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76ers race out to early lead behind Tyrese Maxey, cruise to 128-113 win against Clippers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers came out like a distracted team on the second night of a back-to-back. The Philadelphia 76ers came out red hot behind All-Star Tyrese Maxey, knocking down 3-pointers like they were shooting in an empty gym.

The result was the 76ers racing out to a 13-2 lead less than four minutes in — and their lead was never in single digits the rest of the night.

Philadelphia's lead ballooned up to 23 points, and while the Clippers made some runs, Maxey and Joel Embiid always had an answer. The result was a comfortable 128-113 win by the 76ers to start their West Coast Road trip. Maxey led the way with 29 points.

During the game, news broke that James Harden was pushing for a trade out of Los Angeles, and the Clippers were in talks with the Cavaliers about a possible deal to bring All-Star guard Darius Garland to LA. Harden was not in the building for this game, missing his second consecutive game for what the team listed as "personal reasons."

When asked if the rumors might have been a distraction to his players, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he didn't know. To a man, the Clippers players said they knew nothing about it until after the game.

"It's a surprise…" Kawhi Leonard said. "Respect his decision, or whoever's decision it is. That's still gonna be my boy. Trust the front office."

The Clippers looked like a distracted team to start the game, not to mention one on a back-to-back (they played in Phoenix the night before) and one without its starting point guard. Philadelphia came out hot and raced out to a 16-2 lead, and everything snowballed from there.

By the end of the first quarter, Philly had doubled up the Clippers 38-19 behind 16 from All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey didn't score in the second quarter and Leonard scored 13 in the frame, but the Clippers could not get stops or close the gap, and the 76ers still led by 19 at the half, 72-53.

The 76ers' tradition of struggling in the third quarter continued, and the Clippers found their sea legs, closing the gap to 11 points for a moment. Still, the game never felt in doubt — every time the Clippers got close, the 76ers answered. Sometimes emphatically.

Two-way player Dominick Barlow had a career-high 26 points for the 76ers — 11 in the first quarter — along with 16 rebounds, and helped set the tone. Joel Embiid scored 24 points with five rebounds.

"It was good, everyone contributed, Dominick Barlow was great, Tyrese [Maxey] was great," Embiid said postgame. "The rest, everybody did their job, that was good to see."

Leonard led the Clippers with 29, while Jordan Miller scored 21 off the bench for LA.

Leonard and the Clippers face the Cavaliers on Wednesday, in a game that suddenly became a lot more interesting.

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Minnesota faces Toronto for non-conference matchup

Minnesota Timberwolves (31-20, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (30-21, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Toronto Raptors in non-conference play.

The Raptors are 14-11 on their home court. Toronto is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference shooting 34.0% from 3-point range.

The Timberwolves have gone 14-12 away from home. Minnesota ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 44.9 rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 11.3.

The Raptors average 113.6 points per game, 0.9 fewer points than the 114.5 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Raptors give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes is averaging 19.6 points over the last 10 games.

Gobert is shooting 70.3% and averaging 10.7 points for the Timberwolves. Donte DiVincenzo is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 112.4 points, 43.2 rebounds, 29.3 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points per game.

Timberwolves: 4-6, averaging 115.8 points, 45.6 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (back).

Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Utah faces Indiana on 6-game slide

Utah Jazz (15-35, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (13-37, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pacers -3.5; over/under is 236.5

BOTTOM LINE: Utah aims to stop its six-game skid with a victory over Indiana.

The Pacers are 10-17 in home games. Indiana is 9-18 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 13.6 turnovers per game.

The Jazz have gone 5-18 away from home. Utah gives up 127.0 points to opponents and has been outscored by 9.0 points per game.

The Pacers average 110.7 points per game, 16.3 fewer points than the 127.0 the Jazz allow. The Jazz average 118.0 points per game, 0.4 fewer than the 118.4 the Pacers give up.

The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Jazz defeated the Pacers 152-128 in their last meeting on Nov. 12. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 35 points, and Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 27 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games.

Markkanen is averaging 27.4 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 15.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 110.3 points, 43.9 rebounds, 29.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.5 points per game.

