LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Flory Bidunga had a double-double and No. 9 Kansas defeated top-ranked and previously unbeaten Arizona 82-78 on Monday night.
Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) entered Allen Fieldhouse with the second-longest winning streak in Division I men’s basketball.
Kansas (19-5, 9-2) played without freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms. Peterson has missed 11 games with a combination of hamstring, calf and ankle issues.
Arizona held a three-point lead at halftime and led by as many as 11 before Kansas took its first lead of the game at the 9:32 mark in the second half.
Bidunga put the Jayhawks ahead with a layup, which capped a personal seven-point run. He finished with 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting and added 10 rebounds.
Arizona closed within one point with 34 seconds left in the game, but senior guard Melvin Council Jr. shot 3 of 4 from the line in the final minute and 10 of 11 in the game to help seal the victory for Kansas. He finished with 23 points. Tre White also added a pair of late free throws.
Four Kansas players scored double digits. Bryson Tiller finished with 18 points and Jamari McDowell added 10.
Freshman guard Brayden Burries led Arizona with 25 points. Motiejus Krivas scored 14 and Ivan Kharchenkov 13.
NO. 7 ST. JOHN'S 87, XAVIER 82, OT
NEW YORK (AP) — Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 25 points in overtime and St. John’s outlasted pesky Xavier at Madison Square Garden for its 10th consecutive victory.
With his 904th career win on the court, Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino passed Roy Williams for third place in Division I history behind Mike Krzyzewski (1,202) and Jim Boeheim (1,116).
It was Pitino’s second victory in 17 days over his son, Richard, the first-year coach of the Musketeers. In the previous meeting, the elder Pitino earned his 900th win when the Johnnies rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half for an 88-83 victory at Xavier.
Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Red Storm (19-5, 12-1 Big East), who won for the 15th time in 17 games and tied No. 6 UConn atop the conference standings.
St. John’s was coming off a rousing win Friday night at The Garden over the rival Huskies.
Dylan Darling had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench for the Johnnies. Ejiofor provided seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
St. John’s went 28 for 41 (68%) at the free-throw line, its most foul shots since taking 44 against Lehigh in November 2011.
Tre Carroll, the Big East’s leading scorer, had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Musketeers (12-12, 4-9), who have lost five of six and eight of 11.
NO. 24 LOUISVILE 118, NC STATE 77
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mikel Brown Jr. had 10 3-pointers and scored an Atlantic Coast Conference freshman single-game record 45 points as Louisville routed N.C. State.
Ryan Conwell added 31 and the Cardinals (18-6, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) shot 60% for the game.
After up-and-down scoring outputs in five games since returning from a lower back injury, the heralded freshman guard had 21 points with five 3s by halftime before erasing LaBradford Smith’s school freshman mark of 32 midway through the second.
Brown’s record-tying 3 came with 2:09 remaining, bringing a huge cheer from a white-clad crowd of 14,389 eager to see if he’d approach Unseld’s school mark.
He finished 14 of 23 from the field with a career-best 10 of 16 from beyond the arc, topping his previous best of 29 points against rival Kentucky in December. That had ranked fourth-best all time among Louisville freshmen coming in.
Louisville started off hot and didn’t cool off much, shooting 58% in the first half and finishing 39 of 65 overall. The Cardinals’ total included 18 3-pointers on 30 attempts, tying their second-highest output this season.
Ven-Allen Lubin had 20 points and Tre Holloman 19 for N.C. State (18-7, 9-3), which had won six in a row and entered 6-0 in ACC road games. The Wolfpack shot 41% and made just 18% from deep.
Rob Pelinka, President of basketball operations and general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, attends the FIBA EuroBasket match between Slovenia and Poland in Katowice, Poland, on August 28, 2025. The European Basketball Championship game is part of the group phase, Group D competition, in Spodek Arena. (Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Lakers are finally going to start acting like the financial powerhouse they are.
New owner Mark Walter is already one of the wealthiest owners in the NBA, a far cry from the Buss family. That wealth can be spent in only a few ways in the NBA, unlike the Dodgers, which Walter also owns.
One of those ways is the front office where there is no limit on what the Lakers can spend on the staff off the court. Last week, Dan Woike of The Athleticreported that the Lakers planned to make wholesale hires to the front office.
Prior to the Lakers’ win over the Warriors on Saturday, President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka confirmed the report, noting that he and Governor Jeanie Buss would oversee the hires.
Referencing Mark Walter and the Lakers' new majority ownership group, Rob Pelinka said, "there is no expense they'll spare in being the best sort of front office in the world…I think now we'll have an opportunity just with extra resources that Mark brings to build it out and… pic.twitter.com/d91onBvEe4
Rob Pelinka on collaborating with the Dodgers: “Being able to tap into a person like Andrew Friedman for best practices. He's so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers” pic.twitter.com/4KCi9N0c6b
It would be fair to have some concerns about Pelinka overseeing the hires of the front office considering how hot his seat could be if things go awry this offseason, but given his title, it would be his job to oversee the hirings of the front office.
