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Grizzlies beat Sacramento 129-125, send Kings to their season-worst 10th straight loss

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Cam Spencer hit three key baskets late in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points, and Ty Jerome added 28 as the Memphis Grizzlies beat Sacramento 129-125 on Wednesday night, sending the Kings to their season-worst 10th straight loss.

Spencer hit a 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining in the fourth to give Memphis a 122-118 lead. After GG Jackson hit a jumper, Spencer added a 16-foot jumper with 43 seconds left to keep the margin at four points. After the Kings pulled within a point on DeMar DeRozan's 3, Spencer hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to restore the four-point lead and help seal the win.

Jaylen Wells scored 18 points, Jackson added 16 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 15 as Memphis won its second straight. Santi Aldama, back in the lineup after missing four game with a right knee injury, had 12 points and six rebounds.

The Grizzlies were playing their first game since trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in an eight-player, three-draft-pick deal. Memphis has also been engaged in talks about moving star guard Ja Morant. The trade deadline is Thursday afternoon.

Domantas Sabonis scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half and added 15 rebounds for the Kings, whose last victory came on Jan. 16 against Washington, the final game of a four-game win streak.

DeRozan scored 20 points, Nique Clifford added 14, and Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk had 13 points apiece. Zach LaVine scored 11 and Devin Carter 10 for Sacramento, which also had losing streaks of seven and eight games earlier this season.

Westbrook moved into 14th place on the NBA’s career scoring list with a 3-pointer at the 10:06 mark of the first quarter. He moved past Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) and has 26,597 career points. Elvin Hayes ranks 13th with 27,313.

De’Andre Hunter, who was acquired by the Kings in a trade with Cleveland on Saturday, started in his Sacramento debut. He hit his first attempt, a 3-pointer, and finished with nine points.

Up next

Grizzlies: At Portland on Friday and Saturday night.

Kings: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

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Player Grades: Cavs at Clippers – Donovan Mitchell shines in wire-to-wire victory

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers scores against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at Intuit Dome on February 04, 2026 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 Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Whether or not the Cleveland Cavaliers won their recent trade with the Los Angeles Clippers remains to be seen. We can, however, confirm that they won their game against them rather convincingly. They routed the Clippers 124-91.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” represents an average game for that player.

Donovan Mitchell

29 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals

Mitchell brings energy nearly every night, but some games, he plays like he’s been shot out of a cannon. This was one of those outings.

That effort was coupled with just a good all-around game. Mitchell got to the basket at will, set up his teammates well, took care of the ball, and was active defensively. It was the perfect game from someone who looked reenergized by the team’s recent additions.

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen

10 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Allen didn’t dominate the scoring column like he did against the Portland Trail Blazers, but he had a noticeable impact on this game. He controlled the paint defensively and played with force on offense.

The Cavs don’t need Allen to lead them in points every night. They do, however, need him to play with energy and focus. He did so again this evening.

Grade: B+

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Jaylon Tyson

17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Tyson has continually made the most of the touches he gets offensively. That happened again in Los Angeles as he went 7-10 from the floor, 3-3 from three, all while playing good defense.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson has called Tyson the “ultimate role player” at various points the last two seasons. Tyson has continually proven Atkinson correct, but performances like this make you wonder how good he can be if you continue to scale up his usage.

Grade: A

Sam Merrill

11 points, 0 assists, 1 rebound

Merrill was an active off-ball mover and hit some threes. It was the exact performance you want from him, even if he didn’t make a large impact elsewhere.

Grade: B+

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Thomas Bryant

8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks

Bryant came in, got offensive rebounds (three), blocked some shots (two), and made the most of his chances to score. He even got rewarded for a deep seal in transition, which you absolutely love to see. You’d sign up for performances like this from your third big every night.

Grade: A

Dean Wade

5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Dean Wade did Dean Wade things.

Grade: B+

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Tomlin was the one Cavalier who didn’t have an efficient scoring night. He went 1-7 from the field, but was still helpful due to his energy and effort. This was reflected in his plus/minus of +16

Grade: B–

Dennis Schröder

11 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals

Schroder showed you the energy and straight-line attacking that he can provide. Both are things the second unit has desperately needed. Also, contributing three steals is helpful.

This was a solid debut, even if it wasn’t an efficient shooting game. He went 5-14 from the field and 1-5 from deep.

Grade: B+

Craig Porter Jr.

7 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

Porter being able to shift to a more off-ball role worked tonight. He played well alongside Schroder. He’ll need to keep doing that if he’s going to continue to get steady minutes once James Harden joins the team on Friday.

Grade: B+

Keon Ellis

6 points, 0 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

Ellis was disruptive defensively. He showed what he can do on that end in the limited minutes that he played. I’m interested to see how he performs when he gets a longer runway and gets more acclimated with the team’s system.

Grade: B

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Flames Win the Battle of Alberta, Down Oilers 4–3

The Calgary Flames closed out the pre-Olympic break schedule with bragging rights, knocking off the Edmonton Oilers 4–3 in a spirited Battle of Alberta on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Edmonton responded immediately with their lethal power play. With the man advantage winding down, Leon Draisaitl walked in tight and roofed a sharp-angle shot over Devin Cooley to tie the game 1–1. The goal also pushed Draisaitl past Mark Messier for fourth on the Oilers’ all-time points list, adding another milestone to his growing résumé.