Jazz: 1-9, averaging 113.0 points, 41.1 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.1 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

Jazz: Keyonte George: out (ankle), Georges Niang: out (foot), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Kings take on the Grizzlies on 9-game losing streak

Memphis Grizzlies (19-29, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-39, 15th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento aims to break its nine-game skid when the Kings play Memphis.

The Kings are 8-25 against Western Conference opponents. Sacramento is 3-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Grizzlies have gone 15-17 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis is seventh in the Western Conference with 14.4 fast break points per game led by Ja Morant averaging 2.7.

The Kings score 110.2 points per game, 6.6 fewer points than the 116.8 the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies' 45.5% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.6 percentage points lower than the Kings have given up to their opponents (49.1%).

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Grizzlies won 115-107 in the last matchup on Dec. 1. Zach Edey led the Grizzlies with 32 points, and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 23 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is averaging 19.2 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Zach LaVine is averaging 15 points over the past 10 games.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Grizzlies. Cedric Coward is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 1-9, averaging 110.1 points, 42.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 6.4 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.

Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 114.2 points, 43.8 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Russell Westbrook: day to day (foot), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out (back).

Grizzlies: John Konchar: day to day (neck), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Santi Aldama: day to day (knee), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Sabalenka stays top-ranked on women's tour despite loss, Djokovic up to third on men's tour

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz completed a career Grand Slam of singles victories with his Australian Open title, but there was some solace for the man he defeated, 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.

While Alcaraz maintained his No. 1 ranking on the ATP tour ahead of Jannik Sinner, Djokovic, who beat Sinner in the semifinals at Melbourne Park, moved up one place to No. 3. It is the first time the 38-year-old Djokovic has been inside the top three since August 2024.

On the WTA Tour, Aryna Sabalenka maintained her top ranking despite her loss in the final to Elena Rybakina, Rybakina moved up two places to third in the rankings, with Iga Swiatek in between at No. 2.

Three Americans followed in the WTA rankings — No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff and Australian Open semifinalist Jessica Pegula. Elina Svitolina moved up two places to No. 10 after her semifinal loss to Sabalenka at Melbourne Park.

American Learner Tien was one of the biggest improvers on either tour by moving up five places on the ATP Tour to No. 24, a career high. The 20-year-old Tien, who lost to now No. 4-ranked Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, became the youngest American man to reach the final eight of a major since 2002.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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Peterson finally finishes for No. 11 Kansas, hitting two late 3s to beat No. 13 Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Darryn Peterson was happy to finally finish a game for No. 11 Kansas, and the Jayhawks certainly needed the standout freshman at the end against No. 13 Texas Tech.

“This is the first game I got through to the end,” Peterson said. “I've been trying to all year, so to finally be able to do it, it's a blessing.”

Peterson scored 19 points while playing a season-high 35 minutes, but his only two field goals in the second half were late 3-pointers. He made the tying basket on a contested shot from the right corner with 1:20 left, and hit again from the left wing with 44 seconds left in a 64-61 victory Monday night.

Two days earlier, Peterson scored 18 points in the first half but didn't play the final 16:46 of a win over then-No. 13 BYU because of cramping. He is averaging 21.1 points per game.

An expected top pick in the NBA draft in June, Peterson had missed a win over Kansas State the previous game because of an ankle injury. The 6-foot-5 guard has also dealt with hamstring and calf issues this season while missing 10 games overall for Kansas (17-5, 7-2 Big 12).

Before hitting the late 3s, Peterson was only 3-of-12 shooting against the Red Raiders (16-6, 6-3).

“He’s got something that I guess you’re born with and can’t teach. He’s got just an unbelievable ability to raise his level when it counts the most,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “That’s what he did tonight. I mean, those two plays he made were obviously the two biggest plays of the game for us.”

The tying shot, after a Tech turnover, was made over preseason AP All-America forward JT Toppin, who then had his shot blocked at the other end by Flory Bidunga before missing on a second chance. Peterson then made what proved to be the game-winner.

“Two crucial 3s ... that was crazy,” Bidunga said.

