NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Ben Williamson #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 08, 2025 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 10-3. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Continuing the experiment where I’m drawing conversations from the Moose Tracks out to give them more space, Husky Mariner asked the other day if there’s room for both Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson on the 2026 Mariners roster. (We’re going to assume Opening Day, optimized roster, in this situation, not the Frankenlineups that sometimes get run out in the dog days due to injury or ineffectiveness.)
To me, I think either of those players would be given the keys to third and second base, respectively; neither of them are going to be on the roster to be bench players. That creates a series of conditions: in this case, Emerson has supplanted Cole Young at second base, which feels unlikely at this moment in time, although who knows how things will play out this spring. I will say I’m higher on Colt Emerson than I’ve ever been after considering his body of work this past season and spending time with him this weekend at Fan Fest. It’s maybe less of a stretch to consider Ben Williamson being permanently installed at third base, especially after Eugenio Suárez signed with the Reds yesterday, extinguishing the last ray of hope Mariners fans might have been stoking for a good vibes reunion.
This setup leaves Cole Young returned to Triple-A with his options, the platoon of Victor Robles/Luke Raley/Rob Refsnyder/Dominic Canzone taking starts in right field and DH, and Miles Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas battling it out for the backup infielder/pinch runner role (plus either Knizner or Perada as backup catcher).
The idea of Cole Young sent back to Triple-A is one that’s already a little difficult for me to square given the club’s verbal commitment to Young, but I can easily see a world where Emerson challenges Young, who has a similar profile. Williamson might have the biggest question mark around his bat of the three, but his defensive acumen is such that it’s harder for me to see them going with Young and Emerson at second and third, even if that might provide the best offensive production. The bigger issue I have with this is how heavy that platoon is in right field/DH. Four players for two spots with only Raley being defensively versatile (all outfield positions, 1B) feels like a roster construction flaw. That’s not an issue that has anything to do with Young/Williamson/Emerson, though, so I’ve maybe drifted too far afield from the original question.
Also: Ryan Bliss. How does he figure into all of this?
Speaking to the media at Fan Fest yesterday, Justin Hollander reiterated that the club won’t be predicating decisions based on spring training alone. But it does feel like a monster spring from Emerson and Williamson could force some of these questions.
What is your prediction for the roster battles will see this spring, specifically on the infield?
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of game four of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 08, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We’re getting ever closer to pitchers and catchers reporting, and we’re officially in the same month as Spring Training, so the offseason is almost over, and hot stove season is winding down. In fact, the few remaining players still looking for a team are almost entirely starting pitchers, so we could still see some moves from the Tigers before pitchers and catchers report, as the Tigers look to bolster their starting rotation (or their bullpen, depending on what they feel like focusing on).
Still some fun stories to get into to start the week, so we’ll just jump right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
The Tigers are celebrating Black History Month by celebrating the players who helped make the team great.
We’re celebrating the impact of African-American players in Tigers history throughout February, honoring their careers and lasting contributions as part of #BlackHistoryMonth! pic.twitter.com/HCBddvxtbk
Kind of feels like the Tigers could have afforded this…
Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
The Phillies can annoy us. There are things that they do that can get on our nerves, whether it be a questionable decision by the manager during a game (I’m still not over The Bunt), a trade that was made that returned virtually nothing (that’s all they got for Schilling?) or a season that ended worse than what we believed it would be.
So for today’s question, the question: what is something about the Phillies that still bothers you the most? For fans of a different age, this question could be answered different ways. Take me, for example. The Bunt that Rob Thomson called for may not have been the difference in the series against the Dodgers last year, but you have to wonder what might have been had they been able to score Nick Castellanos from second.
Maybe you’re still sore over Cliff Lee being unable to pitch a good Game 2 of the 2011 NLDS, a series that should have seen the Phillies go to, and win, the World Series.
Maybe it’s Black Friday in 1977 where Bruce Froemming had his eyes closed when deciding if Davey Lopes was safe or out.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 3: Dodger Stadium is shown during the Atlanta Braves game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during an opening day game at Dodger Stadium on April 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The Braves defeated the Dodgers 11-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So, I don’t know if I have been doing daily questions for over a year, but it feels like I have.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, the powers that be put together a set of generic questions that can be used throughout the month of February, and shared them with us. Some are redundant with things I’ve probably asked before. Some just kinda feel off to me. But, some, well, they make coming up with prompts easier since, well, I don’t have to. It’s just ye olde copy-paste and off we go.
This is one of those.
