The Mets' pursuit of star free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker could be nearing a conclusion.
Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets are offering Tucker a deal "in the range" of $120 million to $140 million for three years and have had multiple video meetings with him over the last week.
A contract to Tucker worth $150 million over three years would give him an average annual value of $50 million, right underJuan Soto's AAV of $51 million.
As far as when Tucker could decide on a team, Sammon reports that "multiple industry sources suggested" that could happen as early as this week.
In addition to the Mets, the Blue Jays and Dodgers have been heavily connected to Tucker, with Jon Heyman of The New York Post reporting on Monday that the Yankees were "on the periphery."
Sammon did not note whether the Mets' offer to Tucker includes deferrals.
As far as the Dodgers, they have seemingly unlimited spending power.
If the Mets are able to land Tucker, it stands to reason that he will be asked to shift to left field while Soto remains in right field.
Tucker has played only right field and designated hitter over the last five seasons, but got extensive time in left field for the Astros in 2020 -- starting 40 games there and being a positive defender.
Tucker's addition to the Mets' lineup would be enormous.
After subtracting Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo while adding Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien, New York has a glaring need for another significant bat to bolster a group led by Soto and Francisco Lindor.
Tucker, like Soto, is an elite hitter who mixes power with a tremendous eye and a discerning approach at the plate.
During his eight-year career, Tucker has slashed .273/.358/.507 with an .865 OPS. He has never struck out more than 95 times in a season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Tristan Broz and defenseman Ryan Graves from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Penguins also shared that forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard has been sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Broz played in his first career NHL game earlier this season during the Penguins' Nov. 26 contest against the Buffalo Sabres. During the matchup, he recorded two shots in 11:30 of ice time. Now, with this latest call-up, he is getting another shot on Pittsburgh's roster.
In 33 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Broz has posted 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points, and a plus-7 rating.
Graves has played in 17 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded one goal and a minus-4 rating. Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the 6-foot-5 blueliner has posted two goals, seven assists, and nine points in 13 games. Now, the veteran defenseman will be aiming to impress after getting another chance on Pittsburgh's NHL roster.
As for Harvey-Pinard, he was called up to the Penguins' roster last week but did not make his debut with the NHL club. In 32 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has posted seven goals, six assists, and 13 points.
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 10 of the season:
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
The 6-foot-3 senior guard was named co-player of the week in the Big Ten after helping the Badgers stun previously unbeaten Michigan on the road. Boyd had 22 points, six assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal with no turnovers in 31 minutes against the then-No. 2 Wolverines. Earlier in the week, he had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a win against UCLA.
Runner-up
Richie Saunders, No. 11 BYU. The 6-5 senior was named Big 12 player of the week after big scoring outputs in wins against Arizona State and Utah. Saunders had a career-high 31-points on 10-for-13 shooting with eight rebounds and six 3-pointers in the win against the Sun Devils. He followed with 24 points and 14 rebounds against the Utes. He also had three assists in each win while shooting 19 for 29 (.655) in the two games.
Cruz Davis, Hofstra. The 6-3 junior guard has been putting up big numbers all season for the Pride, which has won eight straight games and started 4-0 in Coastal Athletic Association play. He had 32 points in Thursday's win at Towson, a performance that included him going 13 of 14 at the foul line. He followed that by scoring 16 of his 19 points after halftime in an overtime win against Monmouth, and he's snagged at least five rebounds in four straight games.
Davis — who has thrice won or shared CAA player of the week honors this year — ranks 11th in Division I in scoring (21.7) and scored 36 points in a win at Pittsburgh in early December. He also ranks third in Division I in minutes per game (37:48).
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features two exciting NBA matchups. The action begins at 8:00 PM ET, with a San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder showdown. Then at 11:00 PM, the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Golden State Warriors. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Trail Blazers five-game win streak was snapped by the New York Knicks in a 123-114 loss on Sunday. Denji Avdija had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists before suffering a lower back injury with under two minutes left in the game. He will miss tonight's game. Avdija has led Portland in scoring this season and is on pace to average career highs in scoring (26.1 ppg), assists (6.9 apg), and threes made per game.
The Warriors are coming off a 124-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Stephen Curry finished with 31 points, marking his 13th game of the season with at least 30 points. The 11-time All-Star guard ranks ninth in the league in scoring among qualified players (28.8 ppg) and is on pace to lead the NBA in made threes per game (4.7) for the third straight season and five of the past six seasons.
