Doncic managed to overcome left ankle soreness and score a game-high 37 points in a triple-double performance. He was listed on the status report as questionable before he was upgraded to available in the moments leading up to tip-off.
Doncic nearly avoided serious injury earlier in the week when he suffered a spill on the court and was heard on a video voicing his displeasure during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 28.
According to The Athletic, the court is said to be 10 inches above a rubber mat that covers an ice hockey rink at Rocket Arena, where the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League also play.
With the NHL's Olympic roster freeze coming into effect at midnight on February 4, Winnipeg Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should be a popular man within the league's 31 other front office staffs.
With his team currently enduring the worst season it has had in both recent and distant memory, the league's second-longest tenured GM is in a place no one expected him to be following last season's Presidents' Trophy winning campaign.
Photo by James Carey Lauder/USA Today
Winnipeg could become just the fifth team in NHL history to miss the postseason after finishing first the year before. But the Jets could also do something way more catastrophic: they could be competing for the first overall selection at June's 2026 NHL Draft.
Yes, things have been that bad for Winnipeg over the 2025-26 season.
And you really can't blame injuries for the significant portion of the year. Sure, Connor Hellebuyck missed three weeks with a knee injury and Dylan Samberg did not start the year until November, but those injuries pale in comparison to Winnipeg's record even with their stars in the lineup.
The Jets are currently tied with St. Louis for the 30th spot league-wide, and despite their 6-3-2 record in their last 11 games, remain 10 points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
It's just not worth the effort to fight for that final spot only to get a first round matchup with juggernaut - and recent postseason fiend - Colorado or Dallas.
A surge up the standings might make the typical, fair-weather Winnipeg fan happy in point production. But it's the true die-hards who will take more offence from the compounding victories.
Each point gained is a percentage point lost at the first overall selection this June.
Sure, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg look very appealing, but at this point, one of them is Vancouver's to lose and the other will likely go to one of the teams within that bottom-five standings placement (lottery odds have not been generous to the biggest losers over the last few seasons).
A player of McKenna's or Stenberg's caliber will immediately fix offensive issues left gaping by Nikolaj Ehlers' departure this past summer.
For Cheveldayoff and Co., the biggest need is that of the 'develop' aspect of True North's tried and true 'draft and develop' mantra.
At this point, the team may have actually lost more players than it has gained through the development stage: think Sami Niku, Rutger McGroarty, Pierre-Luc Dubois (not a draft pick), Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine - and now recently Luke Schenn, Ville Heinola and Brad Lambert? At one point Logan Stanley had event expressed his desire to leave the city.
At this point, with the Olympic roster freeze (February 4) and the NHL's trade deadline (March 6) fast approaching, Cheveldayoff has a number of priorities on his hands.
The first is that of allowing his younger players a chance to shine.
That said, packaging up a struggling veteran forward with a more highly-regarded piece (Stanley) could be a centrepiece to Winnipeg's long-term success.
Players considered to be more highly sought after are that of Stanley, Schenn and Cole Perfetti - all of whom could benefit from a change of scenery.
Perfetti should demand the highest return, with Stanley a close second.
Veteran forwards Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Pearson, Gus Nyquist and Vlad Namestnikov could also be considered moveable candidates.
They should be no-brainer 'throw-ins' to complete larger trades involving Stanley, Schenn or Perfetti that would demand significant returns on draft capital.
With Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Colby Barlow, Brayden Yager, Parker Ford and Danny Zhilkin all waiting in the wings, the time is now to truly bring that 'develop' aspect to the fold.
There is no reason to keep those young prospects in the minors. The time is now to sell the aging vets and promote the farm - Jonathan Toews aside.
Let the losses keep piling up, shut down injured players preventatively, waive the leftovers who weren't picked up as trade bait and watch the ping pong balls stack up.
David Robertson, who recorded 179 saves over a 17-year major league career while pitching for eight teams, announced his retirement Friday.
“Baseball has given me more than I ever dreamed possible over the last 19 seasons,” Robertson posted on social media. “... Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but I do so with deep gratitude for every opportunity, challenge, and memory. I’ll forever be thankful for the game and for everyone who made this journey extraordinary.”