I don’t really know what angle people will take when they read it. I guess the most common is, “My team did/didn’t do X, so now I do/don’t expect Y.” But I guess you can be more literal. Like, I have two thoughts in response initially. I also have a ton more if I just think a bit. Here are a few from me:
2015: juiced ball time. Got the gears turning on what building a team meant in 2015 as opposed to the trend towards pitching dominance pre-2015.
2023: first year of the pitch clock. This is really literal but… before the pitch clock, I had a rhythm going where much baseball was watched while working or doing other stuff, and I had pitchers timed pretty well to be able to look up for the pitch and then go back to whatever I was doing in between pitches. The pitch clock completely ruined this; there’s now not enough time to actually do anything in between pitches. Some might say that’s the point, but it’s made it more that now baseball is on in the background while I do things that either prevent me from seeing each pitch, or that I don’t need to look to do (like washing dishes).
2006: Nothing to do with baseball, but this was my first season that started when I was at college. Before 2006, I watched basically every game from 2001-2005 because there wasn’t much impeding me. In 2006 I had to transition to lugging my laptop with MLB.tv around for day games, making arrangements at my part-time jobs to leave before games, and really started watching games as a secondary thing as opposed to appointment viewing.
Boston, MA - February 3: Boston Red Sox fans pose for a photo with mascots Wally and Tessie during the team's annual Truck Day outside of Fenway Park. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Hello and happy Monday, friends.
It’s not just any regular Monday, though…it’s Truck Day! Did Wally leave you any baseball equipment under your Truck Day Tree this year? Hope your work gives you the holiday today. If not, I guess time-and-a-half ain’t so bad.
While the rest of the sporting world will have its eyes on the Super Bowl in a few days, we’re more concerned about the fact that baseball returns in earnest this month. Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers in eight days, and the full squad follows five days after that. We’re currently eighteen days off from the first game of Spring Training, and the World Baseball Classic will soon follow.
We’re almost there, gang.
Drop whatever you fancy in the comments below. Any plans for The Big Game™ this weekend? Are you gonna be out front of Fenway for Truck Day? What are you most excited for leading up to Opening Day? What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers visited MSG and returned home without a win.
Too bad, it turns out they ran into the hottest team in the league—that is, your New York Knicks.
Here’s a lot of what was said before and after yesterday’s affair.
Mike Brown says that 50/50 balls were a point of emphasis for the Knicks at halftime: pic.twitter.com/x6DhJjaR7a
“We’ve had a chance to practice a little bit. But we made changes a little earlier, we’ve gotten a little better with the changes. Guys have been communicating more, but they’re able to do that because they feel a little bit more comfortable with what we’re doing. Defensively, we made some changes. Offensively too. I think because we’ve had a chance to work at it a little bit, the guys have had a chance to get involved with it a little bit, the confidence is great. That’s growing as well.”
On offensive principles and ball movement:
“We talk about certain things offensively, playing with pace, touching the paint, and spray the ball. Our guys are unselfish, but they know when they draw a second defender that’s the right to find your teammate. We all need to keep trying to make the game easy for one another.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ handling of double teams:
“KAT did a nice job tonight. He’s gonna get doubled, they put a small guy on him a ton, and the one thing he has to do, just like all of us, is not let double teams or second defenders speed us up. The person who has two defenders on him needs help with the right spacing.”
On OG Anunoby and Josh Hart scoring decisively:
“They’re making quick decisions. OG, the ball’s hitting his hands and if the defender closes out short, he’s letting it fly. OG’s a great shooter. Josh has worked extremely hard on his shot too. There’s not a lot of hesitation from both those guys.”
On finding offense without plays called:
“They’re both getting out in transition, getting easy baskets, getting offensive rebounds, and cutting to score. There are a lot of ways you can impact the game scoring without having your number called.”
On defensive execution against the Lakers:
“Second half, we locked in better with the gameplan. It resulted in the Lakers scoring 44 points in that second half, which was huge for us.”
On the Knicks’ maturity and attention to detail:
“This is a mature group, and they’re competitive as well. We just tell them what we see and they go out and correct. It was more about being locked in and doing the little things better.”
On Jalen Brunson’s defense:
“Jalen’s a good defender. A lot of people sleep on that. He’s competitive, he’s feisty, he’s strong. If there was a definition of how to defend the ball in a pick-and-roll situation when you’re on the ball, that play would’ve been it.”
