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Knicks coach Mike Brown discusses Kings tenure ahead of 'emotional' return

Knicks coach Mike Brown discusses Kings tenure ahead of 'emotional' return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Mike Brown will make his first return to Sacramento on Wednesday night since being fired by the Kings less than two months into the 2024-25 season.

Brown, who was hired by the New York Knicks in July 2025, spoke to the media in Sacramento on Tuesday for nearly seven minutes to discuss his tenure with the Kings that ended abruptly and as a shock to the entire NBA.

Sacramento hired Brown in 2022, and his impact was immediate. He brought a winning culture back to California’s capital, helping lead the team to end a 17-year playoff drought as the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed.

Brown shared what he learned from his time in Sacramento.

“Every day you feel like you’re learning, whether you’re learning from something good or something bad,” Brown said (h/t CBS13’s Jake Gadon). “But there are a lot of stuff I learned. Trying to figure out different types of problems we had. Trying to enhance whatever we had that was good here. There’s just a tremendous lateral growth that I went through here. Not just on the floor, but out in the community, too.

“I really enjoyed being out in the community and getting to know the people out there. That was a lot of fun as well.”

The “Beam Team” Kings won 48 games during Brown’s first season as head coach. He was awarded Coach of the Year, and then-general manager Monte McNair was named Executive of the Year.

Sacramento won two games less the following season, but the Western Conference shakeup dropped the Kings all the way to the ninth seed.

The Kings defeated the Warriors in the first Play-In game but fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second game that would have sent them to a first-round playoff series.

After making the playoffs in his first season and falling just short in his second, there was increased pressure riding on Brown and the Kings entering the 2024-25 season. But a 13-18 start to the campaign was enough for Kings ownership and front office to part ways with Brown, as he was fired while driving to the airport for a road trip.

Brown was asked if he was surprised that he wasn’t given more leeway after the newfound success and culture refresh he brought to the city.

“Those situations, it’s part of life. Sometimes things happen. You may think one thing, you may think another thing, but at the end of the day, who knows? The best thing you can do in life is keep moving forward. That’s what myself and my family has done. We really love New York. We’ve embraced the change.

” … [There are] a lot of good things if you keep your mind present and moving forward, and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve really enjoyed our time being in New York, even though it’s been a short amount of time so far.”

Brown was let go on Dec. 27, 2024. He didn’t land — or seek — another NBA job the rest of the season.

Instead, he chose to utilize the time to travel with his wife, never letting the thought of his Kings tenure potentially being his last NBA head-coaching gig.

“I never really think that way,” he said. “When it happened, you process it real quickly and then literally, my wife and I went to Australia, then from there we went to Brooklyn, then we went to Puerto Vallarta and then we went to St. Barts. It’s life, you know? You keep moving forward. You can really beat yourself up if you try to guess or figure out what should’ve happened, why it happened, what could’ve happened, all that stuff. So, life is short. I try to embrace it.

“I enjoy what I can enjoy and control what I can control. If I can’t control it, try to find something else to do.”

Brown said he doesn’t have any regrets from his time in Sacramento, but rather thinks about the “what-ifs” from the injuries the team sustained in his second year.

Former starting Kings shooting guard Kevin Huerter suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in March. A few weeks later, Malik Monk, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year, also was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a calf injury.

Brown believes the Kings would have won 50 games had they not lost those players to injuries.

After Brown was fired, Doug Christie replaced him as interim head coach. Christie had the interim tag removed from his title for the 2025-26 season, in which the Kings currently hold a 10-30 record.

A lot has changed since the last time Brown stepped into the Golden 1 Center building. Most notably, former Kings franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs last February. The Kings also hired Scott Perry as their new general manager after relieving McNair of his duties.

Brown was asked about the massive turnover since his departure, but he kept his response vague.

“Not being here, you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors,” Brown said. “So I don’t think much about it. They have their reasons for doing it because they’re here every day and I’m not. I can’t say much on that.”

One Kings player who remains from the Beam Team era is fourth-year forward Keegan Murray, someone Brown said he loves and is excited to see, as evidenced by his “KEEGAN! MURRAY!” chant.

Brown is focused on his new team, the Knicks, who are 25-14 and the No. 2 seed in the East, but he acknowledged it will be an emotional night as he steps into the building where he has many unforgettable memories in a city he still has a lot of love for.

“I think the crowd will be good,” Brown said. “You never know. I enjoyed my time here. I enjoyed the fans here. Hopefully, they appreciate what we accomplished while I was here. … The reality of it is, coming back here, a place we really enjoyed, yeah, it’s a little emotional.

“But at the end of the day, the fans, if they cheer me or hug me when they see me, trust me, they want to kick my ass and the Knicks’ ass. And we want to do the same.”

Touché.

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Fantasy Basketball Trade Tips: Buy Lows, Sell Highs & Holds

The NBA trade market is officially open for business. With Atlanta already sending Trae Young to Washington and the NBA Trade Deadline approaching, roster values are beginning to shift across the league. Savvy fantasy basketball managers don't have to wait for the next blockbuster to act, though, as this is often the best time to capitalize on slumps, hot streaks and changing team directions.

