On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the controversy surrounding the College Football Playoff selection process. The final rankings were unveiled on Sunday, and Notre Dame and Texas were among those left out. First, however, they talk about Sportico‘s …
No. 1 Michigan vs Villanova basketball prediction, game preview
Here's our Michigan vs Villanova basketball game prediction, score pick and preview for Tuesday's nonconference matchup at Crisler Center.
Macklin Celebrini micro-stats detail Sharks star's 2025-26 NHL Hart Trophy case
Macklin Celebrini micro-stats detail Sharks star's 2025-26 NHL Hart Trophy case originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
PHILADELPHIA — Macklin Celebrini might not want to hear it, but he’s having a season for the ages.
The 19-year-old is on pace for 41 goals and 118 points. The last teenager to score that many points in a year was 19-year-old Sidney Crosby with 120 points in 2006-07.
Celebrini literally means everything to the Sharks. He has 43 points, meaning he’s been directly involved in 50.6 percent of the team’s 85 goals. Just in comparison, Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 49 points, is credited for 42.6 percent of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche’s offense.
If Celebrini keeps this kind of involvement up, it will be literal history.
But Celebrini is doing so much more than producing offense.
He’s second in the NHL with those 43 points, and according to Stathletes, he also is among the league leaders in a variety of two-way statistics.
“You see all the offensive production, how good he is there,” Alex Wennberg said. “You kind of forget how good of a job he does defensively as well.”
That’s why, in the opinion of this awards voter, if Celebrini can sustain his elite two-way play and drag the surprising Sharks into the playoffs, he would be a deserving Hart Trophy winner. As of Dec. 8, San Jose is tied for the last wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
Simply put, is there any player more valuable to his team than Celebrini?
Most stats are from Stathletes and rankings are among NHL forwards in All Situations.
Turnovers Created
Celebrini has forced 67 turnovers this season, sixth among NHL forwards. Turnovers Created are the sum of steals and pass interceptions.
Puck Deflections
Related, Celebrini has 75 Puck Deflections this season, fourth in the league. These are deflected opposition passes, suggesting that Celebrini’s stick is very active, defensively, in all three zones.
Puck Battles
Celebrini has 58 Puck Battle Wins this season, best among NHL forwards.
This might be Celebrini’s most impressive micro-stat. He’s 19, taking the puck from his often much-older peers, as if he were the veteran.
“He’s not afraid. Doesn’t matter who it is. Ultra-competitiveness is probably the best word for that. He wants to win the puck like it’s life or death,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, also noting that Celebrini added some size over the summer. “I know that’s a very drastic and dramatic comment, but the great players in every sport [do it]. Tom Brady wanted the ball in his hand. Steph Curry wants the ball in his hand [and is going] to do whatever he can to get it back. I think [that’s] what make great players great.”
“His competitiveness and his full compete is just different from the rest of us,” Wennberg admitted.
There’s a reason why, no less, than Brad Marchand called Celebrini “a dog” because of his compete.
Recoveries
Celebrini has 495 puck recoveries this season, fifth among NHL forwards. Recoveries are loose puck and shot recoveries.
That’s a testament to Celebrini’s quickness and ability to read where the puck is going.
Closer Carries
Celebrini has 511 Closer Carries, ninth in the league. Closer Carries are carries that bring the puck closer to the net.
Successful Zone Entries
Celebrini has 186 Successful Zone Entries, tied with Kirill Kaprizov for sixth in the NHL.
These puck-carrying stats mirror those of the most puck-dominant superstars in the league, your MacKinnon and Connor McDavids.
Penalties Drawn
Celebrini leads all forwards, per Evolving Hockey, with 19 Penalties Drawn and is tied for the lead with a +9 Penalty Differential.
Slot Passes
Celebrini has 71 Slot Passes and 21 Inner Slot Passes, both seventh in the league.
Assisted Chances
Related, Celebrini has 55 Assisted Chances, ninth among NHL forwards. Assisted Chances are passes that lead directly to scoring chances.
Total Chances
Celebrini has 113 Total Scoring Chances, eighth in the league. That’s a combination of shooting and assisted chances.
So shoot, pass, carry, battle, and defend, what can’t Celebrini do?
In baseball, the five-tool player is the ideal, someone who can hit for contact and power, and has speed, a strong arm, and a good glove.