On Brunson’s defensive technique:
“He’s been impressive leading with his chest, showing his hands and trying to play defense the right way with a little chip on his shoulder. It’s good to see him doing it with the scoring load we put on him.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ All-Star case:
“I’m a firm believer that winning should be a big factor in it. We’re sitting second or third in the East right now, so we should have multiple guys on the team. Jalen definitely is in the MVP conversation, but we’ve got other guys on this team that have stepped up and helped in a lot of different ways. KAT, he’s leading us in rebounds, he’s second in scoring. I don’t know how many double-doubles he has, but that’s impactful when you’re talking about doing it in a winning situation. We should have, in my opinion, two or three guys, at least, on this All-Star team based on what our record is. Not only that, we were NBA Cup champions, so there are a lot of positives.”
On the Knicks improving thanks to rest and time in the gym:
“To be able to spend some time in the gym where you’re not worrying about playing a game has benefited us a ton. We’ve made some changes on both ends of the floor. The more time we have to continue working on it, the better we’ll be.”
On LeBron James’ longevity:
“He’s earned the right to play as long as he wants and he’s definitely doing it. And he’s doing it at a high level.”
🗣️ "HE CAN'T F*** WITH YOU"
Saquon Barkley and Karl-Anthony Towns were HYPED watching Shakur Stevenson's masterclass 😤
“It’s special. This one’s a real special one for sure. It’s better to be getting the win against the Lakers. I feel better about that right now than the All-Star thing, but as time goes, I’ll be able to digest it and understand the importance of it. Right now, I’m just happy we got the win.”
On his All-Star journey:
“It’s been six times and six different roads to get there. Every one is unique. This one is one I’ll cherish, but it’ll take time for me to digest it. It’s great to have a day like this that ends with a win.”
"We've got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another."
“It’s part of the journey. There’s highs and lows in this thing. You can’t get caught up on either end. Just take care of your work every day, try to be a good teammate, and the rest will take care of itself.”
On his role offensively:
“I always say I have the easy job. I’m on the receiving end. It’s guys like JB getting blitzed and having to make the right decision. My job is to catch the ball and shoot the ball.”
On playing under Mike Brown:
“Working with Mike has been great. Early on, I was just worried about making the team and helping us win. As we’ve spent more time together, I’m grateful for him and want to keep doing what I can to help us win.”
On the Knicks-wide buy-in:
“We’ve got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another.”
Q: "What do you think of the way the guys responded when you held them accountable couple games ago?"
On focusing on distributing when shots aren’t falling:
“Shots not falling, you gotta impact the game somewhere else. I kept seeing two defenders, so I was trying to make the right play at the right time. The way we were moving the ball was great.”
On the defensive turnaround:
“The biggest part of our defense has been communication, physicality and accountability. Being on the string and on the same page has been the biggest part of our turnaround so far.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding impact:
“The rebounding, what he’s been doing has been great. We need that from him. When the ball’s not going in, he finds a way to impact the game. That’s really important for us.”
Josh Hart was asked about the one-year anniversary of the Luka Dončić trade:
"One thing I'm mad about that day was that it didn't happen earlier because Max Christie gave us 15 and we lost" 😂 pic.twitter.com/q2vbjesjAc
“That’s what we’re capable of. We have great depth, guys who can knock down shots and playmake. It shows we don’t have to force anything.”
On finding balance offensively:
“Sometimes I pass open shots to get guys involved, but I gotta make sure I’m aggressive too. Just trying to find a balance, and I’m in a good headspace right now.”
On playing with LeBron James:
“It was cool. I learned a lot about execution and taking care of your body. If it is his last game here, it’s obviously a historic career. Hopefully the fans give him a good ovation.”
OG Anunoby
On improved defensive communication and effort:
“It’s been executing, the effort, the intensity, the want-to. Everyone’s been on it.”
On the better defensive structure and planning of late:
“Effort can only do so much without having a plan. Having a plan and knowing what we’re all doing with the effort has made a difference.”
On finding comfort with the defensive adjustments:
“I think it was a little tougher for us how we used to do it, but I think it’s better for us now.”
Q: "What has playing at Madison Square Garden meant to you throughout your career?"
LeBron James: "Everything. It's the Mecca of basketball…It's the Big Apple…I've always loved these fans, love New York, respect, great knowledge of the game, they know what sports is about" pic.twitter.com/zmu8MfbQLx
“S—, I’ve been pretty good. Didn’t I just pass like 60,000 minutes? I’d hope I look pretty good.”
On what Madison Square Garden means to him:
“Everything. It’s the mecca of basketball. Being here at MSG, so many people have graced this floor. I hope I have a little small snippet of someone who came through here and made a small dent.”
