A former Montreal Canadiens forward is getting another chance in the NHL.
The Colorado Avalanche have called up former Canadiens forward Alex Barre-Boulet from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Barre-Boulet was called up to the Avalanche's roster in response to forward Valeri Nichushkin being sidelined for the Central Division club due to an upper-body injury.
Barre-Boulet immediately made his Avalanche debut following his call-up against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 19. The former Canadiens forward made a solid first impression during his debut for Colorado, too, as he recorded an assist on Parker Kelly's first-period goal for the Avalanche.
Barre-Boulet certainly earned this call-up from the Avalanche, too, as he has been having a strong season with the Eagles. In 36 games with the AHL squad so far this campaign, the former Canadiens forward has posted 12 goals, 25 assists, 37 points, and a plus-11 rating.
Barre-Boulet spent this past season with the Canadiens organization. In two games with Montreal during the 2024-25 season, he recorded zero points and two penalty minutes. Yet, he primarily played with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, this past season. In 64 games with Laval in 2024-25, he posted 22 goals, 41 assists, and 63 points. He also had three goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games for Laval.
No player is generating more trade chatter than Ja Morant, but is it all smoke and no real fire? Here are the latest Morant trade rumors.
Morant says he wants to stay
After missing six games with a calf contusion, Morant returned to the court in London on Sunday, scoring 24 points with 13 assists in the Memphis win over Orlando in an NBA Europe game. After the game, Marc Stein asked Morant if he wanted to stay with the Grizzlies, and he was clear he did.
Ja Morant’s answer when asked by @TheSteinLine on where he wants things to go from here
“Anybody who in here knows me knows I’m a very loyal guy. I have a logo on my back (Grizzlies tattoo) so that should say exactly what I want” pic.twitter.com/YAkAsJ4mVf
"I've got a [Grizzlies] logo [tattooed] on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be… If anybody in here knows me, I'm a very loyal guy."
What Morant wants may not matter. However, the Grizzlies may not have a choice but to keep him unless they want pennies from the dollar.
Is Antetokounmpo hurting Morant market?
Two things that we have consistently heard this season from league sources and reported here at NBC Sports: 1) There is not much of a trade market for Morant; 2) The Milwaukee Bucks are not going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo during the season unless he demands it — and he said he would never do that.
Despite all that, the possibility that Antetokounmpo might be available for trade this summer could be hurting the Morant market now.
Take the Miami Heat, one of the rumored suitors for Morant. Memphis is seeking a young player and a first-round pick back in any deal for Morant. Miami doesn't want to get in the mix if it means sacrificing a player it needs to potentially chase Antetokounmpo this summer, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
"One well-placed league source insisted to me that the Miami Heat should be scratched as a Ja Morant suitor — even if the terms are favorable—if such a move jeopardizes a future trade run at Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo."
To be clear, other factors have kept the Morant marketplace tepid: Morant's lengthy injury history (he hasn't played in more than six consecutive games in almost three years), his declining stats, and the fact that he is guaranteed $87 million dollars across the two seasons after this one. But Antetokounmpo is part of the mix, too.
The rubber will hit the road this summer with Antetokounmpo when the Bucks can offer him another max contract extension. A couple of times before, in this situation, Antetokounmpo used the threat of leaving as leverage, forcing the Bucks to make a big upgrade (signing Jrue Holiday, trading for Damian Lillard), then he signed the extension. This summer, teams are not so sure Antetokounmpo will sign that deal, and Milwaukee will be forced to trade him or risk losing him for nothing.
All of which has teams thinking past this trade deadline, something Zach Lowe discussed on NBA on Prime, explicitly mentioning the Heat as well as the Hawks, Warriors, and Lakers.
"[Those teams are] considering holding onto their assets for a potential pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo now or in the summer... If he doesn't take that extension, that's the same thing as basically demanding a trade… Right now, the Bucks are only 5-5 since he came back from injury. They are getting shellacked every second that he's off the floor on the bench resting. They're still in 11th in the East."
Interestingly, teams holding out for Antetokounmpo could leave the Bucks as the most serious suitor for Morant — Milwaukee is going to make an addition at the deadline, one way or another.
To point out what Bucks fans are screaming at their phones/computers right now, none of this means Milwaukee is going to trade Antetokounmpo this summer. He may sign the extension and stay, just as he has every other time he's been in this position. What is real is that other teams are preparing for the possibility that Antetokounmpo becomes available, and they are not going to give up a pick or a young player for Morant, who could be part of a blockbuster this summer.