“Coach Self told me to go make a play,” said Peterson, who was then asked where his confidence came from to finish that way. “The work I put in and then my teammates and coaches. I had a bad game ... shots weren’t really going. They guarded me kind of well, but I just trusted the work, so those shots I feel like I should make."

And he did when they counted most for the Jayhawks in their sixth consecutive victory.

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LeBron James, Lakers headed for divorce: report

LeBron James looking down while wearing his Lakers jersey.

LeBron James’ time with the Lakers is reportedly coming to an end soon.

NBA Insider Jake Fischer said during a livestream Monday “the Lakers are ready to move on from LeBron James and I think LeBron James is ready to move on from the Lakers as well.”

NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported Monday LeBron James and the Lakers are headed for a split.

Fischer reported he believes the divorce will happen in June.

“That’s kind of the foregone sentiment in Los Angeles right now about what’s to come this summer,” Fischer said.

LeBron James has been with the Lakers since 2018. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

James has been with the Lakers since 2018, when he signed on as a free agent after leaving the Cavaliers for the second time in his illustrious NBA career.

During his seven-plus years in purple and gold, James has averaged 26.3 points, 8.0 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

He helped lead the team to the 2020 NBA Championship.

His relationship with Jeanie Buss, though, reportedly soured over the last few years, after the Lakers governor allegedly grew tired of James’ “outsized ego” and didn’t appreciate that he had been viewed as the “savior” of the franchise.

LeBron James is in the final year of his Lakers contract. David Richard-Imagn Images

James said in the days after the bombshell Buss report dropped he didn’t “care about the articles” and that the stories “don’t bother me.”

“I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day,” he said. “I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody [feels] about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all [that] matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.” 

Fischer reported the Lakers will be looking to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after moving on from James this offseason.

James is currently in the final year of his Lakers contract.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Barlow’s career night propels Sixers over Clippers

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Dominick Barlow #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 7
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Paul George – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Sixers started off their West Coast trip in the win column following a dominant 128-113 victory against the Clippers.

The Sixers started the game on an 18-2 run which was emblematic of most of the matchup. Of course, the Clippers brought it to within 12 in the third quarter, but were never able to breach single digits in the fourth.

Also, Quentin Grimes absolutely postered John Collins.

Plenty of Bell Ringer nominees to chose from, but a clear star shined in Inglewood.

Dominick Barlow: 26 points, 10-of-16 FG, 16 rebounds (10 offensive), 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

It was quite the night for Barlow, who finished with a career high in points and offensive rebounds.

Barlow helped set the tone for the Sixers as he was a force on the boards throughout the game. In the halfcourt, was rolling or finding himself open in the dunker spot on multiple occasions for driving guards.

He cleaned up the offensive glass like a big man in the first half, grabbing five of his eight total rebounds on the offensive end.

His defensive ability was on display as well, picking off a couple passes and taking it the distance for easy finishes.

In the second half, he continued his dominance on the boards with an offensive rebound which he dropped off for an easy Embiid bucket once the defense collapsed.

Then an insane extended possession in the fourth where he just completely outplays both of the Clippers’ big men:

It is time to convert that contract, Daryl!

Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 9-of-18 FG, 7-of-14 3PT, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover

Maxey had seven threes find the bottom of the basket for only the second game this season — and the first time since opening night against the Celtics.

Maxey put on a shooting display in the first half, hitting his first four attempts from deep and getting to the foul line early, making all four of his charity stripe attempts. His shooting played as a perfect foil to Barlow’s aggressiveness in the paint as the Sixers jumped out to a massive lead.

He added another three at the top of the third, and a walk in shot from deep at the beginning of the fourth. His seventh three came with just under 4:30 left, and was off a beautiful step back going left.

It should be noted he was successful on almost all of his steal attempts tonight, solidifying his defensive growth from last season.

After a bit of a shooting slump, finding his stroke on the first game of the road trip could be helpful as they continue on the West Coast.