On the end of his career:
“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. You’re always going to miss it. This place will always have a special place in the journey.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Sacramento Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just as things were looking more normal for the Sixers, we got some unexpected news. Because these are still your Philadelphia 76ers… After a couple of solid wins last week, we heard that Paul George has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Nevertheless, the Sixers are at least entering a new week on a 3-0 win streak. And to kick off February, they’re facing the Clippers as they head to L.A. on Monday to begin their West Coast road trip.
The injury report is a short one for Philly. Joel Embiid is probable to play with right ankle injury management, and everyone else is available. For the Clippers, the big name to keep an eye on (apart from Bradley Beal who remains out for the season after undergoing hip surgery) is James Harden, who’s been day-to-day for personal reasons and was out on Sunday. We’ll have to wait until near tip-off to see the availability of Harden and the rest of the team.
The Clippers are going to be a bit of a shift from the Sixers’ latest outing against one of the worst teams in the league (New Orleans) on Saturday. After various injuries and a slow start hurt the Clippers to begin the season, they’ve been surging over the last six weeks. They now have the best record in the NBA since Dec. 20 at 17-4, boasting the league’s third-best offense and third-best net rating (+8.7) in this stretch.
One factor in the Sixers’ favor heading into Monday’s game is that they at least have the rest advantage, as the Clippers will be on the second night of a back-to-back after playing the Suns on Sunday (albeit cruising to a 117-93 win).
Kawhi Leonard has somewhat surprisingly just missed out on the All-Star game, but has been having a phenomenal season. To go along with his 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, the 34-year-old is averaging a career-high 27.6 points on his second-best true shooting percentage (62.5) ever. He’s taking significantly more threes than he has before too at 7.1 attempts a game, and still making them at a 39.1 percent clip. Adding that confident, high-volume threat from distance to go along with his efficiency at the rim and mid-range mastery (not to mention an improved free throw rate) just makes him that much harder to guard.
He’s taking more threes without an assist and creating more off the dribble than ever before this year, and doing so incredibly well.
Leonard’s now scored at least 20 points in each of his last 27 games, making it the longest streak of 20+ point games in his career.
Especially without George’s size and defense on the wing, the Sixers are really going to have their work cut out for them against Kawhi. While Dominick Barlow will be tied up against the athletic and pretty versatile scoring of John Collins, Kelly Oubre Jr. will have to lead the Leonard assignment.
Oubre is having yet another strong two-way season, so hopefully he’ll be able to throw enough length, quickness and high-energy physicality at Leonard to at least bother his drives and signature mid-range game a little. With Harden potentially still sidelined, the Sixers may need to throw a few doubles at Leonard just to try and mess with his rhythm and force other shooters to beat them.
The Clippers also have a rock-solid team defense — ranking seventh since Dec. 20 — from their perimeter play to Ivica Zubac (now backed up by Brook Lopez) holding down the fort at center. Finding clear driving lanes and generating open threes probably won’t be easy, especially as the attention George commanded at the arc is gone now.
With the form Embiid has been in lately, though, Zubac should be struggling as usual to contain his mid-range game and face-up play.
Winning this one on the road is going to be tricky, even with the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. The Clips remain hot and the Sixers are left even lighter on shooting and wing defense without George. But let’s see if Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can muster up some magic to make things interesting.
Game Details
When: Monday, February 2, 10:00 p.m. ET Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Juan Soto #22 of Team Dominican Republic makes a catch against Team Israel during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 17: A view of the New Era hat worn by Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This week could be a fun week for the remaining MLB free agents. With the start of Spring Training less than two weeks away for nearly all of baseball, many notable names remained unsigned. As a result, we could see several signings this week, and teams will continue to fill needs for 2026 and beyond. For the Braves, all eyes are on what starting pitching target they may finally agree to a deal with. Should be a news worthy week ahead.
Also coming up in the near future is the World Baseball Classic. However, the big storyline is more and more players learning they may not have the insurance coverage needed to make it sensible to participate. This includes being such a big for Pureto Rico that they may have to drop from the event.
Its Ground Hog Day and the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-19) are hoping to repeat their run of recent success as they take the court in Memphis against the Grizzlies (18-29) tonight on Peacock. For their part, Memphis is hoping February brings far different results as they are currently staring at an early start to their offseason.
Winners of four in a row, the T-Wolves now sit fifth in the Western Conference while the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, have lost six straight to drop 3.5 games out of the final play-in spot out West.
