VERONA, Italy (AP) — Former Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis scored for the seventh time this season as his Udinese beat struggling Verona 3-1 on Monday.
Verona remained second bottom of Serie A, equal on 14 points with last-placed Pisa, and it rarely looked like recording its third win of a dismal season.
Udinese took the lead after 23 minutes with a deflected shot from Arthur Atta. Although Emmanuel Orban equalized for Verona three minutes later, Verona’s hopes did not last long into the second half.
Alessandro Zanoli put Udinese back in front 13 minutes into the second period. Jordan Zemura’s free kick was blocked by the wall and while the ball fell awkwardly for Zanoli, his deft volley with the outside of his boot sailed into the top corner.
Davis’ confident finish after 66 minutes sealed the points for Udinese.
It remains in 10th but is now on 29 points, equal with ninth-placed Lazio, and one point behind Bologna.
The Los Angeles Kings have officially signed forward Taylor Ward to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual salary of $875,000, keeping him under contract through the 2027-28 season.
The @LAKings have signed forward Taylor Ward to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value (AAV) of $875,000 through the 2027-28 season.
The deal is believed to be due to Ward's strong stretch over his limited minutes and a vote of confidence in the organization to reward him for his recent play.
Ward was recalled from Ontario to play for the Kings in early January due to injuries within Los Angeles' forward group and took full advantage of the opportunity. In his two games, Ward has scored two goals and two points, all resulting in a Kings victory.
The statsheets may not show much, but the 27-year-old winger has consistently brought energy and earned the coaching staff's trust in his role for the Kings' forward unit.
During the 2025-26 season, Ward has played nine games, scoring two goals, recording two assists, totaling four points, and posting a plus-3 rating. The numbers might not pop for fans, but his value on the ice, being a reliable two-way force and bringing energy on the ice for the starting group, brings a different level of energy for the team.
Ward's recent production against the New York Rangers and the St. Louis Blues, scoring a goal and assisting on plays that have helped the Kings win both games, has reflected the organization's desire to sign him and the coaching staff's trust in his performance.
The King's decision to extend Ward highlights the hard work he's put in this season, starting off in Ontario and never looking fazed at all when he stepped on the ice playing his first NHL game.
With a cap hit of $875,000, Ward provides flexibility while remaining NHL-ready and will continue to grow under the Kings' system and leadership. It's a great contract that represents taking advantage of the moment you've been waiting for in your career.
After being called up out of necessity, the Kings could've easily sent Ward back once their group returned from injury, but chose to trust his production and realize he belongs at the NHL level.
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Portland Trail Blazers (23-23) at Boston Celtics (28-17) Monday, January 26, 2026 8:00 PM ET Game #46, Home Game #21 TV: Peacock Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Rip City Radio 620, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics return from a 2 game road trip to host the Portland Trailblazers for the second and final game between them this season. The Celtics lost 114-108 in Portland on December 28. The Celtics won the series between these two teams 2-0 last season. The Celtics are 77-50 overall all time against the TrailBlazers and they are 41-22 in games played in Boston. The Trailblazers have not played since Friday and the Celtics are playing in their 3rd game in 4 days, including a double overtime game against the Nets.
There are a few story lines to watch in this game. Anfernee Simons is playing against the team for whom he played the first 7 years of his career. Jrue Holiday will be playing his first game against the Celtics and in Boston where he won a championship. Robert Williaams missed the December 28th game and is questionable for this game. He has yet to play against his former team since being traded.
The TrailBlazers are not much different from last season. They have 4 of the same starters as they did when they played the Celtics last season. The starter that is missing is Anfernee Simons who was traded to the Celtics for Jrue Holiday. They signed Damian Lillard, who was waived by Milwaukee after he tore his Achilles last season and who is expected to miss this season. They bought out DeAndre Ayton, who was signed by the Lakers. They signed Blake Wesley as a free agent and they took Yang Hansen with the 16th pick in the draft.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 2 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland, 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 4.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 7-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 13-7 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The TrailBlazers are 9th in the West, 14 games behind first place Oklahoma City, 4.5 games behind 6th place Phoenix, and 7th place Phoenix, and 2 games behind 8th place Golden State. They are 2 games ahead of the 10th place Clippers and 3.5 games ahead of 11th place Memphis. They are 5-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 10-12 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. They played 2 back to back games on the road. This game begins a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.
