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Takeaways: Led By Rookies, Penguins Earn Convincing Win Over Sabres

Thursday's win against the Buffalo Sabres was a storybook game that Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie Avery Hayes could only dream about. 

With the Penguins set to be three forwards short in their final tilt - and a critical one - before the Olympic break, the 23-year-old forward found out around noon on Thursday that he would be heading from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) to Buffalo to join the NHL squad. And he didn't find out until he was already on his way, around 3:00 p.m. ET, that he would be making his NHL debut because Noel Acciari would miss the game due to illness, joining Blake Lizotte (personal) and Rickard Rakell (day-to-day). 

Hayes arrived at the rink just after 5:00 p.m. Then, by 7:00 p.m., he was taking the ice for his first game in the NHL. 

And, by the end of the first period - around 7:45 p.m. - he already had himself two NHL goals.

The Penguins beat the Sabres, 5-2, off the backs of Hayes and fellow rookie Ben Kindel, who also scored two goals en route to the win. Their latest victory - which closed out a 14-3-3 stretch since the holiday break - guaranteed them sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division heading into the Olympic hiatus, as the New York Islanders remain one point behind them in the standings having played two more games than Pittsburgh. 

They own the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL at .625, and they have have found success against formidable opponents all season long - including a Buffalo team that has been the hottest in the NHL for nearly two months. And they, once again, got contributions from sources other than 87 and 71 Thursday.

Penguins Recall Forward Prospect For Final Game Prior To OlympicsPenguins Recall Forward Prospect For Final Game Prior To OlympicsThe Pittsburgh Penguins recalled a forward prospect to account for NHL injuries, and should he debut, he'd be the league-leading 11th rookie to appear for the Penguins this season

The Sabres got the first tally early in this one, as ex-Penguin Jason Zucker scored on Buffalo's first shot of the game - an unobstructed shot that Arturs Silovs, between the pipes for Pittsburgh, would probably want back. But, midway through the period, the Avery Hayes show began.

Rutger McGroarty - playing on a fouth line with Avery Hayes and Kevin Hayes - had to take a defensive zone draw, and he won it back to defenseman Ilya Solovyov. The Belarusian blueliner lobbed the puck Larry Murphy-style to the opposite blue line, where Avery Hayes split the Buffalo defense to beat them to the puck. With body positioning and on a breakaway, Hayes put his first NHL shot on goal past Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon, earning his first career tally and tying the game at 1-1.

And Hayes wasn't done in the first period. With a little more than a minute remaining, he got the puck deep into the offensive zone and pressured along the wall. The puck eventually found its way to the point, where Parker Wotherspoon dumped it back deep. It banked off the boards to Anthony Mantha below the goal line, and Mantha put a perfect between-the-legs backhand pass on the tape of Hayes, who was breaking toward the net-front to finish the play for his second goal on his second shot.

The score remained 2-1 into the second period until Kindel and Justin Brazeau had a two-on-one opportunity. Kindel made it 3-1 on a no-look snipe down the left side for his 13th of the season. 

Early in the third period, Evgeni Malkin took a tripping penalty, and Tage Thompson took advantage on the ensuing power play with his 30th of the season to pull Buffalo to within one. The Penguins locked down, playing a strong third period and limiting high-danger chances against, and they were able to keep Buffalo at bay.

Then, with less than five minutes left in regulation, Buffalo tried to break out of the defensive zone, but Egor Chinakhov picked off an errant pass just above the right circle. He skated the puck across the offensive blue line and protected it, and he managed to get a shot off. Tommy Novak was right there to pick up the loose change, and he gave the Penguins a crucial late insurance goal.

To cap off the 5-2 win, Kindel scored a shorthanded empty-net goal after a nice effort by him and Connor Dewar on the penalty kill. 

Here are some thoughts and takeaways from the Penguins' last game in almost three weeks:

- What a debut for Hayes. It truly doesn't get more storybook than that.

This is a guy who had no idea he'd be playing in the NHL eight hours earlier, had to pack up quickly and drive up to Buffalo with his parents and his brother, Eli, changed into a suit during his car ride, and arrived at the rink a smidgen late but in time to get ready and participate in warm-ups.

And by the end of the night, he has his first two NHL goals and played a critical role in helping the team secure an important win. 

Hayes played the kind of game that earns players an extended look at the NHL level. Of course, it's never a good idea to overreact to one game, but it wasn't just the scoring that stood out. His speed, his two-way game, his forechecking ability, his work ethic, his release, his defensive acumen, and his play along the walls was all on display during this game, and he appeared to fit right in with this team.

In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Bryan Rust - who, by the way, had an himself an extraordinary defensive game Thursday, especially on the penalty kill - because of his attributes and because of the path he is taking to the NHL level. Hayes went undrafted but simply continues to earn himself higher and higher opportunities, a grind much like the one Rust experienced in both getting to the NHL level and upon arrival. 

Unfortunately, there's simply no room for Hayes or McGroarty in this lineup when it's healthy. No one in the lineup should be coming out of it. But Hayes is just another example of the impressive depth the Penguins have, and I imagine he earned himself a pretty high spot on the list if the Penguins need to call upon someone should another injury occur after the break.

- I've said it before, but Kindel's emergence changes so many things for the Penguins. This guy has not only been on an offensive heater - he has six goals and seven points in his last six games - he just plays all facets of the game at such a high level.

Like Rust, he was outstanding on the penalty kill Thursday. He was, once again, generating for his line all night long. He has a keen awareness in all three zones. He plays the game fearlessly. His shot sure is something else, too. 

Penguins' Kindel Proves Importance To Lineup In Whirlwind Rookie SeasonPenguins' Kindel Proves Importance To Lineup In Whirlwind Rookie SeasonPittsburgh Penguins' rookie center Ben Kindel is making his case as an important part of the NHL lineup this season - and he only figures to get better.