A hockey comp might be a six-tool player who can skate, shoot, pass, stickhandle, is physical, and has hockey IQ at an elite level.
That already appears to be Celebrini, at just 19, in the best league in the world.
Granted, we’re just 30 games into the season, but MVP isn’t a stretch.
“He does everything in all three zones. He’s in on half our points. He plays hard in the D-zone. He plays big minutes. He plays against top lines. He’s a key part of the power play. He’s becoming a leader in the room,” Ryan Reaves said. “He’s doing everything that you want. He’s getting better every day. So I think he’s got a strong case.”
“He’s done a really good job of not letting all the outside noise affect his game, for the most part,” Warsofsky said. “He deserves to be in that conversation, but we got a long way to go.”
Four lasting lessons from CFP committee’s bracket choices and rankings
Did we learn anything from this CFP committee? It specializes in chicanery. That, plus four more lessons.
Will Casey Schmitt's surgery alter Giants' offseason second base plans?
Will Casey Schmitt's surgery alter Giants' offseason second base plans? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
ORLANDO — Before a teamwide slump led to a trade deadline sale, the Giants were quietly looking at potentially adding help at second base. Months later, they announced that incumbent Casey Schmitt underwent left wrist surgery, but president of baseball operations Buster Posey doesn’t sound like he feels adding at that position is still necessary.
The Giants anticipate Schmitt being only about a week to 10 days behind at the start of camp, and they also have plenty of faith in Christian Koss. Tyler Fitzgerald, who entered last season as the starter, also still is on the 40-man roster.
“We feel really good about the strides that Casey made last year, and I think Koss, too, had some big moments for us and for me is a guy that’s just kind of an all-around baseball player and can impact the game in multiple ways,” Posey said. “We’re very optimistic with both of those guys having a solid year under their belt and we know that there’s room for growth. I’ll just leave it at that.”
There are multiple potential options on the trade market, including St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan and Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe. But the Giants also have more pressing needs, particularly in their rotation and at the back end of their bullpen. They also could use more help in the outfield.
Schmitt entered last season in a utility role off the bench and even learned first base as a way to get on the field. He finished the year with 12 homers and a wRC+ of 98, putting him roughly at league-average as a hitter. At the end of the season, Schmitt said he planned to drop some weight this offseason to allow him to cover more ground at second base.
General manager Zack Minasian described the injury as a form of carpal tunnel that needed to be operated on, but there are no long-term concerns.
“We don’t think he’ll be slowed during spring training at all. He should be fine,” Minasian said on Tuesday’s “Giants Talk” podcast. “I thought Casey made a lot of positive strides last year: At-bat quality, learning a new position, there’s still some upside there, and I’m excited to see what he can do going forward.”
The Marco Move
One player who won’t be involved in that outfield competition is Marco Luciano. The former top prospect was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, with the Giants getting nothing in return for a 24-year-old who once looked like a future star in San Francisco, or at least the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade.
Internally, the Giants have in recent months revisited Luciano’s development path to see what they might have done differently. The main takeaway is not surprising: They know they should have moved him off of shortstop years ago, allowing him to play an easier position and focus on his development at the plate.
“I don’t think it went how anyone would have hoped it would have gone,” Minasian said. “I think you replay some of what position he should have been at and things of that nature. For me, personally, I saw Luci as a 15-year-old in the Dominican, and as much as we talk about the position, there’s still a tremendous amount of bat upside there.
“It’s tough to walk away from someone with that type of ability. It just hadn’t shown up to this point and we’re limited in our roster spots and unfortunately it was the route we had to go.”
For all of the attention that was paid to his defensive struggles, Luciano also had an OPS below .600 in his big-league appearances. In Triple-A last year, he hit 23 homers but struck out 170 times and posted a .749 OPS in a hitter-friendly league.
Minasian said the timing of the move was “just to create roster space.” If the Giants do not sign someone or complete a trade by Wednesday, they’ll have an open roster spot heading into the Rule 5 Draft.
Congrats, Chis!
Giants VP of media relations Matt Chisholm received the Robert O. Fishel Award during a reception on Monday night in Orlando. The award honors excellence in public relations, and Chisholm became the second Giants employee to win it, joining his former boss, Staci Slaughter.
Chisholm, a Northern California native who graduated from Sonoma State, first joined the Giants as an intern in 2004. He worked for the Colorado Rockies for three seasons before returning to his hometown team. Last season was his 18th overall with the organization.