The Trail Blazers are playing in the first game of a 3 game road trip and will play Washington on Tuesday and complete the trip at New York. They will return home for a 5 game home stand where they will host Cleveland, Phoenix, Memphis twice, and Philadelphia. They will then head back on the road to play at Minnesota and at Utah. That will take them into the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott has missed the last 10 games with a sprained ankle and has been upgraded to questionable for this game. Neemias Queta has been battling an illness for the past 2 games and has played through it but he is questionable for this game. Luka Garza was a late addition and is questionable due to an illness. Jaylen Brown has been dealing with hamstring tightness in recent games and is not on the injury list at this time but may be a late addition.
For the Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Damian Lillard (Achilles), Kris Murray (back), Duop Reath (foot), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), and Blake Wesley (foot) are all listed as out. Deni Avdija is in danger of missing a second straight game due to a lower-back strain he suffered in Thursday’s win over the Heat. He is questionable for this game. If he can’t play, Sidy Cissoko will likely start in his place. Robert Williams III is also listed as questionable due to injury management. Avdija and Timelord will be a game time decision.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jrue Holiday
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Shaedon Sharpe
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Deni Avdija
PF: Sam Hauser vs Toumani Camara
C: Neemias Queta vs Donovan Clingan
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Chris Boucher Xavier Tillman Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Baylon Scheierman Jordan Walsh
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Josh Minott (ankle) questionable Neemias Queta (illness) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Trail Blazers Reserves Jerami Grant Rayan Rupert Robert Williams III Yang Hansen
Two Way Players Sidy Cissoko Javonte Cooke Caleb Love
Injuries/Out Scoot Henderson (hamstring) out Damian Lillard (Achilles) out Matisse Thybulle (thumb) out Blake Wesley (foot) out Duop Reath (foot) out Robert Williams III (injury management) questionable Deni Avdija (back) questionable
Head Coach Tiago Splitter (Acting Head Coach)
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Deni Avdija Avdija is averaging 26 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 47.1% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists 1 block and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 30.3% from beyond the arc. Avdija is questionable for this game and if he can’t play, then Sidy Cissoko should get the start here.
Payton Pritchard vs Shaedon Sharpe Sharpe is averaging 21.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 45.5% from the field and 33.9% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal while shooting 50% from the field and 62.5% from beyond he arc. The Celtics need to do a better job of defending him in this game. Honorable Mention Derrick White vs Jrue Holiday Jrue Holiday is averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 45% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play in the Celtics first game against the Trailblazeers in Portland. This is his first visit back to Boston where he won a championship with the Celtics. This should be a good matchup between former backcourt teammates.
Keys to the Game Defense – I know I say it every game, but defense is the key to winning every game and will be the key to winning another championship. The Blazers have an offensive rating of 113.5 (21st) while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.2 (1st). The Celtics are 12th in the league with a defensive rating of 114.0 while the Blazers are 18th with a defensive rating of 115.1. The Celtics especially need to defend the perimeter as the Blazers are 3rd with 41.7 threes attempted per game. The Celtics allowed the bulls to hit 21 threes on 46.7% shooting. They have to do better at defending the perimeter. The Celtics need to keep making tough defense their priority and identity.
Rebound – As Pat Riley once stated, “No rebounds, no rings.” The Celtics are 11th with 44.9 rebounds per game while the Trail Blazers are 8th with 45.3 rebounds per game. The Celtics must make an extra effort to grab rebounds in order to give themselves extra possessions as well as to keep the Blazers from scoring second chance points, as the Trail Blazers are 2nd with 17.8 second chance points per game. The Celtics were out-rebounded 48-39 in the first game against the Blazers and they have to do better if they want to win this game. Three Point Shooting – The Celtics are 2nd in the league, taking 42.7 threes per game. The Blazers are 3rd, taking 41.7 threes per game. The Celtics make 15.8 threes per game while the Blazers make 14.1 threes per game. The Celtics need to focus on taking good shots and they need to move the ball so as to get open shots. Against the Bulls, the Celtics took 47 threes and made 15 while the Bulls took 45 threes and made 21. If the 3s aren’t falling, the Celtics need to get to the basket or take mid-range shots. They also must defend the perimeter because the Blazers can get hot and put up a lot of 3 pointers if left open.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to be the team that works harder and wants the win more. They have to dive for loose balls, go for every rebound and just hustle on every play on both ends of the court. They have to be aggressive in getting to the basket as well and not settle for outside shots, especially if they aren’t falling. Whether it’s the starters or reserves, they need to go all out with maximum effort. And they need to show that effort for all 4 quarters.
X-Factors Home and Fatigue – The Celtics are at home after back to back games on the road. They should get a boost from playing at home in front of their home crowd. The Trail Blazers are playing in the 1st game of a 3 game road trip and face the distractions of travel, hotel stays, and playing in front of a hostile crowd. The Blazers have been off since Friday while the Celtics are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights, including a double overtime game. Fatigue could be a factor down the stretch.