This is the second half of a back-to-back in Memphis between these teams. Saturday, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 33 points to a 131-114 win. Rudy Gobert pulled down 16 rebounds and Julius Randle added 27 points. Ty Jerome scored 20 points in 20 minutes in the loss for the Grizzlies.
This is the third of four regular season meetings between these teams. Memphis took the first encounter of the season winning in Minneapolis, 116-110, on December 17. Following today’s game, these teams will meet again March 3 in Minneapolis.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
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Game Odds: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Anthony Edwards (back) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Julius Randle (thumb) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Terrence Shannon (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Ja Morant (elbow) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Santi Aldama (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Jon Konchar (neck) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Zach Edey (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Brandon Clarke (calf) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 9-15 at home this season
The Timberwolves are 14-11 on the road this season
The Grizzlies are 19-28 ATS this season
The Timberwolves are 23-27 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 20 of the Grizzlies’ 47 games this season (20-27)
The OVER has cashed in 24 of the Timberwolves’ 50 games this season (24-26)
Anthony Edwards was 14-16 from the foul line in Saturday’s win over Memphis
Jaren Jackson Jr. did not dress Saturday night against Minnesota
Jackson has recorded more than 6 rebounds in a game just twice in the last 10 games
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Grizzlies’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Timberwolves -7.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 229.5
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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 1: As Chuck Cooper, center, the first black player to be drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics with their first pick in 1950, looks on as Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics greets Earl Lloyd, right, the first black player to play in an NBA game after being drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1950, before the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks honoring the 75th anniversary of the NBA's first black players at TD Garden on February 1, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — On paper, Sunday’s afternoon game between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks was just another NBA game between two Eastern Conference foes missing two star players. The Celtics walked away with a 107-79 win behind big-time games from Jaylen Brown (30 points, 13 rebounds) and Anfernee Simons (27 points), while the Bucks racked up their 5th consecutive loss.
But at TD Garden, it felt like anything but a normal game. That’s because Sunday marked the first-ever Pioneers Classic, a game facilitated by the NBA and meant to honor the legacies of the league’s first Black players.
In truth, the NBA has concocted so many tournaments and themed games over the years that some theoretically lose their significance. But celebrating the 75th anniversary of three NBA Pioneers — Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton — felt particularly authentic, in large part due to its intentional execution.
Chuck Cooper was the first Black player to be drafted into the NBA, being selected by the Celtics in 1950. Earl Lloyd, meanwhile, was the first to actually play in an NBA game, while Nathaniel Clifton was the first to sign an NBA contract. All three former players had family members in attendance at TD Garden, and were recognized on multiple occassions throughout the game.
Beginning this year, the NBA Pioneers Classic will be played annually on February 1 to commemorate the start of Black History Month and celebrate the legacy of the NBA’s Pioneers. Jaylen Brown, who addressed the crowd before tip-off, finished as the inaugural game’s leading scorer and ultimately received the Pioneer’s Classic trophy.
Jaylen Brown addresses the crowd for the first inaugural Pioneer Day, which honors the 75th anniversary of the NBA Pioneers—Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton—the league’s first Black players.
“It was awesome,” Brown said after the game. “It’s pretty cool to be able to pay homage to people of the past. I’m a person who loves to pay my respects. So to know where you’re going, you’ve got to know where you came from. I thought the NBA did a good job of honoring some of those guys.”
Inside a special Sunday afternoon at TD Garden
The attention ahead of the Pioneers Classic was evident; 1950 patches were etched onto every player’s jersey, and the words ‘Cooper’, ‘Clifton’, and ‘Loyd’ embroidered in their warm-ups. ESPN’s broadcast spotlighted the game’s all-Black production crew, and an all-Black referee crew officiated the contest.
Most notably, the building was filled with the families of former Celtics legends. Bill Russell’s daughter, Karen Russell, and Red Auerbach’s granddaughter, Julie Auerbach, embraced at center court during a timeout break. Eight-time Celtics champion Satch Sanders was in attendance, as was the family of Celtics legend KC Jones.
And, current Celtics got involved in the action; Jordan Walsh met with families pregame, while Brown met with several after the game.
“History is one of my favorite subjects,” Brown said. “Obviously, I know a lot about Celtics history from their inception, from Red Auerbach to KC Jones, to Larry Bird, to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, and here we are now. So a lot of history, a lot of great players have played for this organization — so it’s an honor to continue.”
