It was a quiet leadup to the final days before the Thursday, Feb. 5 deadline at 3 p.m. ET, with only one trade in the months of October, November, December and January. Compare that to last season, when there were five over that span.
The Buffalo Sabres five-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday, as the Montreal Canadiens scored three third period goals in a 4-2 victory. The Sabres held a 2-1 lead on goals by Owen Power and Noah Ostlund, but could not contain Montreal sniper Cole Caufield, scored the game-tying and game-winning goals.
With the win, the Habs moved into sole position of third place in the Atlantic Division, and on Sunday, the Bruins moved ahead of Buffalo, with a loser point in a 6-5 shootout loss to Tampa Bay in the Stadium Series. With three games to go until the Olympic break, the Sabres now reside in the second wildcard spot, six points ahead of the surging Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.
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While most who have observed the Sabres magical run in December and January – where they have gone 20-4-1 – believe the club has finally turned the corner, the final third of the season will be the greatest challenge for Buffalo.
The nearly three-week Olympic break is coming at the worst possible time for the Sabres. The positive aspect that it will allow injured players such as Josh Norris, Jordan Greenway, Justin Danforth, and Jiri Kulich to work their way to get back in the lineup is outweighed by the fact that Buffalo has been the hottest club in the league.
There is no way to know how the break will affect the Sabres. They may continue on their winning ways where they left off, but there is also the possibility of them going back returning to the club that struggled through October and November.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics attempts a shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half at the TD Garden on January 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — In the team’s final home game before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, Celtics guard Anfernee Simons helped emphasize his case to remain with the Celtics.
The biggest question surrounding Boston, and Simons in particular, is straightforward: Will he stay? That uncertainty has hovered over his head ever since the Celtics acquired him in the Jrue Holiday-Trail Blazers offseason trade. Simons joined the stripped-down version of the team’s championship-aspiring roster, unaware of what the season would hold. Would the Celtics contend or tank? Would Simons start or come off the bench? Would Simons make it past the deadline still a member of the team?
So far, two of those questions have been answered. Boston’s 107-79 win over Milwaukee improved the team’s record to 31-18, putting them ½ a game ahead of the Knicks for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Simons has logged all 48 of his Celtics appearances off the bench, leaving the final question unanswered.
In the first quarter against the Bucks, Simons got ahead in leaving his imprint in what otherwise would be his last game in Boston with the Celtics. He provided an immediate offensive spark, scoring 11 points, knocking down four of his first six shots to help set the tone in what amounted to a blowout victory to conclude a four-game homestand.
“That’s kind of been his role, and he’s done a great job buying into it, really on both ends of the floor,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Just to have another guy that could take pressure off the others, and score seamlessly, whether it’s catch-and-shoot shots, whether it’s off the dribble, whether it’s driving to the basket, he’s played his role for us tremendously, and he’s just another guy that makes us better.”
Simons used his speed to create separation from Milwaukee’s defenders, giving him enough room to launch his trademark step-back threes. In the final offensive possession of the first quarter, Simons resorted to the move with Amir Coffey defending and drained a buzzer-beating 28-footer to close out the frame.
“That was big for us,” Mazzulla mentioned.
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 1: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2026 NBA Pioneers Classic on February 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The ability to provide starter-level production while coming off the bench has made Simons a vital component of the team. He accepted the role that awaited him in Boston and didn’t waver. In the six months since being traded from Portland, Simons hasn’t once allowed trade speculation to consume him. He’s been a consummate professional throughout — accepting his role, giving the team what it needs when it needs it, and even adjusting during stretches when the team would prefer he rein it in.
“They get pissed off at me when I shoot the ball sometimes, but I like to feel the game out,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like it’s the right shot. It might not be the right shot other times. They’re just trying to give me the ultimate confidence to be myself — to go out there and play.”
Simons finished with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding three rebounds and an assist. He drilled six 3-pointers and drew an ovation from the Boston crowd as he checked out in the fourth quarter — an acknowledgment that Simons might not return with the team after its upcoming two-game road trip.
“It’s cool to go out there and see what the game needs and also impact the win in that way,” Simons said.
Offensively, he’s been everything the Celtics have needed.
Simons ranks third on the team at 2.6 made 3-pointers per game, narrowly trailing leader Derrick White (2.8). He has emerged as one of the league’s most elite bench scorers, ranking third in bench points behind only Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez Jr., making him a sneaky Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Just as important, Simons has shown tangible defensive growth, quieting the long-standing questions that followed him from Portland about his commitment on that end of the floor.