Jimmy Butler also had a big night, finishing with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Despite the loss, the Warriors have shown some improvement, going 8-4 in their last 12 games. Golden State has been ranked fourth in the league in scoring (119.3 ppg) since December 20.
The Warriors and Trail Blazers are currently eighth and ninth in the Western Conference, respectively. Neither team has been more than three games over .500 this season.
How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
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The Detroit Red Wings picked up a meaningful win Monday night, beginning with the retirement of franchise legend Sergei Fedorov’s iconic No. 91 before the game and finishing with a hard-fought 4–3 overtime victory against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams in the Carolina Hurricanes.
The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action, with Detroit receiving a strong depth scoring effort as James van Riemsdyk and Andrew Copp stayed hot, while defenseman Albert Johansson found the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
There were also some tense moments, as the Red Wings surrendered a 3–0 lead entering the third period and were forced to regroup before securing the overtime win.
Now Detroit turns the page from an emotional home victory to a difficult road test in Boston against the Bruins in a crucial divisional matchup. With the teams battling closely in the standings, this four-point game carries extra weight.
A win would not only earn the Red Wings two points but also prevent a divisional rival from doing the same. The clubs have already met twice this season, with both games decided by narrow margins. Boston claimed the first meeting with a 3–2 shootout win, while Detroit responded with a 5–4 victory at home to split the home-and-home series.
Tuesday’s matchup projects to be another tight contest. The Red Wings have been on a tear, with Monday’s win improving their record to 14–4–1 over their last 19 games. Boston has also been heating up, posting a 5–1–1 mark in their last seven outings. The Bruins have done so despite missing breakout winger Morgan Geekie, who has slowed considerably after a strong start to the season.
Geekie has recorded points in just two of his last nine games and missed Sunday’s contest due to a personal matter. His absence would be notable, as he factored into two of Boston’s three goals in their earlier 3–2 win over Detroit.
Even without Geekie, the Bruins remain dangerous thanks to superstar winger David Pastrnak, who has been red hot since returning to the lineup in early December. Pastrnak has produced eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points over his last 16 games and continues to rank among the league’s most productive forwards.
Detroit will counter with one of its own hottest players in center Andrew Copp, who has enjoyed a breakout stretch. Copp has recorded multiple points in two straight games, has points in four consecutive contests, and has totaled 19 points over his last 21 games while developing strong chemistry with new linemates Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. That trio has been a major catalyst for the Red Wings’ offense and will look to keep the momentum rolling.
Cam Talbot is expected to start in goal for Detroit after John Gibson handled the duties in Monday’s win, while Boston is likely to turn to star netminder Jeremy Swayman, who has won three of his last four starts.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs. Boston (Tuesday):
Kasper – Larkin – Finnie
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
van Riemsdyk – Compher – Raymond
Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka
Johansson – Benard-Docker
Talbot
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The Vancouver Canucks (16-24-5) wrap up a back-to-back on Tuesday as they battle the Ottawa Senators (20-19-5). Vancouver is coming off a loss on Monday and has gone 0-4-0 so far on this Eastern road trip. As for the Senators, they have also been struggling of late as Ottawa is 3-6-1 in their last 10.
The Canucks enter this game looking to end a seven-game losing streak. Vancouver has just one win in their last 10 and is slipping further and further into the NHL's basement. As for January, the Canucks are 0-4-2 and have been outscored 27-12.
Tuesday is the perfect opportunity for Vancouver to snap their losing streak. As mentioned, the Senators have also struggled over the past few weeks, and are now dealing with an unwanted media circus due to social media rumours. While the Canucks will be the tired team, they may have a slight advantage just based on the distractions going on in Ottawa.
Players to Watch:
Drew O'Connor:
Drew O'Connor has been one of Vancouver's most consistent players all season. He is now up to 17 points and is one of four players who has skated in all 45 games this year. Whether at even strength or on the penalty kill, O'Connor continues to find ways to have a positive impact despite only averaging 13:44 per night.
David Perron:
David Perron has had plenty of success against the Canucks in his career. In 48 regular-season games, the 37-year-old has scored 12 times while recording 29 points. Perron is currently skating on the second line and could be a significant factor Tuesday night.
