The same can be said after a lengthy road swing, which the Lakers were coming off of after a two-week “Grammy” trip. APStar guard Luka Doncic left the game in the second quarter because of left leg soreness. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers, already with Jaxson Hayes (one-game suspension) and Luke Kennard (trade acquisition) had to make significant changes to their already rotation, and even more once Doncic left the game.
All on top of just being two days removed from being in the Midwest and East Coast for 1 ½ weeks.
Despite all of the factors, the Lakers successfully pulled off a 14-point comeback behind a stellar second half from Austin Reaves, who led the Lakers with 35 points and six rebounds off the bench in just his second game back from his left calf injury.
LeBron James had a 17 point-10 assist double-double, having strong late moments to make up for his turnover struggles, with James scoring 10 points in the fourth. James had eight of the Lakers’ 22 giveaways, including a turnover on a late inbounds play.
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Maxi Kleber, who’s been in the Lakers’ rotation just once over the last month, provided game-changing energy. Even though it didn’t show up with traditional box score stats, Kleber had a game-best plus-23 individual plus/minus.
LeBron James had a 17 point-10 assist double-double, having strong late moments to make up for turnovers. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
There were clear positives and negatives from Thursday night.
The positive: Reaves looked like his pre-injury self in just his second game back from a calf injury that sidelined him for nearly six weeks.
The clear negative was Doncic’s injury, with there being uncertanity about his status moving forward beyond Thursday.
But another positive was the Lakers moving to 31-19 on the season, maintaining a pace to win 50 games in the 50th game of the season.
Turning point
When Rui Hachimura scored seven straight points for the Lakers late in the third quarter to cut the team’s deficit to two entering the fourth.
The Lakers, who didn’t have a lead in the first three quarters, cut what was once a 14-point deficit early in the third to five multiple times later in the quarter.
But they needed one big push to truly threaten the 76ers, and Hachimura provided that.
On three straight possessions, Hachimura knocked down a corner 3, a stepback 14-footer and a pair of free throws after drawing a shooting foul to cut the Lakers’ deficit from 83-78 to 87-85 by the end of the third.
Hachimura finished with 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
MVP: Austin Reaves
Reaves scored 21 points in the second half, including key buckets early in the fourth to give the Lakers their first lead.
He shot 12-of-17 from the floor for the game, including 5 of 8 on 3s.
Stat of the game: 61
That’s how many poinst the Lakers got from their bench, which averages a league-worst 27.3 points.
Reaves was responsible for the scoring punch from the reserves, but he wasn’t alone, with each bench player having strong moments.
Up next
The Lakers’ will continue their lengthy homestand with a primetime matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
It’ll be the second of eight consecutive home games the Lakers have sandwiched around All-Star weekend.
Cal Ritchie of the Islanders skates during warm up prior to the game against the Devils on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at Prudential Center.
As recently as Saturday, the Islanders thought Cal Ritchie would be out through the Olympic break.
“I guess that’s why we should say day-to-day [instead of a specific timeline], isn’t it?” coach Patrick Roy joked Thursday morning, acknowledging that Ritchie would be in the Islanders’ lineup later that night against the Devils in the team’s last game before the three-week layoff. “But yeah, he felt great. So when a player feels ready to go, why not?”
Ritchie returned to the lineup to center Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman in the 3-1 Islanders win as Anthony Duclair — who played just 3:04 of Tuesday’s win over the Penguins after failing to track Justin Brazeau on Pittsburgh’s opening goal — drew out as a healthy scratch.
Cal Ritchie of the Islanders skates during warm up before the Islanders’ 3-1 road win over the Devils on Feb. 5, 2026 at Prudential Center. NHLI via Getty Images
“He’s been perfect and he’ll be fine,” Roy said of Duclair, who has been benched midgame twice in the span of a couple weeks. “I have zero worries, concern about him. He’ll be fine.”
The 21-year-old Ritchie did not look at all hindered by the injury, giving a spark throughout 13:54 of ice time in which he looked right at home as a second-line center — a notable development should it hold when the season resumes.
“He was good,” Roy said. “Oh my god he was good. He made some great plays with the puck, defended well. I was very happy with his play.”
Ritchie, who attempted to skate in the morning before the Islanders faced the Flyers on Jan. 26 but “tweaked something,” said he progressed quickly after that.
“Had to take a bit of time off,” Ritchie told The Post. “Each day was, just see how it felt, get on the ice and do a lot of rehab. So I feel good.”
There was no thought of taking the cautious route and giving himself three extra weeks to rehab. Ritchie felt he was ready to play, so he played.
“For me, I just want to help the team,” the 21-year-old said. “Every game is so big right now coming down the stretch. I just want to play and try to help the team.”
Ondrej Palat appeared emotional following a tribute video from the Devils in his first game back at Prudential Center.
Palat was in his fourth season with New Jersey when the Devils traded him to the Islanders just over a week ago.
“It’s been a good four years here,” Palat said. “Have good memories of this rink for sure.”“Have good memories of this rink for sure.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite losing Luka Dončić in the first half, the Lakers used a vintage Austin Reaves performance and strong play from the bench to earn a comeback win against the Sixers, 119-115.
Luka left the game late in the second quarter and was ruled out for the contest with left leg soreness. Reaves picked up the slack with 35 points off the bench as he eases back into action from his injury.
The Lakers committed 22 turnovers leading to 24 Philly points. However, they outscored the Sixers 61-14 in bench points. A strong second-half defensive effort got them back into the game after trailing by as many as 14.
The game began poorly for the hosts as they were ice cold offensively. They went on a three-minute scoring drought until Deandre Ayton converted on a hook shot. Joel Embiid was already in double figures with 10 points. Ayton and Luka Dončić combined for eight points.
At the 5:12 mark, Los Angeles was down by 10.
Rui Hachimura drained a much-needed 3-pointer to stop some of the bleeding. The Lakers were playing very sloppily, turning the ball over seven times. Maxi Kleber saw some playing time because of Jaxson Hayes’ suspension and threw down an emphatic slam.
LA picked up some steam at the end of the first, making it just a six-point deficit after Philly’s lead had grown to 11.
Philly has missed all 8 of their 3-point attempts, and shot 44% overall, helping LA hang around despite 7 turnovers to 0 from the Sixers.