Officiating – I know that I say this every game, but the officiating really is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play. Some refs favor the home team and some call it evenly and sometimes they just make a bunch of head scratching calls. The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let themselves get frustrated by the officiating.
How much snow did you get? Hopefully it’s all cleaned up by now.
Anyways, the Bruins and Rangers will renew acquaintances tonight at Madison Square Garden, with the B’s looking continue a nice recent run of results and the Rangers simply looking for a glimmer of brightness in a very disappointing season.
David Wright took the departure of several Mets mainstays as hard as anybody.
Edwin Diaz (Dodgers) and Pete Alonso (Orioles) left in free agency, while Wright’s former teammates, Brandon Nimmo (Rangers) and Jeff McNeil (Athletics), were shipped off in trades.
The former captain and Mets Hall of Famer called the departures “tough,” but urged fans to trust team ownership in the midst of a transformative offseason.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTFormer Mets third baseman David Wright. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“I love Edwin Diaz, I love Brandon Nimmo. I’ve gotten to know both those guys on a personal level,” Wright said during a recent interview, per SNY. “Pete [Alonso], I respect what he’s done on the field…I don’t know him very well on a personal level. It’s tough for me, and I know the business of baseball, it’s tough for me to see these guys go.
“But I look at it big picture, David Stearns has won, he’s a proven winner, give him a chance and let’s see how this plan plays out.”
Stearns, who became the Brewers’ general manager in September 2015, was the architect of several postseason squads during his Milwaukee tenure – despite the organization’s payroll constraints.
Milwaukee made the postseason five out of six seasons from 2018-23 before Stearns joined the Mets as president of baseball operations.
"It's tough for me to see these guys go.
But when I look at it big picture – David Stearns has won, he's a proven winner. Give him a chance and let's see how this plan plays out."
David Wright gives his thoughts on the Mets moving on from their longest tenured players and the… pic.twitter.com/CBOHfqsOTz
The Mets’ offseason makeover included signing superstar infielder Bo Bichette, who will man third base. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
After the Mets’ collapse in 2025, which saw the team miss the postseason, Stearns said the Mets “were not gonna run back the same group.”
New York’s new-look roster took shape last week as the signing of superstar infielder Bo Bichette became official, while the team shored up the rotation with ace Freddy Peralta and center field with former All-Star Luis Robert Jr.
New York also acquired swingman Tobias Myers in the Peralta deal, while adding depth with veterans Craig Kimbrel, Luis Garcia and Vidal Brujan.
Those moves punctuated the team’s acquisitions of ex-Yankees closers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, first base replacement Jorge Polanco and second baseman Marcus Semien earlier this offseason.
“We’re confident in this group,” Stearns told reporters last week during a Zoom call. “We think this group is gonna fit well together.”
Few players understand Mets fans’ attachment to homegrown stars better than Wright, 43, who spent his entire 14-year career in Queens and became the face of the franchise.
Given that familiarity with the business side, Wright urged fans to think long-term as Stearns and company build for 2026.
“I understand it because it’s a good thing that New York and that Mets fans have the attachment with their players that they do,” Wright said. “With that being said, I think we should give David [Stearns], the front office and ownership a chance to do what the grand plan, the scheme is this offseason.
“It’s easy to jump to conclusions. It’s easy to get the pitchforks out. Let’s see what happens, let the plan play out before judging over a couple of moves.”
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Freshman Brynn McGaughy scored 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, Avery Howell added 16 points, and No. 25 Washington beat Rutgers 76-48 on Monday for its fourth straight victory.
Sayvia Sellers, averaging a team-high 18.7 points per game, had 11 points and six assists in 28 minutes for Washington (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten). Yulia Grabovskaia grabbed 17 rebounds to go with nine points. Washington dominated the glass 51-30 and outscored Rutgers 36-14 in the paint.
Kaylah Ivey and Imani Lester each scored 14 points for Rutgers (9-11, 1-8), which was coming off a 94-60 loss to No. 7 Michigan. Lauryn Swann added 11 points.
The Huskies opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run and they scored the final six points of the half, with 3-pointers by Sellers and Howell, for a 43-20 lead. Sellers and McGaughy combined to shoot 8 of 11 from the field in the first half, compared to 8 of 25 for Rutgers.
Washington added an 11-0 run in the third quarter, with five points from Grabovskaia, to go ahead by 29 points at 56-27.
The Huskies made their first-ever trip to Piscataway. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday before getting postponed due to a winter storm.
Up next
Washington: Stays on the road to play No. 16 Maryland on Wednesday.
Rutgers: Continues a three-game homestand on Wednesday against Oregon.
The Florida Panthers have been blessed with some excellent goaltenders in recent years.