Kindel's game is so advanced for such a young player, and he continues to blow me away. I'm not sure I've ever seen an 18-year-old center play at such a high level in every facet of the game. And now that the production is starting to catch up, we're seeing how dangerous and outstanding of a player he will be a few years from now. 

Heck, he's kind of already that player now. It's so impressive. 

- I've liked what I've seen from Solovyov's game so far. He doesn't do anything flashy, but he's steady, reliable, and competent offensively, which is just what the Penguins need out of the defensemen on their bottom pairing. 

He doesn't make too many mistakes. This could end up being another sneaky good add by Kyle Dubas. 

- I thought Crosby looked much better Thursday. He tied Hayes for the team lead with six shots on goal, and he was shot out of a cannon on a few shifts. He just looked generally more like himself. 

He has only two points in his last six games, yet the Penguins scored 26 goals in those six games and were 4-1-1. This team is rolling without Crosby producing much, so just wait until he starts producing at his customary rate again.

And, given Crosby's track record of production after suiting up for Team Canada, I don't think folks have to worry about him getting back on track. 

- After allowing that first goal on the first shot, Silovs bounced back in a big way. He made a lot of big saves, but his biggest was a huge save on Thompson midway through the third that would have tied the game had it gone in.

While Stuart Skinner has struggled in his past two appearances, Silovs is only getting better later in the season. Since the turn of the calendar year, he has a .910 save percentage, and six out of his last seven appearances have come in at .900 or above. 

He will represent Team Latvia in the Olympics, and he has experienced success at the international level. If Silovs can continue to play at this level the rest of the way - and Skinner can get back to where he was prior to this two-game stretch - the Penguins are in good hands between the pipes.

Takeaways: Penguins Surrender Big Point To Islanders In OT LossTakeaways: Penguins Surrender Big Point To Islanders In OT LossThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> were feeling pretty good about themselves during their recent six-game win streak.&nbsp;

- Another nice play to stymie a third-period scoring chance was made by Wotherspoon, who won a one-on-one with a breaking Thompson.

It's been remarkable to watch this guy become a legitimate top-four shutdown defenseman alongside, probably, the most volatile partner in hockey. What a player he is, and what a find by Kyle Dubas, as he is signed through next season at just $1 million AAV.

- Connor Clifton destroyed Peyton Krebs in a fight after Krebs ran into Silovs for no reason in the blue paint and cross-checked him to the ice. 

Clifton may not be an everyday player in the lineup, but he is a good seventh defenseman to have around. And he tends to spark something with his physicality every time he's in the lineup. 

- Well, given where the Penguins find themselves heading into the break, I think it's safe to say this is a good hockey team. 

They're not winning games by accident, and they're not beating good teams by accident. They have legitimate four-line depth, they're getting good goaltending, they're playing better defensively, they have good special teams, and they're controlling five-on-five play at a high rate. 

I think this team is clearly a playoff contender at this point. When play resumes, I think the conversation needs to shift to whether or not this is a team that can contend for a Stanley Cup. 

Yes, the Central Division houses, arguably, the three best NHL teams in the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars, and the Minnesota Wild - and the Penguins will play two of those teams during their gauntlet in March. But, as far as the four teams above them in the East - the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Detroit Red Wings - they're a combined 5-2-1, with both regulation losses coming against the Canadiens.

If they make the playoffs, they might actually have a pretty good shot at winning at least a round. But given their record against the best in the East, is it really inconceivable for them to be capable of more?

Pittsburgh is on pace for 103 points, and according to Moneypuck, they now have an 82.6 percent chance of making the playoffs. This team is not a fluke. If they remain healthy, they're flat-out dangerous. And their best players haven't even reached the level they're capable of yet. 

Perhaps it's best not to count this team out. They continue to defy expectations, and we'll see if they can continue to be one of the best teams in hockey in the home stretch of the season post-Olympics.

- Best of luck to Crosby, Silovs, Erik Karlsson, and Rakell, assuming he's good to go for the Olympics. It should be a fun tournament to watch. 

Penguins' Top Forward Prospect Scores First AHL Goal In 4-1 WinPenguins' Top Forward Prospect Scores First AHL Goal In 4-1 WinIt certainly hasn't taken long for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top forward prospect Tanner Howe to adjust to professional hockey.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

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Luka Doncic injury update: Lakers star knocked out of game vs. 76ers

Luka Doncic seemingly suffered a leg injury in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers' Thursday night game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He's expected to undergo an MRI on his left hamstring on Friday, according to ESPN.

“Too early to say if it’s an injury," Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. "(Doncic) had a sore hamstring.”

Doncic's apparent injury occurred with 3:30 left in the second quarter after facing a double-team from two opposing players. The Lakers' star turned the ball over on a bad pass as a result of the double-team and was seen grabbing the back of his left leg before checking out of the game and heading back to the locker room.

He did not return to the court with his team after halftime and did not start the third quarter. The Lakers ruled him out for the remainder of the game due to left leg soreness. Doncic finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes of play.

Doncic was seen in multiple videos showing a level of frustration after the apparent injury.

He kicked the scorer's table on his way off the court. Once in the tunnel, he was seen on the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast displaying further frustration.

Doncic's status will be closely monitored with the Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors at home on Saturday, Feb. 7.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, 76ers-Lakers status

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Bucks waive Nigel Hayes-Davis

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 10: Nigel Hayes-Davis #21 of the Phoenix Suns drives against Chris Youngblood #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of the Emirates NBA Cup - Quarterfinals game at Paycom Center on December 10, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jon Horst and the Bucks front office have decided to waive journeyman Nigel Hayes-Davis, who got another shot in the NBA this season with the Phoenix Suns after a long and successful career overseas.

