The Dallas Mavericks (19-26) host the Los Angeles Lakers (26-17) Friday night on ABC. The Mavericks are riding high having won four straight, most recently against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The Lakers are playing pretty uneven basketball lately, but in their most recent game they fell to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers
WHAT: Luka Doncic returns to the AAC again!
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: ABC
The injury report for the Mavericks has become a game of whack-a-mole. One guy comes back, Daniel Gafford is listed as probable with his ankle issue, but another goes down, in this case Moussa Cisse is doubtful due to illness. Otherwise, it’s the same four guys listed as out that have been out: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, and Dante Exum. The Lakers are without Austin Reaves who is dealing with a calf strain.
If you are watching tonight, please try downloading this app I am working with called Offside. I’ll be hanging out in the game chat with SlightlyBiased during the game. Give it a download, find the game, then look for the chat tab. Hang out, react to the game, drop any trades you want to see, and we’ll have fun during what should be a thrilling game.
When I wrote the longer game preview last night, I felt good about the Maverick chances, but something related to Cisse being out has me spooked. He plays hard, rebounds hard, and sets a tone and Dallas needs that. Gafford is good for some things, but rebounding and team defense aren’t his highest ranking attributes. I think the Mavericks need to push hard in transition to put the Lakers away. Doncic will take and make tough shots, but the Mavericks need to make the game tiring for the Lakers. This one feels like a toss up, though the Lakers are currently a 3.5 point favorite.
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenseman Gavin Bayreuther to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Viktor Neuchev, the team announced on Saturday.
Bayreuther, 31, signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina this offseason to return to North America and had played solely in the AHL this season.
He appeared in 33 games with the Chicago Wolves, registering four goals and 13 points.
With injury issues hitting the Sabres' blueline, this gives Bayreuther a potential chance to once again play NHL games.
Neuchev, 22, was a third-round pick by the Sabres in the 2022 draft and he has spent the last three seasons in AHL with the Rochester Americans.
The 5-foot-11 winger has 130 games of AHL experience under his belt with 24 goals and 66 points to show for it.
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The latest victim to fall in the conference is No. 16 Florida, as the defending national champions lost to Auburn 76-67 on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. It's the Tigers' first signature conference win of the Steven Pearl era.
Keyshawn Hall's team-high 24 points willed the Tigers to their first win against the Gators in Gainesville since Feb. 10, 1996.
The win also marks the second upset in the SEC on Saturday and moves both teams to 5-3 in the conference standings, two things that show the conference remains wide open going into February.
Hall played a big part in Auburn being able to head into the locker room with a 15-point lead at halftime. The Tigers' senior guard had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half, including a 3-of-4 mark from behind the arc. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
Florida trailed at halftime 43-28 but rallied back to tie the game at 54 then at 56-56 at the 8:09 mark following a pair of free throws from Thomas Haugh. But that'd be as close as Todd Golden's squad would get; Auburn never allowed Florida to be closer than five points for the remaining eight minutes.
Haugh led Florida with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field and had 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Two additional Gators finished in double figures, as Urban Klavzar and Rueben Chinyelu added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Alex Condon, who tested the NBA draft waters last offseason following the Gators' national championship, struggled mightily for Florida. Despite grabbing nine rebounds and recording three blocks, the 6-foot-11 forward was held to one point on 0-for-4 shooting from the field and turned the ball over four times. It's the third time this season that an opponent has held Condon to single-digit points.
Auburn will test its now three-game win streak on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at home against Texas at 7 p.m. ET, while Florida will look to bounce back on the road against South Carolina at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 28.
Keaton Wagler picked the right time to have a career-best performance.
The Illinois freshman guard scored 46 points in an 88-82 win for the No. 11 Fighting Illini road victory over No. 4 Purdue. Wagler scored his career-high on just 17 shots, making 13 of them. He also shot 9-of-11 from 3-point range and made 11 free throws.
The 46 points were the most points by a visiting player in Mackey Arena history and the most points by a Big Ten player this season.
