With Bryce Underwood returning to Michigan, why should UM expect anything more than 9-4?
Michigan State basketball vs Northwestern game score prediction
The second of a three-game homestand for No. 13 Michigan State basketball will have another quick turnaround as Northwestern visits Tuesday.
Kyle Whittingham knows what Michigan football needs
"Get rid of the drama and just getting back to playing Michigan football without all the distractions,” coach Kyle Whittingham said to Dan Patrick.
Did Jaylen Brown deserve a better whistle in Celtics' loss to Nuggets?
Did Jaylen Brown deserve a better whistle in Celtics' loss to Nuggets? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jaylen Brown, who’s been unafraid to speak his mind this season, vented about a lack of whistles Wednesday night after the Boston Celtics lost to the Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets at TD Garden.
Did Brown have a legitimate gripe with the officiating?
Brown was credited Wednesday night with 31 drives, which was one of his highest totals this entire season and nearly 75 percent more than his season average. But he drew just one foul off those drives, a rate of 3.2 percent. For the season, Brown is drawing 1.6 fouls on 17.8 drives per game, a rate of 9.2 percent.
Here’s a look at his season numbers on drives compared to Wednesday night:
Brown shot just three free throws — he missed a pair amid “MVP!” chants at one point in the second half — on a night when the Celtics generated just 15 free throw attempts overall.
“They were physical and they got away with a lot,” Brown said of the Nuggets’ defense. “The refs allowed them to get away with a lot. I would have loved to get to the free-throw line a little bit more.
“I was physical. I was aggressive. I went up strong. I didn’t flop. But I kind of let the officiating get to my head a little bit. I think their defense was good, but it wasn’t great.”
Brown ranks third in the NBA in drives per game, trailing only Portland’s Deni Avdija (20.4) and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.1). Brown is second in drive points per game, trailing only Gilgeous-Alexander (13.5).
Feeling like he wasn’t getting a good whistle earlier this season, Brown repeatedly expressed frustration with officials. His free throws slowly climbed from 6.0 per game in October, to 7.1 per game in November, to 8.7 per game in December.
Denver’s size and physicality clearly disrupted Boston’s offensive flow multiple times Wednesday night, most notably early in the fourth quarter, when the Nuggets went on a 16-3 run over a nearly five-minute span to tear open a game that had previously been tied at 90.
Brown struggled with ball security, turning the ball over four times on drives and seven times overall. But given his high number of credited drives, it’s easy to understand his frustration after drawing only one whistle.
ESPN outlines potential trade package that sends Trey Murphy to Warriors
ESPN outlines potential trade package that sends Trey Murphy to Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
There is one name the Warriors — and certainly their fan base — could become enamored with in the coming weeks. If they haven’t already.
With the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline exactly four weeks away, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III has been linked to the Warriors on numerous occasions, even dating back to the offseason when young forward Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency was in limbo.
However, the Pelicans reportedly have been reluctant to part with the 25-year-old wing and, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson, a potential trade for Murphy could cost the Warriors three first-round picks.
So, what would a potential trade package for Murphy look like? ESPN NBA insiders constructed a potential three-team trade that would send Murphy to Golden State:
Golden State Warriors get:
– Jordan Hawkins
– Trey Murphy III
New Orleans Pelicans get:
– Jonathan Kuminga
– Moses Moody
– 2026 first-round pick (via Warriors)
– 2028 first-round pick (via Warriors, top-10 protected)
– 2030 first-round pick (via Warriors, if No. 5 to 20)
Utah Jazz get:
– Kevon Looney
– 2031 second-round pick (via Raptors)
– 2032 second-round pick (via Pelicans)
– Cash considerations
The Warriors would part with Kuminga, who already seems all but certain to be traded in the coming weeks, young guard Moses Moody and three first-round picks (one top-10 protected, one if Golden State’s selection lands within pick Nos. 5 to 20 in 2030) for Murphy and Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins.
“There is risk in this trade when considering the uncertain future of Golden State’s roster,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote. “Besides the newly acquired Murphy, there would be no current Warriors under contract when the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks sent to New Orleans get made.
“But similar to Milwaukee’s approach with [Giannis] Antetokounmpo, there is an obligation to maximize the championship window with Curry and Jimmy Butler III on the roster. And three first-rounders is too much of an offer for New Orleans to refuse, even if they have to include Murphy in the trade.”