Hayes-Davis, a wing-forward combo, actually would have fitted a position of need for the Bucks. But at 31 years old and with a questionable skillset to succeed in a Giannis-led offence, the Bucks opted to put more eggs in Ousmane Dieng’s basket.

The journeyman averaged 1.3 PPG, 0.3 APG, and 1.2 RPG on 32.6% from the field and just 12.5% from three with the Suns. He had his first NBA stint way back in the 2017-18 season with three different teams—the Lakers, Raptors, and Kings—before departing for EuroLeague opportunities.

Hayes-Davis played for three teams across Europe’s premier competition: Zalgiris (2019-2021), Barcelona (2021-2022), and Fenerbahce (2022-2025). In 2025, he led Fenerbahce to a EuroLeague title, winning the Final Four MVP as well.

The Bucks now have a vacant spot on the 15-man roster as well as a vacant two-way spot. You imagine they’d be looking long and hard into converting Pete Nance—currently on a two-way deal—to a standard deal, creating multiple two-way openings. Suffice to say, there’s still a lot to play out in Milwaukee.

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World Baseball Classic rosters feature 16 Seattle Mariners

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Dominican Republic rounds third base in the first inning against Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 11, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The formal release of the rosters for this spring’s World Baseball Classic named 16 members of the Seattle Mariners organization. That sum is the second-highest total of any club, trailing only the New York Mets with 17. Seattle’s WBC participants are as follows:

Brazil

RHP Pedro Da Costa Lemos

Canada

1B Josh Naylor

Columbia

UTIL Michael Arroyo
RHP Guillo Zuñiga

Dominican Republic

OF Julio Rodríguez

Israel

RHP Charlie Beilenson

Italy

OF Dominic Canzone
UTIL Miles Mastrobuoni

Mexico

RHP Andrés Muñoz
OF Randy Arozarena

Netherlands

RHP Dylan Wilson

Panama

RHP Abdiel Mendoza

South Korea

RHP Dane Dunning

United States of America

C Cal Raleigh
LHP Gabe Speier

In addition to these current M’s, no shortage of former M’s around the league represented. INF Donovan Solano will be playing for Colombia, RHP Thyago Vieira will be pumping fire for Brazil, towering RHP Phillippe Aumont continues firing for Canada, and RHP Erasmo Ramírez will defy father time for Nicaragua, among many others.

The World Baseball Classic will be played from March 5th-17th, with pool play in Houston, TX, Miami, FL, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tokyo, Japan, and the final rounds in Miami.

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Keith Hernandez finalizes new contract to continue calling Mets games for SNY

Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez celebrate 20 years on SNY in a broadcast booth overlooking a baseball stadium.
Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez celebrate 20 years on SNY.

SNY’s popular Mets announcing trio will live on.

In the days before pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training, Keith Hernandez agreed to a three-year contract to return to the booth, with the deal being finalized on Thursday, The Post’s Mike Puma reported.

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In October, Hernandez revealed to The Post’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman that he wanted a three-year contract with the network and that he was not ready to give up his analyst gig just yet.

“I am not ready to retire,” Hernandez said on “The Show” podcast then. “If I do another three years, they’ve always been three-year deals, and then the three-year deal will take me to 75.

“I just turned 72 and I’m ready to do another three.”

Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez celebrate 20 years on SNY. SNY

Hernandez has been a key part of the SNY broadcast alongside play-by-play man Gary Cohen and former Mets teammate Ron Darling since the 2006 season after previously working Mets games on MSG.

He has won three Emmys (2009, 2012, 2015) for his work in the booth.

Despite being in negotiations with SNY during the offseason, Hernandez was vocal about the Mets’ moves during free agency, saying that he was left “speechless” after Pete Alonso left the team for a deal with the Orioles.

“I’m a little bit speechless,” he said during an appearance on “SportsNite” in December. “This is very explosive. In the years that I’ve been with the Mets, I have not seen this kind of moving in a new direction, I guess. It is definite — it is profound.”

Former Mets great and current broadcaster Keith Hernandez Getty Images

Hernandez added that the Mets’ direction this offseason would revolve around pitching and defense, citing how the Amazin’s won the 1969 World Series using that blueprint.

“It’s going to be defense and also pitching,” he added. “I always look to the ’69 Mets when you have a team that won a world championship with great pitching and didn’t have a great offense … not by any stretch of the imagination.”

The Amazin’s ended up adding infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, outfielder Eloy Jimenez, and pitchers Freddy Peralta, Tobias Myers, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in a sizable overhaul.

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Hornets beat Rockets 109-99 for eighth straight win

HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Kon Knueppel had 24 points and LaMelo Ball added 20 to help the Charlotte Hornets roll to a 109-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night and extend their winning streak to eight games.

Charlotte’s streak is the franchise’s longest since winning nine in a row in the 1998-99 season.

The Hornets led by 16 after three quarters and Brandon Miller scored the first five points of the fourth to extend the lead to 96-75 with about 11 minutes to go. A 5-0 run by Charlotte, with a 3-pointer by Sion James, made it 103-81 with about eight minutes remaining and Houston coach Ime Udoka pulled his starters.

It’s a second straight lopsided defeat for the Rockets, who lost 114-93 Wednesday night to a Boston team playing without star Jaylen Brown.

Kevin Durant led Houston, which entered Thursday in fourth place in the Western Conference, with 31 points and Jabari Smith Jr. added 17. It was a tough night for Alperen Sengun, who was averaging 21.2 points, and scored just seven on 3-of-11 shooting.

Miles Bridges added 18 points for the Hornets and Miller finished with 11 after sitting out the entire second quarter after getting three fouls in the first.