Wagler had 24 points in the first half, keeping Illinois within striking distance with a four-point deficit. However, in the second half, he scored 22 points as the Fighting Illini outscored the Boilermakers by 10 points to pick up the key conference victory.
Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler with one of the GREATEST college basketball performances of all-time:
- 88-82 WIN AT MACKEY - 46 points - 13-of-17 FG - 9-11 from 3 - 11-13 FT - 4 assists
Ja Morant was asked one question about his future with the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 21.
When the star point guard was in London and Berlin for two NBA games in Europe against the Orlando Magic, the media assembled had plenty to ask the 26-year-old in his seventh NBA season. But this time, he was asked just one question after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks at FedExForum.
"I'm sorry y'all that wasn't able to come to London, but I'm done with those questions,” Morant said.
His response was polite, and the questions turned back to basketball. Morant wanted to focus on basketball, but the news from the Grizzlies on Jan. 24 about another setback will keep the focus on his future with the organization.
If Morant is traded, he has played his last game with the Grizzlies. There is also the possibility that Memphis could keep Morant beyond the deadline if the latest injury scares off bidders from making an attractive offer.
Morant is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this season. His 23.5% on 3-pointers and 41% shooting overall are both career lows. He's a 46.6% shooter for his career, including 31.1% on 3-pointers.
Ja Morant’s trade value, contract
Reports have indicated that Morant doesn’t have a robust trade market. His injury history and off-court concerns have limited what teams are willing to offer for a player who is making $39.4 million this season.
After reports surfaced that the Grizzlies would listen to offers on Jan. 9, Morant returned from a calf contusion on Jan. 18 after missing six games. He proceeded to compile at least 20 points and 10 assists in each of his next two games.
Morant’s strong play was an indication that more teams could start calling the Grizzlies, but then he suffered his latest injury.
Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo are two other notable NBA stars whose names have been rumored in potential trades. Both those players are also expected to be sidelined through the trade deadline.
A team in win-now mode is less likely to take on Morant’s contract, given his latest injury and injury history. Morant has missed 23 of 43 games this season. He’ll finish this season playing less than 60 games for the third consecutive year.
Morant indicated on Jan. 18 that Memphis is where he wants to be. While that didn’t mean the Grizzlies would be more inclined to keep him, the current injury situation could lead to that.
If Morant stays past the deadline, is the relationship salvageable? That seems unlikely, given Morant’s down season and injury history with two more seasons left on his contract.
Morant was supporting his teammates on the bench during the Jan. 23 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans. His latest actions have been positive, limiting the potential of a distraction.
The two sides being aligned throughout the remainder of the season doesn’t seem like it could be a conflict. However, what happens after the season is another question.
Morant will be eligible for a three-year contract extension. The Grizzlies didn’t sign him to a two-year extension last offseason. Given the recent events and the team’s willingness to shop him, an extension is even less likely now.
A perfect fairytale story would be the Grizzlies and Morant fixing their differences, moving on and making a run next season. However, without future certainty, there’s a strong chance the Grizzlies will be listening to offers again in the offseason if Morant remains on the roster past the trade deadline.
As the Senators get set to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night, they've made one notable lineup change. Travis Green announced on Saturday at the game day skate that Nik Matinpalo will be in for Nick Jensen, and James Reimer will start in the first game of a back-to-back for the Senators, who will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
Travis Green talks about his penalty kill unit coaching change (Senators on YouTube).
Jensen turned the puck over while retrieving it in his own end, leading to Nashville’s game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining on Thursday. However, he didn't get much help. The Sens had forwards standing around in the neighbourhood who were in a position to help Jensen by defending the front of Ottawa's net, and they just didn't.
Matinpalo will be playing just his second game since November 29. The only game he’s appeared in so far in 2026 was an 8–2 loss in Colorado.
Stephen Halliday will continue to fill in for David Perron, who will miss 5-7 weeks after sports hernia surgery. Halliday scored his first NHL goal in Nashville on Thursday.
The New York Rangers have now lost three consecutive games, while suffering defeats in nine out of their past ten matchups.