Murphy, in his fifth NBA season, is averaging a career-high 21.3 points, 6.1 points and 3.5 assists per game on 49.5-percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent from 3-point range in 35 games this season.
Many believe that Murphy’s 3-and-D skill set is a perfect fit for Golden State, but with a potential high price tag, should the Warriors be willing to give up that much to acquire him?
Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to overtime win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 46 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an overtime win over the Utah Jazz.
The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player hit the shot to force overtime before helping the defending champions clinch a 129-125 victory.
Chet Holmgren added a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Thunder improved to a 31-7 record and sit top of the Western Conference.
The San Antonio Spurs (26-11) are second in the West having won 107-91 at home to the fourth-placed Los Angeles Lakers (23-12).
Keldon Johnson scored 27 points as a balanced San Antonio attack overcame the individual brilliance of Luka Doncic, with Victor Wembanyama adding 16 points off the bench.
Doncic finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who rested LeBron James after the veteran shone in Tuesday's win at New Orleans.
The Denver Nuggets (25-12) remain third in the West after claiming a 114-110 win at the Boston Celtics (23-13).
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (knee) missed his fifth straight game for Denver, for whom Peyton Watson scored a team-high 30 points while Jamal Murray added 22 and a career-high 17 assists.
The Celtics (23-13) slipped to third in the Eastern Conference as the New York Knicks won 134-111 at home to the Los Angeles Clippers (24-13) to halt a four-game losing streak.
Eastern Conference leaders Detroit are 28-9 after Isaiah Stewart scored a career-high 31 points as the Pistons won 108-93 at home to the Chicago Bulls.
Harry Brook’s pre-Ashes scuffle with bouncer deepens crisis around England
White-ball captain issues apology for October incident
Latest revelation just hours after abject Ashes reversal
Harry Brook has issued a public apology for becoming embroiled in a late-night incident in New Zealand just before the Ashes, admitting his actions “brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team”.
A matter of hours after the 4-1 series defeat by Australia was confirmed in Sydney and shortly after the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, Richard Gould, launched a formal review into the tour – including into the behaviour of players – the growing sense of crisis around the team deepened.
Continue reading...Draymond Green praises Jonathan Kuminga's professionalism amid trade rumors
Draymond Green praises Jonathan Kuminga's professionalism amid trade rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga continues to miss game action as trade rumors involving the 23-year-old persist.
It reasonably would be expected that a player would become visibly disgruntled in response to such a situation. But Kuminga’s veteran teammate, Draymond Green, says that it has not been the case with the young forward.
“What I will say about JK is — I applaud JK and how he’s handled this,” Green said in the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “Such a standup young man and great person and [he] will be a great player.”
As a result of Kuminga’s offseason contract extension, he is not available to be traded until Jan. 15.
Even with the nearing date of a probable departure, Green says Kuminga remains engaged on the bench. He shared a moment involving Kuminga and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, in which the latter was frustrated about being pulled from the court after a short stint.
“[Podziemski says], ‘Ah, dang. I just can’t believe they just took me,’ And JK goes, ‘You know, just adjust to it. [You’re] going to go back in. Just adjust to it. Stay ready. You’ll be good,’…” Green recounted. “…No one’s going to highlight that story, but I just wanted to talk about the person Jonathan Kuminga is.”
“So, a guy who’s not playing, who just signed [a $48.5 million deal]… is sitting at the end of the bench telling another young guy like, ‘No, it’s fine. And here’s why, and here’s why you should move on.’”
As Green points out, it’s a remarkable moment of poise and professionalism to stay invested in the well-being of a teammate while being in the awkward situation that Kuminga is in himself.
“I just wanted to tell that story because oftentimes when situations aren’t going right, we start pointing fingers,” Green continued. “And it hasn’t worked as well as anyone would have liked for JK here — for himself or for the organization. It hasn’t worked on both sides. And that happens sometimes in the business that we’re in. But I wanted to point out who that guy is and his professionalism and how he’s dealing with it.”
Green’s story helps clarify any questions about Kuminga’s morale and character.
“So, whatever happens at the trade deadline. If Jonathan Kuminga’s moved, whoever gets Jonathan Kuminga, that’s the guy you’re getting,” Green stated.