The Lakers hit only 1 of their 9 3's, and trail 27-21 after 12 minutes.
The second period began with Austin Reaves converting on a layup. Los Angeles had cut the deficit to two thanks to their improved offense. The Sixers responded with a quick 6-0 run to cushion their lead, opening it up to seven points at the four-minute mark.
LA started the quarter shooting 50% from the field, but it dropped as they started missing shots again. Luka was the only Laker in double figures with 10, but he was having a rough night, shooting 3-10 in the half so far.
At the 3:03 mark, Luka limped back to the locker room and did not return to the game. Reaves gave the team some life by scoring seven points, but it wasn’t enough as Los Angeles’s lack of defense was hindering them. Embiid was now at 20 points.
At halftime, the purple and gold were down by eight.
LA trail 59-51 at the half, due in no small part to 13 turnovers, relative to just 4 from the Sixers.
Reaves had 14 points and 4 boards in 11 minutes off the bench.
Dončić left the 2nd Q early as we await an update on his left leg.
The Sixers went on a quick 6-0 scoring run to start the third period, prompting an immediate Lakers timeout. Los Angeles eventually responded well, cutting the deficit back to single digits thanks to the efforts of Ayton, Hachimura and Jake LaRavia.
Embiid continued his strong play, scoring five points to push his total to 25. He was the only player for either team with at least 20 points. The Lakers then countered well again, scoring seven points in a row to pull back into the game.
Philly responded again with Embiid and Maxey combining for nine points. Reaves then took over the scoring for LA with six points to jump-start another momentum shift in favor of the Lakers. A 7-0 Lakers run made it a two-point game.
Austin Reaves has been cooking offensively tonight in his second game back from the calf strain, up to 21 points on 9 of 11 FG's in only 16 minutes.
Trendon Watford scored four for the Sixers. Hachimura’s seven points kept it a two-point affair going into the fourth period.
Reaves drained two straight 3-pointers to put the Lakers in the lead to start the final frame. Momentum had completely shifted to the purple and gold as the 76ers missed shots they were making consistently earlier in the game.
At the 9:02 mark, LA was up by six.
After a combined four points from Jarred Vanderbilt and LeBron, the Sixers were forced to call a timeout as the lead was growing for Los Angeles. Out of the break, Kelly Oubre Jr. converted on two free throws.
Marcus Smart knocked down back-to-back triples. Kleber was putting in a lot of great work with three offensive rebounds, three assists and three steals.
LeBron added another four points to the offensive onslaught by the Lakers. Still, the Sixers were keeping just within reach after another late run. It was now a nervous time for LA after they had taken control of the game.
Smart connected with LeBron for a dunk. On the other end, VJ Edgecombe dunked as well. Reaves was fouled and converted on both free throws, giving them some more cushion on their lead.
The final minute got chaotic as Philly scored a layup to make it six-point game before Edgecome stole the in-bounds and hit a 3-pointer while falling out of bounds to make it a three-point game with just over 30 seconds left.
After Smart knocked down a free throw, LA was up by four with 34.5 seconds left. Maxey scored on a floater, but on the other end, Kleber found Hachimura under the basket for a dunk that sealed the win.
Key Player Stats
In his first game at home in over a month, Reaves looked back to his early-season self with 35 points on 12-17 shooting overall and 5-8 shooting from range in 25 minutes.
Luka left the game in the first half with left leg soreness. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. LeBron scored nine points with 10 assists.
Ayton notched 10 points with six rebounds. Hachimura scored 14 points with seven rebounds. Jake LaRavia had 14 points.
Kleber had a hugely impactful game with four points, four offensive rebounds, four assists and three steals. Vanderbilt notched six points with six rebounds in 23 minutes.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT.You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
Guerschon Yabusele caught a second wind in the Windy City.
Less than 24 hours after being traded to the Bulls ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the former Knick notched his fourth career double-double in Chicago’s 123-107 loss to the Raptors on Thursday night.
The 30-year-old forward totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds in his Chicago debut, adding three assists and two steals.
Guerschon Yabsuele notched a double-double in his Bulls debut on Thursday. NBAE via Getty Images
Yabusele also shot 6-for-11 from the field, including three-of-six from beyond the arc, across a season-high 33 minutes.
He reached double figures just once during his 41-game stint with the Knicks — an 11-point outing against the Jazz on Dec. 5 — and had not grabbed more than six boards in any game this season.
The French forward joined the Knicks before this season on a two-year deal worth roughly $12 million with a player option, fresh off a career-best campaign with the Sixers.
Yabusele, the 16th overall pick by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft, spent two forgettable seasons in Boston from 2017-19 before rebuilding his career overseas in France and Spain.
He returned to the NBA last season with Philadelphia, averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds in 70 games.
Geurschon Yabusele appeared in 41 games with the Knicks this season. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks hoped he could replicate that success off the bench, but Yabusele struggled and eventually found himself out of the rotation but in trade rumors.
In 41 games, Yabusele averaged a meager 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds for the Knicks.
The Knicks traded Yabusele to Chicago for Dalen Terry, who the team quickly flipped to the Pelicans in exchange for Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado on Thursday afternoon.
While his time in the Big Apple was brief, Yabusele expressed gratitude to the organization and its fans on social media.
“New York,” Yabusele’s X post began. “I imagined our journey differently, but in an athlete’s life, things don’t always go as planned. Still, I’m grateful for every moment wearing this legendary jersey. Thank you to the staff, my teammates, and the fans for the support and energy.
“Wishing you all the best moving forward. Le Bear.”
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 03: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 03, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was quite the rollercoaster of a game tonight in Phoenix.
The Suns got off to a slow start with the Warriors in control at the half and even through the first few minutes of the third quarter. Then, they turned a switch on and stormed back in front. It looked like they had the game in the bag, up by as many as 14 in the 4th quarter… until they weren’t.
The Warriors went on a furious 10-0 run to close the game out. Brooks hero ball did not do the trick, as the offense went stagnant down the stretch and Phoenix went away from what makes them great — ball movement. To make matters worse, Grayson Allen went down with an injury late in the game.
