maybe they give it another go. But I somewhat wish they wouldn’t because…

The guys in the draft rule. I love watching these guys and hearing people argue about them. The top 5 seems to fun and then the depth at guard looks great. This is a real key for the Mavs future. Who is your guy at the moment?

LONDON (AP) — Corinthians captain Gabi Zanotti scored late as her team beat Gotham FC 1-0 in the semifinals of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup intercontinental competition on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Zanotti connected with a cross and shot with her left boot to the right of Gotham’s German international goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who got her hands to the ball but couldn’t stop it slipping through in the 82nd minute.

It had been a scrappy game of few clear-cut chances for either team.

Gotham, which qualified for the inaugural FIFA event by winning the first CONCACAF Champions Cup, had pushed hard for the opener in the second half. Jaelin Howell forced Leticia in the Corinthians goal into action, then fired another good chance high and wide.

Gotham made a desperate push for a late equalizer with Berger going up for a free kick deep in stoppage time. Jaedyn Shaw sent it to the right of the post.

Corinthians, the Copa Libertadores champion, awaits the winner between Arsenal and African champion ASFAR of Rabat, Morocco in the second semifinal later.

Both the final and third-place match are to be played Sunday at Arsenal’s stadium.

___

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

It’s a “Battle of Texas” as the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets meet for the third time this season.

Both defenses have been particularly stingy as of late, and my Spurs vs. Rockets predictions call for a low-scoring matchup tonight.

Here are my top NBA picks for this Southwest Division showdown on Wednesday, January 28.

Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston, with the game airing on ESPN.

Spurs vs Rockets prediction

Spurs vs Rockets best bet: Under 220.5 (-110)

On the season, the Houston Rockets have allowed the fourth-fewest points (110.5), and the San Antonio Spurs have allowed the seventh-fewest (112.4).

Over the last 10 outings, both teams have been even better on the defensive end. The Spurs have surrendered the fifth-fewest points (106.7), and the Rockets have given up the 10th-fewest (109.8). They’ve combined to allow just 216.5 points, four fewer than tonight’s line.

The Spurs are 1-9 to the Under across their last 10 games, and the Houston Rockets are 2-8 in that span. The Spurs are 9-14 to the Under on the road and 4-8 to the Under as the road dog. San Antonio is 18-29 to the Under overall.

The Rockets are 7-11-1 to the Under at home and 7-10-1 as the home favorite. Houston is 21-23 O/U overall. 

The teams have hit the Under in seven of their last 10 head-to-head matchups, including six of seven in Houston. I’ll take the Under in this clash of top-tier defenses.

Spurs vs Rockets same-game parlay

Houston sports the best home record in the Association at 16-3, but the Rockets are just 8-11 ATS at Toyota Center. San Antonio is 14-9 straight up on the road and 11-11-1 ATS, including a 7-5 mark ATS as the road underdog. 

Amen Thompson has taken a step back in the scoring department, but he's been excellent as a rebounder and facilitator. Across his last five games, he's averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.4 assists, hitting the Over on this combo line in each contest. He handed out a career-high 14 assists to go with eight rebounds in Monday's win over Memphis.

Spurs vs Rockets SGP

• Under 220.5
• Spurs +2.5
• Amen Thompson Over 13.5 rebounds + assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sengun Stands Tall

Alperen Sengun has grabbed 9+ rebounds in 21 of 37 games overall, including 10 of 15 at home.

Sengun pulled down 13 and nine rebounds in two matchups with the Spurs, and he should be leaned on more in that department with Steven Adams out indefinitely.

Spurs vs Rockets SGP

• Under 220.5
• Spurs +2.5
• Amen Thompson Over 13.5 rebounds + assists
• Alperen Sengun Over 8.5 rebounds

Spurs vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Spurs +2.5 (-105) | Rockets -2.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Spurs +125 | Rockets -150
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Spurs vs Rockets betting trend to know

San Antonio has hit the moneyline in 17 of its last 30 road games (+19.95 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Rockets.

How to watch Spurs vs Rockets

Spurs vs Rockets latest injuries

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

The Wizards ended a nine-game losing streak by beating the Portland Trail Blazers, 115-111, in a chippy and kinda entertaining game, despite being nearly devoid of offensive competence.

Some of the fun was delivered by the return of Deni Avdija, who’s much improved and might be an All-Star this season. He’s been limited a bit lately with a back injury but still flashed what’s made him special for Portland — rocket-propelled transition pushes, physical drives that draw fouls, crafty (yes, crafty!) moves inside to get buckets or trips to the free throw line, and some accurate three-point shooting.

One thing I’ve liked about Avdija this season was on display last night. Some players seem to drive with a singular purpose. They’re either looking to score, or to get fouled, or to pass. It seems like their end decision is made before they put ball on deck. Avdija seems not to have made up his mind until he gets into the paint and the defense reacts, at which point he’ll try to score or kick to an open teammate. This is a good thing, and it gave his teammates several open looks. They missed a lot of them, but Avdija made some good basketball plays.

The biggest weakness of his game was also on display — six turnovers. For the season, he’s over five turnovers per 100 team possessions, which is high. His overall offensive efficiency is still very good (+5.5 points per 100 possessions relative to league average) and on a career-high 29% usage rate. This is quite good considering the dearth of offensive talent on the Portland roster.