WIZARDS 126, PISTONS 117

DETROIT (AP) — Will Riley scored 20 points, Sharife Cooper added 18 and Washington upset Eastern Conference-leading Detroit.

The Wizards only dressed 10 players — Cooper was one of three on two-way contracts — a day after a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, but beat a Pistons team that had won five of six. The Wizards improved to 14-36, while Pistons fell to 37-13.

Justin Champagnie and Tristan Vukcevic each scored 14 points for Washington, which has won four of six since a nine-game losing streak. The Wizards got 69 points from their reserves.

Cade Cunningham had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pistons, who went 9 for 33 (27.3%) on 3-pointers. All-Star center Jalen Duren had four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes left before leaving game with knee soreness.

After trailing by 17 in the third quarter, the Pistons cut it to 112-107 on Duncan Robinson’s 4-point play with 4:15 to go. Bilal Coulibay banked in a 3-point shot as the shot clock expired to make it 117-110, and Detroit couldn’t get enough stops.

RAPTORS 123, BULLS 107

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 33 points, Immanuel Quickley had 24 and Toronto beat new-look Chicago.

Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili each scored 17 points and Scottie Barnes added 13 as Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak against Chicago.

Toronto has 31 wins in its first 53rd games, eclipsing last season’s win total.

Anfernee Simons scored 22 points in his first game with Chicago and Matas Buzelis had 18. Guerschon Yabusele marked his Bulls’ debut with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Jaden Ivey and Jalen Smith each scored 13 points and Isaac Okoro added 10 for the Bulls, who overhauled their roster by making seven trades ahead of Thursday afternoon’s deadline.

MAGIC 118, NETS 98

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Suggs had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double, Desmond Bane scored 23 points and Paolo Banchero added 22 to lead Orlando to a win over Brooklyn.

Playing 29 minutes in his seventh game after missing eight games with a right knee injury, Suggs also blocked four shots and had three steals.

Egor Demin led the Nets with a career-high 26 points, shooting 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Fellow rookie Nolan Traore matched his career high with 21 points and added seven assists.

Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn’s leading scorer, shot 2 of 13 and scored nine points.

Anthony Black had 18 points and five assists for Orlando and Mo Wagner came off the bench with 14 points and five rebounds in 12 minutes.

The loss was was the 15th in 17 games for the Nets, who came in as the lowest-scoring (107.1) and poorest field-goal shooting (44.3%) team in the NBA. They shot 41.5% and had 19 turnovers.

HAWKS 121, JAZZ 119

ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker broke a tie on a short jumper with 1.3 seconds left and had 23 points in Atlanta's victory over Utah.

Newly acquired Jock Landale had a season-high 29 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds. He had a career-high five 3-pointers and set season highs in blocks with four and assists with five.

Jalen Johnson had his third straight triple-double, giving him 10 on the season. He finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists. His 10 triple-doubles are second only to Nikola Jokic league-wide.

The Hawks traded for Landale on Wednesday shortly after he was a part of an eight-player deal that sent him to Utah from Memphis. The Jazz sent the veteran big man to Atlanta for cash considerations. He started in place of the injured Onyeka Okongwu, who missed his fourth game due to a dental fracture.

Jazz rookie Ace Bailey tied it at 119 with a 3-pointer with nine seconds left, setting up Alexander-Walker’s winner.

SPURS 135, MAVERICKS 123

DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and San Antonio overcame rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg’s fourth consecutive 30-point game in a victory over Dallas.

Flagg scored 32 points to extend his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 30 points by a teenager. The 19-year-old joined Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson and Jalen Green as the only rookies to score at least 30 in four straight games since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.

Dallas lost all four games and is on a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season.

Harrison Barnes was another of seven San Antonio players in double figures with 19 points, and De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points while pushing through a rough shooting night with two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The second came on Wembanyama’s sixth assist and gave the Spurs a 131-123 lead with 1:24 remaining.

Stephon Castle had 18 points and seven rebounds, the last board coming on his empathic and punctating follow dunk for the final points.

LAKERS 119, 76ERS 115

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 35 points in just 25 minutes, and Los Angeles overcame Luka Doncic’s departure with a left leg injury for a victory over Philadelphia.

LeBron James had 17 points and 10 assists for the Lakers, who snapped Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak with a big second-half rally in their first game back from a draining eight-game road trip.

Joel Embiid had 35 points and Tyrese Maxey added 26 points and 13 assists for the 76ers, who blew a 14-point lead and nearly came back from a 16-point deficit in the second half of their first loss since Jan. 26.

The Lakers led 110-94 with four minutes left, but Philadelphia closed the gap to 116-113 when rookie VJ Edgecombe stole James’ inbounds pass and hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play. James made eight turnovers.

But Maxi Kleber fed Rui Hachimura for a dunk with 12 seconds left, and the Lakers hung on.

With 12-of-17 shooting and five 3-pointers while coming off the bench, Reaves was phenomenal despite playing on a minutes restriction in his second game back from a 5 1/2-week absence with a calf injury.

WARRIORS 101, SUNS 97

PHOENIX (AP) — Pat Spencer scored a career-high 20 points, Gui Santos added 18 and shorthanded Golden State erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix.

The Suns had a chance to pull ahead in the final seconds, but Dillon Brooks missed a 3-pointer and Golden State’s Gary Payton II came up with the rebound before Moses Moody fed De’Anthony Melton for a layup as time expired.

Phoenix took an 82-76 lead into the fourth quarter after holding Golden State to 17 points in the third. The Suns pushed the advantage to 90-76 less than two minutes into the fourth after Collin Gillespie hit 3s on back-to-back offensive possessions.

