The Cavs executed their defensive gameplan perfectly in their first meeting on Saturday. Cleveland packed the paint and forced a bad Magic team to beat them from behind the arc. They weren’t able to do so as they went 11-40 (27.5%) from three and were held to just 105 points as a result.
We’ll likely see the Cavs use the same strategy again on Monday.
The Cavaliers also benefited from a superb showing from Donovan Mitchell. He scored 36 points in the win as Orlando wasn’t able to keep him out of the paint.
Cavs injury report: De’Andre Hunter – QUESTIONABLE (knee), Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – QUESTIONABLE (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)
Magic injury report: Franz Wagner – OUT (ankle),Colin Castleton – OUT (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Magic expected starting lineup: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Tristan de Silva, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The conventional wisdom is that the Spurs should have an easy time with the New Orleans Pelicans, who sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and are tied for the second worst record in the league with the Indiana Pacers, just one win ahead of the cellar-dwelling Wizards. The truth is that the Pelicans are a talented team and have most of the roster available for tonight’s game. Zion Williamson is an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a beignet, but when he plays, he can do amazing stuff. Williamson, Saddiq Bey, and Trey Murphy III combined for 94 points in a 133-127 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night, and they’re all available tonight. They also have a spectacular pair of rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen who are already making waves. This is a team that can beat the Spurs if they play to the level of the competition as they have often done in 2026. The Spurs are currently a half game ahead of the Nuggets for second place in the west, and Denver could take second if they beat the Grizzlies today and the Spurs can’t take care of New Orleans. [UPDATE: Nuggets/Grizzlies game has been postponed]
The good news For the Spurs is the return of Devin Vassell, who has been out of the lineup for the last 13 games (seems like forever) will be returning today, although on a minutes restriction. It will be interesting to see how much his shooting and defensive activity open up the game for the Silver and Black. I think having another shot creation threat on the perimeter should open up the paint for Steph Castle and De’Aaron Fox, and provide more area for Dylan Harper to freewheel and create offense. After tonight, the Spurs have a few days off before they return to Houston for a rematch against the Rockets, who defeated the Spurs with a potent fourth quarter comeback earlier this week, and it will be interesting to see what adjustments Mitch Johnson will put in place for the rematch. The return of Vassell should be helpful as the Spurs try to take the lead in the season series on Wednesday night.
San Antonio is in the middle of an ice storm so if you’re going to the game, drive carefully and allow plenty of extra time to get to your destination. If you don’t have to travel, stay home and stay warm. Stay safe, everyone, and GO SPURS GO!!
Game Prediction:
I usually try to say something funny here, but with everything going on, I just don’t have it in me. Please treasure they ones you love and be safe. Hold love in your heart and take care of the people around you.
San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans January 25, 2026 | 6:00 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: FanDuel Southwest Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Chad Baker-Mazara made five 3-pointers and scored 29 points, Ezra Ausar added 17 points, and USC beat Wisconsin 73-71 on Sunday to snap the Badgers' five-game win streak.
Jacob Cofie had 11 rebounds to go with nine points and five assists for USC (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten).
Nick Boyd hit a 3-pointer, made two free throws and added a layup to spark a 17-2 run that gave the Badgers a 58-46 lead with 12 minutes to play, but the Badgers made just 4 of 16 from the field the rest of the way. Baker-Mazara scored nine points — which included the final seven — in a 16-2 run over the next seven-plus minutes to take a two-point lead with 4:54 remaining.
John Blackwell made two free throws that tied it 65-all with 3:13 left, but Ausar made back-to-back baskets, Baker-Mazara scored in the lane, and Jerry Easter II hit two free throws with two seconds left that made it a four-point game.
Boyd made 10 of 17 from the field, hit 8 of 9 from the free-throw line, and led Wisconsin (14-6, 6-3) with 29 points. Nolan Winter added 12 points and Blackwell 11.
The Badgers shot 34% (23 of 67) overall and made 9 of 37 (24%) from behind the arc.
Up next
USC: The Trojans visit Iowa on Wednesday.
Wisconsin: The Badgers host Minnesota on Wednesday.
After losing the Battle of the Thompson Twins on Friday night and ending their four-game winning streak, the Detroit Pistons showed up to their Sunday matinee against the Sacramento Kings with an opportunity to bounce back. Detroit showed their strength as the #1 team in the East as they dominated the Kings 139-116.