While receiving Stanley Cup-caliber netminding from starter Sergei Bobrovsky, the Cats have also been backstopped to some huge wins by the consistent play of their backups.
From Alex Lyon to Anthony Stolarz to Vitek Vanecek, Florida’s Goaltending Excellence Department, headed by Roberto Luongo, has continuously targeted tendies who could step in and thrive for the Cats.
This is also the same group that saw Devon Levi as draftable before anyone else, and who brought in Brandon Bussi this offseason, only to see him get plucked away on the waiver wire by the Carolina Hurricanes. All Bussi has done with Carolina is have the best start to an NHL career by a goalie in league history.
The latest goaltender who Luongo and his guys set their sights on was Daniil Tarasov.
Early on, Florida didn’t make things easy on their newest goalie. The Panthers scored a combined six goals during Tarasov’s first four starts, which is why it’s not terribly surprising that he went 0-3-1 in those outings despite allowing only 10 goals against.
Between late-November and mid-December, Tarasov struggled through a stretch in which he allowed four or more goals in three of five starts, but he’s bounced back in a big way since the calendar flipped to 2026, with four straight victories under his belt.
“Every game I’m feeling more confident, especially when the guys are playing unbelievable in front of me,” Tarasov said after his most recent win on Sunday in Chicago. “They didn't give any chances like in the past two games I played, and it's really easy and you're just kind of like, waiting when the puck comes to you and just trying to make easy and more predictable saves.”
It’s probably not a coincidence that as the Panthers have gotten healthier and the play in front of him has improved, so has Tarasov’s record.
The 26-year-old started the month with an impressive 2-1 win over the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche, a game in which 10 of his 27 saves were on high-danger shots.
“So calm, so steady,” Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling said of Tarasov. “It makes it very easy for the D core; he gives us a lot of confidence.”
Each of Tarasov’s previous three wins, which have all come in the past 10 days, were all away from home.
He stood tall on the back end of a back-to-back when the Cats wrapped up a six-game roadie in Washington, stopping all six high-danger shots he faced.
It was an important win at the time, sending Florida home with an even 3-3 mark on an extremely tough trip and giving them some deservedly good vibes.
“Every time he’s stepped in, he’s given us a chance to win, and that’s all we can ask for,” said Panthers forward Sam Bennett.
The strong and consistent play from Tarasov was rewarded when he was given two of the three starts on last week’s trip.
Those games came in cities – Winnipeg and Chicago – where Florida had not won in several years.
All the Cats did was come through with two of their absolute best defensive efforts of the season, and Tarasov rewarded his teammates with a pair of victories in which he allowed a total of two goals.
“It was kind of a rough start this season, and now I’m getting more of an understanding of how we play and what I should do,” said Tarasov. “Don’t try to just make unbelievable saves, but just kind of like, stay in the crease, be calm and just wait for the puck to come to you.”
The combination of a composed and confident Tarasov between the pipes and a healthy, defensive-minded group of Panthers in front of him has led to an impressive month, statistically.
In addition to the 4-0-0 record, Tarasov has skated to a sparkling .944 save percentage and a tidy 1.22 goals against average, allowing just five goals against on 8.63 expected goals.
“He played really well for us at the start of this year, and we couldn’t score a goal for that poor fella, and his game was good,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice, adding, with a smile, “I think he’s rounded back, and he’s figured out he may have to keep it at one (goal against).”
Now well into the second half of their season, the Panthers have little margin for error.
Entering play Monday, Florida sits three points behind the Boston Bruins for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, holding one game in hand. The Cats are also four points back of the Buffalo Sabres for third place in the Atlantic Division (yes, you read that correctly), with each having played 51 games.
If Florida can avoid any additional major injuries, and it certainly seems as though they’ve cashed in enough of those chips this season, they should continue to gain momentum and show more overall consistency while continuing to welcome previously wounded players back into the lineup. That includes a pair of regular defenseman; Seth Jones and Dmitry Kulikov.
What that means for Tarasov and Bobrovsky is that they will be playing behind the kind of suffocating and physical defense that teams have struggled against in each of the past several postseasons.
It should be an interesting few months.
“We take care of each other in our locker room, and we're battling for each other on ice,” Tarasov said. “You kind of feel like a family in our style of game.”
Photo caption: Jan 22, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) warms up before the start of the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
The Ottawa Senators may have found an excellent young player in their notoriously thin list of NHL prospects.
The recent sports hernia injury to veteran David Perron left the NHL door open again for Stephen Halliday, who was recalled from AHL Belleville four days ago. Halliday has been up and down this season, appearing in 18 NHL games and posting 6 points. Halliday's latest promotion last week was his third of the 2025-26 season.
