Indiana Pacers (10-33, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (22-18, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers host the Indiana Pacers in Eastern Conference play Monday.
The 76ers are 17-15 in conference play. Philadelphia averages 116.8 points while outscoring opponents by 1.1 points per game.
The Pacers have gone 7-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana averages 13.5 turnovers per game and is 8-16 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.
The 76ers average 116.8 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 118.4 the Pacers allow. The 76ers average 110.2 points per game, 5.5 fewer points than the 115.7 the 76ers allow to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 13 the 76ers won 115-105 led by 39 points from Joel Embiid, while Pascal Siakam scored 20 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyrese Maxey is averaging 30.3 points, 6.7 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. Embiid is averaging 24.4 points over the last 10 games.
Jay Huff is scoring 8.7 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Pacers. Siakam is averaging 22.0 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 49.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 6-4, averaging 120.2 points, 41.8 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 10.0 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.7 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 110.7 points, 41.7 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), T.J. McConnell: day to day (elbow), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Miami Heat (22-20, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (24-19, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State hosts Miami trying to prolong its three-game home winning streak.
The Warriors are 16-6 in home games. Golden State ranks seventh in the NBA with 28.6 assists per game. Draymond Green leads the Warriors averaging 5.3.
The Heat are 7-13 on the road. Miami ranks eighth in the NBA with 28.5 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.3.
The Warriors are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 46.0% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat score 6.2 more points per game (119.5) than the Warriors allow their opponents to score (113.3).
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Heat defeated the Warriors 110-96 in their last meeting on Nov. 20. Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points, and Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 20 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Stephen Curry is averaging 27.6 points and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kel'el Ware is shooting 53.5% and averaging 11.5 points for the Heat. Powell is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.0 points, 40.8 rebounds, 30.9 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Gui Santos: day to day (ankle), Jimmy Butler III: day to day (personal), Seth Curry: out (back).
Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr.: day to day (knee), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: day to day (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (18-23, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (10-31, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Monday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Clippers take on Washington.
The Wizards are 6-13 on their home court. Washington has a 2-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Clippers are 7-14 in road games. Los Angeles has a 2-6 record in one-possession games.
The Wizards' 12.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Clippers allow. The Wizards average 112.5 points per game, 11.4 fewer points than the 123.9 the Wizards give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Clippers won 119-105 in the last matchup on Jan. 15.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is scoring 9.5 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Wizards. Alex Sarr is averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
James Harden is averaging 25.8 points and 8.1 assists for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 3-7, averaging 111.3 points, 42.9 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 8.8 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points per game.
Clippers: 8-2, averaging 115.4 points, 39.4 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (knee), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad).
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard: day to day (ankle), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (knee), Bogdan Bogdanovic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New York comes into the matchup against Dallas after losing three straight games.
The Knicks have gone 16-5 at home. New York is seventh in the league averaging 118.4 points and is shooting 46.9% from the field.
The Mavericks are 4-15 on the road. Dallas is 8-15 against opponents with a winning record.
The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 more made shots on average than the 11.7 per game the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks average 114.2 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 114.9 the Knicks give up to opponents.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Knicks defeated the Mavericks 113-111 in their last matchup on Nov. 20. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 28 points, and Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.9 points and 11.5 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.2 points and 3.7 assists over the past 10 games.
Cooper Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 2-8, averaging 110.6 points, 44.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.7 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 116.5 points, 44.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle).
Mavericks: Daniel Gafford: day to day (ankle), P.J. Washington: day to day (personal), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Cooper Flagg: day to day (ankle), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights used a five-goal third period to break things open and turn a close game into a 7-2 rout of the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Vegas won its seventh straight game while earning a point for the ninth time in 11 games.
Nashville held a 1-0 lead after one period thanks to Luke Evangelista's goal and the stellar play of goaltender Justus Annunen, who stopped all 15 shots he faced in the opening stanza.
But Vegas, which is averaging 5.14 goals per game during its seven-game win streak, got goals from seven different skaters and at least one point from 14 players.
Alexander Holtz, Shea Theodore, Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone, Cole Reinhardt, Mitch Marner and Keegan Kolesar all scored for the Knights.
