Austin Reaves’ career season will ultimately go unrewarded.
As a result of his calf strain, which has had him out since Christmas Day and cost him three games before that, Reaves can now not meet the 65-game minimum, making him ineligible for any awards or All-NBA consideration.
The NBA’s 65-game minimum for award eligibility is certainly a controversial rule. It also means that Reaves, who certainly was playing at an All-NBA level before this calf injury, is going to see his strong start to the year go completely for naught.
So far this year, Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. Impressively, he’s doing it on improved efficiency, too, as he’s shooting 50.7% from the field. While his 36.5% shooting from range is just below his career number, his effective field goal percentage is 59%, the second-best mark of his career.
As for the NBA’s rule, it has come under greater scrutiny this season than ever before. Injuries to Nikola Jokic and LeBron James mean both are unlikely to be eligible for awards.
It won’t be something changed midseason, but don’t be surprised if it’s something that is addressed in the offseason.
The good news is that head coach JJ Redick said the expectation is for Reaves to return during this upcoming road trip. However, it’ll still be a bit too little, too late when it comes to awards.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 17: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
Nothing doing. The Brooklyn Nets returned home to face a revitalized Phoenix Suns team on Monday night. Brooklyn battled, but the Suns were too much to handle. The L was their second in a row and dropped the Nets to 2-9 in January.
The opponent tonight… boy I don’t know. The New York Knicks walked in to this season with championship expectations and an Eastern Conference that was theirs for the taking. After winning the NBA Cup, it looked like they were on the road to a top seed and a run of good feelings. And then … things fell apart in a hurry. They got embarrassed at home on MLK Day on national tv against the Dallas Mavericks and have lost four straight games and eight out of their last ten. In fact, the Nets and Knicks have the same record over the last 11: 2-9. The sky isn’t falling, but things aren’t pretty on 33rd and 7th right now.
Where to follow the game
Ah we’ve got a full house tonight. YES Network and MSG on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. ESPN Radio and WFAN on radio. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
Day’ron Sharpe is questionable. Ben Saraf remains with Long Island.
Nothing doing for the Knicks.
The game
New York won the first two meetings in November. The season series wraps up in March.
There will be tons of scoring in this one. In January, the Knicks’ team defensive rating is 118.4, 27th in the league. After a great December, the Nets’ defense has fallen off a cliff as they’re allowing 121.3 points per 100 possessions, 29th in the league. Considering how talented this Knicks team is on both sides of the ball, that’s unacceptable and as Josh Hart said in postgame, he and his teammates have to “be professional.” Eek.
Speaking of players that need to be better, Mikal Bridges, welcome to the big time! When he got his wish to get out of Brooklyn a few summers ago, he wanted to go to a team that could compete and be on a team that’s one of the centers of attention in the NBA. He’s gotten his wish and when you struggle on the Knicks, that attention becomes a pain to deal with. We mentioned the defense falling off a cliff earlier, and he + OG Anunoby were supposed to be the top dogs on that side of the ball that would lock up elite perimeter players. If Bridges doesn’t turn things around on that side, things are going to get really rough for him.
Can Noah Clowney do it again? The last time he played the Knicks, he set career highs in points (31) and 3- pointers made (seven). Clowney’s had a good season for the most part, but there have been some rough patches every so often. He only grabbed one rebound against the Suns on Monday, and the Nets will need all the help they can get on the glass when Hart and Mitchell Robinson are on the court. A game like this will be a great test of his progress this season.
If Brooklyn wants to end their record 12-game losing streak against the Knicks, they’re going to need a big outing from Michael Porter Jr. MPJ returned to action after a day off on Sunday and led the team in scoring with 23 points. With the Knicks defense being a wreck right now and Porter Jr having the ability to heat up at a moment’s notice, tonight could be the right mix for an All-Star showing.
The Nets will also need to slow down Jalen Brunson. JB was named an All-Star starter on Monday, and it’s a well deserved honor for the franchise guard. He’s got bigger things to worry about these days, such as ensuring his team is on the same page and playing basketball that meets the expectations of a title contender. For the Nets, having Drake Powell chase Brunson around will be a great test for the rookie and one they’re excited to see. Powell has played well in his minutes and is carving out a solid role for himself on this team. A big time outing tonight will give him a boost as we enter the dog days of the season.
And there’s another rivalry we should mention: that between the two head coaches, Jordi Fernandez and Mike Brown. Fernandez started off his career in the U.S. as youth coach who worked with Brown’s son. Brown gave Fernandez his first NBA job as an assistant with the Cavaliers’ G League club and the rest as they say is history written by Brian Windhorst.
For more on the Knick situation, listen to our Lucas Kaplan talk with Erik Slater on Erik’s Locked on Nets podcast.
Player to watch: Karl-Anthony Towns
So I’m not on Twitter, the Everything app, much these days. The only time I hop on there is to share my Women’s Basketball Roundup newsletter (you should subscribe and tell a friend!) and then get the hell out of there. When I do get on there, the algorithm feeds me SO MUCH negativity on Karl-Anthony Towns. Between the despair from Knick fans (more than usual) and Mike Brown being brutally honest about Towns’ miscues
Mike Brown to @JLEdwardsIII on KAT play: "When you fall down you gotta get up…That wasn't the only play, there were a handful we did that, but there was no sense of urgency…it was a 5-point swing…we watched at halftime & he didn't even cross halfcourt. That sums up our night" pic.twitter.com/eEs1N5vae4
I’m starting to get the impression a turn is occurring against Towns.