Dec 21, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven (43) checks Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (16–24–5):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 12–15–27
Filip Hronek: 3–24–27
Kiefer Sherwood: 17–6–23
Jake DeBrusk: 12–10–22
Conor Garland: 7–15–22
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 6–11–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 2–2–0
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Ottawa Senators (20–19–5):
Points:
Tim Stützle: 19-26-45
Drake Batherson: 17-23-40
Jake Sanderson: 8-25-30
Claude Giroux: 9-23-32
Dylan Cozens: 12-19-31
Goaltenders:
Linus Ullmark: 14-8-5
Leevi Meriläinen: 6-10-0
Hunter Shepard: 0-1-0
Mads Sogaard: 0-0-0
Game Information:
Start time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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What - Game 47 (28-14-4) When - 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13 Where - Enterprise Center; St. Louis, MO How to Watch - ESPN+, HULU
The Carolina Hurricanes are right back at it tonight as they take on the St. Louis Blues for their second game in as many nights.
Carolina is coming off of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings, a game that saw them fight back from a 3-0 deficit in the third period alone to take a point.
The Hurricanes now have points in five straight contests.
St. Louis enters tonight's contest on a three-game skid, having most recently lost 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Blues have not had a good season, currently sitting as the third worst team in the league.
Their goaltending has struggled and they really aren't getting much production from the lineup outside of a few key guys.
But evert game in the NHL is a tough one, so the Hurricanes have to be sure to still bring their A-game.
Streaks
Seth Jarvis (1g, 1a) has points in back-to-back games.
Milestone Watch
Andrei Svechnikov is one point shy of 400 career points.
Game Notes
Carolina is 36-44-5-6 all-time against St. Louis and last season went 1-1-0 against them.
Andrei Svechnikov (7g, 13pts in 11gp) is a point-per-game player for his career against the Blues.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour was drafted ninth overall by St. Louis un the 1988 draft. He would appear in 157 games for the club before eventually being traded to Philadelphia.
Blues defenseman Justin Faulk was drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft by Carolina. He appeared in 559 games with the franchise from 2011-2019. He holds the record for most goals by a blueliner in franchise history (85).
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Nikolaj Ehlers Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Seth Jarvis Eric Robinson - Mark Jankowski - Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Brandon Bussi Frederik Andersen
Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, William Carrier (LBI), Noah Philp (concussion), Pyotr Kochetkov (hip), Charles Alexis Legault (hand)
Blues Projected Lineup
Jake Neighbours - Robert Thomas - Jordan Kyrou Pavel Buchnevich - Brayden Schenn - Jimmy Snuggerud Otto Stenberg - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jonatan Berggren Alexey Toropchenko - Oskar Sundqvist - Nathan Walker
Injuries and Scratches: Robby Fabbri, Matthew Kessel, Nick Bjugstad (UBI), Dylan Holloway (ankle), Mathieu Joseph (elbow), Pius Suter (ankle)
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The midway point of the NBA season is almost here, as most teams have played close to 41 games, and some have already hit that mark.
Even with season-long data available, we will focus on the here and now. Which players are on the rise? Which ones are trending in the wrong direction? Let’s discuss.
→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock, as the Thunder take on the Spurs in a marquee Western Conference matchup at 8 p.m. before the Trail Blazers visit the Warriors at 11 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.
Before his three-point, five-rebound outing against the Hornets on Monday, Collins had a season-best performance against the Pistons in which he added 25 points, seven rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and five three-pointers. The dominant showing included several season highs and was part of a five-game stretch in which the veteran forward had averaged 19.8 points, 3.2 three-pointers, and 2.2 blocks per game. Collins’ uptick in production is massive for the Clippers, who traded away Norman Powell this past offseason to bring him over from Utah, and as he continues to play well and have a positive impact on the Clippers’ recent strong play, he should keep seeing opportunities to play an important role and provide fantasy production.