Dillon Brooks finished with 24 points on 10 of 24 shooting to pace the Suns. Grayson Allen chipped in with 21 points on 7 of 17 shooting, and Mark Williams posted an 11 point 10 rebound double-double. Pat Curry Spencer had 20 points and nailed 6 threes. The Warriors had 5 players with 13+ points.
It was a bad loss.
Game Flow
First Half
The pace was rapid early on, with Phoenix jumping out to a 9-6 lead after a Royce O’Neale triple. Golden State quickly responded with a pair of threes to push the Warriors out in front, 12-9, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout.
Grayson Allen hit back-to-back threes to force a Steve Kerr timeout. They went back and forth, trading buckets, and were tied at 25, then the Suns closed out on a 4-0 run.
Mark Williams sent this ball to Egypt. He had 6 points and 5 rebounds in his first stint.
Phoenix led 29-25 after one, led by 8 points from Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks each.
The Warriors opened the 2nd quarter on a 10-2 run to pull ahead 35-31, forcing a Suns timeout to regroup. Isaiah Livers injured his shoulder and went to the locker room.
Phoenix went on a stretch with six straight made field goals, but the Warriors answered nearly every Phoenix punch. The Warriors were 15 of 37 from deep in the half, letting it fly frequently as that was clearly their game plan entering this contest.
Brooks and Curry shared a hilarious moment after Dillon hit a fadeaway jumper off Gui Santos, who was trying to sell a charge with a flop.
The Suns trailed 59-55 at halftime. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 15 points on 7 of 12 shooting. Grayson Allen chipped in with 13 on 3 of 6 shooting from long range.
The Warriors’ shooting barrage and defensive activity gave them the edge in the opening 24 minutes.
The Suns have 0 steals and 8 turnovers at halftime.
Golden State has made 15 threes. Phoenix has made 7.
That is not a winning combination. Expect several adjustments from Ott in the 2nd half.
It didn’t start much better to open the half, as the Warriors opened on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to nine.
Pat Spencer became Steph Curry, and the Warriors were doing all the things the Suns normally do. They were outplaying Phoenix straight up.
Then the Suns that we all know and love finally showed up. A pair of threes from Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale gave Phoenix a quick 6-0 push to cut the Golden State lead to four, 66-62. A Mark Williams transition dunk made it an 8-0 Suns run to pull them within two.
Phoenix went on an 18-5 run over a 5:30 stretch in the 3rd to retake the lead, 74-71. Collin Gillespie scored his first points of the game with a minute left in the third after drilling a three-pointer.
A Phoenix 26-10 run to end the quarter gave Phoenix an 82-76 lead heading into the final quarter.
Collin Gillespie is inevitable. He had zero points with one minute left in the 3rd. He now has 11 points in the blink of an eye. A three-ball from 40 feet out pushed the Suns’ lead to 14, forcing a Steve Kerr timeout. You read that right, a 44-10 run.
The Warriors would not go away. Draymond hit a three to make it a quick Golden State 6-0 run to get them back within striking distance.
Phoenix was caught in a cold streak, with Golden State going on a 12-3 run to cut the lead to four with just under 4 minutes remaining. Grayson Allen landed awkwardly and went to the locker room in the final minutes and would not return.
The Warriors’ run continued, as they tied the game at 97 with less than a minute remaining. A 20-5 run after a Gui Santos transition lay-up gave the Warriors a two-point lead, and they didn’t look back.
Just a rough, rough possession.
The offense was way too stagnant to close the game. Went away from what makes them great – ball movement. pic.twitter.com/vk6taWgHt2
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All good things must come to an end.
After controlling the action for the first two and half quarters, the Sixers suffered a 119-115 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. After building a lead as large 14, the Sixers hit a lull in the middle of third which carried into the fourth. Their late comeback fell short and their season-high five-game win streak was snapped.
Joel Embiid, who cooled off a little after a hot start, led the Sixers with 35 points on 13-of-19 from the field. He added seven rebounds and seven assists. Tyrese Maxey couldn’t find his outside shot, but still finished with 26 points and 13 assists.
Austin Reaves gave the Lakers a huge boost off the bench, dropping 35 points. That helped L.A.’s reserves outscore the Sixers’ 61-14.
The Sixers’ record now sits at 29-22. They’ll continue their West Coast trip Saturday in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
Here are some thoughts from Thursday’s game.
First Quarter
It was a strong two-way start for Sixers. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on Luka Doncic and Dominick Barlow on LeBron James, the Sixers’ rotations were crisp early. The Sixers’ offensive process was strong, but they couldn’t get it going from long range.
As Joel Embiid got warm, the Lakers went to a zone. It didn’t really help as Embiid continued cooking — though his lob to VJ Edgecombe was … off the mark. Embiid had 12 in the first to lead all scorers.
Joel Embiid has 10 points in the first 7 minutes here in LA, 4-5 FG shooting so far 🔥 pic.twitter.com/syaRBnAZMp
After a strong start, the defense sagged a bit late in the quarter, as Luka started to get free.
It was a rough shooting first quarter for Tyrese Maxey, who went 0-for-5 from deep — with most of those being quality looks. The Sixers as a team didn’t make a three, missing all eight attempts. The Lakers didn’t shoot much better, going 1-of-7.
It might’ve been the Lakers’ feeling the fatigue of returning from a long road trip, but the Sixers seemed to have way more jump early. L.A. turned it over seven times and the Sixers held a 27-21 lead.
Second Quarter
Justin Edwards got some run to start the second. He committed two quick fouls and was way off on a three attempt. He dipped in for a nice midrange jumper off an aggressive closeout, the type of move he made regularly and confidently as a rookie.
The Lakers couldn’t get much going in the halfcourt, but the Sixers’ leaky transition defense reared its ugly head, as LeBron was able to get going with a couple fast-break opportunities. Austin Reaves, who is still coming off the bench as he ramps up from injury, also gave L.A. a spark.
Trendon Watford is starting to look more comfortable. He’s building a bit more chemistry with Embiid. Watford’s ability to play in the pick-and-roll and make accurate entry passes to the big fella is noticeable. Quentin Grimes also seems to have some jump for this bench unit, which was excellent against the Warriors.
The Sixers still had trouble converting from deep. They only made two threes in the half, both by Edgecombe.
Quentin Grimes has now claimed two bodies in Los Angeles this week. My goodness.