The ceremony was attended by just about every Giants employee who made the trip to Orlando, including Posey, Minasian, manager Tony Vitello and Bruce Bochy, who worked closely with Chisholm during the title years. Posey gave a speech honoring Chisholm and presented him with a trophy.
F1 2025 awards: Lando Norris justifies favourite tag after gruelling three-way tussle
McLaren were the obvious choice for team of the year but Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari were a big disappointment while Williams exceeded expectations
Lando Norris had gone into the season as favourite and he emerged on top after a gruelling contest. Securing his maiden world drivers’ title was no easy feat given how hard he had been pushed by his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Closing it out was testament to a driver who maintained his nerve and confidence even as at times it seemed the title had slipped from his reach.
Continue reading...Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job'
Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler wants nothing but to see his up-and-coming Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga succeed.
Butler shared why helping Kuminga is so important to him in the latest edition of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dub Talk” with Monte Poole and Raj Mathai, adding that the 23-year-old swingman is better than he was at that age.
“Oh my God … No. He [is] way better than I was at the age he is,” Butler told Poole and Mathai. “The upside, the ceiling, it’s all of that. Now, what I will say is that I’ve been in his position — as in like starting [and] not starting, just got a deal … But he wants to be great. So, he’s asking all the right questions. He’s saying what he sees. ‘Yo, I need to learn how to do this?’ That’s all you can ask from anybody. Nobody has all the answers; I don’t. Steph [Curry] might, actually …
“So, besides Steph, nobody has all the answers, and [Kuminga’s] asking all these questions because, once again, he wants to do right — whatever you ask him to do. You want him to play the five? You think JK wants to play the damn five? No. But … he’s going to ask, ‘How could I play the five, be effective, win my minutes and help us win?’ And that’s who JK is. And it’s my job to help as often as I can.”
There aren’t many, if any, better situations for a young player like Kuminga to develop in than the Warriors; at minimum, he gets to watch and learn from Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.
However, Butler’s journey to NBA stardom was anything but linear, making him the ideal mentor for Kuminga.
Butler understands the bumps in the road that Kuminga might — or already has — come across, and, as he explained to Poole and Mathai, will have the youngster’s back regardless.
Arizona Wildcats rise to No. 1 in AP Top 25, face another tough test against No. 18 Alabama
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd talked about his team's ascent to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll this week, pointing out that playing on big stages with a big target on your back is why his guys wanted to play for the Wildcats. Already with four ranked wins amid their 8-0 start, the Wildcats are headed next to Birmingham, Alabama, for what amounts to a road game against No. 12 Alabama on a court that will be neutral in name only for the C.M. Newton Classic. “There's a lot of really, really good teams,” Lloyd said after routing Auburn last weekend, ticking off No. 2 Michigan, third-ranked Duke, a UConn team his Wildcats have beaten already, and No. 25 UCLA, which also fell to Arizona earlier this season.
Canucks Can't Solve Gibson, Fall 4-0 To The Red Wings
The Vancouver Canucks suffered their second shutout of the season as they fell 4-0 to the Detroit Red Wings. Kevin Lankinen stopped 10 of the 13 shots he faced through two periods, before being pulled to start the third. As for Nikita Tolopilo, he looked solid in the final frame, stopping all six shots he faced.
John Gibson was the story of the night as he stopped all 39 shots he faced. The Red Wings' goaltender was impressive throughout, but really stepped up in the third as he stopped all 17 shots he faced. Gibson has dominated the Canucks throughout his career, and now improves to 14-5-2 with four shutouts in 22 games.
Monday was yet another in a long list of frustrating games for Vancouver. They won the puck possession battle, yet could not find a way to make their scoring chances count. Post-game, Quinn Hughes spoke about some of the plays that led directly to goals.
"I feel like they have breakdowns too," said Hughes. Ours were definitely significant tonight. I mean, our goalies have been really good, kept us in a lot of games, but just something we have to continue working on."
As mentioned, the Canucks elected to pull Lankinen at the end of the second. This was the first time Lankinen has been pulled this season in what was his 17th game of the year. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote spoke on the decision while also touching on Lankinen's overall play as of late.
"I thought he was a little off, even though we did have mistakes, said Foote. "The one where we double up. He had the tip guy alone. Thought it also would give the guys a little bit of a spark, as they go on in the third. Lanks has been a good pro, and sometimes it's just not your night. And it wasn't all on him. He was left alone a couple of times, but just see if we get the guys going.