Jalen Duren kicked off Detroit with a strong first quarter as Sacramento struggled to defend JD inside – though, they would go on to struggle defensively the whole night. Duren would score 10 of Detroit’s first 20 points while a Tobias Harris three-pointer at the buzzer put the game at a 35-35 tie at the end of the first.
After shooting poorly the last few games with an injured wrist, Cade Cunningham showed up playing aggressive. He was punishing smaller Kings defenders in the post and found his jump shot in this one. He had 19 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in 19 first half minutes and that helped Detroit score 43 second quarter minutes to take a 78-65 lead. It’s the most they’ve scored in the first half all season.
It was one of those games that felt over by halftime.
There were still more than four minutes left in the third by the time Detroit had 100 points. The Pistons kept their foot on the gas and would extend their lead to 20 by the start of the fourth quarter. Sacramento does not have the defensive answers against Detroit, though, they didn’t seem to have the effort, either.
JB Bickerstaff would get to empty the bench in the final frame as 14 Detroit players got to see the court. Eight guys of the usual 10-man rotation (no Caris LeVert) would finish with double-digit points. Detroit would go on to shoot 55% from the field and 16-for-31 from deep on their route to a 139-116 final score.
Cade finished with 29 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists after being on triple double watch at halftime. He had a couple of sloppy turnovers, but still had a very efficient game despite shooting only one free throw. Jalen Duren faced little opposition down low and added 18 points.
Good things happen with this team gets three-point makes out of their starting SG and PF positions. Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson combined to shoot 7-for-12 from deep, each with six attempts. In the seven games this season where Tobias Harris attempted at least six three-pointers, the Pistons are 6-1. This proves we should trade for a sharpshooting PF, right?
Bench players Ron Holland, Jaden Ivey, Daniss Jenkins, and Javonte Green would all go on to score 11 points each. After a strong showing, Holland received an unfortunate ejection after a weird tussle with Keon Ellis.
Another strong win for the strongest team in the East. Detroit next plays Tuesday night as they head west to take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets up in the Denver mountains.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored a career-high 28 points, she and Karly Weathers dominated the fourth quarter on offense, and No. 23 Alabama rallied to defeat Mississippi State 85-78 on Sunday.
Weathers scored 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter and Timmons had seven fourth-quarter points, 18 in the second half.
Timmons scored 11 points in the third quarter while Alabama built an eight-point lead with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the period. But the Bulldogs hit their next six shots — four of them by Jaylah Lampley — and they took a 60-56 lead into the fourth.
There were three lead changes in the fourth quarter and Alabama went ahead for good when Weathers hit a layup and a 3-pointer followed by a three-point play by Timmons.
Mississippi State was within 74-70 before another 3 from Weathers put the Crimson Tide up by seven with two minutes remaining.
Diana Collins scored 15 points and Naomi Jones and Ace Austin added 10 each for Alabama (18-3, 4-3 SEC).
Favour Nwaedozi scored 19 points, Madison Francis 16, Lampley 14 and Trayanna Crisp 11 for Mississippi State (15-6, 2-5 SEC). Francis had eight rebounds and seven steals.
Four players hit 3-pointers for Alabama in the first quarter, helping the Crimson Tide take a 15-14 lead. There were five lead changes in the first few minutes of the second quarter, then Alabama went on to lead 35-31 at halftime.
Timmons made 11 of 11 free throws and the Crimson Tide hit on 20 of 24 from the foul line. Mississippi State made 18 of 21 free throws.
Up next
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs play Thursday at No. 17 Tennessee.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide visit Georgia on Thursday. ___
SEATTLE (AP) — Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton scored 18 seconds apart in the third period, Joey Daccord made 27 saves and the Seattle Kraken beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Sunday.
Ryker Evans and Jordan Eberle also scored for Seattle, which has won three of their last 10 games. Beniers was playing in his 300th career NHL game.
Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored for the Devils. Jacob Markstrom stopped 15 shots in his sixth start in New Jersey’s last seven games. The Devils conclude their four-game Pacific Division road trip with a 3-1-0 record.