"We got guys in the room (who) historically have scored, so we figure at some point they'll get closer to their numbers," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "The team has scored. It's a lot of the same guys, so the analytics dictate that.
"We figured sooner or later, generally, that would follow suit, the pucks would go in. And now they are. And I hope it continues, where that evens out a little bit of where we feel we are, and with the numbers-crunching game, so to speak."
Goaltender Akira Schmid stopped 27 shots and improved to 15-4-5 on the year. The 15 wins are a career high.
KEY MOMENT
A 65-second moment was the highlight Saturday night, beginning with Holt's goal 17:17 into the second period and then with Theodore's goal 65 seconds later.
It appeared to steal the competitive edge Nashville held, especially after the Predators beat the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in Denver the night before, while somewhat deflating Annunen's mojo and sending the Knights into the locker room with all the momentum they'd need for a huge third period.
"We realized, I guess, as a team, that when we get pucks and bodies to the net, good things are gonna happen," Kolesar said. "And that just clicked in our mind going into third period. And you saw it, I don't think anyone was really passing up opportunities to get the puck to the net and get to the net. We get chance after chance after chance, and that can just wear them down."
600 - Theodore not only skated in the 36th game of the season, but it was the 600th of his career. The 30-year-old defenseman, one of the original members of the league's 31st franchise, finished with a goal and an assist, and now has 25 points - tied for 30th among all blue liners in the league. His seven goals rank 24th among all defensemen.
Theodore's 371 points with Vegas rank third all-time with the franchise, while is 291 assists rank No. 1 with the Knights.
WHAT A KNIGHT
After allowing the Predators' first goal to sneak by off a deflection, Schmid was brilliant between the pipes for Vegas. The 25-year-old netminder, who will represent the Swiss Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Games next month, stopped 27 consecutive shots before Nashville's final shot of the game slipped by to provide the final margin.
Schmid's 15 wins are tied for the 14th most in the NHL, while his 2.45 goals-against average ranks fourth in the NHL among goaltenders with at least 25 games played.
"Just getting into a rhythm playing a lot of games, you know, you don't think as much," Schmid said about adding to his career-high numbers. "You don't have much time to practice, but you kind of get into a flow and feel good about yourself."
UP NEXT: The Golden Knights conclude their three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
PHOTO CAPTION: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) attempts to slow Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) as goaltender Justus Annunen (29) makes a save during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
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The freeway faceoff delivered another movie Saturday night, as the Anaheim Ducks (24-21-3) defeated the Los Angeles Kings (19-16-13) in back-to-back games this time at Crypto.com Arena 2-1 in overtime, marking the third time in four meetings that this rivalry has gone beyond regulation.
Mikael Granlund scored the game-winner with less than a minute remaining in overtime, snapping the wrist shot past Anton Forsberg after Anaheim generated a good look in the extra frame.
The win gives the Ducks a 3-1 edge in the season series after sweeping back-to-back games at home last night and tonight in the Kings' arena, and it improves their strong overtime record as well.
The Ducks struck first blood in the opening period, with Mason McTavish finishing a rush chance to give Anaheim a 1-0 lead. Olen Zellweger and Ryan Strome picked up assists on the play after the Ducks got a good possession of controlling the puck early on.
Los Angeles struggled to generate offense in the first period, managing to get off just three shots on goal. The physical tone was set early between these two rivalries, highlighted by a first-period fight between Jeffrey Viel and Samuel Helenius, who traded multiple big hits.
Kempe Responds on the Power Play
The Kings found life in the second period, thanks to their power play, which finally converted. Adrian Kempe tied the game 1-1 after ripping a one-timer past Ville Husso, scoring on the only power play of the night, with Los Angeles finishing 1/6 on the night.
The middle frame featured a party at the penalty box, particularly for Anaheim's defense, creating multiple man-advantage opportunities for Los Angeles. Despitethe extended 5-on-3 time, the Kings were unable to take the lead, which later came back to haunt them.
Forsberg and Husso Steal the Show
Both goaltenders were clutch as the game tightened in the third period. Anton Forsberg turned aside several great danger looks from Anaheim, including back-to-back saves on Jackson LaCombe and Cutter Gauthier, which could've ended the game there.