Shaedon Sharpe is probably the best hope for an offensive helper, and he had a good game against Washington. For the season, his offensive efficiency is also nearly nine points per 100 possessions below average. Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday might help — Holiday is finally healthy and playing. Grant has been coming off the bench because of significant limitations in his overall game.

That’s more Trail Blazers stuff than I meant to write given that the Wizards won. They pulled off the victory despite giving up 29 offensive rebounds and an offensive rebounding percentage of 47.5%. Yes, Washington allowed Portland to get back nearly half their missed shots.

Big man Donovan Clingan sent a Trail Blazers franchise record with 13 offensive rebounds.

Washington won because they made threes (17-39, 43.6%) and free throws (18-21), and avoided turnovers (just 13 turnovers in 106 offensive possessions), and Portland didn’t (14-38 on threes, 13-23 from the free throw line, 20 turnovers). Portland shooting their “normal” free throw percentage would have given them 4-5 more points, which could have been interesting.

The Wizards starting group was bolstered by the returns of Khris Middleton and Bilal Coulibaly, and they won the minutes their starters played. Their bench was rough, and gave back most of the advantage the starters earned.

From the Notebook

• Avdija on brand — drove on the game’s first possession.
• Coulibaly maybe attempting to establish a brand, attempted a transition dunk on Avdija barely a minute into the game.
• 10:41 of the first quarter — Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Middleton did a nice job defending a pick and roll set. Coulibaly chased Avidja over a strong screen and stayed connected. Sarr switched onto Avdija and corralled the drive. Middleton rotated from the “low man” spot to pick up the roller and arrived in time to break up Avdija’s lob attempt. That’s good stuff.
• Wizards ball and player movement was good in the early going. One example was on a Coulibaly drive. He touched the paint and kicked to Middleton in the corner. Portland closed out well, and Middleton passed it back to Coulibaly. He turned and hit Sarr, who was open at the weakside elbow. Sarr turned down the open midrange shot to drive. He got fouled and turned it into an and-one.
• A theme throughout was Sarr turning down open threes. In the second half, I jotted, “If Sarr took all the threes Portland was conceding to him, the Wizards would never run halfcourt offense.”
• 1:51 of the first quarter: Jamir Watkins stripped Avdija’s dribble and got a transition dunk out of it. I like the play, though in fairness, I thought Watkins fouled Avdija multiple times on the play. Wasn’t called though.
• In the second quarter, Anthony Gill utterly wrecked an offensive possession by turning down a conceded three. Left undefended at the three-point line, he had two good choices — 1) take the shot, or 2) attack the space and force someone to defend him. He chose to stand there and wait for a teammate to come get the ball.
• Sarr had a career-high 29 field goal attempts, making just 11. He struggled throughout the night against Clingan’s size. It was a marked contrast when Hansen Yang was in the game. Sarr seemed to do a little better shooting over Clingan in the second half.
• One defensive possession I liked in the second quarter — Tre Johnson directed a Holiday drive to the baseline where Sarr loomed. Sarr’s presence prevented a Holiday layup and cut off easy passes. The result: a Holiday turnover.
• 3:32 of the second quarter — Avdija hit the turbo button in transition while Kyshawn George jogged back. George was behind the play from that moment on. This should be a teachable moment about what it means to play hard in the NBA. There’s no reason for the guy with the ball to outrun an unencumbered defender.
• Around 1:42 of the second quarter — this is the push-and-shove portion between Sarr and Clingan. The Portland broadcast showed replays that left Sarr’s umbrage taking inexplicable. The preceding second or two made it clear that Sarr was rightfully torqued at Clingan “boxing out” by throwing an elbow. The two got tangled up a few minutes later. I don’t think they like each other much.
• Despite taking just two shots in 28 minutes, this was a pretty strong return to action for Coulibaly. He defended well, coming up with 2 blocks and 2 steals and forcing multiple turnovers. He also got some rebounds and produced 6 assists.
• George shot just 5-16 but still had a very good game — 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and just 1 turnover. He committed just two fouls — one of them a semi-intentional “one to give” foul in the game’s final minutes. He went hard for a steal and ended up fouling, which was perfectly fine.
• Middlton had one of his better games, in part because Portland kept fumbling the ball in his direction (three steals).
• Sarr had 6 blocks to go with 6 offensive rebounds. He’s gotta get stronger. At one point in the third quarter, he got overwhelmed by Clingan’s size and physicality and did the NBA equivalent of tapping out. To his credit, he came right back and battled the rest of the way. The Wizards will want to add a physical presence to play alongside him in future seasons, I think.
• Tre Johnson has become a lethal shooter. The Wizards didn’t seem to run as many actions to shake him loose last night as they have in the previous few games. I’d like to see them show more patience in the halfcourt so they can run off-ball actions for him. Too many of the team’s possessions end in stepback threes early in the shot clock. They can get that same shot 5-7 seconds later — after working to get a better shot.
• The 29-year-old Skal Labissiere — freshly signed to a 10-day contract — made his Wizards debut last night.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	TRAIL BLAZERS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	45.0%	49.5%	54.3%
OREB%	47.5%	25.9%	26.1%
TOV%	18.8%	12.2%	12.8%
FTM/FGA	0.119	0.184	0.210
PACE	106		99.6
ORTG	104	108	115.5