Whether you're looking to buy low on proven talent, sell high on an unexpected breakout or stay patient with a struggling star, these fantasy basketball trade tips will help you navigate the market and position your roster for the stretch run.

Adebayo is in the midst of a disappointing stretch, averaging just 13.0 points over his last 10 games. He attempted 12.1 shots per game during that span, which isn't far off from his season average of 13.6 attempts. However, the main reason for his decline in scoring is that he shot just 41.3% from the field.

Even with Adebayo struggling with his efficiency, he provided 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during that 10-game span. With him attempting more 3-pointers this season, his overall shooting percentage has declined to 45.6%. Still, it's difficult to complain too much with him providing 16.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 3-pointers per game. This might be an opportunity to acquire him at a slight discount in a trade.

Much like Adebayo, Castle has gone cold from the field. Over his last nine games, he has shot just 34.2%, including 24.1% from behind the arc. That left him to average 13.9 points and 0.8 3-pointers. On the bright side, he still averaged 5.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals over those nine matchups.

Castle is not a good 3-point shooter. He shot 28.5% from behind the arc during his rookie season and is shooting 27.3% this season. Still, he is shooting 46.1% from the field while providing 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 2025-26. He should remain a very valuable fantasy option during the second half of the season, so try to acquire him now before he gets his shot back on track.

Nembhard is having a breakout season, averaging 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 1.9 3-pointers. With Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) out, Nembhard has played 32 minutes per game and with a career-high 23.9% usage rate so far. Prior to this season, he had never posted a usage rate higher than 16.3%.

While Nembhard is thriving, the Pacers are not. They have the second-worst record in the NBA as they find themselves basically out of the playoff hunt already. Entering Wednesday, they are 9.5 games behind the Bulls for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers could become a tanking team during the second half, which might mean rest days are on the horizon for Nembhard. See if you can trade him now for a player with a better outlook down the stretch.

Entering Monday's game against the Hornets, Collins was in the midst of his best stretch of the season. Across the previous five games, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 3.2 3-pointers. It certainly helped his cause that he played 33 minutes per game during that span. However, he also showed efficiency that is not sustainable, shooting 72.2% from the field and 69.6% from behind the arc.

Collins came back to reality against the Hornets, posting three points and five rebounds over 30 minutes. Ivica Zubac recently returned from injury and has been playing more each game, so Collins could see his playing time dip again soon. In a disappointing season while averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds, this might be a rare opportunity to sell high on him in a trade.

The Hawks decided to take their franchise in another direction when they traded Young to the Wizards. It appears that the Grizzlies are prepared to do the same with Morant. Morant is currently out with a calf injury, but it was reported last week that Memphis is entertaining offers to deal him before the trade deadline.

Injuries and poor shooting have plagued Morant this season. He has appeared in just 18 games and shot 40.1% from the field. Never a great 3-point threat, he has shot an abysmal 20.8% from deep so far. His value is at a low point right now, so don't trade him at a discount. A move to a new team could revitalize him for the stretch run.

One of the reasons why the Hawks wanted to trade Young is because of how poorly their defense performed when he was on the floor. They have been much better when Alexander-Walker plays more minutes. Not only is Alexander-Walker a big upgrade on the defensive end of the floor, but he is having the best offensive season of his career with his averages of 20.7 points and 3.0 3-pointers.

With Young out of the picture, Alexander-Walker is set up to start alongside Dyson Daniels for the remainder of the season, barring another trade. The Hawks acquired CJ McCollum in the trade with the Wizards, but he has come off the bench in both of his first two games with his new team. McCollum is not a good defender and is in the later stages of his career, so he will likely remain in that bench role moving forward. There's no need to consider selling high on Alexander-Walker as he could remain a stellar fantasy option moving forward.

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Luka Doncic plays and scores 27 points as the Lakers rout the Hawks

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu, left, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Luka Doncic and Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reach for a loose ball in the first half. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Luka Doncic and LeBron James were listed as questionable for the Lakers' back-to-back game Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Doncic because of left groin soreness, James because of left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica.

Also, checking the stat sheet before the game, the Lakers were listed as one of the worst three-point shooting teams and one of the worst defensive shooting percentage teams in the league.

Well, Luka played and LeBron played and the Lakers shot lights-out from three-point range and were solid across the board on defense while building a 32-point lead in the third quarter and rolling over the Hawks 141-116 at Crypto.com Arena.

“We didn't expect him (James) to be able to play. I mean, that's just the nature of a 41-year-old body who plays heavy minutes. And he just said, "I'm going to try. I'm going to try to do everything I can, do my normal routine if I'm able to go.’ And same thing with Luka,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “So, both those guys I thought just completely led the group tonight and it was evident 22 assists between them. Obviously they made some shots too, but I just thought they did a great job of leading the group.”

Doncic felt soreness in his groin when the Lakers played at Sacramento on Monday night and was unsure about playing Tuesday. But he played and delivered 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.

“For me, I want to play,” Doncic said. “So, obviously I wasn’t feeling 100%, but in my head, I always want to play.”

