SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 20: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 20, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (31–20) vs. Golden State Warriors (27-24) When: 8:00 pm Arizona Time Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, Prime Listen: KMVP 98.7
The NBA Trade Deadline has finally wrapped up. It was fireworks for the rest of the league while Phoenix stayed under the radar.
The Suns got under the tax apron and picked up a useful rotation piece or two (depending on if they keep Anthony) in Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony. The Suns shipped out Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to Milwaukee.
Suns guard Grayson Allen on Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis being traded to Milwaukee for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey: "Those guys were great teammates. They were a great part of our team. Their energy, work ethic. Their attitude in practice. Attitude towards the group even… https://t.co/UFjn8SOgUapic.twitter.com/NW507zVqV8
I am a believer in Coffey becoming a useful depth piece, but Anthony enters a deep guard rotation.
The Warriors, meanwhile, made a significant move last night, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for big man Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s another late tipoff tonight — 8 pm local time here in Arizona. Phoenix is 17-7 at home and has won 4 of its last 5 contests. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the teams, with Golden State leading the season series 2-1.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns injury update: Jalen Green (right hamstring injury management/left hip contusion) OUT. #Suns
Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring Management/Left Hip Contusion)
Warriors
Stephen Curry — OUT (Knee)
Seth Curry — OUT (Back)
De’Anthony Melton — QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
Jimmy Butler — OUT (ACL)
What to Watch For
The Warriors enter this one on a two-game skid after losses to the Pistons and 76ers on their home floor. They lost Jimmy Butler for the season, and Steph Curry is out, not to mention Hield and Kuminga, who they just shipped out for Porzingis.
We will get a shorthanded Warriors team that will play freely and, despite the lack of firepower or household names, should not be taken lightly.
The “Uncs” (Draymond and Horford) will bring that veteran presence and keep the young guys in check. In their latest contest against the 76ers, they had eight players score 8 points or more, so expect a balanced attack from guys looking to prove themselves in an increased role. Moses Moody will likely be the Warriors’ top scoring option tonight alongside the pesky Brandin Podziemski. Gui Santos is another name to watch, as he’s scored in double figures in four straight contests.
Dillon Brooks vs. Draymond Green is another subplot to watch, as these two have expressed how they feel about each other publicly on multiple occasions. A Draymond Green ejection IS on my bingo card tonight.
Yeah, we are 100% going to get a Draymond-Brooks scuffle/altercation tonight.
It's been building up for years. Steph is out. Draymond has nothing to lose tonight. Gotta be on the lookout for that. pic.twitter.com/6on1gJgb9I
The Suns will be without Devin Booker for a 7th straight game, so again, it’s going to be about “the others”. Collin Gillespie will look to pick up where he left off in Portland, where he dropped a career-high 30 points while splashing in 8 threes. Jordan Goodwin will need to wreak havoc, and of course, buckets from Grayson and Dillon will be essential.
The main key for Phoenix will again come on the defensive side. Just because the Warriors are down several guys does not mean they can play like it and expect to win. Mark Williams is always an interesting play against teams like the Warriors, who go small and aim to punish “traditional” centers, so we could see plenty of Oso tonight depending on the game flow.
A bounce-back game from Dillon Brooks is needed after he struggled for 11 points on 3 of 17 shooting on Tuesday night. The Suns will look to kick off their four-game homestand with a win.
I think the Suns get it done at home against a shorthanded Warriors team. No such thing as an easy win in today’s NBA, so expect the Dubs to make Phoenix work for it.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 04: Jared McCain #20 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers confer against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on November 04, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joel Embiid has been through a lot since the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him in 2014. He has dealt with tragedy in his personal life, disappointments in his professional life, and too many injuries to list concisely. This year, however, things have looked up. Say what you will about how Joel may have treated his conditioning and dietary habits when he was younger, but the man is currently doing everything possible for both his physical and mental health. He has also done the right things as a teammate, graciously stepping aside to allow Tyrese Maxey to assume the mantle as the team’s top player, in both general demeanor and on-court usage.