Foote also gave a few injury updates post-game. When asked about center Elias Pettersson, he said, "I know he felt better today, which is a good sign. I'll know more in the next couple of days. As far as the time frame, I don't want to touch on that yet."
As for Thatcher Demko, his return could be sooner rather than later. While Foote would not give a guarantee, he did indicate that the plan is to play Demko on Thursday. Demko has been out since November 11 with a lower-body injury.
Lastly, Vancouver's home record dropped to 4-9-1 with today's loss. Just like the players, fans are tired of the losses, and it showed on Monday as there were many open seats after puck drop. When asked about the home record, DeBrusk spoke about how the troubles at Rogers Arena are something the team has discussed.
"Our record isn't great in general, said DeBrusk. "We obviously want to be there at home. I think we talked about it a lot, and we need to make this a harder place to play in general, and give some of the fans something to cheer about. They pay a lot of money, and it's never good putting up a goose egg.
Monday's game was a good representation of the Canucks season to this point. Vancouver generated scoring chances, but defensive mistakes ended up costing them a win. As mentioned, it was another frustrating result that resulted in fans leaving Rogers Arena before the final whistle.
Stats and Facts:
- Canucks are shutout by the Red Wings for the ninth time in franchise history
- Kiefer Sherwood recorded his first 10 hit game of the season
- Drew O'Connor went seven for nine in the faceoff dot
- Vancouver's 39 shots are their second-highest total this year
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
14:14- DET: James van Riemsdyk (7) from J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen
2nd Period:
15:15- DET: Andrew Copp (3) from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Alex DeBrincat
15:52- DET: Nate Danielson (2) from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Marco Kasper
3rd Period:
15:29- DET: Dylan Larkin (16) from Lucas Raymond (ENG)
Up Next:
The Canucks wrap up their four-game home stand on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Vancouver and Buffalo are in similar positions this year as they both sit near the bottom of the standings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
Report: The Vancouver Canucks Nearly Made A Draft-Day Trade For Marco Rossi
Canucks’ Braeden Cootes Named To Canada’s 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Training Camp Roster
'Now I Have More To Play For': Canucks Nikita Tolopilo Speaks About Becoming A Father
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Mets interested in Freddy Peralta, who Brewers are open for business on: report
The Mets have shown interest in Brewers starter Freddy Peralta as they look to revamp their rotation this offseason.
Milwaukee is said to be open for business on the right-hander if a team is willing to meet their steep asking price, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.
Unsurprisingly, interest has been wide, as he is owed just $8 million for this season.
Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since making the move from more of a relief option to the Brewers' starting rotation during the 2021 season.
He is coming off a spectacular campaign in which he topped numerous career marks.
The right-hander finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a league-high 17 wins, a 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 204 strikeouts over 176.2 innings of work.
That marked the third straight season in which he topped 30 starts and the 165-inning mark.
It's unclear exactly what the Brewers may want in exchange for Peralta, but it's fair to believe they would look to add one of New York's highly thought of young starters -- Brandon Sproat or Jonah Tong -- as part of a deal.
According to Sherman, the Mets have also checked in with Milwaukee about late-inning reliever Trevor Megill.
Notre Dame’s Love, Indiana’s Mendoza, Vanderbilt’s Pavia, Ohio State’s Sayin named Heisman finalists
The Heisman Trophy Trust announced the four finalists Monday night who are invited to New York for the award presentation Saturday night.
John Gibson Makes 39 Saves, Picks Up First Red Wings Shutout In 4-0 Win Over Canucks
This is the kind of goaltending the Detroit Red Wings were envisioning when they acquired John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason.
Gibson turned back the clock and delivered a vintage performance, his best since joining the Red Wings, by making 39 saves and earning his first shutout of the season over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday evening.
Gibson held the fort down for Detroit, who were often hemmed in their own zone for much of the opening 20 minutes of play with several key saves. He would continue his mastery in the second period, continuing to keep the Canucks off the scoreboard while his teammates took care of the rest.
James van Riemsdyk broke a scoreless tie late in the first period with his fourth goal in as many games, the most consecutive games in which he's scored in his NHL career.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Detroit would strike twice more in the second period, as Andrew Copp tallied his second goal in as many games by capitalizing on a beautiful four-way passing play that also saw Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane touch the puck.