Memphis fans love Morant
Another consideration for the Grizzlies — trading Morant would not go over well in Memphis.
Moving on from Morant would be "extremely unpopular" in Memphis, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on the Hoop Collective Podcast. While not as devastating, this has some Doncic-to-the-Lakers vibes, in that the front office would need a plan in place to deal with what would be a backlash from the community, where Morant is loved.
Jaren Jackson Jr. not looking to leave
It's a lot more wishful thinking than reality, at least according to league sources NBC Sports has spoken with, but there are still teams checking to see if Memphis wants to blow things up and trade its most valuable player, center Jaren Jackson Jr.
"I poked around a little but about the Jaren Jackson Jr. situation, and my understanding is he doesn't necessarily want out. There have been people around the league who have suggested that's the case, I'm told that's not necessarily true. He just wants to understand what the plan is."
Maybe the Grizzlies ultimately decide to tear it all down and rebuild from the ground up, but that is not happening at the February trade deadline.
The Philadelphia Flyers have made some roster moves ahead of their contest against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Flyers have announced that forward Bobby Brink has been activated off injured reserve. In addition, the Flyers shared that goaltender Dan Vladar has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14.
Brink has not played for the Flyers since getting injured during their Jan. 6 matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, where he was limited to only 26 seconds of ice time. Yet, now that Brink has been activated from injured reserve, he is set to return to action for the Metropolitan Division club.
Getting Brink back is good news for the Flyers, as he has been a solid part of their roster this season. In 41 games so far this campaign, he has posted 11 goals and 20 points.
Vladar, meanwhile, has been sidelined since leaving the Flyers' Jan. 14 matchup against the Buffalo Sabres early due to injury.
In 28 games this season with Philadelphia, Vladar has a 16-7-4 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.46 goals-against average.
After their worst loss of the season against the Nashville Predators, the Colorado Avalanche face off against the Washington Capitals. There were some questionable calls in this game, but it was the Avalanche who capitalized on their chances late and secured a 5-2 victory.
Period 1:
Ilya Solovyov is called for an early holding call, but the Avalanche are able to kill it off. Cale Makar shakes off Ryan Lenard with a nifty spin move on the blue line and sends a wrist shot towards the net, which Parker Kelly tips in to open the scoring. That is his ninth goal of the season, officially marking a career high in goals.
Included in the goal is Alex Barre-Boulet, who was called up before the game to replace Valeri Nichushkin, and he gets the secondary assist on the goal, his first point as a Colorado Avalanche.
Then one of the most controversial calls of the season happens as Scott Wedgewood is called for tripping when a Capital knocks his stick out of his hands and trips over it behind the net. Jacob Chychrun capitalizes on the power play as he rips home a wrist shot from the blue line and in to tie the game 1-1. Josh Manson is called high-sticking, but the Avalanche kills off that penalty, and the period ends 1-1.
Period 2:
Jacob Chychrun, behind the net, goes to battle for the loose puck infront of his own net but gets called for high-sticking Ross Colton. The call is a double minor, and after review, it stands, sending the Avalanche to a 4-minute power play. Halfway through the power play, Martin Necas helps Nathan MacKinnon explode into the offensive zone with a nifty drop pass, and MacKinnon rips it to make it 2-1.
Nathan MacKinnon after Avalanche 5-2 victory over the Capitals (01/19/25)
Ivan Miroshnichenko was called for hooking, but Samuel Girard was called for holding, leading to 4-on-4 time. Aliaksei Protas called for interference, but the Avalanche can’t capitalize on it. Victor Olofsson roofs a rebound off a Manson point shot to make it 3-1. Brock Nelson with a clean face-off win to help get the puck straight to Manson, which sets up the play. Though, just 17 seconds later, Ethan Frank is wide open infront of the net to finish the pass from Ovechkin, 3-2.
Period 3:
Chychrun sends the puck over the glass and is called for delay of game. Just over 30 seconds in, Anthony Beauvillier is called for hooking, sending the Avalanche to 5-on-3 for the remaining 1:26. Unfortunately, just 23 seconds into the two-man advantage, Neslon is called for hooking, and all of the calls are killed off.