Good results have followed. Embiid is on pace to play his most games since the 2022-23 season with numbers that could have reasonably made him an NBA All-Star. The Sixers are also winning games, currently riding a season-best five-game winning streak that has them fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 29-21. The East has no true juggernaut, so you can certainly make the argument that Philadelphia has a puncher’s chance to make a serious run come springtime. Embiid certainly thought so, as he uncharacteristically spoke out in advance of the NBA trade deadline, imploring ownership to let things play out, at a minimum.
“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax past couple of years, so hopefully, we’ll keep the same team. I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.
“I don’t know what they’re gonna do, but I hope we get a chance to just go out and compete because we’ve got a good group of guys in this locker room. The vibes are great. Like I said, in the past we’ve been I guess ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving because I think we have a chance.”
Did the front office heed the call from its franchise player of the last 10-plus years? Did they improve on the margins to bolster some holes in the rotation? Did they take a big swing to really go after things? No, you must be new to the city of Philadelphia. You see, instead, they actively went out and made the team worse in order to save ownership money.
Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for lukewarm draft capital is criminal. Here’s a guy who is a huge fanbase favorite and beloved in the locker room, who by every account, has an incredible work ethic to improve. So you sell him at an absolute low point in his value, for a draft pick in the low-20s and some seconds, with which you’ll be incredibly lucky to get a player in the future who is as good as McCain.
In the present, you can say McCain wasn’t having a great season, but he was still the team’s fourth guard. Who they replaced with no one! And he seemed to be rounding into form coming off the injuries. He had three games just last week where he hit four or more threes. Did you see how happy his teammates were for him in that Bucks game? And you just go out and completely kill all those vibes for a few million dollars.
There were good teams in the East who also made moves to duck the tax, but those teams also made meaningful improvements. They didn’t trade away a 21-year-old in his second season for picks that do nothing to help their current team.
What is Joel Embiid supposed to think? He has been killing himself to get his body back in playing shape to help this team, he literally issues a public cry for help for management not to cheap out again this year, and they say to heck with that, not only are we going to duck the tax yet again, but we’re going to ship off an incredibly well-liked player with nothing but upside in the process. Why is Joel going to go to war for a franchise that clearly doesn’t care enough to put his wishes over a couple more positive lines on the balance sheet?
I’m so frustrated with this organization. The McCain move is unfathomable, and they also do the Eric Gordon money-saving move, which is ultimately a big nothingburger, but you still shake your head that Josh Harris and company put in the call to find some more pennies in the couch cushions. And they spin it all as necessary to give Dominick Barlow a standard contract, when they could have done that months ago. None of this is about giving Barlow a well-deserved deal. They’ve been playing two-way day calculation games forever now in order to save money. They had an open roster spot nearly all year in order to save money (when another actual NBA player sure could have helped win games a few times). And now this senseless McCain trade to save money. It all comes down to money and it’s gross.
Fans should be livid. All the players on the team should be upset. They’ve been playing their hearts out this year and not only did no reinforcements arrive, but they sent a beloved teammate away. But I can’t help but think of Joel first and foremost, who said ‘Please don’t do this’ and they spit in his face by doing it anyway. I don’t know how many healthy-ish years Embiid will have left. I hope plenty more. But this organization sure is wasting one of them. I’m furious at them, and sad for him.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 20: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket on Quinten Post #21 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 20, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors take on the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. The game will be played at 7:00PM PT in Phoenix and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State enters the matchup having lost two straight games, most recently a 113–94 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. Despite playing shorthanded without Stephen Curry, the Warriors managed to keep pace early thanks to a strong first quarter that featured eight made threes.
The Warriors trailed by just five points at halftime, but the game slipped away in the third quarter. Golden State was outscored 26–16 in the period, struggled to generate consistent offense, and finished the night with 20 turnovers while getting overwhelmed on the glass, 56–33.
What to watch for tonight:
The NBA trade deadline has now passed, and the Warriors emerged with significant changes to their roster. The biggest of them being that Jonathan Kuminga’s tenure with the team has officially come to an end as Golden State agreed to trade him along with Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis. The team also moved Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a second-round pick.