Less than a minute later, rookie Nate Danielson deflected a shot past goaltender Kevin Lankinen, increasing Detroit's lead to 3-0 and giving him his second career goal.
Gibson continued to turn aside everything the Canucks threw at him in the third period, and it would be Dylan Larkin who sealed the victory with an empty net tally.
Gibson finished with 39 saves, earning his first shutout since Jan. 4,2023 against the Dallas Stars while still a member of the Anaheim Ducks.
Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen was chased from the net after the second period after allowing three goals on 13 shots against; he was replaced for the third period by Nikita Tolopilo.
The Red Wings, who are now halfway through their six-game road trip, have now moved into the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NBA Cup 2025: Quarterfinals preview, format, how much money players can win in NBA's in-season tournament
We have reached the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the eight-team knockout round — now things get serious. Especially for the players on those teams, because the money is now very real.
"I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games," the Lakers' Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports recently.
Here is everything you need to know about the NBA Cup quarterfinals matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what happens from there.
What’s the NBA Cup 2025 format?
This is the one thing that has remained largely the same through the three years of the NBA Cup. First, all 30 teams were drawn into one of the six five-team groups (three East groups and three West groups). Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular-season and NBA Cup games.
The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference advance to the quarterfinals, where we are now. Those teams are placed in an eight-team knockout bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, until the Finals). Starting with Tuesday's games, they are single-elimination.
What are the quarterfinals matchups?
Eastern Conference
Dec. 9 (on Amazon Prime)
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic
Game Analysis: After a slow start to their season, Orlando found its footing just as the NBA Cup got rolling. Not only did the Magic sweep into the quarterfinals, but it also comes in hot, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 with a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. However, the Magic will enter the game without their best player this season, Franz Wagner, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday.
Miami has been one of the great surprises of the season, with Erik Spoelstra flipping the Heat offense on its head, putting in an up-tempo, fast-decision offense that shuns picks in favor of isolation attacks. The good news is that the Heat are basically healthy for this game, with Norman Powell and Tyler Herro ready to go. The bad news is they come in cold having dropped three in a row, and in the past couple of weeks their defense and offense have fallen off.
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors
Game Analysis: Watch the tempo of this game to get a clue how it is going. Toronto wants to run — it starts more of its possessions in transition than any team in the league, and it's got the athletes who can finish in space with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Toronto relies on a pressure defense to fuel its transition offense, but when forced into the half-court, it banks on Brandon Ingram and his midrange game to power things (Toronto as a team loves the midrange).
The Knicks will run when they get the chance, but this is the team with the league's sixth-best first-shot half-court offense behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. New York comes in red hot, having won 7-of-8.
Western Conference
Dec. 10 (on Amazon Prime)
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
Game Analysis: Oklahoma City has been a juggernaut so far this season — 23-1 with a 15.9 net rating that is on pace to set an NBA record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the headlines — he appears the early frontrunner to repeat as MVP — and they have Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, but what really drives the Thunder is their league-best defense. OKC's 104.1 defensive rating is 6.5 points per 100 possessions better than any team in the league.
That said, just more than a week ago the Suns gave the Thunder all they could handle in a 123-119 loss. Phoenix has been one of the great stories of the young season and three people deserve a lot of credit for that. One is coach Jordan Ott, who, in his first season, has given this team an identity — which starts with an aggressive, pressing defense — and has them playing hard every night (something the Suns didn't do consistently over the past couple of years). The second is Dillon Brooks, who came to Phoenix this summer in the Kevin Durant trade as a defensive stopper and an energy and intensity guy, but is breaking out on offense averaging 22.3 points per game. The other is Devin Booker, who remains one of the best two guards in the game, but his status for this game is questionable.
San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers
Game Analysis: The big question heading into this one is whether Victor Wembanyama returns to play for the Spurs. He has been practicing with the team, but there is no word from the team (as of this writing), and the reports out of San Antonio make it sound like Wemby may sit this one out, too (Stephon Castle did return Monday night). San Antonio has gone 8-3 with Wembanyama out (calf strain), and in that time, the Spurs have gotten All-Star-level scoring and leadership from De'Aaron Fox, and keep an eye on rookie Dylan Harper, who has been brilliant.