Joel Embiid: 24 points, 8-of-19 FG, 7-of-7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

It took Embiid a bit to get into this one, although he did have a nice skip pass to Kelly Oubre Jr. from the post in the first quarter. He finished the first half 2-0f-10 from the floor with just four free throw attempts.

That would change in the third as he came out a scorching 4-of-4 with a mix of pull up and off-the-catch jumpers, a three, and a drawn foul on a three-point attempt.

He added another smooth midrange jumper in the fourth to push the Sixers lead back up to 15. After a couple buckets from the Clippers, he drilled another one from free throw range to help put them away.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 15 points, 6-of-13 FG, 3-of-6 3PT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Oubre had a phenomenal first half playing off of Maxey and Edgecombe effectively. He was getting to the paint in transition and drained a couple catch-and-shoot attempts from the same spot in the far corner. He finished a tough layup with his left hand over Batum in the fourth to extend their lead to 15, and was the glue in a rather rare wire-to-wire win for the Sixers.

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Jonathan Drouin shifts to center as Islanders give their lines a major overhaul

Islanders left wing Jonathan Drouin skates with the puck in front of Capitals center Aliaksei Protas during the second period on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington.
Islanders left wing Jonathan Drouin skates with the puck in front of Capitals center Aliaksei Protas during the second period on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington.

WASHINGTON — The lethargic effort by the Islanders on Saturday night prompted a drastic change in their forward lines for Monday’s 4-1 loss against the Capitals.

Not only was Mathew Barzal shifted back to the wing and reunited with Bo Horvat for just the fourth time this season, but the second line featured Jonathan Drouin starting at center for the first time all year.

Islanders left wing Jonathan Drouin skates with the puck in front of Capitals center Aliaksei Protas during the second period on Monday in Washington. AP

Drouin skated between Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom, another combination the Islanders had never deployed together.

The only forward line that stayed untouched was the fourth line of Kyle MacLean, Casey Cizikas and Marc Gatcomb.

Anthony Duclair moved down to the third line with Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, while Ondrej Palat skated with Barzal and Horvat.

“I was pretty happy the way things went with the Horvat line [and] Drouin line,” Roy said after the game. “Even the Pageau and Cizikas [lines]. I thought we did a lot of good things, but unfortunately maybe not enough offensively to score more than one goal.”

The Islanders have been keeping the idea of Drouin playing in the middle in their back pockets for a while, having occasionally skated with him there when others missed practices.

Drouin has also frequently taken faceoffs, and took a 50.9 percent rate at the dots into Monday, when he went 4-for-11 on faceoffs.

Trying Heineman and Holmstrom, two Swedes who are close off the ice, together, could also help to spark Heineman, who has hit a bit of a wall lately.

“I like playing center,” Drouin, who has occasionally played the position in both the NHL and in juniors, said pregame. “You’re more free a little bit up the ice, you’re not stuck on the wall as a winger watching your defensemen. More free, a little more instinct.”

The revamped power-play units, with Matthew Schaefer, Barzal, Horvat, Holmstrom and Palat together on the top unit, produced an 0-for-2 night.

David Rittich stopped 20 of 23 shots in nets on the front end of the back-to-back, with Ilya Sorokin scheduled to play Tuesday against the Penguins at UBS Arena.

Islanders goaltender David Rittich clears the puck against Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier (left) during the second period. AP

Roy said goalie coach Sergei Naumovs made the decision.

“That was a tough one because Ilya was so good here in Washington at the beginning of the season,” Roy said. “Probably one of his better games. They’re both good teams, Washington and Pittsburgh. Sometimes you just go with what the goalie coach’s feeling is.”

Scott Mayfield fought Tom Wilson 1:47 into the third after Wilson hit Holmstrom near center ice.

Though the hit was legal, Mayfield called it “a little awkward, kind of high.”

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Nylander leads the Maple Leafs to a 4-2 win over the Flames

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — William Nylander scored on a breakaway 35 seconds into the game and added two assists that helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Monday night.

Matias Maccelli and defenseman Troy Stecher also scored as the Maple Leafs won their second straight following a six-game losing streak. Toronto halted an 0-5-1 slide by winning 3-2 in a shootout Saturday at Vancouver.