Why Javier Lopez was drawn to role with Buster Posey's Giants front office
Why Javier Lopez was drawn to role with Buster Posey's Giants front office originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — Team executives tend to move around in packs at the MLB meetings held every offseason, and even though it’s been more than a year as an executive, Buster Posey still draws plenty of attention when he walks through hallways with the rest of his front office.
But when Posey was walking through a Las Vegas hotel at the GM Meetings last November, he actually wasn’t the Giants executive with the most rings.
That honor belongs to Javier Lopez, who won a title with the Boston Red Sox early in his career and then was instrumental in helping the Giants win three in five years. The left-hander is tied with Mookie Betts and former teammate Pablo Sandoval (a member of the 2021 Atlanta Braves) for the most titles won by a player who debuted this century. The goal now is to break that tie as an executive.
Earlier this offseason, Lopez and Curt Casali joined the baseball operations group as advisors. It was a move that was a long time coming for Lopez, who retired in 2016 and successfully jumped to the broadcast booth. He had been talking to Posey, a close friend, for months about coming on board.
“When he puts his name on it you want to see him be successful,” Lopez said on Thursday’s Giants Talk podcast. “We went back and forth over the last year that he has taken over as president of baseball ops as to how can I be a value add, and we’re kind of trying this out right now for this year. Not only myself, but Curt Casali has come on board as well.
“We’re going to just try to offer different views and opinions and kind of just see where that ends up at the end of the day. I thought it would be a nice way to kind of dip my toe in the water as far as front office work and trying to just get the Giants back to where the Giants want to be.”
With Lopez and Casali joining, the Giants have eight advisors to Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and the rest of the front office. It’s a group of people who long have been close to Posey, but also one that covers a lot of blind spots.
Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker are former big league managers headed to the Hall of Fame. John Barr was a longtime scout, and the man who drafted Posey nearly two decades ago. Bobby Evans, the former Giants GM, provides a front office perspective, and Posey’s former agent, Jeff Berry, can give a view from the other side of the negotiating table. Ron Wotus was the longest-tenured coach in franchise history and also has a unique perspective on prospects since he still works with them at Giants affiliates.
Lopez and Casali are the newcomers to front office life, with one being a former pitcher and the other a former catcher. In initial discussions about free agents and trade targets, Lopez has mostly focused on the players he knows.
“For me right now, the focus has been more on the pitching side,” Lopez said. “(It’s) just being able to watch a player and have certain aspects come out, whether it’s something mechanical, whether it’s something physical, or whether it’s something as easy as a pitch mix that just maybe needs to get changed.”
The Lopez addition was not a surprise to his former teammates. He was the rare reliever who became a team leader, and he won the Willie Mac Award in his final season with the Giants. Years of broadcasting have helped Lopez keep up with the developments in the game over the past decade, and that won’t go away.
Lopez still plans to be part of the mix for NBC Sports Bay Area’s game broadcasts, filling in occasionally for Mike Krukow, but his main focus in 2026 is helping Posey behind the scenes. He noted that he hasn’t forgotten what it was like to win in front of huge crowds at Oracle Park. The goal is to help Posey bring those days back.
“This is always something that I kind of wanted to see if I’m going to be a value add — I’m going to do my best to do that,” he said. “It’s just an opportunity to kind of see what goes on behind the curtain.”
Kings Fall 4-3 To Sharks In OT After Costly Turnover
The Los Angeles Kings (18-14-10) let a crucial point slip away Wednesday night, falling 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks (22-18-3) after a big mistake by Adrian Kempe in the last minute of overtime. In a game where Los Angeles was depleted in their depth at the forward position due to Anze Kopitar, Joel Armia out with injuries, and Corey Perry out for personal reasons, others had to step up if the Kings had a shot.
Kings Recall Andre Lee and Taylor Ward As Corey Perry Steps Away From TeamWith both Anze Kopitar and Joel Armia out with injury, the Kings are turning to their AHL depth, opening up the door for two players who have earned their shot in Ontario. Both teams were sloppy offensively in the first period, despite creating numerous great chances; neither could score. Los Angeles struggled with puck management, committing a flurry of giveaways early in the match, which hurt them.