Determined to not have Twitter cook my brain or steer me down the wrong path, I went searching for analysis from experts who follow the game and not reactions designed to gin up outrage, so I went looking for some real analysis from folks who know what they’re talking about. So I turned to Michael Zeno and our friends over at Posting and Toasting, and buddy lemme tell you what I found was concerning:
“KAT doesn’t seem comfortable in Mike Brown’s system, for whatever reason, but that doesn’t explain the lapses in effort. The team themselves are not putting him in the best positions to succeed on that end, but there’s been an alarming amount of stupid plays, drives, and offensive fouls.
When the Knicks are at their best this season on offense, they’re driving and spraying to open shooters. Defenses naturally collapse when someone is going hard to the basket, which allows for a kick to the corner. They just aren’t doing that lately. Looking at KAT specifically, when he gets the ball at the three-point line and drives, it’s rare that it actually results in a basket.
Whether it’s not going up strong, phishing for fouls that don’t get called, committing dumb offensive fouls, or just getting the ball stripped, it’s just not working. It’s getting to a point where it feels mental with him, where the struggles and the team’s horrifically bad whistle of late is getting to him and bleeding out to the team.“
Yeesh.
In looking at the numbers, Towns’ field goal percentage is at career lows, thanks in part to a career worst shooting percentage on shots inside of three feet and a lack of success (compared to his standards) from 3-point range. And although he had a good game by the numbers on Monday, he got booed as he exited the court for the final time. After the game, he was asked about it and gave a fair, thoughtful answer
Karl-Anthony Towns on the boos at MSG directed at him and the team
"You spend $140 to represent your favorite player with a jersey. You come to MLK Day here at The Garden and tickets are 3x the price. I'd be disappointed too" pic.twitter.com/vrTAznt1mV
I see no lies here. Luckily for KAT, he works at The Garden so the boss won’t spy on him… I think.
Nic Claxton will look to continue Towns’ struggles. Rim protection will be essential to any chances of a Nets victory, and Clax will be tasked with forcing Towns into tough shots at the rim when he’s in the post and silly fouls on the other end. The frustration levels are off the charts for the Knicks, and Claxton being able to put another bad outing on KAT’s ledger can turn the temperature up even more at MSG. These two teams are at vastly different stages of their basketball journeys, but all the pieces are there for the Nets to finally get a win against their cross-town rivals.
From the Vault
Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. It’s always good to hear Dr. King speak, so let’s take you back to 1967 and listen to Dr. King talk about militarism and the Vietnam War
It was a tale of two halves yet again for the San Antonio Spurs in their 111-106 loss to the Houston Rockets. The Spurs were red hot in the first half, scoring 70 points, but lost steam quickly in the second half as they finished the game shooting 39% from the field and 28% from three. Their first-half offense was among the best stretches they’ve played this season.
It started with Julian Champagnie going nuclear from three. He finished the game with 27 points on 8-16 shooting from deep. He was hitting everything in the first half, whether he shot the ball off movement or with a tight closeout. Champagnie’s heaters are thrilling and make the Spurs’ offense nearly impossible to stop.
Unfortunately, he slowed down in the second half. He only hit two of his 8 three pointers in the second half. The Rockets started to smother him on the perimeter, making it difficult for Champagnie to get a three-pointer off. It was one of the main reasons Houston was able to make their comeback late in the third and into the fourth quarters.
One of those players who hit multiple threes was Stephon Castle, who had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in the loss. It wasn’t a very efficient night, as Castle shot 5-19 from the field and 2-8 from deep, but he hit some important shots to take the top off of Houston’s defense early.
Castle’s best play came in the third quarter when he did what he does best: get out in transition and finish with authority. This windmill is something you’d usually see in the dunk contest, not with a defender coming to contest the finish. And-1 windmill finishes are rare. If anyone has the strength and athleticism to pull it off, it’s Castle.
Victor Wembanyama didn’t get a lot of shots around the basket on Tuesday, but this one was great. He just goes right through Clint Capela and uses his length to dunk over the top of him. The Spurs could have used a lot more of this on Tuesday. Wemby had 14 points and 10 rebounds on 5-21 shooting from the field in the loss.
With Wemby struggling, Luke Kornet stepped up. He was awesome on defense, picking up 2 blocks, and finished around the rim in the pick-and-roll on his way to 8 points on an efficient 4-5 shooting.
He and Dylan Harper have established solid chemistry off the bench for the Spurs. Here Harper finds him wide-open off the jump ball for an easy reverse slam.
When the Spurs were struggling in the fourth quarter, it was Harper who got them back on track a bit. When the whole team was settling for threes, Harper took initiative and got shots in the paint. Harper had 8 points and 5 assists off the bench in the loss.
The Spurs will have a chance to get back on track on Thursday night as they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz. Watch the video below for full-game highlights from their loss to the Rockets.
On Jalen Brunson’s All-Star recognition: “It’s great. He’s having a great season. It’s definitely an honor that’s well deserved.”
On halftime message after defensive collapse: “They scored 75 points in the first half. At halftime, we usually do the clips and talk about technical X’s and O’s and all that crap that coaches do, teams do. There was nothing to be said at halftime except for lock in and do your f–king — excuse me on that — do your job.”
On frustration and doing the little things: “It’s frustrating; it’s frustrating to me, it’s frustrating to every person in that locker room. And we all can’t get it back by thinking we’re going to go score and get this many shots. We have to embrace doing the little things and right now we’re not.”