Husso kept the Kings at bay with timely stops on Kevin Fiala, Kempe, and Quinton Byfield. Forsberg finished the night with 31 saves with a .939 save percentage, playing outstanding in place of Darcy Kuemper on the crease.
Anaheim finished the night with 33 shots to the Kings' 18, clearly doing a good job of defending the Kings' offense.
Granlund Ends it in Overtime
Overtime opened the same way the third period ended, with multiple chances from the Kings to score, but they couldn't generate good looks to get the puck in the goal. The door was left wide open for Granlund to score the game-winner off a fast possession generated by Anaheim, where they found space, and Granlund buried the game-winner.
small: LAK unquestioned 1 point Kings of NHL. Can't find a way once again with the game on their sticks. 13L when tied after 2.
Medium: In nutshell, playoff level defense/goaltending, AHL level offense.
BIG: 19-16-13. NHL record for OTL 18, will easily shatter w 34 games left.
The overtime losses have the Kings with the most games played (20) and losses (13) this season, a trend of close games that just won't go the Kings' way.
The Kings keep on losing the same way every night, their inability to close out tight games, particularly against division rivals. With playoff position tightening already in the second half of the season, Los Angeles sits out of the postseason picture and will be tough to climb up, considering how the team has performed as of late, losing six of their last seven games.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Prophet Johnson scored 21 of his 30 points after halftime, Mark Lavrenov had 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Sacramento State beat Northern Colorado 93-89 in overtime Saturday night.
Jahni Summers also scored 17 points for Sacramento State (6-11, 2-3 Big Sky Conference) and Shaqir O'Neal added 11.
Quinn Denker made 11 of 18 from the field, hit 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, and finished with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and four steals for Northern Colorado (11-8, 1-5). Vincent Delano scored 13 points and Ring Nyeri 11.
The Bears have lost three in a row and seven of their last nine.
Johnson made a 3-pointer to open the scoring in OT and the Hornets led the rest of the way.
Nyeri's dunk with 15 seconds left in regulation made it 82-all and eventually forced overtime. Johnson missed a potential winning layup before the buzzer.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for his first shutout for Edmonton, Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen each scored twice and the Oilers routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-0 on Saturday night.
Vancouver has lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) to fall to 16-27-5. The Canucks last lost 10 straight in the 1997-98 season.
The Oilers scored all six goals in the second period, four goals on four shots in a 4:52 span. Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin also scored and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two assists in his 999th regular-season game.
Jarry had his 23rd career shutout and his first since Edmonton acquired him Pittsburgh on Dec. 12 for fellow goalie Stuart Skinner.
Vancouver has lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) to fall to 16-27-5. The Canucks last lost 10 straight in the 1997-98 season.
Nikita Tolopilo made 29 saves.
Edmonton played without star forward Leon Draisaitl, with the Oilers saying he returned to Germany to attend to a family illness and is expected to rejoin the team next week.
Up next
Oilers: Host St. Louis on Sunday night to open an eight-game homestand.
Canucks: Host the New York Islanders on Monday night.
A third-period onslaught by the Vegas Golden Knights proved to be too much for the Nashville Predators, snapping their three-game win streak in a 7-2 loss on Sunday in Las Vegas.
It was the Golden Knights' seventh straight win.
Vegas scored five goals in the third period and seven unanswered after the Predators took a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Luke Evangelista tipped in a Roman Josi shot 14 minutes into the period to put Nashville up early. It was the third straight game that the Predators have scored the first goal of the game and Josi's ninth point in four games.
Nashville held the lead throughout the majority of the second period until Alexander Holtz and Shea Theodore scored 1:05 apart to swing the lead in favor of Vegas.
In the third, five different Golden Knights players scored, eventually turning a 2-1 lead into 7-1. Five different players had at least two points.
In the final minute of the game, Filip Forsberg scored on the power play to cut Vegas' lead down to five. It was Forsberg's fourth point in two games and Josi's, who had the secondary assist, 10th point in four games.
Ryan O'Reilly had the primary assist, which was his seventh point in four games.
Justus Annuen played the entire game, allowing seven goals on 36 shots and making 29 saves. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Predators' netminder.
Nashville was outshot 36-29. Despite the wide loss, the Predators logged just 4 minutes in penalties and killed both penalties.