Calgary struck first and wasted no time doing it. On their opening shot of the game, Mackenzie Weegar slid the puck to Jonathan Huberdeau at the top of the circle, and he snapped a far-side wrist shot past Tristan Jarry for a power-play goal just minutes in. The tally marked Huberdeau’s 10th of the season and set the tone for a special-teams-heavy opening frame.

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

The Flames reclaimed the lead later in the period on another power play. Weegar fired a stretch pass to Matvei Gridin, who broke in alone and ripped a shot past Jarry at 14:44. The goal gave Calgary a 2–1 edge and marked Cooley’s first career NHL assist.

The second period delivered the physical edge expected in a rivalry game. Joel Hanley and Ty Emberson dropped the gloves in a spirited bout that energized the building, and Calgary fed off that momentum. After hemming Edmonton in their zone, Zach Whitecloud sent a point shot toward the net that deflected off Connor Zary and in, extending the Flames’ lead to 3–1.

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

Edmonton pushed back once again on the power play before the break. Connor McDavid worked the puck to Evan Bouchard, who found Draisaitl at the side of the net for his second power-play goal of the night, trimming the deficit to 3–2. The assist marked Bouchard’s 300th career NHL point.

The Oilers finally pulled even early in the third when Kasperi Kapanen threw a puck on net that slipped through Cooley, with Bouchard collecting his third assist of the game. But the tie was short-lived.

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

Moments later, a broken-play scramble saw the puck bounce to Ryan Lomberg, who jammed it home after Jarry couldn’t control the rebound. That goal stood as the winner, sealing a 4–3 Flames victory in a game that had the intensity of playoff hockey.

Cooley finished the night with 36 saves to earn his seventh win of the season, helping Calgary head into the Olympic break on a high note.

Three Takeaways

1. Special teams stole the spotlight

Both teams leaned heavily on the power play, combining for four man-advantage goals. Calgary capitalized twice, while Edmonton’s top-ranked unit answered right back, keeping the game tight from start to finish.

2. Devin Cooley continues to deliver

Under constant pressure, Cooley stood tall with 36 saves and made several key stops to preserve the lead. Adding his first NHL assist was the cherry on top of another confident performance.

3. Matvei Gridin keeps making his case

Gridin recorded a goal and an assist and looked comfortable in a high-tempo rivalry game. Even with a likely return to the AHL during the break, his play made it clear he’s knocking on the door for a longer NHL stay.

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Cavs newcomers shine in 124-91 win over Clippers

Feb 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (9) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) as he drives to the basket in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers toppled the LA Clippers in a 33-point victory on the road. This game could have been an emotional letdown. But on the heels of a massive blockbuster trade, the Cavs stuck to business as usual.

These last few days have been a whirlwind. Trading Darius Garland for James Harden is one of the biggest swings this franchise has ever made. And while neither Garland nor Harden was on the floor tonight, it still felt like their presence could have loomed over the outcome.

It didn’t.

The Cavs looked unbothered by the seismic changes that happened to them overnight. This team was locked and loaded, playing the same brand of basketball they had in January. Cleveland has been in a groove recently, and this was another giant step in the right direction.

Newcomers Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis made an immediate impact. Schroder began the game by dicing into the lane for a scoop layup and then stealing the ball from Kawhi Leonard moments later. And that was only the first time he stole it from Leonard in the first half.

Ellis, while not as flashy, also showed his skills as a disruptive defender and fit seamlessly into Cleveland’s efforts on both ends of the floor.

Make no mistake, this was a team effort. Jaylon Tyson, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Schroder all scored in double digits.

The crisp ball movement that has come to define the Cavs when they are at their best was present tonight. Everyone was involved, and the Clippers’ defense was in constant pursuit. The amount of on-ball creators this team has now that Tyson has emerged and Schroder has given them a boost is something to be excited about. Especially when considering James Harden is days away from his debut.

Cleveland is now 31-21 this season continues to trend upwards. They stand in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and could legitimately make a run at being a top-two seed after the All-Star break.

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Lehkonen Scores Twice as Avalanche Defeat Sharks, MacKinnon Hits 700 Assists

DENVER — Artturi Lehkonen scored twice, Josh Manson netted the go-ahead goal at 12:44 of the third period, and Nathan MacKinnon notched his 700th career assist in a two-assist performance as the Colorado Avalanche overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4–2 at Ball Arena on Wednesday. 

Valeri Nichushkin set up three of Colorado’s goals, while Brock Nelson also scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves to secure the victory for the Avalanche (37–9–9), who are 3–3–0 in their past six contests. The win also ended a three-game home losing streak, as the team had not triumphed at Ball Arena since a 5–2 victory over the Washington Capitals on January 19. 

MacKinnon on reaching 700 career assists: “I think everyone gets a little better as they get older. I’ve played for 13 years, so it’s not that impressive… I think this could end at any moment. I’m not thinking about any milestone; I’m truly not.” 

Nathan MacKinnon post-game media availability.

Phillip Kurashev and Timothy Liljegren scored for the Sharks and Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves in a valiant effort between the pipes. 

First Period 

Nelson came close to opening the scoring early, threading a crisp cross-ice pass to Victor Olofsson, whose one-timer was expertly denied by Askarov’s blocker. 

Just under four minutes in, Parker Kelly was whistled for slashing John Klingberg, giving Colorado its first power-play opportunity. The Sharks’ penalty kill, however, held firm, allowing only a single shot on goal. 