Frustrations are beginning to mount, specifically from Rangers captain J.T. Miller, who voiced his frustration following the Blueshirts’ 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
“We're not getting the results,” Miller said. “I'm not at all happy with where we're at. This f–ing sucks. Sorry about my language, but this really sucks. Losing every night, it's really hard to stay positive. I mean, it's really hard. This is nobody's standard or what we're willing to accept within each other, is losing every game it feels like right now. I think it’s just constant mistakes and shooting ourselves (in the) the foot. Everybody’s really trying hard. That’s what really sucks.”
When Miller was traded to the Rangers last season from the Vancouver Canucks, the expectation was that he could be the piece to help propel the Rangers into a playoff contender.
Instead, Miller finds himself in the midst of a retool, and as the captain, it’s on him to keep a calm and steady composure through these losing times.
The letter issued by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury outlining the team’s plan to retool the roster was not in Miller's mind when he waived his no-move clause to come to New York about one year ago.
“The emotions have been going on for longer than the last two days,” Miller said after Drury’s letter was released. “It's unfortunately part of the game. It's disappointing, for sure. I don't think four or five months ago this is where we thought we'd be, but we’ve got a job to do, and we need to start moving forward towards the next chapter.”
As the Ottawa Senators begin a four-game homestand, they’ll have their hands full on Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, the second-place team in the Eastern Conference and third place overall.
The Senators will be trying to shake off a difficult loss in Nashville on Thursday night, where they fell 5–3 to the Predators after surrendering a two-goal lead for the third time in four games.
Those performances, coming at a time when the Senators were already out of room for error, have sparked plenty of discussion over the past 48 hours about whether the team needs to make some kind of change to try and jump-start its extremely long-shot playoff hopes.
Travis Green talks about changing penalty kill coaches. (Senators on YouTube)
The Senators did make a change on Saturday, albeit a small one. With the penalty kill continuing to struggle in Nashville, head coach Travis Green has shifted control of the unit from Nolan Baumgartner to Mike Yeo.
“That’s not a knock against Baumer,” Green said. “He’s an excellent coach and he’s done a great job with our defencemen. The penalty kill hasn’t gone the way we’ve wanted, and that’s not just on him. Ultimately, the players have to get the job done, but a new voice might give a spark, give a different look, a different voice.”
Green said the changes to the penalty kill won’t be major and believes the unit could easily be in better shape than it is.
“There have been some goals we haven’t liked, and that goes back to the players' blown coverages where a guy doesn’t make the right play,” Green said. “We’ve also got some young penalty killers who are a work in progress. But we’ve got to right the ship.”
Given that the penalty kill has struggled all season, it’s fair to wonder why this move, or any move, wasn’t made earlier, when there was still a more realistic chance to save the season. Green leaned on a familiar explanation.
“I think there’s been a lot of learning with our group,” Green said. “I’ve seen improvement in our penalty kill. We haven’t gotten the results, but I’ve liked a lot of what we’ve seen. We felt a different voice might help as a sounding board. Mike’s done it for a long time as well. Our coaching staff collaborates on everything; this isn’t a one-man show in any area. We’ll see how it goes.”
The other change for Saturday night’s game against the Hurricanes is Nick Jensen being a healthy scratch in favour of Nick Matinpalo. Jensen turned the puck over while retrieving it in his own end, leading to Nashville’s game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining on Thursday. In fairness, the Sens had forwards standing around in the neighbourhood who were in a position to help Jensen by defending the front of Ottawa's net, and they just didn't.
Matinpalo will be playing just his second game since November 29. The only game he’s appeared in so far in 2026 was an 8–2 loss in Colorado.
James Reimer will get the start in goal for the Senators, who enter play seven points out of a wild-card spot and ten points back of the Atlantic Division’s top three teams.
Steve Warne The Hockey News Ottawa
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DALLAS (AP) — Jaron Pierre Jr. had 28 points to help SMU hold off Florida State 83-80 on Saturday.