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is 115.1. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Khris Middleton	27	59	127	24.9%	1.7	246	15
Alex Sarr	36	80	99	35.2%	-4.5	176	16
Kyshawn George	37	81	112	21.1%	-0.7	169	19
Bilal Coulibaly	28	61	205	6.8%	3.7	220	19
Tre Johnson	32	71	144	15.7%	3.1	167	4
Will Riley	11	24	151	15.5%	1.3	195	-10
Malaki Branham	2	5	299	15.8%	1.4	440	4
Anthony Gill	6	14	89	21.9%	-0.8	64	-8
Bub Carrington	28	62	76	19.3%	-4.8	2	-6
Skal Labisseire	4	8	0	9.4%	-0.9	-70	-8
Justin Champagnie	18	40	45	12.2%	-3.4	-36	-9
Jamir Watkins	12	27	49	20.7%	-3.7	-61	-16

TRAIL BLAZERS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Shaedon Sharpe	35	78	141	22.3%	4.4	197	-10
Rayan Rupert	19	43	139	14.1%	1.4	291	1
Donovan Clingan	30	66	116	24.9%	0.2	156	-17
Toumani Camara	33	73	148	13.3%	3.2	113	2
Deni Avdija	31	68	94	26.3%	-3.9	50	-9
Hansen Yang	12	26	113	23.9%	-0.1	75	11
Jerami Grant	24	53	65	14.2%	-3.8	-36	-1
Sidy Cissoko	15	34	0	5.6%	-2.2	-58	5
Caleb Love	17	37	75	21.6%	-3.2	-71	-5
Jrue Holiday	25	55	65	27.0%	-7.4	-77	3

As winter weather melts away in North Texas, the Mavericks return home to face a Timberwolves squad still figuring out its own identity. Despite injuries and inconsistency, Dallas has shown resilience — often finding ways to compete when it matters most. Tonight offers another chance to test that resolve against a top-tier Western opponent.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

🏀 Fixture:
Minnesota Timberwolves (28–19, 13–12 Away)
@ Dallas Mavericks (19–27, 11–12 Home)
📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
🕢 7:30 PM CST, Jan 28, 2026
📺 KFAA / MavsTV / NBA League Pass

💰 DraftKings Odds (as of 4:45 AM CST):
Spread: MIN -7.5 (-102) | DAL +7.5 (-118)
Total: O/U 231.5
Moneyline: MIN -285 | DAL +230

🎲 Game Side Pick: DAL +7.5 (-118)

There’s something stubborn in this Mavericks team. Even when outgunned or undermanned, they tend to keep games close. Whether it’s grit, pride, or the unpredictability of youth, Dallas hangs around — not always to win, but often enough to cover.

Minnesota has the edge on paper. Their defense is elite, the shooting’s cleaner, and Anthony Edwards — if cleared — changes the game’s math. But they’ve also coasted through stretches this month, dropping winnable games when intensity dips. If they allow Dallas to dictate tempo or get loose from three, this could be a closer contest than expected.

Flagg and Edwards are both questionable, and the line reflects that. But Dallas catching over a touchdown at home — with some momentum in the rotation and recent wins over playoff-caliber squads — is enough for a lean here. It’s not about belief in dominance. It’s about acknowledging that effort shows up, and sometimes that’s enough.

📈 Prop Play: Caleb Martin Over 5.5 Points (-131)

A quiet, high-floor option with volume trending the right direction. Martin has topped this number in 5 of his last 7 games, averaging 5.5 points in January on 54.2% shooting. With Davis out and Flagg potentially sidelined again, Martin’s midrange game and transition cuts have kept him involved. He’s seeing ~17 minutes per night and isn’t shy about pulling when open.

Against a Minnesota team focused on perimeter containment, there’s room for secondary options like Martin to slip through in the seams. It’s not a flashy bet — but it’s a solid one.

College basketball this season is top heavy, with the top 10 of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll having a combined 14 losses and no one with more than three defeats. That makes for a fun race to grab the precious No. 1 seed.

We all saw last season how valuable the No. 1 seed is when all four top teams in the bracket made it to the Final Four, the second time it's happened since seeding began in 1979. With how strong the top teams in the country look, that very much could happen again, making it paramount to get the top spots in the bracket and get the inside track to Indianapolis.

Bracketology: March Madness projection dominated by Big Ten

Selection Sunday is six weeks away, but we are getting a good sense of who is in the running to be a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament.

Arizona

Record: 21-0 (8-0). Quad 1 record: 9-0. NET Ranking: 1.

Why Arizona is here: The Wildcats put themselves in the top spot, one of two undefeated teams left in the country. The nine Quad 1 wins are tied for the most in the country, and most of them came in what was a challenging nonconference schedule that included Florida, UConn and Alabama. Arizona had a relatively easy start to Big 12 play that showcased its dominance, and it continued playing a top brand of basketball in a road win against BYU that ended a little too close for comfort.

What's next: The schedule only gets tougher. Arizona plays six ranked teams in 10-game stretch, which includes Iowa State, Houston and Kansas twice. Arizona will certainly be tested, but it is very safe right now in being a No. 1 seed.

Time to believe in Arizona? No. 1 Wildcats give reason to hope — and worry vs. BYU

Michigan

Record: 19-1 (9-1). Quad 1 record: 6-0. NET Ranking: 3.

Why Michigan is here: Remember when everyone was ready to declare Michigan national champion in November? Arguably no one had a better start than the Wolverines, who blew out teams for much of the first two months of the season, including a 40-point romp of Gonzaga. They aren't blowing teams out as much since then, but they keep winning — the only defeat a three-point loss to a hot-shooting Wisconsin team. The Wolverines got a big resume boost by ending Nebraska's undefeated season Tuesday, Jan. 27.

