NBA Minutes Report: Injuries to Nikola Jokic, Austin Reaves, more have changed landscape

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

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

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

NBA: Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers
Over the last week, Jokić and Kawhi recorded stat lines that have rarely been seen in NBA history.

Atlanta Hawks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jalen Johnson34.636.535.6
Dyson Daniels3434.434
Nickeil Alexander-Walker33.733.432.7
Onyeka Okongwu32.833.834
Trae Young31.431.528.2
Vít Krejčí2826.824.9
Zaccharie Risacher23.422.323.5
Luke Kennard20.820.819
Kristaps Porziņģis17.317.317.3

Kristaps Porziņģis returned on Wednesday after missing 10 games with an illness. The Hawks will take the time to ramp him up, and he will eventually cut into minutes for Vít Krejčí and others. I also wrote an article this week on why the Hawks have been better without Trae Young, but why it's unlikely that they'll be able to trade him for much.

Boston Celtics

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Payton Pritchard36.936.134.2
Derrick White36.435.334.6
Jaylen Brown34.23434.7
Neemias Queta26.324.926.9
Anfernee Simons22.622.322.8
Hugo González2024.919.7
Luka Garza18.721.318.1
Sam Hauser17.920.220.3

The Celtics have been relatively healthy for the last few weeks, and we've seen very little change in their minutes allotment.

Brooklyn Nets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Michael Porter Jr.34.334.533.4
Nic Claxton31.231.231
Egor Dëmin3130.326.5
Noah Clowney2929.329.9
Terance Mann27.327.725.6
Danny Wolf19.519.421.9
Cam Thomas19.319.319.3
Ziaire Williams1816.920.7
Ben Saraf19.6

The Nets are currently dealing with injuries to Egor Dëmin and Terance Mann, and Ben Saraf has been sent to the G-League, so the rotation could be shaken up a bit this week. However, they did get Cam Thomas back for the last two games, so we should see his minutes tick up a bit over the next few games (if he can play better defense). He could also take over the lead if/when Michael Porter Jr. is traded.

Charlotte Hornets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Brandon Miller36.733.433.5
Moussa Diabaté31.831.925.4
LaMelo Ball29.327.427.1
Sion James2523.925.1
Kon Knueppel23.826.732.2
Tidjane Salaün22.221.919
Collin Sexton21.720.320.3
Miles Bridges2126.330.9
Josh Green17.116.415.5
Ryan Kalkbrenner25.5

Miles Bridges suffered an ankle injury this week, and while it might not be a serious one, I covered the fallout from that in a video this week. I also discussed the injury to Ryan Kalkbrenner and how it has led to an emergence for Moussa Diabaté.

Chicago Bulls

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Nikola Vučević29.729.729.3
Ayo Dosunmu25.923.521.2
Kevin Huerter2524.924
Isaac Okoro252323.4
Jalen Smith24.721.718.2
Matas Buzelis24.522.324.3
Zach Collins24.420.518
Tre Jones23.423.623.7
Josh Giddey2228.229.6
Coby White17.723.927.2

In a week full of injuries, the Bulls suffered two big ones with both Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) getting hurt on Monday.I discussed all the repercussions in a video this week.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Darius Garland28.329.931.8
Jaylon Tyson27.525.427.2
Evan Mobley25.825.727.8
Sam Merrill24.725.825.8
Jarrett Allen24.124.324.6
De'Andre Hunter22.223.925.4
Dean Wade21.82425.2
Craig Porter Jr.20.320.814.9

De'Andre Hunter is battling an illness, but his minutes have dipped a bit anyway with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen both active. There's a chance the Cavs could get Max Strus back in the next two weeks, which would be a big boost for them.

Dallas Mavericks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cooper Flagg35.236.136.9
P.J. Washington32.431.432.5
Max Christie30.730.726.2
Brandon Williams30.222.524
Naji Marshall27.828.830.8
Klay Thompson23.625.422.5
Daniel Gafford21.319.117.2
Dwight Powell18.518.518.7
Ryan Nembhard16.921.623.8

The Mavericks aren't really a healthy team, but they have been healthy over the last few weeks, so we've seen their rotation stabilize. Brandon Williams is back to being the main point guard, with De'Angelo Russell and Ryan Nembhard splitting back-up minutes. That kills the fantasy value for the latter two.

Denver Nuggets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jamal Murray36.337.735.5
Spencer Jones35.134.530.2
Peyton Watson34.133.828.2
Tim Hardaway Jr.30.432.330.8
Nikola Jokić28.734.133.7
Bruce Brown2626.527.5
Jonas Valančiūnas16.314.715.1
Julian Strawther15.513.811
DaRon Holmes II151515

The Nuggets got good news (kinda) on Tuesday when it was revealed that Nikola Jokić will only miss a month with a knee injury. That's obviously a long time, and made doubly disruptive by the fact that his fill-in, Jonas Valančiūnas, said he felt a pop in his calf this week. That would leave the Nuggets without any real center and also without other starters like Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Christian Braun. These could be a bleak couple of weeks for Denver. My colleague, Kurt Helin, wrote an article about the entire fallout.