After playing 33 minutes and 17 seconds, Doncic was asked how he was feeling physically.

“It’s a little bit worse than yesterday,” he said. But I’ll be fine."

James didn’t play in the second game of a back-to-back game last week at New Orleans and San Antonio and said he will be listed as TBD, to be determined, in such scenarios. But James played against the Hawks and nearly produced a triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

James described what went into his day that led him to playing in his first back-to-back game of the season.

“Woke up, got in the cold tub. I got in the cold tub in the hyperbaric chamber,” he said. “After the hyperbaric chamber, I took a nap, then I played PGA EA golf for a little bit, as I [wore compression boots] for 45 minutes, and I took a shower, got dressed and headed here.

"And once I got here, I did my normal game day routine — activation, treatment, rehabbing, stretching, lifting, mentally, doing everything while I watched TPG on the TV.

"And then me and (my trainer) Mike (Mancias) looked at each other, and he looked at me, asking me, ‘What you thinking? I said , ‘I think I feel pretty good.’ And then there's a pregame meal in between there.”

Read more:Why LeBron James' Lakers jersey has a new 'super cool' patch

Coming into the game, opponents were shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.4% from three against the Lakers, ranking them 28th and 26th, respectively, in the NBA.

The Hawks began the game ranked fourth in three-point shooting, making 37.4%, and they were ranked eighth in field-goal percentage, making 43.6%.

All of the above made for a bad recipe for the Lakers entering the game.

But when the game started, none of that mattered to the Lakers, who held the Hawks to 45% shooting and 28.3% from three-point range.

The Lakers shot 55.9% (19 for 34) from three-point range.

The Lakers’ big lead was sliced to 11 points in the fourth.

Read more:Luka Doncic scores 42, but is hampered by injury in Lakers' loss to the Kings

But back-to-back three-pointers by James and Marcus Smart, both off passes from Doncic, and a Doncic basket gave them a 19-point lead, and they never looked back.

The Lakers scored 81 points in the first half, a season-high for points in a half, a half in which they opened a 23-point lead and had the Hawks reeling from the beginning.

“We shared the ball great,” Doncic said. “We knocked down shots, so it was very fun out there.”

Rui Hachimura had missed the previous seven games with a right calf strain but was back in action against the Hawks. He had seven points and two rebounds in 18 minutes.

ETC: The Lakers signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 Bufkin played in seven games for the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G League team, where he averaged 28.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists over seven games. He has appeared in 27 career NBA games over two seasons with the Hawks. “You know, during the stretch, we'll have opportunities during this 10-day,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.... Backup center Jaxson Hayes didn’t play against the Hawks because of left hamstring soreness. Redick said Hayes got some “imaging” Tuesday on his injury and that the Lakers will have “more information” going forward.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Takeaways: Despite Strong Defensive Effort, Penguins Drop Third Straight

During the Pittsburgh Penguins' six-game winning streak at the turn of the new year, they were finding the back of the net with regularity and scoring goals with ease. 

Well, all of that has changed in the last three games. 

Despite a clinical defensive effort - and another commendable goaltending effort, this time by Arturs Silovs - the Penguins were handed their third straight loss, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the shootout, 2-1. Egor Chinakhov scored for the Penguins in the shootout, while Gage Gonclaves and Nikita Kucherov capitalized for the Bolts to seal the win.

Throughout regulation, it was a battle of goaltending, as both Penguins' netminder Arturs Silovs and Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy kept everything tight. Both teams played pretty well defensively, limiting chances, but it felt like the Penguins had, perhaps, even more high-danger opportunities than the Lightning. Silovs ended up 30 for 31 on the evening, while Vasilevskiy was 26 for 27.

It was a scoreless game until the waning minutes of the third period, when J.J. Moser poked home a loose puck in the crease that Silovs couldn't handle to put Tampa Bay up, 1-0, with just under six minutes remaining in regulation. After that, the Penguins were getting a ton of chances, too, and they finally broke through with the goaltender pulled when Evgeni Malkin sniped one past Vasilevskiy to tie the game with 2:16 to go. 

The overtime period was a nail-biter, too, as Pittsburgh controlled most of it and came close to ending it on a few occasions, but they couldn't finish. The Penguins went with Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, and Chinakhov in their shootout lineup, but Chinakhov's lone goal was not enough to give them the two points. 

As it stands, the Penguins still sit one point out of the final wild card spot in the East, as the Toronto Maple Leafs won on Tuesday. Even if they haven't gotten the results they've wanted in the last three games, they're generally happy with the way the team is playing, and they know they need to continue to create more offensive opportunity - even if the opposing goaltender was the main reason they couldn't follow through against the Bolts. 

Recent Moves Show Penguins Are Prioritizing WinningRecent Moves Show Penguins Are Prioritizing WinningThe recent acquisition of Egor Chinakhov and the signing of forward Blake Lizotte by the Pittsburgh Penguins shows that the team is prioritizing winning hockey games this season

Here are some thoughts and takeaways from this one:

- Chinakhov can really, really rip the puck. And, honestly, it's impressive. 