Lajae Jones buried a 3-pointer to give Florida State a 72-69 lead with four minutes remaining. Pierre had baskets on both ends of a three-point play by B.J. Edwards in a 7-0 run and SMU stayed in front from there. Edwards made two free throws with eight seconds left to set the final margin.
Pierre made 11 of 18 shots with four 3-pointers for the Mustangs (15-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). Edwards totaled 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Boopie Miller had 11 points and six assists and Samet Yigitoglu grabbed 11 rebounds and scored six.
Robert McCray V totaled 21 points and nine assists to pace the Seminoles (8-12, 1-6). Jones made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double this season. Alex Steen had 14 points and nine rebounds, while reserve Martin Somerville hit three 3-pointers and scored 13.
Edwards had 13 points, Pierre scored 11 and SMU closed the first half on a 20-10 run for a 46-34 advantage at halftime.
McCray buried a 3-pointer, Steen tipped in a miss and Jones hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 run that gave the Seminoles a 50-49 lead with 15 minutes remaining. The lead changed hands four times until Edwards scored in the paint with three minutes left to put the Mustangs on top for good.
Up next
Florida State: The Seminoles host California on Wednesday.
SMU: The Mustangs visit No. 23 Louisville on Saturday.
Tyrese Maxey – 18 VJ Edgecombe – 6 Joel Embiid – 5 Paul George – 5 Andre Drummond – 2 Dominick Barlow – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Jared McCain – 1 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers fell in dramatic fashion (of course) 112-109 to the visiting New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tale of two halves this afternoon. The first featured a dominant 28-point performance from Joel Embiid on 12 shots that helped lead the Sixers to a slight advantage by halftime.
The second half… not so fun for Philly. The Sixers put up their worst period since Jan. 2, 2024, scoring just 13 points in the frame compared to the Knicks’ 30. Philadelphia started the fourth just as cold and it seemed like the game might already be over before a late push pulled them back within single digits. It was too little, too late, though. After a wild final minute (that felt like it took 20 minutes real time), the Knicks walked away with a 112-109 victory over the Sixers.
The Sixers will now fly out of Philly (before the snowstorm arrives) to visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening.
Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer. Not many choices from this one.
Joel Embiid: 38 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block
Embiid was coming off a triple-double performance in the Sixers’ overtime win over the Houston Rockets just a few days ago. Having played nearly 46 minutes in that Thursday evening contest, just the fact that Embiid was available for this one was great to see.
The fatigue didn’t seem to bother him much. Instead, we got vintage Joel to start this one.
I’ll be honest, there was a time I didn’t know if we’d ever see the big fella do that again.
Embiid did a lot more than that, though, leading the Sixers right out of the gate with a field-leading 15 points in the opening frame on 5-for-7 field goal shooting in his first 10 minutes. The Knicks could not slow him down. Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns… it didn’t seem to matter who they tried to put on him, Embiid simply was unstoppable. By halftime, he had 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the floor. Let me say that again: he had 28 points by halftime, on 12 shots, less than 48 hours after playing 46 minutes.
The big fella did seem to slow down in the second half (along with the entire Sixers’ squad) and was dealing with some pain after New York’s Ariel Hukporti landed on Embiid’s knee battling for a ball on the floor. He kept battling, though, leading the Sixers’ late charge to pull back within single digits of the Knicks in the final frame. Embiid finished the contest with 38 points (13-for-21 field goals, 3-for-5 from three) with 11 rebounds, five assists and one block.
Embiid may not be the same guy he was a few seasons ago health-wise, but damn if he isn’t making it work anyway. He’s moving well, hitting silky-smooth jumpers, getting up for boards and defense, and clearly isn’t shy or worried about using his body to drive hard to the rim. It’s all extremely encouraging to see. Now, if only the rest of the squad could figure some things out…
That was a tough finish for the Sixers vs. Knicks. But, it was another extremely encouraging showing from Joel Embiid, even considering the rough second half for the entire team.