BREAKING: The Golden State Warriors are trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eqNWwCupEZ
This means that the Warriors will once again be undermanned heading into Thursday’s matchup against the Suns, especially with Curry already ruled out as he continues to deal with runner’s knee. Golden State should look to replicate their formula from Tuesday, where they shot 39.6 percent from three and 47.4 percent from the field as a team. That level of efficiency — along with limiting turnovers — will be necessary to give the Warriors a puncher’s chance of snapping their two-game skid in Phoenix.
De’Anthony Melton is now questionable tonight for the Warriors in Phoenix with left knee soreness @NBCSWarriors
No Steph Curry, plus Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Trayce Jackson-Davis are off the roster
Jarvis had played for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off but wasn't part of the initial roster for the Olympic team.
Point, injured on Jan. 12, is the second Lightning player to be unable to go to Milan. Anthony Cirelli was hurt in the Stadium Series game and was replaced on Team Canada by Florida Panthers playoff MVP Sam Bennett, who also played in the 4 Nations.
The Lightning had a league-leading 10 Olympians but are now down to eight, falling behind the Panthers' nine. The Panthers got injured Brad Marchand (Canada) and Anton Lundell (Finland) back in their last game.
The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are tied with the Lightning with eight representatives.
Injury status on other NHL Olympians
Injured New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes isn't playing on Thursday, but The Athletic reported he's good to go for Team USA.
The Washington Capitals activated goalie Logan Thompson (Canada) from the injured list, and he started on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Thompson stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced as the Capitals won 4-2.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 27: Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on from the bench during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Contrary to recency bias, there were good times between Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets — a lot of them.
“They loved me and I loved their vibe. I felt like everything was in place… I just felt like it was just a match made in heaven. All our personalities connected,” said a smiling 19-year-old Cam Thomas on Draft night.
“He has an elite skill. You watch him play. You watch him find his shot, hit his shot — that’s a very, very high level,” Sean Marks said of Thomas in response.
In case you’ve forgotten, Sean Marks traded Landry Shamet to get a second late first-rounder so he could have two late picks, one for Day’Ron Sharpe of North Carolina, who he loved, and one for Cam Thomas, whom they were willing to take a chance on.
Five years later, separation was inevitable, driven by what you might call “irreconcilable differences” in style and on another, by the new CBA, which stripped teams of flexibility and offered harsher tax penalties. Those changes made it risky for Brooklyn to lock Thomas into a big long-term deal, so after four years, he took the qualifying offer, a rare for restricted free agents.
According to reliable sources, he turned down two offers: one for two years and $30 million, and another — a one-year, $9.5 million team option. He didn’t make a counter offer. Cam Thomas believed in himself and his ability to overcome hamstring issues that had kept him off in street clothes for 53 games last season. He switched agents twice in two years.
It was all a big gamble but it gave him control of his destiny in 2027.
Nets fans were split, often virulently, on Thomas. A hefty long-term deal made little sense when Brooklyn was the only team with real cap space. The simplest: why bid against yourself? Cam was saying the same thing to himself the whole time too.
This isn’t about who’s right or wrong. It won’t look good if he goes somewhere and contributes to winning basketball (which was the Nets overriding concern with him.) It’s often forgotten that Thomas entered the NBA when the Nets were championship contenders. But ultimately it’s a sad tale, no matter how it shakes out for the Nets or Cam Thomas.
They had the most skilled team in the NBA when Thomas was drafted. He was influenced by multiple future Hall-of-Famers, coached by one already in Springfield. He didn’t need to be anything other than the spark behind those guys.
This isn’t about reliving the past, it’s about understanding how a young player became a product of his environment.
“I was pretty steady because I felt like the team I was going to is a championship-level team.
We’re going to be winning games. We’re going to be playing for something,” Thomas continued.
“For him to continue to learn under three of the greatest scorers the league has right now will be great for him. The other part of it is that he is fearless. He’s not afraid. I think that’s what we’re looking for. Guys with that competitive edge to them and a chip on their shoulder,” Marks added in 2021.