Naji Marshall — SF/PF, Mavericks
There’s been a lot of discourse surrounding the Mavericks, but probably not enough about Naji Marshall and his sustained production. He’s quietly had a productive season and has put up some particularly nice numbers of late — Marshall has scored 15 or more points and also collected multiple steals in three of his last four appearances and is coming off one of his most balanced performances of the season, tallying a 22/4/9/3/1 line in Monday’s win over the Nets. With Anthony Davis sidelined, it’s reasonable to expect that Marshall fills a lot of those open power forward minutes. His fantasy value will be even higher in games that P.J. Washington is also unavailable for. Marshall is rostered in only 24 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
LaMelo Ball — PG/SG, Hornets
Ball came off the bench for the first time in years in a recent game against the Pacers and proceeded to take his game to a greater level. The superstar point guard scored 33 points, dished out eight assists, and collected three steals in the much-talked-about recent game against the Pacers, but moved back into the starting lineup stating lineup a game later to tally a nice 17/5/5 line in just 23 minutes of a 55-point win over the Jazz, before heading to his hometown to give the Clippers 25 points and a near-double-double. He’s also drilled 15 three-pointers over the last three games and tallied 5.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game over that span. Ball is currently in a nice rhythm that will hopefully sustain throughout the rest of the fantasy basketball season.
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STOCK DOWN
Jaden Ivey — SG/SF, Pistons
The return from offseason knee surgery and a 2024-25 season-ending leg injury has not gone as planned for Ivey, who is searching for a consistent role and success on a Pistons team rostered with several impactful backcourt players. Even with Cade Cunningham missing Saturday’s loss to the Clippers, Ivey only found his way to 20 minutes, totaling eight points and three rebounds. He’s averaging 8.2 points and 1.6 assists on 40.5/11.8/83.3 shooting splits through five games during January and has shot 50 percent from the floor and scored in double figures in just one of those five games. It’s hard to predict when or how a corner is turned, but things certainly aren’t trending in the right direction for such a talented player.
Ace Bailey — SG/SF, Jazz
Rookie seasons often are filled with ups and downs. For Bailey, he’s in the midst of one of the “down” periods. His stock was rising after a four-game December stretch that saw him average 15.0 points and 2.3 three-pointers, but ended in the fifth game when a hip injury against the Pistons limited him to 11 minutes, and cost him to miss five straight contests. Bailey has returned and played in two of the last four games, but combined for only six total points in 25 minutes. How long does the injury linger? When does he reclaim his former role in the rotation? These are questions we’ll have to wait to get answers for. But hopefully, the young and promising player can get back on track soon.
Dylan Harper — PG/SG, Spurs
Harper’s rookie season has also featured several twists and turns, with a timeline that saw him start the season strongly before getting injured, then return and eventually succeed in his role off the bench, and now struggle to find consistent production. He went scoreless with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in the Spurs’ most recent game against the Timberwolves, and had only totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists on 7-of-32 shooting in the four prior games. Harper is in a tricky spot off the bench playing behind two high-minute guards in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. Yet he’s proven earlier in the season to be a productive, difference-making player regardless. He’ll have to find his way, once again, to get out of this slump.
On Tuesday, the club announced they acquired right-handed reliever Chase Shugart from the Pirates in exchange for minor league infielder Francisco Loreto.
Shugart, 29, is coming off a strong 2025 season out of Pittsburgh’s bullpen. He posted a 3.40 ERA over 45 innings, registering a 1.11 WHIP while working exclusively in relief.
The Texas native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas. He made six big league appearances with Boston before being designated for assignment last January.
Shugart features a five-pitch mix but primarily relies on a sweeper, cutter and sinker. His fastball averages around 95 mph. While he did not qualify for Statcast leaderboards last season, he limited hard contact at an above-average rate, reflected in a strong hard-hit profile.
He was especially tough on right-handed hitters, who posted just a .618 OPS. Opponents fared slightly better with runners in scoring position, managing a .631 OPS.
The 5-foot-11 right-hander has one minor league option remaining, giving the Phillies added flexibility as they sort through bullpen roles this spring.
Loreto, 18, signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in early 2024. He has appeared in parts of two seasons, reaching the Florida Complex League, where he slashed .234/.341/.371 across 77 professional games. He was not ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects by MLB.com.
On a gloomy and bitingly cold January afternoon, it was a sight typical of many grassroots rugby league clubs. Midway between the M1 and the A1, a few hundred spectators bustled through the busy clubhouse to gather around the pitch. There was a bloke in a Wakefield away shirt, another in a Hull FC coat and someone wore a Castleford hat. The home coach was a Cas lad; the visitors’ delegation was led by a Warringtonian. There were folk sporting their allegiances to Salford, St Helens, Hull KR and Wigan too.
