Freshman Ebuka Okorie scored 28 points, Benny Gealer made a crucial pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left, and Stanford beat No. 16 Louisville 80-76 on Friday. Okorie shot 9 of 18 and went 8 of 10 on free throws in 38 minutes to pace Stanford (12-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) to its first win over a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 4 Arizona on Dec. 31, 2023.
No. 2 Michigan routs No. 24 USC, becomes first team since 1996-97 to beat 3 ranked opponents by 30-plus points
The Wolverines didn't even have their best stuff offensively, but they still flirted with another 100-point outing.
Knicks' Josh Hart doing light court work, to be reevaluated in one week
The Knicks will be shorthanded a bit longer.
The team announced following Friday's disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks that Josh Hart has begun doing some light court work, and he will be reevaluated in one week.
Hart, of course, has missed the last four games due to a sprained ankle suffered during the fourth quarter of the Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He did not travel with the team during their recent road trip and was still being evaluated.
Though Hart will be out a bit longer, it's a good sign that he's able to get back on the court in some capacity.
The veteran small forward was enjoying his best stretch of the season prior to the injury, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over his last 13 games.
New York has received nice boosts in his absence, but they could certainly use his high-energy all-around play.
Knicks lack offensive rhythm, defensive physicality in rough 111-99 loss to Hawks
The return home from a brutal New Year's Eve loss and the welcomed calendar flip to 2026 didn't solve recent struggles for the Knicks, as they struggled mightily to score and defend in a frustrating 111-99 loss to the Hawks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the takeaways...
-- As if the Knicks' depth needed to be tested further -- Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have missed the last four and three games, respectively, due to injury -- they entered Friday night with yet another impact player unavailable. Karl-Anthony Towns, initially listed as questionable with an illness, was downgraded to out prior to tip-off. The absence of Towns pushed Miles McBride into the starting five for a 10th time this season, and with Robinson also sidelined, Ariel Hukporti received his fourth start. The Knicks have now produced 10 different starting lineups over 34 games.
-- McBride quickly took advantage of his elevated role, draining a pair of threes that helped the Knicks climb out to an early 11-2 lead. While all five Knicks starters added points within the first four minutes of play, the Hawks gradually collected themselves, producing a sudden 14-3 run that knotted the score at 16-16 by the 7:33 mark. From there, both teams attacked with steady ball movement for lead changes, but an uptick in scoring from the Hawks placed them ahead by three, 33-30, after 12 minutes.
-- The Hawks opened the second quarter with six quick points that prompted the Knicks to burn a timeout, trailing by nine. After the break in action, Jordan Clarkson made a three to cut the Knicks' deficit back down to six, but their hole reached double digits with 2:40 left in the half, and then an imposing 15 with 1:16 to go. The combination of sluggish offense and weak defense in the paint made The Garden crowd restless. At the break, the Knicks trailed, 60-47, shooting just 5 of 24 from three with Jalen Brunson as the leading scorer (11). Not up to snuff, considering the team made a whopping 22 shots from beyond the arc in Wednesday's loss to the Spurs. Overall, the Knicks lacked a sense of urgency on both ends of the floor.
-- The deficit ballooned to 19 after just 90 seconds of third-quarter play, prompting the Knicks to call a timeout with some desperation for a spark. Shrewdly, the Hawks maintained control by directing all attention and physicality toward Brunson, the shorthanded Knicks' lone catalyst. By the 4:06 mark, the Knicks trailed by a season-worst 24 points, and efforts from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby with the ball were subpar -- they combined for 18 points on 5 of 17 shooting after three quarters. A smaller Knicks defense, struggling to win 50-50 balls, also had no answer for Hawks star Jalen Johnson, who needed just 28 minutes of court time to log a triple-double.
-- Better late than never, Bridges and Anunoby provided some much-needed energy early in the fourth quarter, orchestrating an 11-0 run that cut the Knicks' deficit from 24 to 13 with 8:54 left and forced a Hawks timeout. But the momentum shift was short-lived, as two threes from Luke Kennard on consecutive possessions bumped the margin back to 19. The Hawks continued to contest three attempts from the Knicks, with tremendous success. The trio of Brunson, Bridges, and Anunoby was held to a measly 5 of 27 shooting from deep -- live and die by the three, under Mike Brown's watch.