He came into the league with riches. Kevin Durant was basically his mentor during those days and it was easy to understand why. Thomas was quiet, similar to KD, maybe a little awkward too, but his mantra was also similar to the now Houston Rocket: “Hoopers Hoop.”
“I feel like Cam has a bright future,” Durant said about Thomas on Jan. 1. “It just takes somebody to believe in his talent and his skill. Scorers and guys that score the basketball at a high rate they get taken for granted in this league a bit. We’re so used to loving defenders and playmakers and guys that can be connectors, sometimes scorers get taken for granted.”
The former Net isn’t wrong and whoever he signs with will have to appreciate his scoring prowess.
It wasn’t all bad. Sometimes it was undeniable great! Thomas became the youngest player ever in Nets history to score 40 or more points in three consecutive games. He’s up there with Nets greats — he’s recorded 10+ 40-point games in his career, tying him with Kevin Durant for the third-most in Nets NBA history, behind Vince Carter and Kyrie Irving. He brought the Nets back from the largest deficit ever — 28 points — at the Garden no less, hitting a 28-footer. As Steve Nash, who had taken some big shots in his career, remarked post-game, “I wouldn’t have taken that shot.” But Cam Thomas as full of confidence as any 20-year-old can be did.
But things can get messed up in the National Basketball League. The Big Three, mentors all, left in famous huffs. The head coach at the time of his 40/40/40 streak said of that accomplishment he wished they had resulted in wins. Coaches, the front office and teammates begged for better defense, better playmaking, fewer sulks, less “shit ain’t funny” or profanity-filled tweets directed at a writer. There were moments that seemed to put him on the high road. But his hamstring issues — three strains last season, one this year — just exacerbated things.
In the end, the Nets did not believe that he contributed to winning. That was the bottom line. He had his fans inside, among them the owner, it should be noted. And outside, the playgrounds loved him. He was always the most popular player at the Practice in the Park.
And let’s be real: this season was a disaster. Ending it earlier may have been wiser. He suffered a left hamstring injury which cost him yet another 20 games in November and December. If his stock was ‘low’ before, it was lower at the deadline. He remained a liability on defense and it didn’t seem like he was engaged. Hard to blame him or the Nets.
Another perspective is that he didn’t have much of a chance to prove himself. He was already a fish out of water but his availability has been too limited for someone ready for a big contract. Thomas, who sat on the second night of back-to-backs, hasn’t started a game since November 5. He took 12.8 shots per game — the lowest since his second year in the league.
Cam could’ve handled the situation better. His response to Zach Lowe was unnecessary and he does not hold a good poker face. Then came the breaking point…
Cam Thomas is not with Brooklyn as the Nets are in the process of departing for tomorrow night's game against Orlando, sources say. Thomas is officially out for personal reasons.
At just 24, the Nets will find out whether they made a mistake with Cam Thomas soon enough. But as long as Sean Marks has been GM of the Nets, it’s been highlighted how he does the right thing by players and agents. That’s up for debate in this situation, dependent on how Thomas turns out. He is a homegrown player. He did take pride in being part of the Brooklyn Nets, although in his valedictory with Marc Spears, it was all about the future, not the past, the team he’s headed to, not the one he just left….
NBA free agent guard Cam Thomas to @andscape: “Super excited ready to actually help and contribute to another team. My next team is getting elite scoring, good playmaking and a good combo guard.” https://t.co/yr4a9z4nDD
But now he’s on his way. There are already stories and tweets about who might be interested in him. He seems to believe he’ll be back on the court again soon.
He arrived in Brooklyn believing he was joining something special. For a few years, he did. Now both sides move on, carrying equal parts promise and disappointment. At 24, Thomas’ career is still wide open but this chapter will always feel like unfinished business for both him and the Nets.
While the Detroit Red Wings were reportedly interested in acquiring skilled winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers, it was former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland who ultimately landed one of the biggest prizes on the open trade market.
Holland, who is in his first season as general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, acquired Panarin from the New York Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, and sent forward prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Rangers in return.