Muddy kids in rugby kit chatted excitedly. One boy asked his mate what all the fuss was about. “It’s the Challenge Cup. It’s like the FA Cup,” said his friend. I heard another explain the difference between union and league – “there’s no lineouts or mauls and they don’t have proper scrums” – which was a reminder we were in Bedford, not Bradford.
After Monday’s loss in Indiana, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla spent the entirety of a 44-second postgame media session repeating, “Illegal screen,” seemingly miffed at the lack of a call when Pascal Siakam stuck out a leg to stall Derrick White before Siakam banked home a game-winner in the closing seconds.
Do we understand the Celtics’ frustrations? Absolutely. Brown has relentlessly attacked the basket this season and doesn’t seem to get the same friendly whistle that many superstars generate. Mazzulla knows better than anyone that Monday’s loss did not hinge solely on Siakam’s questionable screen, but likely used it as a means to join Brown’s bigger battle for whistle equality.
Sometimes you have to be your own advocate. Brown has not been bashful about voicing his mind this season. Mazzulla lives to make others uncomfortable. Our only quibble would be that, after three vent sessions in six days (all following losses), the gripes land a bit like sour grapes for a team that had otherwise been one of the league’s feel-good stories to start the season.
Time will tell if Boston’s cries leads to better whistles. In calling out a referee and his crew by name after Saturday’s loss, Brown has most certainly caught the attention of the referee fraternity.
Mazzulla’s “illegal screen” reply to every postgame question spread quickly on social media and might have been a clever way to express dissatisfaction without losing any money from his wallet. We doubt any admission of a missed call in the Last 2 Minute report will make Mazzulla feel any better.
But the referees are far from Boston’s only concern after dropping three of its last four. The Celtics were cruising after winning nine of 10 while storming into the new calendar year, then endured consecutive defeats for the first time since mid-December with losses to San Antonio and Indiana.
It’s probably time for Boston to put the focus back on itself.
Mazzulla has famously stated, “When you decide you want to win at something, you don’t get to pick the environment. You don’t get to pick the circumstances. The only thing you get to pick is how you respond.” He’s typically been a firm believer in controlling what you can control.
It’s time for the Celtics to put their energy into their play and not what the referees are calling (or not calling, in this case).
Here are three areas the Celtics need to tighten up, regardless of whether their whistle gets better or not:
1. Opponent 3-pointers
Starting with the 2007-08 title campaign, the Celtics have ranked in the top 10 in opponent 3-point percentage in 17 of the past 18 seasons. The wonky 2020-21 COVID season is the only outlier in that group — until this season.
The 2025-26 Celtics rank 23rd in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage, with opponents shooting 37 percent beyond the arc. What’s more, Boston ranks 26th in opponent 3-point makes (14.4 per game). Zoom in on the past 10 games, and Boston ranks 29th while allowing 15.9 opponent 3-pointers per game.
The Celtics watched the Nuggets make five more 3-pointers than them last Wednesday. The Raptors were +4 on 3-pointers on Friday (only offset by Boston’s dominance in the paint), and the Pacers were +7 in Indy. Spotting the opponent 21 points on 3-point makes is tough, particularly in a game where both teams failed to reach triple digits.
Despite their lack of size, the Celtics have done a good job limiting opponents near the basket. But opponents seem way too comfortable shooting from the perimeter. Each night, Celtics fans are scrambling to rosters to see which random opponent is catching fire from deep.
The Celtics have to find the right balance between protecting the basket and hunting rebounds, while not giving opponents as much space to fire away from distance.
2. Clutch stumbles
The Celtics are now 8-12 in clutch games (score within five points in the final five minutes). They rank 27th in clutch defensive rating (123.6) and 25th in net rating (minus-13.5). It’s not a terribly large sample size at 56 total minutes, but Boston has certainly not played its crispest basketball in those moments.
Operating without Jayson Tatum and — on nights like Monday, without Jaylen Brown — obviously adds a layer of complexity to late-game situations. Boston is 5-8 in one-possession games in the final minute. Its offense has actually been solid but the team’s inability to generate stops has complicated matters.
The 2021-22 Celtics taught us that regular-season clutch numbers are not indicative of what will happen in the postseason. The Celtics were 13-22 in clutch games during that season, then stormed to the NBA Finals. A healthy Tatum on a playoff stage could give the Celtics the focus they’ve lacked at times this season.