Hamilton opened the scoring 8:11 into the first period with a clean shot on the power play. Scoring his sixth goal of the season, Hamilton now has eight points in his last nine games.
Evans tied the game at 7:37 in the second period. The shot hit Johnathan Kovacevic’s stick and slipped through Markstrom’s pads, who appeared to be heavily screened.
Beniers and Catton scored back-to-back for Seattle, with their goals coming at 7:04 and 7:22 in the third period, respectively.
Hughes gave New Jersey its second power-play goal of the game at 8:14, benefiting from a bounce off Adam Larsson’s leg.
Eberle scored his 18th goal of the season on an empty net with 1:12 remaining in the game.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Gabriela Jaquez scored 19 points and No. 3 UCLA beat Northwestern 80-46 on Sunday for its 13th straight victory.
Lauren Betts added 16 points while Kiki Rice had 15 and 10 rebounds for the Bruins (19-1, 9-0 Big Ten), who never trailed and stayed tied with 10th-ranked Iowa for the conference lead.
The Bruins led 21-14 after the first period and finished the first half on a 15-2 run to go to intermission up 46-22. The Wildcats managed just three field goals in the second period and none in the final 4:57 of the half.
The Wildcats tried to double-team the 6-foot-7 Betts early but she usually found an open teammate and finished the game with six assists. UCLA also outrebounded its hosts 44-25.
The Bruins are beating their conference foes by an average 27.8 points per game.
Grace Sullivan scored 21 points for Northwestern (8-12, 2-7), which has lost two straight and 12 of its last 14.
Up next
UCLA: Visits Illinois on Wednesday.
Northwestern: Travels to No. 24 Nebraska on Wednesday.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield scored first-period goals just 12 seconds apart to help the Minnesota Frost beat the New York Sirens 6-2 on Sunday.
Katy Knoll added two goals, which included an empty-netter, for Minnesota (6-2-3-3). Grace Zumwinkle and Kelly Pannek each scored a goal and Abby Hustler had two assists. Maddie Rooney had 25 saves.
Kristyna Kaltounkova scored her ninth goal of the season for New York (7-0-2-6) and Anna Bargman scored her second goal this season with six minutes to play.
Heise cut in front of the net, took a pass from Mae Batherson, and flicked a back-hand shot into the net to open the scoring 6:12 into the game. Shortly after the ensuing faceoff, a Frost turnover near the center line led to a jailbreak goal by Coyne Schofield that made it 2-0.
Coyne Schofield leads the PWHL in goals (10) and points (16).
Kaltounkova scored with 1:32 left in the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Kayle Osborne stopped 21 shots for the Sirens.
Fans at the Grand Casino Arena chanted “ICE out now!” and there was a moment of silence for Alex Pretti — the second Minneapolis resident killed by federal officers this month — prior to the start of the game.
Robbie Ray was an All-Star in 2025. At least, up until the All-Star break.
His 2.65 ERA led the club into the July recess. At that point in the season, he ranked in the top-10 among qualified pitchers across the MLB in innings pitched, batting average of balls-in-play, runners stranded (LOB%), and opponents’ average. In tandem with Logan Webb, the pair were co-aces leading one of the better rotations in the Majors. They were an odd-but-effective couple: Ray’s blunt instrument attacks at the letters one day; Webb’s heavier rocks-at-the-knees the next.
The invitation to the Midsummer Classic was well-deserved. His last two seasons for Seattle and San Francisco were cut short by Tommy John surgery then long delayed by recovery. But at the start of the 2025 season, Ray was finally healthy and pitched with purpose from the jump. The relief he felt being back on the mound with regularity was clear, his loud grunts of gratitude echoed throughout the stadiums as he won his first three outings of the year. From the end of April to the beginning of June, the southpaw strung together eight consecutive quality starts. His strong performance had Fangraphs’ blogger Ben Clemens singing his praises, marveling at Ray’s ability to do so much with so little. Just a mid-to-low 90s four-seamer, three subpar secondary pitches, and a whole lot of backspin was ostensibly all he needed to not only be effective, but reclaim his Cy Young form from 2021. Out of nowhere, he flirted with a “Maddux” in Arizona, throwing his second career complete game. He then tangoed with future World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto right before the break, logging his 13th quality start in 20 games.