MacKinnon finds Makar cutting to the net, and he rips to make it 4-2, though the Capitals take a timeout and decide to challenge it for goaltender interference. After review, it goes to the Capitals' way, and the goal is overturned back to 3-2. Though the lead is re-gained quickly after MacKinnon steals the puck as a Capital is trying to leave their zone and feeds Artturi Lehkonen to make it 4-2 again. MacKinnon passes Peter Stastny on that goal in 2+ point games and is now 2nd in franchise history.
Necas steals the puck from Rasmus Sandin behind Charlie Lindgren and finds MacKinnon to make it 5-2. That is also MacKinnon's 1,100th point and the 70th player in NHL history to reach that mark. Lindgren, with less than 20 seconds left, makes a diving stick play that trips Olofsson and is called for it.
The Avalanche are back in action on Wednesday, Jan 21, when they face off against the Anaheim Ducks.
The BC Hockey Hall of Fame has announced their class of 2026. Among those who will be inducted later this year is former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green. The others who will join Green are former NHLers Josh Georges and Andrew Ladd, builders Malcom Ashford and Daryl Reaugh and the 2009 and 2010 Vernon Vipers.
Green, who is from Castlegar, BC, started his career in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs. He recorded 341 points in 283 games, which led to him being drafted 23rd overall in 1989 by the New York Islanders. Green made his NHL debut on November 19, 1992 and scored his first goal on November 21, 1992.
Over his 14-year career, Green played 970 games while recording 455 points. During his career, he also won a World Championship in 1996 and the Spengler Cup in 2007. Green retired from the NHL after the 2006-07 season.
After a few seasons, Green jumped behind the bench in the WHL. He started as an assistant coach with the Portland Winterhawks and led them to the Memorial Cup in 2013. Green then made his way to the AHL, where he became the head coach of the Utica Comets for four years.
Nov 17, 2021; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green addresses the media in the post game press conference after the Canucks suffered their fifth straight loss after a game against the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena. Colorado won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Green would eventually get his chance with the Canucks in 2017 and would spend four and a half seasons with the organization. He went 133-147-34 as head coach while also winning 10 playoff games. Green is currently the head coach of the Ottawa Senators and has been behind the bench in Ottawa for two seasons.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz Date: January 20th, 2026 Time: 8:00 PM CST Location: Delta Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
The Timberwolves limp out of their Texas two-step having stumbled twice, once in Houston, once in San Antonio, and the standings, as always, offer zero sympathy. On paper, it’s two losses. In reality, it’s a little more complicated than that, and also a little more frustrating than it needed to be.
Friday night in Houston was the kind of game that should age well in hindsight and still feels annoying in the moment. Minnesota was without Anthony Edwards, facing a Rockets team with Kevin Durant very much doing Kevin Durant things, and still found itself with every opportunity to steal one on the road. The Wolves defended well early, pushed the pace, generated good looks, and turned Houston misses into transition opportunities. And then the second half arrived, the rhythm disappeared, the whistles multiplied, and Minnesota calmly lit 15 points on fire at the free-throw line. In a five-point loss. That’s not bad luck. That’s self-sabotage.
Saturday in San Antonio somehow managed to be even more exhausting. Without Rudy Gobert, Minnesota spotted the Spurs a 48-point second quarter and found itself staring at a 25-point deficit against Victor Wembanyama on his home floor. That should have been the end of it. Instead, the Wolves did the thing they’ve quietly been doing more often lately. They refused to die. They clawed all the way back, briefly took the lead, and turned what should have been a blowout into a one-possession game in the final minutes. Moral victory? Sure. But moral victories don’t move you up the standings.
And the standings matter. After grinding all January to climb back into the conversation, Minnesota now finds itself two and a half games behind San Antonio and two games behind Denver. The hill they spent weeks climbing just got steeper again. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the Wolves are still very much alive, and the next five games represent a stretch that serious teams are supposed to handle without drama. Utah on Tuesday. Then home dates against Chicago, followed by a two-game set with Golden State at Target Center, before heading back to Texas for Dallas. Five games that range from manageable to very winnable. Five games that will tell us whether this past weekend was a blip… or the start of a slide.
Which brings us to Utah, the first stop in a much-needed reset.
Keys to the Game
#1 – Take this seriously, immediately. This is the kind of game where the opponent doesn’t beat you — you beat yourself. Utah does not have the firepower, depth, or defensive presence to match Minnesota if the Wolves show up with purpose. We’ve already seen this matchup end in a 40-point demolition earlier this season. That wasn’t an accident. The only way this becomes uncomfortable is if Minnesota comes out flat, sloppy, or mentally checked out after a draining weekend. This is about professionalism. About urgency. About recognizing that dropping games like this is how promising seasons quietly derail. The Wolves should come out looking to end this by halftime.