Detroit Pistons

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cade Cunningham3433.333.7
Jalen Duren26.827.328.2
Duncan Robinson26.728.525.1
Marcus Sasser24.124.18.6
Isaiah Stewart22.521.923.4
Javonte Green21.421.219
Ausar Thompson20.424.923.1
Jaden Ivey2018.517.6
Ronald Holland II18.918.919.6
Tobias Harris18.223.423.9

Tobias Harris (hip) and Caris LeVert (knee) are both dealing with injuries, and while they aren't considered long-term injuries, they have shifted the minutes usage a bit, especially for Marcus Sasser, who used the Harris injury and mediocre production from Ausar Thompson to sneak into a larger role.

Golden State Warriors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Stephen Curry34.333.433.7
Jimmy Butler III33.232.233
Draymond Green28.826.325
Will Richard2520.120.6
Brandin Podziemski23.825.426.9
De'Anthony Melton23.221.519.2
Moses Moody19.924.523.6
Al Horford1513.813.8
Buddy Hield12.69.513.7
Quinten Post12.415.220.8

The Warriors are relatively healthy, except that Seth Curry is yet another player out with sciatica (what is going on?) Quinnen Post has seen his minutes start to dry up with De'Anthony Melton and Will Richard playing more in smaller lineups.

Houston Rockets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Amen Thompson34.236.537.9
Kevin Durant31.934.536.7
Jabari Smith Jr.31.932.836.8
Alperen Sengun31.233.435
Tari Eason25.321.921.9
Reed Sheppard25.227.127
Steven Adams23.32121.3
Dorian Finney-Smith15.215.215.2
Josh Okogie1216.321.2

The Rockets got Dorian Finney-Smith back and continued to play Tari Eason more minutes, which has led to a much smaller role for Josh Okogie. Alperen Sengun is also battling a calf injury, and Steven Adams is dealing with an ankle injury, so we'll see if those linger at all.

Indiana Pacers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Pascal Siakam32.932.132.9
Bennedict Mathurin32.532.232.5
Andrew Nembhard31.431.432.2
Aaron Nesmith24.824.824.8
Jarace Walker20.619.418.9
Ben Sheppard18.618.618.6
Jay Huff1718.621
T.J. McConnell16.717.117.1

Isaiah Jackson is dealing with a concussion, but other than that, this Pacers rotation has been pretty consistent for the last few weeks.

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

Los Angeles Clippers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kawhi Leonard37.438.236.7
James Harden36.336.936.8
Brook Lopez30.628.822.8
Kris Dunn28.328.428.3
Nicolas Batum26.825.124.6
John Collins20.425.526
Kobe Sanders19.317.718.3
Derrick Jones Jr.19.119.119.1

The Clippers weirdly went on a nice run after Ivica Zubac got hurt. A lot of that has to do with the recent production from Kawhi Leonard, which I covered in a video this week, but getting Derrick Jones Jr. back has also been a nice boost. The minutes decrease for John Collins can just be chalked up to a recent illness.

Los Angeles Lakers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Luka Dončić34.130.534.9
LeBron James3131.332.9
Deandre Ayton30.729.929.3
Jake LaRavia28.930.624.9
Rui Hachimura272730.6
Jarred Vanderbilt25.424.620.8
Marcus Smart24.92727.8
Nick Smith Jr.20.622.820
Jaxson Hayes18.118.117
Austin Reaves14.818.329.8

Austin Reaves is hurt again, which means the Lakers have gone back to using Jake LaRavia for major minutes. Rui Hachimura is also dealing with a calf injury, which is why Jarred Vanderbilt has seen his minutes tick up.

Memphis Grizzlies

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaren Jackson Jr.34.132.831.3
Santi Aldama33.932.232.6
Jaylen Wells29.630.630.4
Ja Morant29.129.126.7
Cedric Coward28.127.327.2
Christian Koloko24.518.618.6
Cam Spencer23.627.629.1
GG Jackson2221.621.6
Jock Landale18.321.624.3
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope16.418.321.5
Zach Edey21.9

With Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey still out, GG Jackson has emerged as a consistent part of the rotation. Injuries to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) and Vince Williams Jr. have also opened up more minutes for Cedric Coward again, and the Grizzlies are even trying to experiment with Christian Koloko as a starting frontcourt player. It hasn't worked great.

Miami Heat

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Andrew Wiggins31.430.330.9
Norman Powell29.731.932.1
Kel'el Ware28.328.126
Jaime Jaquez Jr.2830.730.8
Davion Mitchell26.727.729.7
Pelle Larsson24.224.220.8
Nikola Jović23.923.920.5
Bam Adebayo21.229.631.1
Tyler Herro34.5

Tyler Herro continues to miss time, and now Pelle Larsson is out with an ankle injury. That has led to more minutes for Nikola Jović, who had a decent outing earlier this week. Bam Adebayo also missed two games with a back injury, but he was back for 21 minutes on Monday, so he should begin to ramp back up to his usual workload.