And another fantastic run in L.A. for Barlow. He scored off two sweet Maxey dimes in transition and also made an impressive block on Rui Hachimura. Though it was a tough shooting start for Maxey, he dished out eight assists to one turnover in the first half.
Dominick Barlow puts up the block, turns on the jets and gets the bucket down the other end 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VUKvuYqBRp
Doncic appeared to hurt his left leg and went back to the Lakers’ locker room. He did not return.
Reaves kept the Lakers in it, pouring in 14 points in 10 minutes, but turnovers were the story. L.A. turned it over 13 times, while the Sixers had just three. Embiid led all scorers with an even 20 points. He also had five boards and four assists. The Sixers had 21 assists on 24 makes on their way to a 59-51 halftime advantage.
Third Quarter
The Sixers picked up where they left off as Maxey dished out two more assists for easy Barlow buckets. After another forced turnover, Embiid hit Maxey with a pretty bounce pass for a layup, which led to an early JJ Redick timeout. The Sixers stretched the lead to 65-51. Maxey hit double-digit assists before points.
It was a different story for LeBron from his last matchup against the Sixers. The NBA legend struggled with turnovers and couldn’t get any shots to fall. Unfortunately, the Sixers got a bit sloppy with the basketball too, which helped the Lakers stay within arm’s reach.
Embiid just kept rolling, including this super fun and-one — which the bench loved, of course.
Joel Embiid with the bucket, the foul and the cross-court celebration with his teammates on the bench pic.twitter.com/THJ41zKtgs
The Sixers’ offense got a bit bogged down, which again helped the Lakers get transition opportunities. Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt were active in pestering the Sixers. L.A. closed the gap to 74-69 about midway through the third, forcing a Nick Nurse timeout.
A quick five points out of that timeout from Embiid helped stem the tide. He was up to 30 points and briefly got the lead back to double-digits. It was Reaves again though who gave the Sixers problems. If not for Reaves and the Sixers’ awful transition defense, this game could’ve been a blowout. Alas, it was far from it.
Just a dreadful, sloppy close to the third quarter for the Sixers and the Lakers were right back in the game. The Sixers committed seven turnovers. Watford was able to get a couple nice stabilizing baskets, but it was a 87-85 game heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Reaves buried two incredibly difficult threes to start the quarter and the Sixers committed two more turnovers. You could feel all the momentum shifting the Lakers’ way as they took their first lead of the night.
The Sixers got a bit preoccupied with the officials, too. The whistle was awfully kind to L.A., as they had nearly double the amount of free throws, but it’s a losing battle. They have to do better to just push through it.
The Lakers really ratcheted up the physicality in the fourth and the Sixers didn’t respond well. They couldn’t get anything going on offensively. They didn’t have a field goal and had only four points midway through the fourth. Maxey also picked up his fifth foul on a questionable call. L.A. pushed its lead to as much as 16.
The Sixers started to do some extra trapping in desperation. It worked on a couple possessions and they got the deficit down to six. Just when it looked like the Lakers might seal the game, Edgecombe stole an inbounds and immediately buried an off-balance three to make it a three-point game with under a minute left.
Wow. The rookie VJ Edgecombe with a heads-up play to give the Sixers a shot to claw this one back. pic.twitter.com/b3QptkLypJ
Smart split a pair of free throws to get it back to a two-possession game. A quick Maxey bucket made it a two-point game, but the Sixers gave up a ridiculously easy layup to Rui Hachimura to end it.
With the trade deadline now behind us, we set our sights on the fantasy playoffs. While it was an eventful deadline, the fantasy implications were limited, with very little to talk about in terms of clear winners and losers. As we approach the pointy end of the season, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the NBA fantasy rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.
Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles–whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals–is vital as you navigate the season.
Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 17 Pickups
Yahoo High Score Leagues
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (18% rostered)
Arguably one of the biggest winners following the trade deadline, Walker's path to playing time just cleared up a little. With Bennedict Mathurin no longer around, and Indiana now looking to ensure a bottom-four finish, Walker should be able to maintain his recent role. He has scored double digits in seven games, adding serviceable production across most peripheral categories. While his game isn't necessarily built for points leagues, volume alone should see him flirt with top-100 value. As for high-score leagues, he has tallied at least 29 fantasy points in five of the past seven games, making him a viable addition to any roster.
GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies (19% rostered)
With Memphis seemingly tearing things down, Jackson could find himself in a favorable situation, much like in previous seasons. Given the current roster construction, there is a chance Jackson could, in fact, start for the remainder of the season. His ability to play multiple positions should also work in his favor, even if he is ultimately moved back to the bench. He has averaged 31.7 fantasy points in each of the past three games, during which he has seen his playing time increase. Despite the fact that there is still some uncertainty surrounding the Grizzlies' exact makeup, Jackson is worth taking a gamble on, especially seeing as we have seen this play out before.
Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder (11% rostered)
Seen as a potential breakout candidate coming into the season, Wiggins has been largely disappointing. The ascension of Ajay Mitchell has played a huge role in that, limiting Wiggins to minutes in the mid-20s on most nights. However, we now have a situation where both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell are dealing with injuries, providing Wiggins with perhaps his best opportunity of the season. He has now tallied at least 29 fantasy points in five of his past six games, including a 51-point performance during Wednesday's loss to the Spurs. While this is likely to have a shelf-life, Wiggins makes for a nice upside swing heading into the All-Star break.
Standard 9-Category Leagues
Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat (20% rostered)
One of the more unexpected stories from this season has been the recent play of Larsson. Seen as little more than a depth piece, Larsson has taken full advantage of the fact that Miami has had to deal with multiple injuries, most notably Tyler Herro, who has missed a significant portion of the season thus far. Larsson has played at least 28 minutes in nine of the past 12 games, providing the Heat with solid production on both ends of the floor. In eight appearances over the past two weeks, he has been a top-80 player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 three-pointers. The eventual return of Herro will impact Larsson's opportunities, but until then, feel free to give him a look.
Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors (6% rostered)
Santos has quietly gone about his business over the past two weeks, putting up top-50 value during that time. With averages of 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 three-pointers and 2.7 combined steals and blocks, he has been delivering on both ends of the floor. The Warriors are currently at a crossroads, having to decide whether to continue pushing for wins or shift their focus to next season. Nonetheless, Santos appears to have carved out a meaningful spot in the rotation, putting himself firmly on the standard league radar.