Final from LA. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/zuKSnVfg0P
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 8, 2026
Special Teams Swing the Momentum
San Jose struck first midway in the second period on the power play, finishing the night a solid 2/4 in that category. Los Angeles responded just a few minutes later to tie the game 1-1 after a shot that produced a rebound, which Alex Turcotte buried, tying it to end the second period.
That connection continued for the Fiala-Turcotte-Kuzmenko line, which was consistently dangerous throughout the night and caused problems for the Sharks.
Kings Take Late Lead, Then Give It Back
The Sharks regained the lead early in the third when Adam Gaudette deflected a shot past Darcy Kuemper on their second power play of the night, making it 2-1. Once again, the Kings responded and didn't quit.
Kevin Fiala tied the game with a strong finish off the nice setup from Turcotte and Joel Edmundson. Moments later, Edmundson unloaded a shot that redirected off Alex Laferriere, giving the Kings their first lead of the night, 3-2.
It looked like the Kings were going to hold on and win a game that they weren't supposed to because of all the bodies out. But, with just under a minute left in regulation, rookie phenom Macklin Celebrini tied the game with an outstanding effort, beating Kuemper to force overtime.
One Mistake Decides the Kings Fate
The Kings had their chances in regulation and certainly in overtime, including a Quinton Byfield look, but the fate didn't end in the Kings' favor. Kempe turned the puck over at the blue line, igniting a fast break possession for the Sharks, who quickly fled for the game-winning goal.
It was a crushing finish for Los Angeles, which was in the game for most of the night despite missing three key players, but couldn't overcome its turnovers.
The Kings showed heart today and depth with all their guys out, particularly Fiala and Turcotte, but against a fast, young Sharks team, one mistake proved to be many.
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Observations From Blues' 7-3 Loss Vs. Blackhawks
Let's just get it out of the way now: a team that's as inconsistent as the St. Louis Blues, winning three in a row is like climbing Mount Everest. Opportunities may on the odd occasion present itself, and they may do it at some point, but on majority of occasions -- forget about it.
For the fourth time this season, a three-game winning streak presented itself, and the Blues are now 0-for-4, and they've been outplayed badly each time.
The Chicago Blackhawks did it to them again in this situation, and they did it in convincing fashion, running away with a 7-3 win at United Center in Chicago on Wednesday.
Otto Stenberg scored his first NHL goal, Tyler Tucker scored his second goal this season -- both against the Blackhawks -- and Nathan Walker scored in his return after missing 16 games with an upper-body injury; Jordan Binnington allowed five or more goals in a start this season for the seventh time after facing 35 shots.
Thus, the Blues fell to 17-19-8.
Let's go into Wednesday's game observations:
* Congrats to Otto Stenberg -- On a night where the Blues don't deserve any praise, we will give this kid his due diligence.
Why? Because he continues to play his tail off, and the 20-year-old finally got rewarded with his first NHL goal, and at the time, it was a big one, when he tied the game 2-2 at 8:22 of the second period when he stole a puck on a pass into the skates of Landon Slaggert and beat Spencer Knight high to the short side:
OTTO STENBERG HAS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 👏
— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2026
📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3Tpic.twitter.com/zkDeZEyjmj
Stenberg, who came in with five assists in nine games and was a team-leading plus-4 (make it plus-5 after another plus Wednesday), played 13:55 and tied with Jake Neighbours and Nathan Walker for the team lead with five hits.
That trip combined for 15 of the Blues' 25 hits, and seemed to be the only ones checking in this game, but that's a subject in a different spot, but I got to tell you, this kid is even better than I thought he could be and deserves to stay here when some more injured bodies start to filter back in. But the fact he can go back down without needing waivers is something that will play into this. If it's my call, he stays out. He's earned it.
* Special teams were terrible yet again -- It started with the first period when the Blues had three chances on the power play to take control of a game and say what you want about looking at the stat sheet at the end of the night, with six shots on the power play but none of them were ones that made a difference.
They continuously try to make the extra pass, and when they attempt to shoot the puck, it was always trying to get it to the bumper and that looks like a mess. Teams are sitting on it, baiting the Blues to try it. They have to be pining for the days of Ryan O'Reilly there, and for that matter, Zack Bolduc last year there. But the Blues finished 0-for-5 when there was the chance to make a statement there early.