What's more, Panarin won't just be a rental for the Kings. Holland acted quickly, signing their new prize forward to a two-year, $22 million extension.
“Obviously, we made the deal today to make our team better," Holland said. "We signed him to a two-year extension. We weren’t going to do it as a rental. He didn’t want to go anywhere as a rental. He wanted to find a home, so we’re thrilled that he wanted to waive the no-trade (clause) to come to LA. We’re happy that we were able to get him to a two-year extension, and after two years, I’m hoping that we’re working on another extension, but (I’ll) worry about that down the road." Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Holland is no stranger to pulling off major blockbuster acquisitions via free agency or trade, dating back to his time with the Red Wings, when he brought in players such as Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Marian Hossa, and Brian Rafalski.
"I think it was just a matter of these types of players with this resume are very, very difficult to find, and we had an opportunity to add one today," Holland said of Panarin.
The Kings, who have not won a postseason series since their 2014 Stanley Cup win, just bolstered their lineup with one of the top forwards in the game without having to give up much to acquire him.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson is set to make his season debut Friday after recovering from a torn left hamstring.
Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter told reporters, including The Oregonian, on Thursday that Henderson would play Friday when Portland hosts the Memphis Grizzlies.
Henderson, 22, tore his left hamstring during an offseason workout in September and has been working his way back ever since. He has averaged 13.3 points, 5.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds over two seasons since the Trail Blazers selected him with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket as Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on November 10, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. tonight at Little Caesars Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Miami Heat at Barclays Center on December 18, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Heat won 106-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade deadline came and went on Thursday. In a decade worth of deadlines, Sean Marks doesn’t typically make a big midseason move unless his hand is forced (e.g. Big 3 trades). The loudest move he made at this year’s deadline wasn’t a trade — they waived Cam Thomas. There were other moves, too.
Here’s a summary of where things stand for the Nets after the NBA trade deadline:
Oct 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after the third inning against the Atlanta Braves of game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Repetition is the root of commonality, but there was actually a time when the Dodgers weren’t seen as the prohibitive favorites heading into every playoff series. The stage was quite different back in 2013. Largely propelled by first-year impactful performances from Yasiel Puig and Zack Greinke, a Dodgers squad without the depth we’ve grown accustomed to returned to the postseason for the first time in four years to play a 96-win Braves team. After a playoff hiatus towards the end of the Brian Cox tenure, Atlanta was making the postseason for the third time in the last four years and was the more experienced team.
One big advantage the Dodgers had over the Braves in that particular series was in the form of high-end starting pitching. While Atlanta had a very successful campaign with the likes of Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, and Kris Medlen — the latter faced Clayton Kershaw in Game 1. Los Angeles had two established aces and a number three in Hyun Jin-Ryu that rivaled any team in that period. Now, the depth after those three was very shaky, which led Kershaw to start Game 4 on short rest even though Los Angeles had the lead in the series, but that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
Back then, when pitchers still hit, the Braves only trailed the Rockies in slugging percentage among National League teams, finishing the year at .402. Those numbers were a bit worse against southpaws, which made sense given how lefty-heavy that Braves team was at the top, with the likes of Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, and Brian McCann.
On the road, against a tough opponent, and at the height of his powers, coming off what would be crowned his second Cy Young win in the last three years, Kershaw dominated in a manner that we don’t even see from the aces these days, pushed well beyond the currently acceptable levels, finishing his outing with a whopping 124 pitches.
Setting the tone early, Kershaw finished the opening frame with bookend strikeouts against Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, utilizing that patented down-and-away slider to lefties to punch out Heyward and then blowing a heater by Freeman. Back then, the Kershaw had an easy 95-mph heater he could turn to, something he had to adapt to being without for the second half of his career.
Scoring in every inning between the second and fourth, the Dodgers took a commanding 5-0 lead that felt insurmountable with Kershaw on the mound, particularly with a couple of shutdown frames in the second and third. Trailing 5-1, the Braves had an opportunity to get back into things with Andrelton Simmons up, two on and two out, but once again, that slider bailed him out. Kershaw threw a down-and-in breaking ball to the Braves’ shortstop, who couldn’t help but swing on top of it, thus ending the threat.