The Predators fall to 23-21-4 on the season and are still a point outside of a Wild Card spot. Their next game is against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST.
Lakers star LeBron James, right, drives past Portland center Donovan Clingan during the first half of the Lakers' 132-116 loss Saturday. James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. (Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Before the Lakers took the court Saturday night, they added two more starters and a key reserve to the injured list. But the Lakers still had LeBron James and they hoped he could carry them past Portland.
Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) did not play. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart went down amid a pile of players in the lane and eventually limped to the locker room never to return.
As for James and the rest of the Lakers, all of the injuries were too much to overcome in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
Smart had 25 points before he went to the locker room. James had 20 points but was just six for 16 from the field. He had nine rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers team that has lost five of its last six games.
Drew Timme was a positive for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 points. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber each had 11 points.
“At the end of the day, nobody is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it,” James said. “The guys that are available, we got to go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 points. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love each scored 22 points and Donovan Clingan finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland center Donovan Clingan in the first half Saturday. (Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was dealing with the injury all of last week despite playing against the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.
“I think it was an accumulation of a longer week, more lingering, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game.
The Lakers (24-16) aren't sure if Ayton will play against Toronto on Sunday. The center is day-to-day with left knee soreness.
“He took a hit in his knee and there was no swelling, just some soreness,” Redick said.
The Lakers were also without backup center Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play against the Trail Blazers because of left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick said there's a chance Hayes could play Sunday.
With so many starters out, Redick said he liked his team’s competitive “spirit” against the Trail Blazers.
Still, it's been hard to win consistently with so many key players out.
“This has been our season,” Redick said. “You get one guy healthy, another guy gets injured. You get one guy back and another guy gets injured. Two guys go out tonight and you play without your two centers. So, it’s been our season.”
James missed his first five shots in the first quarter, finishing the frame going one for seven from the field for just two points.
The Lakers were called for 13 fouls in the first quarter alone, leading to 22 free-throw attempts for the Trail Blazers — a big reason why they opened a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes.
“I thought the whistle was very shot in the first quarter,” James said. “I think there were like maybe 17, 18, 20 free throws in the first quarter. It’s hard to set your defense with that type of situation. But we gave ourselves a chance a couple of times, but it was an uphill battle.”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alexander Holtz and Shea Theodore scored in a 1:05 span late in the second period and the Vegas Golden Knights had two more two-goal sprees to rout the Nashville Predators 7-1 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.
Pavel Dorofeyev and captain Mark Stone added goals in a three-minute span in the third, with Dorofeyev scoring his 20th of the season and Stone getting his 10th goal in 11 games and 18th of the season. Stone has a career-best 11-game points streak.
Cole Reinhardt and Mitch Marner scored two more goals in quick succession, striking in a 50-second span, and Keegan Kolesar capped the five-goal third. Akira Schmid made 26 saves.
Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg scored for Nashville, and Justus Annunen stopped 29 shots. The Predators had won three straight, the last a 7-3 victory at Colorado on Friday night
Forsberg scored on a power play for Nashville in the final minute. Evangelista opened the scoring with 5:50 left in the first period.
Jonathan Marchessault, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP in Vegas’ 2023 championship, was activated by Nashville on Saturday after missing 14 games because of a lower-body injury. He’s in his second season with the Predators after seven with Vegas.
Up next
Predators: Host Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Golden Knights: Host Philadelphia on Monday night.
And, unfortunately, the Penguins’ shootout demons got the best of them once again.
Columbus defeated Pittsburgh in a four-round shootout, 4-3, after the Penguins tied the game late in regulation to force overtime. Penguins’ goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 22 of 25 shots by the Jackets - and stopped two of four in the shootout - while Jackets’ goaltender Elvis Merzlikens was outstanding, stopping 29 of 32 and making some huge saves in overtime to force the shootout for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets did get on the board first, as ex-Penguin Zach Aston-Reese scored his first goal of the season by beating Penguins’ defenseman Kris Letang to the puck with his stick and firing it in at the net-front to make it 1-0.
But, after that goal, the Penguins took over the rest of the period, outshooting Columbus, 11-4, and outscoring them, too. It started when Connor Clifton got the puck in the right circle and snapped one toward the net, which beat Jackets’ goaltender Elvis Merzlikens glove-side to give the blueliner his first goal and point of the season - both firsts as a Penguin.