Milwaukee Bucks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kevin Porter Jr.38.637.436.3
Ryan Rollins35.132.328.3
Myles Turner29.82929.1
AJ Green29.529.928.2
Giannis Antetokounmpo26.126.126.1
Kyle Kuzma23.326.828.2
Bobby Portis22.626.927.6
Gary Trent Jr.17.713.521.7
Gary Harris16.916.716.7

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned this week, and I talked about the fallout to the rotation in a video this week.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Anthony Edwards33.435.936.7
Julius Randle31.233.233.7
Rudy Gobert29.832.232.4
Donte DiVincenzo27.93032.3
Naz Reid2626.228.6
Jaden McDaniels25.929.330.3
Jaylen Clark16.413.713.2
Mike Conley16.117.919.1
Bones Hyland13.817.919.8

Minnesota has a pretty consolidated six-man rotation, and little has changed. Bones Hyland, Mike Conley, and Jaylen Clark hover on the periphery as the rest of the rotation, but none of them play enough minutes to matter for fantasy leagues.

New Orleans Pelicans

Trey Murphy III36.334.334.6
Saddiq Bey34.33231.2
Zion Williamson29.127.225.9
Derik Queen26.925.128.2
Jeremiah Fears26.124.424.2
Bryce McGowens23.625.520.9
Jordan Poole21.924.125.8
Kevon Looney212121
Yves Missi19.317.713.6

Herbert Jones is battling an ankle injury that has kept him off the court and led to a brief boost in minutes for Bryce McGowen; however, that has not lasted. Kevin Looney has also returned this week and has played solid minutes off the bench behind Derik Queen. This team is really Queen, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson, when he's healthy, with some solid production from Saddiq Bey sprinkled in at times throughout a given week.

New York Knicks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
OG Anunoby36.535.635.3
Jalen Brunson36.33737.3
Mikal Bridges35.43637.3
Karl-Anthony Towns31.13131.9
Miles McBride22.222.222.2
Jordan Clarkson19.623.522
Mitchell Robinson18.220.320.4
Tyler Kolek15.320.418.9
Kevin McCullar Jr.13.611.37.8
Mohamed Diawara13.310.79
Josh Hart34.433.9

The Knicks welcomed Deuce McBride back from his ankle injury, but now Josh Hart is out. We've also reached a point in the season where the Knicks are playing so many games in a short period of time that head coach Mike Brown has really extended the rotation to include plenty of young guys like Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Mohamed Diawara. It won't last, but they've looked solid.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander31.23333
Jalen Williams30.230.230.1
Cason Wallace28.626.526.3
Chet Holmgren28.228.528.1
Luguentz Dort23.525.124.6
Ajay Mitchell22.222.222.9
Isaiah Hartenstein19.722.923.3
Aaron Wiggins18.816.317.3
Alex Caruso16.117.418

Things have remained pretty consistent for the Thunder over the last two weeks, but that also means that Isaiah Hartenstein is in a much smaller role than we saw earlier in the season when Jaylin Williams was out. However, he has also been battling a calf strain, so there's a chance the Thunder are keeping his minutes in the low-to-mid twenties to manage that as well.

Orlando Magic

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Paolo Banchero36.335.335.9
Desmond Bane33.833.935.4
Wendell Carter Jr.32.831.531.9
Anthony Black31.132.534
Jalen Suggs25.425.428.6
Tyus Jones24.825.821.9
Tristan da Silva23.923.422.2
Goga Bitadze17.417.416.3

Jalen Suggs returned this week from his hip injury, and while he still isn’t built up to a full workload, it’s nice to see him back on the court. The Magic can use his ball-handling, and his return would likely mean a hit in usage for Desmond Bane and Anthony Black, even though Black will likely remain in the starting lineup and maintain fantasy value. Tyus Jones will also see a big decrease in minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Tyrese Maxey404039.2
VJ Edgecombe3635.735.7
Joel Embiid35.133.932.4
Paul George34.33433.1
Quentin Grimes28.627.629.3
Dominick Barlow25.626.825.7
Adem Bona20.52120.5
Jared McCain17.624.521.1

The 76ers are healthy, and, for now, that means limited minutes for Adem Bona and Jared McCain. We know Bona will be relevant whenever Joel Embiid misses time, but it seems that the strong play from Quentin Grimes has really capped McCain’s value right now. Kelly Oubre Jr. could also return next week, so we'll need to keep an eye on how that changes the dynamic in Philly.

Phoenix Suns

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Devin Booker34.133.233
Dillon Brooks33.431.430.3
Royce O'Neale30.928.228.5
Collin Gillespie29.130.131.4
Oso Ighodaro26.424.123.3
Jordan Goodwin24.422.923.3
Ryan Dunn19.42320.5
Mark Williams17.220.721.8

Grayson Allen remains out with a knee injury, so Collin Gillespie has remained incredibly valuable to the Suns. With Jalen Green expected back in the second week of January, it will be interesting to see what that does to Gillespie’s role, but he has been a top-40 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, so he needs to be relied on until the Suns show us otherwise.