But the Ajax, Ontario native didn't just get his foot in the door this time; he kicked it wide open.
In the last three games in Ottawa, Halliday has three goals and four points, and could have had a lot more. The 23-year-old has suddenly found another gear in the NHL, which makes what happened on Sunday night all the more disappointing.
As the Senators were beating up on the Vegas Golden Knights, Halliday was having the finest game of his young NHL career with two goals and an assist in an eventual 7-1 Senators win.
But he wasn't around for the final horn.
In the third period, Vegas forward Tomas Hertl hit Halliday into the angled plexiglass and stanchion at the Knights' bench. Halliday hit his head, fell hard to the ice, and had to be helped off the ice towards the Ottawa dressing room.
While head coach Travis Green didn't have an update after the game, Sens captain Brady Tkachuk provided one when asked about Halliday.
"I mean, he played amazing," Tkachuk said. "And I just talked to him. He feels good, feels okay. So hopefully it's nothing too severe."
Tkachuk, who helped set up three goals against Vegas, also took a moment to give the rookie a glowing review.
"And yeah, I mean, every single game he plays, he just keeps getting better and better, the confidence, the poise. And he's a player who's gonna really help us moving forward."
Halliday is a classic late bloomer.
He was passed over in two NHL Drafts before the Sens finally scooped him up as a 20-year-old in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft. His 95 points in 62 games at Dubuque in his fourth USHL season were too good to pass up, especially that late in the draft.
The Pierre Dorion-led Senators never minded going after the odd overager or a player who was passed over in a draft or two. They also picked Drake Batherson, Egor Sokolov, Cole Reinhardt, and Mark Kastelic, to name a few.
At 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, Halliday was a fine scorer at every level, including Ohio State and then Belleville, but NHL scouts were skeptical about his skating. It's something he's worked on, and in the mould of a Mark Stone, his stride isn't elite, but it's way better than it was on draft day.
It was good to hear from Tkachuk that the first-year Senator was feeling okay after the game. From what we've seen lately, Halliday is not just a temp or a fill-in anymore. Whether the Sens jump back into this playoff race or not, Halliday is tracking to be an important player for the foreseeable future.
Steve Warne The Hockey News Ottawa
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It’s the time of the season when NBA teams are taking stock and figuring out if they need to go all-in.
With the NBA trade deadline a little more than a week away, contenders are going to assess the market and see if there are capitalistic chances to strengthen any deficiencies on their roster.
And with that, there’s a new No. 1 on our weekly power rankings, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown some weakness recently, going 13-9 since Dec. 13, after they had blasted off to a 24-1 record to start the season.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 13 of the 2025-26 regular season:
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
Note: Records and stats through Jan. 25. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.
The battle for the top spot here is extremely close. The Thunder have one fewer loss and four more victories than the Pistons, but Oklahoma City has shown recent vulnerabilities, losing consecutive home games for the first time since Nov. 3 … of 2023! The Pistons, meanwhile, have won eight of their last 10 and have posted the NBA’s top defensive rating (101.7) over that span. The Raptors are proving they’re no fluke with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram starring in key recent wins over the Thunder and Warriors, though it’s guard Immanuel Quickley who has shined most, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. And the Cavaliers have shaken off their slow start to slowly climb up the standings.
Despite the injury to Jimmy Butler, the Warriors pulled off a massive win against a struggling Timberwolves squad that has lost five consecutive games. Over those last five, Minnesota ranks 26th in offensive rating (107.8), which is well below its season average (116.6; seventh). The Suns had been rolling but a sprained ankle to star Devin Booker has derailed their momentum a touch – though Booker shouldn’t be out long. The Clippers are surging and have gone 15-3 since Dec. 20, forcing a fan to eat his words — literally.
Despite injuries, the Mavericks have been stellar; Cooper Flagg (ankle) avoided a significant absence, and he’s improving with each passing week. With Giannis Antetokounmpo now set to miss at least a month and his future with Milwaukee uncertain, this is quickly becoming a lost season for the Bucks, who almost certainly won’t be buyers at the deadline. The Kings have lost five consecutive games and are a strong candidate to sell during the trading window. Two young teams headed in a problematic direction are the Jazz (-13.0) and Nets (-13.9), who have the worst net ratings in January.
The Flyers showed little life Monday night and lost to the Islanders, 4-0, at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They gave up two even strength goals, a power play goal and a shorthanded goal.
They heard boos after the second-period horn and the final buzzer. It was a good crowd when you consider the game was not even 24 hours after a snowstorm.
“We just got our butts kicked on home ice in a game where it’s probably tough to get to, and a lot of fans in the building,” Jamie Drysdale said. “We have to be better and we will be better.”