But Boston still has a ways to go in nailing down the five-man lineup it wants to trot out in must-have situations, and can also tighten up the execution in those spots.
3. Need more from the core
Derrick White is shooting 36.8 percent overall and 23.6 percent on 3-pointers over Boston’s last five games. He was 7-for-19 shooting vs. Denver, 11-of-26 vs. San Antonio, and 7-of-21 vs. Indiana. White ranks 133rd out of the 136 qualifiers in field goal percentage and 141st out of 164 qualifiers in 3-point percentage during that span.
White’s defense has been excellent, and he’s clearly impacting winning on most nights. But he still hasn’t quite pulled himself out of an early-season shooting funk. And particularly on nights when the Celtics don’t have Brown, it’s even more imperative that he and the rest of his teammates find a bit more consistency.
Payton Pritchard eventually kicked into high gear in the third quarter against the Pacers, but was 7-of-22 combined shooting against Denver and San Antonio. Anfernee Simons has quarters where he’s off-the-charts hot, and the Anferno is fun to watch in those moments, but he sometimes struggles to maintain that output.
On a night-to-night basis, it’s hard to know which of Boston’s young wings the team can lean on, and Mazzulla is forced to pick which dart to throw. He’s been more successful than not, but the wings could help that cause by all stating their cases more often.
The Celtics simply need more consistency from the supporting cast. It felt like Boston was finding that a bit during their December surge, but better opponents — and certainly more physical defenses — have diminished the team’s offensive efficiency.
Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features two exciting NBA matchups. First, at 8:00 PM ET, it's the San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Then at 11:00 PM, the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Golden State Warriors. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Spurs fell 104-103 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Victor Wembanyama led the way for San Antonio with a game-high 29 points. Keldon Johnson scored 15 off the bench, while Julian Champagnie finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
San Antonio, currently 27-12, is third in the league behind Oklahoma and Detroit. The Spurs look to end their six-season playoff drought, the longest in franchise history and the second-longest active drought in the league.
The Thunder defeated the Miami Heat 124-112 on Sunday night in their third straight win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points. Jalen Williams finished with 18, and Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren each added 16.
Gilgeous-Alexander is second in the league in scoring (31.9 ppg) and is on pace to become the first player since Michael Jordan to average 30-plus points per game for at least four consecutive seasons.
Tonight's game will be the fourth meeting between the Thunder and Spurs this season. Oklahoma City has won all three matchups.
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Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
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New York Islanders rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer has been tremendous in his first NHL season. The 18-year-old defenseman has 12 goals with 17 assists for 29 points through the first 45 games of his career.
If we look at the Calder race, Schaefer sits in third place. He is seven points back of Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, who has 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points to sit atop the rookie leaderboard. In second place is Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke, who has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points.
However, the fact that Schaefer is a defenseman plays a huge part in this, and if he can keep up his pace, there's no question that he should win the Calder. The last Islanders player to win that award was Mathew Barzal ater recording in 2017-18 after recording 85 points (22 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games.
Now, to the crease.
Despite a slow start to the season, Ilya Sorokin has been one of the most clutch goaltenders in the NHL this season. After turning aside 33 of 36 in a 4-3 overtime win against the Nashville Predators, Sorokin improved to 14-10-2, with a 2.47 GAA and a .915 SV%, with four shutouts. His 19.0 Goals Saved Above Expected leads the NHL.
Sorokin should be unanimous frontrunner for Vezina. Stole a win last night with 2.72 goals saved above expected in Islanders 4-3 win. Leads NHL in GSAE Leads NHL in Goalie Steals (GSAE > Score Differential) Goalie Steals: 9 (1st) 35% of his starts, he's stolen a win for his team… https://t.co/mVXpUqFxPQ
Sorokin was a Vezina finalist back in 2022-23 (31-22-7, 2.34 GAA, .924 SV%, 6 SO), a season where he owned a 38.7 GSAE. He fell to then Boston Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark, who owned a 1.89 GAA and with a .938 SV% and two shutouts, with a GSAE of 42.4.
Could the Islanders win the Jennings Trophy, given how well backup David Rittich has played, too?