What's next: A trip to in-state rival Michigan State is the first major road game for Michigan, and February will only get more challenging with games away from home against Purdue, Duke and Illinois in a 10-day span.

UConn

Record: 20-1 (10-0). Quad 1 record: 5-1. NET Ranking: 8.

Why UConn is here: Dan Hurley is back in the title conversation. What's impressive about UConn's resume is the five Quad 1 wins all came away from home, including neutral games against BYU and Illinois, as well as a road victory at Kansas. The lone blemish is a home loss to Arizona, a game the Huskies could have won. The Big East has presented some challenges, but they have emerged victorious in every conference game so far.

What's next: The rest of Big East isn't near UConn, with the biggest challenges two February games against St. John's and at Villanova. This team has the easiest path to a No. 1 seed and it's theirs to lose, even without a top five NET ranking.

Duke

Record: 19-1 (8-0). Quad 1 record: 9-1. NET Ranking: 2.

Why Duke is here: Of course, Duke found a way to be even better after Cooper Flagg left. The Blue Devils had challenging nonconference slate and made statements with wins over Kansas, Florida and Michigan State. They are a one-point loss vs. Texas Tech away from being undefeated. The nine Quad 1 wins are tied with Arizona for the most in the country, picking up more in dominating fashion in the ACC. It has won every conference game by an average margin of 15.7 points, including two routs of Louisville.

What's next: An improved ACC will continue to challenge Duke outside of the two meetings with rival North Carolina. Clemson and Virginia visit Cameron Indoor Stadium in February, and then there's the game against Michigan that could give it the best nonconference resume in the country.

Just on the outside

Nebraska

Record: 20-1 (9-1). Quad 1 record: 6-1. NET Ranking: 5.

Why Nebraska is here:Nebrasketball is alive and well in a historic season for the Cornhuskers. The perfect start came with some caution as they weren't tested much to start the season, but all was validated with wins over Illinois and Michigan State. Even though its undefeated season ended against Michigan, the narrow loss proved the Cornhuskers are in the same tier of title contenders.

What's next: The Cornhuskers are in the midst of one of their toughest stretches with Illinois up next and Purdue visiting Lincoln in a few weeks. However, the end of the regular season isn't too treacherous. There's a chance Nebraska gets a top-two seed for the first time, and finally captures that elusive first NCAA tournament win.

Gonzaga

Record: 21-1 (9-0). Quad 1 record: 3-1. NET Ranking: 4.

Why Gonzaga is here: Another year, another run of dominance for Gonzaga. The blowout loss to Michigan has overshadowed what's been another outstanding start for Mark Few, with wins against Alabama and Kentucky away from the Northwest. It did enough to start the resume strong before West Coast Conference play began, which has been another relatively easy going run for Gonzaga in its last year in the conference.

What's next: As usual, Gonzaga faces an easy rest of the regular season, with the major challenge being the two annual games against Saint Mary's. Prime opportunity to boost the low Quad 1 resume, and the Bulldogs can hope teams above them start to slip so they can climb up the seed line.

Houston

Record: 17-2 (5-1). Quad 1 record: 4-2. NET Ranking: 11.

Why Houston is here: Last season's national runner-up has quietly put itself back in a spot to be a No. 1 seed for the fourth-straight season. The early season loss to Tennessee doesn't look as good with the Volunteers' inconsistency since then, but it was able to split the season series with Texas Tech. The Cougars are still one of the best defensive teams in the country and have become even better offensively.

What's next: The Big 12 gauntlet gives Houston more opportunities to rise, with games against BYU, Iowa State, Arizona and Kansas in the middle of February. That stretch will determine whether the Cougars can be a top seed.

Iowa State

Record: 18-2 (5-2). Quad 1 record: 5-1. NET Ranking: 7.

Why Iowa State is here: The high-powered Iowa State offense blitzed several teams to start the season, headlined by the big road victory over Purdue. It hasn't nabbed any notable wins since then, and the two uninspiring losses have pushed the Cyclones away from a No. 1 spot, mostly thanks to suffering a Quad 2 loss at the hands of Cincinnati.

What's next: There are plenty of key win opportunities coming up for the Cyclones. It ends the season with six Quad 1 games in the last eight, which features Houston, BYU, Texas Tech and Arizona, needing to win at least three of them to feel good about getting the first No. 1 seed in program history.

Also contenders

Illinois, Texas Tech and Michigan State,

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who can be No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament? Breaking down contenders

The Boston Celtics welcome the Atlanta Hawks to the TD Garden tonight as they both search for their fourth win in the last five games. 

However, CJ McCollum has been cooking as of late, and my Hawks vs Celtics predictions are eyeing him to keep it rolling. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 28. 

Hawks vs Celtics prediction

Hawks vs Celtics best bet: CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points (-105)

CJ McCollum was the main piece that came to the Atlanta Hawks in the Trae Young trade, and so far, he’s been as advertised. The veteran has cashed the Over in points in four of seven contests since the blockbuster deal. 

McCollum had 21 points last Friday against the Suns, and he also dropped another 23 as the Hawks beat the Pacers on Monday. He’s actually struggled against the Boston Celtics this season, with only 12 PPG across three meetings. 

Still, McCollum is playing well in his new surroundings, averaging 18 PPG since the trade, and clearing tonight's total in four of his eight games with Atlanta. 