Later, Nelson was sent to the box for hooking Kurashev, but San Jose’s man advantage was brief. Alex Wennberg was assessed a hooking minor of his own, creating 41 seconds of 4-on-4 action before the Avalanche returned to the power play for just over a minute. 

Colorado generated several dangerous chances, including a prime rebound opportunity for Lehkonen, who swung at a loose puck only to be denied by an impressive pad save from Askarov. Moments later, Jack Drury was struck by a MacKinnon shot and went down in pain. The play was immediately halted, though Drury later returned. Despite the pressure, the Avalanche’s power play remained scoreless. 

The team earned another man-advantage opportunity with 2:22 left in the period after Kiefer Sherwood—making his Sharks debut following a trade from Vancouver—was penalized for holding Brent Burns. 

Second Period 

Colorado broke through just 1:05 into the second frame. A loose puck in the crease triggered a chaotic scramble, with players tumbling into the blue paint as Askarov sprawled along the goal line. Lehkonen emerged victorious, jamming the puck home to give the Avalanche a 1–0 lead. 

Later, Kurashev was called for high-sticking Cale Makar, giving Colorado its third power play of the night, but the team was once again unable to convert. 

Lehkonen struck again with a blistering one-timer from the right circle off a MacKinnon feed, doubling the lead to 2–0. The assist marked a milestone for MacKinnon, the 700th of his career. 

The period ended with Colorado holding a commanding 2–0 lead and an overwhelming advantage in shots, 32–13. 

Third Period 

San Jose responded quickly, scoring twice within the first four minutes. Liljegren opened the period with a point shot that beat Blackwood, followed shortly by Kurashev, who capitalized on a turnover at center ice for a breakaway to tie the game. 

Colorado regained the lead with 7:16 remaining when Manson received a pass from Nichushkin and unleashed a slap shot over Askarov’s glove during 4-on-4 play, as Macklin Celebrini and Brent Burns were serving separate penalties. 

Nelson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 1:17 left, sending the Avalanche home with a 4–2 win. 

Next Game 

With the three-week Olympic break underway, the Avalanche will return to action on February 25 on the road against the Utah Mammoth. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time. 

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2026 Phoenix Suns Trade Deadline News Tracker

Dec 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) matches up against Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Welcome to Trade Deadline Day. The deals are about to start flying, some impacting the Phoenix Suns directly, others in more subtle ways. Our team will break down every trade in detail, but this thread will serve as your running tracker, with the latest updates at the top. Keep checking back with Bright Side for a quick look at what the Suns have done and how each move affects the roster before the deadline at 1 pm Arizona time.

Any big trades will get the full deep dive soon enough, but until then, consider this your one-stop shop for all things Suns at the deadline!

We will continue to provide updates throughout the week as trades that affect the Suns occur or rumored players that they’ve been connected to come off the board.

Refresh. Often.

Wednesday, 10:22PM: Yabu Traded

Update by John Voita

I know it’s no big deal, but Guershon Yabusele is off the board.

Why does it matter? Our own Pano wrote a great piece making the case for him, and if the Suns were to do a one-for-one trade, I wouldn’t have minded having him in Phoenix. Oh well. C’est ainsi.

Wednesday, 9:35PM: Yabu Traded

Update by John Voita

It is not Suns news, but it is Suns adjacent. Jonathan Kuminga is headed to Atlanta. All I can really say is good riddance.

We have had an interesting relationship with Kuminga since the summer. Mostly me, typing far too many words explaining why the Suns should not go down that road. So in that sense, there is some closure here. He is gone. The debate is over.

Then there is Golden State. Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors is the kind of move that makes you squint. I do not really see how it helps them. Availability has always been the issue. He has played 17 games this season and has not been on the floor in nearly a month. Talent without reliability is a tricky bet.

This actually helps the Suns. They see the Warriors tomorrow night, and Golden State is going to be shorthanded. Buddy Hield is out the door in that deal. As I am typing this, Trayce Jackson-Davis is gone too.

So while none of this directly involves Phoenix, the ripple effects matter. Familiar faces are moving. Opponents scrambling. The board keeps shifting, and sometimes the best move is the one you did not make, while others are busy rearranging the furniture.

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Red Wings Drop 4-1 Final To Utah In Last Game Before Olympic Break

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In recent seasons, something about playing against the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Hockey Club/Utah Mammoth just does not agree with the Detroit Red Wings. 

The Red Wings fell 4–1 on Wednesday evening in just their second-ever visit to the Delta Center in Salt Lake City since the franchise relocated from the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Dating back to March 2019, the franchise has gone through three official names, but has managed to accumulate a 10-1-1 record against the Red Wings. 

For Detroit, it's not how they wanted to enter the three-week Olympic break, especially after delivering such a strong performance 48 hours prior in their 2-0 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche. 

They now sit at 33-19-6. Their regulation loss, combined with the Montreal Canadiens' victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, has them both knotted at 72 points apiece. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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Just as the Red Wings did to the Avalanche on Monday, the Mammoth struck early on Wednesday, finding the back of the net on their first attempt on goaltender John Gibson at the 58-second mark of the opening frame. 

Following Sean Durzi's early goal, the Mammoth doubled its lead on the man advantage thanks to Nick Schmaltz, who scored his 23rd goal of the season. 