On belief in the locker room despite struggles: “There’s no doubt in my mind. I believe in everybody in that locker room. You can ask them — I feel they believe in each other, too. We’re going through it. We’ve got to figure out how to get out of it.”
On team communication and collaboration: “I talk to management all the time, Leon and I talk all the time. Even when we were playing well, we were talking. So that hasn’t changed and that’s not going to change. I’m big on collaboration, not just with the players, but with the coaches, too. I will take input. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to make the decision.”
On effort-driven improvement in second half: “We didn’t change anything schematically in the second half. There were more clips from the second half that showed us doing our job the right way. We have to try to do it for 48 minutes.”
On defensive execution against hot shooters: “The two guys that we labeled hot were 9-for-11 in the first half. Most of those shots were open or we left our feet. No changes to the X’s and O’s. Just do your job. Play with physicality and do your job early. We all have to do our job for 48 minutes, and it didn’t happen tonight.”
On being fine with boos at MSG: “I’m OK with the boos. If we’re playing crappy, boo. If I was in the stands, I would boo, too. You pay hard money to come to the games and this is a form of entertainment for the fans. They know good basketball from bad basketball.”
On early-season rhythm and post-Cup decline: “We felt like we were in a pretty good spot through the Cup on both sides of the ball. For whatever reason, it’s changed. I’m not sure of the reason, but it changed after the Cup. We have to keep trying to find different ways to put them in the best possible position.”
On evaluating everything during downturn: “When you’re in the area that we’re in right now, you gotta look at everything. You gotta keep trying to find ways where you can help the group on both sides of the ball.”
ESPN reported Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting postgame & said they "need to find answers among themselves rather than the coaches"
On accountability within the team: “There’s been a lot of things to pinpoint. But as a team we know what we have to do. Either we do it — we care enough to do it — or we don’t.”
On accepting boos from fans: “I mean, I’d be booing us, too. Straight up.”
On failing to execute the game plan: “We just didn’t follow the game plan at all. As a team, we know what we have to do. It’s either we do it, we care enough to do it or we don’t.”
On urgency to fix issues quickly: “We gotta figure this out fast.”
On belief in the locker room: “I have the utmost confidence in every person in this room, in this locker room. Just things haven’t gone our way. But we have the ability to do it.”
On effort and care level: “We just have to care a little more about what we’re doing. It has to mean a little more to us.”
On his ankle injury embarrassment: “It’s as embarrassing to say versus watching. Just tripping over my own two damn feet. It’s that simple.”
On managing recurring ankle issues: “Obviously I’ve had things with my ankle the past couple of years. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be in the gym and doing all my treatment to get back to full strength.”
On team accountability amid struggles: “It doesn’t matter when. It matters that it did happen. So we’ve gotta figure it out. We have a special team and we’ve got a special opportunity and we can’t just let it go to waste.”
On responding to boos from fans: “You spend your hard-earned money to come here and for us to not only not win, but to not really have a chance? I’d be disappointed too. Fans are doing their part and we’ve gotta do our part.”
On cutting through excuses: “You just gotta win at the end of the day. Fans nor us want to hear any excuses. We’ve just gotta wanna get the job done.”
On lack of resistance in a loss: “We was gettin’ beat, beat to the punch, beat to the basket. We didn’t do the job we needed to do today to come out with a win.”
"We have to make sure we have a professional mindset to everything. We gotta come in & be locked in. We can't go into practice & have things said several times; we can't come out & not execute an ATO…At the end of the day that's the guys that have this jersey on"
On urgency as losses mount: “We have to go out there with a sense of urgency. At this point, 40 games in, we have to play desperate, because that’s what we are right now.”
On embarrassing level of play: “We all need to do some soul searching. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal.”
On effort compared to last season: “Last year, no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today. It was embarrassing.”
On diagnosing ongoing issues: “If I could answer that question, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation right now.”
On dog days and physicality: “We just have to play with more energy, more physicality. We have to figure out how to do that for the whole game.”
On professionalism and execution: “We have to make sure we have a professional mindset. We can’t come out and not execute. At this point, we have to play desperate.”
On building identity through adversity: “It’s a new philosophy, a new coach, a new system. It’s gonna take time to really build that, and you really only build that through adversity.”
"That's been the main thing over the last 11, teams are coming out more hungrier than us. When you get comfortable, when you've won, I think that's human nature and we have to fight against it"
According to Nick Kelly of AL.com, former Alabama center Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order after suing the NCAA. This means he is immediately eligible to participate in basketball-related activities with the Crimson Tide, including games.
“News: Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order and is immediately eligible to participate in all Alabama basketball activities and games, per court documents obtained by @aldotcom,” Kelly said via X. “This will remain in effect for 10 days or until a hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction is conducted. A hearing is set for Jan. 27.”
There is only one game on the schedule for Alabama before Jan. 27. Tennessee will come to Tuscaloosa for an important SEC showdown on Saturday. Alabama actually has a game on Jan. 27, scheduled to face the Missouri Tigers at 8 p.m. CT. But for now, Bediako appears only guaranteed to face the Vols.
Bediako is a few years removed from college basketball, last suiting up in 2023. He left in favor of the NBA Draft, not getting picked during the process. The San Antonio Spurs quickly picked Bediako up for the NBA Summer League, eventually signing him to a G-League contract.
At one point, Bediako got a two-way contract from the Spurs. However, he never saw playing time with the NBA team. Bediako has also suited up for the Grand Rapids Gold (Denver Nuggets) and Motor City Cruise (Detroit Pistons).