He’s also hit the Over in points in two of his previous three contests on the road.

Hawks vs Celtics same-game parlay

Without Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown has turned on superstar mode, averaging a career-best 29.5 PPG, which ranks fourth in the Association.

The veteran has cashed the Over in four of his previous six outings, and during that span, he actually balled out for 41 points against, you guessed it, the Hawks. 

Payton Pritchard is a respectable 3-point shooter, averaging 2.6 makes on 7.4 attempts for a 34% clip. He’s drained Over 2.5 triples in two of his last three, and the Oregon product averages 2.5 made treys at home.

Hawks vs Celtics SGP

• CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
• Jaylen Brown Over 29.5 points
• Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Nickeil and Dime

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging exactly 3.5 dimes, and he’s cashed the Over in four of his last six.

Hawks vs Celtics SGP

• CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
• Jaylen Brown Over 29.5 points
• Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 made threes
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 assists

Hawks vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Hawks +6.5 (-110) | Celtics -6.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hawks +200 | Celtics -245
• Over/Under: Over 230.5 (-110) | Under 230.5 (-110)

Hawks vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Atlanta Hawks have covered the Spread in 28 of their last 45 away games (+9.30 Units / 19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Celtics.

How to watch Hawks vs Celtics

Hawks vs Celtics latest injuries

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

The Chicago Bulls head on the road this evening for a matchup with the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. 

Bennedict Mathurin has cooked against Chicago this season, and my Bulls vs Pacers predictions are eyeing him to ball out. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 28. 

Bulls vs Pacers prediction

Bulls vs Pacers best bet: Bennedict Mathurin Over 15.5 points (-125)

Bennedict Mathurin just recently returned from injury after missing most of January, but overall, he’s having a nice campaign. The Canadian is averaging 17.7 PPG, which includes 17.6 at home. Mathurin dropped 16 points in his return on Monday against the Hawks. 

The Indiana Pacers have already faced the Chicago Bulls twice in 2025-26, and Mathurin made his presence felt, averaging 23.5 points across those two contests. This is clearly a team that he thrives against, and Mathurin hit the ground running right away at the beginning of this week. 

He’ll make an impact this evening as a scorer. 

Bulls vs Pacers same-game parlay

Matas Buzelis has carved out a solid role for himself on the Bulls, averaging 14.8 points per night, but he isn’t playing his best basketball right now. 

The youngster has cashed the Under in three straight, and he’s only averaging 13.5 PPG across two meetings with the Pacers this season. 

Josh Giddey doesn’t shoot the three at a high rate, but he’s still averaging 1.8 makes on 4.8 attempts per contest for a 37% clip. Giddey just cashed the Over in his last appearance, going 3-for-8 from deep against the Lakers.

Bulls vs Pacers SGP

• Bennedict Mathurin Over 25.5 points
• Matas Buzelis Under 14.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 1.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Nesmith Drains From Deep

Aaron Nesmith has hit the Over in triples in back-to-back outings, draining three in each game.

Bulls vs Pacers SGP

• Bennedict Mathurin Over 25.5 points
• Matas Buzelis Under 14.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 1.5 made threes
• Aaron Nesmith Over 2.5 made threes

Bulls vs Pacers odds

• Spread: Bulls -2 (-110) | Pacers 2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bulls -135 | Pacers +115
• Over/Under: Over 235.5 (-110) | Under 235.5 (-110)

Bulls vs Pacers betting trend to know

Bennedict Mathurin has easily cleared his points prop in both meetings with Chicago this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Pacers.

How to watch Bulls vs Pacers

Bulls vs Pacers latest injuries

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

Things change quickly in the NBA. 

Just over a week ago, the Toronto Raptors started their five-game road trip by conceding 25 points and 13 rebounds to DeAndre Ayton in a 110-93 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Toronto’s fourth loss in six games and considering the franchise’s history with west coast trips, concerns about a potential downward spiral were easy to justify. 

But somewhere along the journey – or at least during this leg of the race – something clicked for the Raptors. They’re now winners of their last four games, including a resounding signature victory over the reigning champions. 

Despite the Raptors’ recent success, it’s important to note that their final two games in January may be a more accurate (and realistic) litmus test for what could await them in April. 

It begins with a matchup against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet. 

Here are three additional storylines to watch for. 

A quick turn of events

Immanuel Quickley’s value to the Raptors is worth the tricky discussion it often evolves into. His $32.5 million annual salary places him in the top 50 for highest-paid players in 2026. Quickley’s pay ranks him near game-changing guards like Jalen Brunson ($34.9 million), Kyrie Irving ($36.5 million) and Tyrese Maxey ($37.9 million).

Unfortunately for Quickley, his inconsistent play, especially in a league that demands a cheat-code level of quality from the lead guard on a contender, drew criticism online. 

But the 26-year-old has recently found his rhythm again and it couldn’t have come at a better time with his former team coming into town. Quickley missed the NBA Cup matchup against the Knicks back in December and the Raptors sorely missed his shooting ability. Toronto finished 11-for-38 (28.9 per cent) in that matchup.

During the Raptors’ four-game win streak, Quickley is averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals. He’s also shooting 61.1 per cent from the field and a blistering 61.5 per cent from three. 