But as great as Simons has been, nothing is ever concrete in the NBA — and that includes his future in Boston.
Knowing this, Mazzulla has taken a proactive approach to maintaining constant communication with his players — giving them space to feel heard, gauging where their heads are at, and offering whatever support he can to ease the mental strain that the approaching trade deadline creates for anyone caught up in rumors.
“I talk to them every day,” Mazzulla said pregame. “Depending on where guys are at, what that conversation looks like. I try to communicate with the guys every day, and whatever needs to be said or had or listened to is what we need to do at that particular time.”
In Simons’ mind, the Boston experience has given him everything he could have envisioned, no matter how it ends.
“Yeah, for sure,” Simons said. “Just an opportunity to go out there and showcase what I can do.”
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 1: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz drives against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz lost 107-100 in Toronto, it was competitive all night, but Utah just couldn’t catch a rhythm from deep and had too many sloppy possessions that the Raptors turned into easy points. The Jazz stayed within striking distance all night and had their chances late, but never quite found enough consistent offense to pull it out. Lauri Markkanen and Isaiah Collier carried a lot of the scoring, but the rest of the team didn’t provide enough to pull it out.
Lauri Markkanen — A
Lauri was really good tonight. 27 points, 7 rebounds. The shot wasn’t particularly efficient, but he kept us in it and stayed aggressive. When he plays he keeps us competitive. He also had a sweet block that led to a sick self lob off the glass dunk, don’t see that everyday.
Isaiah Collier — A-
Really liked what I saw from him tonight. Played under control, attacked the paint, and set guys up for easy buckets. 19 points, 7 assists, 8 of 10 from the line. This was a great bounce back game for him, he’s really been struggling as of late. Good to see some life out of him.
Jusuf Nurkic — C+
Solid night with 11 points, 13 rebounds. Great on the boards, but a few costly turnovers and missed layups kept this from being a standout game. Just a solid Nurk night.
Cody Williams — B+
Very nice night for Cody. 10 points and played strong defense. I thought he played the best defense on Brandon Ingram tonight and at times shut him down. Cody continues to get better and is becoming a really nice rotation player for the Jazz.
Ace Bailey — C-
Ace struggled with his shot tonight going 1 of 10 shootingfor 4 points. The bright spot for him to night was his 10 rebounds and the effort he puts on defense. Even though he didn’t shoot well he continued to affect the games in other areas and be affective that way.
Svi Mykhailiuk — B-
Hit some timely shots and helped spread the floor. 8 points and hit 2 threes. Had a couple bad turnovers, but besides that just a normal night from Svi.
Walter Clayton Jr. — C
Made some plays in his minutes but continues to struggle with on ball pressure and shooting from three. When he was able to break the pressure he played with pace and had some nice passes. I would like him to seek his own shot out more and shoot it with confidence. He end with 7 points and 2 assists.
Brice Sensabaugh — C
Quiet night for Brice. His handle continues to struggle with long on ball defenders, cause him to turn the ball over. When he can’t get to his spots and catch a rhythm he’s not very effective. Just 4 points for him tonight.
Kevin Love — C+
Solid vet presence. Struggled from three but made some smart passes and helps organize the young guys. 4 points, 5 boards.
Kyle Filipowpski — B-
Really solid in his limited minutes tonight. Showed physicality and effort. Only played 9 minutes, but 6 points, 6 rebounds. Surprised he didn’t get more time.
Overall Takeaway:
The Jazz battled hard and kept this game competitive, which is all you can ask for this season. Sloppy possessions late cost them the game. Up next on this long road trip, Utah will play the Indiana PacersonTuesday, Feb. 3 at 5:00 PM MST.
At only 22, Carlos Alcaraz said it was a 'dream come true' to become the youngest man to complete the career grand slam, a record formerly held by Don Budge since 1938, 87 years ago. He beat Novak Djokovic in four sets on Sunday night in the men's singles final. There was little fanfare after the match, with Alcaraz saying gaming with his brother and friends was 'more than enough' to celebrate the win
Jan 29, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during player announcements before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images | Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren joins John Stockton and Domantas Sabonis as the third former Zag to be named an NBA All-Star as a reserve for Team USA. It won’t be the last time that he’ll join the world’s greatest talents on the biggest stage, that’s for sure.
