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Like a lot of NBA players, Tyrese Maxey’s pregame routine includes a post-shootaround nap. That nap happens to occur during the 2 p.m. hour, the very time the league was set to announce its starters Monday for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

So, when the news broke, everyone was excited for him, including rookie teammate VJ Edgecombe, who was blowing up Maxey’s phone.

“I had my alarm set for 2 o’clock,” the rookie said. “I was going to protest if he didn’t make it as a starter. Would’ve been a problem.”

But Maxey didn’t answer.

He was asleep.

“I’m like, ‘why is he calling me?’ And I answered and he’s screaming and showing me the TV,” Maxey said pregame Monday. “Then my mom called me and then I said, ‘listen, I’m going back to sleep. I got work tonight.‘”

That’s a pretty good encapsulation of Maxey. He was grateful and humbled by the honor, but ultimately just wanted to hoop.

And what better way to cap off the day than by helping snap his team’s two-game losing skid with a 113-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

In his sixth NBA season, Maxey is an All-Star starter. This will also mark the second appearance in the game for the 25-year-old. He’s earned it on the floor, posting career highs across the board in points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks and made threes per game. He earned it from the fan voting, finishing with the fourth-most overall, the second-most in the conference, and the most for an American-born player.

“Thanks, fellow Americans,” Maxey said. “I appreciate y’all, man.”

It wasn’t Maxey’s finest game of the season Monday. The Pacers loaded up on him in a big way through the first three quarters, forcing him to turn defense into offense — and that he did. Maxey recorded 29 points, eight assists and a career-high eight steals.

He’s just the 10th Sixer to ever record at least eight steals in a game. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones is the only other player in the NBA to have at least eight steals in a game this season. He also recorded a block and is averaging over a block a game this season. If he finishes the season averaging over a block game, he’d be the first player at 6-foot-2 or shorter to do so in league history (since blocks became an official stat), per Stathead.

It’s just another way Maxey can help his team win games.

“This is kind of how I played in high school,” he said. “I was able to get in the passing lanes, get steals, get some on-ball steals, little strip steals or blocks, whatever they call them. … I just want to make an impact on the defensive end. I feel like I’ve done that this year.”

The hope is no doubt for Edgecombe to be on the receiving end of one of those calls in the not-so-distant future. After a disagreement on the bench went viral last week, both guys sort of laughed the whole thing off. They’re competitive. They want to win. That’s why they’ve bonded so quickly on and off the court.

The rookie has savored the opportunity to play with a like-minded veteran in Maxey.

“His work ethic, his leadership, his character, and obviously his style of play,” Edgecombe said. “He’s an unbelievable player, really special talent, and I get to watch him every day, just go out there and work.”

It feels like just yesterday Maxey was a rookie heaping praise on Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons for making All-Star teams and getting accolades. It’s clear now the torch is being passed.

“That’s a great accomplishment, especially as a starter,” Embiid, the seven-time All-Star, said. “It’s only the beginning. It’s a testament to the work he’s put in, and him taking another step this year. That’s amazing.”

This men’s college basketball season has been a dream for some, and a nightmare for others.

It’s hard to believe, but the 2025-26 regular season is more than halfway done, meaning the race is really heating up to secure a spot in the Big Dance that will begin in two months. It’s not a shock to see the usual suspects like Arizona, Duke, Connecticut and Michigan at the top of the sport.

However, there are some that have surprises — good and bad — that not many saw coming. In the preseason, some teams figured to be fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but have become bonafide contenders that realistically can make a run. On the other side, squads that had reasonable expectations have fallen flat, and are in jeopardy of missing out on March Madness.

Bracketology: : Race for No. 1 seed leads March Madness projection

Let’s examine the biggest surprises and disappointments of the season so far, using the preseason and most recent USA TODAY Sports Bracketology.

The dust has settled on the regular season series between Boston and Detroit right at the midway point in the season, culminating in a 104-103 Pistons win that came down to the final possession. 