“To be a good team, you have to handle prosperity,” Tocchet said. “You’ve got to let the game go, even though it’s a good game for you, let it go and get your business hat on for the next game. And obviously we didn’t.”
Tocchet’s club also had two days of rest with Sunday’s practice being canceled because of the snowstorm.
But the Flyers (24-18-9) failed to sustain any of the momentum and missed an opportunity to move into playoff position. They’re now four points back of the Islanders (28-19-6) for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
“We knew it was a big game, a four-point game in the division,” Trevor Zegras said. “We just kind of came out and thought it would be easy, I guess. They played a good game, they didn’t give us much. Just wasn’t our best tonight.”
The Flyers have won consecutive games only once since the calendar turned to 2026.
“That’s on me, I’ll wear it, I’ve got to get these guys ready to play after a win,” Tocchet said. “I don’t know what guys were doing for the last two days, but I don’t even know if anybody played well.”
The Flyers are 2-1-0 in their four-game regular-season series against New York. They recorded a pair of 4-3 shootout wins in the opening two months of the season.
The clubs wrap things up April 3 at UBS Arena.
• Making his fourth straight start and seventh straight appearance, Samuel Ersson denied 19 of 23 shots.
A bad tone was set for the Flyers when their power play gave up a first-period goal.
Ersson played a bouncing puck to the corner, where Casey Cizikas took it and found a wide-open Jean-Gabriel Pageau streaking to the net. Drysdale and Bobby Brink both went after Cizikas. There was no help behind them.
“There was no effort coming back,” Tocchet said. “We didn’t even have the puck and then we had two guys go to the same guy and then one guy doesn’t backcheck. … Who knows if we’re 0-0 after the first, but it seemed like when they scored, some guys accepted it.”
The Flyers’ 1-0 deficit grew to 3-0 in the middle stanza.
Mathew Barzal scored on a redirection 5:41 minutes into the period. Then, a little over seven minutes later, former Flyer Tony DeAngelo struck on the power play. Cam York was in the box and Emil Andrae couldn’t handle a pass at the offensive blue line, which put the Islanders on the rush.
Pageau added his second of the night in the third period.
“When we roll lines and stack shifts together, we’re a very dangerous team,” Noah Cates said. “But it just seems like maybe we get away from it after wins or something like that.”
The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to get back to having steady line combinations. With every forward on the roster healthy for the first time in a long time, they might be able to do that for a while.
Teuvo Teravainen was waiting to be good enough to play, and he practiced with the group on Monday, wearing a regular contact sweater.
There was also a "fifth line" that included Colton Dach, Sam Lafferty, and Nick Lardis. With a road trip coming up, they need extra players, but not three forwards. It was clear that there would be an NHL transaction coming out of this.
On Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that Nick Lardis would be the odd man out. This is not a totally performance-based decision.
Lardis had five goals and two assists for 7 points in 21 games played with Chicago. He was called up to provide an offensive boost to the lineup when Connor Bedard first went down. Frank Nazar's injury made him even more valuable.
Although he had plenty of good chances in addition to his points, there is room for more growth in the AHL. The top six is getting crowded again, with all of the injuries healing up. It is fair for Lardis to get more minutes in a much bigger role with Rockford.
In 24 games played for the IceHogs this season, Lardis has 26 points (13-13--26). This next stint should see him elevate his game even further now that he has some NHL experience under his belt.
While playing in the NHL, Lardis was named to be an AHL All-Star. Rockford happens to be hosting this event while the NHL is on its Olympic break, so this transaction is perfect for not only allowing Lardis to play bigger minutes in a larger role, but he will also be able to represent himself and the organization on one of the AHL's biggest stages.
Lardis has a great attitude about winning and doing what is needed to help his team win. Combine that with his skills, and you have a young player with a bright future. It won't be long, perhaps even before the end of the season, before Lardis is back up in the NHL.
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The Buffalo Sabres practiced at LECOM Harborcenter on Monday before traveling up to Toronto to take on the struggling Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The Sabres have rebounded from a pair of losses with three road victories, and the contest marks the end of their five-game road swing. Head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update on some of the Sabres injured players, with some troubling news regarding center Josh Norris and good news about defenseman Jacob Bryson.
Norris suffered a rib injury from a cross-check in the victory over Philadelphia on January 15 and previously has been listed as week-to-week. Ruff stated he is improving every day, but cast doubt whether the 26-year-old will play in the near future.
Sabres sign winger Josh Doan to a seven-year extension
"Josh is better, in the training room today and progressing,” Ruff said. "I doubt (that he's back by the end of the week), unless he gets on the ice here pretty quick, and then we're going to balance whether it's the right idea with all that time coming off. I think we'll make sure we do the right thing in his case."