🌟 YOUR 2026 NBA ALL-STARS 🌟
Starters:
Giannis Antetokounmpo Jaylen Brown Jalen Brunson Cade Cunningham Stephen Curry Luka Dončić Nikola Jokić Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Tyrese Maxey Victor Wembanyama
Reserves:
Deni Avdija Scottie Barnes Devin Booker Kevin Durant Jalen…
The No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is currently averaging 17.8 points on a shooting split of 57.1 field goal percentage/37.7 three-point percentage/77.4 free throw percentage, 8.6 rebounds (No. 17 in the league), and 2.0 blocks per game (No. 3 in the league). His 13 double-doubles are tied for the 23rd-most in the NBA.
Holmgren’s a major reason why the reigning NBA champion Thunder holds down the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference standings at a 38-11 overall record. The two-way threat has always been an elite rim protector, but has stepped up offensively with wing Jalen Williams out for the majority of the 2025-26 season.
After missing the entirety of his first professional season in 2022-23 with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, Holmgren has come into his own and become a household name. He played all 82 games during the following season and was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs.
Holmgren did have another setback in the 2025-26 season with a right iliac wing fracture, forcing him to play only 32 regular-season games. He would come back stronger than ever during their recent magical playoff run and break the NBA Finals Game 7 blocks record with five.
At 23 years old, Holmgren is still just scratching the surface of his full potential. When he’s healthy, Gonzaga’s 2021-22 Second Team All-American is one of the best defenders on the planet.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored a career-high 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting and had seven assists on Sunday night to help Iowa beat short-handed Oregon 84-66 for its fourth win in a row.
Oregon (8-14, 1-10) has lost eight straight — its last seven by an average of 16.9 points — and nine of its last 11.
Alvaro Folgueiras added 15 points and eight rebounds, Brendan Hausen scored 11 and Cooper Koch 10 for Iowa (16-5, 6-4 Big Ten). The Hawkeyes shot 59% (33 of 56) from the field, hit 10 of 22 (44%) from 3-point range and committed a season-low five turnovers.
Kwame Evans Jr. sandwiched a pair of three-point plays around a dunk by Dezdrick Lindsay as Oregon scored eight of the first 12 second-half points to trim its deficit to five points with 16:38 left in the game. Stirtz scored 13 points in the next five-plus minutes before Koch scored in the lane to make it 59-43 with 10:23 remaining and Iowa led by at least nine the rest of the way.
Evans had 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 1 of 7 from behind the arc, for the Ducks. Takai Simpkins, who missed Wednesday’s 73-57 loss to UCLA due to an ankle injury, scored 16 points and Lindsay added 10.
The Ducks were without Jackson Shelstad, Nate Bittle, Ege Demir and Devon Pryor due to various injuries. Drew Carter, a senior walk-on, made his first career start. The 6-foot-3 guard, in his second season with Oregon, played football at Colorado in 2022 and then transferred to Northern Colorado, where scored 11 points in nine appearance in the 2023-24 season.
NEW YORK — The Lakers are used to putting on a show when they’re at Madison Square Garden.
But for most of Sunday night, they watched a show they probably wouldn’t want reruns of: The Knicks beating them up on the offensive glass and creating a barrage of open three-pointers.
The result was the Knicks’ burying 18 three-pointers, and the Lakers losing in New York 112–100 despite Luka Dončić’s near triple-double of 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
Lakers’ Luka Dončić breaks away from Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the first quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Feb. 1. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
LeBron James, who entered Sunday with the all-time third-best-winning percentage by a visiting player at Madison Square Garden, recorded 22 points, six assists and five rebounds.
But the Lakers couldn’t match the Knicks’ three-point proficiency, shooting 28.6% from beyond the arc compared to New York’s 42.9%.
The Knicks grabbed 15 offensive rebounds compared to the Lakers’ seven.
Sunday was the Lakers’ first loss at Madison Square Garden since 2021.
OG Anunoby scored a team-high 25 points for the Knicks to go with eight rebounds, while Josh Hart added 20 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had an 11 point, 13 rebound double-double.
Knicks’ Anunoby slams the ball during the third quarter Sunday at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
What it means
The Lakers, who dropped to 29–19, still have a chance to secure a winning record on the trip despite the loss to the Knicks, who are on a six-game winning streak after Sunday’s victory.
Despite the loss, the Lakers still have the third-best-winning percentage among Western Conference teams with a 17–11 record in games away from Crypto.com Arena.