Like Rakell, Chinakhov is, historically, proficient in the shootout, as he is a career 50 percent shooter in it. And when you see how he can shoot the puck, this is no surprise. 

I continue to be impressed by this guy, and I'm eager to see him use that shot more at five-on-five. He and Malkin seem to be developing some chemistry. 

- In the absence of Erik Karlsson - who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a lower-body injury - Brett Kulak and Kris Letang were counted upon to take on top-pairing minutes, as Parker Wotherspoon was bumped to the second pairing with Jack St. Ivany. 

And - aside from a bit of a lapse on Tampa's lone regulation goal - they did a pretty excellent job on Tuesday.

In general over the last couple of weeks, Kulak and Letang have been settling in as a pairing. I think this stretch with Kulak is the best Letang has looked all season, and they seem to feed off each other's strengths. 

Karlsson's loss is s seismic one. He's been good on both special teams units this season, and he drives so much offense from the blue line that it's silly. Replacing him really isn't possible, so it's paramount that the entire defensive corps - but, especially, Letang and Kulak - step up in his absence and put their best game forward.

And Kulak thought - for the most part - they did against the Bolts. 

Penguins' Top Defenseman Placed On Injured ReservePenguins' Top Defenseman Placed On Injured ReserveOn Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins placed top defenseman Erik Karlsson on injured reserve, which could threaten to derail their season

- I'm not loving what I'm seeing from Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha in this last handful of games. I mentioned Sunday that moving Brazeau up with Crosby wouldn't be the worst thing, but with Bryan Rust back after a two-game absence - and the top line pretty much remaining a fixture - Dan Muse may have to consider some other options to get his middle-six going again, because the Penguins need offense. 

The easy thing to do would be to reunite the "mutant line" of Brazeau, Mantha, and Malkin. But I do think it's a bit complicated because of the chemistry that Malkin and Chinakhov are building and because the second line has, arguably, been the Penguins' best in the last two games. Still, their third line has been somewhat ineffective, and that's a bit of a problem when the entire team's scoring has dried up. 

I think, right now, that's the best solution. Reunite the big guys, and give Tommy Novak, Ben Kindel, and Chinakhov some runway - maybe sprinkled with a bit of Tristan Broz now and again. It can't hurt to try when the team has only mustered two goals in the past nine periods of regulation. 

Penguins Call Up 2 Players & Send Forward To AHLPenguins Call Up 2 Players & Send Forward To AHLThe Penguins have made multiple roster moves.

- This was not one of Crosby's better games. I think his line did okay for the most part, as they were generating chances and had a few nice looks. Rust looked good in his first game back, too. 

But Crosby is being way, way too passive with the puck right now. There were a few instances on odd-man rushes Tuesday where there was a clear shot, and he tried to force a pass. And, on top of that, his passes were simply off all night long, and he lost a handle on the puck in the shootout. 

Crosby has always gone through spells like this throughout his career. He always pulls out of it. But he really needs to get more pucks on net, and he needs to find a way to produce through the team's dry spell. 

And, hey, the Penguins play the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, so that may be happening at just the right time. 

- The Penguins started a grueling stretch against Tampa Bay because - including Tuesday's game - Pittsburgh plays six games in 10 days. 

That's a lot of hockey in a short period of time. 

I keep beating this drum, but the Penguins need to bank as many points as possible during this stretch, especially without their No. 1 defenseman. They need all the traction they can get heading into the Olympic break in a few weeks.

'I'm Lucky To Be Able To Play With Him': Penguins' Rookie Relishes Opportunity To Center All-Time Great'I'm Lucky To Be Able To Play With Him': Penguins' Rookie Relishes Opportunity To Center All-Time GreatPittsburgh Penguins' rookie Ben Kindel is experiencing a rare opportunity to center an all-time great NHL player in Evgeni Malkin - and he hopes to make the most of it.

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Emma Raducanu recovers in Hobart to post first win in over three months

  • Briton wins tight encounter with Camila Osorio 6-3, 7-6

  • Match with Colombian was delayed overnight by rain

Emma Raducanu offered an impressive demonstration of her resilience at the Hobart International as she rallied from an overnight second-set deficit in her rain-delayed first-round match to defeat Camila Osorio of Colombia 6-3, 7-6 (2).

The victory marks Raducanu’s first win since September after struggling with a foot injury in the final weeks of the 2025 season. She had contested just one match this season after being sidelined for much of the off-season, losing in three sets to Maria Sakkari in the United Cup. Considering those recent challenges, this is a positive start for Raducanu, who will next face Magdalena Frech, the WTA No 57.

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Blues Sign Mailloux To Extension

The St. Louis Blues announced during their 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday they signed defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, one-way contract extension for $850,000.

Mailloux, 22, is in his first season with the Blues after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2025 for forward Zack Bolduc.

Mailloux (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) has played in 32 games this season and has two points (one goal, one assist). 

Mailloux played 14:55 on Tuesday but played a season-high 20:01 on Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, mostly due to the departure of Philip Broberg from that game that forced the Blues to play with five defensemen for the majority of the game.