Portland Trail Blazers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Deni Avdija36.637.137.1
Toumani Camara31.334.632.7
Shaedon Sharpe31.130.431.6
Caleb Love31.130.422.2
Kris Murray28.128.527.9
Donovan Clingan26.627.728.8
Sidy Cissoko23.820.624.2
Robert Williams III1818.517.8
Jerami Grant35.2

I admit that I thought this team would be better. Yes, Jrue Holiday is still out, and Jerami Grant has missed the last seven games with an Achilles injury, but the younger players haven’t taken the leap I thought they would. Scoot Henderson and Holiday are both doing on-court basketball activities, so it’s possible that both could be on the court within the next two weeks. That would take away almost all of the playing time for Caleb Love, and Grant’s return would move Kris Murray back into a smaller role.

Sacramento Kings

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Maxime Raynaud32.231.331
DeMar DeRozan29.734.233.7
Keegan Murray29.632.335.4
Nique Clifford262623.5
Keon Ellis24.717.419.6
Russell Westbrook24.428.230.2
Dylan Cardwell22.32321.5
Dennis Schröder21.523.424.4
Precious Achiuwa20.721.418.8

I never thought we’d see Maxime Raynaud lead the Kings in minutes this season, but here we are. With Zach LaVine (ankle) banged up and Russell Westbrook having his minutes dialed back from early-season highs, we also got to see Keon Ellis play more minutes and rookie Nique Clifford get more run. Frankly, that should have been the case all along, but I’m hesitant to believe the Kings keep this up when they’re healthy.

San Antonio Spurs

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
De'Aaron Fox3534.131.6
Devin Vassell32.431.630.4
Stephon Castle31.530.829.5
Julian Champagnie28.725.724.6
Victor Wembanyama26.225.523.2
Harrison Barnes25.226.325.7
Keldon Johnson24.522.621
Luke Kornet22.122.724
Dylan Harper20.120.220.5

The Spurs seemed to survive a big-time scare when Victor Wembanyama went down with a knee injury in the New Year’s Eve game against the Knicks. Sadly, given his frame, I’m not sure we’ll ever really see him consistently play 70+ minutes a game. The Spurs also lost Devin Vassell to an oblique injury, but it is reportedly expected to only last a couple of games. Dylan Harper should get more run as long as Vassell is out.

Toronto Raptors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Scottie Barnes37.535.535
Brandon Ingram36.634.535.3
Immanuel Quickley32.33332.4
Ja'Kobe Walter26.723.620.6
Jamal Shead26.323.424.2
Collin Murray-Boyles25.525.221.3
RJ Barrett24.124.124.1
Sandro Mamukelashvili19.123.523.7

RJ Barrett returned this week, and Scottie Barnes had a record-breaking game mixed in. I covered it all in a video this week.

Utah Jazz

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Lauri Markkanen3736.837.1
Keyonte George36.235.336
Brice Sensabaugh35.328.723.1
Jusuf Nurkić30.631.628.3
Isaiah Collier22.923.823.6
Svi Mykhailiuk17.71822.1
Walter Clayton Jr.17.316.715.6
Cody Williams16.412.413.3
Kevin Love16.222.421.6
Kyle Filipowski15.618.823.5

The Jazz had been playing too well, so Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jusuf Nurkić all missed some games this week. With Ace Bailey (hip) out, Brice Sensabaugh has been getting some extra run, and Kyle Anderson returned on Thursday to play 32 minutes and put up a solid line. The Jazz were very depleted in that game, so I wouldn't expect that level of production to continue with the team fully healthy.

Washington Wizards

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
CJ McCollum3131.433.1
Justin Champagnie28.225.324
Bilal Coulibaly26.82625.4
Alex Sarr26.525.625.4
Tre Johnson26.32422.3
Bub Carrington25.822.930
Khris Middleton22.621.621.7
Marvin Bagley III21.221.223.5

The Bub Carrington mini breakout appears to be over. We also had a hip flexor injury to Kyshawn George, which has allowed Justin Champagnie to see an uptick in minutes and usage. George's absence has also allowed Bilaly Coulibaly to return to a higher usage role on the team, which has regained some of his fantasy value.

Rookie Risk: Oilers May Be Testing Something On The Third Line

The Edmonton Oilers are taking a bit of a risk if the lines at practice on Friday are any indication of what's to be expected in Saturday's afternoon game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Both Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson were recalled from the AHL an on the ice. Both were on the third line, with fellow rookie Matt Savoie. 

Three rookies on the third line? It's a gamble, with some serious potential for offense. 

Trending Stories:

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Edmonton has struggled to find any offense from their third line of late. They wanted to create a spark so badly, they took Jack Roslovic off a successful second line and put him at center on the third line. It didn't work and Roslovic was almost immediately put back in the top six, with head coach Kris Knoblauch saying, "We made that switch putting Roslovic there. Obviously, we feel that Roslovic is a better player, but I thought Andrew [Mangiapane] did some things that helped us."

Perhaps Mangiapane did some things, but it wasn't enough. He's now an asterisk on the second line, and might be a healthy scratch. Vasily Podkolzin was under the weather and not on the ice Friday. 

Back to the third line...