Turning point
After the Lakers had great ball security for most of Sunday, Dončić made an errant pass that was picked off by Towns and led to an Anunoby dunk in transition to tie the game at 77 at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter.
Gabe Vincent turned the ball over on the next possession, with Anunoby getting another dunk to put the Knicks up 79–77.
The Lakers had another empty possession when Rui Hachimura missed a corner 3, with Brunson assisting Landry Shamet on an alley-oop in transition for a Knicks’ 6–0 run that turned a Lakers two-point lead to a four-point New York advantage.
The Lakers trailed by eight entering the fourth, and trailed for the remainder of the game.
Lakers’ LeBron James drives past Knicks’ Anunoby during the first quarter of Sunday’s game at MSG in New York. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
MVP: Jalen Brunson
Despite shooting four of 15 from the field, the Knicks star guard controlled the game with 13 assists, spraying out passes after getting into the Lakers’ defense.
He had nine assists in the second half, which the Knicks won 60–44.
Stat of the game: 2
That’s how many field goal attempts Deandre Ayton took after the first quarter after having nine points on 4-of-4 shooting and four rebounds in the opening frame.
Ayton finished with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and five rebounds in 32 minutes, with the Lakers playing a center-less lineup in the final 3:34.
The Lakers are now 11–15 when Ayton takes nine or fewer shots, and 15–2 when he has at least 10 field goal attempts in a game.
Up next
The Lakers will wrap up their eight-game, 16-day “Grammy” trip against the Nets on Tuesday before having an extended stretch back in Southern California.
By the time the trip ends, the Lakers would’ve been on the road for 12 consecutive days.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks scrambles for the ball against Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden on February 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (31*-18) shook off a middling first half, outscored the Lakers 60–44 after halftime, and survived 15 lead changes to claim their sixth straight win, 112–100.
From the jump, L.A. attacked home plate and New York tried their luck from the outfield. The strategy showed promise with the first two longballs swished. When the shots stopped falling—and the visitors continued to find easy scoring opportunities—the home team slipped on the scoreboard.
Congratulations go out to Karl-Anthony Towns, selected today for his sixth All-Star Game. The Big Begonia pounded the glass early, but two quick fouls curtailed his quarter. The good news: KAT committed just one more foul in the game and would finish with an 11-13 double-double, four assists, two steals, and a team-high +23 in his 32 minutes. Great effort from him overall tonight.
Meanwhile, the Lakers embraced simplicity, benefiting from basic actions like alley-oops to Deandre Ayton. For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges grabbed a steal (good) but missed four of his first five shots (less good). Their offense flowed mostly through Jalen Brunson (12 points, 13 dimes, seven boards) and OG Anunoby, who scored 11 of his 25 total points in the first period.
After an uneven start, Luka Dončić gained steam and finished the night with 30 points, 15 boards, and eight assists. Under his leadership, his team dished and swished, assisting on 21 of their 38 made field goals tonight. They closed Q1 ahead, 33-27, while New York’s uninspired offense barely shot 40%.
The bench provided some uplift in the second frame. Tyler Kolek (eight points, four dimes, 13 minutes) and Mohamed Diawara delivered treys, and Landry Shamet chipped in a bucket to stay competitive. Shamet was the human torch tonight, dropping 23 points and hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Although L.A. led for most of the second quarter, when Kolek scored five unanswered points, the Knicks briefly went ahead with 4:40 left.
KAT returned and worked the glass, but the Knicks turned the ball over at a 2:1 ratio, thus hindering their progress. Across the aisle, LeBron (22 points) steadied things with midrange scores and free throws, while Ayton (13 points, five boards) and Hachimura (11 points, three rebounds) tidied up the iron. When a well-rested Luka checked back in, he fully shifted the balance back from orange to yellow. Sticking to the game plan, L.A. carried a 56-52 lead into intermission.
Through the first half, the Goldtrotters outshot the Knicks overall, 49% to 43%, with both teams attempting 43 field goals. New York had the better numbers from deep (41% to 30%) and on the glass (24-19), but had been outscored in the paint by eight and committed six turnovers. At the break, Luka led all scorers with 18 points and seven boards, while OG had 11 points for the hometown heroes.
Out of halftime, the Knicks went on a 12-7 run to reclaim the lead. With more focused hustle and flow, the starters made their shots, Josh Hart (20 points, four boards, 8-of-11 FG) provided invigorating constant motion, and Towns ruled the boards, collecting six boards and six points in the period.