Beautiful moment here at TD Garden as the Celtics take a moment to honor Bill Russell and Red Auerbach on Pioneers Day
Bill Russell’s daughter, Karen, and Red Auerbach’s granddaughter, Julie, were both recognized on the court pic.twitter.com/sZHYl3Xr2D
The event extended far beyond just recognition; the NBA Foundation and NBPA Foundation committed to donating $750,000 over the next five years to establish the NBA Pioneers Scholarship, supporting academic and athletic programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and presented one such scholarship during halftime.
Before the game, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, who served as the Celtics’ head coach for 9 years, spoke about his perspective on the groundbreaking event.
“What I think Pioneer Day represents, to me, is America,” Rivers said while donning a Pioneers Classics hoodie. “Red Auerbach is responsible for our achievements as much as anyone else. He didn’t see color — he wanted to make the league a better league, and he kept doing it with hiring Bill Russel as coach. You think about this city that’s had its ups and downs race-wise, but you have this one guy…”
“When you come here, and you coach here, boy, you really get what Red [Auerbach] was about. And so Pioneers’ Day, first game being here for me, obviously, being a coach here for 9 years, means a lot.”
Doc Rivers (again) condemns ICE shootings
In the backdrop of the inaugural Pioneers celebration was the reality of an increasingly-tense political climate surrounding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one that has led many in the NBA world to speak out about recent shootings.
Doc Rivers has been among the most outspoken. Before the game, the Bucks head coach was pressed about his previous comments deeming the recent of Renee Good by ICE a “straight-up murder” — and affirmed he stood by those comments entirely.
“I look at our league. I look at the NBA. We’re celebrating Pioneer’s Day today, right?” Rivers said. “And I look at our league and think (Hakeem) Olajuwon could have been taken off the streets.”
Rivers, who has long been one of the most outspoken voices in the NBA when it comes to social issues, explained he feels an imperative to speak out.
“I just feel like when I think things are morally wrong — it’s funny, I don’t get into the politics of the economy, who feels what President is better,” Rivers said. “It’s all going back and forth. I don’t get involved in that. I just think when things are morally wrong, it shouldn’t be me; it should be everybody in this room. It should be everybody if you feel strongly about it. What we see on the streets right now, you cannot morally feel good about that. No American can — and that’s why I speak out.”
I asked Doc Rivers about why he’s been so willing to speak out on social issues, knowing that there are consequences:
“I just think when things are morally wrong, it shouldn't be me; it should be everybody in this room. It should be everybody if you feel strongly about it. What… pic.twitter.com/57J3wUd5Fu
Rivers said he’s aware that there can be ramifications to his outspokenness, and that he shares those with his players.
“I do tell our guys there are consequences,” Rivers. “You know, there was an Arthur Ashe, there was a Muhammad Ali, there was a Howard Cosell. They all spoke out, and some paid consequences for it. That’s just part of it.”
And in the backdrop of Pioneers Day, with families of trailblazers filling the stands, his comments seemed to carry extra weight.
Pioneers Day served as the latest bridge between past and present for the Celtics
For Joe Mazzulla, Sunday felt like a natural fit because it’s typical for the Celtics to have former players and coaches around the current team.
“The cool thing about us is we’re always having guys hang around,” Mazzulla said. “Those things just happen organically, because people from the past of the Celtics are around a lot, whether it’s at a gala dinner, whether it’s at practice, whether it’s at a game, whether it’s on the plane — we have history around us at all times.”
After the final buzzer sounded, Jaylen Brown connected with Michael Jones (the son of Sam Jones), Karen Russell (the daughter of Bill Russell), Bryna Jones (the daughter of KC Jones), among others. For him, those connections are energizing.
“Be able to connect with people from that came before, gives you information, gives you wisdom,” Brown said. “So, as you move forward, you know exactly what you need to do.”
The Celtics ultimately walked away with a blowout victory, and secured the Eastern Conference’s best net rating. But, Sunday afternoon carried more weight than conference standings.
“It’s a special day for a lot of reasons,” said Mazzulla, who caught up with several Celtics legend family members at halftime. “And I think it just put things in perspective about what it means to be a Celtic.”
“You always hear about the Celtics as a basketball team, but I think when you have Celtics as where we’re at in the community and where we’ve been, [I’m] just as proud to be a part of that.”
This high total overreacts to the New Orleans Pelicans’ 28th-ranked scoring defense, as recent form suggests better results are expected.
Both teams have slowed significantly, ranking in the league’s bottom half for pace over their last five games.