Respect Scottie Barnes

The Raptors have a top-five defence without a centre, prototypical three-and-d wing, or a perimeter guard. That’s why Scottie Barnes needs to be more seriously considered as the Defensive Player of the Year. Forget the fact that he leads the league in what Yahoo fantasy basketball players covet as stocks (steals and blocks), or that he blocked the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren’s “unblockable” pull-up jumper with the game on the line. 

Barnes’ defensive acumen is best appreciated on film. Opposing offences perform nightly mental gymnastics to avoid Barnes, while the Raptors do everything they can to keep him in the play.

With Jakob Poeltl out (back) and Collin Murray-Boyles listed as questionable (thumb), expect Barnes to take on his usual heavy workload as Toronto’s defensive mastermind. As long as he can stay out of foul trouble – a tough ask when defending Karl Anthony-Towns in the post or walling off Brunson’s dribble penetration – the Raptors have a chance to get their first win over the Knicks in quite some time.

A big-apple sized kryptonite

When NBA fans look back on the 2025-26 season, it won’t be a surprise for some to conclude that the Knicks coasted through the regular-season due to a combination of boredom and self-preservation. 

They look like the classic example of a team that understands that the most important possessions happen during the playoffs. But even as the Knicks sleepwalk through the marathon, they are still 28-18 and good enough to be the fourth seed in the wide-open Eastern Conference. 

After dropping nine of 11 games, the Knicks are currently on a three-game winning streak. Like most teams, the Knicks are just better when they’re healthier. During their slump, New York missed key depth pieces like Josh Hart and Landry Shamet. Foundational pieces like Anthony-Towns and Brunson also missed games. 

It also helps that the Knicks love seeing the Raptors on their schedule. New York has won their last ten games against Toronto. 

This week, the Mavericks are turning the spotlight toward two of their originals.

On Wednesday night, Norm Sonju — the franchise’s first general manager and co-founder — will be honored at American Airlines Center. The following night, Mark Aguirre will have his number 24 retired, nearly four decades after being drafted first overall by the Mavs in 1981.

For a team that’s spent the past year recalibrating its identity post-Luka, this stretch is less about nostalgia and more about finally doing right by a couple of trailblazers who’ve been on the margins of the franchise’s public story for too long.

Sonju, now 87, is flying in with 18 family members — some of whom have never seen a Mavericks game in person. It’s a thoughtful gesture from the new ownership group and CEO Rick Welts, who made a point to visit Sonju in upstate New York last summer to film a sit-down conversation about the team’s earliest days. That video will be part of the Sonju tribute on Wednesday.

How do you build an NBA franchise from scratch? At Camp of the Woods in upstate New York, Norm Sonju and Rick Welts look back at the moments that shaped the Dallas Mavericks 🤠

Watch the full conversation on YouTube ⤵️https://t.co/bxizWWSIcSpic.twitter.com/zuVv7aHfsN

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 27, 2026

If Sonju was the architect, Aguirre was the early anchor — a scoring machine who gave the franchise its first real shot at national relevance. His numbers still speak loudly: 13,930 points as a Maverick (third all-time), a franchise-record 29.5 points per game in 1983–84 that stood until Luka Dončić reset the bar, and three All-Star selections before his 1989 trade to Detroit.

The emotional arc here isn’t hard to follow. There was distance. And now, there’s closure. The door began to reopen last summer when Aguirre attended the draft watch party — the night the Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg, their first No. 1 pick since Aguirre himself. Since then, he’s been gradually woven back in. This week marks the full return.

If you’re attending the games or just watching at home, this won’t feel like a spectacle. But it will feel earned.

No fireworks needed. Just two foundational names finally getting their turn to be seen.

Pressed by the legend himself: Mark Aguirre 🔥@drinkpathwater // #MFFLpic.twitter.com/pJ6ZQXNDxh

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 27, 2026

At first blush, a former first overall pick receiving an assignment to the G League isn’t an update you want to hear. But this wasn’t a demotion at all — just an indication to say he’s almost back to NBA game-readiness.

Zaccharie Risacher and Asa Newell were both assigned to the College Park Skyhawks on Sunday, per this update from Hawks PR:

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forwards Asa Newell and Zaccharie Risacher have been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks.

— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) January 25, 2026

The Skyhawks didn’t have a game until Tuesday, whereas the Hawks had a game on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. The duo practiced with the Skyhawks in the hopes of being ready for today’s game back with the big franchise.

Monday morning, the two were recalled to the big team and sat on the bench as the Hawks defeated the Pacers in a Monday afternoon affair:

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forward Zaccharie Risacher has been recalled to the Hawks from the College Park Skyhawks.

— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) January 26, 2026

Unfortunately, Risacher was ruled out of Wednesday’s contest in Boston despite these steps forward:

For tomorrow’s Hawks game at Boston:
N’Faly Dante (right knee, torn ACL) is out.
Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) is out.
Zaccharie Risacher (left knee, bone contusion) is out.

— Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) January 27, 2026

The Atlanta Hawks sent out this update just under a week ago (January 19) about the status of Risacher:

Forward Zaccharie Risacher, who has missed the last five games due to a left knee bone contusion, is progressing in his recovery and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

Sophomore Risacher last played on January 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Since then, the left knee bone contusion has kept him out of the last nine contests.

The Hawks have used Vit Krejci and newly acquired Corey Kispert at the starting small forward spot, but Risacher is the best defender of the trio. So, while we still await a signature breakout on offense this season, Krejci’s and Kispert’s recent struggles alone have paved the way for excitement over the Frenchman’s return.