But the Warriors weren’t done, methodically cutting into the advantage before Melton made a layup to tie the game at 97-all with 55.8 seconds remaining. Santos made a fast-break layup with 28.7 seconds remaining to put Golden State up 99-97.

Brooks led the Suns with 24 points. Grayson Allen had 21. Phoenix made just six field goals in the fourth quarter, scoring just 15 points.

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Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks recap and final score: Jazz lose thriller to the Hawks

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 5: Isaiah Collier #13 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks recap

The Jazz lost a thrilling game that went down to the last second against the Hawks. Ace Bailey hit the game-tying three with 10.3 seconds remaining, before Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit the game-winner with 1.3 seconds left. The Jazz then had the ball down two and had to settle for a highly contested fadeaway three-point attempt from Bailey that couldn’t find the rim.

It was back and forth all game long, with 31 lead changes and the largest lead for either team being 12. The Hawks were finally able to put together a run in the final minutes and came away with the tight win. Isaiah Collier was once again the standout, with star guard Keyonte George continuing to miss time with a left ankle sprain. Collier played 48 minutes for the second straight game and finished with 25 points and 11 assists, seeming lackluster in comparison to the 22-assist game he had just a few days ago.

Bailey had a tough shooting night but still managed to impact the game in positive areas, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. It’ll never be a complete game from Bailey without a few cool dunks that make you yell from the couch. Lauri Markkanen played well but only logged 23 minutes in this one and sat the entire fourth quarter, maybe giving you a hint at what the Jazz are trying to do with the rest of their season. Kyle Filipowski was a standout, with Jusuf Nurkic collecting another DNP—coach’s decision. Filipowski finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Brice Sensabaugh played another good offensive game, and Cody Williams continues to show flashes on the defensive side of the court.

The Jazz are playing respectable basketball while missing George. Coming off a win against a shriveled Pacers team, a win is a win—especially given the Jazz’s limited player availability. They then played the Hawks tough the entire game and just barely came up short at the end. The point is, the Jazz are playing good basketball and YOU should be excited moving forward. The Jaren Jackson Jr. trade will massively impact this team on both ends of the court, and if he were playing tonight, the Jazz absolutely would’ve won this game. But most would agree it’s a good thing the Jazz were able to come away with the loss tonight. The future truly is bright in Salt Lake City.

Will Hardy has to be given credit for his coaching choices in the fourth quarter. Choosing to rest Markkanen and roll with the young guys like Williams and Bailey is a perfect example of putting the team first. Let’s all be thankful we have Will Hardy coaching our favorite basketball team and not Quin Snyder.

The Hawks edge out the Jazz tonight in a close one, 121–119, and improve to 26–27. The Jazz fall to 16–36 and will look ahead to the 26–24 Orlando Magic in Orlando on Saturday.

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Lightning beat Panthers 6-1 before Olympic break

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots to improve to 16-0-1 in his past 17 games, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 6-1 on Thursday night in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.

Brandon Hagel, Oliver Bjporkstrand, Jake Guentzel, Erik Cernak, Pontus Holmberg and Zemgus Girgensons — who will all participate in the Olympic Games — scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are 19-1-1 in their last 21 games.

Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov extended his scoring streak to 10 games, his 13th career scoring streak of at least 10 games — which is tied for fifth in NHL history.

Mackie Samoskevich scored for the Panthers. Danil Tarasov finished with 20 saves for Florida before leaving due to injury in the third period. Sergei Bobrovsky finished the game for the Panthers, who played without regulars Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues. They all sat out after playing Wednesday against Boston.

CAPITALS 4, PREDATORS 2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored in his first game since Halloween, Jakob Chychrun added a pair of goals and Washington beat Nashville.

Logan Thompson returned in goal from an injury of his own and made several sparkling saves, and the Capitals won for the fourth time in five games entering the Olympic break. Tom Wilson, who is on Canada’s roster for those Olympics, also scored for the Caps.

Jonathan Marchessault and Michael McCarron scored for Nashville, which had its five-game points streak snapped.

Dubois had no points in his first six games this season and underwent surgery on injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles. He hadn’t played since Oct. 31.

Wilson opened the scoring for Washington, and then Dubois made it 2-0. The flashiest goal belonged to Chychrun, however. The defenseman left Nashville’s Tyson Jost behind with a 360-degree spin near the boards, then entered the offensive zone and scored.

HURRICANES 2, RANGERS 0

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for his second shutout, Andrei Svechnikov gave Carolina an early lead in the first period and Carolina topped New York to extend its points streak to 10 games.

Jordan Staal scored into an empty net with 54 seconds left to seal it for the Hurricanes in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.

The Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes are 8-0-2 since Jan. 16 and 12-1-3 since Jan. 4.

Jonathan Quick made a season-high 41 saves for the Rangers, who were shut out for the ninth time this season and the seventh at home. New York has lost four in a row.

Svechnikov made it 1-0 game 6:26 into the first period on a wrist shot off an assist from Mark Jankowski. And Bussi, who has won his last seven starts, made that goal hold up.

PENGUINS 5, SABRES 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut, Arturs Silovs made 26 saves and Pittsburgh beat Buffalo in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.

Called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League with the Penguins hit by a series of injuries, Hayes tied at 1 at 9:18 of the period on his first shot on goal. He raced to beat defenseman Jacob Bryson to the puck and put a wrister past goalie Alex Lyon.

Hayes made it 2-1 with 1:13 left in the period, taking Anthony Mantha’s short, backward pass and knocking it in. He’s the third Penguins player to score twice in his NHL debut, joining Rob Brown (two goals on Oct. 21, 1987) and Jake Guentzel (two goals on Nov. 21, 2016).

