Championship roundup: Wrexham stun Sheffield United in eight-goal thriller

  • Wrexham roar back to win 5-3; Coventry stretch lead

  • Ipswich and Millwall draw; Bristol City beat Albion

Kieffer Moore struck twice against his old club as Wrexham recovered from 3-1 down to beat Sheffield United 5-3 in a late afternoon Boxing Day thriller at STōK Cae Ras. Patrick Bamford had looked like stealing the headlines with a well-taken early double for the visitors but Wrexham powered back to claim their first win in six league outings.

With his short-term contract due to expire on New Year’s Day, Bamford put himself in the shop window as he scored either side of a Tyler Bindon own goal. Callum O’Hare added a third for Chris Wilder’s side but Wrexham responded through Moore and levelled through Ryan Longman. Moore put them ahead for the first time and a Josh Windass penalty completed the fightback.

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Anthony Davis to miss 'a few games' with latest groin strain

Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, who maintains a deep database of NBA injuries, had the scariest stat of the day: This is the 13th groin injury of Anthony Davis' career.

Davis has suffered a minor groin strain and is expected to miss a few games, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Stotts said Davis' average time missed for a minor groin strain is about eight days, meaning two or three games.

Davis left the Mavericks' Christmas Day game against the Warriors in the second quarter with the injury and did not return.

"Leg got tight, like a little spasm…" Davis said after the game. "Obviously, dealing with the ab strain still, so just tried to get it loose, it wouldn't really loosen up, let go, but it's nothing serious. I'm fine."

Davis has played in half of the Mavericks' games this season, but has been fantastic when healthy, averaging 20.5 points on 52.1% shooting, plus grabbing 10.9 rebounds a game.

Davis' name comes up in trade rumors, and while the Mavericks are listening to offers, the market for Davis — who is making $54.1 million this season, and is guaranteed $58.5 million next season, and wants an extension beyond next season — is limited.

Jack Draper to miss Australian Open after failing to recover in time from injury

  • Draper forced to withdraw from US Open with arm injury

  • British No 1: ‘It’s a really, really tough decision’

Jack Draper has announced he will miss next month’s Australian Open after admitting he is not quite ready for a return to top-level competition. The British No 1 has played just one match since Wimbledon, with bone bruising in his left arm curtailing his 2025 season, and he is set to be on the sidelines for a little while longer.

Draper, ranked 10th in the world, said in a video on X on Boxing Day: “Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year. It’s a really, really tough decision, obviously [with] Australia being a grand slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport.

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Nets' Cam Thomas returning to lineup Saturday after lengthy hamstring injury

December has been far more kind to the Nets than November, and their month on the relative upswing will soon include the return of a key contributor.

Cam Thomas, who missed nearly eight weeks nursing a hamstring strain, is slated to take the court again on Saturday against the Timberwolves, head coach Jordi Fernandezrevealed on Friday.

The 24-year-old guard last played on Nov. 5 against the Pacers, and the hamstring injury cost him 20 games. Before the injury, Thomas averaged 21.4 points on 40 percent shooting across eight contests.

While the Nets have yet to see Thomas score in a win this season -- they were 0-7 at the time of his injury -- he's rejoining a group that's discovered some ways to build momentum.

In their 20 games without Thomas, the Nets went 8-12, rattling off back-to-back victories on two separate occasions. They've heavily relied on offense from veteran Michael Porter Jr., averaging a career-high 25.7 points with 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists (24 games).

This wasn't Thomas' first time recovering from a prolonged hamstring injury -- he dealt with similar troubles last season, missing a whopping 57 games.

Thomas is slated for unrestricted free agency next summer, after signing a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer to return to the Nets this past offseason.

NBA Minutes Report: Tyler Kolek emerges, Ivica Zubac gets hurt, more

Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.

The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.

All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.

NBA: Miami Heat at New York Knicks
Ware had an outstanding Week 9, culminating with a 28-point, 19-rebound effort against the Knicks.

Atlanta Hawks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Onyeka Okongwu35.535.834
Jalen Johnson35.23636.5
Dyson Daniels32.533.834.5
Nickeil Alexander-Walker3232.832.6
Trae Young28.725.825.8
Zaccharie Risacher25.223.523.9
Vít Krejčí21.822.924
Luke Kennard19.718.818.7

Trae Young is back, but has that actually been a good thing for this team? The Hawks' offense was kind of flowing without him, and the defense has taken a real step back with Young on the court. Fantasy managers don't care about that, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker has seen his usage take a big hit, and this team isn't playing as well of late.