"When I look at a guy like Mailloux, I thought last game might have been his best game of the year, poised with the puck, carrying of the puck and he got into a rhythm of the game because he played more minutes because of Broberg's unfortunate fall," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "... With all young players, the more ice time they get, the more comfortable they feel. It's true at every level. That being said, at this level, it's hard to earn more ice time. You have to earn it, because to earn more ice time without injuries, you're supplanting someone's minutes. That's an earned reward sat this level."

Overall, the Belle River, Ontario native has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 40 NHL regular-season games. Mailloux was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the first round (No. 31) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

"Some players come into the league, just like [Jimmy] Snuggerud did last year and boom, he assimilates it," Montgomery said. "And when we look at Snuggerud this year, it's been an adjustment because he's getting used to traveling in time zones, playing in different times zones, coming back, your maintenance, your recovery level, how do you recover at this level. Yeah, we fly in private jets, we stay in great hotels, but in college, he never gets out in his time zone except five games out of 36 a year, and you're seeing the same thing with [Otto] Stenberg, Dalibor Dvorsky and Mailloux. They're used to Eastern time zone in the American (Hockey) League the whole time. Now, they're balancing it. They're playing on Monday's, they're playing on Tuesday's, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday."

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Roman Josi nets overtime winner in Nashville Predators victory over Oilers | Takeaways

It was Roman Josi that delivered in the clutch again, scoring the game winner for a second straight game. 

Tuesday, the Predators captain scored from a wide angle in overtime as the Nashville Predators defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, at Bridgestone Arena. 

In addition to his game-winner, Josi had the game-tying goal in the third period, recording five points in two games. Steven Stamkos netted his 20th goal of the season and 602nd of his career, passing Jari Kurri for 21st on the all-time scoring list. 

Erik Haula also found the back of the net in the second period. 

Juuse Saros picked up his 18th win of the season, making 28 saves on 31 shots. 

Here are three takeaways from the Predators thrilling victory over the Oilers. 

Setting the tone 

Jan 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) and Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) exchange punches during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) and Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) exchange punches during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The last matchup between the Predators and Oilers was a 6-2 drubbing in Edmonton a week ago. Rematching on Tuesday, Nashville wanted to set the tone early.

Three seconds into the game, Michael McCarron dropped the gloves with Darnell Nurse, the fourth time the pair have squared off, dating all the way back to juniors. McCarron got the best of him and quickly swung momentum in the Predators' favor. 

"He (Nurse) challenged me, and I gave him one," McCarron said. "Not only for myself, but for a team, as well, it's a huge thing to show that we're here to play, and if I back down there, maybe their whole bench thinks that we're not here ready to play." 

Right after the fight, Cole Smith got a great shot on net that nearly went in, all within the first minute of the game. 

A little under three minutes into the game, Michael Bunting broke out the puck and swung a pass back to Stamkos in the high slot. Unable to find the open man, Stamkos let a shot go that went into the net. 

It was the first time in 11 games that the Predators had not given up the first goal of the game. 

"He (McCarron) got them (Predators) going, and our team fed off of it, and we got the lead," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. Credit to Big Mac." 

Josi's hot streak continues 

Roman Josi speaks to media following the Nashville Predators 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 13, 2025 at Bridgestone Arena. Jack Williams/The Hockey News

It was a similar conversation to Sunday, when Josi recorded three points, including the game winner, against the Washington Capitals. Josi's presence on the team is massive, and the offensive element to his game is starting to flare up. 

Josi scored off a slap shot to tie things just beyond the halfway point of the third period. Brunette went as far as saying that the goal was more important than Josi's game-winner. 

"As much as the overtime goal was big for us, the goal to make it 3-3 when we lost the momentum was arguably the play of the game," Brunette said. "It was a heck of a shot."

In overtime, Ryan O'Reilly lifted the puck into the neutral zone to get it in front of a streaking Josi. Tristian Jarry poked it away from Josi, but there wasn't enough momentum on the push to move the puck as it stopped in the left part of the slot.

Brady Skeji skated to it, and instead of shooting it, he made a pass to Josi in the left corner. He let a quick shot go that found the back of the net. 

"I was a little nervous and it was tight (window)," Josi said. "I was tired and I didn't want to go back again. Skjeiy made a good play and I'm glad it went in." 

Limiting McDavid, Draisaitl 

Jan 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates past Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) and left wing Reid Schaefer (49) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates past Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) and left wing Reid Schaefer (49) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

While the Predators were able to limit Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they couldn't keep them off the board.

Draisaitl had three points (a goal and two assists), and now has 49 points (27 goals and 22 assists) in his last 19 games played against the Predators. McDavid had two assists, extending his point streak to 20 games. 

Edmonton also executed on two of its four power plays on the night. McCarron even admitted that the Predators have struggled to figure out Edmonton's power play all season. 

"They've (Edmonton) taken it to us over the past few years, as you guys know, who've been here, they seem to always play really, really good against us," McCarron said. "Their power play was awesome again tonight. We'll eventually learn how to play that power." 

However, the Predators were able to shut down the Oilers' two superstars when it mattered most: 3-on-3 overtime. 