-- Brunson tried his best to withstand contact as the aggressor and facilitator, but his 24 points and five assists weren't nearly enough, based on how little his teammates offered and how much the Hawks caused fits. To the Knicks' credit, they didn't wave the white flag amid Brunson's frustrations -- they kept chipping away and cut their deficit to single digits, 108-99, with 1:29 remaining. If only the energy and efficiency levels were higher earlier. The Knicks had no choice but to foul the Hawks in the closing minute, wiping out the slimmest chance of a miraculous comeback.
-- While the Knicks anticipated more challenges with Towns, Hart, and Robinson in street clothes, one of the team's biggest villains wasn't even suited up to pose as a threat. Hawks star Trae Young, dealing with a quad injury, cheered from the bench all night, and his absence made the Knicks' woes far more bewildering. Overall, the team shot 39 percent from the floor and a season-low 20 percent (9 of 44) from three. Bridges and Anunoby produced a hollow 18 points and 19 points apiece, and a full seven-man bench rotation contributed only 19 points. Hukporti couldn't be criticized for his effort -- he logged season-high marks in rebounds (17), blocks (4), and minutes (28).
Game MVP: Jalen Johnson
The Garden crowd was disappointed to see a different scorer named Jalen take command. The fifth-year forward delivered a triple-double of 18 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds across 38 minutes. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also contributed 23 points apiece.
Highlights
Mikal 🤝 Ariel pic.twitter.com/sQa3XgAQP5
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
Jalen Brunson hits the three! pic.twitter.com/c2WRQt7MtJ
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
OG steal and score 😤 pic.twitter.com/E27wCx0KPb
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
Up next
The Knicks (23-11) will wrap up their weekend at The Garden on Saturday night, with a matchup against the division-rival 76ers (7:30 tip-off).
Isaac Howard Discusses AHL Stint And Development
Isaac Howard is back with the Edmonton Oilers. Six weeks in Bakersfield, and now he's got another shot.
The 21-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award last season at Michigan State—26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games. Edmonton grabbed him from Tampa Bay in July, signed him to a three-year deal, and let him compete for a roster spot.
He got 17 NHL games to start the season. Two goals and an assist. Not bad for a rookie jumping from college hockey. But the Oilers needed more from their depth forwards, so down to Bakersfield he went in mid-November.
"I was just excited to get down there and start a different chapter in my pro career," Howard said. "And I think it was great. Everyone down in that locker room was awesome. The coaching staff made it pretty easy to mesh with that group quickly. And you know, it was awesome."
Nobody wants to get sent to the AHL. But Howard needed what Bakersfield could give him—ice time, power play minutes, and the space to figure out professional hockey without the pressure of Connor McDavid looking over his shoulder (if that was ever happening).
He put up 10 goals and 13 assists in 16 games. Two goals and four assists in his last four games alone. Those are the numbers that get you recalled.
Rookie Risk: Oilers May Be Testing Something On The Third LineThree rookies will play on the third line for the Oilers, a bold offensive gamble that could either spark the offense or expose their youth against the Flyers."It's a great development league," Howard said. "Obviously, I was getting a lot more ice time, a lot of looks on special teams, things like that which is what I wanted. And I think it's a great league. And spending like, five or six weeks there was a great experience."
More ice time meant actually playing instead of watching. More power play minutes meant working on his offensive instincts. Bakersfield gave him what he couldn't get in Edmonton—consistent minutes where he could make mistakes and learn from them.
"It feels like I'm more experienced now and maybe more calmness coming back up," Howard said.
More experienced. More calm. Six weeks will do that when you're dominating the AHL and figuring out what works.
Edmonton Oilers Year-In-ReviewIf you’re an <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> fan, 2025 was exhausting. It started with their captain suspended, ended with a loss to Boston, and somewhere in between, they managed to lose another Stanley Cup Final. The kind of year where you’re not sure whether to book playoff tickets early or start drinking in February.
"I think a big thing was just getting in the flow of pro hockey down there and playing games consistently," Howard said. "Learning to hold on to the puck more, find more of my game, and making little plays, passing, shooting, (being) more calm with the puck, and maybe even more confident."
That's what the AHL is supposed to do. Howard went down, figured out he needed to be more patient with the puck, worked on it, and came back better. Development working exactly how it should.
Quinn Hutson came up with him—19 goals and 13 assists in 26 AHL games this season. Both players earned their recalls by producing.