That brings us to an unfortunate update. As of now, Zaccharie Risacher has not been selected for the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend happening next month.

The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars ⬇️

Tune in to @peacock tomorrow at 7 PM ET to watch honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter draft their teams from the pool of 21 NBA sophomores and rookies.

Austin Rivers will serve as the honorary coach of the @nbagleague… pic.twitter.com/WW4quEKMLX

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 26, 2026

Risacher could be named as a replacement for a sophomore if someone has to pull out due to injury, but it’s still a tough look for the former number one overall pick.

His stat line for the season has been somewhat underwhelming: 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 58% true shooting — a stat line that is almost identical to his rookie campaign that earned him a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. But with the above players all taking a step forward, that crowded out the 20-year-old Hawk for a spot on the team(s).

Here’s to hope that he uses the exclusion as motivation for improved play going forward.

The NBA trade deadline is next week, at noon PDT on Feb. 5, and there are dozens of teams in the league fighting for playoff and play-in position, including the Lakers and Clippers.

Will the Lakers look to trade either LeBron James, who for the first time in his career has an expiring contract after making $50 million this season, or Austin Reaves, who has a player option on a $15-million contract or could become a free agent seeking a big payday after his breakout to the start of the season? Not likely.

Are the Clippers in position to make a big move? After a woeful 6-21 start to the season, they went on a tear to join the Western Conference contenders.

Times staff writers Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen will tackle these topics and others in an NBA roundtable.

Q: Do you envision the Lakers making a big move?

BT: Let’s start with this: The Lakers will not be acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, and he’s the biggest name out there when it comes to the trade chatter. The Bucks don’t sound inclined to want to move Antetokounmpo and he hasn’t requested a trade. He’s dealing with a right calf injury that will sideline him past the trade deadline.

So, Laker fans, forget about that happening and that therefore means L.A. will not be making a big splash.

And don’t forget, the Lakers made a very big move last year when they got Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis, a first-round pick and other players in a three-team deal.

TN: The Lakers broke the NBA with that trade a year ago; a repeat event would be pretty outrageous, even for this franchise. After the trade that brought Doncic to L.A. completely reset the organization’s timetable, it makes more sense for this trade deadline — and the ensuing offseason — to be about recalibrating the finer points of the roster and salary sheet to set up for the true Doncic era.

Q: What is the most likely scenario for the Lakers?

BT: From talking to NBA executives and scouts who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, the most likely scenario for the Lakers is to make moves along the margins. NBA people say the Lakers are looking for big wing players, but they said so is most of the league.

According to some of those NBA folks, the names that have been attached to the Lakers as potential trade targets are Dallas’ Naji Marshall, a former Doncic teammate, Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis. New Orleans’ Troy Murphy III and Herbert Jones are two players the Lakers have shown some interest in — as have many other teams — but NBA people say the asking price is so high that teams are waiting to see if that comes down by the deadline next week.

To make any of these deals, the NBA executives and scouts said, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and his expiring $18-million contract is a name that comes up often as a tradeable player. Hachimura’s recent outstanding play has increased his trade value around the league, but it also has made the forward a very valuable player for the Lakers.

Lakers seldom-used guard Dalton Knecht has been a player that NBA people say L.A. is willing to move in a trade, along with a second-round pick attached to him to make it work.

TN: Knecht was playing with a lot of confidence through a brief stretch of this season, exhibited most by him taking charges in consecutive games against the Pelicans and the Spurs. But the Lakers have already shown they are comfortable parting with the former 17th overall pick. He was sent to Charlotte last year before the Mark Williams trade fell through.

Q: Can the Clippers make a big move?

BT: When the Clippers were 6-21, teams inquired about Ivica Zubac and were told the Clippers wanted multiple first-round picks for the 7-foot center, something no team was willing to do back then. Now that the Clippers are in the midst of a 15-3 run, the NBA executives and scouts said the Clippers are not looking to move Zubac, Kawhi Leonard or James Harden.

Those same NBA people said that the Clippers are looking for a pick-and-roll oriented point guard and that John Collins' name has been mentioned as a trade candidate. Also, the Clippers are looking to convert the two-way contracts to standard NBA contracts for Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller and that could play a role in any deal they attempt to make.

Q: Who are the biggest names available on the trade market?

BT: Antetokounmpo, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.

TN: And all of the big-name players are injured, complicating the trade market. Antetokounmpo is out with a calf injury he suffered on Jan. 23 and the team didn't give a timetable for his return, although the star forward estimated for himself that he would be out for four to six weeks.

Morant is sidelined for about three weeks because of an elbow injury. There’s been tension between the dynamic guard and head coach Tuomas Iisalo and some of that started after the Grizzlies lost to the Lakers in October in which Morant scored only eight points and was later suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team for postgame comments.

And Davis' status has been up in the air since GM Nico Harrison was fired, but he's now out because of an hand injury, the latest setback for the former Lakers big man.

Q: If the Lakers and Clippers do make upgrades to their rosters, what are their chances of making the playoffs?

BT: For the Lakers, as long as they have Doncic and James and with Reaves (calf injury) set to return perhaps as soon as Wednesday at Cleveland, they will probably finish in the top six, which are guaranteed positions in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers have gone 10-3 in January, the best record in the NBA during that span, and are now the 10th seed in the West. They are most likely positioning themselves for a play-in spot, perhaps even home-court advantage if they climb to seventh.