Boston Celtics

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Derrick White34.434.133.5
Jaylen Brown3434.335.9
Payton Pritchard32.332.632.4
Hugo González31.425.218.4
Luka Garza25.125.115.2
Sam Hauser24.219.722.4
Anfernee Simons24.124.723.7
Neemias Queta23.526.125.8
Jordan Walsh17.12124.8

As we've seen all season, the fringes of the Celtics' rotation (apart from White, Brown, and Pritchard) continue to change, with Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza getting increased minutes. Jordan Walsh has been battling an illness recently, but over the last two weeks, Gonzalez and Garza have been the two biggest contributors on the fringe of the rotation as the Celtics have looked to play a little bigger. Neemias Queta is still seeing some minutes, but Sam Hauser and Josh Minott are seeing their minutes decline.

Brooklyn Nets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Michael Porter Jr.34.532.933.4
Egor Dëmin30.627.125.8
Nic Claxton29.93030.2
Noah Clowney29.328.529.2
Terance Mann28.826.824.9
Danny Wolf20.122.223.2
Nolan Traore18.413.713.7
Day'Ron Sharpe18.116.917.2
Ziaire Williams16.919.520.4

Don't look now, but the Nets are playing some feisty basketball. They've won three of their last four games and six of their last nine, and their defense has been tremendous. Offensively, this team is still basically driven by Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, but Egor Dëmin is emerging as a little bit more of a consistent threat, averaging 14 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals over his last five games, which is a top-150 player. This still isn't a really good team, but they're playing hard.

Charlotte Hornets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kon Knueppel31.234.534.3
Miles Bridges31.23332.7
Brandon Miller2932.331.8
Moussa Diabaté26.92421.2
Ryan Kalkbrenner24.22425.5
LaMelo Ball24.125.425.7
Sion James22.224.824.9
Tidjane Salaün20.218.118.6
Collin Sexton161614.5

LaMelo Ball continues to be in and out of the lineup, and both Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner have been battling day-to-day injuries, which has meant extra minutes for Moussa Diabaté. Diabaté hasn't done a ton with the minutes, but he is averaging 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals over the last three games with Kalkbrenner out, so the defensive value has been great. It won't help fantasy managers too much, but it makes him a valuable player in the Hornets' rotation. Collin Sexton also missed seven games with a quad injury and returned earlier this week to play 20 minutes against the Wizards, so we should expect those minutes to tick up soon.

Chicago Bulls

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Josh Giddey32.731.132.9
Nikola Vučević31.230.629.3
Coby White30.730.228.9
Matas Buzelis26.825.327.8
Tre Jones22.823.424.5
Kevin Huerter22.723.620.6
Isaac Okoro20.122.923.5
Zach Collins17.516.117.5
Ayo Dosunmu15.615.624.5

The Bulls are finally healthy with only one player on their entire injury report. Of course, that has led to a confusing rotation behind Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević. Matas Buzelis continues to be the most intriguing player of the rest of the roster, and he has looked good in his last three games, but he needs to find more consistency. Kevin Huerter is also averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds in his last three games and has taken a lot of minutes from Ayo Dosunmu, who also continues to play through multiple hand injuries.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Darius Garland31.731.732.7
Donovan Mitchell30.430.933.4
Dean Wade27.426.425
Sam Merrill272727
De'Andre Hunter25.626.126.8
Evan Mobley25.325.332.8
Jarrett Allen23.125.324.9
Jaylon Tyson21.624.628.9
Lonzo Ball18.720.723.2

Evan Mobley made his return after only missing five games with a calf injury that was allegedly supposed to have sidelined him for up to four weeks. Jarrett Allen went back to playing 23 minutes with Mobley back and scored seven points with eight rebounds. Thomas Bryant basically fell out of the rotation with only three minutes played. It's back to the status quo for the Cavs.

Dallas Mavericks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cooper Flagg36.937.436
Max Christie33.522.325.7
P.J. Washington31.232.432.8
Naji Marshall29.531.231.5
Klay Thompson28.723.622.5
Anthony Davis27.430.729.9
Ryan Nembhard24.724.426.2
Brandon Williams19.922.522.2
Jaden Hardy19.419.415.3

Anthony Davis continues to battle injuries and just left Thursday's game with a groin injury. As we've come to see, a Davis injury will mean more minutes and usage for P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall and would likely also mean more run for Daniel Gafford, who hasn't played over 17 minutes in any of the six games since being back from injury. Ryan Nembhard's play has also really fallen off of late, and we saw Brandon Williams play 30 minutes and score 26 points on Thursday, so this might be an ugly hot hand situation for a while.

