BOTTOM LINE: Houston will try to break its five-game road skid when the Rockets take on Detroit.
The Pistons are 18-4 on their home court. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Jalen Duren paces the Pistons with 10.9 rebounds.
The Rockets are 11-13 on the road. Houston is the Western Conference leader with 49.0 rebounds per game led by Alperen Sengun averaging 9.2.
The Pistons average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer makes per game than the Rockets allow (12.5). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Pistons give up.
The two teams play for the second time this season. The Pistons defeated the Rockets 115-111 in their last meeting on Oct. 25. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points, and Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 37 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 13.3 points over the last 10 games.
Durant is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 8-2, averaging 112.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 12.0 steals and 8.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points per game.
Rockets: 5-5, averaging 107.7 points, 49.6 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Duncan Robinson: day to day (back), Ronald Holland II: day to day (illness), Caris LeVert: day to day (illness), Cade Cunningham: day to day (illness).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Aaron Holiday: out (back), Steven Adams: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Knicks (26-18, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (24-19, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia hosts the New York Knicks following the Philadelphia 76ers' 128-122 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.
The 76ers are 18-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia has a 12-5 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Knicks are 6-3 against the rest of the division. New York has a 10-14 record against teams over .500.
The 76ers average 116.8 points per game, 3.0 more points than the 113.8 the Knicks give up. The Knicks average 14.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 more made shots on average than the 12.6 per game the 76ers give up.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The 76ers won 130-119 in the last matchup on Jan. 4.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyrese Maxey is averaging 30.1 points, 6.8 assists and 2.1 steals for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists over the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns is scoring 20.8 points per game and averaging 11.5 rebounds for the Knicks. Miles McBride is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 116.1 points, 42.2 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 11.2 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points per game.
Knicks: 3-7, averaging 109.2 points, 45.9 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.
Knicks: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' comeback bid fell short in a 112-104 loss to the L.A. Clippers on Thursday, but the game felt secondary the moment it ended.
During his postgame availability, James was asked about a story by ESPN that questioned the relationship he had with the Lakers’ front office and, more specifically, team governor Jeanie Buss.
“I don't care about an article,” James said. “I don’t care how somebody feels about me. If you know me personally, you know what I'm about. These guys know what I’m about.”
James indicated he doesn’t spend much time talking with Buss, but added he didn't do so with the ultimate leaders of the other teams he played for during his NBA career.
“I thought it was good, but someone might see it a different way,” James said when asked about his relationship with Buss. “There are always two sides to the coin.
“At the end of the day, how I represented this franchise and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise from when I got here until now was with the utmost respect, honor, dignity and loyalty."
Buss released a statement hours after the ESPN story was published on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” Buss said in a statement to The Athletic. "To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
The story was centered around the issues within the Buss family, but also pointed to several incidents where Jeanie Buss had reportedly not been pleased with the team’s superstar.
The story said Buss felt James had failed to take accountability for how things worked out with Russell Westbrook and thought James appeared to be ungrateful after the team drafted James' son, Bronny, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Asked specifically if he wanted to finish the season with the Lakers, James said "I'm good. I'm good."
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) reacts after he is hit on the head by Clippers center Ivica Zubac while battling for a rebound during the Lakers' 112-104 loss Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers coach JJ Redick understands there's a “human element” to players looking for more minutes so they can score more points. He knows future contracts are important and his team isn't immune to focusing on that.
The Lakers have five players in the final year of their contracts and three more with player options, making for eight potential free agents this offseason.
Redick talked about player contracts after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers on Thursday night at Intuit Dome for their sixth loss in nine games.
"Guys are worried about their futures," Redick said. "And that's what happens when you got a team full of free agents and player-options. I think it's just natural that you're gonna worry about the offense ... and I've been there. (It gets) in your head a little bit: 'Played five minutes (and) haven't got a shot yet.' And that's a human thing. It's not anybody's fault.”
When a team is in a tailspin — much like the Lakers, who've lost 10 of their last 17 — playing time and points can become major issues for players looking for new contracts.
Clippers forward John Collins dunks during the first half Thursday against the Lakers. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“I think I’ve been here for four seasons now and every year it’s almost the same but it’s different," Hachimura said. "You have to survive, too, so I get it, I understand it. I think we talked about before the season winning is going to help. So, we got to focus on that and everything is going to come out.”
Still, the Lakers have to play the games in front of them. They're two games into an eight-game road trip, with their next game Saturday night in Dallas.
It means they have to compartmentalize the business of the NBA and the games they are being paid to play.
“It is tough. I mean, you got guys fighting for contracts, fighting to stay on the team and you got other guys who are secure and got theirs and kind of understand where they are,” Smart said. “But at the same time, we’re all professionals and we got to come out and do our jobs no matter what. So, the human element does come into play sometimes and you just got to be able to snap out of it quicker than what we are doing.”
Clippers center Ivica Zubac scores on a reverse dunk in the fourth quarter of the Clippers' 112-104 win Thursday at Intuit Dome.
Lakers forward LeBron James tries to steal the ball from Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the second half.
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt battles Zubac for a rebound in the second half.
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times
With the NBA trade deadline looming on Feb. 5, James was asked if he thinks the Lakers need to make any moves.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I do.”
With the Lakers (26-17) holding sixth in the Western Conference, James was asked what the Lakers need to do to level up.
“It's disrespectful to these guys if I start talking over the deadline and what we need to do, we got to get better, whatever the case may be,” he said. “I'm trying not to play fantasy basketball too much.”
So does James want to finish this season with the Lakers?
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t panic when the Utah Jazz erased a double-digit lead and turned Thursday night into a tight fourth quarter game. Instead, they responded with their best basketball of the night.
Behind a decisive late surge powered by De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs broke open a close contest and rolled past the Jazz, 126–109, at the Delta Center.