Hayes has 13 goals and 10 assists in 31 games this season in the AHL. He made his NHL debut with Blake Lizotte out for the birth of his first child, Rickard Rakell nursing a lower-body injury and Noel Acciari sidelined by an illness.

ISLANDERS 3, DEVILS 1

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bo Horvat broke a tie late in the third period and New York went into the Olympic break with a win over New Jersey.

Horvat went to his backhand off the draw, slipping the puck past goalie Jake Allen, with only 3:27 left to play. Casey Cizikas scored in the second period for the Islanders and Mathew Barzal scored an empty-net goal to seal the win for New York.

Cizikas put the Islanders up 1-0 at 6:30 in the second period, cleaning up a rebound in front of the net. From behind the net, Allen sent the puck around the boards right to Marc Gatcomb while the Devils were in a line change. Gatcomb fired the puck to the slot, where Kyle MacLean got a stick on it, tipping it to Cizikas. Allen made the save on the first tip by Cizikas, but couldn’t control the rebound.

Allen stopped 11 shots.

SENATORS 2, FLYERS 1, OT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tim Stutzle charged past Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim and scored on a back-hand shot 47 seconds into overtime, giving Ottawa the win.

It was Stutzle’s 28th goal of the season. The Senators won their fifth game in six outings heading into the Olympic break.

Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale scored on a wrist shot from the left circle with 1:14 remaining in regulation.

That came on only the 14th Philadelphia shot of the game against unexpected Ottawa starting goalie James Reimer.

Reimer, 37, was playing in his seventh game since signing with the Senators last month. Would-be Ottawa starter Linus Ullmark recently returned from a personal leave of absence, but he was a late scratch Thursday, reportedly due to illness.

Former Flyer Nick Cousins scored a second-period goal and Reimer made 15 saves for the Senators.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, KINGS 1

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and Vegas took control early by scoring four times on its first six shots for a victory over Los Angeles.

Vegas heads into the Olympic break with back-to-back victories after losing seven of eight games. The Kings have lost four of five.

Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights. Mitch Marner scored a goal for his 799th career point and Ivan Barbashev extended his points streak to five games with two assists.

Barbashev’s four-game goal streak, however, ended. Eichel extended his points streak to four games and now has 200 assists in a Golden Knights uniform.

Vegas’ Adin Hill made 32 saves for his 100th career victory, his most stops since having 34 on March 15, 2025, against Buffalo.

Trevor Moore scored for the Kings and Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots. Adrian Kempe’s eight-game points streak ended.

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Timmons scores 23 for No. 21 Alabama women in 64-63 thriller over No. 13 Ole Miss

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Karly Weathers added 14 points and six rebounds, and No. 21 Alabama took down No. 13 Ole Miss 64-63 on Thursday night.

Timmons scored six straight points beginning with 2:31 remaining in regulation, and gave the Crimson Tide (20-4, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) a lead with 47 seconds on the clock.

After Ole Miss retook the lead on two free throws, Diana Collins made a driving layup that secured the win with 18 seconds to go.

Cotie McMahon led with 22 points for the Rebels (19-5, 6-3), but she was called for a charge with 10 seconds remaining that negated her go-ahead bucket.

Sira Thienou added 13 points and seven rebounds, Christeen Iwuala had 11 and 15 rebounds, and Latasha Lattimore scored 10 to go with 13 rebounds for Ole Miss.

Lattimore's buzzer-beater attempt couldn't find the basket as Alabama survived for the upset.

Alabama has lost just one game of 17 at home this season (a 70-59 loss to then-No. 20 Tennessee). Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry reached 550 career victories with the win.

Up next

Ole Miss hosts Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Alabama visits Texas A&M on Sunday.

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Here’s the new-look Celtics roster after the 2026 NBA trade deadline

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was a busy trade deadline day for the Boston Celtics, who salary-dumped three players and converted two-way center Amari Williams to a standard contract. Plus, there’s the addition of veteran center Nikola Vučević, acquired from the Chicago Bulls in the Anfernee Simons trade, which sparked the organization’s final 72 hours of activity.

Boston’s trio of trades during Thursday afternoon’s hours — with the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte Hornets — allowed the Celtics to reduce their projected salary and luxury tax figure down to $186.5 million, seven months and three weeks after it stood at $540 million.

By parting ways with Simons, Chris Boucher, Josh Minott, and Xavier Tillman Sr., the Celtics dumped enough salary to sit approximately $840,000 under the tax line while creating three open standard-contract roster spots. The Celtics will be able to stay below the tax by getting creative and leveraging 10-Day contracts, as well as other vehicles. The added flexibility allows Brad Stevens to survey the buyout market for depth upgrades moving forward.

Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:

The players the Celtics acquired:

  • Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
  • John Tonje, Utah Jazz

The picks and players the Celtics sent out:

  • Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets
  • Chris Boucher (and a future second-round pick) to the Utah Jazz
  • Anfernee Simons (and a future second-round pick) to the Chicago Bulls
  • Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets

The new, full Celtics roster

  1. Jayson Tatum
  2. Jaylen Brown
  3. Derrick White
  4. Nikola Vucevic
  5. Sam Hauser
  6. Payton Pritchard
  7. Hugo Gonzalez
  8. Baylor Scheierman
  9. Luka Garza
  10. Neemias Queta
  11. Jordan Walsh
  12. Amari Williams

Two-way players:

  1. Max Shulga
  2. Ron Harper Jr.
  3. John Tonje (acquired in the Chris Boucher trade)

Celtics draft picks remaining

2026: first-round pick, second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons), second-round pick (via New Orleans Pelicans)

2027: first-round pick

2028: first-round pick (via swap with San Antonio Spurs, least favorable)

2030: first-round pick

2031: first-round pick, second-round pick, second-round pick (conditional via Houston Rockets)

2032: first-round pick

Vučević stands as Boston’s premier trade deadline acquisition, brought in to address the team’s need for frontcourt depth. Since the 35-year-old wasn’t mentioned in the Celtics’ latest injury report, he’ll likely debut in Friday night’s game against the Heat at TD Garden.