Then, nearing the end of the period, there was a fast-developing play down low where the puck was roped around the boards, and Sidney Crosby was waiting for it in the left corner. He immediately slapped a pass to the low-slot area, where Rickard Rakell put it home to give the Penguins the 2-1 lead.
But the Blue Jackets made a push in the second period. Kirill Marchenko registered his 18th of the season on a shot from the right circle to tie the game at 2-2, and then, the Penguins began to get into some penalty trouble, which seemed to disrupt their flow. Within the last two and half minutes of the middle frame, another former Penguin, Danton Heinen, tipped an Erik Gudbranson shot from the right point and past Silovs to make it 3-2 in favor of the Jackets.
And the score remained that way until late in regulation. With the goaltender pulled and exactly one minute remaining in regulation, Kris Letang directed a shot-pass right to the tape of Crosby, who was perched to the right of Merzlikens. As he's done a thousand times, Crosby redirected it into the net, and the Penguins tied things at 3-3 to force overtime.
As has been the case in most overtime periods this season, the Penguins controlled play, dominating possession and getting several high-danger scoring chances. However, they could not finish, and the shootout was forced - which has been a large area of weakness for Pittsburgh this season.
The shootout went four rounds, as ex-Jacket Egor Chinakhov rifled his second shootout goal for the Penguins to force another shot after Kent Johnson had already beaten Silovs earlier. Silovs stopped Marchenko, but then Bryan Rust failed to score, and Charlie Coyle came through for the Jackets after that to give Columbus the 4-3 win.
"We're just going to keep working on it," Silovs said. "I think we're getting better, but I think, still, there's another level."
And as for shootouts being more of a mental thing for the team, given the Penguins' 1-7 record in them??
"For sure," Silovs said. "You want to win in the shootout. I think we played a really good overtime. And whether that means scoring a late goal in the third to tie the game, get a big point... I mean, yeah, for sure, after that, you want to win the game. But things happen the way they happen, and [you] just get ready for the next one."
- It feels like there is just one thing off in this lineup right now, despite everything largely going right for the Penguins. And I think it's the configuration of their second and third lines.
I do think Evgeni Malkin and Chinakhov should continue to be iced together. They have developed chemistry, and Chinakhov is the type of player you want paired with an elite playmaker because of his world-class shot.
But I think Ben Kindel should get another shot centering that line. I liked the dynamic of Tommy Novak better with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau, and - for whatever reason, injury-related or not - the Penguins seem reluctant to put Malkin back at center, even between the big boys.
It's just a small tweak. But I think both players would benefit from that switch.
- This was a huge, huge point for the Penguins, regardless of whether or not they got the two.
They are about to embark on a four-game Western road swing, which is always kind of a toss-up for them. With losses by the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals Saturday, they are also only two points out of second place in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand on the Isles.
They need to keep banking points however they can, even if I'm going to circle back to this point in a minute.
- The Penguins might not have been able to pull this one out, but good for Chinakhov getting that goal in the shootout against his old team. And, to cap it off, he plowed into Merzlikens - one of his good friends - after ripping it past him.
I keep saying it, but his shot is so impressive.
Didn't win, but this move by Chinny in the shootout with the game on the line...
- Kindel and Malkin came so, so close to closing out the game in overtime. Kindel made a strong puck play behind the net, and - from his stomach - shoveled the puck to a wide-open Malkin at the net-front. Malkin didn't bury it. Then, he and Kindel each got two more opportunities to put it in, and they didn't.
Credit to Merzlikens. He was very good late in this game, and he was good again in the overtime. It's just unfortunate for Kindel, who is generating offense regularly but has gone 16 games without a goal.
- Malkin was on another planet Saturday. He had his gallop, and he looked to be in vintage form. The first line was dangerous on every shift, too.
If the big guys can drive play and continue to keep it going on offense, I think this team will be fine.
- Despite strong defensive efforts in most games since the holiday break, I did not think the Penguins were quite as sharp Saturday.
They were credited with 14 giveaways - I counted more - and they gave up far more odd-man breaks than we've grown used to seeing lately, especially in the second period. Even if they didn't have their best throughout the 60 minutes, however, they still did enough in the goaltending department and when it counted to earn a point.