After watching Utah claw all the way back to tie the game early in the fourth quarter, San Antonio flipped the switch. The Spurs closed the night on a dominant run, overwhelming the Jazz with pace, shooting, and renewed defensive intensity.
“I think a big thing was we were getting stops,” Fox said. “I think that’s why they got back into the game, we stopped getting stops. Once our defense got going again, that’s where we broke the game open.”
Fox led all scorers with 31 points, torching the Jazz from beyond the arc and setting the tone during the Spurs’ closing push. Wembanyama added 26 points, including several clutch three-pointers, as San Antonio finally found separation after a back-and-forth second half.
“My hat goes out to him (Fox). Every day, he comes in, doesn’t have no ego, comes in to work, comes out there, gives us his best every night,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said.
The Spurs controlled much of the first half, building a lead behind sharp ball movement and hot perimeter shooting. They connected from deep early and often, opening up space inside and forcing Utah to scramble defensively. Johnson provided a spark off the bench with 21 points, giving San Antonio valuable scoring when the offense stalled.
But Utah refused to go away. The Jazz chipped away at the Spurs’ lead in the third quarter and carried that momentum into the fourth, briefly pulling even and threatening to steal control. Rookie Ace Bailey paced Utah with 25 points, while center Jusuf Nurkić posted his second straight triple-double, anchoring the Jazz’s comeback attempt.
That momentum didn’t last.
Midway through the fourth, Wembanyama drilled a three to break a brief shooting drought, igniting a run that turned a tense game into a comfortable win. Fox followed with another deep ball, and the Spurs rattled off a decisive stretch that left Utah scrambling for answers.
Head coach Mitch Johnson praised his team’s composure after the Jazz made their run.
“It’s a never-ending battle and a lot of defensive miscues and game plan execution breakdowns in terms of coverage, scheme, discipline, personnel, but again, 17 points in the fourth quarter got the job done.” he said.
San Antonio finished with five players in double figures and controlled the final minutes on both ends, holding Utah to limited looks while continuing to punish defensive breakdowns.
For a Spurs team still learning how to close games consistently, the final stretch offered an encouraging sign.
“Just trying to continue to get better and continue to hold ourselves to the standard that we believe is our standard, and then also continue to get better in regards to that as well,” Coach Johnson said.
The Spurs will look to build on that fourth quarter performance as they return to the court on Sunday after a few days off, hoping Thursday’s finish is less of an exception and more of a blueprint going forward.
Game Notes
Luke Kornet joined the Spurs’ injury list but Mitch Johnson said he doesn’t expect him to be on the list long. That’s a good sign because man, did the Spurs miss him tonight.
Stephon Castle had a nice night at the office with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals. The best stat of all? Just one turnover. Let’s hope his trend of turning the ball over is done.
The Spurs may have struggled as a team from beyond the arc this past month but not Julian Champagnie. He was hot again from three, scoring 17 points while hitting five triples.
San Antonio will now have two days off before playing Sunday against New Orleans and another two days off after that. That rest is going to be much needed for Vassell and Kornet. It would not surprise me if they were back for that next game.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Shaedon Sharpe scored 27 points and had seven rebounds and four steals, and the Portland Trail Blazers extended their winning streak to four games with a 127-110 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
Deni Avdija added 20 points before leaving with a back injury. Caleb Love also had 20 points, Toumani Camara had 16 and Jrue Holiday 15 for the Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 21 and won for the 11th time in 14 games. Their 9-2 mark in January is the best in the NBA.
At 23-22, it's the first time the Trail Blazers are over .500 through 45 games since the 2020-2021 season.
Bam Adebayo scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Heat. Norman Powell added 18 points and Simone Fontecchio had 17.
The Trail Blazers led 64-63 at halftime and pulled away with a 17-2 run in the third quarter that put them up by 17. Sharpe led the way with a team-high 24 second-half points.
The Trail Blazers made 20 3-pointers, with Sharpe shooting 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, compared to the Heat making just nine.
The Lakers nearly pulled off an improbable comeback against the Clippers on Thursday before coming up just short, falling 112-104.
After trailing by as many as 26 in the second half, the Lakers cut the deficit to two points, setting up a frantic finish. Despite an improved defensive effort in the second half, LA ran out of steam down the stretch.
LA lost the rebounding battle 55-43, giving up 15 second-chance points. Ivica Zubac pulled down 19 boards himself.
It was an offensive showdown early. Jake LaRavia was red hot, draining two 3-pointers for the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard then began to heat up for the Clippers, scoring eight points. LaRavia and Luka Dončić combined for 12 of LA’s first 16 points.
Kobe Sanders provided instant offense for the Clippers off the bench with two triples. The purple and gold’s struggles mounted as Luka was the only one scoring. The Clippers jumped to a lead of seven, forcing a Laker timeout.
Out of the break, Luka scored on a shot off the glass.
Sanders continued shooting well from behind the arc, draining another triple. After missing his first two shots, Rui Hachimura knocked down a 3-pointer at the first quarter buzzer, making it a seven-point deficit.
The second period began with Brook Lopez scoring four points. LeBron James was being assertive and playing aggressively as he was at nine points in the half. The Lakers couldn’t defend Leonard, who was still scoring at ease. He was the second player in the game in double figures with 12.
At the 7:13 mark, the Lakers were down by nine.
Each time the Lakers tried to get closer, the Clips had an answer. Despite defending James Harden well, he did still manage to notch seven points. The lead kept growing for the Clippers as the Lakers completely fell apart on both ends.
At halftime, the purple and gold were down by 17.
The Lakers failed to score from the 2:58 mark of the 2nd Q until Ayton's first hoop with 26 seconds to play, snapping a 9-0 run.
The third period began with both teams missing shots until Harden converted on a three-point play. Deandre Ayton countered with a hook shot on the other end. Leonard then went on a personal 5-0 scoring run, forcing a timeout for the Lakers. The Lakers only made one of their first seven shot attempts.