Bobby McMann's empty-net goal sealed it with 25 seconds remaining. Joseph Woll made 28 saves, improving to 5-0-0 against Calgary.

Toronto has won eight in a row versus the Flames, its longest active streak against any team.

Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee each had a goal and an assist for the struggling Flames, who have dropped six of seven. They snapped a five-game skid (0-3-2) with a 3-2 victory Saturday against San Jose when Farabee scored a short-handed goal to break a third-period tie.

Dustin Wolf stopped 18 shots.

Toronto moved within seven points of the Boston Bruins, who occupy the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nylander has 13 goals and 23 assists in 26 career games against Calgary, where he was born. His father, Michael, played for the Flames in the mid-1990s.

Calgary rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh was held without a point in 20:05 of ice time during his first NHL game since Nov. 7. A first-round draft pick in 2024, Parekh has been working his way back from an injury sustained at the World Junior Championship tournament, where he starred for Canada with five goals and eight assists in seven games.

Up next

Maple Leafs: At the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night to conclude a four-game trip heading into the Olympic break.

Flames: Host the Oilers on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the break.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Report: Cavs in advanced talks to trade for Clippers’ star James Harden

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers handles the ball against Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Intuit Dome on March 18, 2025 in Inglewood, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in “advanced discussions” to trade for LA Clippers’ All-Star James Harden. The deal would seemingly include a swap of Harden for Darius Garland.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix broke the news, and ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed it. The Clippers are looking for a suitor to take Harden, and the Cavs, along with other teams, are expressing serious interest.

It’s worth noting that Harden has a no-trade clause and would need to approve of any deal the Clippers make. That adds another layer to consider. Harden would have to sign off on playing in Cleveland before the Cavs could acquire him.

Mannix also added that Cleveland is seeking additional draft compensation in the trade. This has been a holdup for LA.

This is somewhat of a shock. We’ve known the Cavs are turning over every stone to find potential upgrades. But 36-year-old Harden wasn’t on many people’s radar. It feels insane on the surface to trade Garland for a player who is 10 years older than him and hasn’t proven he can get the job done in the postseason.

Granted, Garland hasn’t proven himself either, but he’ll presumably have many more chances to do so before his career is all said and done. Harden might be running out of time.

Numerous teams have convinced themselves that Harden can put them over the top. Thus far, no franchise has won that bet. I believe that Harden is better than he gets credit for in the playoffs—but I’m not eager to make the same mistake that the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Clippers have already made.

This is where I have to mention how great Harden still is on the basketball court. He’s averaging an efficient 25 points and 8 assists, all while playing 44 of LA’s 49 games this season. Harden has been more impactful and more durable than Garland this season. That’s a fact.

Also true is the age difference. It’s a bold move to hitch your wagon to a player who turns 37 this summer. The Cavs’ window won’t be open forever; we know this. But trading for a star who is closer to retirement than his prime is a risky move.

I’ll save the rest of my thoughts on this until we find out more. For now, keep your notifications on and brace for impact. Trade season is in full swing.

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Mavericks vs Celtics Game Preview: 3 things to know as Dallas hosts surging Boston

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at the TD Garden on February 06, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It feels like a lifetime since the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks met on the NBA’s biggest stage in the 2024 Finals. Much has changed since then as the red-hot Celtics (31-18) visit the Mavericks (19-30), who are looking to end a four-game skid. Here are three things to watch ahead of Dallas’s matchup with the East’s second-best team.

The Celtics shoot threes, lots of threes

The Celtics and Mavericks play two completely different styles. Boston is second in the NBA this season in threes attempted per game at 42.9, and second in made threes per game at 15.6. As a team, they shoot 36.7% from three, ninth in the NBA. In comparison, Dallas is 26th in the NBA in three-point shot attempts per game at 32.0, 28th in makes at 11.0, and 26th in percentage at 34.3%.