A mid-quarter Hart three-pointer put New York up by six. He, Anunoby, and Shamet were shooting 18-of-27 for 50 points, while their teammates had hit just 16-of-53. Around then, Luka hit the jets to spark a 9-2 run and go ahead again, but our heroes responded with back-to-back Anunoby dunks and a Shamet breakaway that restored their advantage and set the crowd roaring. After that 15-5 run, the Knicks closed the frame, 90-82.
New York kept pace with L.A. through the fourth with inside finishes from Bridges and Anunoby and a timely Hart three. Luka delivered a bomb that had the makings of trouble, but Shamet and Bridges countered with triples of their own. Around the three-minute mark, with a 10-point differential, Hart played excellent defense on Luka and altered a last-second heave. By not fouling, Hart forced a shot-clock violation, and Anunoby dunked on the subsequent possession. That sequence put a lid on the game. Smart drilled from deep near the two-minute mark, but two more bombs from ShamWow in the final minute-and-a-half drove in the final nails.
LeBron's defense SEALED the win for the Knicks:
🧱 Gives up open 3 🧱 Gives up offensive rebound 🧱 Gives up open 3 again
LeBron James, named an All-Star on Sunday, couldn't hold off Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. (John Munson / Associated Press)
Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the Lakers' acquisition of Luka Doncic.
Coach JJ Redick acknowledged he felt "stressed" knowing about the trade before the Lakers played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden that night in 2025.
While his stress may have faded, Redick couldn't have liked what he saw from the Lakers on the same floor one year later.
Despite a strong effort from Doncic, the Lakers struggled with their shooting and lost 112-100 to the Knicks on Sunday night.
After Landry Shamet made his second straight three-pointer to give the Knicks a 112-99 lead with 59.3 seconds left, Redick pulled his starters. The Lakers led 56-52 at halftime but were outscored 38-26 in the third quarter after New York went on a 15-5 run to take a 90-82 lead into the fourth quarter.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lakers' 45% shooting from the field and 29% shooting from three-point range.
With the Lakers in sixth place in the uber-competitive Western Conference at 29-19, Doncic was asked where he thought they stood in their pursuit of an NBA championship.
"We're in a good spot,” Doncic said. “Obviously, got some work to do. But I think today we obviously missed a lot of good looks, but I think we have a great group."
LeBron James had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds, but he fell to 23-9 in regular-season games at Madison Square Garden, and the Lakers slipped to 4-3 on their season-high eight-game trip, which ends Tuesday in Brooklyn.
With the Lakers 5-5 in their last 10, James also reflected on where the team stands.
“I like this group, but we got to continue to get better,” James said. “And that's good. We should want to get better. … We want to continue to get better and better. It's a tough league.
"Like I said, it's been tough all season as far as dealing with injuries. ... Unfortunately our All-Star two-guard [Austin Reaves, calf injury] has been out for a minute and that's a big piece of our team. So, it's kind of hard to see what we can really, truly be.”
Deandre Ayton had 13 points and five rebounds, and Marcus Smart had seven points and three assists.
OG Anunoby had 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead the Knicks (31-18), who have won six straight. Shamet scored 23 points off the bench, and Josh Hart had 20 points and four rebounds. Jalen Brunson finished with 12 points and a season-high 13 assists.
Before the game, James was named an All-Star for a record 22nd time.
LeBron James had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds against Josh Hart and the Knicks. (John Munson / Associated Press)
“Obviously, super humbling,” James said. “Mad respect to the coaches and them seeing how I'm still playing at this latter stage of my career and to be able to be an All-Star. That means a lot to my family, my people that've been following my career, my LeBron faithful that’s been following my journey.
"It's always rewarding just from a humble standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into. So, it's pretty cool.”
DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Duren had 21 points and 10 rebounds after being added to the All-Star Game on Sunday night as an Eastern Conference reserve, and the Detroit Pistons routed the Brooklyn Nets 130-77 in the most-lopsided victory in franchise history.
The 53-point margin topped the mark of 52 set in a 118-66 victory at Boston on Jan 31, 2003. The Nets had a 54-point loss — 120-66 — on Jan. 21 against New York.
Cade Cunningham, the Detroit star who was earlier selected an East All-Star starter, added 18 points, 12 assists and four steals. The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons improved to 36-12 with their second straight victory. They beat Golden State on Friday night to finish 2-1 on a three-game trip.