#2 – Win on the perimeter so the paint takes care of itself. When Minnesota spirals defensively, it usually starts on the wings. Lazy closeouts. Straight-line drives. Over-helping that leads to open threes. That can’t happen here. Utah only survives if you give them clean looks early and allows them to stick around in a game that they shouldn’t be in. If Rudy Gobert is back, great. Let him patrol the paint. But the wings, McDaniels, Edwards, and Clark, have to do their jobs first. Good perimeter defense makes everything else easier.
#3 – Bigs, be grown-ups. Gobert’s status matters. Naz Reid’s shoulder matters. But regardless of who’s available, Minnesota’s frontcourt has a clear advantage in this matchup and needs to play like it. Utah isn’t built to punish you inside, but they will hang around if you don’t control the glass and finish possessions. If minutes open up, keep giving Joan Beringer run. He’s earned it, and the experience matters. Championship teams don’t wait until April to figure out who they trust.
#4 – Make the free throws. Period. This shouldn’t still be a conversation, but here we are. Houston was a clinic in how to waste an otherwise solid road performance. These are free points. The Wolves have already watched a handful of games slip away at the line. You don’t get to keep doing that and call yourself a contender. This is a fix-the-basics moment.
#5 – Let Anthony Edwards remind everyone who he is. Ant’s 55-point eruption in San Antonio wasn’t just a scoring binge. It was a signal flare. This is what the leap looks like. This is what it sounds like when a star kicks the door down instead of knocking. Utah has been one of Edwards’ favorite opponents, and Minnesota badly needs the emotional reset that only a dominant Ant performance can provide. This isn’t about style points. It’s about reestablishing order. About turning two frustrating losses into a footnote instead of a turning point.
This should be a win. No qualifiers. No excuses. The Wolves have the talent edge, the urgency, and the opportunity. Championship-caliber teams don’t overthink games like this. They bank them, snap losing streaks, and move on.
Do that here, and suddenly the Texas stumble becomes a speed bump instead of a warning sign. Do that here, and the path back toward the two or three seed is still wide open. This is how momentum is rebuilt — not with speeches or promises, but with decisive nights against teams you’re better than.
The Brooklyn Nets couldn’t get it done against the Bulls in the home-and-home. They’re back in Brooklyn on Monday where they’ll welcome former Nets assistant Jordan Ott and his new-look Suns. It’s Ott’s first season as head coach after he spent six years with the Nets, spanning from Kenny Atkinson to Jacque Vaughn.
Onto the game… these Suns are no laughingstock.
🏀 Phoenix Suns (25-17) at Brooklyn Nets (12-28)
Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY Tip-Off: 7:30 PM ET TV: YES Network | Gotham Sports App Radio: WFAN 101.9 FM
⚠️ Injury Report
Sharpe: OUT – Illness/Throat Contusion Dëmin: OUT – Left Plantar Fascia Injury Management Thomas: OUT – Left Hamstring Injury Management Highsmith: OUT – Right Knee Surgery, Injury Recovery Etienne: OUT – G League Two Way Johnson: OUT – G League Two Way Liddell: OUT – G League Two Way Saraf: OUT – G League Assignment
💬 Discussion
Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
Draymond Green is the latest inclusion in the injury report. He is listed as out for tonight against the Miami Heat due to a right ankle sprain, in what will be the first game of a home back-to-back.
Draymond Green is out tonight vs Heat. Right ankle sprain. Front side of back-to-back. Al Horford is playing, which rules him out tomorrow vs Raptors.
The Warriors will be short of two key rotation pieces in Green and De’Anthony Melton, who is listed as out due to injury management. Melton still hasn’t been cleared to play back-to-back slates, which means he will be available tomorrow against the Toronto Raptors. Al Horford — available tonight against the Heat — also hasn’t been cleared to play both games of back-to-backs and will be expected to sit out tomorrow night’s game.
Per Databallr, the Warriors have been a net neutral (plus-3.5 on the floor, plus-3.5 off the floor) this season with regard to Green’s on-off numbers.
Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza are the only players in the Hall of Fame enshrined as Mets, but that list could be expanding.
Carlos Beltrán, who told The Post last summer that he plans to wear a Mets cap on his plaque if he’s elected to the Hall of Fame, will know his fate Tuesday evening when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote is revealed for the Class of 2026.