One thing that has not changed since the 2024 NBA Finals is Boston’s ability to shoot volume threes, which can demoralize opponents when the threes are falling. In today’s NBA, the math of three being worth more than two is a big part of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategy. In the absence of perennial All-Star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics lean on the three-point shot even more than before. Boston has six players who shoot above 39% from three this season — Anfernee Simons, Sam Houser, Josh Minnott, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. This doesn’t include veteran sharpshooter Derrick White, who has struggled from three this season at 32.4%. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have one player who shoots north of 39% from three — Max Christie.

Dallas’s style of bully-ball and relentless attacking in the paint can work on teams that aren’t efficient from three, but three is still worth more than two, and the math favors the Celtics.

The Celtics are deep

Even without Jayson Tatum, this Celtics team has been finding its groove lately, and a lot of that success stems from its depth. Boston is 7-3 in its past 10 games with a plus-nine point differential. After a 5-7 start, the Celtics are 26-11 since and sit in a second-place tie with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Boston has five players who score in double digits per game: Jaylen Brown (29.4), Derrick White (17.2), Payton Pritchard (16.8), Anfernee Simons (14.2), and Neemias Queta (10.1).

The depth of the Celtics is also a big reason why they have the league’s second-best offense at 121.3 points per game. One particular player that could cause problems for the Mavs is Queta, who has shown real promise in his fifth year. The seven-footer is averaging 10.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 63.5% shooting. Dallas’s lack of men in the middle could give the Celtics second and third opportunities to hoist from three.

Another player to watch is reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard. A lot of focus on the court tends to shift to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and for good reason. But Pritchard has quietly had another fantastic year for the Celtics, averaging 16.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His ability to attack off the dribble and shoot from three is a big reason why the Celtics’ offense has remained efficient without Tatum.

And of course, there’s Jaylen Brown, who’s statistically having his best season at 29.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Brown usually takes on the form of Robin, with Tatum being Batman, but Robin has done a pretty good job at keeping the ship afloat without the captain.

Cooper Flagg is the new Jayson Tatum?

One of the most common player comparisons Cooper Flagg has drawn is Jayson Tatum. And it makes sense. Both went to Duke. Both were one-and-done. Both are widely viewed as elite two-way players. Flagg is listed at 6’9, 205 pounds. Tatum is listed at 6’8, 210 pounds. Both have the size and length to guard one through four on defense. Both have great court vision and passing ability to lead an offense. They do feel all too similar. So how are Flagg’s rookie numbers comparing to Tatum’s?

The situation Tatum was drafted into had some similarities to Cooper Flagg’s. The 2016-2017 Celtics were 53-29 and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics took Jayson Tatum third overall. Tatum was thrust onto a good roster right away and was able to fit into his role. In his rookie year, he averaged 13.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. In comparison, Cooper Flagg is averaging 19.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his rookie campaign.

Tatum’s team success in his first year was far greater than Flagg’s, with the Celtics going 55-27 and coming one game shy of the NBA Finals, losing once again to LeBron James’s Cavaliers. As of now, the Mavericks sit at 19-30, 11th in the Western Conference. But Tatum was surrounded early by veterans who helped him figure things out – Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, to name a few. Flagg has that in Dallas — Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson. Veteran leadership matters, it’s just that most of the Mavericks veterans are hurt. Tatum has now grown himself to a top five to 10 player in the NBA. That may not even be the ceiling with Flagg. His ceiling may be top one.

Flagg will have his hands full on Tuesday night, being guarded by some of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Let’s see how the next Jayson Tatum fairs against the team that grew the original one.

How to watch

The two teams, going in seemingly opposite directions, will take the court on Tuesday night. But if there’s one thing we know, Dallas tends to beat the good teams. Go figure. The Mavs and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. Central time on NBC and Peacock.

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Flames Rally Falls Short in 4–2 Defeat to Maple Leafs

The Calgary Flames delivered a spirited effort Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but an early three-goal deficit proved too much to overcome as they fell 4–2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Calgary welcomed back rookie defenceman Zayne Parekh, who returned to the lineup after completing his AHL conditioning stint with the Calgary Wranglers. The game marked Parekh’s first NHL appearance since Nov. 7.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Toronto wasted no time opening the scoring. On the Maple Leafs’ first shot of the night, William Nylander broke in alone just over a minute into the game and snapped a glove-side shot past Dustin Wolf to give the visitors a 1–0 lead. The goal extended Nylander’s point streak against Calgary to 12 straight games.