There were definitely times in this one that it seemed like fatigue and frustration were getting the better of Tyrese Maxey, but he kept battling and was a driving force in the Sixers’ last game push to try to come from behind. It was also his best night from long range in about two weeks, sinking 3-of-7 attempts (42.9%) from beyond the arc. He was 8-for-15 from the floor overall and had six assists. Maxey was able to maneuver through the Knicks defense into the paint and was hitting some nice pull-ups.
Tyrese Maxey with the 3-point play and somehow the Sixers only trail by single digits! pic.twitter.com/pdWlTbLg1n
This wasn’t the best Maxey game overall, we can be honest about that. That being said, he was the only other real scoring threat the Sixers had in this one besides Embiid. With Embiid putting up 38 and Maxey adding 22, the duo combined for 55% of the Sixers’ 109 total points.
(No, this doesn’t mean I like Maxey forcing up that last three-point attempt even if the Knicks were trying to intentionally foul. It’s too risky of a move to rely on the whistle and there was enough time to just try to get a better shot.)
The Celtics roll into Chicago looking to extend a winning rhythm, but the Bulls are in a groove as well. Boston had to dig deep last night, and they’ll have to again on the second half of a back-to-back. Fatigue may be a factor, but the Celtics have a key contributor returning. Here are three questions that could decide the outcome.
Can the Celtics survive a short turnaround against the Bulls?
Boston was put to the test all night by Brooklyn, and had just enough left in the tank to pull off a gutsy win. After a double-overtime finish and a late-night flight to Chicago, the Celtics haven’t had much time to recharge ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Bulls.
Chicago, meanwhile, enters well-rested and riding a three-game winning streak. They most recently handled Minnesota behind a balanced effort that saw seven players reach double figures.
Brooklyn’s size and switchability posed problems for Boston, but Chicago presents a different challenge. The Bulls lack the same positional versatility, which should allow the Celtics to generate and punish switches more easily. The concern lies on the other end.
Chicago plays fast. They rank fourth in pace and average the second-most transition possessions per game — a recipe that could expose tired legs if this game stays close late.
This puts a premium on execution. If Boston can control turnovers and get into its half-court offense, they’ll limit Chicago’s ability to run, and force the Bulls to score against a set defense.
The good news? Derrick White is back.
Can Derrick White’s return slow down the Bulls’ fast break?
The weather is unusually cold — and so is Derrick White’s jumper lately.
After a slow start to the season, White found his rhythm, before slipping back into another brief efficiency dip. It’s a familiar pattern, and one that prompted Joe Mazzulla to give him the night off against Brooklyn.
Derrick White tends to slump every January. It’s probably cost him an All-Star nod (or two). But he tends to break out in a big way by February. pic.twitter.com/kB0pcne1z2
His return against Chicago comes at an ideal moment. White’s defensive versatility and off-ball activity could be critical against a Bulls team that thrives in transition, particularly when it comes to slowing his namesake, Coby White. With extra rest, he may also be better positioned to shoulder a larger load if others begin to fade.
There’s no long-term concern with one of the league’s most reliable shooters. If anything, this feels like a natural spot for a course correction.
Will Amari Williams get more minutes after his strong performance?
Amari Williams had arguably the most encouraging five-minute stint one could imagine against the Nets.
With Neemias Queta and Luka Garza fouled out, it was Amari Williams who stepped up with the game on the line. His size and defensive impact were huge, but more importantly, he looked like he belonged.
Getting thrown into the fire of double overtime is a big ask for a rookie two-way center. He handled it extremely well, and effectively iced the game with some excellent rim protection.
Mazzulla has consistently rewarded young players who impact games, and Williams may have earned himself a longer look. While his development is primarily happening in Maine, there’s value in giving him NBA reps — something he’s handled well each time so far.
With Queta still dealing with illness and listed as probable, tonight presents another opportunity. Like White, Williams could help Boston manage the physical toll of a short turnaround.
All-star third baseman and American League MVP finalist José Ramírez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million deal to remain with the Cleveland Guardians, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.