Robertson, who also went 68-46 and had a 2.93 ERA, made the All-Star Game in 2011 while pitching for the New York Yankees. He totaled at least 34 saves from 2014-16 playing for the Yankees and Chicago White Sox.
The right-hander was part of 10 playoff teams, including the 2009 Yankees club that won the World Series.
Robertson, 40, pitched for Philadelphia last season, making 20 appearances with two saves.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 points and 12 rebounds, Elliot Cadeau scored 17 and Morez Johnson added 12 points to lead No. 3 Michigan to an 83-71 victory over seventh-ranked Michigan State on Friday night.
The Wolverines (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of first place in the conference, coming off a win over previously unbeaten and fifth-ranked Nebraska.
The Spartans (19-3, 9-2) missed 14 of their first 18 shots. They finished the half with more turnovers (11) than field goals (seven) and trailed by as much as 18 points.
Michigan State went on a 13-2 run early in the second half to pull within three and Jaxon Kohler made a tying 3-pointer with 7:57 left.
Jeremy Fears, who scored a career-high 31 points, had a steal and layup that put the Spartans ahead 57-55 with 7:27 to go for their first lead that didn’t last long.
Michigan responded with clutch shooting, making 5 of 6 shots, while holding Michigan State scoreless for more than three minutes to seal its sixth straight victory.
Kohler had 12 points while Coen Carr and Jordan Scott scored 10 points apiece for the Spartans, whose seven-game winning streak was stopped.
NO. 21 SAINT LOUIS 102, DAYTON 71
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Trey Green made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Ishan Sharma added 18 on six more 3s and Saint Louis beat Dayton.
Quentin Jones also had 18 points for the Billikens (21-1, 9-0 Atlantic 10), who made 15 of their first 22 attempts from 3-point range and never trailed. It was SLU’s 15th straight win overall and its 18th in a row at Chaifetz Arena.
De’Shayne Montgomery had 23 points and Amael L’Etang scored 12 to lead Dayton (14-8, 5-4), which has lost four consecutive games for the first time since January 2014.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nothing like playing the Wizards to make a team look elite. Los Angeles destroyed Washington on Friday night, with Luka Dončić ending the first half with a triple-double.
The Lakers’ offense was too much for the Wizards to handle, and the game quickly got out of hand.
Long term, there’s not much to take away from this game beyond the Wizards being bad and the Lakers being better.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Luka was an offensive monster in Washington. He obliterated the Wizards. His most impressive basket was a bank shot 3-pointer that left the crowd gasping in amazement.
This was about as good a game as Luka could’ve had.
Ayton scored LA’s first points of this game, and it was a precursor of things to come. He stayed aggressive the rest of the way, ending the night with 28 points.
It was also good to see Ayton register three blocks and zero fouls in this game. Ayton had a plus-minus of +30, which was the best on the Lakers.
While many Lakers played well, Smart was rather pedestrian in this one. He had a few ill-advised passes that led to turnovers and provided little to nothing offensively.
In this blowout win, his defensive tenacity was minimized because the Lakers were just outscoring the Wizards, especially in the second half. Even so, Smart should’ve played better.
Hayes played his role well, scoring inside and being a ball of offensive energy off the bench. He had some nice dunks and will showcase that skill as a participant in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend.
Vincent passed up a wide-open layup to pass the ball to LaRavia for a corner 3-pointer. LaRavia missed and that was the most memorable moment for Vincent in this game.
Vando was a defensive disruptor and an overall positive for the Lakers. His offensive possessions are always going to be an adventure, but he was more good than bad in this game.
Timme gives LA a two-big lineup that Lakers head coach JJ Redick can go to. He didn’t necessarily shine in this game, but he can stretch the floor a little and always brings the energy.
Grade: C-
Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht
This trio only played in garbage time, so they will not receive a grade.
JJ Redick
The Lakers won this game easily, and Redick deserves credit for that. Sure, LA fell asleep in the third quarter, but he called timeouts to try to regain control.
The Wizards still won that period, but it wasn’t a disaster, and he was able to empty the bench midway through the fourth, giving his starters some much-needed rest.