Leonard was now at 24 points for the game.
The Lakers were struggling with poor energy and effort until they suddenly found some life. They scored five straight points, but they were still down by double figures. After a Clippers timeout, Luka converted on a midrange jumper.
The Lakers continued to build on the momentum they had conjured up by defending and scoring. They ended the third on a 19-7 scoring run for a deficit of 14 going into the fourth period.
LA finally got something going late in the 3rd Q, rallying behind Luka Doncić – 26 points, 8 boards, 7 assists – to get within 14 after trailing by as much as a 26 earlier in the period.
Hachimura opened the final frame with a 3-pointer for the Lakers. Jordan Miller was cooking for the Clips with seven quick points. The Lakers were throwing all their bodies at Leonard, making him battle more for his shots.
It was down to a 10-point game at the 8:45 mark.
Jarred Vanderbilt was providing energy off the bench by doing the dirty work with two assists and three steals. The Lakers had completely taken all the momentum from the Clippers and had now made it a five-point game.
It's a 35-14 extended run now, and the deficit is down to 5 after Smart's and-1.
Luka and Harden exchanged a pair of 3-pointers, making it a fun shootout. It had become a two-point deficit until the Clippers answered back with a 10-0 scoring run.
All the great energy and effort the Lakers had built was an afterthought as they looked drained. As quickly as it looked to all be done, the Lakers came alive once more, scoring eight straight points to cut the deficit to single digits once more.
A three-point play from LeBron made it a three-point game with 1:28 left.
The Clippers then responded again with a 5-0 run, capped off with a John Collins three with 43 seconds left to put the hosts up 110-102 to effectively seal the result.
Key Player Stats
Dončić ended with 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. LeBron had 23 points with five rebounds and six assists. LaRavia pitched in with seven points, five rebounds, three steals and four blocks.
Hachimura scored 12 points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes notched six points and two rebounds. Vanderbilt put up seven points with two assists and four steals while finishing with a team-best plus-minus of +16. Marcus Smart had 10 points with four assists and two steals.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT.
The Detroit Red Wings got a firsthand look at why Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is going to be the highest-paid player in NHL history.
Kaprizov scored twice on Thursday evening, including the overtime game-winning goal, as part of Minnesota's 4-3 overtime victory at Grand Casino Arena.
Kaprizov's recent eight-year, $136 million contract extension, which will kick in at the start of next season, carries a $17 million cap hit, the largest of any player to have suited up in the NHL.
The Red Wings, who picked up a point in the standings, now sit atop the Atlantic Division with 67 points, moving past the idle Tampa Bay Lightning. However, they won't like the fact that they weren't able to protect the three separate leads they had during the contest.
Lucas Raymond opened the scoring in the first period of play, sniping home a power-play goal past goaltender Filip Gustafsson. But late in the frame, it would be Kaprizov scoring what was the first of his two goals on the evening, knotting the score at 1-1.
Raymond once again found the back of the net late in the second period, capitalizing on a fortunate bounce that sent the puck right onto his stick alone in the slot before beating Gustafsson with a low shot through the pads, helping Detroit take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The third period was a back-and-forth affair, as both teams traded goals in short order. Mats Zuccarello scored less than a minute into the period, which was his first of what would be two goals of his own, knotting the score.
James van Riemsdyk continued his impressive season, tipping home a pass from rookie Emmitt Finnie at the side of the net to give Detroit a 3-2 lead; it was van Riemsdyk's 14th goal of the season, while Finnie picked up his first point since Dec. 23.
Just seconds later, Zuccarello scored again, picking up a rebound and beating Talbot during a goal-mouth scramble to knot the score yet again.
Late in regulation, the Red Wings had a prime opportunity to seize the lead after Alex DeBrincat moved in alone on a breakaway, but his top-shelf attempt sailed over the net.
Not long after Larkin had the chance to score his second overtime game-winner in 24 hours, Kaprizov sealed the victory for the Wild.
Talbot, who played multiple seasons with Minnesota earlier in his career, made 35 saves, while Gustafsson stopped 30 of 33 shots that he faced.
Travis Hamonic was in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 21, as Simon Edvinsson wasn’t available because of a lower-body ailment.
The Red Wings will wrap up their three-game road swing with a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday evening.
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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Anthony Mantha scored twice, Sidney Crosby made it three in an early 37-second span and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 on Thursday night.
The 37-second spree was the fastest three goals in Penguins history and the fastest three allowed by the Oilers.
The Penguins scored on three of their first four shots. Just 2:20 in, Justin Brazeau made a nifty pass through a defender’s legs to Mantha, who deflected it in. Twenty-two seconds later, Mantha scored on a breakaway. Crosby struck 15 seconds after that, deflecting a pass from the slot into the net.
Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, Rickard Rakell, and Egor Chinakhov also scored and Arturs Silovs made 30 saves. The Penguins have won three straight and are 10-2-2 in their last 14 to get to 25-14-11.
Jake Walman and Matthew Savoie scored for Edmonton, and Tristan Jarry made 16 saves against his former team. The Oilers have lost two in a row and four of six to fall to 25-19-8.
Connor McDavid was held pointless in consecutive games are the first time this season. The last time he went two games without a point was Feb. 7 and Feb. 22, 2025, a pair of matches broken up by the 4 Nations Face-Off.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored six of his 36 points in overtime, Joel Embiid had 32 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Houston Rockets 128-122 on Thursday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points for the 76ers, who evened their home record at 12-12. Paul George returned to the lineup for Philadelphia after missing two straight games due to left knee injury management and had 10 points.
Kevin Durant scored 36 points for the Rockets, who had won three in a row. Amen Thompson added 17 for Houston.
The 76ers scored the first five points of the extra session, on George’s 3-pointer and VJ Edgecombe’s follow from close range after he grabbed an offensive rebound, to take control.