With two defensemen on the ice, Nashville was able to overcome one of the biggest thorns in its side and pick up a massive win, closing out a homestand. 

"The players they have are going to get their chances, but I felt like most stretches we played them well," Josi said. "McDavid had two points, so I guess that's a good night to keep him to two. It was a good win."

Up next: Nashville Predators (22-20-4, 5th Central) at Colorado Avalanche (33-4-8, 1st Central) on Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. CST at Ball Arena. 

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Islanders' comeback falls short in 5-4 loss to Jets

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the New York Islanders 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Dylan DeMelo, Jonathan Toews and Josh Morrissey also scored for Winnipeg in its third straight win. Connor Hellebuyck finished with 23 saves.

Kyle MacLean, Emil Heineman, Anthony Duclair and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Islanders, who fell to 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Ilya Sorokin finished with 17 saves.

DeMelo gave the Jets a 4-3 lead with 7:37 remaining in the second period as he scored on a screened shot from the blue line.

Lowry made it a two-goal lead with 20 seconds to go in the middle period as he deflected Neal Pionk’s point shot past Sorokin.

Schaefer scored with 46 seconds left in the third and the goalie pulled to get the Islanders within one.

Connor opened the scoring 4:20 into the game. After Alex Iafallo deflected Scheifele’s shot from the middle of the point, Connor pounced on the rebound and swept it past Sorokin.

Morrissey upped the lead to 2-0 at 5:41 of the second, with a shot through traffic.

Just 42 seconds later, Toews scored on the power play for a three-goal lead, slipping the rebound of Gabe Vilardi’s shot past Sorokin.

The Islanders then scored three times in 2:41 to tie it midway through the period.

Duclair converted a backward pass from the corner by Anders Lee at 7:40 to get New York on the scoreboard. Heineman then scored on a penalty shot to pull the Isles within one at 8:58. MacLean tied it from in front off a pass from Casey Cizikas with 9:39 left.

Up next

Islanders: At Edmonton on Thursday night in the fourth of a seven-game trip.

Jets: At Minnesota on Thursday night.

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Yankees acquire left-hander Ryan Weathers from Marlins for 4 prospects

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday for four prospects, a move to bolster a rotation that will be missing Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón when the season starts.

Miami received outfielders Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis and infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus, all of whom are 21 to 23 years old.

Weathers, 26, was 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in eight starts last year in his second straight injury-shortened season. He missed time with a strained left flexor, made his season debut on May 14, then didn’t pitch for Miami between June 7 and Sept. 11 because of a left lat strain.

He was 5-6 with a 3.63 ERA over 16 starts in 2024, when he was sidelined by a strained left index finger. He is a son of former Yankee David Weathers; they are the fifth father-son pair to play for the Yankees, including Yogi and Dale Berra and Clay and Cody Bellinger.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Weathers agreed last week to a one-year, $1.35 million contract. He is on track to become eligible for free agency after the 2028 World Series.

New York’s rotation projects to include Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil.

Cole is expected to return to the Yankees in May or June following Tommy John surgery last spring, and Rodón is projected back in late April or May after surgery this offseason to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.

The Yankees re-signed Ryan Yarbrough for pitching depth and have a pending agreement to re-sign Paul Blackburn.

Miami dealt its second pitcher in a week after sending Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs.

Lewis, 22, is a 13th-round draft pick who batted .237 with 22 homers and 79 RBIs in Class A last season. Jones, 23, is a 12th-rounder who hit .245 with 11 homers and 69 RBIs in Class A and Double-A. Jasso, 23, an undrafted free agent, batted .257 with 13 homers and 76 RBIs with Double-A Somerset. Matheus, 21, is a native of Venezuela who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and batted .275 with three homers and 56 RBIs for Class A Tampa last season.

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Reed and Demary power No. 3 UConn to a 69-64 win over No. 25 Seton Hall in a Big East clash

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Tarris Reed Jr. scored 21 points and Silas Demary Jr. made four free throws in the last 29 seconds as No. 3 UConn extended its winning streak to 13 games with a 69-64 win over No. 25 Seton Hall on Tuesday night.

The Huskies nearly squandered an 18-point lead — 42-24 — with 17:20 left to play. Seton Hall battled back and closed within a point at 65-64 on a 3-pointer by Mike Williams III with 48 seconds left.

Demary made two free throws to give UConn a 67-64 lead with 29 seconds to play. Williams had a chance to tie it for Seton Hall on its next possession, but his 3-point attempt was blocked by freshman guard Braylon Mullins. Demary closed out the win with two more free throws with 11 seconds remaining.

The Huskies (17-1, 7-0 Big East) were held without a field goal for the final 5:40 of the game

Seton Hall had beaten UConn in the teams’ last four games at the Prudential Center.

Seton Hall (14-3, 4-2) had overcome double-digit deficits after halftime in all three of its wins since losing to Villanova on Dec. 23.

Alex Karaban had 13 points and Mullins scored 11 points for the Huskies.

Williams scored 16 points, Adam Clark added 12 and Najai Hines 10 for Seton Hall, which shot 1 for 16 (6%) from 3-point range. The Pirates were making third first appearance in The Associated Press’ Top 25 rankings since a No. 20 ranking nearly four years ago.