Nylander continued to drive Toronto’s offence in the second period. After collecting the puck behind the net, he spotted Mattias Maccelli in the slot, who one-timed a shot past Wolf to make it 2–0. The Maple Leafs then sustained heavy pressure in the Flames’ zone, and Nylander struck again—this time finding former Flame Troy Stecher, who chipped the puck by Wolf to stretch the lead to three.

With the assist, Nylander recorded his 46th career three-point game, tying Doug Gilmour for eighth in franchise history.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Calgary finally found life midway through the period. Joel Farabee slipped a pass to Nazem Kadri at the side of the net, and Kadri picked his spot, roofing a shot over Joseph Woll to cut the deficit to 3–1. The goal was Kadri’s 10th of the season, continuing his strong production against his former club.

Kadri and Farabee teamed up again shortly after, this time with Kadri sending a hard saucer pass across the crease that Farabee redirected past Woll to pull the Flames within one.

The Flames pushed hard in the third period, generating several quality chances and ringing a shot off the post, but Woll held firm in the Toronto crease. With Wolf pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute, Bobby McMann sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal, securing the 4–2 win for the Maple Leafs.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Three Takeaways

1. Effort Was There, Finish Wasn’t

Calgary outshot and outhit Toronto, firing 30 shots on goal and generating enough looks to erase the deficit, but puck luck and timely saves never swung in their favour.

2. Coronato Continues to Impress

Matt Coronato was one of Calgary’s most dangerous forwards, leading all players with seven shots on goal while logging 19:27 of ice time.

3. Encouraging Return for Parekh

Zayne Parekh was trusted in late-game situations in his first NHL contest since early November. While there were moments of adjustment, his confidence with the puck, clean passing, and overall presence were noticeable signs in his return.

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Henderson scores 30 to lead Portland State to 88-65 victory over Idaho State

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jaylin Henderson scored 30 points to lead Portland State to an 88-65 victory over Idaho State on Monday night.

Henderson made 10 of 18 shots, including both of his 3-point attempts, and 8 of 10 free throws for the Vikings (15-6, 9-1 Big Sky Conference). He also handed out seven assists.

Terri Miller Jr. totaled 22 points and three steals for Portland State. Kelcy Phipps scored 11 off the bench on 4-for-4 shooting with a 3-pointer.

Caleb Van De Griend came off the bench to score 13 for the Bengals (10-13, 3-7), who trailed 43-32 at halftime. Evan Otten had 12 points and Connor Hollenbeck scored 10.

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Clippers, Cavaliers in ‘advanced’ talks for blockbuster James Harden trade

James Harden appears to be on the doorstep of wearing yet another NBA jersey.

The Clippers are in “advanced” talks with the Cavaliers about a trade for the future Hall of Famer, Sports Illustrated reported on Monday.

A potential Harden swap would net the Clippers Darius Garland in return, the outlet added.

The Clippers are reportedly in talks with the Cavaliers about sending James Harden to Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images

Harden did not play in Los Angeles’ home game against the Sixers on Monday night after head coach Ty Lue said the point guard was “home in Phoenix” due to “personal reasons.”

James Harden has missed the Clippers’ last two games, including Monday night’s matchup with the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images

Harden also missed the Clippers’ Sunday matchup against the Suns.

The 11-time All-Star joined the Clippers in 2023 in a trade from the 76ers.

In his two-plus seasons with the team, he’s averaged 21.1 points, 8.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Harden’s played for five total teams — the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, Sixers and Clippers — in his 17 years in the NBA.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland has missed time this season because of a toe injury. NBAE via Getty Images

Garland, meanwhile, has played his entire career in Cleveland after he was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. 

He’s made two All-Star teams.

He, though, has been limited to 26 games this season while dealing with a toe injury.

The NBA’s trade deadline is 12 p.m. PT on Thursday.