Shortly after news broke of Bediako suing the NCAA, a statement was released on the matter. The NCAA maintains they will not grant eligibility to players who have signed contracts with NBA organizations.
“The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako,” the statement said. “Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract. Eligibility rules ensure high school students get a shot at earning scholarships, and we will continue to consistently apply and defend these rules.”
Bediako was a key figure on a nice run that head coach Nate Oats led the program on, making two NCAA Tournaments and even earning the No. 1 overall seed in 2023. Bediako averaged 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 70 games played. Now, Alabama is hoping similar numbers can be put up moving forward, at least against Tennessee.
The Milwaukee Bucks try to start another of those pesky winning streaks tonight in Fiserv against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As we’ve all been patiently waiting for, it’s NBA Rivals Week, so who better for the Bucks to lock horns with than the Pacers, Celtics, Heat, Suns Thunder! Of course, this extremely bitter rivalry was born out of these teams competing on the highest stage last season in the NBA Finals*. The Bucks reigned supreme, steamrolling the Thunder and cementing their place in league history as one of the few teams to win the trophy!
*NBA Cup
Where We’re At
Well, Milwaukee did win on MLK Day against Atlanta, but it was anything but convincing—as most of their wins are these days. The Bucks squandered a 23-point lead in the second half, needing big threes from AJ Green and Bobby Portis to get them over the line against a struggling Hawks team. Moreover, Atlanta did them a solid by going 1/22 from three (yes, one for twenty-two)—the worst three-point shooting half in NBA history! Prior to that game, Milwaukee got rinsed by Minnesota (down Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert) and San Antonio. So yeah, the Bucks still have a lot of work to do to.
On the other hand, the Thunder—despite having long-term injuries to key players—just keep on keeping on, winning seven of eight. They did go through a rocky patch before that, dropping games to the Hornets and Suns, but have course-corrected since. Over the last eight games, they own the NBA’s fifth-best net rating, but rank atop the league for the season at large. Put simply, this team remains a wagon, and tonight will be a tough one for Milwaukee to win. That said, OKC are beatable on the right night, which Miami showed on Saturday in a 122-120 upset. Godspeed, Bucks.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) and Myles Turner (ankle) are both questionable. Taurean Prince (neck) is out.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, and Jalen Williams (the wing) are all out. Jaylin Williams (the big) is questionable.
Player To Watch
I’m going with Pete Nance, who, after dominating the G League with the Herd, got his first shot at real minutes with the Bucks against the Hawks, and did not disappoint. Nance made a major impact with five points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 15 minutes; the big man was +13 for the game. I’m looking at what his role develops into going forward. Does he become a regular in the rotation, or was that game more of a flash in the pan?
How To Watch
8:30 p.m. CST on ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Police said Odom’s black SUV had an “overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” and that the two-time NBA champ confessed to smoking marijuana earlier in the day.
Odom, 46, was arrested for DUI after failing a series of field sobriety tests, and received two traffic violations for driving more than 41+ miles per hour over the limit and improper lane change/failure to maintain lane.
Lamar Odom was recently arrested for a DUI. Anthony J. Causi/New York Post
Police said that Odom claimed at first that he “does not smoke marijuana,” and that his passenger was smoking a “little bit” of weed.
The report added that Odom was “driving like he was in ‘Back To The Future,'” the 1980s sci-fi movie.
Odom, who won back-to-back titles with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 during his 14-season career, also forgot to put the car in park when police asked him to get out of the vehicle, and it started to move before he hit the brake.
Police said in the report that Odom failed his field sobriety tests for a number of reasons, stating he swayed, lost balance, started too soon, failed to touch the tip of his nose on six attempts and stopped mid-way through, among other things.
The report also states that police asked Odom if he ever had a traumatic brain injury.
Odom laughed and said that he “had 12 strokes and six heart attacks and that he was poisoned at a brothel in Pahrump,” per the report.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, talks with forward Lamar Odom after Odom fouled out against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of their game in Los Angeles on November 18, 2008. AP
Odom, who is open about his history of drug and alcohol abuse, was referring to the October 2015 incident when he was found unconscious inside the Nevada brothel Love Ranch following an overdose.
The incident resulted in Odom falling into a coma for three days, and he previously said he suffered 12 strokes, six heart attacks and damage to his kidney and liver.
He nearly died three months after his divorce from Khloé Kardashian was finalized.
Odom was arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles in 2013 and retired a year later.
The red-hot Detroit Pistons will be looking to extend their win streak to four games tonight as they visit the last-place New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Cade Cunningham’s assist total is extremely high, but my Pistons vs. Pelicans predictions are eyeing him to pick apart a poor New Orleans defense.
Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 21.
Pistons vs Pelicans prediction
Pistons vs Pelicans best bet: Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists (+102)
While the Detroit Pistons are a well-oiled machine, Cade Cunningham is undoubtedly the focal point of this team, leading the way with 25.7 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. The former first overall pick is an incredible playmaker, and he ranks second in the Association in dimes.
No matter the opponent, Cunningham finds a way to facilitate the rock at a high level. The guard has cashed the Over in assists in four of his last six outings, and he just had 14 dimes on Monday against the Boston Celtics.
Cunningham is up against a poor New Orleans Pelicans perimeter defense that is allowing over nine assists per night to point guards, and they’re considered an easy matchup for the position. Also, NOLA is giving up 28.9 dimes per contest overall, which is second-worst in the NBA.
He’ll cook tonight as a passer.