Denver Nuggets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Nikola Jokić35.934.935.2
Jamal Murray35.635.435.6
Tim Hardaway Jr.31.630.429.8
Peyton Watson31.531.527.3
Spencer Jones2926.726.2
Bruce Brown27.428.827.6
Cameron Johnson26.530.233.7
Jalen Pickett13.718.416.6
Jonas Valančiūnas13.613.913.9

The Nuggets could be getting Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back as early as next week, and they need them because Cameron Johnson is now going to be sidelined for a month with a knee injury. Without him, Bruce Brown figures to take on a big of a bigger role, and Tim Hardaway Jr. should see his usage continue to increase. He's averaging 17.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last four games, but he doesn't contribute much else

Detroit Pistons

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cade Cunningham33.436.234.5
Ausar Thompson29.824.225
Tobias Harris29.827.927.4
Duncan Robinson29.125.225.6
Jalen Duren26.928.828.6
Ronald Holland II23.119.219.4
Isaiah Stewart22.12423.1
Javonte Green18.717.815.2
Caris LeVert18.320.221
Jaden Ivey15.216.215.8

There are too many players in this rotation. Yes, it's great to have a deep team, and the Pistons remain at the top of the Eastern Conference, but this is a ship driven by Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren and then a rotation of guys who step up in different games. That might change if Ausar Thompson could develop some consistency, but this feels like a team that could make a consolidation trade to move on from somebody like Jaden Ivey, who barely plays, and some other pieces to add a bigger offensive force that can help them win a title.

Golden State Warriors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Stephen Curry3333.633.3
Jimmy Butler III323330.7
Brandin Podziemski28.629.226.6
Moses Moody26.826.923.4
Quinten Post21.722.324.6
De'Anthony Melton18.417.818.5
Draymond Green17.922.721.7
Will Richard151519.4
Gary Payton II14.611.712.4

Draymond Green's minutes are down because he stormed off the court in the third quarter on Monday. I mean, not really, but also kind of. Green simply isn't the player that he used to be, and he's not impacting the game in as meaningful a way. You have to wonder if the team would be better off if some of his minutes went to Brandin Podziemski or Al Horford, who just came back from injury.

Houston Rockets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Amen Thompson37.238.137.7
Kevin Durant36.838.536.9
Jabari Smith Jr.34.737.337
Alperen Sengun33.433.334.3
Reed Sheppard26.527.326.3
Tari Eason202020
Steven Adams19.823.221.7
Josh Okogie18.422.822.9

Can we just take a minute to acknowledge that Clint Capela has somehow become a player who plays just seven minutes a game? Jabari Smith Jr. is back to being a top-100 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, averaging 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Tari Eason also returned from injury and has seen his minutes tick up due to his strong defensive value. He played 26 minutes on Christmas against the Lakers, and that has relegated Josh Okogie to a much smaller role.

Indiana Pacers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Pascal Siakam33.933.633.3
Bennedict Mathurin32.533.532.1
Andrew Nembhard3232.732.5
Ethan Thompson26.221.221.1
Jay Huff22.522.124.1
Johnny Furphy21.716.914.4
T.J. McConnell19.117.915.6
Jarace Walker17.418.118.7

This Pacers rotation has been pretty consistent for the last few weeks. They are working around injuries to Ben Sheppard and Isaiah Jackson, but neither player was playing huge minutes. T.J. McConnell has gone on one of his runs where he's playing really solid basketball, and is a top-100 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks, but he's still seeing under 20 minutes per game, which makes it hard to trust him too much.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.

Los Angeles Clippers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
James Harden37.836.835.1
Kawhi Leonard3737.734.9
John Collins29.827.828.7
Kris Dunn29.528.227.7
Brook Lopez22.520.218.1
Nicolas Batum21.723.223.3
Ivica Zubac21.227.531.6
Bogdan Bogdanović20.62121.3
Kobe Sanders20.116.418.7

Ivica Zubac went down with an injury this week, and the Clippers will be without him until the middle of January. I covered the fallout in a video this week, but I think John Collins figures to benefit the most.