The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the West, led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, Austin Reaves proving he is ready to be a second scoring option, and LeBron James returning and fitting in, doing whatever the team needs to win on a given night. One thing to watch: the Lakers are 8-0 in clutch games this season (within five points in the final five minutes).
When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals?
Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond:
Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10
Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas)
Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)
NBA Cup 2025 odds
Here are the odds for the eight teams remaining to win the NBA Cup, via our partners at DraftKings:
Oklahoma City (-120)
New York (+475)
Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
Orlando (+1200)
Miami (+1200)
Toronto (+1400)
San Antonio (+1800)
Phoenix (+9000)
How much money does the champion get?
As the Lakers' LaRavia said above, the prize money motivates the players — and every roster player in the quarterfinals will get a bonus check out of this. However, they all have their eyes on the big prize.
How big? This is how the payouts break down:
• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933
• Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373
• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187
• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093
Who won the 2024 NBA Cup?
Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He lifted them to the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City, where Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both ends of the court.
GIANNIS, BUCKS WIN THE #EmiratesNBACup
— NBA (@NBA) December 18, 2024
26 PTS
19 REB
10 AST
3 BLK
2 STL
The Greek Freak put on a SHOW in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/tHDReTvS25
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
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.
Flames Keep Rolling With 7–4 Win Over Sabres
The Calgary Flames continued their strong run at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday night, knocking off the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 and extending their home streak to 5-0-1 in their last six. Entering the night tied in points (26), both teams knew the matchup carried weight — and Calgary responded with one of their most assertive showings of the season.
Yegor Sharangovich scored twice, as he opened the scoring for the second straight game and added an an empty-netter and an assist, Rasmus Andersson ripped home his seventh of the year, and Jonathan Huberdeau buried his second power-play goal of the season. Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri led the offensive charge with a three-point performance (1G, 2A), and Yan Kuznetsov added his second goal of the season. Mikael Backlund rounded out the Flames scoring with an empty net goal.
Dustin Wolf battled through a chaotic night in the crease to secure his ninth win.
Calgary wasted little time establishing momentum. Sharangovich’s net-drive-first mentality paid off again when a point shot deflected off him and in. The Flames kept their foot down early, converting on a 5-on-3 powerplay when Andersson navigated traffic and wired one home, with Kadri setting up both first-period goals.
The Sabres clawed back in the second. Tage Thompson used his lethal release to beat Wolf on the power play, but Calgary responded with another powerplay marker — this time Huberdeau tapping in a slick Matt Coronato setup at the side of the net.
Buffalo briefly thought they tied it when Thompson snuck one past Wolf from a sharp angle, but an offside challenge wiped the goal off the board. The Sabres did eventually break through again when Owen Power’s point shot found a body in front and redirected in, cutting the lead to one.
However, every time Buffalo pushed, Calgary countered. Just 31 seconds after the Sabres scored, Sharangovich sprung Joel Farabee who found Kadri streaking towards the net, who finished off a clean passing sequence to restore the two-goal cushion. Rasmus Dahlin answered quickly for Buffalo, but Calgary scored quickly after — finished by Kuznetsov after a hard-working shift by Blake Coleman — re-establishing control at 5–3 heading into the third.
Sabres netminder Alex Lyon entered to start the final frame. Late in the third, with the net empty, Dahlin spotted Alex Tuch in front who redirected the shot past Wolf. Backlund responded moments later with an empty net goal, as did Sharangovich to seal it for the Flames.
Three Takeaways:
1. Flames Playing With Swagger
Confidence is a powerful thing, and Calgary showed plenty of it. Their pace was high, their puck movement sharp, and their response game was immediate — every time Buffalo scored, the Flames answered on the very next shift or within minutes. They didn’t let the Sabres build momentum, and that maturity showed throughout the night.
2. Power Play Delivers
The Flames’ power play has been searching for consistency, and it found it Monday. Calgary went 2-for-5, converting on a 5-on-3 opportunity and striking again late in the second. Andersson and Huberdeau cashed in. More importantly, the unit played with purpose — quick puck movement, strong retrievals, and decisive shooting.
3. Kadri Remains the Offensive Catalyst
Nazem Kadri continues to quietly pace the Flames’ attack. With another three-point night, he now leads the team with 26 points (6G, 20A). Beyond the numbers, Kadri is driving Calgary’s pace, dictating shifts, and elevating whoever plays on his line. When the Flames need a stabilizing presence or a momentum swing, he’s providing it.