The Charlotte Hornets' surge into the Top 10 in defense during its six-game win streak is similarly undervalued. Meanwhile, New Orleans has paired the league’s 29th-ranked shooting efficiency with surprisingly disciplined defensive stretches.
With Trey Murphy III in a shooting slump and both teams prioritizing half-court execution, expect a deliberate, low-efficiency battle that finishes well below this inflated market number.
Pelicans vs Hornets same-game parlay
Even with the Under in play, Brandon Miller has cleared his scoring prop in nine of his last 10 games.
While New Orleans can look leaky on defense, they defend the 3-point line reasonably well.
Charlotte launches around 40 threes per game, but the misses from contested attempts are where Zion Williamson thrives.
That shot profile puts him in a position to grab at least six rebounds again, which he’s done in five of his last six outings.
Pelicans vs Hornets SGP
Under 233.5
Brandon Miller Over 22.5 points
Zion Williamson Over 5.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: LaMelo From Three
LaMelo Ball is the engine of Charlotte’s offense and never hesitates to fire from deep.
He’s likely to attempt at least eight threes, and the 37% shooter has knocked down 4+ triples in three of his last six.
Over/Under: Over 231.5 (-110) | Under 231.5 (-110)
Pelicans vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Hornets have stayed Under the total in 65 % of their home games this season (8-14 O/U). Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Hornets.
How to watch Pelicans vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, FDSN-Charlotte
Pelicans vs Hornets latest injuries
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The Boston Bruins coughed up a 5-1 lead in Sunday’s 2026 Stadium Series outdoor game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium.
After giving up the first goal 11 seconds into the game, the Bruins then scored five unanswered goals. But then the Bruins couldn’t stop taking penalties, and that gave the high-powered Lightning power play a chance to get back into the game.
Four unanswered Lightning goals — including three on the power play in the second period (two of which resulted from a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage) — forced overtime, and Tampa Bay ultimately won 6-5 in a shootout.
The Lightning score two goals back-to-back to get within ☝️
To be clear, the officiating was pretty bad in this game. Yes, many of the Bruins’ penalties were legitimate, but the Lightning got away with plenty. Tampa Bay should not have had an 8-3 advantage in power-play opportunities.
“We had complete control of the game, and then you give a team with that kind of power play a 5-on-3 for I don’t even know how long it was, you’re just asking for it,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said postgame.
It was a frustrating loss for the Bruins, and one that highlighted the need for them to stay out of the penalty box if they’re going to give themselves a chance to beat quality opponents the rest of the regular season and potentially in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Bruins had a 26-23 edge in shots, a 23-16 advantage in scoring chances, a 9-4 lead in high-danger scoring chances and outscored the Lightning 4-2 during 5-on-5 action. The difference for the Bruins was taking so many penalties.
“We didn’t have our composure, I would say,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told reporters postgame. “It started with Charlie’s penalty there. They were just better than us after the whistle. I don’t think they were better than us today hockey-wise. But they were better than us after the whistle.
“They’re not tougher than us. But they did a good job. We just lost our composure a little bit, and it cost us a point, unfortunately.”
This was not a unique occurence for the Bruins. They have been taking too many penalties all season.
The B’s lead the league with 279 penalties taken — at least 21 more than any other team. Their minus-49 penalty differential is the worst in the league.
Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov has taken a league-leading 40 penalties. Veteran center Mark Kastelic is fourth with 29.
No team has been shorthanded more than Boston’s 209 times, and the penalty kill’s 77 percent success rate ranks 27th out of 32 teams. The Bruins’ penalty kill probably isn’t as bad as that 77 percent would suggest, but Boston could lessen the burden on that group by being more disciplined.
The Bruins did get a point from Sunday’s defeat, giving them a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games. They occupy the first wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-20-4 record (68 points) as of Monday.
The Bruins have done a great job improving in most facets of their game since dropping to the third-worst record in the East on Dec. 30. Since then, they have the league’s second-best record (12-2-2) while ranking No. 1 in goals scored (67), No. 6 in fewest goals allowed (44) and No. 2 in power-play percentage (33.3).
But the Bruins also have taken the most penalties and have been shorthanded the second-most times in that span, too. Boston has shown an impressive ability to fix different aspects of its performance all season. One area that hasn’t seen any improvement is the discipline to not take a ton of penalties.
If the Bruins can get that under control and play with more composure, they could actually become a tough out come playoff time — assuming they qualify.