Grade: B+
Friday’s inactives: Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon, Austin Reaves, Nick Smith Jr.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks reacts to a 3-point basket during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Knicks (30*-18) battled the Portland Trail Blazers (23-26) earlier this month, they had struggled a bit to contain the youngsters, only putting the game away late in the fourth quarter. Tonight, New York was clearly intent on putting a stamp on the game early, and so they did with a 24-point first-half lead. As is usually the case, they let the rope slip after building such a comfy cushion. Still, Portland never cut the deficit to single-digits in the second half and instead watched it reach 33 points before the final, merciful buzzer. Their 127-87 wire-to-wire win was New York’s fifth straight and marked the fifth time in seven games that the Knicks have held an opponent under 100 points. Vibe check: pretty, pretty,pretty good.
At the start, the Knicks charged the paint to set a physical tone. Eight of their first fifteen points came in the paint, with Josh Hart acting as a primary bulldozer. He took 17 shots tonight and finished with 20 points, six boards, six assists, two steals, and a block. The rim was also where the league’s top two rebounders squared off, with Karl-Anthony Towns outperforming Donovan Clingan 2:1 on the glass. School was in session tonight! Towns finished the game with 14 points, 20 rebounds, and one foul—two nights after grabbing a season-high 22 boards and committing no fouls in Toronto. 42 rebounds in two games is impressive, no? Clingan ended the game with just six boards and seven points.
From the tip, Portland heaved a bushel of threes (as is their nature) and missed most of them (as is their nature). Overall, they would shoot 13-of-43 from downtown.
Jalen Brunson (26 points, 5-of-12 3PT) met little resistance tonight and, in Q1, he executed a four-point play, getting fouled on a made three. Portland did not look like a very disciplined team. Midway through the quarter, Mohamed Diawara, Mitchell Robinson, and Landry Shamet subbed in and, with them on the floor, New York pushed the lead to nine. From there, the Blazers unraveled quickly, Mitchell Robinson picked up where KAT left off, and the home team was ahead 37-22 heading into the second period.
Tyler Kolek must be back in Mike Brown’s good graces. The sophomore led the troops to start the second quarter, giving Brunson a blow. Over the first leg of the frame, the Knicks rolled their lead out to 24—but the Oregonians answered a 12-0 Knicks’ run with a 15-2 stretch of their own, cutting the deficit to 13. Portland had a chance narrow the score even further, but couldn’t stop giving the ball away. By halftime, they’d committed eight turnovers to New York’s four.
As the second quarter progressed, New York’s shooting regressed. That gave Portland some oxygen and Shaedon Sharpe provided the spark, knocking down a couple of threes. Jerami Grant chipped in a few, too, and soon the visitors had cut the leash to eight with a minute left. During that stretch, New York went over five minutes without a bucket, taking their contractually obligated post-big-lead respite. With the relief of a triple from Brunson, New York crept into intermission up 59-49.
Through the half, New York shot better overall (46% to 41%) and from three (50% to 41%), and had won the paint (22–16). Part of the problem for Portland? Their Deni Avdija, the ice cream maven and rising star forward, was sufficiently neutralized by the Knicks all night. A game-time-decision with a back issue, he shot 4-of-14 from the field and finished with 11 points. Usually, he shoots almost 10 free throws per game. Tonight, the refs were stingy in his direction, giving him just three shots from the stripe.
New York began the third period with a 14-9 stretch. Portland tried to push the pace but could never build a head of steam. Jalen Brunson kept things orderly and, with this bucket, scored the 10,000th career point of his career.
The Blazers could not reduce the deficit to single digits and headed into the final frame behind, 87-69. Recently, Jrue Holiday had been mentioned as a player New York was monitoring before the February 5 trade deadline. Tonight, he shot 2-of-7 from the field. Maybe don’t hurry to make that trade, Leon?
Kolek continued to make the most of his opportunity, lacing 3-of-5 from deep for 13 points and dishing four dimes in 17 minutes. Also having a good time: OG Anunoby, who scored 10 of his 24 points (10-of-17 FG, 4-of-8 3PT) to help slam the door early. Around the four-minute mark, with a 29-point lead, Coach Brown sent in Ariel Hukporti, Dillon Jones, and Guerschon Yabusele to join Kolek and Diawara in riding out the win. This was a first appearance for Jones, who signed a two-way deal ten days ago. He celebrated the moment with a three-pointer, and by the curtain, New York celebrated a 127-97 win.