Philadelphia had a chance to win it in regulation, but Durant blocked Maxey’s driving layup attempt with 13.2 seconds left. Maxey added 10 assists.
The 76ers opened up a 94-88 lead early in the fourth quarter, but it took 3:23 for Philadelphia to score another point. Reed Sheppard’s third 3-pointer of the quarter put Houston up 105-96 with 6:25 remaining. The 76ers tied it twice late in regulation, the last on Maxey’s layup with 40.1 seconds left.
HORNETS 124, MAGIC 97
ORLANDO (AP) — LaMelo Ball returned to Charlotte’s starting lineup and had 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a win over Orlando.
Ball, who a night earlier had one of the worst shooting performances of his career when he came off the bench as part of a plan to manage his minutes, went 6 for 12 from the field and 4 for 8 from 3-point distance against Orlando. In a loss to Cleveland on Wednesday, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft finished with two points on 1-of-15 shooting, including 0 of 10 from 3-point range.
Brandon Miller scored 20 points to lead Charlotte’s balanced effort. Collin Sexton came off the bench and scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, Kon Knueppel and Tidjane Salaunadded added 13 apiece, and Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner each scored 10.
Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, and Desmond Bane added 21 for the Magic. Moritz Wagner scored 14, Noah Penda added 13 and Jeff Howard 10.
NUGGETS 107, WIZARDS 97
WASHINGTON (AP) — Peyton Watson scored a career-high 35 points to lead short-handed Denver to a victory over Washington.
Jamal Murray added 24 points for the Nuggets, who avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points in his return after missing 11 games with a strained calf. Aaron Gordon also scored 16 points.
Nikola Jokic missed his 13th consecutive game for Denver with a hyperextended left knee.
Kyshawn George scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Washington, which lost its eighth in a row. Tre Johnson added 19 points for the Wizards, who dropped 14 consecutive games from late October to early December.
Washington shot a season-worst 38.1% (32 of 84) to sink to 10-33, one game ahead of last-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards never never led after halftime, but pulled into an 83-all tie after Alex Sarr’s free throw early in the fourth quarter.
MAVERICKS 123, WARRIORS 115
DALLAS (AP) — Naji Marshall tied his season highs with 30 points and nine assists, and Dallas beat Golden State, winning a season-best fourth consecutive game while dropping the Warriors to 0-2 since Jimmy Butler’s season-ending knee injury.
Stephen Curry scored 38 points and was 8 of 15 from 3-point range on the night the Warriors’ superstar became the first in NBA history to attempt 10,000 shots from beyond the arc. He’s now 4,222 of 10,007 from deep.
Cooper Flagg had 21 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in 30 minutes when Dallas’ rookie No. 1 pick was supposed to be limited to 20-25 minutes in his second game back since missing a pair with a sprained left ankle.
Max Christie also had 21 points, Brandon Williams scored 19 off the bench and Dwight Powell had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Klay Thompson hit two first-half 3s for six points against his former team.
The Warriors were up one midway through the fourth quarter when Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul that had him arguing with the officials. Less than a minute later, another foul by Green was reviewed but not called flagrant.
Green argued anyway as he went to the bench after the second foul, and the Mavs continued on an 11-0 run that started after the flagrant foul. Green fouled out with 3:50 remaining.
BULLS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 115
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Coby White scored 22 points, Josh Giddey added 21 off the bench, and Jalen Smith converted two clutch free throws late to lift Chicago to a win over Minnesota.
Chicago overcame a 14-point, first-half deficit and also withstood a 13-0 run from Minnesota in the fourth quarter. White hit a clutch 3-pointer from the corner to keep it a one-point game with 1:06 to play.
After White’s corner 3-pointer, Minnesota committed a pair of costly turnovers in the final minute. Jaden McDaniels lost the ball out of bounds for Minnesota, and Chicago’s Tre Jones made a layup at the other end with 31.1 seconds to play. Smith then converted at the line with 11 seconds remaining, and Minnesota failed to hit a shot in its next possession.
Julius Randle, who was on the injury report with left foot soreness, had a team-high 30 points for Minnesota, but also committed a late turnover. Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid each added 20 points, and McDaniels scored 16 in the loss.
After White was whistled for a travel with 2:08 to play, both teams traded baskets in the ensuing possessions. Edwards hit a shot in the lane and Smith responded with a dunk. McDaniels then converted a corner 3-pointer to put Minnesota up 115-111. But that ended up being the last points scored by the Timberwolves. Chicago went on a 9-0 run in the final 1:06.
The loss was a season-high fourth in a row for Minnesota. Chicago has won three straight.
SPURS 126, JAZZ 109
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points, Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and 13 rebounds and San Antonio defeated Utah.
Fox shot 10 of 13 from the field with six 3-pointers. Wembanyama — along with five blocks — shot 9 of 14 with four 3s one game after a 5-of-21 performance in a loss to Houston.
Keldon Johnson added 21 points and Stephon Castle had 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Spurs won their fourth game in their last five.
Utah’s Jusuf Nurkic had 17 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his second triple-double in as many games, and third of his career. The Jazz went more than 15 seasons (2008-24) without a single triple-double until the consecutive performances by Nurkic.
The center became the first Jazz player to have back-to-back triple doubles since Pete Maravich in January 1975.
Most of Nurkic’s 14 career-high assists came on back-door passes from the high post and resulted in dunks and layups for his teammates — but they didn’t do enough on the defensive end.
Ace Bailey scored a career-high 25 points and Keyonte George had 23, but none in the fourth quarter as the Spurs finished on a 27-10 spurt and handed the Jazz their fifth loss in the last six games.
BOSTON (AP) — Charlie McAvoy started a three-goal flurry in a 54-second span in the first period, David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists and the Boston Bruins held off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Thursday night.