After four games, we have a pretty clear idea of what to expect of this matchup between the Eastern Conference’s two best teams. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this series alone, it’s that Detroit has maintained a clear identity in J.B. Bickerstaff’s second year in charge. 

They’re nasty, physical and a genuine pain to deal with. The Pistons have no problem turning a game into a drudgerous affair, in fact I think they prefer it that way. With that style comes a playoff-like intensity in every game they play. Although in the case of Boston specifically, things don’t exactly appear to be all Kumbaya. 

But that playoff intensity is important because as it stands, these two teams have a real chance of seeing each other in some capacity in the postseason, and we have a pretty clear idea of what that hypothetical series would look like if the season ended today. 

In some ways, this matchup gives strong hints of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, who took the Celtics to seven games with a centerpiece star, a physically imposing big man and a collection of role players built to make life a living hell on opposing offenses. When Duncan Robinson signed his three-year contract to join the Pistons, it was meant to be that the Pistons’ transformation from a confusing amalgamation of players with no clear fit into a team with an identity built for a seven-game series was all but solidified. 

Outside of the 3-1 series record, the raw head-to-head numbers tell us a compelling story. When these two teams play, it consistently comes down to the wire, and we’ve gathered a few observations that are worth highlighting if these two ever see each other again this spring. 

Jaylen Brown can (and will) carry the load   

Jaylen Brown has been a downhill force in this four-game series, averaging 35 points on 44/34.5/72 splits. In this most recent loss, Brown was often the sole source of offense in the first half, before things opened up for Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons in the third quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, Brown aggressively sought his spots, right down to the very last possession, one that generated a fadeaway jumper at the elbow that had a chance of bouncing in. 

Considering the score differential of this series is a tight +11 in favor of Detroit, we’ve seen a heavy dose of clutch minutes between these two teams. If there is any semblance of playoff-like basketball in a regular season setting, it’s within those 5-under-5 opportunities. 

In the case of the Celtics, that means a lot of Jaylen Brown isolations. Regardless of what they throw his way, Brown attacks with brute force and finishes in pirouette form. It’s a fascinating collision of elite-level attacking against elite-level defensive pressure. 

Brown holds a 43% usage rate against the Pistons, higher than his 36% usage for the season (for reference, he is second in the league behind Luka Doncic in usage, who is at 38%). 39% of his field goal attempts against Detroit came off possessions where he had 3-6 dribbles, and 24.5% were off seven or more dribbles before firing. 

In the majority of his late-game chances with the ball, Brown is seal hunting. 

Specifically, he’s Duncan-hunting. The two are well-acquainted from years of Miami/Boston battles, and this year has been no different, with Brown consistently seeking that mismatch switch. In total, Brown has matched up with Robinson for a grand total of 5:04 in four games, and he’s scored 32 points on 56.5% shooting from the field and 67% from three. 

To put that in perspective, his 32 points on Robinson is the most he’s scored on any one matchup so far this season, even more than Tobias Harris, who has guarded Brown more than anyone to this point with 28:47 matchup minutes where Brown has scored 31 points on 30% efficiency. 

All this to say, Brown wants to attack this hard-nosed defense head-on. He’s taken no less than 25 shots in this series with a great deal of success, but that activity can also come at the cost of offensive flow. 

Clearly, Brown takes on the challenge to win these game, and he knows he can score against this team, but it does open up some hints of Brown’s past tunnel vision. Detroit, especially with Robinson matched up, has no problems collapsing its help, and last night Brown’s four turnovers were the most on the team (although to his credit, just one happened in the fourth quarter). 

Who’s on Cade? 

The Celtics have done an overall pretty good job on Cade Cunningham, who had his worst outing against Boston on Monday after shooting 4-of-17 for 16 points. Half of his scoring output came from the free throw line, where he went 8-of-10, and a lot of credit should go to Jaylen Brown and Jordan Walsh, who spent the bulk of the time guarding him, holding the All-Star starter to a combined four points on 2-of-9 shooting. 