Can Matt Savoie successfully center a rookie third line? Photo by 

© Charles LeClaire Imagn Images

Having three rookies on the ice is asking a lot of that trio. It's clear that Huston and Howard can light it up at the AHL level. Howard scored 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 16 games with the Condors. Hutson has tallied 19 goals and 13 assists for 32 points in 26 games this season. Asking them to translate that over in the NHL won't be easy. And, while Savoie is a responsible two-way player, he's still fresh in the NHL, with only 46 total NHL games on his resume. 

The problems might come defensively. As sound as Savoie is, Hutson and Howard are question marks. Can the Oilers deploy that line in advantageous situations? On home ice, that's a bit easier to do. However, not always. These three will need to stay above water if they're going to see any minutes at all. The Flyers and any future opponents will try to isolate that line if they can get their top stars on the ice. 

Knoblauch wouldn't commit to the trio as a line for Saturday. He noted that there are some positives and negatives to the idea. Without an "NHL center," there is a risk. It is three smaller players, too. The positive is that they are skilled and have experience together. He noted that if he does go this route, he'll look at offensive zone starts and beneficial matchups. "There'll be some coaching," he said. 

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Victor Wembanyama's MRI comes back clean, he will not play Friday in Indiana, is day-to-day

Victor Wembanyama will not be on the court Friday night against Indiana, but, in very good news for the Spurs, he will not be out long.

The MRI on Wembanyama's hyperextended knee came back clean and he is now day-to-day, reports Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The report said he will be questionable for the second half of a back-to-back Saturday against Portland and is day-to-day going forward.

Wembanyama was injured in the fourth quarter of the Spurs' win over the Knicks, hyperextending his knee after landing awkwardly on a rebound next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Wembanyama fell to the ground in pain, then hopped directly back to the locker room but was telling fans along the way that he was fine. Postgame, Wembanyama was not worried.

"The good thing is that it was just a hyperextension. So, it should be minimal, whatever the thing is," he said,

Wembanyama would be an All-Star starter based on the fan vote so far and leads the Spurs, averaging 24 points, 11.6 rebounds, and three blocks per game.

"Didn't Play Our Best": Red Wings Look To Rebound From 4-3 Overtime Loss To Penguins

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While the Detroit Red Wings picked up a valuable point in the standings during their 4-3 overtime setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening, they'll lament the fact that they only converted on two of eight power-play opportunities. 

Both James van Riemsdyk and Alex DeBrincat tallied with the man-advantage, the former coming during a four-minute double-minor opportunity, with the latter coming late in the third period to knot the score at 3-3. 

However, six other chances went for naught despite coming into the contest with the NHL's fourth-ranked power-play efficiency rate. 

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Head coach Todd McLellan did point to the positive of the statistical reality that they finished with a 25 percent conversion rate during the contest.

“At the end of the night, it was 25 percent, which isn’t too bad," McLellan said of Detroit's power-play. "It got us two goals and probably got us a point. Anytime you start a game on the power-play 20 seconds in, that’s a tough thing.”

Despite staying in the first place position in the Atlantic Division standings by picking up a point, the Red Wings feel that they could have played better as a whole 

"It’s a huge point to get," said DeBrincat, who picked up his 21st goal of the campaign. "Still a little disappointed in how we played, but some nights, good teams win those games. We feel like we should’ve won that game, but we can go win on Saturday and make it back." 

The Red Wings will once again face the Penguins on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Michael Porter Jr. hot name, but market overall slow for stars

Just over one month to the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline and trade talks are picking up some momentum. Here is the latest around the league.

Expect slow trade deadline

There will be trades. Maybe a lot of smaller trades around the Feb. 5 deadline.

However, if you're expecting another NBA blockbuster in February, well… sorry. The vibe in league circles has become to expect trades centered on tax/cap relief with some role players on the move, but the bigger names — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Trae Young — are likely stay put due to a combination of a limited market and the restrictive tax aprons. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps talked to an Eastern Conference executive and got this quote:

"I don't see an eventful trade deadline, but that could set up for a crazy summer."

That said, there will be trades, and the name to watch is…

Michael Porter Jr.

Player most likely to be traded before the Feb. 5 deadline? Brooklyn's Michael Porter Jr.

The former Denver Nugget, 27, is in the middle of the best season of his career, averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game while shooting 41% from 3-point range (having the full-time green light in Brooklyn helps). That has drawn interest from a number of teams.

• Milwaukee has interest as it looks to upgrade around Giannis Antetokounmpo, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic. Porter Jr. is seen as potentially superior and certainly less expensive than bringing in Zach LaVine.

• The Warriors have had internal discussions about adding Porter, Jake Fischer reports at The Stein Line. That's a long way from getting a deal done, but it shows the Warriors' mindset of adding to their core.

• With Utah apparently not making Lauri Markkanen available, Detroit could kick the tires on a Porter trade, Fischer adds.

Where he lands is up in the air, but MPJ is the hottest name on the trade rumor mill right now.

Bucks interested in Anthony Davis? Dejonte Murray?

While Atlanta is still considered the team at the front of the line for an Anthony Davis trade, that line is long. Miami and Toronto are in it, with a lot of teams, such as Sacramento, at least considering a move.

Enter the Milwaukee Bucks.

They meet all the criteria of a team that might chase Davis, something Zach Lowe talked about on his podcast.