Pistons vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Jalen Duren is a physical specimen down low, and he’s proving to be an irreplaceable piece to the Pistons on both ends of the floor. On the boards, Duren is a monster, and he’s averaging 10.7 rebounds per contest.
While Duren has only cashed the Over once in his last four appearances, he’s up against a Pelicans team that is giving up over 15 boards per night to centers. Duren will take advantage and have a big game on the glass.
Trey Murphy is one of the lone bright spots for the Pels. He’s averaging a career-best 22.2 points, and the University of Virginia product is cooking in January.
This month, Murphy is averaging 29.1 PPG. He’s hit the Over in points in eight straight contests, and during that span, Murphy had three 30+ performances, and also a 42-point eruption.
Pistons vs Pelicans SGP
Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Robinson on a roll
Duncan Robinson is on fire from deep right now, cashing the Over in made triples in five consecutive games.
Pistons vs Pelicans SGP
Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes
Pistons vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Pistons -9.5 | Pelicans +9.5
Moneyline: Pistons -420 | Pelicans +330
Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5
Pistons vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Pistons have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 40 games (+16.70 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Pistons vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Detroit, GCSEN
Pistons vs Pelicans latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Thunder vs Bucks best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds (-110)
Chet Holmgren’s role in the Oklahoma City Thunder frontcourt has been amplified since losing fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein to a calf strain in late December. The most notable change in Chet’s output has come on the glass.
Before the heftier Hartenstein went down, Holmgren was grabbing 7.9 rebounds per game on an average of 14.3 rebounding chances. In the 11 games without Hartenstein, Holmgren’s pulling down 10 boards on 17.6 rebounding chances a night.
In fact, Chet has been making a conscious effort to be bigger on the boards over the past two weeks.
After recording only six rebounds in a shocking loss to the Hornets on January 5, the 7-foot Gonzaga product noted the dip in rebounding without Hartenstein and pointed the finger at himself for not picking up the slack. Holmgren had this to say:
I just got to look in the mirror and be better in that area.
Since that game, Chet has recorded double figures in rebounds in four of his last six outings, and he has an excellent opportunity to add another 10+ boards vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks enter Wednesday with the second-lowest rebound rate in the NBA (47.6%), watching foes collect 54.7 rebounds per game (11th most). Milwaukee could also be down standout center Myles Turner and reserve Kevin Porter Jr. (who combine for more than 10 rebounds an outing).
Holmgren’s projections sit between 8.5 and 10 rebounds, with the majority of models pointing to another 10+ rebounds. My number comes out to 10.5 boards, which should have the Over 9.5 priced around -130.
Thunder vs Bucks same-game parlay
Milwaukee is offensively challenged at the best of times, without the help of the NBA’s stingiest defense.
Ryan Rollins sees a significant split in scoring at home, averaging four more points on 50% shooting.
Thunder vs Bucks SGP
Thunder -9.5
Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thunder Struck Bucks
The Bucks are one of the best Under bets in the NBA, and they're now facing OKC's top defense.
Thunder vs Bucks SGP
Thunder -9.5
Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
Under 227
Thunder vs Bucks odds
Spread: Thunder -9.5 | Bucks +9.5
Moneyline: Thunder -400 | Bucks +320
Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227
Thunder vs Bucks betting trend to know
Milwaukee is 4-10 SU and ATS vs. Western Conference opponents this season, including 1-5 SU and ATS at home in non-conference clashes. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Bucks.
How to watch Thunder vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Thunder vs Bucks latest injuries
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Lakers owner Jeanie Buss soured on superstar LeBron James, privately complaining about his “outsized ego” and the control that he and his agency, KlutchSports, allegedly have over the storied franchise, sources told ESPN in a bombshell report published Wednesday.
Buss, 64, reportedly believed James lacked accountability, including with his deflection of blame regarding the unsuccessful Russell Westbrook trade prior to the 2021-22 season.
LeBron James speaks on video of him saying "Happy International Women's Day” to Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis pic.twitter.com/Zi11Zxm7iI
James is in his eighth and perhaps final season with the Lakers after joining the franchise in a seismic move ahead of the 2018-19 season.
His decision to head West galvanized a proud franchise that had missed the playoffs in five straight seasons before his arrival.
The Lakers missed the playoffs in his first season before winning their 18th championship in 2020 during “The Bubble” campaign.
It’s typical for players, not executives, to receive praise for turning franchises around, but Buss did not like that James was viewed as the “savior,” per ESPN.
Buss reportedly felt that it should have been the team’s executives that received praise for wooing James to the Lakers, rather than the idea he joined them and helped right the ship.
ESPN said team sources have long claimed that James told Lakers’ folks beginning in 2017 that he would be leaving Cleveland to join them in free agency for the 2018-19 season.
LeBron James during a win over the Nuggets on Jan. 20, 2026. AP
The 2021-22 campaign did not help their relationship since that marked Westbrook’s arrival.
While the idea of two of the best players of the 2010s teaming up seemed like it could have potential, the Lakers instead flopped with a 33-49 record that kept them out of the playoffs.
The Lakers reportedly made the trade to placate James, but after it blew up Buss felt the superstar didn’t acknowledge his role in the transaction.
LeBron (l) and Jeanie Buss (r) hug after winning the NBA title in 2020. NBAE via Getty Images
Buss’ views on James dived to the point that she even considered trading him during the 2022 season after failing to give him a contract extension, per ESPN.
She reportedly later felt slighted by James’ response after the franchise drafted his son, Bronny, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft in a questionable move.