McDavid Comments As 3 Deserving Oilers Left Off Team Canada's RosterConnor McDavid shared his candid thoughts on three deserving Oilers who narrowly missed Team Canada selection, sparking debate about roster decisions.Now comes the tricky part. Howard won't play 18-20 minutes a night like he did in Bakersfield. He'll be a bottom-six forward getting 8-12 minutes, trying to make things happen in shorter bursts. That's a different skill.
"It's different," Howard said about NHL ice time. "That's where you got to stay engaged, because you don't get the regular flow of the game, but I think I'll be better tested for that this time around. And however it shakes up, I'll be ready."
He knows what to expect this time. First go-around, everything was new. Now he's been through it. He spent six weeks in Bakersfield figuring things out.
Oilers Send Gritty Forward Down To AHLThe Edmonton Oilers have loaned this forward to the Bakersfield Condors. The Oilers don't need Howard to be a star. They need him to be a useful depth forward. Play his minutes. Don't hurt the team. Chip in offensively when the opportunity comes. If he learned how to be smarter with the puck and stay calm under pressure, he'll get his chance to stick.
His first stint showed he belongs at this level—two goals in 17 games from a young guy that isn't first overall proves that. His time in Bakersfield showed he can dominate when given the opportunity—23 points in 16 games proves that. Now his second stint will show whether he's figured out how to bridge the gap between those two things.
Howard got recalled Friday because he earned it. He went to Bakersfield, worked on his game, put up numbers, and came back ready. That's how it's supposed to work. Whether it translates to NHL success is the next question, but he's done everything right so far.
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Shorthanded Nets fall to Wizards, 119-99, for third consecutive loss
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points and the Washington Wizards continued their recent improvement with a 119-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum scored 17 for the Wizards, who still have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-23) but have won four out of five for the first time since Feb. 8-16, 2023.
Washington won the rebounding battle 51-33 while holding Brooklyn to a season-low six 3-pointers in 29 attempts (20.7%).
Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams and Drake Powell all had 14 points for Brooklyn (10-22), which has lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.
Washington had a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers before halftime, and used an 18-4 run that stretched across the first and second quarters to build its lead to 18.
Champagnie’s 3-pointer as the first-quarter buzzer sounded made it 37-24. Will Riley added to the lead with a layup to open the second quarter, then fed AJ Johnson for a 3 a couple possessions later that stretched it to 44-26.
Brooklyn got within nine later in the second and third quarters before Washington stretched its lead to 23 by the end of the third and 28 early in the fourth.
Up next
Nets: Start a three-game homestand Sunday against Denver.
Wizards: Play their second of three at home Sunday against Minnesota.
Patrick Mahomes rehabs in Oregon jersey after losing Orange Bowl bet to rookie Jeffrey Bassa
Oregon shut out Texas Tech 23-0 to advance in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan basketball storms back into Big Ten play, rolls over USC
Michigan basketball score: The Wolverines showed new football coach Kyle Whittingham how to dominate, destroying USC on Friday at Crisler Center.
Kyle Whittingham, Michigan football coach gets standing O at Crisler
"I can say for sure we're going to be a physical football team," Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Alabama gets stuffed full of humble pie, so stop giving SEC benefit of the doubt
Alabama is basically Illinois now. That’s Alabama’s unpleasant reality. That’ll go over well in Tuscaloosa.
Kerry Coombs returning as Michigan football special teams coach
Kerry Coombs' return Michigan football special teams coach is hardly a surprise, given his ties to new coach Kyle Whittingham's predecessor at Utah.
Cameron Green not guaranteed spot as Australia remain coy on XI for fifth Ashes Test
Steve Smith defends allrounder but refuses to confirm his place in side
Beau Webster and Todd Murphy in the mix to face England at the SCG
Steve Smith has launched an impassioned defence of Cameron Green but can’t guarantee the out-of-form allrounder’s place in the XI for the Ashes series finale.
Australia’s stand-in captain insists all options are on the selection table for the fifth Test, including using both allrounders Green and Beau Webster at the SCG and leaving out spin for the third time in four starts.
Continue reading...Pop-Tarts Bowl draws 8.7 million viewers, most among ESPN’s non-CFP bowls so far this postseason
Those numbers are "crazy good."
Canadiens Have Intriguing Trade Target In Penguins Forward
It is fair to say that the Montreal Canadiens had a strong first half of the 2025-26 season. The Habs currently sport a 22-12-6 record and are third in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens are also just two points behind the first-place Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic, so they are undoubtedly in a good place right now.