"When Dallas fired Nico Harrison and I went through all the fake Anthony Davis trades, I said right away, you've got to look at teams that are desperate to win and underperforming and can bundle some expiring salary. And I said like I'd look at the Bucks... To me, if the Bucks continue on this stance of buy buy buy, they're just a lock to end up with one of these sort of distressed high leverage high salary players like a Zach LaVine, Michael Porter Jr., I mentioned AD."

Milwaukee also may consider bringing in Dejounte Murray, a player they looked at previously, reports Fischer at The Stein Line.

The bottom line in Milwaukee is simple: It is not trading Antetokounmpo at the deadline, but to avoid having to do it this summer, the Bucks need to find a way to win more and are considering every option to make that happen.

Stop talking LeBron to Warriors

LeBron James and Stephen Curry had such great chemistry playing alongside one another while winning gold at the Paris Olympics. The Warriors are trying to add players to win now, the Lakers are moving on from the LeBron era to the Luka Doncic era, so what about…

No. LeBron's agent and long-time friend Rich Paul shot down the idea emphatically on the latest episode of the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast. It started with Kellerman trying to stir things up, saying, "Bill Simmons said a couple of days ago… he said, look, the numbers work… LeBron and Steph have always said that they wanted to play together. What about Jimmy Butler for LeBron James?"

Rich Paul was emphatic in shooting it down.

"Because I don't like to get into that. It's not going to happen. So why are we talking about things that are not going to happen?"

Welcome to the world of sports talk, where making up fake trades — usually wildly unrealistic fake trades — then arguing about why a team should do them is its lifeblood.

Warriors not trading Butler, Green

While Golden State is testing the market for Jonathan Kuminga (who can't be traded until Jan. 15), the reality is that to land a real difference maker the Warriors would have to package Kuminga with another player and picks.

That has led to some speculation about a Draymond Green with Kuminga trade — or maybe Jimmy Butler straight up for Anthony Davis — but the Warriors aren't doing any of that, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.

Team sources say they're staunchly against the notion of trading either Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, which creates quite a predicament when you're trying to match salaries of high-level players.

The Warriors are still actively looking at trade options, which brings us to…

Jonathan Kuminga

The Warriors are talking to teams about a potential Kuminga trade, and Sacramento still has some interest. However, after another unimpressive season in Golden State — he has been on the court in just one of the team's last 10 games — there isn't much of a return coming back to the Bay Area in any deal, The Athletic’s Sam Amick said on Sactown Sports Radio 1140:

"For one, the Kings and everyone else, the price has gone down, it just has. So what does that look like in a possible Kings deal, because the Warriors are known to not have interest in Malik Monk, and he was front and center in those discussions in the offseason. So is it a [DeMar DeRozan] thing potentially? Who knows? I don't probably see that happening."

Teams are willing to take a flyer on Kuminga, but they do not give up players or picks of real value in those trades.

Clippers not trading stars

We've written in this space before that the LA Clippers were not going to have a fire sale, they have not been looking to trade James Harden or Kawhi Leonard at all. That is especially true with the team on an impressive six-game win streak.

If you doubt me, here is what Amick wrote at The Athletic.

If anything, league sources say the Clippers are expected to explore the prospect of adding an impact player around Harden and Kawhi Leonard as a way to revive their season in the second half. They can match a star-player level salary with expiring deals, with the contracts of John Collins ($26.5 million), Bogdan Bogdanović ($16 million this season; team option worth $16 million next season), Brook Lopez ($8.7 million this season; team option for $9.1 million next) and Nicolas Batum ($5.6 million this season; team option for $5.8 million next) all potentially handy on that front.

While the Clippers are open to a big move, they would not take on long-term salary that extends past 2027 (unless the player were a young star who could be part of their future). That lack of wanting long-term money on the books is why trading for Anthony Davis — who wants a massive contract extension this summer — is highly unlikely. (Plus, the one player the Clippers love and have on the books past 2027 is center Ivica Zubac, and he and Davis would be an odd fit next to one another.)

The ACC had an improved nonconference showing. That could help its cause for more March Madness bids

It wasn't long after sixth-ranked Duke finally fought off a pesky Georgia Tech team that coach Jon Scheyer pointed to the lesson emerging from the Blue Devils' Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Notably, the ACC had a stronger showing in marquee nonconference matchups and has shown more depth of quality teams compared to last year with Duke operating as a one-team show on the way to the Final Four. “I just feel like the league as a whole, it's so much better,” said Terrence Oglesby, a college basketball and NBA TV analyst who played at Clemson.

Former Sharks Goalie Is Having Incredible Season

The Colorado Avalanche are having a fantastic 2025-26 season. At the time of this writing, they have a ridiculous 30-2-7 record and are 10 points ahead of the second-place Dallas Stars in the NHL standings. The Avalanche have also won each of their last nine games, so they are showing no signs of slowing down. 

One of the many reasons for the Avalanche's dominant first half of the season has been the play of former San Jose Sharks goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. The 29-year-old is having himself an incredible 2025-26 campaign and is only getting better as the year rolls on. 