The question now will be how quickly and how aggressively the team moves to make these hires. It’s unlikely personnel will leave teams midseason, though front office hires and movement aren’t often reported, so it’s possible.
Considering how important this summer will be for the Lakers, assembling a front office and, specifically, a scouting department, should be a high priority.
This is an area where the Lakers should have an advantage over most teams. They are the face of the NBA. They now have the spending power to go along with that.
It’s time they start acting like the premier franchise they are.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid did not play against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night to rest his right knee after an off day.
Embiid is averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebound and 3.9 assists this season. He has played in 31 games after being limited to 19 games last year and 39 games the previous season. The 7-foot center scored 33 points in a win at Phoenix on Saturday night.
In Portland, the Sixers also ruled out Quentin Grimes and Quentin Dominick because both had an illness.
Philadelphia was also missing Paul George, who was recently suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program.
Sep 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander (32) pitches in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
I was perusing through our sister sites this morning and saw this question posed by Battery Power, home of the Atlanta Braves. In the wake of yesterday’s Super Bowl, it seemed like a relevant question.
For the majority of the Super Bowl, it seemed like Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers was going to win MVP since he set an NFL record with five field goals in the Super Bowl. However, things started to pick up in the fourth quarter — the first touchdown of the game was scored with 13:24 left in the game — and the Seahawks ultimately stomped the New England Patriots 29-13.
Comparatively, the Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in last year’s Super Bowl with the scoring more evenly distributed through all four quarters.
Putting a baseball spin on this, I ask this question of you: Do you prefer pitchers’ duels or slugfests?
We root for the Colorado Rockies, who should (theoretically) be involved in more slugfests at Coors Field. However, they do sometimes get involved in pitchers’ duels as well, especially in some of the California stadiums.
Slugfests, of course, feature more action. Baseballs are flying through the air and players are running all over the field, but they also take longer (sorry, Rob Manfred, but you cannot have lots of offense and short games). Meanwhile, pitchers’ duels are shorter games that take more strategy, but they can sometimes be “boring” because of the lack of action.
Last year, the first slugfest the Rockies were involved in was April 6th against the Athletics, where they beat them 12-5 in Chase Dollander’s MLB Debut. Dollander was also involved in a daring no-hitter duel against Tyler Glasnow and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 8th (the Rockies ultimately lost 3-1).
There were a few of each last year, of course, but those were the ones that stood out to me.
So, Purple Row night owls, what say you? Which do you prefer?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Lamar Wilkerson had 41 points and Indiana beat Oregon 92-74 on Monday night, handing the Ducks a 10th straight loss.
Wilkerson missed his first five shots and then made 13 of 15 for the Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten Conference), who have won two straight and five of six. He made 6 of 12 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 free throws. The senior guard hit 10 3-pointers and scored an Assembly Hall record 44 in a 113-72 victory over Penn State in December. He is the fifth Hoosier to have multiple 40-point games in one season.
Sam Alexis had 16 points for Indiana and Tucker DeVries totaled 15 points and seven assists. Nick Dorn scored 11.
Nate Bittle and reserve Wei Lin scored 15 apiece to pace the Ducks (8-16, 1-11), who are in the midst of the longest losing streak in head coach Dana Altman's 16 seasons. Bittle added eight rebounds and five assists. Sean Stewart scored 12, Takai Simpkins 11 and Drew Carter 10.
Wilkerson scored 16 in a first half that saw nine lead changes and two ties to help Indiana take a 36-30 lead into the break. Lin had nine points as the Ducks bench outscored Indiana's 13-0.
Wilkerson and DeVries hit 3-pointers, and Alexis scored six and had the final two baskets in a 16-6 run for a 52-36 advantage in the first four minutes of the second half. The lead never slipped below 10.
Indiana shot 81.8% in the second half — 18 for 22.
Cade Cunningham had 33 points and nine rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons hung on to beat Charlotte 110-104 on Monday night, snapping the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak in a wild game that included a fight and four player ejections.
Charlotte coach Charles Lee was also ejected after having to be restrained from going after an official while arguing a no-call in the fourth quarter.
Duncan Robinson scored 18 points for the Pistons and Jalen Duren added 15 before being ejected when he ignited the brawl by hitting Moussa Diabate with an open right hand in the third quarter.
Brandon Miller scored 24 points for the Hornets, while LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel each had 20.
Midway through the third quarter Duren was driving toward the basket when he was fouled by Diabate. Duren got face-to-face with Diabate and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then hit Diabate in the face with his open right hand, igniting a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds.
While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away and Bridges charged at him, throwing a left-handed punch. Duren retaliated with a punch. Diabate attempted to charge again at Duren and had to be held back. Isaiah Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch, and the players tussled.
Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were ejected.