Up Next
For you folks, Professor Miranda is preparing his lesson plan. For the Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers roll into Manhattan for a showdown on Sunday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
The Atlanta Hawks squared off against the Houston Rockets on January 29 at State Farm Arena, and their outing didn’t seem to go the way they wanted it to. The Hawks were fresh off a win against the Boston Celtics, defeating them 117-106, and the Rockets recently lost to the San Antonio Spurs, but Houston defeated Atlanta 104-86, losing by double digits.
Jalen Johnson’s Absence
Hawks’ forward Jalen Johnson did not play against the Rockets last night due to calf tightness. Johnson has been averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season.
Johnson’s offensive production was definitely missed as they struggled to get things going in the second half. Hawks’ guards CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker picked up the slack, with McCollum having 23 points and Alexander-Walker scoring 20. Forward Corey Kispert was third in scoring with 17 points.
The Hawks did well in the first half, keeping the score close — their backcourt got hot early, and they were only down one at 43-42. The Rockets were ranked in the top five in scoring defense, so the Hawks would have had to make the most of their offensive possessions, but Houston’s defensive prowess rang true. But things got away in the second half with players like Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr. having productive games.
Hawks’ Defensive Struggles
The Hawks’ defense struggled against the Rockets, with Kevin Durant scoring 31 points on 12-for-22 shooting. The Hawks had a tough matchup guarding Durant on the perimeter.
Size differential could’ve been an issue for the Hawks as well. Houston was able to take control of the paint with 59 total rebounds to the Hawks’ 46. Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. had five blocks while guard Reed Sheppard had 13 points.
In the postgame press conference, Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder said that when Durant is “at the nail of the foul line, it’s very difficult to double team there.” Also emphasizing that when Durant is doubled, that hurt them in rebounding.
Hawks Injuries
To the Hawks’ credit, they did well in the first half, but things just went negative in the second half. But they also have quite a few injuries with Jalen Johnson not playing due to a calf issue. Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, and Kristaps Porzingis did not play either.
In the postgame presser, Snyder iterated that Okongwu and Johnson are among their better players. Against a team with a size differential, such as Houston, this was evident in rebounding.
The Atlanta Hawks will go against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. For the Hawks, a key to getting back on track for the rest of the season is getting players healthy and having their core players available.
Atlanta is now 24-26 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
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Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the second half at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
It’s incredible just how quickly the mood around a team can change.
It was just last week that the Knicks looked lost, having dropped nine of 11 games. Jalen Brunson was asking his teammates to “care” more than they had been showing. Their contender chops were being questioned.
And just like that, that discourse is on the back burner. The dominant team that was present in the beginning of the season has re-emerged.
The Knicks (30-18) thumped the Blazers 127-97 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, their fifth straight win. Now three games under .500, the Blazers aren’t exactly a huge test. But they do represent the third team currently in the playoff picture that the Knicks have beaten in this streak.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the second half at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“We went through a little bit of adversity in terms of our wins and losses,” coach Mike Brown said. “Our guys just kind of stayed with it. We kept trying to help them as best we could. Those guys stayed with it, they stayed together. This is a veteran group that has been through a lot. They figured out what they needed to do to play at a high level. They’re going out there and showing it.”
Off nights for Brunson are rare. Two in a row? That almost never happens. After finishing with just 13 points and battling an illness in the Knicks’ win over the Raptors on Wednesday, he recorded a team-high 26 points Friday. His four-point play at the end of the first quarter gave the Knicks an early 15-point lead.
OG Anunoby added 24 points — 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as he took over. He was an efficient 10-for-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Josh Hart added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns was passive offensively, saving some of his energy for the boards. He ended up with 14 points and 20 rebounds — six of which were offensive. His quick outlets after rebounds helped get the Knicks going in transition. He had just five points entering the fourth quarter.
OG Anunoby had a strong game for the Knicks in their win over Portland. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
After falling apart during their downturn, a dramatic defensive turnaround is largely what has been behind this Knicks upswing. It was evident again Friday.