But Cunningham, like a true superstar, is more than just a bucket-getter. Even in an off-night, Cunningham still dished out 14 assists without a single turnover to his name, while having three stocks on the other end. 

The challenge is not in just holding Cade from catching fire as a scorer, it’s in stymieing his entire flow. To completely stifle Cunningham is to stifle the entire foundation upon which the Pistons offense is built. That’s a huge task. That’d be like attempting to remove the entire engine of a Ford F-150 with someone already behind the wheel. 

But in Boston’s collection of wing defenders, who’s been the most successful attempting it? The aforementioned Walsh and Brown may be the best answers. 

Walsh is third in matchup minutes against Cunningham this season, behind Dyson Daniels and Davion Mitchell, and he’s been up to the challenge. His defense against Cade in Boston’s win on Nov. 26 was a major factor in that clutch closeout, and in total, he’s held him to 17 points, five assists and four turnovers on 31% shooting in three games.

In nine total minutes this series, Brown has held Cunningham to 2-of-10 shooting for five points with five assists, and just one shooting foul. 

Cade has found ways to consistently attack his own mismatches to get to his 29-point average in his four Boston matchups, generating the most success against Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. White rarely found himself guarding Cunningham last night, in fact it was on just three partial possessions, but in their four games, Cunningham’s 20 shot attempts against White are the second most he’s taken against any player, and he’s shooting 50% on those looks. 

To help on Cade is to sell out on the notion that he’ll make the right read, but to a player you’d rather live with beating you. That was the case last night, and Cunningham assisted on four Robinson threes and 11 of Tobias Harris’ team-high 25 points. Cunningham plays winning basketball in this Detroit ecosystem, and it’s a fun challenge to consider the pros and cons of the many approaches you can have to dealing with his offensive gravity. 

Detroit puts Boston’s rebounding outlook into greater focus 

Even as Boston’s emphasis on defensive rebounding has turned that issue from glaring to middle of the road, this matchup in particular really shows just how far apart Boston’s 16th-ranked defensive rebounding is from Detroit’s fourth-best offensive board-crashing. 

The Celtics are not alone in this dilemma. The Pistons average 13 offensive rebounds a game, led by Jalen Duren’s four per outing, which is third best in the league behind Steven Adams and Donovan Clingan. 

So it’s not just a Celtics issue, yet the Celtics do in fact struggle especially hard against this specific matchup. Detroit’s 15.3 offensive rebounds per game against Boston is well above their season average, and in total, they’ve won the collective rebounding battle 191-164. 

It’s worth noting the Celtics have progressively gotten better in this department these last two matchups, even winning the glass battle 45-41 on Monday thanks to a 14-9 offensive rebounding difference headlined by a combined nine offensive boards between Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, but it is still an issue this matchup presents. In a series that drags out to six or seven games, the chances of low-scoring slugfests only rise, and the team that can create more second chance opportunities through their rebounding and paint scoring will have the advantage. 

The Pistons and Celtics are both top-10 teams in second-chance points (Celtics are third, Pistons sixth), but where the interior scoring differs is in overall points in the paint, which Detroit is second in with 58.3 compared to Boston’s 28th-ranked 44 points inside. 

There’s no debate that Luka Garza and Neemias Queta are generally good rebounding and interior bigs, but is this the kind of conference matchup that Brad Stevens looks at and identifies as proof of additional frontcourt assistance? Do they stand firm and await the return of Jayson Tatum, one of the league’s best rebounding forwards who’s averaged double-doubles in each of the past three postseasons? 

Only time will tell, but the battle on the boards has been a huge element to this regular season series, and it’s only amplified once you hit a series format. 