Los Angeles Lakers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
LeBron James31.932.933.6
Deandre Ayton31.931.329.7
Marcus Smart29.929.829.6
Jake LaRavia29.827.823
Rui Hachimura27.730.530.7
Luka Dončić26.732.834.7
Nick Smith Jr.2518.416.5
Jarred Vanderbilt24.522.719.5
Austin Reaves18.318.331.8

Austin Reaves is hurt again, leaving the Lakers' Christmas game with a calf injury. We don't know how many games, if any, he'll miss, but his absence previously has (obviously) led to more usage for LeBron James and Luka Dončić, who is back from his own brief absence with a leg injury. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia would also likely benefit a little with increased playing time if Reaves were to miss games.

Memphis Grizzlies

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cam Spencer34.733.529.2
Jaylen Wells32.131.530.1
Santi Aldama31.63229.5
Jaren Jackson Jr.31.33230.2
Cedric Coward27.926.627.4
Jock Landale23.425.522.5
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope22.72321.3
GG Jackson212121
Brandon Clarke3.910.210.2
Vince Williams Jr.21.721.1
Ja Morant2123.1

With Ja Morant sidelined again, Cam Spencer is enjoying a bit of a breakout, which I covered in a video this week, so check that out. Brandon Clarke also returned and then got hurt again, which led to an opportunity for GG Jackson, who returned from his own injury on Monday and then played 30 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He's a name to keep an eye on.

Miami Heat

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaime Jaquez Jr.35.232.930
Norman Powell34.934.332.9
Bam Adebayo34.633.632.8
Davion Mitchell29.13030.8
Andrew Wiggins28.530.631.4
Kel'el Ware27.726.623.9
Kasparas Jakučionis25.220.816.8
Tyler Herro32.3

Tyler Herro is still out with his toe injury and is still trying to fit into this new-look Miami offense. I covered all of that in a video this week. In that time, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped back into his larger role, but Kel'el Ware has also seen his role increase in a two-big-man look with Bam Adebayo. Ware has been a top-70 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks and deserves a bit more attention for how well he's played.

Milwaukee Bucks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kevin Porter Jr.38.435.434.1
Bobby Portis36.830.626.5
Kyle Kuzma33.431.327.4
Myles Turner32.129.726.5
Ryan Rollins27.926.428.9
AJ Green24.624.626.1
Jericho Sims21.821.223.8
Gary Trent Jr.17.72224

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out, and Gary Trent Jr. has played just 23 total minutes in the last two games as he battles a calf injury. In their stead, Kevin Porter Jr's has been a top-15 player in fantasy basketball, and Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis Jr. have both continued to play well in their expanded roles. They're both top-100 players in fantasy basketball, but Myles Turner doesn't seem to be doing much more with the bigger role, averaging just 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last 5 games.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Anthony Edwards38.739.237.6
Rudy Gobert3735.931.2
Julius Randle3534.535
Donte DiVincenzo33.23432.3
Naz Reid27.328.529.8
Jaden McDaniels24.230.534.1
Bones Hyland22.223.321.6
Mike Conley21.121.118.9

Minnesota has a pretty consolidated eight-man rotation, and little has changed. Bones Hyland has stepped into a slightly bigger role as a ball-handling scorer off the bench, and he might be better suited in that role than Mike Conley right now.

New Orleans Pelicans

Trey Murphy III32.533.934.8
Bryce McGowens30.616.523.4
Saddiq Bey29.729.631.5
Jordan Poole29.427.727.3
Derik Queen28.829.330.8
Jeremiah Fears24.624.426.8
Zion Williamson23.223.523.5
Jose Alvarado2122.224.2
Herbert Jones16.92322

The Pelicans reportedly don't want to trade Herbert Jones, but his ankle injury has kept him off the court and sapped some of his effectiveness. Derik Queen continues to be effective, even playing alongside Zion Williamson, and both have been top-80 players in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks. I would like to see more minutes for Jeremiah Fears, but Jordan Poole has seemed to cut into those.