Boston won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Elias Lindholm and Tanner Jeannot also scored for the Bruins, who made the Golden Knights pay after a double minor for high-sticking was assessed to forward Tomas Hertl at the nine-minute mark of the opening period. Appearing in his second straight game, Joonas Korpisalo made 29 saves.
Vegas cut a 4-0 deficit in half during the opening minutes in the third period behind goals from Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertle. The Golden Knights made it three straight when Pavel Dorofeyev scored with 2:35 left with goalie Akira Schmid off for an extra skater,
Schmid remained in net after a shaky sequence that began when McAvoy blasted one from just inside the blue line for his fourth goal of the season. The goal came 10 seconds into the four-minute power play.
Boston kept charging and made it two power-play goals in 30 seconds when Lindholm scored between the circles for ninth goal of the season. Pastrnak assisted on both power-play goals.
Jeannot capped the spree off a feed from Sean Kuraly with 9:54 left.
SABRES 4, CANADIENS 2
MONTREAL (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves, Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn and Zach Benson gave Buffalo an early lead and the Sabres beat Montreal for their 17th victory in 21 games.
Peyton Krebs added an empty-netter in the third. The Sabres improved to 28-17-5, beating Montreal for the second time in eight days.
Cole Caufield scored for the fourth straight game for Montreal, and Nick Suzuki also connected, The Canadiens dropped to 28-16-7. They had won two in a row.
Samuel Montembeault stopped 13 shots in his first regulation loss since being called up from a conditioning assignment with Laval of the AHL on Dec. 27.
Buffalo is two points behind Montreal for third place in the Atlantic Division.
BLACKHAWKS 4, HURRICANES 3, SO
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) —Oliver Moore scored in the shootout on his 21st birthday and Spencer Knight stopped five of six shots by Carolina to give Chicago a shootout win.
Connor Murphy, Ilya Mikheyev and Nick Lardis scored in regulation for the Blackhawks. Knight, who shut out Winnipeg on Monday night, made 28 saves in regulation and overtime for his second straight win.
Joel Nystrom, Jordan Staal and Jackson Blake scored for the Hurricanes, whose five-game home winning streak ended. Frederik Andersen stopped 18 shots and four more in the shootout.
The win capped an eventful night for Moore, who celebrated a milestone birthday. He was on the wrong side of a fight with Alexander Nikishin in the second period and then nearly won the game in overtime but was robbed by Andersen.
Chicago led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, but couldn’t put the Hurricanes away in regulation. Carolina has yet to lose in regulation with top defenseman Jaccob Slavin in the lineup (8-0-3).
BLUE JACKETS 1, STARS 0
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jet Greaves had 28 saves for his third career shutout, Zach Werenski scored his 19th goal of the season, and Columbus beat Dallas.
Werenski scored at 8:48 of the first period with a wrist shot from the right circle that went through traffic and inside the far post with assists from Damon Severson and Isac Lundestrom, who had missed 12 games with a lower-body injury suffered in practice on Dec. 27.
The Blue Jackets have now won five of their last six.
Casey DeSmith stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced but could not prevent the Stars from losing for the fourth time in their last five games. The Stars outshot the Blue Jackets 28-22.
Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle played in his 1,000th career game, the fifth player to reach the mark in a Columbus uniform. He scored into an empty net late in the game but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Murphy and Blake traded goals 82 seconds apart near in the back half of the third period to send it to overtime.
Andersen came up with a pair saves — on Moore and Frank Nazar — in the third period to keep the game tied at 2 . He made two bigger saves — on Wyatt Kaiser and Moore — in overtime.
PREDATORS 5, SENATORS 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Steven Stamkos broke a tie with 2:13 left with his third goal of the game and Nashville overcame a three-goal deficit to beat Ottawa.
After Stamkos tied it at 3 with 9:53 left with his second power-play goal of the game, Ryan O’Reilly beat the Senators to the puck behind the goal line and popped it out front to Stamkos, who batted it out of the air past goalie James Reimer.
O’Reilly set up the tying goal, too, firing a cross-crease feed to Stamkos with the man advantage. Nashville got the power play when Tim Stutzle cross-checked Stamkos.
Predators captain Roman Josi, playing his 1,000th NHL game, also assisted on the tying goal. The defenseman is the 84th player in NHL history to play his first 1,000 regular-season games with one franchise.
Stamkos had his second hat trick of the season and 16th overall to push his season goals total to 24. Jonathan Marchessault also scored, and Cole Smith had an empty-netter. Juuse Saros made 23 saves to help Nashville end a three-game losing streak.
PANTHERS 2, JETS 1, SO
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart beat Connor Hellebuyck in a shootout to help give Florida a victory over Winnipeg.
Winnipeg shooters Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele came up empty against Daniil Tarasov in the tiebreaker.
Sam Bennett scored in regulation, and Tarasov stopped 17 shots for two-time defending champion Florida. Matthew Tkachuk had an assist for his first point of the season in his second game back from adductor muscle surgery.
The Panthers are 4-2-0 in their last six to improve to 26-20-3.
Cole Perfetti scored for Winnipeg, and Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots. The Jets are 5-1-2 in their last eight to get to 20-23-7.
PENGUINS 6, OILERS 2
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Anthony Mantha scored twice, Sidney Crosby made it three in an early 37-second span and Pittsburgh beat Edmonton.
The 37-second spree was the fastest three goals in Penguins history and the fastest three allowed by the Oilers.
The Penguins scored on three of their first four shots. Just 2:20 in, Justin Brazeau made a nifty pass through a defender’s legs to Mantha, who deflected it in. Twenty-two seconds later, Mantha scored on a breakaway. Crosby struck 15 seconds after that, deflecting a pass from the slot into the net.
Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, Rickard Rakell, and Egor Chinakhov also scored and Arturs Silovs made 30 saves. The Penguins have won three straight and are 10-2-2 in their last 14 to get to 25-14-11.