"I thought in the second, they got some momentum," Crosby said. "Arty made some big saves. There were some chances on both sides, but I thought, for the most part, we've been defending pretty hard. There's always things that we can clean up, but I think our mindset's in the right place."
- Alright. Yes, they got a huge point. This isn’t news, but overtime and shootouts are a legitimate problem for the Penguins, and - at the end of the day - it is costing them points in the standings.
The Penguins are 4-11 in overtime and shootouts, including a 1-7 record in the shootout, While shootouts are a very obvious problem, so is the Penguins’ inability to close out games in overtime.
For the vast majority of overtime this season, the Penguins have dominated possession and generated a lot of scoring chances. They simply haven't finished enough.
Far too many games are being decided by the shootout to begin with, especially given the way the Penguins play in overtime. There was only one NHL team that had more than seven shootouts for the entire 2024-25 season, and that was the Philadelphia Flyers with nine.
The Penguins have already played in eight, and it's January.
Jan 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Charlie Coyle (3) scores on Pittsburgh Penguins center goalie Arturs Silovs (37) in a shoot out at PPG Paints Arena. Columbus won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images
As for the overtime period, the Penguins need to be using Chinakhov. He has speed, puck skills, and that shot, which check some boxes for a player who should be out during that time. They need to finish more, and he should, theoretically, help them do that. The Penguins have also missed Erik Karlsson in overtime in two of the last three games, and there is no replacement for him.
As for the shootouts, Rakell and Chinakhov should, in fact, be regulars. But Crosby has just one shootout goal in eight attempts this season, and I'm not so sure the Penguins shouldn't give someone else a go right now.
And, sorry folks: You cannot bring a cold goaltender into a shootout. So, unfortunately, they're at the mercy of whoever happens to be in net. And, well, it's mostly been Silovs. It goes both ways for the Penguins in terms of goaltending and lack of finishing ability, and the Penguins do practice shootouts.
So, they simply need to find a way to close out games before the shootout because these losses cannot continue to happen.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Anthony Roy scored 23 points, Vyctorius Miller was fouled on a corner 3-point shot with 2.8 seconds left and hit all three free throws and Oklahoma State beat Kansas State 84-83 on Saturday night.
Parsa Fallah had 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Oklahoma State and Kanye Clary had 12 points and six assists. Andrija Vukovic added 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Miller finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Cowboys (14-4, 2-3 Big 12) are 24-0 under coach second-year coach Steve Lutz when they score at least 81 points. The 53-year-old Lutz earned his 100th career win in four-plus seasons.
Kansas State (9-9) is 0-5 in conference play for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
PJ Haggerty scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half for the Wildcats and Abdi Bashir Jr. added 15, which included 5 3s. Khamari McGriff scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting before he fouled out with 6:02 remaining. Nate Johnson also scored 14.
Haggerty made a running floater that gave Kansas State a two-point lead with 49 seconds to play. Kanye Clary missed back-to-back 3-point shots but Miller secured OSU's second consecutive offensive rebound on a tie-up with 4.0 seconds remaining. Miller then caught the inbounds pass in the corner and was fouled.
Clary and Miller each hit a 3 as Oklahoma State scored eight of the first 11 second-half points to push its lead into double figures with 17:22 left in the game.
The Lakers were routed by the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-116, on Saturday night.
Without Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers were forced to go deep into their bench. While there were some standout offensive performances, the Lakers ultimately could muster little resistance defensively.
It was a Maxi Kleber takeover from the start as he scored nine of the first 14 points. With Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes out, Kleber was the lone center available, and he took advantage of the opportunity.
Marcus Smart was the other Laker scoring well with five points. LeBron James and Jake LaRavia combined for four assists. Portland had taken a lead by four, but Drew Timme subbed in and scored five quick points to put LA up by one.
The Blazers then took control of the game. Los Angeles sent Portland to the line 22 times in the period. LA’s offense became stagnant, unable to put together any consistent scoring.
Lakers were whistled for 13 1st Q fouls. Five players had 2 apiece.
LeBron’s first bucket of the game came at the 28-second mark. It was the only Lakers basket in a 12-2 Blazers run to end the first and take a 13-point lead into the second.