But this is a 2025 San Francisco Giants player review after all, so we know the good times just don’t last — and Ray might’ve been the first body to fall off the back of the wagon.
His first start after the All Star break came in Toronto in which he surrendered 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched. It was his worst outing of the year up to that point — but it’d have more competition as he and the Giants slogged through the dog days of summer. Having allowed just 4 earned runs in a start just once over his first 20 games, Ray gave up at least 4 or more runs in 6 over his final 12, including a horrific, knuckle-dragging stumble in which opposing teams plated 22 runs in 22.2 innings against him over his last 5 games. His ERA over the “shorter half” nearly doubled. His K/9 rate fell and his BB/9 rate increased. Balls in play started finding holes and open grass. Hitters became more persistent. Innings drew on longer and became harder to close out. Ray’s left-on-base percentage dropped nearly 20 points. Opponent’s OPS rose from .608 to .810.
As disappointing and as sharp as the decline was, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. Fatigue is always a factor for any pitcher in the latter half of the season. Not to mention the fact that Ray, who turned 34 in October, has been wringing his arm out like laundry for over a decade’s worth of seasons now. The fabric is worn, the color faded, and then there’s the long wrinkle of his Tommy John surgery that stretches back to 2023. His last full season with a proper pitching load was with Seattle way back when in 2022 (189 IP/ 32 GS). The 119 innings Ray logged over his first 20 starts was nearly four times his innings total from 2024.
While the final 3.65 ERA in 2025 is surely a disappointment considering what Ray initially seemed to promise, it’s still lower than his career mark, and the drop off shouldn’t be too surprising. Looking back over his career, Ray has never been a steady hand. His three-outcomes style opens him up to wild swings in results, making sustained dominance over a whole season difficult. The real accomplishment of 2025 for Ray is that he stayed healthy. For better or for worse, he notched 32 starts for the fifth time in his career. His 182.1 innings were just 11 shy of his career high. He would’ve been considered the workhorse in the Dodger rotation, throwing more than Yoshinobu, more than double Tyler Glasnow’s regular season innings, nearly three-times Blake Snell’s, and nearly four-times Ohtani’s.
Small points of pride — but points all the same.
Ray has one more year on his Giants contract, and considering how the offseason has played out in terms of pitching acquisitions, the team is counting on him to reclaim his partnership with Webb at the top of the rotation. They need him to stay healthy again…and to be better through August and September.
Can he do that? Sureyeerrrrmaaheeyybeeee…
All I know is that Ray is a pitcher who can be both fun and infuriating to watch — and often these emotions are felt in the same game, or in the same inning. A lot of his success in the league comes from getting out of his own way. Walks and home runs and home runs after walks have been his downfall for a long while now. When he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2021 with a league leading 157 ERA+, his HR/9 rate was 1.5, the same rate as it was the following year in 2022 when he posted a 100 ERA+. Players will always hit the ball hard and in the air against Ray, the difference is if there are runners on base when that happens. While he’s certainly used to, and accepted, that walks are a part of his game, they still very much matter. His 4.77 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2021 dropped to 3.42 in 2022, while his walk rate increased from 2.4 to 3.0. That small increase has a ripple effect. All those extra pitches thrown and extended innings add up over 180 innings and can whittle you down to average.
A pitcher like Webb has a myriad of ways to get a batter out in terms of pitch type and location. He’s not afraid of contact because it’s often shot into the ground. Ray is playing a much more dangerous game. He needs to miss bats. He needs the strikeout, and to get a lot of strikeouts, count leverage, chase, and whiff are key ingredients. Last season, Ray’s 27 Whiff-%, while still above leave average, was his lowest (in a full season) since 2016. His K/9 rate dropped below 10 for the first time since 2015. More plate appearances ended when the batter was ahead in the count against Ray than behind (265 to 253). Count leverage can mean the difference between facing an All-Star in the box or Matt Cain. An .888 OPS and a .455 OPS is pretty stark, and for Ray last season, it ended up being a coin flip at times what kind of hitter he faced. Best not to leave that kind of thing up to chance.
First pitch strikes are key, as are finding a way to wiggle yourself back into a count you fell behind in. Webb’s strikeout-to-walk ratio after he fell behind 1-0 to a hitter was still 2-to-1 last season. For Ray, it was a smidge better than one-to-one.