NO. 12 MICHIGAN STATE 81, INDIANA 60

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears scored 19 of his career-high 23 points in the first half and Jaxon Kohler finished with 16 points, leading Michigan State to a win over Indiana.

The Spartans (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) trailed by seven midway through the first half when Fears was their only scorer and led 39-32 at halftime after some of his teammates contributed offensively.

The Hoosiers (12-5, 3-3) tied the game with 11:19 to remaining, before giving up 19 straight points while being held scoreless for nearly seven minutes.

Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson scored 19 points and didn’t get much help because none of his teammates scored in double figures. Reed Bailey, who is averaging 10 points, fouled out for the Hoosiers.

NO. 16 VIRGINIA 79, NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 70

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Malik Thomas made six 3-pointers and scored 19 points, Johann Grunloh added 16 points and Virginia shot 55% in the second half to beat Louisville.

Thomas went 6 of 8 from beyond the arc and 6 of 9 overall for the Cavaliers (15-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Virginia shot just 40% from the field but led throughout and made 7 of 13 3-pointers after halftime in its first meeting with a ranked foe this season.

Grunloh, a 7-foot freshman, went 3 of 4 on 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and four blocks.

Isaac McKneely, who spent the previous three seasons at Virginia, scored a season-high 23 points for Louisville (12-5, 2-3), which shot 36% and has dropped three of four.

Ryan Conwell added 14 points for the Cardinals, who played a seventh consecutive game without guard Mikel Brown Jr. (back) and were missing forward Khani Rooths because of an illness. Ex-G League player London Johnson dressed but did not play for a second straight game.

NO. 22 CLEMSON 74, BOSTON COLLEGE 50

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Nick Davidson scored 21 straight points in the first half and finished with a season-high 25 as Clemson beat Boston College to remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Tigers (15-3, 5-0 ACC) won their eighth straight game, one day after reaching the Top 25 rankings for the first time this season.

Davidson, the Nevada transfer, accounted for all of Clemson’s scoring in a 21-9 run in the first to turn a four-point deficit into a 32-24 lead.

Clemson started the second half on a 9-2 run. The Tigers were led by RJ Godfrey’s five points and extended their lead to double digits.

Davidson’s two foul shots with 9:50 to play extended Clemson’s lead to 21 points and Boston College (7-10, 0-4) failed to respond. The Tigers eventually led by 25 in the second half.

Davidson made 8 of 11 shots from the field, including four of Clemson’s eight 3-pointers. He finished a point shy of his career high, set against Sam Houston State in November 2024.

Fred Payne led Boston College with 20 points.

NO. 24 TENNESSEE 87, TEXAS A&M 82, 2OT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nate Ament scored 23 points, 10 of which came in the two overtime periods, as Tennessee beat Texas A&M.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 18, Bishop Boswell had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Felix Okpara had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Volunteers (12-5, 2-2 in Southeastern Conference), who outrebounded the Aggies 60-35.

The Aggies (13-4, 3-1), who had their six-game winning streak snapped, were led by Jacari Lane with 20 points, Pop Isaacs with 16 and Ruben Dominguez with 15.

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Bruins Halt Red Wings' Winning Streak With 3-0 Win In Boston

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The four-game winning streak for the Detroit Red Wings was halted on Tuesday evening against a longtime Original Six rival.

The Boston Bruins broke what was a scoreless tie midway through the second period, and added another pair of goals in the third period en route to a 3-0 win over the Red Wings at TD Garden, in which they had a decided 40-24 advantage in total shots. 

It was the second game in 24 hours for the Red Wings, who defeated the Carolina Hurricanes by a 4-3 final score in overtime on Monday evening, during which the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Sergei Fedorov was officially retired. 

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Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman was sharp when he needed to be, stopping all 24 shots he faced from the Red Wings for his first shutout of the season. Meanwhile, Cam Talbot had a strong game of his own with 38 saves. 

The Red Wings were a bit sluggish to start Tuesday's game, finding themselves outshot by a wide margin early on before eventually catching up by the end of the first period.

Midway through the second, Pavel Zacha broke the ice with his 14th goal of the season, giving Boston the 1-0 lead. They doubled the lead early in the third after Fraser Minten was left all alone at the side of the net and had an easy tap-in goal after taking a pass from Charlie McAvoy. 

Just seconds after Dylan Larkin fired a shot off the post and with Talbot on the bench for an extra attacker late in regulation, the Bruins sealed the victory with an empty-net tally from Mark Kastelic. 

With Detroit's regulation loss combined with the 11th straight victory by the Tampa Bay Lightning, it's the latter who now have a one-point lead for first place in the Atlantic Division. 

The Red Wings will return home for two straight games, starting on Friday evening against the San Jose Sharks followed by late Sunday afternoon against the Ottawa Senators. 

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Report: Sabres Goalie Linked To Metro Club

In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Anthony Di Marco reported that the Philadelphia Flyers are considering potential replacement options for Sam Ersson. This comes with Ersson in the middle of a tough 2025-26 season with the Flyers, as he has recorded a 6-6-4 record, a 3.33 goals-against average, and a .858 save percentage in 16 games.