Meanwhile, Chicago had just one power play in the first period, and guess what, the Blackhawks made good on it on a Nick Lardis one-timer from the right circle, at 9:26 that tied the game 1-1 and instead of grabbing the game by the throat when the Blues had two power plays to this point, including a 5-on-3 albeit for just 12 seconds, the game was on level ground, when it didn't have to be:
another goal for the kid✅ pic.twitter.com/95L64uf9Bl
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026
When they had decent looks, the net front presence was absent to clean up rebounds.
But the Blackhawks were a robust 3-for-4 on the power play, including a second one that gave them a 2-1 lead that referee Brandon Schrader completely messed up when he called Logan Mailloux for high-sticking Tyler Bertuzzi, when it was easily a friendly-fire stick from Andre Burakovsky that clipped his teammate. It's a horrendous call because Schrader was so close to the play, his face could have been right in there getting clipped itself, so the fact he couldn't get that one right was complete buffoonery, but in the flip side if you're the Blues: kill a penalty. They literally allowed Oliver Moore to stroll down the inner lefthand slot and get off a clean shot:
more goals 🔜😏 pic.twitter.com/MHHAks0n5L
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026
But the fact is this: the Blues were 0-for-5 with six shots, the Blackhawks were 3-for-4 with 10 shots. It's the same old, same old for a special teams that have been in the bottom third in the league four straight years running now.
Something's got to give sooner rather than later.
* Second period ugly (again) -- They came in with the worst goal differential in the NHL (minus-39) and finished the game at minus-43, but the second period is a great contributor of that, and getting outscored 4-1 to give them a grand total of minus-23 (59-26) in the middle frame, and the play is usually as bad as the numbers indicate.
If the pizza that Oskar Sundqvist didn't serve up to Connor Murphy -- Connor Murphy, who scores about as often as I do -- clapped one through Binnington (needed a save there) to make it 3-2 at 8:57, or 35 seconds after the euphoria of Stenberg's goal:
Murph's first of the season!👏👇 pic.twitter.com/KJGdwOCmiP
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026
It's the age-old question of, 'How does that happen in Game No. 44?' Blatant, glaring mistakes like that? And it just opened the floodgates up, because on the 4-2 goal at 12:27, courtesy of Slaggert, it was a puck worked into the Blues' zone, and around to the point, a clapper from Colton Dach gets tipped in the slot. Brayden Schenn is there but doesn't tie the man up enough:
admin stands corrected, Landon Slaggert tipped in this goal!👏 https://t.co/jGotVsXB3Fpic.twitter.com/4IUhAGKr8K
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026
And then the 5-2 goal, courtesy of Jason Dickinson at 17:24, the Blackhawks win a wall battle (what else is new?) and work it back to the right point, where a shot is thrown to the slot and Dickinson is there to get a tip. Tucker did little to protect the slot and tried to take away Dickinson well after the puck was already gone:
could we add Chelsea Dagger to the queue one more time pls🎶 pic.twitter.com/ebGyERyT6g
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 8, 2026
But it's a case of this team, when they start to make positive motion in the right direction in the small details like wall battles, protecting the slot areas, they regress and when they do, they fall fast. When it comes to wall battles and net front protection, this team has not been good in those areas for large swaths of the season, and the results show.
* Three straight wins is like a plague -- They were the last team in the league last season to win three in a row, and more than halfway through the season, it looks like a disease for the Blues once again.
It's the fourth time they've gone for a three-game winning streak, and they've fallen flat on their faces each and every time.
The Blues have now been outscored 24-9 in games where they're going for three wins in a row, and the games are brutally bad.
They lost to the Blackhawks 8-3 on home ice on October 15 after winning two in a row; 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 1; 5-2 to the Boston Bruins on Dec. 9 and on Wednesday.
This group just seems allergic to stringing together wins and they want to leave little doubt.
* Keep losing by three or more goals -- You want to know how having the worst goal differential in the league belongs to them? Well, Wednesday marked the 15th time in 19 regulation losses the Blues have lost by three or more goals, and six of those losses have been by four goals or more.
That's a problem.
I don't think we need to elaborate on this subject any more.