Folks close to the organization told ESPN that Buss felt LeBron should have been grateful for what the franchise did, which ultimately allowed the duo to become the first father and son to play alongside one another in league history, but the four-time NBA champ did not display that gratitude to her.
Jeanie Buss in 2023. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Buss’ attitude toward James even led to her feeling she needed to extend him during the 2024 summer simply to avoid the bad public relations that would come if they let him walk.
These details have come to light with James potentially in his last year with the franchise after opting into his $52.6 million contract for this season.
James is averaging 22.5 points across 25 games, with his historic run of 21 straight years being named a starter for the All-Star Game being snapped.
The Lakers are in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record.
How many times does a team need to learn the same lesson before it’s legitimately recitified?
The San Antonio Spurs blew another double-digit lead on Tuesday night in a 111-106 loss to the Houston Rockets. This time, it was a 16-point lead that disappeared halfway through the fourth quarter after a big run from the Rockets. There were no late-game heroics that could save them this time. Houston steamrolled the Spurs for the entirety of the fourth.
The signs are always the same. The offense slows to a halt while the Spurs bleed transition buckets on the other end. Too often, the Spurs exhibit complacency when they hold a big lead. Their ball movement stalls, they get loose with the ball, and they make defensive mistakes in transition and the half-court. The Spurs went scoreless for the first four and a half minutes of the fourth while Houston cut the lead to 1. During that stretch, San Antonio didn’t attempt a two-point shot. They finished the final frame, only scoring 14 points. They looked completely shaken while the Rockets ratcheted up the defensive pressure and overall intensity.
The funny part is that Tuesday’s collapse wasn’t even their worst of the season. They’ve blown bigger leads to worse teams in more embarrassing fashion. But this one was against a rival, so it may sting the team a little bit more. Maybe it’ll be the wake-up call they need to stop blowing leads.
We’ve learned that no lead is safe in the modern NBA. That’s especially true in the playoffs when teams have no reason to take their foot off the gas. This problem isn’t going away without a mindset shift from the players or a tactical change from the coaching staff. If San Antonio wants to contend in the postseason, they have to nip this habit in the bud.
Takeaways
Straightening basketball rims is hard! It took the Rockets’ staff nearly 20 minutes to straighten a rim that the Spurs bent in pre-game warmups. They even had to look at it again in the fourth quarter. Blame the cold shooting in the second half on that, I guess?
San Antonio went from red hot in the first half to ice cold in the second. You could attribute that to several factors. One, the second night of a back-to-back means dead legs, especially late in the game. Two, the Rockets started to close out aggressively on Julian Champagnie, who had been hitting everything in the first half. Three, the quality of looks was worse in the second half. San Antonio stopped generating good offensive looks for the most part. Credit the Rockets’ defense for getting much better in crunch time, but the Spurs didn’t help matters by settling for contested looks.
San Antonio wasted a Champagnie heater. He had 27 points on 8-16 shooting from the three-point line. When he’s on fire, it feels like the Spurs are impossible to guard. It’s no coincidence that the game shifted the other way when the Rockets smothered him.
Victor Wembanyama struggled on both ends against Houston. He settled for contested, fadeaway jumpers far too often, leading to an inefficient 14 points on 5-21 shooting. Defensively, he was out of position and fell for foul-baiting, as Houston outscored San Antonio 52-46 in the paint. Wemby registered no blocks and recorded 4 fouls.
Dylan Harper and Luke Kornet were great off the bench. Harper had 8 points, 5 assists, and 1 turnover, with many of his passes finding Kornet for easy baskets. Kornet was awesome defensively, picking up 2 blocks to go along with his 8 points and 6 rebounds.
The Spurs offense continues to look at its best when it’s playing off a pick-and-roll initiated by either Harper or De’Aaron Fox, or running off-ball screens for Wembanyama and its shooters to get good looks. Yet in the fourth quarter, they seem to rely on high-post isolation plays that lead nowhere. The offensive playbook clearly needs some adjusting, especially late in the game. Finding some go-to plays and counters off of them should be a priority for the team down the stretch this season.
Reed Sheppard would have been an amazing Spur had he fallen to the fourth pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Of course, Spurs fans should be happy with Stephon Castle, who nearly had a triple-double with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists on Tuesday. However, Sheppard’s combination of shooting, defensive instincts, fast hands, and athletic ability for his size is going to make him a tough guard to play against for years to come. Sheppard completely took over the game in the fourth quarter on his way to 21 points off the bench.
After getting hammered in the first two of a five-game road set, it doesn’t get easier for the Indiana Pacers, who square off with the Boston Celtics at TD Garden tonight.
My Pacers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks don't expect Indiana to keep up its end of the scoring bargain, ultimately dragging down the total, on Wednesday, January 21.
Pacers vs Celtics prediction
Pacers vs Celtics best bet: Under 227.5 (-110)
On Saturday, the Indiana Pacers put up their fewest points of the campaign in a 121-78 thrashing at the hands of the Pistons.
They followed that up by scoring just 104 points in a loss to the 76ers, turning it over a whopping 24 times.
Over their last five games, Indiana has scored 104 points or less four times – well below their 110.1 points per game average on the year, which ranks 29th, better than only Brooklyn.
Amazingly, one of those games was a win against these same Boston Celtics, who have lost three of five, with the C’s putting up just 98 points per game in those losses.
Still, in what was supposed to be a regroup year, Boston sits second in the East, powered by All-Star Jaylen Brown.