The Celtics have three months and 40 games left before any real conversations about this matchup possibility begin to take shape. It makes this a bizarre conversation to even be thinking about by mid-January, yet we’ve got four legitimately entertaining games’ worth of film we can unpack from the Eastern Conference’s two best teams in case they do ultimately meet come playoff time.

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he owes Indiana Gov. Mike Braun some key lime pie and stone crabs for losing a bet after Indiana's 27-21 win over Miami earned the college football team the national championship.

DeSantis said at a news conference on nursing education that he will be sending the key lime pie, as well as stone crabs from the famous Miami Beach eatery, Joe's Stone Crab, to the Indiana governor due to his losing wager on the Miami Hurricanes at the hands of the Indiana Hoosiers Monday night in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Florida governor said he had been promised sugar cream pie, also known as Hoosier pie, and pork tenderloin from the Indiana governor if Miami had won.

DeSantis joked that it might be quicker just to drop off the pie and stone crabs at Marco Island, a barrier island on Florida's southwest coast which is popular with Midwestern vacationers and snowbirds this time of year.

“You know, honestly, half of Indiana is in Marco Island this time of year,” DeSantis said. “Can I just bring this stuff to Marco Island? It would be a lot easier for us.”

College football has officially wrapped up, so it’s a great day to dive into NBA action with seven games on the board and a full slate of NBA player props.

I’ve found my three favorite NBA picks for the day, including Anthony Edwards lighting up the Jazz and Domantas Sabonis finding his form in a matchup against the Heat.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Anthony Edwards	Over 3.5 threes	<<-110>>
Domantas Sabonis	To record a double-double	<<+150>>
Immanuel Quickley	Over 15.5 points	<<-125>>

Prop #1: Anthony Edwards Over 3.5 threes

-110 at bet365

The Utah Jazz defense is bad enough as it is. Now, they’re playing the second half of a back-to-back and must try to contain Anthony Edwards.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star is putting up 29.6 points per game while shooting a ridiculous 41.8% from 3-point range. He now faces a Jazz team that’s dead last in defensive rating, and their perimeter defense is a big problem.

Utah surrenders the most 3-point attempts per game while allowing the second-highest opponent 3-point shooting percentage. Edwards has hit 4+ threes in five of his last six games, and he'll do it again tonight.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN-North, KJZZ

Prop #2: Domantas Sabonis to record a double-double

+150 at bet365

Domantas Sabonis is still getting back up to speed after missing two months with a knee injury. Still, I’m betting we get a classic Sabonis performance when the Sacramento Kings host the Miami Heat.

The Heat are, of course, one of my favorite fades when it comes to rebounds. Their high pace and volume of shooting result in a lot of rebounds, and they surrender the second-most rebounds per game.

Sabonis has a rebounding total of 8.5, but instead of taking the Over, let’s back the big man to record his first double-double since his return.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN-Sun, NBCS-California

Prop #3: Immanuel Quickley Over 15.5 points

-125 at bet365

The Golden State Warriors were dealt a huge blow with Jimmy Butler tearing his ACL. The Warriors lose one of their best defenders, and they already allow opposing point guards to shoot the sixth-highest percentage from beyond the arc this season.

Immanuel Quickley has had an up-and-down season for the Toronto Raptors, but he’s averaging 17.6 points per game over his last 13 games and has topped 15.5 points 10 times over that stretch. 

He'll take advantage of this matchup as the Dubs try to find their bearings without Butler.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, NBCS-Bay Area

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Coming off a dramatic win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spurs concluded their 3-game homestand by taking on the Utah Jazz. The Spurs started hot, outscoring the Jazz 34-26 in the first quarter. The Jazz cut the deficit to four at halftime, but the Spurs dominated the third quarter. They outscored the Jazz 35-23 and carried a 16-point lead into the fourth. The Spurs’ lead reached 24 at one point, and they shut down any chance at a Jazz comeback. Thanks to hot shooting and solid defense, the Spurs won 123-110.