TN: The Lakers, even with their defensive flaws, are already firmly in the playoff picture, although Phoenix could complicate matters by trying to butt into the top six. The Rockets, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns are all separated by two games in the fourth to seventh positions. The feisty Suns have already given the Lakers fits this season.

Suddenly the hottest team in the league, the Clippers might simply back into the play-in tournament by default: Dallas, Memphis, Utah, Sacramento and New Orleans are the only teams behind them in the standings. Are any of those teams really going to make a late-season push?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

There was a recent Pop sighting in Austin. These days the winningest coach in NBA history does not often make public appearances. This one blew up on social media.

Coach Pop got an ovation at the Austin Spurs G-League game ❤️🥹

(via hispanosatx/ig) pic.twitter.com/TtjRG3dtqi

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 25, 2026

Last Sunday, the Spurs hosted the New Orleans. Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego, one of Pop’s former assistants, lit up talking about his time in San Antonio.

“There are very few people who have impacted my life the way he has…my thoughts are always with him, everyday. We just texted with each other a few minutes ago…he’s touched so many lives. I’m one of them. I’m fortunate that he’s been a part of my life.”

Borrego and the Pelicans actually used the former Spurs facility to prepare for their game in San Antonio. The space took the former assistant back.

“It was really cool. yesterday we got to practice at our old practice facility. It was amazing. It was like going back in time for me. I walked in there like I was a twenty-three-year-old. The smell of it took me back to those days. If those walls could talk. It’s amazing. But I sat there in the old theater room, the old locker room reminisced about how special this has been, this run has been. But it all started here. Surreal to take your team back to that facility. This is where I came from. This is where I learned. This is where I grew up. And Pop being a major factor there, and I thought about him multiple times yesterday. Sharing it with my team but also for myself. So it’s been a special visit coming back. I didn’t expect that. I didn’t even know we were practicing there. And we end up there and it turned into something that I didn’t expect. Wonderful memories and I was flooded with those yesterday. It was pretty cool.”

Borrego got his start as an assistant video coordinator in the summer of 2003. When asked if he visited the video room, he responded,

“I did! The smell did bring me back. I could hear Pop, ya know, yelling my name. ‘Ray,’ ya know. He called me Ray…Ray Romano. ‘Ray, get over here….Ray, where you at?…get the film, Ray.’ And at that time, it was with VHS tapes. My first year, he was bringing VHS. I tried to get Pop to DVD at that time. And then we tried to get to digital. So I helped Pop transition form VHS to DVD — that didn’t go well — went to digital quickly. And I was there for all of it. We walked into the theater and I sat where I used to sit…I could hear Pop’s voice echoing through that place.”

Today, Gregg Popovich turns seventy-seven years old. Quite a life he led as the head coach of the Spurs. Alas, he is now in his next chapter as El Jefe. Still involved and still impacting the game, the players, and the legacy of the league as his reach touches every single team in one way or another.

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There were many doors for Boston to walk through this season. Some led to a high lottery pick, where player development became the priority — while others offered a chance to stay competitive. Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics found something at the intersection of both, where uncertainty is a weapon and development is the byproduct of a relentless, winning system.

Effort, consistency, and impact are the only true currencies in this locker room. Most teams — especially contenders — rely on rigid hierarchies. Mazzulla, however, treats his rotation like a living organism. It’s a literal revolving door where strong performances are rewarded with minutes and roles can shift on a game-to-game basis.

For opponents, it’s a nightmare to prep for. Without a fixed rotation to scheme against, pressure points shift nightly, if they exist at all.

We’ve seen the importance of the Stay Ready Group culture the organization has built, but this team has taken it to another level. In previous years, that meant being prepared in a pinch. Now, your moment could come any game, at any time.

The lack of a set rotation could’ve been problematic. Instead, it’s led to heightened competition that is accelerating development.

When opportunity exists in a tangible, reachable way, players know they’re working for something. Celtics teams of the past few years haven’t had room for young players to truly break through from practice to the rotation. Boston’s most stable minutes belong to Brown, White, Pritchard, and Queta. Simons and Hauser lead the rest of the pack, but on a nightly basis, either could see their minutes swapped for anyone.

The youth movement has been the most visible beneficiary. Jordan Walsh went from an afterthought to the fifth starter for 20 straight games, leapfrogging Josh Minott, who had his own impressive stretch as a starter. Hugo Gonzalez found his path, stealing minutes whenever the game calls for effort and tenacity — even in crunch time. Baylor Scheierman has become a trusted rotation option, too.

Most recently, Amari Williams and Ron Harper Jr. have followed suit, earning opportunities on two-way deals.

But the revolving door applies to the veterans, too. Sam Hauser saw his minutes shrink in December, and now he’s started 12 games in a row, playing arguably the best basketball of his career. Similarly, Luka Garza was completely zapped from the rotation for nearly a month, yet he stayed ready enough to reclaim a significant role as the first big off the bench.

The approach is fittingly ironic for a coach who has long treated even the most basic life situations with tactical paranoia. Mazzulla has admitted he avoids physical revolving doors because “if one of them gets stuck, then you’re just a sitting duck.”

On the court, Mazzulla has weaponized that very fear. By refusing to let his rotation get stuck in a rigid pecking order, he’s ensured the Celtics are never the ones trapped. Instead, it’s the rest of the league left guessing — trying to prepare for a team where any man can be up and the door never stops spinning.