Tyus Jones, Dallas Mavericks (2% rostered)
When it comes to Jones, this is purely speculation. Following a disappointing stint in Orlando, Jones was traded to Charlotte before being rerouted to Dallas. Currently, the point guard rotation consists of Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard, both of whom are borderline starters at best. Williams is dealing with a leg injury, leaving Nembhard as the last man standing. Enter Tyus Jones. While there are definitely no guarantees when it comes to what Jason Kidd might do on a nightly basis, Jones is in a position to at least provide the team with a veteran on-floor leader. If you can absorb all the risk that comes with a move like this, Jones could be worth a speculative add, especially for those needing assists and steals.
Standard Points Leagues
Will Riley, Washington Wizards (5% rostered)
Despite the addition of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the path forward for Washington is clear. With a view to the 2026-27 season, it appears as though the Wizards' rotation is going to feature a lot of young players moving forward, one of whom is Riley. He has now recorded at least 32 fantasy points in three of the past four games, closing in each appearance despite not being in the starting unit. Based on what we have seen over the past week, Riley seems to be high on the priority list, which could result in sustained fantasy value for the remainder of the season.
Jaden Ivey, Chicago Bulls (17% rostered)
Based on what we had seen this season, a trade was really the only hope for Ivey when it came to boosting his fantasy appeal. Thankfully, he was moved to the Bulls prior to the trade deadline, landing in what many view as a confusing situation. Chicago now seemingly has too many backcourt options, all of whom have a claim to playing time. In his first appearance since the trade, Ivey shifted straight into the starting lineup, recording arguably his best performance of the season. It was the first time since returning from injury that he had accumulated more than 30 fantasy points, an encouraging sign, at least for his immediate value. The eventual return of Josh Giddey and Tre Jones will complicate matters, but for now, he is worth taking a chance on.
Taylor Hendricks, Memphis Grizzlies (3% rostered)
Much like the situation with Tyus Jones, this is another speculative add based on what might be. Hendricks was a viable last-round target coming into the season, seen as a player who could step into a sizeable role on a team with very little to play for. Those hopes were soon diminished, with Hendricks even falling out of the rotation altogether at one point. Now in Memphis, perhaps we can hit the reset button and hope that he can resurrect his young career, once again playing for a team that should be prioritizing its youth. If you have an open spot on your roster and you can exercise at least a small amount of patience, Hendricks is worth the gamble.
Luka Doncic drive to the basket in front of 76ers guards Tyrese Maxey, left, and Kelly Oubre Jr. at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. Doncic left in the second quarter because of a sore leg. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The biggest news for the Lakers on Thursday was that All-Star guard Luka Doncic was unable to play in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers because of left leg soreness, the team announced in the third quarter.
Doncic left the game in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 119-115 win at Crypto.com Arena.
“He felt some soreness in the hamstring,” coach JJ Redick said after the game, adding it was too early to say whether Doncic was injured and the team would get imaging of his leg Friday. Redick said the Lakers didn’t feel comfortable playing the guard during the second half.
The Lakers were undaunted by Doncic’s departure, coming back from 14 points down and holding on for the win by following the lead of Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and a strong defensive effort led by Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Lakers forward Maxi Kleber dunks in front of 76ers forward Trendon Watford at Crypto.com on Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Reaves, playing in his second game after coming back from a left calf strain, scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter. His back-to-back three-pointers and two free throws to open the fourth quarter gave the Lakers a six-point lead they never lost. His three-pointer later in the quarter gave the Lakers a 13-point advantage that grew to 16 late in the game.
Reaves did all his damage in 25 minutes off the bench.
James had 17 points and 10 assists, while Hachimura, who started the third quarter in place of Doncic, had 14 points off the bench, including the game-sealing basket with 12.3 seconds left. Hachimura helped the Lakers stay the course after their lead was trimmed to two points with 27 seconds left.
Doncic tried to throw a pass to Maxi Kleber that resulted in a turnover with about 3:45 left in the second quarter. Doncic turned to run back up the court and grabbed the back of his left leg. Doncic went up and down the court several times, grimacing in pain. When Redick called a timeout with 3:03 left, Doncic stayed on the court bent over. He gingerly walked to the bench and then to the locker room.
Doncic had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. He entered the game leading the NBA in scoring, averaging 33.4 points, and second in assists, averaging 8.7.
The Lakers wrapped up 16 days on the road, playing eight games that started in Denver last month and ended in Brooklyn against the Nets on Tuesday night. The Lakers returned home to play the surging 76ers.
The home team's test not only was facing a 76ers team on a five-game win streak, but also finding the energy to keep pace. Redick said he hoped his team got “plenty of sleep” before playing Thursday night.
Reaves returned Tuesday after he missed 19 straight games because of a left hamstring strain. After he played 25 minutes in that game, Redick said Reaves was “good.”
“No issues and we'll get a little more minutes allocated to him, just over the restriction,” Redick said.
The Lakers announced during the third quarter that they acquired shooting guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick.
The Lakers love that Kennard’s shooting can create space on the court for Doncic, James and Reaves. Kennard, a 6-foot-5 guard, is shooting an NBA-best 49.7% from three-point range over 46 games, all off the bench. He has shot 44.2% from three-point range during his nine-year career.
Kennard is averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists and shooting 53.8% from the field.
The Lakers (31-19) next play Saturday at Golden State.
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball as Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on February 5, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks lost 135-123 to the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night in Dallas. Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall had some monster games, but it wasn’t enough to stop a locked in Victor Wembanyama and the rest of this dynamic and impressive Spurs squad.
Dallas, as it often does, kept the game close throughout, despite trailing by double-digit points at multiple instances in the first and second halves. Flagg finished with another 30-point game, Marshall joined him, and Wembanyama had a big 29-point, 11-rebound double-double.
This is the Mavericks sixth loss in a row and their first game played since the trade deadline. Dallas was down to only 10 available players, as the new guys from the Anthony Davis trade should be available on Saturday.
Here are the three numbers to know.