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Beltrán last year appeared on 70.3 percent of the ballots cast. A candidate needs to reach the 75 percent threshold for induction.
Another player with New York ties, Andruw Jones, is a strong possibility to receive the call after last year appearing on 66.2 percent of the ballots. Jones played the final two seasons of his career with the Yankees. Beltrán also had a stint in The Bronx, where he spent 2 ½ seasons.
Over a 20-year major league career, Beltrán hit 435 homers and was selected to nine All-Star teams. He won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. Beltrán played for the Mets from 2005-11 after beginning his career with the Royals and Astros.
“When he was on the field, he was always one of the best — if not the best — that was out there,” Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner, a former teammate of Beltrán’s with the Mets, told The Post. “He was always in the thick of everything. He had a tremendous ability to stay calm at the plate a very high level.”
Beltrán, now in his fourth year of eligibility, might have seen his candidacy stalled following his involvement in the Astros sign-stealing scheme. Beltrán resigned as Mets manager — before he had even managed a game — as part of the fallout, but has since returned to the organization as a special assistant.
Mets’ Carlos Beltran smiles during an introductory baseball news conference in New York, Nov. 4, 2019. AP
Among the disappointments of Beltrán’s tenure in Queens was the called third strike he took with the bases loaded against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright that ended Game 7 of the NLCS in 2006.
Largely forgotten is the fact Beltrán hit three homers in the series.
“We all had our moments in 2006 where we could have done something,” Wagner said. “But that was a heck of a series, and he played very well the whole series. It’s unfair to put that specifically on any one person. He had just been good the whole time.”
If Beltrán isn’t fully appreciated by the Mets fan base, it might be because the team failed to reach the World Series during his tenure.
“It’s not like when you are playing with the Mets that you aren’t dealing with the team next door,” Wagner said. “That’s always going to be your battle as a Met — the team next door has that many championships, so you are battling their championships.”
New York Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran lunges for the ball during the third inning of an MLB baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, April 22, 2011 in New York. AP
Jones won 10 Gold Gloves as the premier defensive center fielder of his era and hit 434 homers over a 17-year major league career. Jones was selected to five All-Star teams. He spent most of his career with the Braves and appeared in two World Series.
“He could change a game in so many ways,” Wagner said. “I don’t think [Tom] Glavine or [Greg] Maddux have the same numbers if Andruw Jones is not there.”
Others to watch on the ballot include Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte and Félix Hernández. Alex Rodriguez remains a long shot following his admission to using performance-enhancing drugs and a lengthy suspension for his association with a PED lab during his Yankees tenure.
David Wright received 8.1 percent of the vote last winter in his second year on the ballot. Candidates remain on the ballot for 10 years provided they secure at least five percent of the vote in a given cycle.
The Flyers brought their season-worst losing streak to a halt Monday night by gutting out a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
Travis Konecny delivered a big-time performance. He scored both of the Flyers’ goals on breakaways, with the second coming in the third period at shorthanded.
Amid the toughest stretch of his NHL career, Samuel Ersson had his best outing of the season.
The Flyers (23-17-8) stopped a six-game slide (0-5-1) in which they were outscored 31-12.
Rick Tocchet’s club earned a much-needed win to open a challenging three-game road trip against teams all in Western Conference playoff position.
The Flyers won in Vegas for the first time since Dec. 10, 2021, when they picked up a 4-3 decision. Carter Hart made 41 saves and Keith Yandle had two assists. Hart, now with the Golden Knights, didn’t face his old club Monday night. The former Flyers goaltender was out with a lower-body injury.
Vegas had a seven-game winning streak snapped. The Flyers split their two-game regular-season series with the Golden Knights (24-12-12). They lost to Vegas, 3-2, in overtime last month at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• Perhaps this relieves some pressure for the Flyers.
They badly needed to grind one out and found a way to do it. The biggest positive for them was a competitive, low-scoring game, something that had totally eluded them the last five games of the losing streak.
Now the Flyers need to build on it and try to make life a little easier on themselves.
• Ersson was excellent, converting 24 saves on 25 shots.
He made a number of timely stops. The Flyers will hope this is a major jolt for his confidence.
The 26-year-old entered with an .855 save percentage and had given up 15 goals over his previous three starts.
He has missed the last three games with what the team disclosed Monday as a lower-body injury.
Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 17 shots.
• The Flyers were getting annihilated on special teams over the losing streak.