Kershaw would leave that game with 12 punchouts, which would remain his career high in the postseason for many years until a marvelous eight-inning performance against the Brewers in 2020, in which he recorded 13 Ks, eventually helping the Dodgers win their first championship that year.
Starting a trend that would remain for the better part of Kershaw’s prime, the Dodgers’ ace was called upon to pitch on three days rest in Game 4 of this series, as the Dodgers hoped to avoid having to go back to Atlanta for a Game 5. Holding his own as he would routinely do in such instances, Kershaw tossed six strong with two unearned runs in a game ultimately decided in the late innings by a Juan Uribe go-ahead homer.
That Dodgers team faltered in the NLCS, but for where it was in its contention window, it had a decent run, and if it even got as far as the NLCS, it owed a lot of it to Kershaw, who played a humongous role in this series against an equally strong Braves team.
Les Bleus opened the tournament with a dominant victory in Paris
7 mins. The attack is contained by France and a forced pass in midfield is spilled by a green hand. France will have a scrum in their own 22.
5 mins. The Ireland scrum creaks, but holds enough for Gibson-Park to clear their lines. This but of solid work is followed soon after by Osborne banging a MASSIVE 50:22 to give his side their first attacking platform of the game.
Since they weren’t able to swing a deal before the NBA trading deadline expired, the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly waiving guard Cam Thomas.
ESPN reported the news Thursday, Feb. 5, which allows Thomas to explore the market and find a new home.
Thomas, 24, had an uneven tenure with the Nets. He proved at times that he was a capable scorer, averaging a career-high 24.0 points per game last season. But Thomas was a restricted free agent this past offseason and a true market never really materialized, so the Nets brought him back on his qualifying offer.
As Brooklyn has transitioned to its younger players, Thomas’ role has been reduced. Still, he’s a young player who has significant deficiencies with his defense and offensive efficiency, but he could provide a boost in the right system.
Here are potential landing spots for Cam Thomas:
Milwaukee Bucks
Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is sticking around at least through the end of this season, Milwaukee may try to add some pieces to convince Antetokounmpo to commit to the franchise over the long term. The Bucks, though, may be trying to find the balance between staying competitive in the East versus improving their draft pick positioning in what’s a talent-rich draft. The Bucks rank 23rd in offensive rating (112.9), however, so Thomas could offer a scoring boost.
Orlando Magic
They weren’t that active before the trading deadline, but the Magic still have some offensive issues. Paolo Banchero has struggled to take the next step and Desmond Bane has offered a nice boost, but Orlando still could use some perimeter shot creation. The Magic are 25-24 and hanging around the play-in window in the East. Their defense is their strength, so they have other players that can mask Thomas’ deficiencies in that area, but the scoring is what they could use.
Boston Celtics
This is a team with the structure and culture in place to take a potential flyer on Thomas. Certainly, the defensive issues don’t align with Boston’s identity. But the Celtics may also be looking to find a low-cost replacement for Anfernee Simons, whom the Celtics just traded to Chicago for Nikola Vučević. The Celtics would feel that Thomas’ career-low 39.9% shooting is more of an aberration, but if there’s one team that can get Thomas to refine his game, it would be Boston.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto was mostly quiet during the deadline, but this is a team that could still be looking to make some modest improvements to ensure its playoff push. Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley are the primary offensive catalysts for this team, but Toronto still has periods of stagnancy and could use some shot creation off the bench.
Utah Jazz
The big splash was the move to land Jaren Jackson Jr., but the Jazz may still want to land some more offensive talent as Utah makes a push to creep into the play-in window. One reason why this could be a problematic fit, however, is the defensive concerns. The Jazz rank dead last in the NBA in defensive rating (122.0) and Thomas won’t help that.
With the start of camp just a week away, the Yankees have announced their list of non-roster invitees to audition for a spot with the team this spring.