4: Consecutive 30-point games for Cooper Flagg
I think Cooper Flagg is figuring this thing out. The 19-year-old had another spectacular scoring night, notching 32 points on a fairly efficient 14-of-27 shooting performance, including 2-of-5 from three. Flagg didn’t get to the free throw line, but offensively did just about everything else.
Perhaps most impressive was how Flagg adjusted and adapted to Victor Wembanyama’s preposterous defense. Flagg got blocked at the rim by Wembanyama in the first half and you could see Flagg in real time process what he needed to do to score. Instead of barreling toward the rim head first, Flagg picked his spots a little better and released his shots from outside the restricted area but still in the paint. He worked the floater territory to near-perfection, knowing if he took another dribble or two toward the rim, he’d engulfed by Wembanyama’s reach. Another impressive night for a rookie that keeps stacking up these kinds of nights.
60: Spurs points in the paint
Funny enough, Wembanyama only attempt five two point shots tonight, yet the Spurs thrived in the paint and at the basket. While Dallas did a decent job in the second half of preventing Wembanyama from dominating the game, that extra attention certainly opened things up for the Spurs’ dynamic trio of athletic guards.
This was led by a brilliant performance from Stephon Castle, who had 18 points in 22 minutes on 8-of-13 shooting. With Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and rookie Dylan Harper, the Spurs slashed their way to the basket repeatedly. The Mavericks have little-to-none in the way of point of attack defense, and San Antonio exploited that weakness all night.
50: Mavericks percentage on mid-range shots
Dallas took 16 mid-range shots tonight, making eight of them. Both the volume and efficiently were big numbers, and they were what was likely keeping the Mavericks in the game as Castle got to the rim and Wembanyama bombed threes.
The Mavericks are not a mid-range heavy team, but they had to be tonight — Wembanyama is a one-man wrecking crew at the rim, and the Mavericks understood fairly early that they might be better off shooting as far away from Wembanyama as possible. Kudos to the Mavericks for making those shots, as this game would have been ugly otherwise — Dallas shot just 10-of-21 in the restricted area. Woof! Wembanyama is good.
If there is a rock bottom, it’s safe to say the New York Rangers reached it after their 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
One day before this heartless defeat, the Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional third and fourth-round pick.
The loss of Panarin was inevitable, yet it still weighed heavily on the Rangers' players.
“He's a generational talent on the ice and I was lucky enough to play with him,” Vincent Trocheck said of Panarin. “Just picturing him having a good time at all times, dancing in the locker room, dancing on the ice.”
This game comes just about 24 hours after Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury vaguely tried to explain his vision for retooling the roster, but ultimately raised more concern given his perplexing and contradictory plan for the franchise.
The game couldn’t have gone any more poorly for a Blueshirts team clearly battling mental demons.
The Hurricanes outshot the Rangers 43-16, indicative of Carolina’s complete control of the contest.
“We got outplayed the whole night,” J.T. Miller said. “Wasn't good enough. Wanted to go into the break feeling good about ourselves, but it's quite the opposite right now. It sucks.”
The mood around the team postgame speaks volumes to where they are at right now. Mike Sullivan sounded as defeated as he’s been through his tumultuous Rangers tenure.
A usually patient and even-keeled Sullivan spoke with a demoralized tone, with his patience seemingly running thin.
The Rangers haven’t won a home game in regulation since Nov. 24 and have only secured two victories since their triumphant Winter c=Classic win on Jan. 2.
“This is a unique circumstance. It’s unfamiliar for all of us quite honestly,” Sullivan said. “We can only control what's in our power, and that's the game right in front of us. We've got to take a certain approach that gives us an opportunity to grow and get better, and find some fulfillment through this process, even though we're in a difficult circumstance.”
Going into the Olympic break, the Rangers slot in last place in the Eastern Conference standings, 19 points out of the second wild card spot.
The Olympic break will allow the Rangers to reset and refresh their minds, but it only delays the inevitable, in which the Blueshirts will continue to retool the roster and lose games to close out the 2025-26 season.
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 5: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (19-32) played their first post-Trade Deadline game on Thursday night, taking on the San Antonio Spurs (35-16) at home. Looking to stop a five-game losing streak, Dallas instead extended their season-long skid to six with a 135-123 loss.
Let’s get to the grades!
Naji Marshall: A
32 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 39 MIN
Marshall was back to his old self, converting at a blistering rate (12-for-21) and constantly pushing the pace. Extra credit for the number of no-calls he endured throughout the game, but he really doesn’t need extra credit for an A grade. He was awesome against the Spurs.
Max Christie: B+
20 PTS / 3 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
Usually a solid defender, Christie was caught sleeping a number of times, resulting in easy scores for the Spurs. Offensively, credit is due for his conscious effort to not camp at the 3-point line as he has in his last few. Case in point, he shot 7-for-14 overall, but only 2-for-8 from deep. He got back to driving and opened up his offensive game against San Antonio He also found his teammates with a handful of nice assists.
Cooper Flagg: A
32 PTS / 6 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL / 3 BLK – 39 MIN
Flagg was thrown off his offensive game at the start, but true to form, he stayed the course and had a fourth-straight30-plus point outing. Turnovers (three) were a problem, but it’s difficult to be too upset given his overall play on both sides of the ball — he was outstanding. He tied his career-high mark with three blocked shots and now holds the third-highest four-game scoring span by a rookie, ever.
Caleb Martin: B
8 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 32 MIN
Martin didn’t fill up the box score and his plus/minus was a team worst at minus-20, but that doesn’t paint the most accurate picture of a decent game. He hit 3-for-4 from the floor, snatched a couple of steals and also did a pretty nice job guarding Victor Wembanyama on a number of occasions.
Daniel Gafford: B+
16 PTS / 10 REB / 2 AST / 3 STL / 4 BLK – 33 MIN
Gafford took a page out of Marshall’s book, coming out strong with a 10-point first quarter in which he also turned away three shots. His numbers slowed after that, but he still had a solid double-double and a crazy high seven stocks while not turning the ball over. Gafford has now recorded three straight double-doubles.
Klay Thompson: D
5 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN
Thompson didn’t factor in all that much, taking relatively few shots (especially in the first half) while struggling to convert. He had a few opportunities in the fourth quarter to hit a momentum-shifting 3-pointer, but they just wouldn’t fall for him (1-for-6 from downtown).