Despite allowing another power play goal Monday night, the Flyers’ penalty kill went 6 for 7 and produced the game-winning marker. Konecny has 11 shorthanded goals over the last four seasons.
Vegas tied the game with 32 seconds left in the second period after Noah Cates was whistled for tripping. Tomas Hertl deflected one home from the slot.
The Flyers have surrendered nine power play goals in the last five games, but their PK was tested a lot against the Golden Knights and looked significantly stronger.
• Nick Seeler made a great defensive play to break up a 2-on-1 rush in the second period and had a huge blocked shot in the final minute of the third period.
• After missing all six losses of the Flyers’ skid with an upper-body injury, Bobby Brink returned to the lineup.
It’s not a coincidence that the Flyers were better with him back.
Lane Pederson, called up Sunday from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, centered the Flyers’ fourth line in place of the injured Rodrigo Abols. The 28-year-old Pederson was playing his first NHL game in over 1,000 days.
• The road trip continues Wednesday when the Flyers visit the Mammoth (9 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
Update: Joel Embiid is available and will start Monday night against the Indiana Pacers. Kelly Oubre, Jr. will start in place of Paul George.
The Philadelphia 76ers will play the first game of their eighth back-to-back of the season on Monday night hosting the Indiana Pacers.
They will take the floor at the Xfinity Mobile Arena for the contest without Paul George. PG was ruled out this evening (after being listed as questionable earlier in the day) for left knee injury management.
Now, Joel Embiid remains the name to watch for Monday night as he remains listed as questionable for left knee injury management and illness. For what it’s worth, the illness part of the designation did not appear until Monday afternoon. We will keep you posted on his availability as we know more.
George (and possibly Embiid) missing this game shouldn’t come as a terrible shock or worry, though. As mentioned, this is the start of a back-to-back for the Sixers, with the squad right back in action again on Tuesday night to host the Phoenix Suns, a more formidable opponent than the 10-33 Pacers. Neither PG nor Embiid have played on zero days rest this season, so if the Sixers want them in the lineup against the Suns, it would likely mean sidelining them for Monday.
In other availability news, Jared McCain is back with the Sixers after a short — and honestly, lackluster — one-game stint with the G League Delaware Blue Coats. McCain played 30 minutes in a contest against the 15 points on 18 shots in six turnovers in a Coats loss to the Noblesville Bloom. He was recalled to the Sixers on Monday afternoon and is listed as available to face the Pacers.
The Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin.
The Sixers and Pacers tip off in South Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET.
There is no more tightly contested division in the NHL right now than the Atlantic, which features several clubs that just can't seem to lose.
The main focus for fans of Hockeytown is the Detroit Red Wings, who are in a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the division's top spot; the Lightning have won 12 of their last 13 games.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs have all gone on prolonged winning streaks of their own. Only eight points separate the first seed from the fifth seed.
For the Red Wings, they understand the importance of raising their level of competition against Atlantic Division opponents.
"They mean a lot, it's a four-point game if you win in regulation, and you can get that advantage over them," Alex DeBrincat explained after scoring the overtime game-winner on Sunday evening against the Ottawa Senators, another Atlantic Division opponent. "An overtime win is good too, but I think you get more amped up for them. You see them four times a year, and there's a little bit of a rivalry there, so you have to be ready to play."
While the Red Wings didn’t get off to the start they wanted against Ottawa, they rallied for their second win over the Senators in two weeks after a 5–3 victory on Jan. 5.
Speaking of divisional opponents, the Red Wings will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday for the fourth and final time this season, barring a matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Red Wings, who have already defeated the Maple Leafs three times this season, have been mostly playing with more energy and "juice" in the eyes of head coach Todd McLellan.
“I think our guys have been coming to the rink with a lot of juice for all the games, which is a real good sign," McLellan said. "Now, divisional, yes, they understand the standings and circumstances of wins and losses."
"We talk about winning season series; we’ve got four points against this team now, and they have one," he continued. "We can’t quite have the series in the bag, but it certainly helps. Our group has been coming to play....for the most part, we're there."
Detroit has two remaining games against the Senators this season, starting with their first game in the post-Olympic break on Feb. 26, followed by the fourth and final matchup in Detroit on March 24.
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Cam Collier came off the board with the #6 ranking in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings of the top prospects in the Cincinnati Reds system, and is quite well deserving of the honor. Very excited to see what he can do in 2026 in what hopes to be a full, healthy season again.
Now, we turn our sights to the prospect who’ll claim spot #7.