With how well the Canadiens are playing this season, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they continue to look to add to their roster by the trade deadline. While adding another impactful center would be big for the Canadiens, they also should be open to acquiring a skilled winger.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha stands out as an intriguing potential option for the Habs.
With the Penguins retooling and Mantha being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), he has created chatter in the rumor mill. If the Penguins do officially make him available, the Canadiens should seriously consider making a push for the 6-foot-5 forward.
Mantha is currently in the middle of a strong season with the Penguins, as he has recorded 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, and a plus-8 rating. With numbers like these, Mantha would have the potential to be a very solid addition to the Canadiens' middle six and power play if acquired.
Ultimately, if the Canadiens acquired Mantha, he would give them some solid secondary scoring and more size. Because of this, he would be a nice player for the Canadiens to add to their roster as they prepare for the post-season.
Blues Defenseman Philip Broberg "Extremely Honored" To Be Selected To Sweden Olympic Hockey Squad
ST. LOUIS – Early prognosticators didn’t even have Philip Broberg having a sniff of making the Sweden Men’s Winter Olympic hockey roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games in Italy.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman, despite the odds against him, had other ideas.
On Friday, the 24-year-old did what many didn’t think he would do: be chosen to represent his country for the first time at the highest level when he was named to Sweden’s Olympic roster.
“Extremely honored,” Broberg said Friday after a 4-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights. “It’s a dream-come-true. I’m very excited about it.
“Got a call from the coach (Sam Hallam) a few days ago. It’s a dream-come-true. I’m very excited.”
Broberg joined the likes of Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres), Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild), Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers).
Among those not on the initial list – of course there could be injuries that can change things – include Mattias Ekholm (Edmonton Oilers) and Hampus Lindholm (Boston Bruins) at the top of the list.
So for Broberg, who is having a fantastic season with the Blues, to get the consideration speaks volumes.
“It does because Sweden has developed great defensemen for decades now,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. ‘There’s a plethora in our league. It does speak volumes about what he was able to accomplish.”
Broberg is averaging 23:15 and has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 42 games this season for the Blues and was likely chosen for the leaps and bounds he’s taken as a defensive player.
“It’s a well-deserved and earned reward for how much he’s continued to progress in his career, not only in St. Louis but from when he did when he got drafted,” Montgomery said. ‘More so than anything, in the game you see his physical tools, his ability to create off-man rushes offensively, his ability kill plays, his willingness to take away time and space and win battles 1-on-1 offensively and defensively, but the thing that has really improved with him is his mindset. His mindset has gone from being a good player in this league, and I’m just talking since I’ve been working with him now to trying to become an elite player, and because that mindset has been every day in practice and every game, even when he doesn’t have legs – that’s a hockey player’s term – you don’t feel like you can get up and go, he pushes himself right through that. I’ve seen first periods when he hasn’t been on, the second and third period he’s our best player. And that’s the will machine and the kind of guy you want to build around to get the culture to where you want, the culture to be. And that’s kudos to him and his mindset that he’s developed as a young man early in his career.”
Broberg, acquired via offer sheet from the Oilers along with forward Dylan Holloway on Aug. 20, 2024, was on a mission to at least be under consideration.
“Before the season we set goals and I think this was one of the goals for sure,” Broberg said. ‘I’m very excited about the opportunity I’m going to get. It’s going to be fun.
“I think we have a very good roster with a lot of very good players. I’m excited to meet all the guys and get a chance to play with them as well.”
How much Broberg gets to play is anyone’s guess, but with Sweden, which opens on Feb. 11 at 2:10 p.m. (CT) against Italy, if they need a shutdown player to be in a plethora of situations, Broberg should be under heavy consideration. He has played 23-plus minutes 22 times this season.
“I think defensively, I think that’s been a big focus for myself,” Broberg said. “Grow defensively and be hard to play against, have good sticks, be physical. I think that’s a big, big thing. I still want to create offense as well, but that’s just a plus.”
Being a lifelong Swede from Orebro, the hometown of Stanley Cup champion Carl Gunnarsson, Broberg now gets to make his own memories.
“I think the best memory I have is (Niklas) Lidstrom scored that game-winner and they won the gold obviously (in 2006 over Finland),” Broberg said. “I have that memory a lot and I’m excited to be a part of the team there.”
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