Ryan Nembhard: C
5 PTS / 3 REB / 7 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 17 MIN
Nembhard showed flashes of the hot play that got everyone excited at the end of 2025, making nice passes while taking care of the ball (one turnover), but missed seven of his nine shot attempts.
Moussa Cisse: C-
0 PTS / 5 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 12 MIN
Cisse had a tough night defensively, racking up three fouls in just his first five minutes. He was more careful defensively after that, but offensively, he missed an alley-oop dunk and immediately followed it up by getting his shot blocked on the next possession. If nothing else, this will hopefully be a good growth game for him.
Final Thoughts
Dallas continued their longstanding trend of apathetic 3-point defense at the start of the game and coupled it with some shockingly poor turnovers. They remain engaged, competitive and fun to watch, but it does feel like they let this one slip away. A12q-point defeat doesn’t always feel that way, but the early going had some very ugly moments.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: George Lombard Jr. #21 of the New York Yankees doubles during the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
SNY | Phillip Martínez: The Yankees unveiled a list of 27 non-roster invitees on Thursday, led by some of the best prospects in the organization, such as George Lombard Jr., Carlos Lagrange, and Ben Hess. Veterans like Seth Brown and Paul DeJong, not to mention ultimate reclamation project Marco Luciano, will try to win a spot on the roster. Prospects Spencer Jones and Elmer Rodríguez will be in camp but aren’t non-roster invitees, since they were both added to the 40-man in November.
The Yankees have invited 27 non-roster players to 2026 Major League Spring Training: pic.twitter.com/ZDB0oYqCuc
NY Post | Dan Martin: The Yanks continue to take advantage of the waiver wire, this time picking up right-hander Osvaldo Bido. The Braves, Rays, Marlins, Angels, and now the Yankees have all claimed Bido after his participation in the 2025 campaign with the Athletics. All of them but the Bombers have also designated him for assignment, which is why New York is now taking a chance on him.
Bido, playing in a horrible run-scoring environment in Sacramento, had a 5.87 ERA in 79.2 frames last year. However, in the A’s last season in Oakland in 2024, he had a 3.41 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 63.1 innings, with 63 punchouts. Evidently, there’s talent in his right arm. To open up a spot on their current roster, infielder Braden Shewmake was designated for assignment.
ESPN | Buster Olney and Jeff Passan: The Yankees haven’t made too many moves this offseason, other than bringing back Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Amed Rosario, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, and most of their 2025 pieces. In essence, they are ‘running it back’ with a similar roster and a few new players, such as Ryan Weathers. Talking in a larger offseason roundtable, Olney warned that much of the Yankees’ 2026 success will hinge on how a few star-level players return from injury, namely how Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil look, while Passan added that not shaking things up when faced with a disappointing result isn’t necessarily a bad call, and the Yankees have reason to believe that they’re still within striking distance.
With the Penguins set to be three forwards short in their final tilt - and a critical one - before the Olympic break, the 23-year-old forward found out around noon on Thursday that he would be heading from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) to Buffalo to join the NHL squad. And he didn't find out until he was already on his way, around 3:00 p.m. ET, that he would be making his NHL debut because Noel Acciari would miss the game due to illness, joining Blake Lizotte (personal) and Rickard Rakell (day-to-day).
Hayes arrived at the rink just after 5:00 p.m. Then, by 7:00 p.m., he was taking the ice for his first game in the NHL.
And, by the end of the first period - around 7:45 p.m. - he already had himself two NHL goals.
The Penguins beat the Sabres, 5-2, off the backs of Hayes and fellow rookie Ben Kindel, who also scored two goals en route to the win. Their latest victory - which closed out a 14-3-3 stretch since the holiday break - guaranteed them sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division heading into the Olympic hiatus, as the New York Islanders remain one point behind them in the standings having played two more games than Pittsburgh.
They own the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL at .625, and they have have found success against formidable opponents all season long - including a Buffalo team that has been the hottest in the NHL for nearly two months. And they, once again, got contributions from sources other than 87 and 71 Thursday.
The Sabres got the first tally early in this one, as ex-Penguin Jason Zucker scored on Buffalo's first shot of the game - an unobstructed shot that Arturs Silovs, between the pipes for Pittsburgh, would probably want back. But, midway through the period, the Avery Hayes show began.
Rutger McGroarty - playing on a fouth line with Avery Hayes and Kevin Hayes - had to take a defensive zone draw, and he won it back to defenseman Ilya Solovyov. The Belarusian blueliner lobbed the puck Larry Murphy-style to the opposite blue line, where Avery Hayes split the Buffalo defense to beat them to the puck. With body positioning and on a breakaway, Hayes put his first NHL shot on goal past Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon, earning his first career tally and tying the game at 1-1.
First game. First shot. First goal.
Avery Hayes is the 24th player in @penguins history - and first since Kasper Bjorkqvist in 2021-22 - to score in his NHL debut 👏
And Hayes wasn't done in the first period. With a little more than a minute remaining, he got the puck deep into the offensive zone and pressured along the wall. The puck eventually found its way to the point, where Parker Wotherspoon dumped it back deep. It banked off the boards to Anthony Mantha below the goal line, and Mantha put a perfect between-the-legs backhand pass on the tape of Hayes, who was breaking toward the net-front to finish the play for his second goal on his second shot.
The score remained 2-1 into the second period until Kindel and Justin Brazeau had a two-on-one opportunity. Kindel made it 3-1 on a no-look snipe down the left side for his 13th of the season.
Early in the third period, Evgeni Malkin took a tripping penalty, and Tage Thompson took advantage on the ensuing power play with his 30th of the season to pull Buffalo to within one. The Penguins locked down, playing a strong third period and limiting high-danger chances against, and they were able to keep Buffalo at bay.
Then, with less than five minutes left in regulation, Buffalo tried to break out of the defensive zone, but Egor Chinakhov picked off an errant pass just above the right circle. He skated the puck across the offensive blue line and protected it, and he managed to get a shot off. Tommy Novak was right there to pick up the loose change, and he gave the Penguins a crucial late insurance goal.
To cap off the 5-2 win, Kindel scored a shorthanded empty-net goal after a nice effort by him and Connor Dewar on the penalty kill.