NETS 123, BULLS 115
NEW YORK (AP) — Nic Claxton scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn to a win over Chicago.
Noah Clowney added 20 points for Brooklyn, which won its second in a row. Drake Powell had 14 points off the bench, rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore each had 13 and Ziaire Williams added 11.
The Nets won three of the four meetings between the Eastern Conference teams that are rebuilding.
Anfernee Simons scored 23 points for Chicago, which lost its fifth straight. Collin Sexton scored 19 off the bench and Matas Buzelis had 18.
JAZZ 115, HEAT 111
MIAMI (AP) — Brice Sensabaugh made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to lift Utah to a victory over Miami.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 22 points, Lauri Markkanen added 17, Kyle Filipowski had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Ace Bailey also scored 16 for the Jazz, who won for only the fifth time in their last 23 games.
The Jazz erased a 108-103 deficit with 3:32 left and got within one at 111-110 on Isaiah Collier’s jumper with 1:23 remaining. Sensabaugh, who finished with 14 points, then connected with his shot from behind the arc.
Miami twice had opportunities at a tying or go-ahead score. Andrew Wiggins missed a short jumper with 36 seconds left and Kasparas Jakucionis’ corner 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with 4 seconds left.
Sensabaugh’s two free throws with 3 seconds remaining clinched the win for Utah.
Wiggins scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jakucionis finished with 20 points for the Heat.
MAGIC 118, BUCKS 99
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Black scored 26 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and Orlando beat Milwaukee to snap the Bucks’ season-long three-game win streak.
Magic forward Franz Wagner played 17 minutes after missing 23 of the last 25 games due to a high ankle sprain. Wagner came off the bench for the first time in his career and finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
Kevin Porter Jr. led Milwaukee with 28 points and seven assists, but the Bucks committed 20 turnovers and gave up 67 points in the second half. that ended their season-long three-game win streak.
TIMBERWOLVES 138, HAWKS 116
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as Minnesota used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a win against the short-handed Atlanta.
Edwards led seven Minnesota players scoring in double figures, pushing the Timberwolves to a commanding win after a pair of disappointing losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Julius Randle has 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Minnesota, which had lost three of four.
A game without much intensity changed early in the fourth when Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip up Wolves center Naz Reid. The two came together in an altercation that included a crowd of people trying to break up the two players. Both players were ejected.
Newcomer Ayo Dosunmu, playing his second game after being acquired in a trade from Chicago, had 21 points off the bench as Minnesota led by as many as 31.
CJ McCollum had 38 points for the Hawks, who have lost four of five and were playing without Jalen Johnson (left knee inflammation), Antonio Daniels (right ankle inflammation) and newly acquired Jonathan Kumiga (left knee bone bruise).
PELICANS 120, KINGS 94
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III made five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears scored 14 of his 20 in the second half and New Orleans sent Sacramento to their 13th straight loss.
The Kings have their most consecutive losses since the franchise moved from Kansas City to Sacramento ahead of the 1985-86 season.
Murphy has made 23 3-pointers on 40 attempts (72.5%) in the last three games. Zion Williamson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six assists for New Orleans.
Maxime Raynaud had 21 points and career-high 20 rebounds — the 7-foot-1 rookie’s eighth double-double this season — for Sacramento. Russell Westbrook added 17 points, Devin Carter scored 12 and Nique Clifford 10.
CAVALIERS 119, NUGGETS 117
DENVER (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, including two free throws with 0.9 seconds left after James Harden’s tying 3-pointer, and Cleveland rallied to beat Denver.
Harden finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in his second game with Cleveland. Harden, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 4, scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut three nights later.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists but missed a potential winning 3-point shot at the buzzer. Two nights after Jokic passed Oscar Robertson for second place in career triple-doubles, he notched his 183rd.
WARRIORS 114, GRIZZLIES 113
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gui Santos made a go-ahead layup with 19 seconds left and Al Horford stole the ball from Cam Spencer moments later after he rebounded a Memphis miss, and Golden State rallied late to beat the Grizzlies.
Pat Spencer had 17 points and seven assists, leading seven players in double figures for a Warriors team missing Stephen Curry for the fourth straight game because of a lingering right knee injury that coach Steve Kerr said would keep him out of the All-Star Game next week.
De’Anthony Melton’s layup with 2:46 left pulled the Warriors within 113-110 and Moses Moody made it a one-point game with 2 minutes remaining. Brandin Podziemski, Santos and Horford each scored 16 points, and Moody 15.
Earlier in the day, Curry’s backcourt mate, Jimmy Butler, underwent surgery in Los Angeles for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that ended his season last month.
Ty Jerome scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half and also dished out seven assists.
Jahmai Mashack scored 17 points off the bench, Taylor Hendricks had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 15 points — and the Grizzlies reserves scored 68 points, most Golden State has given up to an opponent’s backups this season.