Di Marco then reported that he heard from a source that the Flyers would be open to the possibility of acquiring Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon, who has been the subject of trade speculation this season. 

"The Sabres, who have been the league’s hottest team since their GM change, had been dealing with a three-goaltender rotation for the majority of the season. The source I spoke with did not seem to have too much interest in Ellis based on his lack of NHL experience but was open to the idea of Lyon – at the right price," Di Marco wrote. 

Hearing that the Flyers would be open to bringing in Lyon is not necessarily surprising. It is no secret that the Flyers could use a boost between the pipes, and the 33-year-old would have the potential to provide them with just that if acquired.

Lyon is in the middle of a strong season with the Sabres, as he has recorded a 10-6-3 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.82 goals-against average in 21 games. With numbers like these, he would give the Flyers a bit of an upgrade over Ersson.

Yet, at the same time, the Sabres might be wise to hold onto Lyon rather than trading him. The Sabres are currently in the playoff race due to their excellent play as of late, and Lyon has proven to be a strong addition to their roster this campaign. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what the Sabres end up doing once we get to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. 

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Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Austin Rivers to coach Rising Stars during All-Star weekend

Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Austin Rivers have picked up a side hustle, coaching during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The four NBC broadcasters — three of them Hall of Famers — will coach the Rising Stars Game on Feb. 13, the Friday night of All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The game will start at 9 p.m. Eastern that night and be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

This year's Rising Stars game will be must watch because it is overflowing with talent from an impressive and deep rookie class.

Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen and Tre Johnson are among the rookies expected to take part in the game at the Intuit Dome (the home of the LA Clippers). There are plenty of talented second-year players expected to participate as well, including Stephon Castle, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.

All of those rookies and sophomores will be drafted onto three teams, with the draft taking place in two weeks (Jan. 27) at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock. NBA G League players will make up the fourth team. Those four teams will be put into a straight-up tournament, where in the initial round the first team to reach or surpass 40 points will win and advance to the championship game. In that title game, the first team to reach 25 points wins.

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The NBA All-Star Game returns to the Los Angeles area this season, with the big game itself played on Feb. 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. All events will be broadcast on NBC Sports and Peacock. The All-Star Friday Night Rising Stars game (featuring NBA rookies and second-year players) as well as the All-Star Saturday Night events, including the Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest, will also take place at the Intuit Dome. Fans will be able to watch all of it on NBC Sports and Peacock.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Ex-Canadiens First-Rounder Lands Extension With New Team

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have signed former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension. 

Mailloux is currently in his first season with the Blues, as the Canadiens traded him to St. Louis this past off-season in exchange for forward Zack Bolduc. Now, with this new deal, Mailloux will be sticking with the Blues for at least another season. 

While Mailloux has landed a contract extension with the Blues, it is fair to say that the start of his tenure in St. Louis has been rocky. In 31 games with the Blues so far this campaign, the former Canadiens prospect has recorded one goal, one assist, and a minus-21 rating. 

Mailloux has also played in five games with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, this season, where he has scored two goals. 

The Blues are hoping that Mailloux will become a key part of their blueline in the future, as the 22-year-old defenseman has good to upside. 

The Canadiens selected Mailloux with the 31st overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In eight games over two seasons with the Canadiens from 2023-24 to 2024-25, Mailloux posted two goals, three assists, and five points. 

Mailloux also played in 135 games over two seasons with the Laval Rocket, where he had 26 goals and 80 points. 

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Yankees acquire LHP Ryan Weathers in trade with Marlins

The Yankees have acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins.

As first reported by YES Network's Jack Curry, New York will send four minor leaguers to Miami for the southpaw in a move that will fortify the rotation in 2026 and beyond.

The minor leaguers the Yankees will send include outfielders Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, and infielders Dillon Jasso and Juan Matheus, according to multiple reports.

Jones is the No. 15 Yankees prospect according to MLB Pipeline, while Lewis (16) and Jasso (23) round out the prospects in the organization's top 30 prospects. 

Weathers, 26, is coming off an injury-laden season where he made just eight starts due to flexor and lat strains. In limited time on the field in 2025, Weathers pitched to a 3.99 ERA with a K9 of 8.7 and a WHIP of 1.27. 

In two-plus seasons with the Marlins, Weathers was 7-10 in 27 appearances (26 starts) while pitching to a 4.57 ERA. He was traded to Miami from the Padres in a deal that was headlined by first baseman Garrett Cooper in 2023. Before landing in South Beach, Weathers made 43 appearances (29 starts) and pitched to a 5.73 ERA with San Diego from 2021-23. 

Weathers will make $1.35 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, giving the Yankees control of the southpaw until 2029.

While not as splashy a move, the Yankees can use Weathers -- whose father David pitched for the Bombers in 1996 and 1997 -- to give the rotation some healthy bodies until Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt return from injury. Currently, the Yankees' rotation will include Max Fried, Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. Ryan Yarbrough is also slated to take a few starts as a swing man.