Following a goalless second period, the Red Wings had the chance to cut into Utah's lead with an early power-play chance in the third period, but went for naught. Not long afterward, Utah essentially salted the game away with a goal from Dylan Guenther, his 25th, at 4:40. 

"Really Cool": John Gibson Loved Seeing Red Wings Fans Invade Denver"Really Cool": John Gibson Loved Seeing Red Wings Fans Invade DenverDetroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson gave a shoutout to the thousands of Red Wings fans in attendance for their 2-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver.

While Dylan Larkin managed to spoil Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka's shutout attempt with his 26th goal of the season at 15:52, the Mammoth ensured victory with an empty-net goal from Clayton Keller late in regulation. 

Vejmelka improved to 4-1-1 lifetime against the Red Wings, stopping 29 of 30 shots. Meanwhile, Gibson made 21 saves on the 24 shots he faced.

Aside from their three Olympians, the Red Wings are now officially off until Feb. 26 when they face the Ottawa Senators on the road. 

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San Antonio vs Oklahoma City Thunder, Final Score: Spurs outlast the Thunder bench crew 116-106

Feb 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) shoots during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Thunder held two-thirds of their team out of the game tonight, and their skeleton crew of Jaylin Williams and four bench players, along with three two-way players made the Spurs work for a win. Maybe it’s excusable to let your focus slip a little when you’re not facing the other team’s best players, but it was frustrating to watch as the Spurs just tried to coast to a win and gave the Thunder skeleton crew hope kept them in the game late. The lackadaisical play of the Silver and Black let the end of the Thunder bench play like contenders.

Instead of playing team ball, there was way too much one on one offense, and slow rotations on defense. The Spurs got a great effort from Keldon Johnson tonight, but most of the rest of the team was embarrassed by the Thunder reserves. De’Aaron Fox made some key plays down the stretch as the Spurs outlasted the Thunder 116-106. The strategy of sitting almost the entire Thunder team felt like a psyop on the Spurs, and given how hard the Spurs had to play to eke out a win, it seems like it worked.

Despite this win being a little on the disappointing side, it was a good thing for them as they solidified their second spot in the west as they head to Dallas for a game tom0rrow against the Mavericks. They also secured their 34th win of the year, which is the same number of wins the team scored in the entire 2024-2025 season, with 32 games left in the season.

Observations

  • The Thunder sat 10 players for tonight’s game. Three of those players have had long term injuries and Caruso has been dealing with an adductor strain for some time. Unfortunately, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdominal strain in last night’s game against the Magic, and could be out for a couple of weeks at least. The other six players—I’m not sure if they would be sitting out a playoff game—but I am not a doctor. It feels like a scheduled loss for the Thunder, who have already lost the season series where the Spurs lead 3-1. Mind games? Maybe, but the Spurs are going to need to play with intensity to win tonight, because every player on the Thunder roster is a solid NBA player.
  • Just before the game it came out that Dylan Harper would be out, and Castle would be playing. Harper has been very good the last couple of weeks as he burst through the rookie wall that he seemed to hit around the season’s midpoint and once again began to score at will in the paint. Hopefully he’ll be back for tomorrow night’s game against the Mavs.
  • The lead-in game of Knicks/Nuggets went into double overtime, and ended in a 134-127 New York win. That’s good news for the Spurs as they solidified their hold on second place in the Western Conference, with the Nuggets two games behind the Spurs in the loss column.
  • The Thunder kind of hung around for much of the first quarter, but when Keldon Johnson came in, they didn’t have the beef, and the Spurs led 39-26 after one quarter.
  • Wiggins caught fire from beyond the arc in the second quarter as the Thunder cut a 20 point Spurs lead to 10 with 5 minutes left in the half. Carter Bryant found his shot as the Spurs finished the quarter strong and led 73-58 at the half. It should have been more, but a sloppy effort at rebounding gave the Thunder the last basket of the half cutting their deficit to 15 and giving them a little bit of confidence.
  • The Spurs came out of the locker room in the third quarter not ready to play hard, and the Thunder quickly cut the deficit to single digits. Once again, Keldon took over the game and scored 13 straight for the Spur to right the ship.
  • You just can’t fault the effort from the Thunder. Most of the players that were out on the court tonight don’t get a lot of playing time, and they just played HARD tonight. These Spurs were trying to cruise through the game and the Thunder skeleton crew made them pay for the lackadaisical effort by getting open shots and sinking them. The Spurs led 95-85 after three quarters with the Thunder skeleton crew outscoring the Spurs 27-22 in the quarter.
  • The Thunder won two coach’s challenges, although the second overturn was a bit fishy in my opinion. The Spurs finally exercised a challenge late in the third as the Fox stole the ball that should have led to a fast break dunk, but it was negated because of the incorrect foul call. Even though the call was reversed, the Spurs were still robbed of a fast break bucket. It seems that the replay review should at least award the team a transition take foul in that situation.
  • The Thunder defense got energized in the fourth quarter and made things difficult for the home team, cutting the lead to 4 points with under 4 minutes left. They broke up a few alley oops for Wemby late, and even turned them into baskets on the other end, which really made thing hard for the home team.
  • Steph Castle picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter, but played most of the quarter and made key plays down the stretch as he was one of key factors in the Spurs clutch run.

Tonight is the first game of a back-to-back for the Silver and Black as they travel to Dallas for a matchup against the Mavericks, and their super rookie Cooper Flagg in the first game of a home and home series, which will wrap up on Friday in San Antonio.