The 33-year old native of the Dominican Republic has played his entire 13-year, big league career in Cleveland. He was signed through the 2028 season. He had three years and $69 million remaining on the extension he signed in 2022, but will now average $25 million over the next seven years.
The extension also includes a no-trade clause and performance bonuses related to his finish in MVP balloting. Ramírez has finished in the top five six times. He was third last year and fifth in 2024.
Cleveland has reached the postseason eight times since Ramírez was called up to the majors in 2013, including losing in seven games to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series. The Guardians have won the AL Central the past two seasons.
Ramírez became the first player in franchise history to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases last season and just the second switch-hitter, joining Carlos Beltrán (435 homers, 312 stolen bases). He goes into 2026 with 285 home runs and 287 stolen bases.
Robin Yount, Craig Biggio and Derek Jeter are the only other players to accomplish the 250-250 feat with only one team.
The seven-time, AL all-star had a career-high 44 stolen bases last season and became the fourth player in MLB history with multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 40 steals. He had a .283 batting average, including a career-long 21-game hit streak from May 6-28.
Ramírez is also the franchise leader in extra base hits with 726 and 27 multi-homer games. He is second in home runs and RBIs (949).
The Buffalo Sabres currently hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they looked to add to their roster between now and the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
One area the Sabres could look to address is the right side of their blueline. When looking at potential trade candidates who could be a nice fit on their roster, New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider stands out.
Schneider is among the several Rangers players who have been in the rumor mill since Blueshirts GM Chris Drury confirmed in a letter to fans that the team is rebuilding. With this, the Sabres should consider making a push for the right-shot defenseman.
If the Sabres brought in Schneider, he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to the Sabres' bottom pairing. He would also offer them another option for their penalty kill.
Another appealing factor about Schneider is that he still has the potential to improve, as he is still just 24 years old. Furthermore, the 6-foot-4 defenseman would also give the Sabres' blueline a bit more bite, as he plays a heavy game.
In 52 games so far this season with the Rangers, Schneider has posted two goals, eight assists, 10 points, 83 blocks, and 115 hits.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Toby Fournier scored 19 points, reserve Arianna Roberson had 19 points in a double-double and No. 21 Duke overwhelmed Pittsburgh 95-41 on Saturday for the Blue Devils' 11th straight win.
Roberson, a freshman, was 9-of-15 shooting and matched her high of 12 rebounds for her first double-double. Riley Nelson also posted her first double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Delaney Thomas scored 16 points and Taina Mair added 12 for the Blue Devils (14-6, 9-0 ACC), who share first place with No. 8 Louisville.
Mikayla Johnson led the Panthers (8-14, 1-7) with 15 points.
Duke scored the first seven points of the game and Pittsburgh's first made basket came with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. Duke led 9-4 at that point then made 6 of 8 shots to finish the quarter. The Blue Devils led 22-8 after one.
Duke shot 68% in the second quarter and finished the half on a 19-4 run, building a 51-16 halftime lead.
Duke led 66-20 midway through the third quarter before Pitt scored back-to-back baskets for the first time. The Panthers scored 14 points in the third, their first quarter with double-digit scoring. Duke led 76-30 at the end of three.
The lead peaked at 85-30 after the Blue Devils scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter.
The 11 consecutive wins match Duke's longest under coach Kara Lawson, also accomplished in the 2022-23 season.
The game was moved from Sunday to Saturday because of the severe winter storm in the south and east.
In today’s matinee, the Knicks (27*-18) absorbed a Joel Embiid onslaught, survived cold shooting from the wings, and steadied themselves just enough in the final seconds to leave Philadelphia with a 112–109 win, holding off the 76ers (24-20) after nearly squandering a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.
Through the first quarter, New York mostly controlled the flow but never created separation. They relied on Brunson, Towns, and McBride to build modest leads, but never more than six points. Before the game, Towns was questionable to play due to back spasms. Numerous times this afternoon, he seemed to aggravate the problem. Off the bench, Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection and physicality made him the only effective deterrent to Embiid.