In 16 games so far this season with the Avalanche, Blackwood has recorded a 13-1-1 record, a .924 save percentage, a 2.07 goals-against average, and two shutouts. He has also won all seven of his last starts and has had a .920 save percentage or better in each of them. With this, there is no question that the former Sharks goalie is on fire right now. 

Yet, as awesome as Blackwood has been playing this season, he was snubbed from Team Canada's Olympics roster. This has naturally made some hockey fans surprised, as Blackwood has been simply marvelous in 2025-26. 

Steve Kerr explains ‘misunderstanding' that led to viral Draymond Green argument

Steve Kerr explains ‘misunderstanding' that led to viral Draymond Green argument originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After over a decade together as player and coach on the Warriors, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr are no stranger to their share of verbal disputes.

But after an in-game incident on Dec. 22 between the pair ended with Green in the locker room and online video of the spat garnering countless views, Kerr shouldered the blame for what, to many, felt like a different argument from the rest.

While both sides have moved on amicably from the situation, the Warriors coach on Tuesday explained what led to the heated interaction during an appearance on the “Tom Tolbert Show.”

“First of all, it was a misunderstanding,” Kerr told Tolbert. “Draymond was talking to the refs, and I had called a timeout because I thought we lost our focus. And I wasn’t mad at him, but he was talking to the ref for a long time, and then I see five of our players over there trying to bring him back and he had been ejected the night before. So I started yelling his name, ‘Draymond! Draymond!’ Basically just telling him to, asking him to get to the huddle.

“He thought I was yelling at him because of a turnover he had just made, and so he says something snarky, I say something back snarky, and next thing you know, we’re yelling at each other. We’re at each other’s throats, and then it all comes to bear. But I should have been calmer at that time. Like, I know Draymond so well and there’s always a buildup to these things, and he’s such an emotional player and passionate player and he had been frustrated for a couple of days, and I recognized that, but I needed to recognize it and do something about it in the huddle.

“I needed to be the the the calming force, and so we went back and forth and I regretted not being the calming calming one in that conversation.”

The Warriors ultimately won that game against the Orlando Magic in a blowout, 120-97, and have gone 3-1 since.

Both Kerr and Green are extremely competitive, as evidenced by their four NBA championships together and the several times they’ve exchanged words.

But they each are not afraid to admit when they’re wrong, and it’s clear that after apologies were exchanged on both sides, Kerr is able to look back on the whole thing with a chuckle.

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Blueshirts and Panthers, Outdoors In Miami is UNBELIEVABLE!

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

When Gary Bettman took command of the National Hockey League 33 years ago, the idea of major league hockey succeeding in The Sunshine State was iffy, to say the least.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had just been born and from one season to another the Bolts' players couldn't tell whether they'd be playing in a makeshift arena or a baseball field or – with

cockamamee ownership – if they'd wind up playing at all.

Flash forward to January 2, 2026 and the Lightning have become one of the league's most successful franchises artistically, monetarily and ownership-wise.

Drive across Alligator Alley to beautiful Downtown Sunrise and there you'll find yet another Floridian success story, the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers.

But tonight, the title-holders will take a sentimental journey of sorts to Miami, the Panthers original home, and face the Rangers on, of all places, a baseball field – LoanDepot Park.

Bettman, Inc. is pulling off what once was considered an impossibility, an outdoor NHL game surrounded by the sheltering palms of the Florida Marlins home field. So, how amazing is this?

Floridian author-beat writer for Florida Hockey Now – who grew up at old Madison Square Garden – Alan Greenberg, puts it best:

"This game is a tribute to how hockey has grown in Florida in recent years," says Big Al. "With the Panthers or the Lightning having been in the Stanley Cup Final for six straight years, hockey interest has grown exponentially, especially on the Panthers side which had lagged for years."

If it takes Two to Tango, the franchise also needed player support to make this work.

Greenberg: "The players love it. Even guys like Brad Marchand and Jeff Petry, plus head coach Paul Maurice, have been here twice before. This Winter Classic is unique because of the Florida venue."

The NHL creative geniuses showed their worth, dividing the stadium into a winter wonderland right out of Northern Ontario on one side and, as for the Floridians, I'll let Greenberg explain:

"On the other side, the decor simulates the Tropics with beach chairs and a mural of the ocean. It's a perfect contrast to the fake snow and  simulated ice for the Canadian sport of curling on the cold side." 

Credit for this amazing event goes to the league's leaders, Commissioner Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and their make-the-seemingly-impossible-happen, NHL President of Content and Events, Steve Mayer.

Let this most astonishing Winter Classic begin!

Rangers Hoping To Use Winter Classic As A Way To Turn Around Their Season

 Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic comes at a critical point in the New York Rangers’ season. 

As the Rangers stepped onto the ice at LoanDepot Park on Thursday afternoon ahead of their Friday night Winter Classic matchup against the Florida Panthers, a vibrant, joyous mood was evident among the team. 

The Winter Classic only happens once a year, so the opportunity to play in an event of this magnitude is certainly not taken for granted. 

“There's a certain level of excitement around these events that I think brings out the very best in our sport,” Mike Sullivan said. “I think it's such a privilege to have the opportunity to participate in these types of events. I think the league does a tremendous job in making each one of these unique in their own way… All of these events in my experience over the years are so unique, and I think the league does a great job in just embracing each venue and making each one of them different in how they play themselves out.