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Braves News: Top prospects, Spring Training invites, more

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: JR Ritchie #24 of the Atlanta Braves walks back to the dugout during the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It was a good day for people interested in prospects, as our prospect team continues to roll out their best-in-industry Braves top 30 prospects list and we got Atlanta’s list of non-roster Spring Training invites. I will say that I was a bit disappointed at the absence of Cam Caminiti on the non-roster invites list, as I would love for him to be able to pick Chris Sale’s brain as a lefty with some similarities in pitch profile, but perhaps there will still be opportunities for that and Cam is obviously a ways away from the majors as of yet. That said, there are plenty of exciting prospects to watch, including JR Ritchie, Owen Murphy, Garrett Baumann, Alex Lodise, and John Gil.

Braves News

Our prospects team continues their top 30 prospects list with numbers 18-13.

The Braves released their non-roster invites list for Spring Training next week.

MLB News

The Tigers made a splash on the evening after Tarik Skubal’s arbitration hearing, signing Framber Valdez to a 3 year, $115 million deal with an opt-out after year two.

The Padres signed Miguel Andujar to a 1 year, $4 million deal.

The Red Sox signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a 1 year, $6 million deal to play second base for them.

The Pirates are reportedly interested in former Braves’ slugger Marcell Ozuna.

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Marchand's shootout goal gives Panthers 5-4 win over Bruins

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brad Marchand scored in the fourth round of the shootout in his return to Florida’s lineup after missing two games to give the Panthers a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins, his former team, on Wednesday night.

Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists for his second three-point game of the season, while Matthew Tkachuk and Uvis Balinskis had a goal and an assist each as the Panthers ended a four-game losing streak. Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves.

Michael Eyssimont scored twice for the Bruins, who have lost two straight games in Florida in a shootout, including Sunday’s NHL Stadium Series game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mark Kastelic and Casey Mittelstadt also had goals and Joonas Korpisalo had 22 saves.

The Panthers trailed 2-1 after the first period despite taking the lead on a goal from Eetu Luostarinen at 4:22.

Eyssimont scored a pair of goals on breakaways — including one when he came racing out of the penalty box and got Bobrovsky to go down, leaving the net open enough for him to be able to tuck the puck in.

Florida scored three goals on special teams in the second, two on the power play and one short-handed.

Balinskis tied the score 30 seconds into the period. Tkachuk made it 3-2 at 2:22 on a power-play goal and the Panthers made it 4-2 with 1:27 remaining in the second, Sam Reinhart feeding Lundell off the rush while Florida was killing off a penalty.

BLUE JACKETS 4, BLACKHAWKS 0

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Zach Werenski became the first defenseman to score 20 goals before an Olympic break, Jet Greaves got his second shutout of the season and Columbus extended its winning streak to seven with a victory over Chicago.

Ivan Provorov, Danton Heinen and Sean Monahan also scored for Columbus, which has won 10 of 11 since Rick Bowness became coach on Jan. 12.

Columbus was seven games out of a playoff spot when Bowness was hired to replace Dean Evason. The Blue Jackets enter the Olympic break only two points behind the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Greaves stopped 21 shots for his fourth career shutout in 58 regular-season games. Charlie Coyle added two assists.

It’s the first time since 2020 that Columbus got shutouts in two straight games and the first time since 2019 that they’ve done it on back-to-back nights. The Blue Jackets defeated New Jersey 3-0 on Tuesday night.

CANADIENS 5, JETS 1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson each had a goal and two assists, Samuel Montembeault stopped 36 shots to earn his first win since Jan. 17 and Montreal beat Winnipeg.

Rookie Oliver Kapanen, Lane Hutson and Phillip Danault, also scored for the Canadiens, who are 4-0-1 during a five-game points streak and 6-2-1 in their last nine.

Montembeault, who made his first start since Jan. 24, had given up three or more goals in five of his six previous starts.

Kyle Connor scored for the Jets and Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves.

Winnipeg took an early 1-0 lead when Connor scored his 25th goal on a one-timer during a power play at 6:07 of the first period.

Kapanen, who’s heading to the Olympics for Finland, got his 18th goal 10 minutes later when a rebound went off Jet Cole Perfetti’s stick right to him and he then flipped the puck past a sprawled Hellebuyck.

Montreal went ahead 3-1 at 6:44 of the second after goals 76 seconds apart by Anderson and Hutson.

WILD 6, PREDATORS 5, OT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored three times in the first 13 minutes and assisted on Jared Spurgeon’s goal with 45.1 seconds left on the clock in overtime to lead Minnesota over Nashville.

Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored and Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves for the Wild, who have won five straight games.

Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists for Nashville, which is 2-0-3 in its last five. Filip Forsberg, Luke Evangelista, Erik Haula and Roman Josi also scored. Ryan O’Reilly had three assists and Juuse Saros stopped 38 shots.

All three games between the teams this season have gone to overtime.

In the extra period, Boldy slipped a pass to Spurgeon, who maneuvered to the low slot and beat Saros to the far side.

Tarasenko scored with 4:36 remaining in the third period. But just 34 seconds later, Josi tied it 5-all.

The teams combined for six goals in a wild first period.

MAMMOTH 4, RED WINGS 1

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist each, Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves, and Utah beat Detroit.