Cunningham had 13 points, 10 assists and four steals in the first half as the Pistons raced to a 67-44 lead. Ausar Thompson hit a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer.
Detroit outscored Brooklyn 33-18 in the third quarter to push it to 100-62. The Pistons’ largest lead was 55 points.
CELTICS 107, BUCKS 79
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 30 points and 13 rebounds, Anfernee Simons scored 27 points off the bench and Boston coasted to a victory over Milwaukee.
Derrick White added 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Neemias Queta had 14 points and eight boards as the Celtics won their second straight game after alternating wins and losses in their previous four. It was Brown’s third double-double this season.
Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 25 points and Kyle Kuzma scored 16.
The Celtics led 56-42 at halftime and Brown, who missed their easy win over Sacramento Friday with left hamstring tightness and a bruised right knee, scored 10 of their initial 12 points to start the second half, pushing them ahead 68-47.
Boston’s lead ballooned to 27 points on Brown’s 3-pointer midway into the final quarter before coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters.
HEAT 134, BULLS 91
MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson each had 20 points, and Miami tied their third-biggest victory margin ever in a rout of Chicago.
The Heat led by as many as 54; before Sunday, their biggest lead this season was 45 at Memphis on Oct. 24. It was Miami’s second-largest lead of the play-by-play era that dates to 1996; the Heat beat Memphis by 60 on March 29, 2024.
The 54-point hole was Chicago’s biggest since a 58-point deficit against Boston on Dec. 8, 2018. The Bulls’ biggest deficits this season were a pair of 41-point games — one against Minnesota on Dec. 29, the other also against Miami on Nov. 21.
WIZARDS 116, KINGS 112
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rookie Will Riley scored a season-high 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:07 left, and the Washington Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings 116-112 on Sunday night in a matchup of last-place teams.
AJ Johnson added 17 points and Bilal Coulibaly and Marvin Bagley III each scored 15 for the Wizards, who relied heavily on their reserves as they handed the Kings their ninth straight loss.
Washington has won three of four since a nine-game skid of its own. The Wizards began the night last in the Eastern Conference but moved one-half game ahead of Indiana.
Zach LaVine scored 35 points and DeMar DeRozan had 32 for the Kings, who are last in the West and concluded their season-long East Coast trip at 0-6.
Maxime Raynaud added 14 points for Sacramento, but no other Kings player had more than six. Washington led 61-20 in bench points, and the Wizards’ reserves also outscored their starters.
RAPTORS 107, JAZZ 100
TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 21 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 20 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Utah Jazz 107-100 on Sunday night to open a five-game homestand.
Brandon Ingram added 19 points to help Toronto end a two-game losing streak. Immanuel Quickley had 17 points.
Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 11 rebounds for Utah. Isaiah Collier added 19 points, and Jusuf Nurkic had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
KNICKS 112, LAKERS 100
NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Landry Shamet added 23 and New York beat Los Angeles to spoil LeBron James’ 32nd game at Madison Square Garden.
Josh Hart finished with 20 points and Jalen Brunson had 12 points and a season-high 13 assists for the Knicks, who matched a season high with their sixth straight win, most of them coming easily.
James finished with 22 points, six assists and five rebounds after being chosen as a reserve earlier Sunday for his NBA-record 22nd consecutive All-Star selection. He fell to 23-9 in the regular season at MSG, where he came into the game having averaged 28.2 points, 7.6 assists and 7.0 rebounds.
Luka Doncic had 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. The game was exactly a year to the day of the Lakers’ last trip to New York, when shortly after their victory came word that they agreed to the blockbuster trade with Dallas that brought Doncic to Los Angeles.
The Lakers had one of the front-runners for MVP along with arguably the best ever on the court.
But the Knicks had far more depth, beyond their own two All-Stars.
Advantage: depth.
Games like this are what the Knicks envisioned when they built the supporting cast around Jalen Brunson.
They had six players score in double digits as they beat the Lakers 112-100 Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, extending their win streak to six.
There were four total All-Stars on the floor in Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
But it was a trio of non-All-Stars in OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet and Josh Hart who made the biggest difference.
“That’s what we’re capable of,” Hart said. “We have great depth, we have guys who can knock down shots, guys that can playmake. It’s not always gonna be JB or KAT’s night, but we have enough guys to score points. It shows that we don’t have to force anything.”