“I think for the players and their families, I think it's an opportunity to create lifelong memories. I think these types of events, players and coaches and all of us that have the privilege to participate in these types of events, we'll talk about these events 20 years from now.”

Players were laughing and smiling with one another as they got onto the ice with excitement and curiosity. 

While the Rangers did partake in a practice, it was no ordinary one. A mixture of family members, media people, and fans surrounded the ice in what was more of a spectacle as opposed to a practice. 

After the practice, the players were embraced by their family on the ice, some of whom got the special opportunity to skate with their kids, partners, and parents.

“It’s special,” Zibanejad said on being able to share the ice with his family. “I’ve been lucky enough to play a few of these events before. Each one of them is special in its own way. When you get to share those moments and share moments with your family and the ones close to you, it means a lot. It becomes a bigger thing than if you would. I’m just happy I get the opportunity to do so.”

Friday night’s matchup will also mark the first time the NHL is hosting an outdoor game in Florida. 

When you think of any outdoor game and specifically the Winter Classic, the Sunshine State isn’t exactly the destination that likely comes to mind. 

It’s truly a unique set of circumstances, which the Rangers seem to be embracing.

“I was pleasantly surprised maybe because just the perception of playing hockey outdoors in Florida at this time of year would suggest it's hard to keep ice,” Sullivan emphasized. “I thought it (the ice) was actually in pretty good condition given the circumstances. It's always a challenge in this type of an event. I thought it was pretty good today.”

Through all of the hoopla and spotlight that the Winter Classic presents, it’s hard to remember that there are still two points on the line that come from this game.  

For the Rangers, this event couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. We are now just past the midpoint of the 2025-26 season, and New York’s play has been sporadic to say the least. 

They currently sit with a 19-18-5 record and find themselves on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. Going into this matchup, they've also lost three consecutive games. 

At this point in the season, every game and every point is so important. 

If the Blueshirts continue to go down this rabbit hole of inconsistent play and if the playoffs are out of their reach by around the time of the trade deadline in March, Rangers general manager Chris Drury may be forced to take a selling approach and focus on accumulating assets for the future.

The Rangers are viewing the Winter Classic as an opportunity to reset and hope that it will be a turning point in their season.

“Obviously, against the two-time defending cup champions in a big stage, I think maybe it could help us get that ship going in the right direction,” said Adam Fox. “There's only so many games before the (Olympic) break, and then maybe the standings start to sort out a little bit. Some teams have to make decisions on which direction they're looking to go, so I think a good opportunity for us to get going here a little bit and have a good finish before the break.”

Adam Fox Expresses Disappointment Regarding U.S. Olympic SnubAdam Fox Expresses Disappointment Regarding U.S. Olympic SnubThe 2026 U.S. Olympic Team will not include New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> defenseman Adam Fox.&nbsp;

The entirety of 2025 was a difficult year to fathom for all involved with the Rangers. The team missed the playoffs during the 2024-25 campaign and despite making a substantial move during the offseason by hiring Mike Sullivan to be the team’s head coach, New York hasn’t shown signs that they could get back to Stanley Cup contending status. 

However, 2026 is a new year, and it all starts with the Winter Classic. 

“It’s opportunities like this. I think, looking back at how it's been, how it ended last season, how it's been this season so far, I think definitely,” Zibanejad said of whether the Rangers are using the Winter Classic as a way to change their perspective as a team. “Obviously, you don't want to be in that position to have that as a moment, but we're, we're in it now. 

“Having this opportunity to play an outdoor game with all the families here, and a special game like this, obviously the two points mean a lot, but I think the two points add a lot more to the experience too.”

Blues Defenseman Philip Broberg Named To Team Sweden's Olympic Roster

St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg has been named to Team Sweden's 2026 Men's Olympic roster. 

This will be Broberg's first time competing for Sweden at the senior level, as he previously represented Sweden at the U-17s, U-18s, Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and World Juniors Championship. He won gold at the U-18s, silver at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and bronze at the world juniors.

Broberg is in his second season with the Blues, and he's taken another step forward in his development. The 24-year-old has scored two goals and 13 points in 41 games while skating on the Blues' top pairing and averaging 23:12 of ice time. His 23:12 is nearly three minutes more than he played in his first season with the Blues. His ice time also leads the Blues and ranks 31st in the NHL.

The 6-foot-4 defender has become a defensive stalwart while being a potent puck mover. The offensive numbers have translated; Sweden won't need Broberg to be a driving force offensively. With defenders like Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Sweden needs defenders they trust to play a stout defensive game against teams like Canada and the USA. 

Broberg isn't a lock to be in the lineup from day one, but he'll have every opportunity to fight for a bottom pairing role. His size, skating and defensive capabilities should keep him in contention.

Philip Broberg (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Sweden's roster:

Forwards:
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay Lightning
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Alexander Wennberg, San Jose Sharks
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers

Defenseman:
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Philip Broberg, St. Louis Blues
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins

Goaltenders:
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

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