Sean Durzi and Dylan Guenther also had goals for Utah, helping the Mammoth improve to 8-1-1 on their home ice since the start of January.

Schmaltz tallied his 23rd goal of the season, matching a season-high set in the 2021-22 season with Arizona. He trails only Guenther, who has 25, in goals scored for Utah this season.

Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, who lost for the fourth time in five games. John Gibson made 21 stops for Detroit.

AVALANCHE 4, SHARKS 2

DENVER (AP) — Josh Manson scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and NHL-leading Colorado beat San Jose.

Artturi Lehkonen scored twice and Nathan MacKinnon had two assists for Colorado to reach another career milestone.

MacKinnon joined Joe Sakic as the only players in franchise history with 700 assists. Sakic, the team president, finished his career with 1,016.

Brock Nelson scored an empty-net goal, Valeri Nichushkin had three assists and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the Avalanche.

Timothy Liljegren and Philippe Kurashev scored 2:51 apart early in the third to tie it for the Sharks. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves, but San Jose enters the three-week break on a four-game skid.

STARS 5, BLUES 4

DALLAS (AP) — Captain Jamie Benn snapped a 15-game goal drought by scoring twice, including the game-winner with 23 seconds left, and Dallas beat St. Louis to go into the Olympic break with a six-game winning streak.

Jason Robertson became the first player from the NHL’s 2017 draft class to score 200 career goals. He and Benn each had an assist for the Stars. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, the helper coming on Benn’s goal in the second period that was his first since Dec. 23.

Robertson scored his 32nd goal this season in the first off a nifty pass from Mikko Rantanen, who had to regain control of the puck while going toward the net and pushed it across to Robertson to his right. It was the 431st career game for Robertson, the 39th overall pick in 2017 after the Stars had already taken defenseman Miro Heiskanen and goalie Jake Oettinger in that draft.

Oettinger, one of seven Stars going to the Olympics, made 14 saves to win his sixth game in a row. Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who will be on Canada’s Olympic team, stopped 23 shots.

Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who won only once in their last nine games before the break. Pavel Buchnevich had a power-play goal for St. Louis, which has scored with the man advantage in seven of its last eight games.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, CANUCKS 2

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist and Vegas Golden snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Vancouver.

Ivan Barbashev scored a goal for the fourth straight game, and Cole Reinhardt, Pavel Dorofayev and Alexander Holtz also had goals for the Knights. Mark Stone had a pair of assists.

Akira Schmid made 21 saves, including a spectacular stop on Vancouver’s Pierre-Olivier Joseph midway through the second period when he dove across the crease to snag the puck with his glove and preserve a 3-1 lead.

Elias N. Pettersson and Joseph had goals for the Canucks, who have now lost three in a row and six of their last seven games and remain in last place in the NHL. Teddy Blueger had a pair of assists and Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves.

KRAKEN 4, KINGS 2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shane Wright scored twice to lead Seattle to a win over Los Angeles.

Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson also scored and Chandler Stephenson and Frederick Gaudreau each had two assists for the Kraken, who have won five of their last six games. Joey Daccord made 25 saves.

Andrei Kuzmenko scored both of Los Angeles’ goals and Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves.

The Kings took a 1-0 lead at 7:42 of the first period when Kuzmenko scored on the power play.

Wright tied it at 1 at 9:16 on a backhander for his first goal of the game and Larsson put Seattle up 2-1 at 10:14 on a one-timer. Dunn made it 3-1 on the power play at 15:21.

Kuzmenko cut it to 3-2 on the power play at 10:27 of the second period, but Wright gave the Kraken a two-goal lead again with a power-play score at 5:50 of the third.

FLAMES 4, OILERS 3

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist for the rookie’s first multipoint game in the NHL, leading Calgary to a victory over Edmonton.

Ryan Lomberg scored the go-ahead goal at 6:44 of the third period. Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary also scored for Calgary. Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar and Zach Whitecloud had two assists apiece.

The Flames took the season series against their provincial rival, winning three of four meetings.

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for the Oilers, who limped into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak. Evan Bouchard had three assists.

Flames goalie Devin Cooley stopped 36 shots. Tristan Jarry made 21 saves for Edmonton.

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Yankees news: Beating projections seems viable for several Yanks

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: (L-R) Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates with Cody Bellinger #35 after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on October 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

MLB.com | Brian Murphy: The Yankees have a very similar team to the one that they ran in 2025, meaning that they have to be confident that they’ll see improvement in at least a few key areas to get them over the hump. They’re got a few candidates to step up, including ones that began their ascent in status last year like Ben Rice. They’ve also got some more established names that have the potential to outperform their expectations still, and Murphy gets into how Ryan McMahon and Cody Bellinger fit that latter category.

CBS Sports | R.J. Anderson: The transition period from offseason to spring training is the perfect time to go over prospects, and now that the 2026 rankings are out for a bunch of publications the next step is to determine which players could take the big leaps that put them on said rankings by midseason or next year. The Yankees have a promising one in Bryce Cunningham, who had incredible results in 2025 but lost a lot of time to injuries.