They've combined to give up 120 goals this season, the third fewest in the NHL this season. Ahead of them is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who doesn't really have a dominant tandem.
The Colorado Avalanche, who have allowed just 95 goals this season, are the front-runners for this award, given the play of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood.
They still are searching for their first four-game win streak and haven’t been four games above .500 once.
Inconsistency in the starting lineup also was a major theme, until four weeks ago. Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Dec. 14 started Moses Moody and Quinten Post alongside Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green and hasn’t looked back since.
Kerr says though the stats of the group together don’t show the best results, he’s sticking with them for multiple reasons.
“I’m committed to it because we’re generally in a good place. … We committed, what was it, three weeks ago, to just staying with the same starting five and same rotation to try to get guys more comfortable and we’ve achieved that,” Kerr told reporters Monday after Warriors practice. “I know that five-man group hasn’t been great, but again, it allows Draymond to start at the 4. Like tomorrow, he doesn’t have to guard [Donovan] Clingan to start the game. That’s a big deal for us.”
The first game Kerr unveiled the Curry-Moody-Butler-Green-Post starting five was in a 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in which Curry’s 48 points couldn’t result in a win. That same starting five is expected to begin the game Tuesday night when the Warriors play the Blazers for the fourth time this season. They’re 0-3 against them thus far, losing twice without the starting five and once with it.
Moody and Post have each played and started every game since Dec. 14. Curry, Butler and Green each missed one, a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 2. In the 13 games all five have played and started alongside each other in that span, the unit has produced a minus-1.3 net rating with a 113.5 offensive rating and 114.8 defensive rating.
“While the numbers may not be that impressive, it allows the game to unfold in a way that we like,” Kerr explained.
So, should Kerr be this committed to the current starting five? And does it really matter?
Since turning to the starting five, the Warriors are 8-6 overall and 8-5 in the games they have played together. Following a three-game losing streak, the Warriors now have won eight of their last 12 games but haven’t gained ground in the Western Conference standings and remain the No. 8 seed.
It was a goal of Kerr’s to not start Green at center all season and limit his minutes against giants like the 7-foot-2, 280-pound Clingan. That is a big deal for him and the Warriors alike. Theoretically, the lineup makes sense in putting size, shooting and defense around the Warriors’ veteran Big Three.
Outside of the start of the first and third quarters, the group isn’t playing long stretches next to one another. Kerr quickly is turning to his depth and playing his bench players in short bursts, another stylistic decision he appears to be sticking to.
“As a player, it’s not easy to play a four-minute stretch and come out,” Kerr admits. “You feel like maybe you don’t have a chance to get your rhythm. But with the speed and pace of the game and the nature of our roster, where we have a lot of depth but not a lot of clear separation, we’re definitely playing more people.
“I think we’re playing an 11-man rotation right now, pretty consistently, which I don’t think we’ve ever done since I’ve been here, and as a result of that we’re playing guys in shorter bursts of four or five-minute stretches.”
Defense and spacing is the idea around starting Moody and Post as the complements to Curry, Butler and Green. Post leads the Warriors in defensive rating (106.5) and Moody is second (107.2). Fast-twitch guards still give Moody problems, however, and teams aren’t exactly scared of Post protecting the rim.
Advanced stats have flipped for the Warriors since implementing their new starting five. The Warriors rank fifth in offensive rating (117.5) and 19th in defensive rating (115.3) since Dec. 14. Oddly enough, Moody (30.6 percent) and Post (33.3 percent) have struggled shooting from long distance in their 14 straight games starting together.
The Warriors rank dead last in first-quarter points per game this season (27.1) but are 22nd since Dec. 14 (28.9) and scoring 23 first-quarter points in the one game Curry, Butler and Green didn’t play doesn’t help.
This starting five also rarely, if ever, closes games.
Whenever De’Anthony Melton, who has been Kerr’s closer out of the bullpen, is able to play 30 minutes, he more than likely will be Curry’s backcourt mate. Post is shooting 41.2 percent from three in the first quarter, which is by far his best 3-point percentage of any quarter. He provides the size and spacing needed next to Green, and it allows Al Horford to thrive in lineups centered around Butler and be able to finish games.
Changes could come eventually, and maybe even from the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Until then, Kerr is going to stick to one of the only parts of the season that has been consistent for the Warriors after searching for a starting five for so long early on.
Raphielle Johnson