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 33 points (7-12 3PT) and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks, two steals, and an assist. Vic was en fuego from three and converted all six of his free throws. After draining nine combined threes against the Bucks and the Timberwolves, Vic dropped a season-high seven threes against the Jazz alone. Since shaving his head, the Spurs are 3-0, and Wemby is averaging 31.3 points per game, 9.7 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 55% field goal shooting, 59% three-point shooting, and 87% free-throw shooting. Not bad for a first-time all-star starter.

The stove is warm… Vic drains the open three in transition! Guard up Jusuf Nurkic!

THE STOVE IS BURNING! Vic and Fox run the pick and fade, and Vic is left wide open for another three!

Just throw it up there! HB leads the fastbreak and lobs it up to Wemby who slams it down!

Stephon Castle dropped 18 points, eight assists, two rebounds, and a block. After struggling to draw fouls in the first half, Steph’s determination to stay aggressive rewarded him with whistles, and he drained seven of 10 free throws. He also drained tough and contested mid-range jumpers. The turnovers were once again a problem, but Steph still managed to toss lobs and bounce passes for eight dimes. After covering Keyonte George, his next assignment will either be Amen Thompson or possibly even Kevin Durant.

AREA 51 ALERT! Steph crosses half court and immediately lobs to Wemby, who jams it home!

Another Steph lob! After the Fox swipe, Steph leads the 3 on 1 fastbreak by lobbing it up for a Julian Champagnie jam! Julian finished with 13 points and four rebounds!

THREE LOBS FOR STEPH! Steph finds the cutting Luke Kornet who finishes the lob! Luke filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal!

Dylan Harper dropped 15 points (6-7 FG), five assists, three rebounds, a steal, and a block. Dyl shot a career-high 85.7% from the field, and he cashed in his points from the midrange, from a three, and from slashing to the cup. These last four games from Dyl have shown what he is capable of on a nightly basis. It is a welcome sight after his cold stretch.

Spurs Ball Movement! Dyl drives in, fakes the shot, and bounces it to Luke under the basket for the slam all in one motion!

ROOKIE POSTER! Dyl skies to the rim and posterizes Nurkic! The rook also stares him down after the play!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. D-Fox was efficient from the field and led the offense with either Steph or Dyl. Most of all, he was excellent defensively. He swiped a season-high four steals by pickpocketing whoever drove into the paint and interrupting the passing lanes. Thanks to the rest of the supporting cast, D-Fox attempted just 11 shots, but made six of them. It will be exciting to see if he is named an all-star reserve on February 1st.

Carter Bryant dropped a career-high 11 points (4-5 FG), three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. In just fourteen minutes, Carter was efficient from the field and made solid defensive plays. He also finally secured a dunk and decided to add an alley-oop slam as a bonus. The rookie impressed Spurs fans and the coaching staff, and it might convince Mitch Johnson to give him more playing time as the season carries on.

FINALLY! After many missed dunks throughout the season, the Spurs’ ball movement results in Luke finding Carter open under the basket for a converted slam dunk!

ANOTHER ROOKIE JAM! After the steal, D-Fox leads the fastbreak and lobs it up to a trailing Carter, who slams it home with two hands!

Harrison Barnes dropped 10 points, four assists, a rebound, and a block. HB was solid on drives to the cup and made hustle plays that most 33-year-olds usually don’t make. After a long, cold stretch of games, this homestand has been a welcoming reminder of who HB has been for this team: A solid veteran who stretches the floor.

All in all, this was a great way to close out the three-game homestand. An injured version of the Jazz team that defeated the silver and black in late December can still score with the best. However, the Spurs’ 21 stocks and sixteen threes proved to be the difference. Both rookies also finished in double figures and showed flashes of their true potential. This team faces a quick turnaround in a familiar I-10 rivalry foe, and this time the silver and black will mostly be at full strength.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs go on the road to battle the Houston Rockets on a SEGABABA at 7:00 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock/FDSN-SW.