TRAIL BLAZERS 135, 76ERS 118
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Toumani Camara scored a career-high 30 points and shot 8 of 10 from 3-point range, Deni Avdija had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Portland used a huge third quarter to cruise to a victory Philadelphia.
Jerami Grant and Donovan Clingan each added 15 points for the Trail Blazers, who trailed 65-64 at halftime before outscoring the 76ers 49-22 in the third to take control.
Embiid, who scored 33 points in a win at Phoenix on Saturday night, sat out against Portland to rest his right knee after an off day. Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. 19 for the 76ers, who wrapped up a 3-2 Western road trip and lost for just the second time in eight games overall.
THUNDER 119, LAKERS 110
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jalen Williams scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half of his return from a 10-game injury absence, and Oklahoma City snapped their two-game skid with a victory over Los Angeles.
Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and current NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic both sat out due to injuries, leaving their supporting casts to play a Thunder-style physical game featuring 52 combined free throws.
LeBron James scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half for the Lakers, whose three-game winning streak ended with another ineffective defensive performance.
Jalen Williams, who had been out with a hamstring strain, and Jaylin Williams both hit big jumpers while the Thunder broke open a close game down the stretch. Chet Holmgren added a key put-back dunk with 1:17 to play for the NBA-leading Thunder, who had lost three of five.
Isaiah Joe scored 19 points and Alex Caruso added 17 from Oklahoma City’s bench. Holmgren had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Marcus Smart scored 19 points and Austin Reaves had 16 on a minutes restriction for Los Angeles, which dropped to a pedestrian 14-9 at home.
Josh Hart’s nightly boxscore is like a box of chocolates: you never quite know what you’re going to get.
He molds his aggressiveness in that department to whatever the game needs.
At times, he becomes the main facilitator, orchestrating the Knicks offense, pushing them in transition and allowing Jalen Brunson to play off the ball.
Other times, he is their second-leading scorer and temporarily carrying the offense.
Often, it’s somewhere in between.
“I turn down shots, I don’t know how many times,” Hart said after the win over the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. “I love getting assists. I used to love scoring. Now, I love getting guys shots, getting guys involved. Sometimes, it’s the bad read because I should shoot it when I’m open, but I love getting guys shots.”
Sunday was a bit different than that.
He took 14 shots, making seven of them.
That was second most on the team, behind Brunson, and five more than Karl-Anthony Towns — who is supposed to be the clear second option on offense — despite playing three fewer minutes than him.
Knicks forward Josh Hart (3) defends the ball from Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. AP
Hart took six 3-pointers — also second most on the team.
He had three assists, two below his season average.
In the 13 games he’s played since returning from his sprained ankle, he’s taken as many as 17 shots — which he did in a win over the Blazers at the end of January — and as few as three, which he did in a rout of the Wizards last week.
Some of it is a result of how opponents defend him.
Most view him as the weakest 3-point shooter in the normal Knicks starting lineup of Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby and Towns.
That means other teams often match up their five on him, allowing them to sink into the paint and help on others, not respecting Hart’s ability to hurt them from deep.
Those are usually the times Hart is forced to be the most aggressive, given that he is left open.
“Games like [Sunday],” Hart said, “[are] where that sacrifice is me having to go out there and be super aggressive and keep them honest.”
Josh Hart of the Knicks has a laugh with Jalen Brunson during the second half of their win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 8, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
Hart is shooting a career-best 40.4 percent from 3-point range this year, exploiting strategic decisions by the opposition.
“I don’t ever call a play for Josh, and he finds his way,” coach Mike Brown said. “Teams keep putting their five on him, and we tell him to let it fly. He’s really good because he knows when to let it fly. Not only that, if the ball gets pushed ahead to him, fives are used to sitting in the paint or shrinking; now, when the ball gets pushed ahead, that five closes out to Josh, he’s quick on a snap drive. He finishes on the front side, the back side, he can still spray it and he’s got his little [midrange].
Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 8, 2026 at TD Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
“He makes a big difference offensively. It’s him because he knows how and when to pick his spots with it. Also when he was out and he came back, that first game in Portland, you felt his presence in transition. Whether he was bringing it or just filling that wing, you felt his presence and it’s much needed especially against the better teams.”
Hart hasn’t always enjoyed his chameleon-like identity.
It was something he had to grow to embrace.
“I think I acquired it in Portland,” Hart said. “Mark Tyndale, who’s here right now, I think one day I was venting to him. I was saying ‘bro I’m not getting the ball. I’m not getting any touches.’ He’s like ‘we’ve got [Damian Lillard], we’ve got all these guys. We’re not saying you can’t score. We’re saying we’ve got guys that are better and that’s what they’re here to do.’ And from then on, I said ‘let me work out how I can help these guys and find them in good positions.’”
“It took a little bit of getting used to, but I think right now I’m in a good head space with it.”
The Knicks are about to start a home-road back-to-back against the Pacers and 76ers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Don’t be surprised if Hart’s approach is completely different between the two games.