Gabe Vincent opened the second period with a much-needed 3-pointer. Donovan Clingan answered with a triple of his own. Timme continued his impressive offensive showing with five more points, making him the first Laker in double figures with 12.
Los Angeles had made it a six-point game after a surge in scoring thanks to LeBron and Smart, but Portland immediately responded with Jerami Grant scoring five straight. LA had no answer for Caleb Love, who had 11 points and was three for four from behind the arc.
Grant and Love combined for 26 points off the bench for the Trail Blazers. At halftime, the Lakers were down by 10.
Smart opened the second half with two 3-pointers. Despite those shots, Los Angeles was still down by double digits as the Blazers continued to score at ease, shooting 55% from the field. Smart was the only Laker who looked good in the quarter, pushing his total to 23 points.
The defensive breakdowns were hurting Los Angeles as they continued to have no answers for Portland’s sharpshooters. The Lakers were down by 19 with 5:33 left in the third period.
Rui Hachimura knocked down a badly needed 3-pointer. He also knocked down a pair of midrange jumpers. LA put together a small 8-2 scoring run as the quarter was winding down to help trim the deficit down to 12 before everything went bad all over again and Portland opened up a 17-point lead going into the fourth period.
Third quarter: Blazers 107, Lakers 90
Marcus Smart has 25 points — he scored 14 in the 3rd and has been great off the dribble. Rui Hachimura got going with a few jumpers. Difference tonight has been the gap in 3s and FTs. The Lakers’ lack of rim protection has been glaring.
Despite starting the final frame with some spirited attempts at a comeback, LA did not have enough juice in the tank to stop the blazing hot Trail Blazers.
Key Player Stats
LeBron ended with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Smart ended with 25 points and two rebounds. Timme had a strong showing with 21 points, two rebounds and three assists. Kleber had his best game as a Laker with 11 points and five rebounds. Hachimura notched 11 points with two steals.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at 6:30 PM PT.
The New York Knicks came up short again Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, falling 106-99 to the Phoenix Suns. Missed opportunities? Check. Turnovers? Double check. No late-game execution? Triple check.
Devin Booker returned after missing one game for the Suns, but Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart couldn’t say the same. Book dropped 27 points, Brunson and Hart combined for an egg, sitting out the game.
Grayson Allen added 16 points for Phoenix, Mark Williams finished with 14, and the Suns found the best possible dance partner to snap a two-game skid in the New York Knicks. Damn, son.
"He was a little sore, we held him out. We'll hear what Medical staff has to say tomorrow, make a decision…"
– Mike Brown to @IanBegley on Josh Hart status Monday v Mavs
Hart a gameday scratch with sore right ankle––same ankle he just missed 8 games due to Christmas sprain pic.twitter.com/Pp2WIEQ2XK
Brunson and Hart, both sidelined with ankle injuries, were all the Knicks needed to generate at least a tiny bit of offense. Wouldn’t be the case, as Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride each scored 23 points, while OG Anunoby added 21, but you know, good-not-great they say.
The Knickerbockers shot 40 percent from the field, turned the rock over 17 freaking times, and fell to 16-5 at MSG.
NYK started well, hitting three of their first four attempts from beyond the arc and taking a 27-19 lead after one quarter. Phoenix responded in the second with a 12-0 run, because why not, but New York answered behind McBride’s strong outing on both ends of the floor, going into halftime up 56-55.
Momentum went back and forth in the third quarter. The Suns opened the half on a 10-3 run, only for the Knicks to respond with a 16-0 burst that gave them a sweet double-digit cushion. Phoenix closed the quarter strong, however, tying the game at 77 before Booker converted an and-one at the buzzer to give the Suns a three-point edge entering the fourth. Tension.
The final period was sloppy and ultimately, a bummer. Both teams tried hard, Allen appeared to injure his nose in one collision (me enjoys). Phoenix separated itself with an 8-0 run. New York seemed to only know how to miss buckets and second-chance opportunities.
Alas, an 87-87 tie turned into a 95-87 lead for the visiting Hot Spheres and that was that.
The loss dropped the Knicks to three straight defeats and eight losses in their last 10 games. They next host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. It’s a 5 p.m. tipoff, so let’s flip this thing and say it’s never too soon for a change.