This season, Vučević is averaging 16.9 points with nine rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range across 48 appearances.

In addition, the Celtics bring in John Tonje on a two-way contract from Utah, after being drafted by the Jazz with the 53rd pick last Spring. He was a consensus second-team All-American last season at Wisconsin, averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 38.8% shooting from 3-point range. He has spent most of the season in the G League, averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and1.4 assists, while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range with Salt Lake City.

What are your thoughts on the new-look Celtics following Thursday’s trade deadline? Let us know in the comments down below.

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San Antonio at Dallas, Final Score: Spurs win a tense game over the Mavs with strong finish 135-123

Feb 5, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The short-handed Mavs gave the Spurs a tough contest tonight as they kept the game close throughout, and got incredible performances from Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall and Max Christie. Daniel Gafford dominated the paint for Dallas, it was a tense night for the Silver and Black as they barely held onto the lead for the second half. Victor Wembanyama started off the game with incredible shooting, but it was his defensive plays late in the game that sealed the win, as the Spurs put the game away with a 12-4 surge in the last 3 minutes in the game. Harrison Barnes had a really efficient game and made key plays in the finishing run. Dylan Harper did another great job and provided key plays as the Spurs took over late. Stephon Castle had some WOW plays and his defense was key, although he didn’t have a perfect game, he did make key plays down the stretch and finished with a +27 in under 22 minutes, which is almost inconceivable. It was another less than perfect game, but also a solid win for the Silver and Black as they overcame another great game from the Maverick’s super rookie and got their 35th win of the season. You also have to give credit to Fox, who came through with key plays in the fourth quarter after not playing particularly well for most of the game, and Champagnie, who always comes through with needed.

Observations

  • After playing an 8 man squad last night against the Thunder, the Spurs faced Mavs team that only fielded 9 players as they traded away four players at the trade deadline and didn’t have the players they traded for available tonight. [The box score on nba.com listed 11 players available, so maybe the broadcast crew was wrong.] This seemed a little more legit than the artificial situation created by the Thunder last night when half of the roster suddenly developed hangnails on the same day and couldn’t suit up against the Spurs.
  • Tonight is the the 4,000th Spurs game in history.
  • Victor scored the first 10 points of the game for the Spurs, but he picked up two early fouls, one on a charge, and the other on a play where Caleb Martin charged into him, but was changed into a block on a replay.
  • The Spurs, took almost all of their shots in the first quarter from three point range. I’m not sure that’s a winning strategy, but they committed to it.
  • Gafford was killing the Spurs smallball lineup when Victor had to sit and Coach Mitch went with Harrison Barnes at center. He took a bunch of trips to the line as the Mavs tied up the game late in the first quarter.
  • Barnes made a veteran move and drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws to give the Spurs a 38-35 lead at the end of the first quarter.
  • Castle was on a minutes restriction, but he brought it in the minutes he played, and stole Cooper Flagg’s cookies to stop a Mavs mini-run halfway through the second quarter.
  • Victor Wembanyama’s unreal shooting touch and Castle’s pugnacious defense broke down the Mavericks resolve as the Spurs took a double digit lead late in the second quarter. Naji Marshall kept the Mavs in it with 20 first half points, and a sloppy end to the first where both teams traded turnovers had the Spurs leading 74-63 with a half to go. As always, the biggest concern going into halftime for the Spurs is always whether they can hold up in the third, when they often step off the gas and drift into a miasmic fugue state.
  • Carter Bryant is growing up before our eyes, and while his offense is inconsistent, he’s already one of the best defenders on the roster.
  • The Spurs’ tendency to give three point shooters wide open looks is becoming concerning. Naji Marshall was burning up the nets in the first half, and he still was able to get lots of great looks in the third quarter.
  • The Spur had two travelling calls in the third quarter, which has to be some kind of record. The first one looked to me like the kind thing that happens about 30 times a game in the average NBA game and is never called. The second one was a legal hop step from Keldon Johnson that was just an incorrect call. Between that and an obvious missed goaltending call on a Harper shot, it felt like home cooking. It’s puzzling.
  • The Mavericks shot light out in the third quarter and cut the Spurs lead to 3 with a quarter left to play, Spur leading 99-96, outscored 33-25 in the quarter.
  • Flagg was aggressive to start the fourth, and cut the deficit to a single point early in the fourth with an open three caused by Castle gambling for a steal. Things got chaotic for a while and somehow the Spurs were able to regain the upper hand with a Fox triple to get up by 7 with 7:55 left in the game.
  • Champagnie’s ability to draw fouls on three point attempts is one of the Spurs best offensive plays.
  • Wembanyama re-entered the game with 5:37 left with a four point Spurs lead. The Mavs cut the lead to just a single point a minute and a half later with Gafford and Marshall taking advantage of poor Spurs defensive rotations.
  • Daniel Gafford was isolated on Victor Wembanyama under the hoop with thee minutes and the Mavs within four points. Victor gave him no chance to score, swallowing up his shot. The Spurs put on a finishing 12-4 flurry in the final three minutes to put the game away and win 135-123.

The Spurs will be back in San Antonio on Saturday night for a rematch against the Mavs. After that game, the Spurs will be on the road until March 5 for the annual Rodeo Road Trip. They will play February 19 and 21 at the Moody Center in Austin, which will count as home games, but still are part of the RRT.