Anunoby, who has missed the last two games with a sore toe, is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Pacers.
Mitchell Robinson is out, with it being the first leg of a back-to-back.
MIAMI (AP) — Brice Sensabaugh made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to lift the Utah Jazz to a 115-111 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 22 points, Lauri Markkanen added 17, Kyle Filipowski had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Ace Bailey also scored 16 for the Jazz, who won for only the fifth time in their last 23 games.
The Jazz erased a 108-103 deficit with 3:32 left and got within one at 111-110 on Isaiah Collier’s jumper with 1:23 remaining. Sensabaugh, who finished with 14 points, then connected with his shot from behind the arc.
Miami twice had opportunities at a tying or go-ahead score. Andrew Wiggins missed a short jumper with 36 seconds left and Kasparas Jakucionis’ corner 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with 4 seconds left.
Sensabaugh’s two free throws with 3 seconds remaining clinched the win for Utah.
Wiggins scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jakucionis finished with 20 points for the Heat.
Utah led 85-82 after three quarters but for the second consecutive game, coach Will Hardy sat Markkanen and Jackson in the fourth period. Jackson was acquired from Memphis in a trade Feb. 3. Jusuf Nurkic also sat out the fourth and finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The Jazz outscored the Heat in the paint 54-30.
Miami’s Norman Powell (back tightness) and Pelle Larsson (right forearm strain) didn’t play, while Tyler Herro (ribs) has been sidelined since Jan. 17. Keyonte George (right ankle sprain) sat out for Utah.
Down 15 midway through the first quarter, the Jazz finished the first half on a 14-2 run. Collier’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Utah a 61-52 lead at the break.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III made five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears scored 14 of his 20 in the second half and the New Orleans Pelicans sent the Sacramento Kings to their 13th straight loss Monday night, 120-94.
The Kings have their most consecutive losses since the franchise moved from Kansas City to Sacramento ahead of the 1985-86 season.
Murphy has made 23 3-pointers on 40 attempts (72.5%) in the last three games. Zion Williamson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six assists for New Orleans.
Maxime Raynaud had 21 points and career-high 20 rebounds — the 7-foot-1 rookie’s eighth double-double this season — for Sacramento. Russell Westbrook added 17 points, Devin Carter scored 12 and Nique Clifford 10.
Westbrook became the 14th player in league history to score at least 27,000 career points. The 18-year NBA veteran has 27,001 career points, 312 behind Elvin Hayes for 13th place on the league's career points list.
DeMar DeRozan made a driving layup with 4:08 left in the first quarter that gave the Kings a 20-15 lead, but Bryce McGowen and Murphy made back-to-back 3-pointers to give New Orleans the lead for good and spark a 25-6 run. Williamson scored eight points in the spurt.
Westbrook made a step-back jumper that trimmed the deficit to nine points with 7:36 left in the first half, but Sacramento got no closer.
Zach LaVine (finger), Keegan Murray (ankle), Malik Monk (illness) and Domantas Sabonis (lower back) did not play for Sacramento. The quartet combines to average 62 points this season.
The Pelicans snapped a string of 14 consecutive games in which they have not won or lost by more than 10 points.
Alex Killorn goes by many names. Alex, of course. Killer, Foghorn, War Dog. Alexander is most likely reserved for his parents.
Killorn has earned the right to go by so many names, with over 120 NCAA games, over 50 AHL games and now over 1,000 NHL games under his belt.
He joined the Ducks in the summer of 2023 after spending the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While his four-year, $25 million contract at age 34 initially raised eyebrows, he’s proven that his value goes beyond his on-ice impact.
Feb 29, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) and left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrate after scoring a goal during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
When Leo Carlsson was drafted second overall in 2023 and began navigating life as an NHLer at 18, it was Killorn who was placed on Carlsson’s wing by then-head coach Greg Cronin. Despite his lack of foot speed, Killorn’s knack for winning board battles and recovering pucks made him the ideal linemate for a creative playmaker in Carlsson.
“I just turned 34 and I'm skating with him, and he's 18,” Killorn said at the time. “I kind of have to check myself just to realize how young (he is) and put myself in his position at times, but really impressed with him in the way he plays. Being a center at 18 playing in the NHL is very difficult, and I think he's more than capable of doing so.”
When Cutter Gauthier made his NHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season, he played on a line with Carlsson and, you guessed it, Killorn.
The trio began the 2024-25 season as a line before Gauthier began experiencing a rollercoaster of line assignments, but Killorn remained a constant on Carlsson’s line. Gauthier’s improvement in his wall play can be attributed in part to Killorn, who at times would give Gauthier tips during or after practice on how to be stronger around the boards.