The Sabres have six games remaining before the Olympic break, and it is possible that the club allows Norris to slowly ramp up and return late next month when the NHL schedule resumes. Ruff indicated that winger Justin Danforth, who has been out since mid-October, could return after the break, and had encouraging news about injured defenseman Jacob Bryson’s upper-body injury suffered in the win over Montreal last Thursday.
"Actually, we got good news on him. It'll just be sort of a pain management thing where he can get back on the ice." Ruff said. "Depends on how he feels. I would still put him in a category of getting back to practice like a day-to-day type of thing."
Fans hold signs to protest the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis before theGolden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves game on Jan. 25 at Target Center. (David Berding / Getty Images)
But it was anything but business as usual for everyone involved.
"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters before the game.
"As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch, and we just want to extend our thoughts, prayers and concern for Mr. Pretti, his family, all the loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are by nature, peaceful and prideful."
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security launched a massive immigration crackdown in Minnesota. That action has led to mass protests and conflicts between federal agents and local residents.
Minneapolis resident Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed behind the wheel of her car Jan. 7 by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Pretti, an intensive care nurse, died Saturday after being shot by a Border Patrol officer during an immigration enforcement operation. Both Good and Petri were U.S. citizens.
Finch said Sunday that the previous day's game was postponed because "playing basketball just didn't feel like the right thing to do." The Timberwolves are scheduled to host Golden State again Monday night at Target Center.
"This is my home, and I love living here," said Finch, who was hired by the Timberwolves in February 2021. "I love being a part of this community, been embraced from Day One, people have been amazing. And it's just sad to watch what is happening, you know, on the human level, certainly, as somebody who takes great pride being here."
Before Sunday's game at Target Center, a moment of silence was held "honoring the life and memory of Alex Pretti." The actual silence lasted about five seconds before members of the crowd started shouting expletives directed toward ICE.
The video board at Target Center shows a photo of Alex Pretti during a moment of silence before the Golden State Warriors-Minnesota Timberwolves game on Jan. 25. (David Berding / Getty Images)
Some fans held signs reading "ICE Out Now," while some members of a trampoline dunk team providing in-game entertainment wore shirts that echoed the sentiment.
The game itself ended up being a blowout loss for the Timberwolves.
“Honestly, what I felt was that their group was suffering," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team's 111-85 victory. "I thought the vibe in the stands, it was one of the most bizarre, sad games I’ve ever been a part of. You could feel in the somber atmosphere, their team, we could tell they were struggling with everything that’s been going on and what the city has been through. It was very sad. It was a sad night.
"Obviously we got the win and we’re happy about that, but very difficult to see so many people struggling and sad. They came to the game to try to forget about stuff, I guess, but I don’t think anything went away for the city and for their team. I think they were suffering from the effects of everything.”
Warriors star Stephen Curry said he could sense "a lot of heavy hearts" in and around the arena.
"There's a lot of change that needs to happen," Curry told reporters after the game. "And when you're here and you feel it — I was glued to the TV yesterday when we weren't playing, just watching the coverage and understanding what was going on, and trying to really, you know, get knowledgeable about it. Hopefully, again, the community kind of comes together and the right decisions are made so that there's more of a peaceful environment here."
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said after the game: "I just love Minnesota, all the love and support that they show me. So I’m behind whatever they’re with. Me and my family are definitely praying for everybody.”
Teammate Julius Randle added: “Been nothing but a joy living here, so things like this happening in the community, it’s tough.”
The NBA Players Assn. released a statement Sunday saying that "NBA players can no longer remain silent."
"Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice," the union wrote. "The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all."
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton spoke out Saturday with a four-word post on X: "Alex Pretti was murdered."
Five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, who played his first nine seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to the Knicks in 2024, also expressed himself on X.
"What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness," Towns wrote. "These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are. My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. I stand with the people of Minnesota."
NBA legend Charles Barkley offered his take Saturday on ESPN.
"It's scary. It's sad," Barkley said. "It's gonna end bad — it's already ended badly twice. Somebody's got to step up and be adults because, man, two people have died for no reason and it's just sad."
On Sunday, WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart held a sign that read "Abolish ICE" during player introductions at an Unrivaled league game in Florida.
"We're so fueled by hate right now instead of love, so I wanted to kind of have a simple message of abolish ICE, which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence," Stewart said after the game.
"I think that when human lives are at stake, it's bigger than anything else. So to have that simple message before the game was important to me. And knowing that everyone here is feeling that way, one way or another, it was just a perfect time."