Kings Take Down The Mammoth For Second Straight Victory
The Los Angeles Kings (14-8-7) traveled to Utah to take Mammoth (14-14-3) for the first time this season. After scoring a season-high six goals in their victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, the Kings looked to carry over their offensive success as they face another Western conference foe.
After starting the season 9-1-2 on the road, the Kings had lost their last three road contests going 0-1-2 in that span. They managed to get back on track away from home with a 4-2 victory over the Mammoth on Monday night. Thanks to a great start and solid goaltending, the Kings pick up two points with their second straight victory.
The Mothers of the Los Angeles Kings might be good luck as they are now 2-0-0 with the Mom's in the building. They're even averaging a whopping five goals per game. Whatever they said to their sons it has worked and further proves the theory that Mom always knows best.
Strong Early Effort Gives Kings First Period Lead
Just over two minutes into the game, the Kings were headed to the power play after Mammoth rookie Daniil But was sent to the box for the first time in his young NHL career for hooking Quinton Byfield. However, the Kings power play struggles continued as they failed to get anything going on the man advantage once again.
Although they were unable to capitalize on an early opportunity, the Kings were bound to score as they were controlling the play early on. Surely enough, LA opened the scoring thanks to $10 million dollar man, Adrian Kempe. With just over 12 minutes remaining in the period, Kempe scored a gorgeous goal as he beat Karel Vejmelka with a slick backhand move as he came in with immense speed. The Kings leading scorer gave his team a 1-0 with his 10th goal of the season. Kevin Fiala picks up his first of two assists on the evening.
That was sick Adrian pic.twitter.com/O4J8NVGRdV
— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 9, 2025
About two minutes later, the Kings doubled their lead thanks to a tremendous pass by Fiala that found Joel Armia who beat Vejmelka on a breakaway. Armia's sixth goal of the season gave the Kings a 2-0 lead as the first period came to a close.
The Kings did have a brief scare however as Brandon Tanev seemingly scored a tremendous breakaway goal, but Jim Hiller and the Kings decided to challenge and Tanev's goal was offside.
Mammoth Cut The Lead In Half
After fending off a late Utah push in the first, the Kings lead was eventually cut in half. LA began the second period on the penalty kill due to Andrei Kuzmenko being assessed an interference penalty late in the first. Just 34 seconds into the middle frame, Dylan Guenther made the Kings pay as he fired a rocket of a shot past Darcy Kuemper.
Aside from Guenther's tally, the action was limited. Both LA and Utah had their opportunities but the goaltenders stood tall to keep the score at 2-1 entering the third. With how the period started, a 2-1 score was a major win for the Kings.
From Perfect Fit to Puzzle Piece: Kuzmenko’s LA DeclineSAN JOSE, CA — When the Los Angeles Kings acquired Andrei Kuzmenko at last season’s deadline, he helped transform an offensively barren roster into one of the league’s most dangerous even-strength teams down the stretch and the most lethal power play in the postseason.
Captains Carried The Third
The Kings wasted little time when it came to building upon their lead. Early in the final frame LA added a much needed insurance marker thanks to their captain. Anze Kopitar scored his sixth goal of the season as he was in the right spot at the right time and buried a rebound shot by Vejmelka, doubling the LA lead. Adrian Kempe and Joel Edmundson record the assists.
Once again, the Mammoth managed to cut the Kings lead in half. This time it was Utah's captain who got on the score sheet. Clayton Keller made it a 3-2 hockey game with a gorgeous backhand shot off a nice feed from Nick Schmaltz.
Joel Armia iced the game with his second of the game as he managed to find the back empty net from inside the Kings end.
Two Huge Points
They didn't score six goals again but the Kings pull off another impressive victory for their second straight win. A solid 60 minute effort moves the LA to 14-8-7 as they continue to battle for the lead in the Pacific division. The Kings are now a perfect 4-0-0 all time against the newly created Utah Mammoth franchise.
Catch the Kings next on Wednesday, December 10th when they take on the Seattle Kraken (11-9-6) at Climate Pledge Arena with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET/10:00 PM PT.
Kings Three Stars
1st Star: Kevin Fiala (2 A, +2, 1 HIT)
2nd Star: Adrian Kempe (1 G, 1 A, +2)
3rd Star: Joel Armia (2 G, +2, 4 SOG)
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.Latest News