“(The wall work) has been coming good,” Gauthier said at the time. “Not playing winger for the last couple years, it’s still an adjustment period. Yeah, it’s only 11 games into the season, but still. You’re playing against the best players in the world and the best defensemen in the world. They know tendencies—they’ve played in the league for the very long time—that wingers are going to do, so it’s just getting used to the type of rim (around the boards), whether it’s hard, soft or where the pressure’s coming from. Killer’s helped a lot with a couple of pickup tips coming off the wall.”
Apr 18, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) takes a rookie lap before the start of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
As someone who played center while at Harvard before shifting to the wing once he turned pro, Killorn is familiar with the transition that Gauthier had to make.
“I just want him to work on protecting the puck,” Killorn said. “College is a lot different from the NHL in terms of defensemen, how hard they play. If he can hold onto it for even a couple more seconds and just maintain possession, it’s going to help out our line big time.”
“I (liked) playing with Killer because he’s very smart,” former Ducks forward Trevor Zegras said. “He's very good at playing in between guys and knows when to give you the puck, give you space, where to go, where to help and support.”
Gauthier, Zegras and Killorn as a line during the 2024-25 season totaled one goal and one goal against in 48 5v5 minutes. Their expected goals numbers were quite favorable, but Cronin split them up after just five games.
Killorn is always quick to note the strengths of his teammates, whether it was pointing out how much Zegras’ absence due to injury last season impacted the power play, describing how patient rookie defenseman Ian Moore is with the puck or pointing out the big step Jackson LaCombe took—before his monster 2024-25 season occurred.
Oct 11, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (center) celebrates with left wing Alex Killorn (17) and center Leo Carlsson (91) and defenseman Jackson LaCombe (right) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Above all, Killorn wants himself and his teammates to be proud of the way they play every night, regardless of the result.
“I think if you compete and play the right way, you may not win every night, but you'll build and you'll start playing the right way in things, no matter how long it takes. You’re building in the right direction.”
“Being that I've been on a lot of winning teams in the past, I'm definitely hoping to bring veteran leadership to this group,” Killorn said during his introductory conference call in 2023. “I know it's probably a younger team than I've been on before, but I look forward to that. There’s so much talent when you look at the guys that are on this team and guys that are about to be on this team, whether it's this year or the next year. These are things that I thought about when I made this decision. So I'm hoping to bring kind of a veteran leadership, a guy who can help out offensively and defensively. That’s kind of what I did with Tampa, so I'm hoping to do the same here.”
While Killorn has been able to impart the wisdom gained from his 14 years of NHL experience to his teammates who are still early in their careers, that knowledge isn’t just limited to them. His peers closer in age have also learned from him.
“We’ve become really close off the ice,” Ryan Strome said. “One of my better friends. One of the better guys I met in hockey. We get along really well and mesh really well, our personalities. I know how hard it gets when you get a little older and you go through a different, separate phase. He’s done a great job of just staying consistent with his effort and his determination and what he brings to the table. He's really consistent on a day-to-day basis, whether it's practices or games, and that's something that everyone's going through. There’s always lessons you can learn. Even I can learn from a guy like him, just how he's been consistent and just puts his head down and works. He’s always been that type of guy and it's great to see.”
Feb 17, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) scores a goal and celebrates with left wing Alex Killorn (17) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
One area that’s become new for Killorn this past calendar year is becoming a father. His daughter, Camilla, was born in May 2025, which gave him several months to play full-time dad before getting geared up for the 2025-26 season.
“It was great,” Killorn said. “A lot of guys have kids (during) the season. I couldn't imagine that. It's very difficult being on the road. I got to spend four solid months with her every day, so that was really special.”
“When you become close to somebody, you just talk a lot,” Strome said. “We sit beside each other on the plane and (are) always just (talking about) whatever it may be, whether it's life, hockey, kids, post-career stuff. It’s been so great to get to know him (with) the way that we seem to bond and have similar interests and stuff. It’s been really fun for me. Playing against a guy for so long and getting to know him and becoming this close to him has been amazing. He deserves it, and he's had a hell of a career and it's been a pleasure to be a part of it.
On Feb. 3, the Ducks honored Killorn with a pregame ceremony, gifting him a pair of silver sticks: a player-sized one for him and a baby-sized one for Camilla. Killorn’s parents were also in attendance alongside Killorn’s wife, Tiffany.
Tiffany also threw a party to commemorate Killorn’s 1000 NHL games the weekend prior, with many family and friends attending, including all of Killorn’s Ducks teammates.
“It was really cool, Killorn said. “Just special. I had a lot of friends and family (at the game) and this morning, just waking up puts everything in perspective. Your whole career, how many people have supported me throughout the way. Seeing my family pretty emotional on the ice and seeing my daughter, it was a really special moment for me.”
Something that sticks out to Killorn after all of these years is just the fact that he’s still playing. He noted how he wasn’t a top draft pick and had a head coach in Jon Cooper who believed in him and gave him plenty of ice time to become successful.