* Where are the Blues' top players? -- Coming off a three-day break, the longest they'll have leading into the Winter Olympics break, two straight wins. One would think the Blues have plenty in the tank to get revved up again.
And that means the top players on this team, and Chicago missing two of its top young players in Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar.
That means Robert Thomas (one shot on goal in 17:08), that means Jordan Kyrou (four shots, one assist in six games since returning from a lower-body injury in 16:14), that means Pavel Buchnevich (four shots, no points in 17:18). Yes, we're singling out the three highest-paid forwards who are paid to produce that once again looked non-existent despite playing.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks were getting two points each from Murphy, who came in with six assists in 42 games; Moore (one goal, one assist), Louis Crevier (one goal, one assist), Slaggert (one goal, one assist) and Matt Grzelcyk (two assists). That's three defensemen with two points each.
Secondary players are picking up the slack with Bedard and Nazar out of the lineup, and it's why Chicago has won four in a row.
Jimmy Snuggerud had 10 shot attempts for the Blues; Schenn had six; Justin Faulk had six; Philip Broberg had five; Tucker had four.
Broberg (one assist) is the only one of the top four defensemen to get a point for the Blues. We can cut Faulk some slack since he is still somehow leading the Blues with his 11 goals, but the bottom line is the top players were needed if this small amount of momentum was going to keep growing. And yet again, they come up empty.
Call it the story of the season.
Wednesday's goals came from Stenberg, Tucker's second of the season -- both against the Blackhawks this season, and it came 27 seconds into the game:
Gotta love this start from Tyler Tucker. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/0U1apdntEw
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 8, 2026
And from Walker, who scored in his first game since Dec. 1:
Nathan Walker bats one out of mid-air. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/em0ayeTkgO
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 8, 2026
And the top players ... crickets.
“Really came down to special teams tonight. They scored on their power plays, and we didn’t on ours, especially early.”
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 8, 2026
Otto Stenberg, Robert Thomas and Jim Montgomery after Wednesday’s game. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/G9lKhgFBwO
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Winners, Losers from the Trae Young trade to Washington
This was a win-win trade.
How big those wins are hinges on a lot of yet-to-be-determined factors — Can Atlanta use their newfound financial flexibility to land Anthony Davis or another star this offseason? Can Trae Young stay healthy and fill the role of veteran leader and mentor a young team needs? — but this is a trade that made sense for pretty much everyone involved. There aren't many losers in this deal.
Let's break down the winners and losers in this deal. We'll start by laying out the trade.
Washington receives: Trae Young
Atlanta receives: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert
Note: There are no picks involved in this trade. While the players involved in this deal were agreed to relatively quickly, league sources told NBC Sports that part of the holdup in finalizing the trade was that both sides believed they should receive draft-pick compensation. Atlanta thought they deserved it because they were giving up the best player in the deal, an All-Star level point guard (when healthy) in his prime. Washington thought they deserved picks back for taking on the extra year (a $48.9 million player option Young is expected to pick up) of a contract that Atlanta wanted to dump. Ultimately, the sides agreed to make the trade without picks.
Winner: Washington Wizards
Washington is a winner here, not simply because they get a four-time All-Star and elite offensive player to organize and lead their young core — it's that they got him for basically nothing. McCollum is on an expiring contract and is not part of Washington's future. While Kispert is a quality, sharpshooting wing rotation player, he's not part of their core.
It's easy to envision how a healthy Young can elevate a young Wizards core: Alex Sarr will benefit from pick-and-rolls with Young (plus Young can throw a post entry pass, something the current Wizards struggle with), Tre Johnson is going to get plays run for him off ball where he can find more space and Young will find him, Kyshawn George has ball handling help, and on down the line. Young has not been healthy this season, a knee issue limiting him to 10 games (and clearly bothering his shot), but the potential is there.
THE CAVEAT: Washington is only a winner if they hold off on extending Trae Young. Part of what Young's agents were looking for in a landing spot was a team willing to talk extension, but Washington needs to see how Young fits with their young stars, then see who they get in this draft, and not extend him until the 2027 offseason. If Young fits perfectly and this all works out, they can re-sign him (not at the max, more like below $40 million a season), but if not, the Wizards need to be ready to stick with their young guys and move on.