Jake Walman and Matthew Savoie scored for Edmonton, and Tristan Jarry made 16 saves against his former team. The Oilers have lost two in a row and four of six to fall to 25-19-8.
WILD 4, RED WINGS 3, OT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov scored his second goal of the game 45 seconds into overtime to give Minnesota a victory over Detroit.
Kaprizov came down the middle and beat goalie Cam Talbot with a wrist shot from between the circles.
Mats Zuccarello also scored twice, and Filip Gustavsson made 31 saves.
Quinn Hughes had three assists, giving him 43 on the season, tied for the most among NHL defensemen. Hughes has seven assists in his last four games and has had at least three assists in a game four times since joining the Wild in a trade with Vancouver on December 12.
Lucas Raymond had two goals and James van Riemsdyk also scored for Detroit. Talbot made 35 saves.
The point for getting past regulation moved the Red Wings into tie with Carolina atop the Eastern Conference with 67 points. Detroit had won eight of its last nine.
The Red Wings took three one-goal leads, but the Wild answered each time.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Everybody knew that after signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract this week, the Yankees’ payroll was going to blow past $300 million quite comfortably. The projected CBT payroll is, according to FanGraphs, at $317.8 million. Cot’s Contracts has the number at $320.1 million, third behind the Dodgers and Mets. It remains to be seen if their current payroll projections stand in the way of the team filling the team’s remaining needs, such as pitching and a right-handed bat.
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: Just a few years ago, Marco Luciano was considered the shortstop of the future by the Giants. He was untouchable in trade talks, and fans imagined him holding down the position for the next 10-15 years. Baseball is known for taking unexpected twists and turns, though, and the 24-year-old has been claimed via waivers by the Yanks after being designated for assignment by the Orioles a week ago. Luciano didn’t play in the majors in 2025, and hit .214/.335/.413 with 23 home runs and a 96 wRC+ in 125 games in the Giants’ Triple-A squad. If he sticks in the Bronx, he’ll represent a fun reclamation project. The far more likely outcome is that he’ll be infield depth at Scranton if he can’t find a big-league job by the end of spring training.
Baseball America: Baseball America released its annual list of top 100 prospects this week, with four Yankees featured on it: George Lombard Jr., Elmer Rodríguez, Dax Kilby, and Carlos Lagrange. On Thursday, they published their top 100 pitching prospects for 2026 according to the advanced metric Stuff+, and Lagrange is sitting at the top with a 121 mark. Not too shabby for the 22-year-old flamethrower who finished the 2026 campaign having reached Double-A.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: Jaffe takes a candidate-by-candidate look at the 2026 Hall of Fame voting results, including some former Yankees. Outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, two former stars who wore pinstripes in their careers, were voted in and will officially be enshrined in the summer. Jaffe also gave helpful updates on where other candidates are in the their Hall of Fame voting journeys, with old friends Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, and Alex Rodriguez among that contingent.
The Mavericks took care of business tonight in what was probably their most impressive win and offensive performance without Anthony Davis this season, beating the Golden State Warriors 123-115 in Dallas.
The Mavericks won behind an absurd performance from Naji Marshall, who scored 3o points on 10-for-12 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and nine assists. Cooper Flagg also had another impressive night with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double. It was a full-team effort, with six players finishing in double digits. The Warriors tried to keep up behind another all-world performance from Steph Curry, who finished with 38 points on eight made threes and 14-for-27 overall from the field. Without Jimmy Butler, Curry’s supporting cast did very little to help. DeAnthony Melton had 21, but no other player had more than 12 on Golden State.
Let’s get to the numbers.
+22: Mavericks’ rebounding differential.
The rebounding gap told the entire story of this game. Dallas finished with 65 total rebounds to Golden State’s 44, including 11 offensive boards that turned into 24 second-chance points, while the Warriors managed just four offensive rebounds and five second-chance points. That difference showed up all night in the play-by-play: every Curry jumper that missed became a Mavericks reset, and every Dallas miss was followed by a put-back, a kick-out three, or another possession entirely. It’s why Golden State could never turn its shooting runs into real momentum, and why Dallas kept scoring even when shots didn’t fall.
This wasn’t just winning the glass; it was owning the game’s economy, creating nearly five times as many second-chance points, and suffocating Golden State’s ability to play on even ground.
56: Mavericks paint points
Dallas didn’t just beat Golden State with shooting, they bludgeoned them at the rim, piling up 56 points in the paint as the Warriors’ point-of-attack defense completely collapsed, especially in the fourth quarter. Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams walked into the lane possession after possession, finishing through contact or drawing fouls while Golden State’s help defense arrived late or not at all. Even with 21 Dallas turnovers, it barely mattered because the Warriors couldn’t stop anything once the Mavericks got downhill, allowing drives, cuts, and dump-offs to turn into automatic points.
When a team gives up that kind of interior access late in a close game, no amount of ball pressure or perimeter shooting can save them, and that’s how Dallas turned a tight contest into a controlled finish.
-24: Caleb Martin’s plus/,inus
Caleb Martin finished -24 in just 19 minutes in his fourth start of the season, a hilarious number in a game the Mavericks otherwise controlled from start to finish. Even as Dallas dominated the paint, the glass, and the possession battle, the lineups featuring Martin were the rare stretches where Golden State was able to breathe, generating quick scores before the Mavericks could reset. It wasn’t about one blown coverage or missed shot, but how his minutes coincided with the Warriors’ only real offensive pockets, when Dallas’ spacing tightened and stops didn’t turn into transition. In a night defined by control and physicality from the Mavericks, Martin’s plus-minus stood out as the lone statistical red flag.