“He's a great guy,” Ducks captain Radko Gudas said shortly after becoming a Duck in 2023. “He's a great person (with a) great personality. He's a leader with the way he plays and the way he carries himself. I won the Calder Cup with him before we made it to the NHL, so I had great memories with him before and I always knew he was a great player. I just want to see him doing this well and now we’ve got to work together as a team again and build something here for the guys here. We’re looking forward to that and I'm really thrilled for the opportunity for both of us to help these guys grow.”
Nov 14, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) and left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrate after a goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Since joining the Ducks, Killorn has learned that you have to keep getting better. Sure, that may be a bit obvious, but it’s a reminder not to remain complacent, even after winning two Stanley Cups, as Killorn did.
“I watched a video back when we were in the Cup Final in 2015 and the game’s changed so much in those 10 years,” Killorn said. “You just have to continue to keep getting better because if you don't and you don't reinvent yourself, you'll be out of the league.”
With one year remaining on his contract after this season, it’s unclear how much longer Killorn intends to play. Strome said that Killorn has a good grasp of his post-playing career plans.
“I think he's got a really good grasp on his future and business and his finances and like all those types of things. I think he's really well-rounded. Some guys, you may think when they're done playing, they might kind of struggle a little bit (with) their identity (outside of being a hockey player) or what they're going to do. But I think a guy like him, he's just so dialed in and he's smart and he's educated and calculated. He’s a lot of fun. When you have that total package, you'll be more than just fine in your life and your career and whatever's next.
“And for me, it's cool because it's made me kind of think about those things a little bit more than I have. I think he's a great guy to learn from. And the other thing is, too, I think he's been really good on our team for being able to hang out with all the guys, whether it's old guys, young guys. I know he hangs out with the young guys a lot. I think when you have guys who are able to kind of bounce between those different age groups and stuff, it means a lot to the dressing room. I know I'm kind of one of those guys, but I think he's taken a lot of load off me for doing some of that stuff and it's been great to have him around.”
Jan 26, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal scored by forward Alex Killorn (17) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
It was a big challenge for Killorn to come to Anaheim in 2023, leaving the only organization he’d ever known—an extremely successful one—to come to an organization that was still taking its lumps. But thanks to the leadership of players like Killorn, the tide is beginning to turn as they find themselves in a playoff spot in February, a sight that has rarely been seen in the past decade.
“It’s been a challenge, one that I've accepted to come to a team that's got a lot of young talent and help develop some of these guys,” Killorn said in 2024. “Gonna be something special here in the future, so I look forward to it. It's been a different process than before, just because I was on a team that was maybe a little bit more veteran and was winning a little bit. But now, at least you can see the light here and you understand what they're trying to build. It’s pretty impressive.”
“It was a huge adjustment (coming in Anaheim), just in the sense that I came to a different place, all new teammates. I was kind of used to one thing. I knew going into training camp what the coaching staff was going to be, what my teammates were going to be, how I was going to fit in. So in terms of that, there was a lot of unknown. But I feel like by the end of the year, I really found a place for myself in this team and was really happy with the way that the end of the season went.”
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Julian Aguiar #39 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on September 19, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s perfectly OK if the most recent thing you remember about Julian Aguiar’s career advancement as a professional baseball pitcher was getting shelled for 7 ER by the Atlanta Braves in late September of 2024. That is, after all, the last time he threw a pitch in an actual professional game, after all.
Then 23, Aguiar was making the last of his seven big league appearances that season, but UCL damage required Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter and his subsequent recovery meant he missed the entirety of pro ball during calendar year 2025.
However…
He’s still just 24 years old right now. He’s a guy who turned a corner at the minor league level with AA Chattanooga, in particular, in 2024 before his call-up. He’s a guy who has touched 100 mph with his heater before who, at times, commands a pretty effective four-pitch mix with his dual breaking balls and an effective change. And as no reports have indicated any significant setbacks from his TJ surgery, he’s slated to begin 2026 at 100% after a long time away and ready to step right back into the top-tier of the pitching ranks for the Reds as soon as possible.
Odds are that’s with AAA Louisville, stretching out gradually. He’ll be a starter there as he works his way back, though it’s probably pretty clear to the Reds what he could potentially add as a reliever or swingman sooner, if need be.
All of that was good enough for Aguiar to land at #17 on this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, a pretty solid endorsement for a guy who we’ve not seen pitch in a year and a half.
Fists were flying after a hard foul in the game between the Pistons and the Hornets, which sent the contest into chaos and led to several ejections.
The brawl came in what ended up being a 110-104 loss for the Hornets on Monday.
The situation unfolded in the third quarter at Spectrum Center in Charlotte when Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté fouled Pistons center Jalen Duren while he was going for a shot inside the paint.
The foul was called, but the two got into each other’s faces almost immediately, and after Duren pushed Diabaté in his face, all hell broke loose.
Diabaté attempted to retaliate by swinging at Duren as players, coaches and officials tried to get control of the situation.