Loser: Washington Wizards’ defense
Washington has the 29th-ranked defense in the NBA this season. Trae Young is a minus defender (to put it kindly). Washington is going to be a lot more fun to watch with Young running the show, but they are not going to stop anyone. It's going to get ugly.
Winner: Atlanta Hawks
It was time to move on.
That's why this is a win for Atlanta, it's a needed pivot to a young, long, athletic, fluid core of a team that really is the future. Jalen Johnson should be an All-Star this season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a breakout season and is a high-level two-way two guard, plus they have Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu and more. On top of all that, they have the Pelicans' first-round pick in this June's draft (a pick that could very well be a top-five pick). Atlanta has set itself up for the future.
This trade also gives the Hawks financial flexibility. They can use that trade for Dallas' Anthony Davis — the Hawks reportedly have been his most aggressive suitor — or they could wait until this offseason and see if they could add a star player more on the timeline of their young core (rather than a 32-year-old with an injury history). Whatever they choose, with CJ McCollum and Kristaps Porzingis coming off the books, Atlanta will have at least $32 million in cap space to reshape their roster next offseason. All that money makes it easier to turn the page.
Winner: Wizards fans
Washington has been a tough watch for a couple of years. While they have good young players like Sarr and Johnson, this team has lacked a player more casual fans could rally behind. They needed someone to sell tickets.
Trae Young sells tickets. Tray Young excites fans. Young running the Wizards offense with all that athleticism around him is going to be highly entertaining — and Wizards fans will take that.
Washington has given its fan base someone to root for. That matters.
Maybe winner: New York Knicks
Washington owes its 2026 first-round pick to the New York Knicks, but it is top eight protected. Before Wednesday night, that seemed irrelevant. The young Wizards were learning on the job and were destined for a high lottery seed (they sit fourth in the lottery at the time of the trade).
With an energized Trae Young running the show, could the Wizards get on a heater and start to climb up the East standings, maybe make the play-in, and end up turning over their pick to the Knicks?
Probably not. Young has been battling knee issues all season, and Washington will use that if needed. Even if Young does start playing games for them soon, don't be shocked if the Wizards shut him down with an injury with plenty of time left in the season — Washington needs more elite talent on the roster and this draft is the best way for them to get it. Save the test run with Young for next season.
Still, Knicks fans can dream.
Kings lose late lead and are defeated by Sharks
William Eklund scored 3:08 into overtime, Macklin Celebrini had the tying goal and two assists to extend his point streak to 12 games, and the San Jose Sharks defeated the Kings 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Celebrini evened the score at 3 with 1:07 remaining in regulation. He deked his way past Warren Foegele and sent a wrist shot through traffic that beat goalie Darcy Kuemper through the legs for his 24th goal this season. The 19-year-old center has nine goals and 15 assists during his point streak.
Celebrini is tied for the third-longest point streak by a teenager in NHL history — joining Joe Sakic in 1988-89, Jimmy Carson in 1987-88 and Wayne Gretzky in 1979-80 — and the third-longest point streak in Sharks history.
Tyler Toffoli and Adam Gaudette each had a goal, Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves and the Sharks won for the fifth time in six games.
Alex Turcotte and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who still haven’t won three straight games since winning four in a row in mid-November. Alex Laferriere also scored and Kuemper made 24 saves.
Laferriere put the Kings ahead with 2:10 left in the third period, but they couldn't prevent another sensational play by the electric Celebrini.
The Kings were without four forwards, including stalwart center and team captain Anze Kopitar, who is day-to-day after sustaining a lower-body injury in a win over Minnesota on Monday. Those absences led the Kings to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Sharks center Ty Dellandrea is week-to-week after sustaining a lower-body injury against Columbus on Tuesday.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Stanford gets win over Virginia Tech, freshman Ebuka Okorie calls game
Stanford won a close game that came down to the wire against Virginia Tech. Here's how the game ended at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Ames native Tamin Lipsey a big part of first 15-0 start for No. 3 Iowa State
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey, the senior who grew up near campus in Ames, is now part of something that had never been done by the Cyclones. “Watching all those teams growing up and just realizing that I have a chance right now to make a footprint for Iowa State, and just the community of Ames and all of that, I never take for granted.” Lipsey scored 24 points, overcoming some early foul trouble that kept him on the bench for nearly eight minutes in the first half.