However, Brown did find his way onto the injury report with a hamstring injury, though he is listed as probable for Wednesday. The one loss to Indy was with Brown out of the lineup.
Indiana can’t score, and Boston owns the second-best scoring defense in the league, and third-best field goal shooting defense.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Under has hit in two of three meetings this season. Indiana has cashed the Under in six of its last seven, and the beat (and beatings) should go on in Beantown.
Pacers vs Celtics same-game parlay
Brown was just named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career on Monday, and Indy is a good opponent to showcase his wares. He’s topped 30 points in both meetings with the Pacers, clearing this total once and falling short by a free throw the other.
And perhaps the books haven’t been following Aaron Nesmith too closely, setting his 3-point make line at 2.5. He’s gone Under that figure in six straight, and is just 2-for-22 from distance in his last three games.
Pacers vs Celtics SGP
Under 227.5
Jaylen Brown Over 30.5 points
Aaron Nesmith Under 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Derrick White's Block Party
Neemias Queta has been a revelation for Boston’s improbable run this year, leading the team in rebounds at 8.2 per game. But he’s only topped his 8.5-board line in two of the last six, and has gone sub-9 in all three games vs. Indy this year.
We’ll finish with the Over for the best blocking guard in the business. Derrick White has had multi-block games in eight of his last 11, including a 7-swat effort against Utah.
The Pacers have lost 15 straight road games vs teams with a winning record. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Celtics.
How to watch Pacers vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Indiana, NBC Sports Boston
Pacers vs Celtics latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Mike Dunleavy may have been a sharpshooter during his 15-year NBA career, but he showed Tuesday night he can still dunk when needed.
The Warriors’ general manager provided a brutal reality check to Jonathan Kuminga, who recently demanded a trade following rocky offseason contract negotiations with the team.
“I think as far as the demand, we’re aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand, there needs to be a demand in the market,” Dunleavy said Tuesday night, one day after the team lost superstar Jimmy Butler for the year with a torn ACL.
“So, we’ll see where that unfolds. But heard, always with these guys, I tell them I’m willing to work with them, want to help people out whether that’s J.K. or any player on our roster. We’re good with, if that’s his wishes, trying to figure that out, but we got to do what’s best for our organization and that’s what we’ll do, as far as it goes with the deadline coming up.”
Mike Dunleavy on the Jonathan Kuminga trade demand: “I’m aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand there needs to be demand.” pic.twitter.com/XOGXj3HFrs
It’s not often you hear a general manager basically say that nobody wants their player, but it would appear there is mounting frustration on both sides.
The Warriors selected Kuminga with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and it’s been a bumpy journey since.
Kuminga reportedly lost faith in coach Steve Kerr during the 2023-24 season, raising questions about his future with the team.
He then rejected a three-year, $75 million contract to become a free agent faster, with the sides agreeing in September to a two-year, $48.5 million deal.
ESPN reported the second year is essentially a dummy year, allowing Kuminga to hit free agency earlier.
Jonathan Kuminga in action Tuesday against Toronto. David Gonzales-Imagn Images
This season has not gone as either party would like, with Kuminga averaging 12.2 points — his lowest since the 2022-23 campaign — and appearing in just 19 of 45 games.
He became trade eligible on Jan. 15 and promptly demanded to be dealt with this year’s trade deadline coming on Feb. 5.
Kuminga missed 16 straight games due to injuries and Kerr not playing him before finally returning Tuesday and scoring 20 points in a 145-127 home loss to Toronto.
Trading Kuminga would have been more straightforward if not for Butler’s injury, but the Warriors likely need him now if they hope to still contend.
“I think we’ll take the next couple weeks to assess this team a little bit more. I felt pretty good with where we’re at heading into (Monday)’s game in terms of what we need to do,” Dunleavy said. “Thought our team was playing really well, heading in the right direction, obviously things have changed. I want to take a couple of weeks here to watch these games, see our team and what we can do better.”
The Charlotte Hornets return from a successful five-game road swing to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs' perimeter defense is struggling, and my Cavaliers vs. Hornets predictions expect the home team to sneak away with a victory.
Read on for my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 21.
Cavaliers vs Hornets prediction
Cavaliers vs Hornets best bet: Hornets moneyline (+120)
The Charlotte Hornets will win tonight because they present the most dangerous perimeter matchup for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest defensive flaw: their 30th-ranked 3-point defense.
Charlotte owns elite offensive efficiency over its last 10 games and is built to exploit that weakness with Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball spacing the floor.
While Cleveland likely controls the paint, it can’t match Charlotte’s volume shooting on either end of the floor.
Add in Darius Garland’s absence, and momentum from the Hornets' huge upset over Denver can overwhelm a tired defense that struggles to close out on shooters late.
Cavaliers vs Hornets same-game parlay
As previously mentioned, the Cavaliers' perimeter defense has struggled, and they’ll have their hands full tonight with Ball and Knueppel.
Ball has averaged 3.7 made threes in his past 10 contests, while Knueppel is at 2.6 over that same stretch.
Cavaliers vs Hornets SGP
Hornets moneyline
LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: What's the Buzz?
Hornets forward Moussa Diabate has become a willing passer out of the double-team and has dished at least two assists in seven of his previous 10 games.
Cavs guard Jaylon Tyson is seeing 30+ minutes with Garland on the shelf and has scored 16+ points in six straight games with at least 30 minutes.
Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Cleveland Cavaliers have only hit the Moneyline in 26 of their last 50 games (-30.55 Units / -20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Hornets.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Cavaliers vs Hornets latest injuries
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The Dallas Mavericks’ rookie star and number one overall pick Cooper Flagg just played the 41st game of his young career on Monday against the New York Knicks. His inaugural season has been a little interesting. Head coach Jason Kidd experimented with Flagg at point guard to open the season, a tough situation for any young player. The Mavericks’ odd lineups made it even tougher for the first year forward.
Kidd eventually pivoted away from that experiment and put Flagg at the forward spot, and things improved drastically. Flagg won Western Conference rookie of the month in both November and December, and looks to be in a tight race with Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year.
With half of his first season in the books, I wanted to look back at the last ten years of number one overall picks and see how Flagg compares. I compiled each number one pick’s basic counting stats—field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and 3-pointers made. Slash stats are points/rebounds/assists per game. All stats are through a player’s first 41 games of their career, regardless of whether those first 41 games came in their rookie year or in later seasons.
Flagg didn’t land into the perfect situation. The Mavericks are still reeling from the Luka Doncic trade, left in an odd purgatory. The roster is built poorly, expensive, yet far from being a contender for much of anything besides the play-in tournament. Worse still, the best player on that awkwardly fit roster, Anthony Davis, is consistently injured. Yet the Mavericks haven’t made any moves toward rebuilding the team around Flagg.
Head coach Jason Kidd went full mad scientist and experimented with Flagg at point guard early in the season. With Davis in and out of the lineup, there’s been no consistent rotation. Trade rumors and the detritus from the Doncic trade still linger over the franchise.
Flagg’s first 41 games in the NBA haven’t been ideal. But he’s put up numbers just as good or better than several of the number one overall picks listed below.
Towns was a good scorer the first half of his rookie season, but really stood out on defense. He’s one of the better rebounders on this list, and is second only to Victor Wembanyama in blocks.
Flagg edges Towns in scoring and is a better playmaker early on, and has better on ball defense. He’s also a much better shooter (40 3pm through 41 games compared to Towns’ 11) than the self-proclaimed “best shooting big man in NBA history.”
Simmons’ career has derailed to a point where he is now a professional competitive fisherman (no really, he is), so it’s easy to forget what a stat-stuffing phenom he was early on. Simmons did a little of everything on the basketball court, except shoot 3’s.
The Sixers had a more coherent vision for their team when Simmons was drafted than the Mavericks currently do with Flagg on board. Simmons also missed his first season in the league, giving him a full calendar year of development that Flagg hasn’t had.
Fultz didn’t get to his 41st career game until his third season in the league. Even with the extra time in the NBA to develop, his stats are unremarkable. Due to all his injuries and issues with his jump shot, it’s impressive that Fultz has been able to carve out a career that’s going on eight years in the league. It speaks to his mental toughness, despite whatever went wrong early on his career.
Needless to say, Flagg definitively had a better first half-year than Fultz.
Ayton was a good scorer the first half of his rookie season, but didn’t do much else. For a big man, his rebounding and block numbers are low. On the other hand, 2.2 assists per game is pretty good for a rookie center. Ayton’s stats through 41 games as a rookie are decent, but considering who was drafted after him (remember Luka Doncic?), you’d probably want more out of your number one pick.
Flagg has been asked to do more than Ayton was in his rookie year, and the play on the court, as well as the stats, shows it.
Williamson didn’t get to his 41st game until his second season, but unlike Fultz, he took advantage of that extra development time. He’s the highest scorer on this list, and looked unstoppable with the ball in his hands those first few years. When he was healthy, of course. Williamson didn’t do a lot, else, however, with low numbers in every other category.
It’s a question that can spark some debate—would you rather have an electric scorer like Williamson, or a better all-around player like Flagg?
Flagg has similar numbers to Edwards, which should be encouraging to Mavericks fans. Obviously they have different games, but a half-season of numbers similar to a multi-time all-star and All-NBA player is what you like to see.
Cunningham grinded out a messy situation as a rookie and put up some solid stats. His assist numbers are low for a point guard, but remember, the Detroit Pistons had absolutely no one to hit shots at that point. He’s second only to Simmons in steals on this list.
There’s some comparison here to Flagg’s rookie year. The Piston’s poorly built roster and a front office in flux sounds familiar to Mavericks fans. Hopefully things turn around for Dallas and Flagg like they did for Detroit and Cunningham.
Banchero showed flashes of greatness early, and as is tradition in Orlando, without any shooting to space the floor for him. That’s tough for a rookie. Banchero took a leap in his sophomore year, making his first all-star game. He’s failed to build on that second-year bump, however, and hasn’t upped his game since.
Banchero’s first 41 games are a pretty good comp for Flagg. Hopefully the Mavericks rookie can level up the same way Banchero did next year.
Wembanyama is the third leading scorer on this list. When you add in the tremendous amount of rebounds and blocks, along with the surprising number of assists, it’s easy to see why the Spurs’ phenom is considered an alien. If Wembanyama can stay healthy, he’ll be a force in the West for years.
Flagg beats out Wembanyama in assists and 3-pointers, but I give Wemby the edge here. He’s just too dynamic on both sides of the ball in those first 41 games.
Risacher’s first season was not what you want to see out of a number one overall pick. Only Fultz had worse counting stats, and as mentioned above, Fultz’s first few seasons were a disaster. But Fultz has overcome all his early issues and carved out a decent career in the NBA. Maybe Risacher can do the same.
Flagg easily surpassed Risacher’s production, but as we’ve seen above, every rookie’s situation needs to be taken into context. Risacher can still turn into a good rotation player.