New York Knicks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jalen Brunson38.737.136.8
Mikal Bridges3837.735.7
Josh Hart34.13433.5
OG Anunoby33.33332.3
Karl-Anthony Towns30.231.531.9
Tyler Kolek26.12417.9
Jordan Clarkson25.524.423
Mitchell Robinson21.722.820.6

Tyler Kolek season is here, and I'm not sure it's going anywhere. Deuce McBride is still managing an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is out with a shoulder injury, so Kolek has stepped up and is averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds over the last two weeks while playing crucial minutes at the end of games for the Knicks. At this point, the Knicks can't take Kolek out of the rotation, so even when Deuce returns, it might be somebody like Jordan Clarkson who needs to lose more minutes.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander35.834.633.4
Jalen Williams31.63129.2
Chet Holmgren28.828.327.1
Luguentz Dort28.526.425.1
Cason Wallace25.226.325.3
Isaiah Hartenstein24.625.624.2
Ajay Mitchell22.224.625.1
Alex Caruso19.319.118.9

Isaiah Hartenstein came back from his calf injury last week, so we've actually seen the full Thunder roster for the first time all season. Turns out, it's a roster that can't beat the Spurs. I'm kidding, but the Spurs are playing tremendously well against the Thunder. The rotation has become pretty consistent, but it's a matter of who emerges. Chet Holmgren has not been as effective in recent games, but Ajay Mitchell has stepped up and been a top 100 player in fantasy leagues over his last four games.

Orlando Magic

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Paolo Banchero37.637.533
Desmond Bane3636.435.9
Anthony Black34.235.333.4
Wendell Carter Jr.32.332.231.2
Tyus Jones26.421.518.7
Noah Penda2118.613.5
Jase Richardson18.916.713.6
Jalen Suggs29.529.7
Tristan da Silva1221.5
Franz Wagner27.4

Orlando's rotation has become consolidated thanks to injuries to Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Tristan Da Silva. In that time, Desmond Bane has taken on a much larger role, averaging 198 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks, which makes him a top 40 player. Anthony Black has also stepped into a much larger role and has been highly efficient for the Magic as well. We've also seen Noah Penda take on a bigger role now that he's up from the G-League. I don't expect that to last too long, but it's been fun to see.

Philadelphia 76ers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Tyrese Maxey39.339.339.3
VJ Edgecombe36.437.731.3
Paul George33.133.230.1
Joel Embiid31.531.229.8
Jared McCain30.224.523.3
Andre Drummond2421.618.9
Dominick Barlow2427.428.3
Quentin Grimes21.23032.9

Joel Embiid survived a bit of an injury scare earlier this week, but seems ot have survived it. Quentin Grimes has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, but he has also been battling an illness, so it might be connected to that. The 76ers continue to hum because of their young guards and a resurgent season from Paul George, who is averaging 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 12 games. Also, it's pretty fun that Dominick Barlow is playing such a big role on a two-way deal.

Phoenix Suns

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Collin Gillespie32.231.831.7
Devin Booker31.431.429.9
Dillon Brooks29.627.930.1
Royce O'Neale2826.927.8
Oso Ighodaro26.322.823
Jordan Goodwin25.822.922.8
Ryan Dunn2219.820.3
Mark Williams19.521.322.1
Grayson Allen28.528.3

Grayson Allen is battling a knee injury, but it doesn't sound too serious. Jalen Green is also expected back in the first week of January, so this Suns team could be getting healthy soon. Collin Gillespie has also remained tremendously valuable even with Devin Booker back, but it remains to be seen if that would continue with both Allen and Green back too.

Portland Trail Blazers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Deni Avdija38.538.136.5
Toumani Camara35.233.132.1
Donovan Clingan32.630.928.7
Shaedon Sharpe31.832.731.5
Kris Murray30.527.226.7
Sidy Cissoko2224.624.8
Caleb Love20.316.317.5
Robert Williams III16.117.219.3
Jerami Grant37.433.9

Jrue Holiday is still out, and now Jerami Grant has missed the last three games with an Achilles injury. In those three games, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe have taken on larger usage roles. Those two guys, along with Deni Avdija, have all been top-60 players in that span, but Grant doesn't figure to be out for too much longer.

Sacramento Kings

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
DeMar DeRozan38.938.134.5
Keegan Murray35.637.736
Russell Westbrook32.732.330.8
Maxime Raynaud30.130.729.3
Dennis Schröder27.826.226.2
Nique Clifford27.122.921.1
Dylan Cardwell22.721.121.1
Precious Achiuwa18.21918.5

Zach LaVine remains out with an ankle injury but could return early next week. Keegan Murray also suffered a calf injury earlier this week, so we're still awaiting news on how long he will be out. Russell Westbrook continues to take on a large usage role with LaVine out and will do so for the foreseeable future. We have also seen Maxime Raynaud emerge of late, averaging 14.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over the last two weeks, which has made him a top 100 player in fantasy leagues.