These 27 players not on the team's 40-man roster are attending and will play for a spot on the Opening Day roster or a spot in their minor league system. Seventeen of those players were signed to minor league contracts this offseason and consist of names who have played at a high level in the majors with other organizations already. Seth Brown and Paul DeJong are two of the more intriguing names on this list and could potentially break camp with the team as bench pieces.
For the other 10 players, they are a mix of minor leaguers who have been in the system, but not on the 40-man roster, acquired in the Rule 5 Draft or returned to the Yankees after playing for them in 2025.
High-profile prospects are also in this group, and have ranked highly in MLB Pipeline's list. George Lombard Jr. (No. 32), Carlos Lagrange (No. 79) will be there, while Ben Hess -- the Yankees' No. 6 prospect -- will make his spring training debut.
Spencer Jones and Elmer Rodriguez are already on the 40-man roster and will be attending.
Here are the 2026 Yankees non-roster invitees:
INF/OF Seth Brown
RHP Dylan Coleman
RHP Alexander Cornielle
OF Kenedy Corona
RHP Yovanny Cruz
INF Paul DeJong
RHP Drake Fellows
RHP Bradley Hanner
C Payton Henry
RHP Adam Kloffenstein
INF/OF Marco Luciano
RHP Travis MacGregor
INF/OF Ernesto Martínez Jr.
INF Jonathan Ornelas
C Miguel Palma
C Ali Sánchez
INF Zack Short
RHP Brendan Beck
LHP Kyle Carr
RHP Harrison Cohen
RHP Carson Coleman
OF Duke Ellis
RHP Ben Hess
RHP Carlos Lagrange
INF George Lombard Jr.
RHP Michael Arias
C Abraham Gutierrez
Yankees pitchers and catchers are set to report Feb. 11 while position players report Feb. 15.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 7: Carson Tinney #8 of the Texas Longhorns poses for a portrait on Texas baseball media day on January 7, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by The University of Texas Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
When the 2025 MLB Draft was approaching, Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle was hopeful to keep his standout catcher, Rylan Galvan, on the Forty Acres for another season.
Instead, the Buster Posey Award finalist signed with the Chicago White Sox after he was selected in the 13th round, sending Schlossnagle and his staff into the NCAA transfer portal to find an impact replacement.
That search turned into a resounding success story when Texas landed a commitment from star Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney, also a finalist for the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s best catcher, and the only D1 Baseball All-American to enter the NCAA transfer portal last offseason.
“There’s never been a good baseball team with a bad catcher, ever,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said this week on the On Second Thought podcast. “We had to go get a great one and, luckily, Carson was out there and he had a real great interest in Texas.”
“They proved to develop guys. They proved, obviously, to develop catchers,” Tinney said of his commitment. “I got along with the coaches very well. The area is great. And I was on campus, and it felt like the right place for me, so I pulled the trigger.”
A first-team All-American in 2025 by the NCBWA and Baseball American, Tinney elevated his stock with a breakout season, leading the Fighting Irish in batting average (.348), runs (52), homers (17), RBI (53), total bases (119), walks (34), on-base percentage (.498), slugging (.753), and multi-RBI performances (17) after battling injuries as a freshman that limited him to 15 starts in 28 appearances during which he batted .268 with three home runs and nine RBI.
In the batter’s box, Tinney’s prodigious pull-side power is elite, producing a top-10 average exit velocity in college baseball last season. This offseason, Tinney’s exit velocity has reached 112 to 114 miles per hour at Texas and up to nearly 120 miles per hour in training.
PR after PR after PR 🚨
Top college prospect Carson Tinney caps his PR streak at 119.5 MPH EV, landing #2 on the FL college leaderboard 💪 pic.twitter.com/Mn9zC26oMo
“He has that big, big power — when he comes to the plate, the crowd is going to pay attention because you never know what you’re going to see,” Schlossnagle said.
“He gets ahold of that ball, it’s going a long way,” Texas sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis said.
At Notre Dame, Tinney combined that power with the command of the strike zone expected from a catcher in drawing 34 walks for an on-base percentage of .498 and a solid strikeout rate of 25 percent. In comparison, Galvan had a strikeout rate of 35.5 percent, as he was more prone to take close pitches late in the count and swing and miss.