In a tightly contested frame, Maxey and Embiid consistently erased any ground the visitors gained. When McBride drilled a late three, Maxey answered with some freebies, and the quarter ended with a 34-34 deadlock.
The home team seized control in the second quarter. Maxey bent the defense at the point of attack. Embiid gradually thundered into the lane, benefiting from his strength, footwork, and friendly whistles. For our heroes, Anunoby emerged as an offensive presence, cutting and finishing with concentrated energy, but Towns was unable to slow Embiid. By the break, the Knicks were on the wrong side of 64-60.
Through the half, New York dominated the glass (25–14) and crushed the offensive boards (10–1). The Sixers, meanwhile, were ruthless when they got looks, shooting 65% overall, won the paint 30-22, and moved the ball well enough to offset the rebounding deficit. Embiid’s highest scoring first-half of the season ended with a game-high 28 points. For the Knicks, Brunson posted 19.
In the third quarter, the Knicks showed us what they can do when focused on both ends. Behind efficient scoring and furious defense, they opened the second half with a 14-4 run. Philly’s Embiid looked bedraggled after his extraordinary first half, so perhaps the coronation by the ABC halftime panel was a tad premature.
When Shamet slipped through for a backdoor layup, the Knicks had outscored Philly 21-7 and taken a 10-point lead, their largest yet. A little later, Deuce hit a jumper to make the score 88-74. With steals, blocks, rebounds, and forced turnovers—and Karl-Anthony Towns benched for most of the quarter due to foul trouble—the Knicks held the home team to just 13 points in the frame. (Yep, 13.) With the wind in their sails, New York gleefully embarked into the fourth with a 90-77 advantage.
Early in the fourth, Embiid went down, grabbing his leg, but remained in the game. His gait was gimpy, Joel had scored zilch in Q3, and missed two free throws before gingerly hitting a triple around the eight-minute mark of Q4. The big fella spurred an eight-point run to cut into New York’s 17-point lead, but you could just tell he was already fantasizing about that postgame ice bath. By game’s end, he’d have 38 points, 11 boards, and five assists.
Good luck keeping a lead in today’s NBA when two of your players (Bridges, McBride) each shoot 1-of-8 from downtown. Bridges was terrible, hurting his team by missing dead-on bunnies and, at one point, shooting 3-of-16 from the floor. Captain Clutch sizzled from deep (6-of-12) but was the only Knick with more than one made three-pointer. Nonetheless, they looked like the better team. Worried about the playoffs? Not us, not yet. (Brunson would finish with 31 points on 11-of-24 FG.)
At the midway point, Towns fouled out. Blame the bad back, but that’s six fouls in 16 minutes to go with his 10 points and six boards. Lucky for New York, Robinson was playing like a spring chicken, grabbing every possible offensive rebound. Philly had some juice, though, with Kelly “Sideshow Bob” Oubre, Jr. and OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes pitching in to cut the differential to five with five minutes left.
With two minutes left, Embiid scored to make the score 102-99. Anunoby (the wing who was shooting well) made a tip-in to drive half of the stadium wild. VJ Edgecombe responded with a quick-trigger triple, which set the Philly half of the crowd cheering. OG said Hmph and answered with a triple; then an Embiid miss became a Shamet trey for an eight-point lead with 42 seconds left. The Knicks fans were shaking the building. (Anunoby tallied 23 points on 10-of-15 FG.)
A Maxey triple and two Edgecombe free throws made it a three-point game. In a wild final 30 seconds, Brunson was tagged for an offensive foul, trying to break away from Edgecombe on an inbound. A coach’s challenge overturned the call, giving New York a free throw and possession. Anunoby was fouled and made one of two free throws. Maxey raced down the floor for a layup, cutting the difference to five points with 18 seconds left. Brunson missed two free throws, but Maxey missed on a three-pointer, Shamet wasn’t whistled while trying to commit an intentional foul, and New York escaped with a 112-109 win.
Up Next
My sheet says Matthew Miranda is coming in hot with a recap. As for New York, they will host the Kings of Sacramento on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