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Wembanyama scores 29 points as Spurs beat Mavs despite another 30-plus night from Cooper Flagg

DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg's fourth consecutive 30-point game in a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Flagg scored 32 points to extend his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 30 points by a teenager. The 19-year-old joined Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson and Jalen Green as the only rookies to score at least 30 in four straight games since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.

Dallas lost all four games and is on a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season.

Harrison Barnes was another of seven San Antonio players in double figures with 19 points, and De'Aaron Fox scored 17 points while pushing through a rough shooting night with two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The second came on Wembanyama's sixth assist and gave the Spurs a 131-123 lead with 1:24 remaining.

Stephon Castle had 18 points and seven rebounds, the last board coming on his empathic and punctating follow dunk for the final points.

Naji Marshall matched Flagg with 32 points for Dallas, and Daniel Gafford had 16 points and 10 rebounds a few hours after the trade deadline passed without the center leaving in a deal when he was the subject of speculation.

The Mavericks were playing their first game since trading 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who had been sidelined a month with a left hand injury.

Wembanyama made his first five 3-pointers and had 20 points at halftime as the Spurs led by double digits several times but couldn't put the Mavericks away until the final two minutes. The 7-foot-4 French star missed his last four 3s and was 9 of 14 from the field.

Flagg did most of his damage after halftime, scoring 22 points as the Mavericks cut a 13-point deficit to one but never could go in front.

Up next

These teams play again in San Antonio on Saturday.

___

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Lakers expected to make ‘hard push’ at Giannis Antetokounmpo, preferred destinations are Knicks, Heat

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares a shot in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a 105-101 Bucks win at Crypto.com Arena on January 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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 Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

And so it begins.

While the Lakers made a small move for Luke Kennard on Thursday ahead of the trade deadline, their biggest win came when the Bucks opted not to deal Giannis Antetokounmpo. By kicking the can down the road on his kinda sorta trade demand, it brings the Lakers into the fold this summer.

To the shock of no one, the Lakers plan to go after the Greek Freak in the offseason, as reported by Brad Turner of the LA Times.

The Lakers will make a hard push to acquire the All-Star forward during the summer, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Times, after the Milwaukee Bucks declined to deal the two-time most valuable player by the noon deadline.

People close to Antetokounmpo said the New York Knicks and Miami Heat are his preferred destinations, but he would not rule out the Lakers .

While the first point is very obvious in that the Lakers will go after Giannis, the latter part is the most interesting. New York has long been at the top of the list for Giannis, but their involvement in any trade feels like it will depend on whether things go awry for them in the postseason.

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As for the Heat, they had a chance at Giannis at the deadline but couldn’t muster a good enough offer. With Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware to go with draft picks, they’re going to have one of the most competitive offers.

Having said all that, the Lakers have never been much of a factor in the Giannis trade conversation until now. Once they establish themselves as an option, will that sway Giannis? He had a lengthy response talking about how cool it was for a European to be the face of the Lakers when Luka was traded to LA. More recently, he spoke glowingly about LeBron James after playing him in Crypto.com Arena.

None of that means he would want to play in LA, necessarily. But the allure of playing with Luka has to mean something.

But it doesn’t mean the Bucks will send him to the Lakers either. They’ll have to make the best offer. But they’re going to be in the race, which is closer than they’ve been at any other point.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Tilly, Thornton, combine for 36 as Ohio State rolls 82-62 past Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Christoph Tilly and Bruce Thornton combined for 36 points as Ohio State beat Maryland 82-62 on Thursday.

Tilly had 19 on 7-of-10 shooting for the Buckeyes (15-7 7-5 Big Ten). Thornton shot 7 of 9 to finish with 17. John Mobley Jr. added 15 points, four assists and two steals. He was 5 of 9 from deep, continuing his streak of making at least one 3-pointer in every game this season. Taison Chatman added 10 points before he was ejected.

Thornton, who now has 1,913 career points, is 21 shy of the fifth place on the Ohio State all-time scoring list. He'd reach third on the list with 2,000 career points.

The win snapped a three-game skid for the Buckeyes.

Elijah Saunders had 20 points for the Terrapins (8-14, 1-10) before receiving a flagrant foul and an ejection — he had also fouled out — with 1:34 left in the game, along with Chatman after a scuffle under the hoop.

Solomon Washington added 13 and eight rebounds. Andre Mills scored 11.

The Buckeyes took a 42-30 advantage into the break after holding Maryland to five points over the final four minutes of the half. Tilly had 11 in the first half and Thornton added 10. The Buckeyes used a 9-3 turnover advantage in the half to build a 13-0 edge on points off turnovers.

Their lead ballooned to as much as 22 in the second half on a 3-pointer from Mobley that capped a 9-0 run.

Up next

Ohio State hosts their rival, No. 2 Michigan on Sunday.

Maryland heads to Minnesota on Sunday for a contest with the Golden Gophers.

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Javier Baez suspended from World Baseball Classic due to marijuana use

Javier Báez received a two-year suspension and will not play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to marijuana use that triggered a failed drug test during the 2023 tournament, the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports.

Baez would've competed for Puerto Rico.

The Detroit Tigers shortstop tested positive for the substance during an exam conducted on March 12, 2023, which was during the WBC. His suspension, which keeps him out of World Baseball Softball Confederation events, spans from April 26, 2024 to April 26, 2026. The 2026 WBC will be played from March 5-17.

He was not suspended by the Tigers or MLB and played during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Both the MLB and MLB Players Association worked together to clear Baez for the WBC, but the attempt was deemed unsuccessful, according to the Detroit Free Press. In 2020, the MLB and MLBPA jointly negotiated a drug policy that permitted the use of marijuana.

The WBSC governs the WBC's drug usage rules and still prohibits marijuana.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Javier Baez suspended from World Baseball Classic over marijuana use