San Antonio Spurs

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
De'Aaron Fox33.229.330.7
Devin Vassell30.829.229.8
Stephon Castle30.528.128
Harrison Barnes27.424.427.8
Luke Kornet25.123.225.3
Victor Wembanyama23.521.821.6
Keldon Johnson212020.3
Julian Champagnie20.220.925.1
Dylan Harper19.519.921.6

Victor Wembanyama is back but still on a bit of a minutes restriction. Nevertheless, the Spurs have been on a run of strong play lately, and this is a true contender. That being said, Dylan Harper has taken a bit of a backseat with the full crew back, and I'm a little surprised that Devin Vassell has been getting more playing time and being more productive than Harper. That said, he does fit what the team needs a little better, so he will likely remain impactful, and he's been a top 110 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks.

Toronto Raptors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Scottie Barnes34.334.235.2
Immanuel Quickley32.932.432.3
Brandon Ingram32.634.234.4
Sandro Mamukelashvili25.726.424.2
Ochai Agbaji2322.321.4
Collin Murray-Boyles2219.617.7
Jamal Shead212223.2
Ja'Kobe Walter19.317.918.7

Not much has changed for the Raptors in recent weeks. They're still managing Jakob Poeltl's minutes, and he's missed three of the last four games. No other big man is really stepping up in his absence, so there's no real corresponding move. RJ Barrett should also return as early as next week, which would be welcome for the Raptors.

Utah Jazz

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Keyonte George36.537.934.7
Lauri Markkanen36.23835
Kevin Love30.225.620.7
Ace Bailey29.127.628.9
Jusuf Nurkić27.829.125.5
Isaiah Collier2627.521.8
Kyle Filipowski22.926.727.8
Svi Mykhailiuk22.521.123.5
Brice Sensabaugh20.820.316.9

Things have remained pretty status quo for the Jazz over the last few weeks. The minutes and usage are dominated by Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, with Jusuf Nurkić and Isaiah Collier also continuing to give meaningful production in their minutes as well. Sadly, even though Ace Bailey is getting plenty of run, he's averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and little else.

Washington Wizards

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
CJ McCollum35.63433.3
Kyshawn George34.635.233.1
Bub Carrington3031.931.2
Alex Sarr25.324.924.9
Bilal Coulibaly23.42325.9
Tre Johnson22.821.620.8
Khris Middleton222225.1
Jamir Watkins21.914.918.1
Marvin Bagley III21.523.425.3

Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Khris Middleton are all back. Coulibaly played 23 minutes in his first game back, and Bub Carrington was down to 15 minutes. However, Carrington also had a foot injury in that game, so we may not know until Friday just how the Wizards are splitting up these minutes after Carrington emerged when everybody else was out. Marvin Bagley III has also played well in his limited minutes, and he could be useful on another squad if he gets traded.

NHL Rumors: Blackhawks' Connor Murphy Connected To 2 Teams

After a solid start to the season, the Chicago Blackhawks have been going through some big-time struggles as of late. The Blackhawks are currently on a six-game losing streak and have won only two out of their last 10 contests.

Due to the Blackhawks' current struggles, they now have a 13-17-6 record and are at the very bottom of the NHL standings. With this, they are starting to stand out as prime sellers, and one of their most notable trade candidates is pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenseman Connor Murphy. 

With the Blackhawks having so many promising young defensemen in their system, it would not be particularly surprising if they flipped Murphy by the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, Murphy was included in The Athletic's latest NHL trade matchmaker column. In it, Pierre LeBrun named the Florida Panthers as the team that could land Murphy, while Chris Johnston picked the Vegas Golden Knights. 

LeBrun going with the Panthers is understandable, as it is clear that they could use more depth on their blueline. If they added Murphy, he would provide them with another solid veteran blueliner as they look to win their third straight Stanley Cup. A right of side of Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Murphy would be a strong trio for Florida.

Yet, Johnston picking the Golden Knights is also easy to understand, as it is no secret that they need to upgrade the right side of the blueline. When looking at the Golden Knights' current roster, Murphy could fit nicely on their second pairing if acquired. However, even if he played bottom-pairing minutes for Vegas, he would still improve their group. 