Diabaté was able to break free after he was briefly held back and attempted to chase down Duren a second time, but he was restrained again near the courtside seats.
As the focus was on Diabaté and calming him down, Miles Bridges went after Duren and ignited the situation even further, which led to Isaiah Stewart — who was not dressed for the game — to run off the Detroit bench to take on Bridges.
Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, second from left, is held back as he goes and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) fight during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday. AP
Coaches, players and officials had to then work to separate those two.
Diabaté, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were all ejected from the game, and the NBA will likely take a look at what happened for supplementary discipline.
Pistons center Jalen Duren, left, throws punches with Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, right, during a fight on the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C.. AP
At the time of the melee, the Pistons had been holding a 70-62 lead over the Hornets as Charlotte was looking to win its 10th straight game.
Things continued to be testy during the game as Hornets coach Charles Lee was kicked out in the fourth quarter.
Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets fight Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons. Getty Images
Lee had to be held back while screaming at officials for an offensive foul that was called on Grant Williams.
He left the court to loud applause from the home fans.
NEW YORK (AP) — Nic Claxton scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 123-115 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Noah Clowney added 20 points for Brooklyn, which won its second in a row. Drake Powell had 14 points off the bench, rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore each had 13 and Ziaire Williams added 11.
The Nets won three of the four meetings between the Eastern Conference teams that are rebuilding.
Anfernee Simons scored 23 points for Chicago, which lost its fifth straight. Collin Sexton scored 19 off the bench and Matas Buzelis had 18.
The Nets began the third quarter with a 14-5 spurt over the first three minutes to extend their advantage to 15 at 74-59. But Chicago responded with a 30-15 run over the final nine minutes of the quarter to tie it at 89 entering the fourth.
Two free throws by Isaac Okoro two minutes into the fourth gave the Bulls their first lead since early in the second at 93-91. The Nets then had a 12-6 spurt over the next three minutes to regain the advantage, 103-99.
The teams traded scores the rest of the way, with the most significant being Wolf’s layup with 3:33 remaining and two free throws by Claxton on the next possession that extended Brooklyn’s lead to 115-107.
Both teams were short-handed. The Nets didn’t have leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (right knee tendinitis) and rookie guard Egor Demin (rest), while Chicago missed Zach Collins (sprained right toe), Josh Giddey (strained left hamstring), Tre Jones (strained left hamstring), and Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery).
Suspensions are coming after a massive fight broke out Monday night between the Pistons and Hornets.
It had been a physical game, especially in the paint, and that came to a head midway through the third quarter. Detroit was inbounding the ball, when Detroit's Jalen Duren and Charlotte's Moussa Diabate had some words. When the ball was inbounded, it ended up with Duren, who turned to score and was fouled by Diabate. Then those two got face-to-face and had words again, which is when Duren pushed Diabate away in the face, Diabate got angry and went at Duren taking swings while Tobias Harris held him back, and boy, that escalated quickly, as lot of people joined in the fight.
Charlotte's Diabate and Miles Bridges were ejected, as were Detroit's Duren and Isaiah Stewart.
Expect multiple suspensions and fines from the league office. Stewart is going to get the worst of it, he left the bench to jump into the fray — a cardinal sin in the league's eyes — plus he has a history of being in the middle of dust-ups.
This fight did not ease all the tensions around this game. In the fourth quarter, Charlotte coach Charles Lee was ejected and had to be held back by his assistants while yelling at officials over a no-call after Hornets forward Grant Williams.
In the end, Detroit snapped Charlotte's nine-game winning streak 110-104, behind 33 points from Cade Cunningham.
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 9: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on February 9, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz, despite their best efforts, beat the Miami Heat with a final score of 115-111.
Utah’s tanking tactic of pulling Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic after the third quarter in favor of the youth could not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Through the first three quarters, the Jazz were led by Jackson Jr.‘s 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Markkanen chipped in 17 points while Jusuf Nurkic added 10 points and 16 rebounds.
This game hurts the Jazz in the tank race, but it proves that Utah’s approach to losing games this season is no less ethical than its tanking counterparts. Unlike the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, the Jazz played their stars in back-t0-back games for the majority of the game, rather than sitting them with phantom injuries. This allows fans to watch Utah’s best players while still allowing the team to (in most cases) achieve its long-term goals.
Feb 9, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives to the basket against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tonight, however, the youth stepped up in the fourth quarter to push the Jazz past Miami’s most competitive lineup. Isaiah Collier controlled the pace of the game late, finishing with 13 points and nine assists. Brice Sensabaugh, who has struggled over the past few outings, hit a big three and game-sealing free throws late. And Kyle Filipowski contributed a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Utah still holds the 6th best lottery odds after tonight. Wins from the Pelicans and the Nets mitigate any negative impacts from tonight’s win. If the lottery was today, the Jazz would own a ~96% chance of retaining their pick.
The Jazz return home on Thursday to face off against the Portland Trailblazers.