MLB.com: The Yankees made another waiver claim on Wednesday, adding Yanquiel Fernández from the Colorado Rockies. A left-handed outfielder, Fernández hit .225 with four homers and 11 RBI in 52 games last year at the major-league level, but had respectable production across five years in the minors and further adds to the depth chart entering camp. In a corresponding move, the team designated right-handed pitcher Dom Hamel for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: Old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa is on the move, and he’s staying in the division. The former Yankee and Blue Jay is joining the Red Sox on a one-year deal, and is likely to take over as their starting second baseman. It’s a far-cry from the more exciting deals that were floated like trading for Ketel Marte or Brendan Donovan or signing Bo Bichette, and while his defense likely will still carry some value I don’t think the Yankees’ staff will complain about having to face him in close games this season.

The Ringer | Bryan Curtis: You may have heard of the Washington Post’s massive layoffs yesterday, where a full third of the paper lost their jobs. That decision also completely axed the Post’s sports section, a monumental decision led by the paper’s inability to retain readers but more directly by management’s inability to give their writers a direction out of the spiral they were in. The general ineptitude displayed by leadership to treat the section as something worth saving creates yet another shockwave across the industry, as sports reporting is inarguably descending into one of the leanest periods of its history.

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Utah Jazz trade draft rights of lesser known player to the Thunder

Aug 16, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Detroit Pistons center Balsa Koprivica (23) looks to pass as Orlando Magic guard Jaire Grayer (54) defends during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

According to Brandon Rahbar, the Utah Jazz have traded the draft rights to Balsa Koprivica for cash considerations.

File this one under players that I didn’t realize the Jazz had. Koprivica was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Pistons in 2021. The Jazz acquired those rights in 2024 from the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, those rights are sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The biggest question for Jazz fans is: how much are these cash considerations?

Personally, I think the reason for this is pretty clear: to offset upcoming fines for the Jazz tanking. Utah can now do what they need to end the season, and they now have a slush fund for any sort of fine that might come their way. It’s a perfect opportunity to have the tank cost them nothing.

Or maybe they’ll use it to upgrade the arena, or buy some uniforms, or maybe they’ll get some swig with it, I don’t know.

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Otega Oweh goes for 20-plus again and Kentucky defeats Oklahoma 94-78

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Otega Oweh matched his season-high with 24 points, Brandon Garrison had 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and Kentucky defeated Oklahoma 94-78 on Wednesday night.

Oweh has scored 20-plus points in eight of 10 conference games. Garrison, who averages 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds, has one other game with double figures in scoring and one other with double figures in rebounding this season.

Oweh scored seven points early in the second half and the Wildcats pushed their 11-point halftime lead to 55-36 after about 3 1/2 minutes. Although the Sooners hit six 3-pointers in one seven-minute stretch they didn't get within 10 points until Xzayvier Brown hit back-to-back 3s to make it 82-72 with four minutes left.

A dunk by Oklahoma's Mohamed Wague made it 82-74 with three minutes to go but the Sooners did not make another basket. The Wildcats scored the next eight points to regain command.

Collin Chandler added 18 points for Kentucky (16-7, 7-3 SEC). The Wildcats shot 50%, made 22 of 27 free throws and had only six turnovers.

Brown scored 21 points, Tae Davis 16 and Derrion Reid 11 for Oklahoma (11-12, 1-9). The Sooners shot 44%, made 17 of 19 free throws and also had only six turnovers.

The Sooners had their last lead at 18-17 but they made only four baskets in the final 12 minutes of the first half and were 0 for 7 in the last five minutes. Kentucky led 43-32 at halftime after making nine 3-pointers and shooting 47% overall.

Kentucky improved to 32-1 under coach Mark Pope when leading at halftime.

Up next

Oklahoma: at No. 15 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Kentucky: Tennessee visits Rupp Arena on Saturday. ___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Kristaps Porzingis trade grades for Warriors, Hawks after Jonathan Kuminga swap

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 7: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at State Farm Arena on January 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Kuminga has finally been freed from the Golden State Warriors. In the end, Golden State got a valuable if unreliable player on an expiring contract in return for their dissatisfied forward by waiting until the trade deadline to deal him.

The Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kuminga and Buddy Hield, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. Kuminga had been stuck in trade rumors dating back to his prolonged restricted free agency over the summer, and now he gets the fresh start in Atlanta he’s been seeking. The Warriors also traded Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a 2026 second-round pick originally owned by the Los Angeles Lakers shortly after the deal, according to Charania.

Most of the Warriors chatter leading up to the deadline focused on their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Is that over for now? Let’s grade this surprising trade for both sides.

Warriors grade for Kristaps Porzingis-Jonathan Kuminga trade

Porzingis hasn’t been playing much dating back to last season with the Boston Celtics. He’s battled illness after being diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), a nervous system disorder that causes rapid heart rate and dizziness.

This season Porzingis has only played in 18 of Atlanta’s 58 games. When he’s been on the floor, he’s graded out incredibly well in the advanced metrics: he’s 11th in the entire league in EPM because he’s the rare player who ranks above the 90th percentile in effectiveness on both ends of the floor. Porzingis hasn’t actually been available enough to help Atlanta, but it hints at what he can do if he could ever stay healthy.

The advanced numbers overstate Porzingis’ impact, obviously. No one who has watched the Hawks this year believes he’s close to a top-10 player in the league. At the same time, Porzingis has a unique skill set as a 7’3 big man who can block shots and stroke three-pointers at an elite rate for his position. His 4.8 percent block rate this season is a huge number that ranks in the 91st percentile of all bigs. He’s also making 36 percent of his threes on nearly 10 attempts per 100 possessions.