Here are some thoughts and takeaways from the Penguins' last game in almost three weeks:
- What a debut for Hayes. It truly doesn't get more storybook than that.
This is a guy who had no idea he'd be playing in the NHL eight hours earlier, had to pack up quickly and drive up to Buffalo with his parents and his brother, Eli, changed into a suit during his car ride, and arrived at the rink a smidgen late but in time to get ready and participate in warm-ups.
And by the end of the night, he has his first two NHL goals and played a critical role in helping the team secure an important win.
Hayes played the kind of game that earns players an extended look at the NHL level. Of course, it's never a good idea to overreact to one game, but it wasn't just the scoring that stood out. His speed, his two-way game, his forechecking ability, his work ethic, his release, his defensive acumen, and his play along the walls was all on display during this game, and he appeared to fit right in with this team.
In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Bryan Rust - who, by the way, had an himself an extraordinary defensive game Thursday, especially on the penalty kill - because of his attributes and because of the path he is taking to the NHL level. Hayes went undrafted but simply continues to earn himself higher and higher opportunities, a grind much like the one Rust experienced in both getting to the NHL level and upon arrival.
Unfortunately, there's simply no room for Hayes or McGroarty in this lineup when it's healthy. No one in the lineup should be coming out of it. But Hayes is just another example of the impressive depth the Penguins have, and I imagine he earned himself a pretty high spot on the list if the Penguins need to call upon someone should another injury occur after the break.
- I've said it before, but Kindel's emergence changes so many things for the Penguins. This guy has not only been on an offensive heater - he has six goals and seven points in his last six games - he just plays all facets of the game at such a high level.
Like Rust, he was outstanding on the penalty kill Thursday. He was, once again, generating for his line all night long. He has a keen awareness in all three zones. He plays the game fearlessly. His shot sure is something else, too.
Kindel's game is so advanced for such a young player, and he continues to blow me away. I'm not sure I've ever seen an 18-year-old center play at such a high level in every facet of the game. And now that the production is starting to catch up, we're seeing how dangerous and outstanding of a player he will be a few years from now.
Heck, he's kind of already that player now. It's so impressive.
- I've liked what I've seen from Solovyov's game so far. He doesn't do anything flashy, but he's steady, reliable, and competent offensively, which is just what the Penguins need out of the defensemen on their bottom pairing.
He doesn't make too many mistakes. This could end up being another sneaky good add by Kyle Dubas.
- I thought Crosby looked much better Thursday. He tied Hayes for the team lead with six shots on goal, and he was shot out of a cannon on a few shifts. He just looked generally more like himself.
Sidney Crosby has no goals and two points in his last six games.
The #LetsGoPens are 4-1-1 and have scored 26 goals in those six games.
That speaks to how much depth this team has. Its best player is in his worst stretch of the season, and they're still winning hockey games.
He has only two points in his last six games, yet the Penguins scored 26 goals in those six games and were 4-1-1. This team is rolling without Crosby producing much, so just wait until he starts producing at his customary rate again.
And, given Crosby's track record of production after suiting up for Team Canada, I don't think folks have to worry about him getting back on track.
- After allowing that first goal on the first shot, Silovs bounced back in a big way. He made a lot of big saves, but his biggest was a huge save on Thompson midway through the third that would have tied the game had it gone in.
While Stuart Skinner has struggled in his past two appearances, Silovs is only getting better later in the season. Since the turn of the calendar year, he has a .910 save percentage, and six out of his last seven appearances have come in at .900 or above.
He will represent Team Latvia in the Olympics, and he has experienced success at the international level. If Silovs can continue to play at this level the rest of the way - and Skinner can get back to where he was prior to this two-game stretch - the Penguins are in good hands between the pipes.
- Another nice play to stymie a third-period scoring chance was made by Wotherspoon, who won a one-on-one with a breaking Thompson.
It's been remarkable to watch this guy become a legitimate top-four shutdown defenseman alongside, probably, the most volatile partner in hockey. What a player he is, and what a find by Kyle Dubas, as he is signed through next season at just $1 million AAV.
- Connor Clifton destroyed Peyton Krebs in a fight after Krebs ran into Silovs for no reason in the blue paint and cross-checked him to the ice.
Clifton may not be an everyday player in the lineup, but he is a good seventh defenseman to have around. And he tends to spark something with his physicality every time he's in the lineup.
- Well, given where the Penguins find themselves heading into the break, I think it's safe to say this is a good hockey team.
They're not winning games by accident, and they're not beating good teams by accident. They have legitimate four-line depth, they're getting good goaltending, they're playing better defensively, they have good special teams, and they're controlling five-on-five play at a high rate.
I think this team is clearly a playoff contender at this point. When play resumes, I think the conversation needs to shift to whether or not this is a team that can contend for a Stanley Cup.
If they make the playoffs, they might actually have a pretty good shot at winning at least a round. But given their record against the best in the East, is it really inconceivable for them to be capable of more?
Perhaps it's best not to count this team out. They continue to defy expectations, and we'll see if they can continue to be one of the best teams in hockey in the home stretch of the season post-Olympics.
- Best of luck to Crosby, Silovs, Erik Karlsson, and Rakell, assuming he's good to go for the Olympics. It should be a fun tournament to watch.
He's expected to undergo an MRI on his left hamstring on Friday, according to ESPN.
“Too early to say if it’s an injury," Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. "(Doncic) had a sore hamstring.”
Doncic's apparent injury occurred with 3:30 left in the second quarter after facing a double-team from two opposing players. The Lakers' star turned the ball over on a bad pass as a result of the double-team and was seen grabbing the back of his left leg before checking out of the game and heading back to the locker room.
He did not return to the court with his team after halftime and did not start the third quarter. The Lakers ruled him out for the remainder of the game due to left leg soreness. Doncic finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes of play.
Doncic was seen in multiple videos showing a level of frustration after the apparent injury.
Luka Doncic frustrated walking back to the locker room after injuring his hamstring pic.twitter.com/HDhDXVCANw
He kicked the scorer's table on his way off the court. Once in the tunnel, he was seen on the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast displaying further frustration.
Luka Doncic kicked the scorer’s table in anger and held his head down as he went to the locker room 😔
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