I think the key for Ray in 2026 is to reassert his fastball. This is somewhat obvious. As mentioned earlier, it’s no secret, with its backspin and rise, that it’s his best pitch — but just because its his best pitch doesn’t mean it needs to be saved for two-strike situations. In his most successful years, the four-seamer was a dynamic weapon in all counts. Ray threw a first-pitch fastball nearly 65% of the time in 2021, and last year that number dropped down to 49%. In 2017 (his first All-Star year), he threw his four-seamer 53% of the time when he was ahead in the count. Last year, that usage again fell to 49%. When he was behind to a batter in 2017, he threw his signature pitch 66% of the time; 65% in 2021 — but just 59% in 2025.
These are not monumental shifts in approach, but the drops seem to hint at a hesitancy or a lack of conviction around the pitch. Why? I don’t know, but Ray clearly needs to do better at establishing the fastball early on against hitters. If he doesn’t there’s a negative trickle down effect on the rest of his mix and his peripheral weapons become less dynamic. While his revamped change-up (with its Tarik Skubal inspired grip) got the most buzz last season, it’s Ray’s non-sliding slider that really feeds off of the four-seamer. The offering is an awkward duck for sure, with little drop or break, and easily turn into an ugly one if left up over the middle of the plate against righties, but when mixed in well, it’s historically flummoxed hitters with whiff rates nearing 50% for years.
As you can see, in 2025, the slider’s whiff-% came in at 29% — Ray’s lowest mark ever in a full season of work.
Ray’s fastball-slider pairing accounted for 90% (59% FF – 31% CH) of the offerings he threw en route to Cy Young hardware. Not all solutions lie in the past, and I appreciate the desire to evolve, especially as he strides into his mid-30s, but perhaps its best not to overthink certain things. Ray needs to quit playing around with toy pitches like that dang knuckle-curve and just lean on the attack.
DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 29 points and 11 assists and the Detroit Pistons routed the Sacramento Kings 139-116 on Sunday for their fifth victory in six games.
The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons rebounded from a home loss to Houston on Friday night to improve to 33-11. Tied at 35 after a quarter, Detroit broke it open in the second by outscoring the Kings 43-30.
Cunningham was 13 of 22 from the field, hitting 3 of 5 3-pointers. Pistons center Jalen Duren added 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and Tobias Harris had 16.
Malik Monk led Sacramento with 19 points, and DeMar DeRozan had 16. The Kings have lost five straight to drop to 12-35.
Domantas Sabonis played his fifth game for Sacramento after after missing two months because of a knee injury. He had 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and eight assists and seven rebounds in 24:44.
DENVER (AP) — The heavy snow and swirling wind moved into the Mile High City for the second half of the AFC championship game Sunday as Denver played New England.
The snow gathered on the field and made the yard lines hard to see. Patriots kicker Andres Borregales sent his 46-yard field goal into the swirling wind wide right late in the third quarter. The Patriots held a 10-7 lead over the Broncos heading into the fourth quarter.
The day started out sunny and 26 degrees (minus-3 Celsius) with a wind chill of 17 (minus-8). A light snow began to fall just as halftime ended and steadily picked up. Players huddled by the heaters on the sideline.
Jarrett Stidham, filling in for an injured Bo Nix, and Drake Maye, an NFL MVP candidate, both struggled in the weather. Stidham threw a TD pass but also fumbled deep in Denver territory that set up New England's TD.
Maye was more effective with his feet than his arm. He had 64 yards and a TD heading into the final quarter.
Juventus beat Napoli to leave title challenge in tatters
Barcelona capitalised on two defensive mistakes by bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo to seal a 3-0 victory at a rain-drenched Camp Nou, regaining top spot in La Liga. Goals from Dani Olmo, Raphinha and, acrobatically, Lamine Yamal powered the Catalan club to 52 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, while Atlético Madrid trail in third on 44.
Barça struggled to break the deadlock against a spirited Oviedo until they finally found the breakthrough in the 52nd minute, with Olmo striking home following a defensive lapse. Five minutes later, Oviedo’s struggles deepened, with the defender David Costas under-hitting a back-pass, which Raphinha intercepted before calmly chipping the onrushing AarónEscandell in Oviedo’s goal to double Barcelona’s lead. Lamine Yamal wrapped up Barça’s win by scoring in the 73rd minute with a brilliant acrobatic volley from an Olmo cross.