“He’s improved as an overall hitter, which is what he has to continue to do to be the draft pick that he wants to be and to be the hitter that we want him to be,” Schlossnagle said.
Since arriving on the Forty Acres, Schlossnagle praised the development of Tinney’s leadership ability and his improvement behind the plate after throwing out 17-of-25 attempted base stealers in 2025.
“He’s a really good catcher. He’s got unique receiving abilities. He throws well,” Schlossnagle said.
Longhorns pitchers like Volantis appreciate the big target that Tinney presents behind the plate and his coach in the Cape Cod league last summer praised the way that Tinney is able to frame pitches.
“He makes our pitchers better,” Jamie Shevchik said. “He steals strikes. There’s pitches that are probably two, three balls off the plate that he’s pulling back in and getting calls on.”
This is what a catcher’s system looks like.
Answers for whatever the game demands.
Simple. Fluid. Efficient. Consistent. Effective.
Build the system. Challenge the system. Refine the system.
Despite adding 40 pounds since high school, when he reached 87 miles per hour throwing from behind the plate with a pop time of 1.80 seconds, Tinney has maintained his athleticism.
But no matter how much athleticism and toughness Tinney has, one certainty for the 2026 season is that he’ll suffer some knocks playing catcher and need some games off or at designated hitter to stay fresh, so he wasn’t the only important addition at the position.
With the departures of Oliver Service and Cole Chamberlain, backup options for Schlossnagle last season, landing a catcher with experience was paramount to allow some development time for signee Presley Courville.
Texas looked to the junior-college ranks to fill that need by signing San Antonio product Andrew Ermis, who made big strides as a hitter last season at Temple, improving his batting average from .255 to .338 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. According to Schlossnagle, that offensive improvement has continued in Austin, but his floor is set by his advanced catching ability.
“He’s a really good catch-and-throw guy. I mean, really good,” said the Texas head coach.
The other certainty for the 2026 season is that if the Horns are going to make a run to Omaha, Tinney’s power in the middle of the lineup and play behind the plate will play crucial roles.
The NHL roster freeze is underway, meaning the St. Louis Blues won’t trade anyone until it ends on Feb. 22.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t any trade speculation, or that general managers aren’t discussing moves they could make before the March 6 trade deadline.
A new report from Ansar Khan of MLive suggests that Blues defenseman Justin Faulk could be the defenseman the Detroit Red Wings need to solidify their blueline.
The Red Wings have no shortage of stout right-handed defenders. Moritz Seider is enjoying a phenomenal season and is considered by many to be a Norris Trophy finalist when the season ends. The 24-year-old has scored seven goals and 38 points this season while averaging 25:40 of ice time. He’s a two-way defender who brings a physical element.
The other young right-handed defender on the Red Wings roster is Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The 20-year-old has notched six goals and 18 points, showing signs that he can be a good offensive defenseman in the NHL. But he has struggled defensively and requires more sheltered minutes, and that’s where Faulk comes into play.
Faulk would slide nicely on the Red Wings’ second pair alongside either Simon Edvinsson or Ben Chiarot. Faulk’s defensive capabilities, and his ability to add offense from the blueline are the exact skillset the Red Wings are looking for.
Faulk wouldn’t be required to play big minutes, as Seider and Edvinsson are their minute-munchers. But Faulk would allow Sandin-Pellikka to play sheltered minutes in more offensive situations, which would benefit his game.
Justin Faulk has scored 11 goals and 30 points in 57 games while averaging 22:29 of ice time. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
The Red Wings have a boatload of prospects and draft picks that they could use to acquire Faulk. They also have plenty of cap space to acquire Faulk’s full $6.5 million cap hit.
The Red Wings are in the midst of a spirited battle in the Atlantic Division, as they are just four points back of the division lead, but are also just three points ahead of the second wild card spot.
Detroit needs as many experienced players as they can get their hands on, and Faulk would provide them with a much-needed upgrade.
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