NHL Rumors: Sabres Linked To Skilled Blue Jackets Winger

Things have been going very well for the Buffalo Sabres as of late. The Sabres have won each of their last seven games and now have an 18-14-4 record. With this, they are now seventh in the Atlantic Division, but also only three points behind the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. With this, the Sabres have created far more hope for their 2025-26 season. 

With the Sabres starting to improve and desperately looking to break their 14-year playoff drought, it would be understandable if new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen looked to add to the team's roster. With this, The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently named the Buffalo Sabres as a potential landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov. 

"You won’t find anyone in the NHL more familiar with Chinakhov than Jarmo Kekäläinen, the man who drafted him in Columbus. With Kekäläinen now in charge of the Sabres front office, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to lean on some known quantities as he starts to put his own stamp on the Buffalo roster," Johnston wrote.

Chinakhov would certainly have the potential to be an interesting addition for the Sabres. The 2020 first-round pick has skill and at 24 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level is still there. Furthermore, while Chinakhov is in the final year of his current deal, he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA). With this, he would have the potential to be more than a rental for the Sabres if they issue him a qualifying offer over the summer. 

In 29 games so far this season with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has posted three goals and six points. While these numbers do not necessarily stand out, he notably had 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games for the Blue Jackets just back in 2023-24. He also had seven goals and 15 points in just 30 games last season. 

Tyler Kolek-Jordan Clarkson backcourt winning the Knicks' biggest games

With the Knicks trailing and disjointed for most of their nationally-televised, playoff-intensity contest, head coach Mike Brown turned to two of his bench guards — Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson — to provide a lift late in the ball game. The poised floor general and sparkplug scorer went beyond their job descriptions, mounting massive runs that scored their team a decisive victory, further adding to their pedigree and readiness for the championship hunt ahead.

Does this story sound familiar to Knicks fans? It should, as it seems to happen every other week now. 

What started off as a low-risk, high-reward veteran’s minimum flier and rocky second-year development project have turned into a devastating combination for opponents and a surprise surge of depth for a team that’s struggled with the issue for two years now. They’re winning New York the biggest games on the biggest stages of their schedule, and if that’s any indication of what’s to come in the playoffs, the Knicks will be at a new level of formidable.

But let’s start at the beginning. New York drafted Kolek 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he failed to find consistent playing time in his rookie season.

There were stronger, more veteran options, and though Kolek had impressed in Las Vegas Summer League and some spot backup minutes, he didn’t look fully confident and prepared defensively. Entering this training camp with a new coach but similar competition, Kolek was seemingly at risk of being moved before a surprise retirement announcement from Malcolm Brogdon

He was unremarkable in preseason and in spot minutes to start the year, but when Landry Shamet went down with an injury in late November, Kolek seized his opportunity. He’s since averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 assists and 0.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game on 57 percent shooting from two, 38 percent from three, and very few giveaways. 

Kolek’s brought a new level of defensive intensity to his court presence, and seems to have found a liking to Brown’s offensive system. His veteran teammates also have a newfound trust in him to control the ball.

Clarkson is 33 years old and came to the Knicks with far less to prove than Kolek but just as much to accomplish. He played for three teams prior, his latest stop in Utah, where he cemented himself as a Sixth Man of the Year winner and reliable postseason contributor.

His production slowed with age, and the stakes around him disappeared with the talent. With a chance at bringing his plug-and-play ball handling and scoring to a contender desperately needing it, he took the veteran’s minimum to sign in New York.

It wasn’t the hottest or most consistent of starts, but Clarkson’s gotten more comfortable as the season has progressed, climaxing in the last couple of weeks. He scored 15 in the Cup Championship, 18 the game after, and 25 on Christmas, helping will the Knicks to three victories that looked out of reach.

Nov 2, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Kolek and Clarkson have had great individual performances, but it’s been their production as a tandem that’s flipped entire games on their heads. First in the Cup Championship, when the two controlled the fourth quarter, finishing the game with a combined near-30 off the bench.

Then, with the Knicks looking hapless and trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, they totally shifted the momentum again. Both were constantly pushing the ball, getting into the paint and connecting from three.

The two combined for 41 points and 11 assists in the clutch victory, with Clarkson chipping in three steals. In both wins, Brown trusted the combo deep into the final period, even grouping them with Jalen Brunson for stretches. 

Just Kolek and Clarkson as a pairing, now seen much more frequently since the injuries to Shamet and Miles McBride, is outscoring opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions in 192 minutes. It will be interesting to see how Brown keeps this duo intact once those pieces return. 