SEATTLE (AP) — Franck Kepnang and Hannes Steinbach had double-doubles and Washington led nearly wire-to-wire in a 72-57 victory over Oregon Sunday in the 318th meeting between the programs.
The Huskies' win snapped a four-game losing streak against their bitter rival. Washington leads 193-125 in the series that is the second-most played in Division I.
Kepnang had 10 points and 14 rebounds, Steinbach had 10 and 13. Quimari Peterson, Zoom Diallo and Jacob Ognacevic scored 12 points each.
Sean Stewart scored 15 points and Kwame Evans Jr. added 11 points for Oregon.
The Ducks made only one of their first 10 shots while the Huskies built a 14-2 lead in the first seven minutes. Twice Oregon got within seven points, the second time at 22-15 with about 5 1/2 minutes left. The Huskies then went on a 10-0 run in which Peterson scored five points and Washington finished the half with a 34-19 lead.
Oregon made only seven shots in the first 14 minutes of the second half but the Ducks' 13-of-15 shooting at the free-throw line kept the Huskies from extending their lead. Washington led 61-44 near the five-minute mark. A few minutes later, Kepnang threw down a dunk and Peterson nailed a 3-pointer for a 70-53 lead heading to the final two minutes.
Oregon (8-12, 1-8 Big Ten) made 20 of 23 free throws in the second half, 24 of 28 for the game.
Washington (11-9, 3-6) made 8 of 13 free throws and 10 of 21 3-pointers.
Up next
Oregon: The Ducks host UCLA on Wednesday.
Washington: The Huskies play Thursday at No. 11 Illinois.
We knew coming into the Philadelphia 76ers’ upcoming back-to-back that Joel Embiid would not be playing both games. We suspected the same for Paul George. The only question was whether they would sit out Monday or Tuesday, and we now know the answer, with the veteran stars announced as out for Monday in Charlotte.
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game @ Charlotte:
Joel Embiid — left knee injury management — OUT
Paul George — left knee injury management — OUT
This is a front end of a back-to-back; Sixers host Milwaukee on Tuesday.
The decision makes sense from a couple perspectives. The Hornets game is on the road versus Tuesday against Milwaukee at home. Also, the game time for Monday was pushed up to 3:00pm due to the weather situation. I imagine with guys having a coordinated maintenance schedule for their past injuries, you would want to stick to a similar routine throughout the day as much as possible. Let both veterans have a normal day in their home city and arena before taking the court at a customary hour.
The Sixers will certainly miss both guys against the Hornets. After seemingly struggling some to ramp up his conditioning and regain a rhythm earlier in the season, Embiid is currently in the midst of his best stretch of the season, having scored at least 30 points in four straight appearances. He is coming off his first triple-double of the season against Houston, followed by a 38-point, 11-rebound, five-assist effort against the Knicks. Joel has appeared in 25 of the Sixers’ 44 games thus far, while Paul George has also taken the court 25 times.
Currently 24-20 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers will look to defeat the 18-28 Hornets down two starters. We’ll find out how they fare tomorrow afternoon.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga will be sidelined again with a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee, the team announced on Sunday before playing at Minnesota.
The game against the Timberwolves was rescheduled from the day before following the fatal shooting in Minneapolis of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers, to prioritize community safety.
The Warriors said a re-evaluation date on Kuminga’s condition would be determined “in the coming days.” The injury forced the disgruntled fifth-year player out of Golden State's most recent game on Thursday at Dallas. He had an MRI on Friday.
Kuminga had just returned to the rotation because of Jimmy Butler's season-ending knee injury. He had not played in a month, with the increasing chance he'll be traded before the deadline on Feb. 5.
Warriors star Stephen Curry, who was listed as questionable to play Sunday because of right knee soreness that developed Saturday, was cleared for action after going through pregame warmups. Al Horford (left toe injury management) and De’Anthony Melton (left knee injury management) were suited up on Sunday, with the plan to rest them both in the rematch at Minnesota on Monday night with the schedule change forcing them into back-to-back games.
___
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton were not playing on Sunday. They will not play on Monday.