The CEOs of several Minnesota professional sports teams — including the Timberwolves, the WNBA's Lynx, the NFL's Vikings, the NHL's Wild and the MLS's United — were among the leaders of numerous local companies who signed a statement released Sunday by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
"With yesterday's tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions," the statement read.
Some players from those teams have offered their own opinions. Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern wrote Saturday on X: "It’s not right what’s happening in Minnesota."
Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman wrote on her Instagram Story: "I'm heartbroken to see ICE has flipped the city upside down and resorted to violence. There is no place for this. As hard as it may be I HOPE we continue to stand together and fight for what is right."
Teammate Napheesa Collier reposted a statement from Barack Obama, who called Pretti's killing a "heartbreaking tragedy" that "should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault."
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 119-105 at Kia Center on Saturday, and the Cavs will look for a second straight win in Monday’s rematch at Rocket Arena.
My Magic vs. Cavaliers predictions expect Anthony Black to continue to stuff the stat sheet with Franz Wagner sidelined.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference showdown on Monday, January 26.
Magic vs Cavaliers prediction
Magic vs Cavaliers best bet: Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists (-125)
Anthony Black has started each of his last 20 games, averaging 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists, good for 28.1 PRA.
In that span, he's gone for 24+ PRA 16 times, including six of his last eight starts on the road. He’s reached that mark in nine of his last 11 road games overall.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have surrendered the 10th-most points, 10th-most 3-pointers, 12th-most assists, and 15th-most rebounds, setting Black up for a favorable matchup on the road. He finished with a 16/5/5 line against Cleveland on Saturday.
With Franz Wagner out again, expect Black to see big minutes and stuff the stat sheet. He should have no issue going for 24+ PRA and cashing a comically-low combo line.
Magic vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Jaylon Tyson has averaged 29.5 PRA across his last six starts, hitting the Over on this combo line in five straight heading into Monday's rematch with the Orlando Magic.
Darius Garland is out again, and De'Andre Hunter is questionable, so I expect another productive showing from Tyson.
Cleveland hasn't been great ATS this season at 17-30, but Orlando is just 17-27. Recent form gives the edge to the home team, as the Cavs are 7-3 straight up and 5-5 ATS across their last 10. The Magic are just 4-6 straight up and 3-7 ATS in that span.
Cleveland won and covered in Saturday's game at Orlando, and I expect them to do so again tonight in Cleveland.
Magic vs Cavaliers SGP
Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists
Jaylon Tyson Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
Cavaliers -5.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bane gets the better of Cavs
Desmond Bane has scored at least 20 points in four straight games with Franz Wagner on the sidelines. Cleveland sports a Bottom-10 scoring and 3-point shooting defense, setting Bane up to hit the Over on this scoring line, just as he did on Saturday against Cleveland.
Magic vs Cavaliers SGP
Anthony Black Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists
Jaylon Tyson Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
Over/Under: Over 227.5 (-110) | Under 227.5 (-110)
Magic vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Magic have hit the team total Under in 17 of their last 23 games (+10.20 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Magic vs Cavaliers
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, January 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Magic vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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Not even two weeks ago, the Braves ended up seeing lefty pitcher José Suarez get claimed off waivers by the Orioles after Atlanta had designated him for assignment. As fate would have it, Suarez’s time with the Orioles ended up being extremely short after the Orioles decided to DFA him last week after they claimed Weston Wilson off waivers from the Phillies.
It’s apparent now that the Braves were hoping for Suarez to clear waivers after they DFA’d him because now he’s back with the Braves after they claimed him off waivers from the Orioles. The team announced the news first, themselves.
The #Braves today claimed LHP José Suarez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and designated RHP George Soriano for assignment.
George Soriano got DFA’d as a result. Soriano’s time with the Braves was just as short-lived as Suarez’s time with the Orioles was — Soriano was DFA’d by Baltimore on January 9 while Suarez was claimed by the Orioles on January 15. Now, Suarez is back with the Braves and Soriano is right back in the weird waters that are winter waivers.
At this point now, the big question is whether or not the Braves will try to DFA Suarez again in order to try to get him into their minor league system via that path. He’s out of options so if that’s what they want to do with him then that’s the only way. I think they’d be successful this time around but also wouldn’t be just so goofy if the Orioles picked him up again? Now granted, we’re talking about people’s lives being uprooted at the drop of a dime so I’m rooting for the Braves to get him in their farm system if they choose to DFA him again. If not, then we’ve just got another wacky baseball tale concerning two fringe players.
Suarez made seven big league appearances and pitched 19.1 innings for the Braves last season, where he produced an ERA of 1.86 and a FIP of 3.70 while also putting up solid numbers for Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate during the 2025 season as well.