Porzingis mostly grades out so well because he doesn’t turn the ball over at all. Possessions are important, people! He’s been a low turnover player his entire career, but he’s about to enter an offensive system that requires its bigs to make quick passing reads. He’s never played in anything like Steve Kerr’s offense before, and it will probably take time to adjust … if he can even stay healthy enough for this trade to matter.

Porzingis’ $30.7 million deal comes off the books this summer, meaning Golden State immediately improved its rotation without taking on any long-term risk. Could they have really gotten something better for Kuminga? I don’t think so. Porzingis may never make an impact for Golden State because he can’t get on the floor, but he’s still pretty good if his health situation changes, and that would add an impact player to a Warriors front court that needs it.

The fact that the Warriors also got off Buddy Hield’s final two years in this deal is even more impressive. That alone is a big win for Golden State, and getting a player like Porzingis is just icing on the cake.

Grade: A

Hawks grade Jonathan Kuminga trade

Porzingis wasn’t in Atlanta’s long-term plans, and it was known for a while the team wanted to trade him in-season. Kuminga is an interesting return as a physically talented forward who has never been able to fully put everything together. Kuminga wasn’t a good enough decision-maker, shooter, or defender to earn Steve Kerr’s trust, and that had him pouting on the sidelines for most of his Warriors tenure. He needed a change of scenery, and Atlanta provides that.

Kuminga and Jalen Johnson could give the Hawks a huge wing tandem if he is in their long-term plans. Atlanta’s future is mostly tied to if they get lottery luck with the New Orleans Pelicans’ pick they wisely acquired at last year’s draft. The Hawks feel like they’re under construction after the Trae Young trade, so it’s hard to make any assumptions about what this team looks like next year. For now, Kuminga will probably get a chance to run the floor and get buckets as Atlanta probably sneaks into the play-in tournament.

The most surprising thing about this trade is Atlanta was willing to take on the last two years of Buddy Hield’s deal. He makes $9.6 million next year and then $10 million 2027-28. Hield has a true bad contract, and I don’t think Kuminga is good enough to take on that money.

Grade: C-

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Game Of Bounces Costs Nashville Predators Overtime Result To Wild | Recap

Another Nashville Predators comeback was spoiled by a pair of bounces in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, 6-5, on Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators chased a two-goal deficit twice, erased it and forced overtime before eventually falling in the extra period.

"It was one of those games when you know the break's coming," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "I don't know if the focus on both teams was all that high. I think we scored 3 goals in our own net. It's just one of those games." 

Matt Boldy scored a hat trick less than 13 minutes into the game, which put the Wild up 3-1.

The hat trick goal came off a play where Nick Blakenberg swatted Boldy's lobbed shot into Michael McCarron. Boldy followed his own rebound and put it in the back of the net.  

"It's tough luck," Roman Josi said. "Everybody goes through that throughout the year, and it's just bad luck. Blankie has been unbelievable for us. We all love blanking. He's a fighter. He plays the game hard and he's an amazing person." 

Filip Forsberg had the Predators' first conversion of the game on the power play. 

Steven Stamkos scored off a one-timer to make it 3-2. The goal moves him past Mario Lemieux for seventh place on the NHL's all-time power-play goals list with 237.

Stamkos (2G, 1A)  and Ryan O'Reilly (3A) finished with three points each. 

Erik Haula registered the first weird bounce goal of the game. Deflecting a Jonathan Marchessault pass out to the front of the net off of the goalie Filip Gustavsson's back to tie the game at 3-3. 

"The resilience and the grittiness of this group. They believe," Brunette said. "Even on the bench, to hear them talk and say 'Hey, we got time, we're gonna get it, I think that's a great sign for our group...I felt like we didn't grab that consistency through the different stretches of the game." 

Nashville took its first lead of the game off a goal from Luke Evangelista as he put away a Stamkos rebound to make it 4-3. 

Minnesota took a late lead in the third off another goal that deflected off of Blakenberg and into the net. The goal was credited to Vladimir Tarasenko. 

Roman Josi tied the game with 4:12 left in regulation to force overtime. He finished with two points and now has 11 points in seven games. 

In the extra period, the Wild caught the Predators in a change, allowing Krill Kaprizov to spring Matt Boldy and Jared Spuregon on a 2-on-1. Spuregon scored with 46 seconds left to secure the victory. 

In the Predators' last four games decided in a five-minute overtime, they are 1-3.

"We've gotta stop playing from behind," Evangelista said. "We're doing a good job of climbing back, but I think if we have some better starts and sustainable 60 (minutes), we'll have some better luck than we did tonight." 

Juuse Saros has only one win in his last five starts, making 38 saves on 44 shots in the losing effort.

He was pulled in the second period of the Predators' 6-5 win over the Blues, lost to the Boston Bruins in overtime and lost against the Utah Mammoth. Saros's last win was 4-3 against the New York Islanders on Jan. 31. 

The Predators have one more game left before a two-week pause for the Winter Olympics, facing the Washington Capitals 24 hours later in DC. 

Picking up a point in the loss, the Predators (59 points) are two points outside of a Wild Card spot, with results from Seattle (61 points) and Los Angeles (60 points) still pending.

"We're definitely battling for life in these past couple of weeks and months, now," Marchessault said. "It's just that time of the year for us. It's catch-up, playoff hockey, so we're just trying to get in and keep moving forward."