21: Cooper Flagg points
Cooper Flagg quietly put together one of his more complete offensive nights, finishing with 21 points while looking far more under control than he has in recent games. Instead of forcing his way into traffic, Flagg picked his spots, attacking the rim when lanes were there and sliding into open space off the ball for easy finishes when the defense collapsed. Flagg also showed off his versatility, scoring on cuts, straight-line drives, and quick finishes, rather than the rushed pull-ups that have stalled his efficiency at times this season.
In a game where Dallas was winning through pace and interior pressure, Flagg fit seamlessly into that rhythm, playing within the flow and turning good spacing into efficient production.
Because after yet another win on Thursday, I think it's safe to say that this is a pretty good hockey team.
On the second leg of a back-to-back, the Penguins earned their third straight win when they beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-2, to continue what has been a perfect Western road trip so far. They got two goals from Anthony Mantha as well as tallies from captain Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Evgeni Malkin, and Egor Chinakhov.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 30 of 32 Edmonton shots on the night, while Oilers' netminder - and ex-Penguin - Tristan Jarry stopped just 16 of 22 shots.
This was an impressive win for the Penguins, who have largely struggled against the Oilers. In fact, they were 2-8 in their last 10 games against Edmonton coming into Thursday's matchup.
But they came to play. And they set the tone from the start.
Just 2:20 into the game, Justin Brazeau found Mantha crashing the net off the rush, feeding him a pass that he put home to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Then, just 22 seconds later, Mantha - again - was sprung by Brazeau, this time on a breakaway. Mantha beat Jarry backhand and put the Penguins up by two early.
And they weren't done. Only 15 seconds after that goal, Ryan Shea threw a shot-pass toward the slot area, where Crosby was waiting to redirect it. Crosby successfully found the back of the net on the deflection, and within 35 seconds, the Penguins had scored three on the Oilers and had a commanding early lead.
The @penguins tallied three goals in a span of 37 seconds.
There have only been two other instances in franchise history where Pittsburgh scored three goals in a shorter span:
The Oilers did respond early in the second period, as Jake Walman capitalized on a shorthanded odd-man break from the slot to cut the lead to 3-1. But the Penguins never really let up, even if the Oilers were getting a few chances. Later in the period, the Penguins put on the extra attacker on a delayed penalty call, and Rakell sniped a shot from the left circle past Jarry after a gorgeous feed from Malkin to restore the three-goal lead.
Then, just under two minutes later, Malkin had a breakaway opportunity, and he beat Jarry five-hole on the backhand to put Pittsburgh up, 5-1.
The Penguins still had more in the tank, too. Early in the final frame, Tommy Novak carried the puck from the neutral zone into offensive zone traffic, and he managed to forward the puck to a breaking Chinakhov down the left side. The 24-year-old Russian winger placed a bullet of a shot top-shelf for his fifth goal in 12 games as a Penguin to make it 6-1.
Matt Savoie did add a late tally for the Oilers, but it wasn't nearly enough, as the Penguins were able to shut down Edmonton late and not give them anything to work with. They also managed to blank both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who was playing in his first game since Jan. 15 after attending to family matter in Germany.
Sure, the Oilers had a few chances, and some puck luck didn't go their way. But there was never really a point in the game, aside from a late power play in the first period, where it felt like they were in control. The Penguins were frustrating the heck out of them. They were disrupting plays and getting their sticks on everything. Their goaltender was making big saves, and their defensemen were blocking shots.
The Penguins' stick detail around their own net and in the defensive zone as a whole has been wildly impressive since the holiday break, and that continued into Thursday. They didn't give the Oilers much in terms of high-danger chances - save for a five-on-one opportunity that Edmonton managed to botch entirely - and they largely controlled possession.
The all-around game from the Penguins right now is something to marvel at. In October, they were scoring at a ridiculous rate while still displaying some warts on defense. Now, those warts are all but gone, and the Penguins are all of a sudden a pretty dangerous hockey team.
- Anytime the Penguins have a bit of an onslaught, it seems like Crosby doesn't show up on the scoresheet much. The same thing happened on Thursday, as the captain only recorded one point.
But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The Penguins are getting contributions from up and down their lineup, and it seems to be a different line every single night. The fourth line has had their flowers. On Thursday, it was the third line. Wednesday against the Calgary Flames, it was the second line.
The Penguins not needing to rely on their first line for production - which has been a consistent theme for the previous three seasons - is a very big deal. And it's simply a bonus when Crosby, Rakell, and Bryan Rust are clicking, too.
This team can roll four lines, and they're all a threat to deliver on offense. That's a massive development.
- I think I've mentioned Chinakhov in just about every takeaways piece.
But, wow, was that shot something else.
Chinakhov sniped that one top-shelf, and it was in and out so fast that no one - including Jarry himself - even realized it went in other than Chinakhov and Ryan Shea.
I have no idea what was going on in Columbus or why things didn't work out for Chinakhov there. But between his unrivaled shot, his speed, his defensive conscience, and awareness in all three zones, this guy is legitimate.
What a get by Dubas. A guy with a shot like that isn't good by accident.
- Malkin was, once again, flying on Thursday. He now has 39 points in 35 games this season, and he, Chinakhov, and Novak are operating from the stratosphere right now.
He's hit another level. And he deserves another contract next season if that's what he wants.
- Jack St. Ivany deserves a lot of credit for how he's played in these last couple of games. Not only is that two multi-point games in a row, he also blocked a shot with his left foot on that late first-period power play by the Oilers, and he was in substantial pain afterward. He wasn't putting weight on his leg and was forced to continue his shift.
Well, he finished his shift by contributing to a zone clear then finally making his way to the bench, when he went down the runway. He returned for the second period and played the rest of the game.
That was a pivotal block in this game, and he's been much, much better in the last couple. Hopefully, that can continue.
One of the gutsiest shifts you'll see all season in the @NHL
- Much has been made about Stuart Skinner's run with the Penguins as of late, and deservedly so.
But Silovs deserves his flowers, too.