In the meantime, the Knicks are happy to have such a weapon off the bench as the season enters its midpoint and the starters’ legs start to get heavy. Not only will that help steal them regular-season wins when the stars don’t have it, but potentially a playoff series down the line.

Kolek and Clarkson having these huge nights to win the Cup and then beat the Cavs on Christmas Day brings major confidence that they can do the same in a pivotal playoff game. The Knicks scrambled to find those kinds of guys at the end of their bench in past postseasons, but seem to finally have it.

Hutson And Demidov Gave A Big Surprise To Fans

While the NHL takes some time off over Christmas with no games on the schedule from December 24 to 26, a couple of Montreal Canadiens players couldn’t help but get on the ice over the short break. Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov didn’t just head to the CN Sports Complex in Brossard; they also visited local outdoor rinks.

On Christmas Eve, reigning Calder Trophy winner Hutson surprised fans in Notre-Dame-De-Grace by showing up to play shinny hockey with them. Needless to say, those who were in attendance were incredibly happy to skate alongside the young star.

Since arriving in Montreal, Hutson has demonstrated his love for the game with an incredible work ethic, hitting the ice so often on days off that the team has had to step in and tell him to stay off the ice. With that taken into account, it’s not surprising that he felt the need to skate on Christmas Eve, and showing up at a local rink and making everyone’s day shows how much he enjoys the city of Montreal and its fans. He has already demonstrated his commitment to the town and the team by signing an 8-year contract that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2033-34 season.

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Then, on Christmas Day, Hutson did it again, but this time he brought a friend: Russian rookie Demidov. According to a Canadiens fan who was there, they played 15 against two, and the fans still basically looked like pylons, but they didn’t care; the kids’ eyes were lit up with Christmas magic.

The players also took pictures with fans and were happy to donate their time to make fans’ Christmas even better. For years, parents have been reading Roch Carrier’s The Sweater as a bedtime story to their kids, a book in which a young boy’s biggest Christmas wish is to get a Montreal Canadiens sweater for Christmas, but this would make for a great children’s book as well. Imagine the child receiving a Hutson jersey, going to the rink to wear it, and ultimately playing with the player.

Kudos to Hutson and Demidov for taking the time to make some kids’ dreams come true this year. It didn’t cost them anything, but for those who had the opportunity to skate alongside their idols over Christmas, it was a priceless experience.


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Why the Maple Leafs Added Steve Sullivan To Their Coaching Staff

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday the addition of Steve Sullivan to their coaching staff. The opening emerged earlier in the week after the club relieved Marc Savard of his duties as assistant coach. Savard had been responsible for the team’s power play, which ranked last in the NHL at the time of his departure.

While the Leafs did not have an immediate replacement behind the bench during their 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the coaching staff clarified they would evaluate long-term options for the power play moving forward. Ultimately, the team promoted Sullivan from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where his coaching focused on individual skills and offensive development. Interestingly, the Marlies’ power play currently ranks 22nd in the AHL with a 16 percent efficiency rate.

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the power play responsibilities will be "shared" as Sullivan gets up to speed with the big club.

A Familiar Face in Toronto

Sullivan is a well-known figure in Toronto, having played 154 games over four seasons with the Maple Leafs. He arrived in 1997 as part of the high-profile trade that sent fan favorite Doug Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils. Sullivan eventually thrived as the NHL transitioned out of the "dead-puck" era, using his speed and skill to navigate a changing league.

Front Office Experience and Controversy

Following his retirement as a player, Sullivan joined the Arizona Coyotes' front office, eventually rising to Director of Player Development. After the abrupt resignation of GM John Chayka, Sullivan served as interim GM until Bill Armstrong was hired.

During his tenure as interim GM, Sullivan oversaw the 2020 NHL Draft, where the club selected Mitchell Miller with the 111th pick. The selection drew immediate and severe criticism after it was revealed Miller had admitted to the racial bullying of Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black and developmentally disabled classmate, four years prior. Following the public outcry, the Coyotes renounced the selection. Sullivan bore the brunt of the fallout from the decision and parted ways with the organization in 2021.

Return to Coaching

Sullivan returned to the bench in 2024, joining John Gruden’s staff with the Marlies. He filled the vacancy left by Rich Clune, who departed for an assistant coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks. Now back in the NHL, Sullivan's primary challenge will be revitalizing a struggling Maple Leafs power play.