OG Anunoby dunks the ball during the Knicks’ Feb. 1 win against the Lakers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
It was Anunoby who carried that load for large stretches of the game, finishing with 25 points.
His offensive rebound and subsequent dunk put the Knicks up 12 with just under three minutes left, pretty much putting the game away.
Next up was Landry Shamet off the bench, going off for 23 points, his second-highest scoring game of the season.
He drilled six 3-pointers.
After that it was Josh Hart, with one of his finest showings of the season.
He added 20 points and went 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
Towns — who didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but was a game-best plus-23 — had 11 and Mikal Bridges had 10.
Sunday was the third straight game Anunoby and Hart, who entered averaging 16.2 and 12.3 points, respectively, have scored 20 or more points
Jalen Brunson makes a pass during the Knicks’ Feb. 1 win over the Lakers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
It allowed Brunson, who was struggling with his shot, to become more of a distributor.
He had just 12 points on 4-for-15 shooting but recorded a season-high 13 assists.
He added seven rebounds as well, nearly recording the first triple-double of his career.
“Shots not falling, you gotta impact the game somewhere else,” Brunson said. “I kept seeing two [defenders], so I was just trying to make the right play at the right time and we were getting good looks. Just gonna play the defense how they were playing. They were knocking shots down. The way we were moving the ball was great.”
LeBron James reacts during the Lakers’ Feb. 1 loss to the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
This Knicks resurgence of late had largely come on the back of a dramatic defensive turnaround.
They had little answer for Doncic, though hardly any team has this season.
He recorded 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
But the Knicks were stout defensively elsewhere, holding the Lakers to 28.6 percent shooting from 3-point range.
James, in what could possibly have been his last game at MSG, had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds.
He had a vintage alley-oop dunk in the third quarter, but he did not overly hurt the Knicks.
Notably, Doncic and James combined for just eight points in the fourth quarter.
It is the fifth time in this winning streak the Knicks held their opponent to 100 points or fewer.
“Second half, we locked in better with the gameplan,” coach Mike Brown said. “It resulted in the Lakers scoring 44 points in that second half, which was huge for us.”
The Knicks went into halftime down four, but began the second half with an 18-9 run to take a five-point lead before the Lakers called timeout.
On back-to-back possessions in that run, Towns corralled an offensive rebound and followed it with a putback.
An aggressive Tyler Kolek provided a spark off the bench with eight points, though forced some ill-advised shots during a stint in the fourth quarter.
Both teams are near the bottom in the league in bench scoring, but it was a clear Knicks advantage on Wednesday.
They had an 11-point advantage in that department.
“It’s gonna be someone different every night,” Shamet said. “We know that and we have a group who’s bought into that. It’s about all of us buying in and doing what we can on a night-to-night basis, knowing it might look a little bit different.
Landry Shamet hits a 3-pointer during the Knicks’ Feb. 1 win over the Lakers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
“We got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another.”
This was by far the biggest test yet of whether the Knicks have truly turned a corner.
They passed with flying colors.
Tickets were historically expensive, with fans wanting to see James and Doncic and one of the premier franchises in the sport.
But it was the Knicks role players who stole the show.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shooting struggles from the Lakers’ role players and a poor third quarter were too much to overcome in Madison Square Garden on Sunday as the Knicks downed LA 112-100.
The purple and gold led for stretches of the game, but a run in the third period for New York moved them ahead by double digits and forced the Lakers to play catch-up. The trio of Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt highlighted the shooting struggles as they combined to go 4-20 from the field and 2-13 from three.
Luka Dončić opened the game with a layup, but the Knicks followed with consecutive 3-pointers. Deandre Ayton then responded with four straight points of his own. OG Anunoby led New York with five points. LeBron James notched a quick five points, heating up for LA.
At the 7:38 mark, Los Angeles was up by three.
Defense was becoming an issue for the Lakers as they continued to leave Anunoby alone from behind the arc, where he drained two of his three attempts. Luka knocked down two 3-pointers in response, though. Rui Hachimura also had seven points off the bench for LA.
Los Angeles was up by six, going into the second period.
Luka stepback 3? No doubt.
He's got 10 early PTS as the Lakers lead the Knicks on Sunday Night Basketball!
The second quarter began with Hachimura converting on a layup for the Lakers. Mohamed Diawara then drained a triple for the Knicks. The three-ball was flying for New York as they converted on three of them in the early part of the period. Luka countered with a 3-pointer of his own.