Walman's goal is probably one he'd want to have back. But, otherwise, this was one of the best games he has played as a Penguin. There was a sequence just before the end of the first period when Zach Hyman crashed the net on a breakaway and nearly tucked the puck in. Silovs stopped it with his right pad against the post, but the puck was laying on the goal line.
Instead of panicking, Silovs maneuvered carefully and allowed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to aid him with his stick, and he managed to not let the puck cross the goal line.
Silovs has been much better as of late, as three of his last four appearances have seen save percentages of .920 or above. But he has a knack for coming up big in the game's biggest moments, and he did that again Thursday.
If the Penguins can continue to get this goaltending from their tandem, they'll be fine the rest of the way - and they may just have a run in them.
Jan 22, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) makes a save on on Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman (18) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
- So, let's talk about these Penguins.
They're playing well defensively. They're getting scoring from up and down their lineup. They're getting good goaltending. They're top-five in both special teams categories.
At this point, it might be okay to say that this is, simply, a good hockey team.
Nothing they're doing is by accident anymore. They're not on a PDO bender. They're not getting lucky. They're not just opportunistic.
No. They're legitimately outplaying some of the best hockey teams in the league at five-on-five, and they're not only outplaying them, they're outworking them and controlling the vast majority of the 60 minutes per game.
The process is there for this hockey team. The underlying metrics support that, too, and I'll have a piece on that Friday. They are playing a sustainable brand of hockey, and it happens to be a winning brand of hockey.
Now, we shouldn't just be talking playoffs. This team could very much compete for the division. They're two points ahead of the New York Islanders for second place in the Metro, six points in front of the next divisional team in the Philadelphia Flyers, and just six points back of the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes with a game in hand.
This isn't a mirage. This is real. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a competitive hockey team, and if they can keep this up, it may be okay to set sights even higher by the end of the regular season.
On a freezing cold Thursday night in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves desperately needed a win. They had lost their previous three games and had fallen to seventh place in the Western Conference. They were unable to get it as they were taken down by the middling Chicago Bulls 120-115.
Just like the previous game against the Utah Jazz, the Wolves got out to a great start. They took a 14-point lead a little more than eight minutes into the game on the back of hounding defense. Minnesota forced misses on 10 of the first 12 Chicago shots, allowing them to get easy baskets on the other end of the court.
As the game went on, though, that defensive intensity went away. The largest indicator for this was the Wolves’ inability to avoid fouling. So often, the Wolves were not in the correct position to defend their man. Instead of moving their feet to defend properly, they either committed blocking fouls or reached in and made contact with a Bulls player’s arms.
In the second quarter, the Bulls were in the bonus with 8:48 left. In the third quarter, they were in the bonus with 6:56 remaining. Overall, Minnesota committed 27 fouls (plus a Naz Reid technical foul), which led to 33 Chicago free throws.
“Our inability to contain drives right now is really hurting us,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said about his team’s defesive performance. “Kind of over helping in places that we didn’t want to over help in, and a readiness to contain the next drive.”
The Wolves trailed by three points heading into the fourth quarter, and as they have so often this season, they came storming back. Midway through the fourth quarter, the defense finally started to get some stops, and the offense found a rhythm as a Naz Reid dunk gave them a six-point lead with five minutes left.
The Wolves were unable to put the game away from that point, as they missed their next four shots, allowing the Bulls to cut the lead to one. The Wolves stopped the bleeding there, though, after an Anthony Edwards floater and a 3-pointer from Jaden McDaniels, the Timberwolves found themselves up four with a minute and a half left.
That is when the game came crumbling down for the Wolves, as Edwards fell asleep guarding his man in the corner. Coby White drilled the 3-pointer from the corner to cut the Minnesota lead to just one.
“Josh Giddey made a good pass,” Edwards said about the play. “I wasn’t expecting that pass. So my reaction was like Bones [Hyland] said I was stuck in quicksand when he caught the ball. It felt like it. So, I couldn’t really get a contest. I know I’mma get cussed out about that one.”
The Wolves followed that up with turnovers on their next two possessions, allowing Tre Jones to streak to the rim off an inbounds pass to give Chicago a one-point lead. With the game on the line, on the next possession, Ant used up most of the shot clock and threw up a heavily contested three that came nowhere close to going in.
That would be as close as the Wolves would come to winning the game, as a pair of Jalen Smith free throws and an Edwards on a game-tying 3-pointer, the game was out of reach.
Edwards finished with just 20 points, struggling to find his shot as he finished the game 9-25 from the field. Julius Randle led the Wolves in scoring with 30 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Naz scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, but aside from him, the Wolves’ bench scored eight points on 3-14 shooting.
The loss was the Wolves’ fourth straight. The first two against the Houston Rockets without Edwards, and against the San Antonio Spurs on the second night of a back-to-back, were understandable. These last two versus the Jazz and Bulls, on the other hand, do not come with nearly the same benefit of the doubt.
“We know what we have to do to be better in that department,” Julius Randle said about the team’s energy. “It’s a long season. There’s going to be ups and downs. A week ago we could’ve looked like the best team in basketball and this week we can look like the worst. We just gotta find a way to find a consistency.”
There is still plenty of season left, but this recent stretch may have cost the Wolves a top seed in the Western Conference, and they are now fighting to just stay out of the Play-In Tournament.
The Wolves did this all a season ago. They struggled for most of the regular season, but turned in on late and made the Western Conference Finals after finishing as the sixth seed. They still have the ability to go on a similar run, but maybe that is what is holding this team back. It doesn’t seem like the Wolves feel the urgency in fighting for a top seed because last year proved they don’t need it. At least that’s what it feels like they think.
Up Next
With the local temperatures set to dip below negative ten over the weekend, the Timberwolves stay home for a pair of games against the Golden State Warriors. The first is a Saturday matinee at 4:30 PM CT at Target Center. Wolves fans can watch the game on ABC.