Per usual, there will be a poll embedded at the bottom of the post where you can cast your vote, but if that’s stripped out you can also find the link to the ballot by clicking here (up until voting ends and I remove both access points).
Also, if there’s someone you think worthy of consideration at this point who has not yet been listed, let us know in the comment section below.
On to the candidates for spot #7!
Chase Petty, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: 6.39 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 102/58 K/BB in 112.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League); 13 ER in 6.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds
Pros: Three plus pitches, including a fastball that flirts with 100 mph and 60-grade slider and cutter
Cons: Lit up in first cups of MLB coffee, and struggled in AAA after being sent back down
Petty has long been on the radar of every scout in the game, a former 1st round pick of the Minnesota Twins out of high school (whom the Reds had eyes on drafting back then, too). He was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Sonny Gray the other way, and he’s pitched his way onto multiple Top 100 overall prospect lists since.
Of course, he’s also pitched his way back off those same lists, with much of his work in 2025 doing just that. He was shelled at the big league level, though that’s with the caveat that he’d just turned 22 years old when that went down. The stuff’s still there, he’s just struggled to blend it all together for long enough stretches to show he can be an effective big league starter. The hope is that the lumps he took in 2025 paired with a mostly healthy offseason for the first time in a while will send him into 2026 both ready and with something to prove.
Tyson Lewis, SS (20 years old)
2025 at a glance: .340/.396/.532 (.928 OPS) in 207 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League); .268/.347/.417 (.765 OPS) in 144 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League)
Pros: Statcast darling with elite exit velocity and power with his left-handed swing; elite athleticism and plus speed gives him a chance to stick at SS long term, though a move off the position seems likely
Cons: Struck out at an alarming 35.4% rate with Daytona (and at an alarming 29.1% rate overall last year); .432 BABIP across all leagues last year screams ‘regression’
Tools. Tyson Lewis has just about every tool there is. He hit a ball over 119 mph in his pro debut, was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nebraska prior to being a 2nd round pick (with an overslot bonus) by the Reds, and was originally committed to the University of Arkansas.
The upside here is obvious, as he’s got one of the loudest bats at any level. The swing and miss stuff, though, is something he’ll have to completely overhaul as he moves up the ladder, though getting out of the extremely pitcher-friendly confines of the FSL will perhaps help that some.
Steele Hall, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted 9th overall in the 1st round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL); 2025 Mr. Baseball in the state of Alabama, once committed to powerhouse University of Tennessee before signing with the Reds for $5.75 million
Pros: Speed, and plenty of it; projectable power and potential five-tool player whose defense and arm look like they’ll play plenty well at short; just 17 years old when drafted after reclassifying a year early
Cons: It’s all still ‘projectable’ as, again, he just turned 18 after the draft and has zero professional PA to show for it
Hall reclassified to the class of 2025 despite originally being part of the class of 2026, and the Reds – who’d been scouting him already – thought he had the talent to eventually mature into a player who’d be in the mix for the #1 overall pick in 2026. So, when he was there at pick #9 in 2025, they jumped at the chance to sign him, knowing full well there was no rush for his development.
He’s drawn comparisons to the likes of Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson, which is pretty damn lofty. Despite not having played a pro game and still being just 18, he’s ranked 79th in MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 100 overall prospects in the game. How quickly he can physically mature and adapt to breaking balls at the top levels remains to be seen, but the speed, glove, and arm all look like they’ll be big-league caliber in very short order.
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Jose Franco, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 3.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 118/54 K/BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League) and AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Fastball that flirts with triple digits with ease
Cons: Secondary pitches need work, and that’s impacting his overall command (and ability to limit walks)
Franco turned 25 years old in November and earned a promotion to the 40-man roster of the Reds shortly thereafter due to his consistent performance across the upper levels of their farm system.
The Reds have a few hulks they’ve put on the mound in recent years, and Franco thoroughly qualifies. He’s listed at 6’2” and an oddly specific 257 lbs, and his size and frame allows him to tap into his excellent fastball velocity with ease. It’s the pitch he misses bats with the most, but how well he can differentiate his breaking pitches (and improve his changeup command) will determine whether or not he can a) get left-handed hitter out with aplomb and b) avoid ending up in the bullpen.