At the seven-minute mark, LA was up by six.
Tyler Kolek scored eight points for New York, helping them take the lead. Los Angeles kept failing defensively, leaving shooters wide open. As a result, the Knicks were shooting 44% from behind the arc in this half.
The Lakers responded well, stopping New York’s momentum and retaking a four-point halftime lead.
LA missed their first shot attempt of the second half, while Jalen Brunson scored on a midrange jumper for the Knicks. Josh Hart was then fouled while taking a jumper and converted on the three-point play to put New York up by one. Jake LaRavia finally got on the scoreboard with a triple. The teams traded the lead until the Knicks jumped ahead by five.
New York added some cushion to its lead thanks to four points from Mikal Bridges.
It started to look like the usual third-quarter Lakers were showing up until an 8-0 scoring run led by Hachimura, Vincent and Luka put LA in the lead.
Rui Hachimura is putting in a great shift here. He's knocking down his shots, giving LA an injection of offense.
The Knicks then countered with a 6-0 scoring run to move back ahead. New York knocked down three 3-pointers to take an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
LeBron began the final frame with a shot in the paint. Bridges then scored on a layup on the other end. Los Angeles started to chip away at the deficit, making it four and forcing a Knicks timeout.
Out of the break, Hart knocked down a 3-pointer.
Los Angeles went cold from the field, hindering their ability to chip away at the deficit. Luckily for the Lakers, New York was missing their shots as well, but eventually found a rhythm, scoring seven points to open up its biggest lead.
At the 3:55 mark, the purple and gold were down by double digits.
Landry Shamet’s sixth 3-pointer of the night put the final blow in an ugly second half defensively for the Lakers. He was left wide open for nearly all 10 of his attempts from behind the arc.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. LeBron scored 22 points with five rebounds and six assists. Ayton pitched in with 13 points and five rebounds.
Hachimura notched 11 points off the bench. Vincent ended with eight points, hitting three of his five shots.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday at 4:30 PM PT.
The Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy squared off in the second period with Boston up 5-2 and tensions high.
During the Lightning's second consecutive power play, a scrum broke out as Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel slashed Boston's Charlie McAvoy. Swayman jumped into the fray, which led Vasilevskiy to start skating down the ice.
Swayman noticed and skated toward Vasilevskiy. Once the gloves and masks were off, the two threw a few punches at each other at center before the on-ice officials intervened.
“Man, we just got to learn from it,” said Nic Claxton, who had 10 points in the first quarter, and was scoreless after that. “We just can’t keep getting beat by 50, though. It’s really demoralizing as a group for us. We got to come together and figure out ways to at least keep the games closer.”
With Michael Porter Jr. out for personal reasons, the Nets embarrassed themselves.
They shot just 32.9 percent and 7-for-31 from deep, bullied by a physical Detroit defense.
And they were just as bad on the other end.
The Nets let the Pistons waltz up and down the court, turning 25 turnovers into 39 points.
Much of that Nets sloppiness came in a crippling 47-12 run that spanned halftime and turned a 33-32 deficit into a huge 80-44 hole.
Nic Claxton looks to move the ball during the Nets’ Feb. 1 loss to the Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
Brooklyn shot 4-for-20 in that blitz with 10 turnovers.
No Net managed more than a dozen points, with Cam Thomas and Drake Powell sharing team-high honors off the bench.
Jalen Duren had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit. Cade Cunningham added 18 points and a dozen assists.
“We found ways to get good shots early on; and we couldn’t match that. And then it was from frustration to whatever you want to call it is forgetting what you’re supposed to do,” said Fernández. “So we’ll run it back. We’ll hold them accountable, we’ll give them a hug, whatever the case may, just (we have to) go out there and play better than this.”
The only silver lining was the Nets (13-35) moving into a tie with Washington for fourth in the lottery race. They’re a half-game behind third-place Indiana and a game ahead of Utah.
Porter missed a second straight game after the death of his grandmother.
Noah Clowney missed a fifth straight game, with an MRI revealing a lower back sprain.
The NBA honored Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd breaking the color barrier in 1950.
“Instead of using ignorance and lack of understanding for others to separate people and divide people, I think this is a great opportunity for us to understand that the more we learn about one another, the more we recognize that we’re not as different as people would want us to be,” said JB Bickerstaff. “I think that would eliminate a lot of the problems that you’re seeing unfold in front of us.”