Los Angeles, CA - August 27: Starting pitcher Cole Irvin #19 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Add another name to the pitching depth chart this year, as the Dodgers signed left-hander Cole Irvin to a minor league contract that includes a non-roster invitation to spring training, per multiple reports.
Irvin pitched last season for the Doosan Bears in the Korean Baseball Organization, and put up a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts, with 128 strikeouts and 79 walks in 144 2/3 innings. The left-hander pitched parts of six years in the majors with the Phillies, A’s, Orioles, and Twins, with a 4.54 ERA and 4.45 FIP in 134 games, including 93 starts, with 434 strikeouts and 142 walks in 593 innings.
Irvin, who turned 32 on Saturday, was born in Anaheim and went to high school there at Servite. The Phillies drafted the left-hander out of the University of Oregon in the fifth round in 2016.
In other words, Irvin has a puncher’s — or perhaps pitcher’s — chance of pitching for the Dodgers this season. Or at the very least, he could use his spring training to open eyes for another opportunity elsewhere.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 27: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game are set, and it’s going to be more confusing than ever. This year’s All-Star game features a USA vs. The World format where three teams of eight players playing 12-minute games. Every all three teams (two American squads and one world team) play each other, the top two teams will advance to the championship game with the tiebreaker in pool play being point-differential.
Got all that? It’s enough to make you long for the days of East vs. West, but the lack of effort in the All-Star Game has provided so much bad PR in recents years that they had to distort the entire thing just to try to come out unscathed.
The rosters for the game are set, at least until commissioner Adam Silver has to add an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo. There’s only 24 roster spots for the All-Star Game, which means there’s always going to be snubs. Here are the players who had a case to make it this year but didn’t get chosen, ranked by how much they deserved it.
6. Julius Randle, F, Minnesota Timberwolves: I debated Brandon Ingram and Lauri Markkanen in this spot, but ultimately felt like Randle had the strongest case. The Wolves enter the week at 31-10, and Randle is having another very good season by averaging 22.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 60.1 percent true shooting. Randle’s three-point shooting just hasn’t been good enough to earn an All-Star nod this year at 33.5 percent from deep, but he’s having one of his best playmaking seasons ever (24 percent assist rate). He is currently ranked in the 91st percentile of EPM. He didn’t deserve an All-Star spot, but he does deserve a mention for another awesome year.
5. James Harden, G, Los Angeles Clippers: Harden is still playing at a really high level at 36 years old, averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game for a suddenly surging Clippers team. He still scoring efficiency with 60 percent true shooting. He’s taking the fourth most three-pointers per 100 possessions of his illustrious career (12.5) and he’s hitting them at a 35 percent clip while still being one of the league’s best playmakers (35.9 assist rate, which ranks in the 97th percentile of the league). Harden might have had a spot if the Clippers didn’t start so horribly this season.
4. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers: Embiid has roared back to form over the last month, and it makes the 76ers a darkhorse threat in the East. He’s only played 28 games this year, but he’s averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 60 percent true shooting. Embiid isn’t exactly all the way to back to his pre-injury form where he was a top-3 player in the world, but the fact that he’s gotten back to even “All-Star snub” level is pretty shocking after he bad he looked last year. Embiid turns 32 in March. Hopefully he has more All-Star nods in his future.
3. Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets: Sengun had a strong case to get in over Chet Holmgren. Sengun is averaging 20.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game on 55.4 percent true shooting. His scoring efficiency might not be great, but Sengun does so much for the Rockets, from anchoring their defense (where he’s much improved) to acting as a playmaking hub to crashing the glass hard on every possession. The 23-year-old will have more All-Star opportunities in the future.
2. Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers: Leonard always figured to be a side character at the All-Star Game with the Clippers hosting the weekend and his summer cap circumvention scandal with Aspiration still lingering. What’s more surprising is that Leonard has actually looked like an All-Star this year after a slow start: he’s averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on scorching 62.8 true shooting. Kawhi is still a takeover scorer from mid-range, and he’s still automatic when he has an open three at 39.5 percent from deep. I would have had him in over LeBron James. He’s simply had a better season.
1. Michael Porter Jr., F, Brooklyn Nets: MPJ has gone from role player to leading man after his offseason trade from the Denver Nuggets to Brooklyn Nets, but unfortunately the Nets’ terrible season cost him an All-Star berth he deserved. Porter Jr. is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 61.8 percent true shooting. He’s been unlocked in Jordi Fernandez’s system with more off-ball actions that still make him a primary option. He’s shooting 40 percent on 9.6 attempts per game from three. He should have gotten Norm Powell’s spot.