He’s been a late bloomer, in part due to injuries that cost him his entire 2023 season, and if he continues the path he’s been on since getting healthy there could be a whole lot more from him as early as 2026 for Cincinnati.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Zach Maxwell, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 4.50 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 13/4 K/BB in 10.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds; 4.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 59/32 K/BB in 49.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Huge. Literally gigantic (6’6”, 275-ish lbs). Throws gas (100 mph+) with a devastating slider (70-grade). And he’s titanic.
Cons: Struggles with control (6.1 BB/9 across 172.1 IP in his minors career)
Maxwell, a former 6th round pick out of Georgia Tech, throws the ball up to 102 mph with his heater, and it’s clear that hitters have just about as little idea where it’s actually going to be as Maxwell himself. That’s the rub here, really, in that Big Sugar has the pure stuff to turn even the best hitters into guessers, and it comes down to whether they’ll guess wrong more often than Maxwell misses the zone in each and every PA.
If they swing, though, they’re likely going to miss, and that’s why he’s right in the mix for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen again in 2026 after making his debut there in 2025. He can be a bit wild if it’s effectively wild, and that’s a tightrope he’s been walking since his days back at North Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. When he’s locked in, though, the heater is backed up by an absolutely devastating slide piece, and that two-pitch mix – again, when he’s locked in – is good enough to be closer material. He’s just got to continue to refine his delivery.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ran into a buzzsaw today as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat them 136-104. Let’s see who won and lost the game.
WINNER – Lu Dort
This is the first time I’ve given ‘winner’ to an opponent this season. That’s not to say there haven’t been great performances from the other teams all season long. There have been. But Lu Dort’s defense on Donovan Mitchell has been impossible to ignore, dating back multiple seasons at this point.
Dort is built in a lab to defend Mitchell. He’s one of the only backcourt players in the NBA who have a comparable build. Dort is a stocky, quick-twitch athlete who can give Mitchell problems that no other defender in the league has been able to. He can beat Mitchell to his spot, and he’s strong enough to stop Mitchell from simply powering through him.
Mitchell finished this game shooting 5-18. Last season, Mitchell shot 3-16 and 3-15 in his two games against the Thunder. That’s 11-49 (22%) across three games.
Of course, not all of that is because of Dort. OKC’s strength is their defense. But Dort is a huge part of that, and he’s the best Mitchell-stopper in the NBA, if you ask me.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen Blocks
Highlights were few and far between today for the Cavs. But Jarrett Allen took home the two biggest plays of the day.
It started with what might be the best block of the Cavaliers’ season. Jaylen Williams was barreling towards the rim, ready to throw down a thunderous dunk, before Allen met him at the rim and sent Williams back reeling. I’m not sure if I’ve seen Allen block a shot with this much force before.
His second block was less eventful. It was a simple rotate-and-recover to stop a layup at the rim. But considering how the rest of the game went, these two blocks will be cherished.
LOSER – Lonzo Ball
I’m sorry to say, but we might have seen enough of Lonzo Ball this season. He has struggled to find his rhythym and the Cavs can’t afford to keep waiting for him to figure it out. At the very least, he needs a prolonged stretch on the bench before Kenny Atkinson can turn back to Ball for minutes.
Ball is shooting 27% from the three-point line this season. That didn’t stop him from jacking up four three-point attempts in his first five minutes on the court today. One of which was a step-back jumper from the corner early in the shot clock.
Zo threw the ball out of bounds on the very next play and didn’t return.
LOSER – Efficient Offense
The Thunder have been a historically good defense for two years in a row. If you’re going to beat them, you really have to earn it.
Cleveland’s offense didn’t earn it today.
The Cavs didn’t hit their first three-pointer of the game until late in the first quarter when Craig Proter Jr. bailed them out of a possession. They entered halftime shooting 4-18 from deep and continued to shoot 5-27 as the fourth quarter started.
Cleveland finished the game shooting just 8-35 from deep (22%).
You can’t beat this Thunder team if your offense isn’t playing sharp. The Thunder already do enough defensively to make your life difficult. Missing open shots — or worse — committing unforced turnovers is a recipe for disaster.
The Cavs had 21 turnovers. You can credit some of that to OKC’s defense. But you can also credit a handful of those turnovers to simple miscommunications or bad decision-making from Cleveland. Take throwing the ball out of bounds in the backcourt after a defensive rebound, for example. Or driving into a crowd and finding yourself stuck without a dribble. All of this is avoidable — and all of it plays directly into OKC’s hand.
You can slice this game up a million different ways. But a poor shooting night and a high-turnover rate is a death sentence against the Thunder.