“I think we’re trusting each other more,” Hart said of their defense. “Obviosuly, during that skid, during film and all that, we had guys talk and that was one thing, I think [Miles McBride] said, we gotta make sure we continue to trust each other. When you’re on the ball, trust that the guys are gonna be in the shifts for you. Somebody gets blown by, the big steps up, the big has a trust that the guard is gonna sink into his man, someone is gonna X out.
“I think we’re just continuing to gain that trust. I think we’re communicating more on the defensive end. You do that, that helps the trust area.”
They’ve held opponents to under 100 points in four of five games in this streak.
Josh Hart of the New York Knicks goes up for a shot as Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail Blazers defends. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
They limited Deni Avdija, one of the league’s breakout stars this year, to just 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field.
“I think we’re a little bit more connected than we’ve been,” Brunson said. “Gotta continue to build off it and keep having each other’s backs. I think, most importantly, our attention to detail. I’m gonna keep stressing that is very important for us.
The Knicks used a 9-0 run to start the second quarter to take a 24-point lead. The Blazers trimmed that to a 10-point deficit by halftime, but the Knicks began the second half with a 10-3 run to go up 17 and regain command. The Blazers never seriously threatened to make it interesting. Brown was able to empty his bench with just over four minutes remaining. And Tyler Kolek had 13 off the bench — 10 in the fourth quarter.
Friday was the fourth wire-to-wire win of the season for the Knicks. A blowout loss to the Mavericks at MSG represented their low point this year. But they didn’t let it go any farther. Five straight wins later, their mojo is back.
The Lakers on Sunday will be the biggest test of this Knicks resurgence. But compared to where it was trending not too long ago, this is a strong response.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elise Mertens marked her return to the No. 1 ranking in women's doubles by combining with China's Zhang Shuai to win the Australian Open title on Saturday, joined later by American Christian Harrison and Britain's Neal Skupski who won the men's doubles trophy.
Back together after four years apart as a team, Mertens and Zhang trailed 3-0 and 4-1 in the first set but rallied to beat Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (4), 6-4. Mertens and Zhang led the final set 5-0 before withstanding a comeback attempt when Danilina and Krunic won four straight games.
Harrison served an ace on match point to give he and Skupski a win in the men's final by the same score as the women — 7-6 (4), 6-4 — over the Australian pair of Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans. Kubler went into the match with a 14-3 doubles record at his home major.
Harrison and Skupski, who both competed at last year’s ATP Finals with different partners, joined as a team for the first time in Adelaide earlier this month, where they reached the semifinals.
Currently ranked No. 6 in doubles, Mertens, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year with Veronika Kudermetova, will return to the No. 1 ranking after the Australian Open.
That will mark the Belgian player's 40th cumulative week as No. 1 in doubles and was guaranteed regardless of the outcome of the Melbourne Park final Saturday.
The win Saturday was Mertens' sixth Grand Slam doubles title, including 2021 and 2024 at Melbourne Park. Zhang now has three, including the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 U.S. Open.
It was their first Grand Slam trophy as a team, having lost the 2022 Wimbledon final in their last appearance together.
“This is like cherry on the cake,” Mertens said. “We paired up as a team very last-minute . . . this was our first tournament back together. In the second round we saved three match points, so that kind of took us to another level. An unbelievable two weeks."
Mertens reached the fourth round of women’s singles at Melbourne Park this year before being beaten by eventual finalist Elena Rybakina.
Zhang says she and Mertens adapt well.
“We know how to play finals, we know how to win finals,” Zhang said. “We are both very calm. If something doesn't work . . . we always adjust.”
The mixed doubles final was played on Friday, when Australians Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first team to win consecutive titles since 1989 after beating the French pair of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching and the playoff picture growing increasingly bleak, the Winnipeg Jets appear poised to shift into seller mode.
The Jets currently sit ten points out of a playoff spot, and the gap could widen further given a challenging upcoming schedule that features matchups against the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks. As the losses have mounted, so too has speculation that Winnipeg will begin moving pieces with an eye toward the future.
That speculation gained traction this week following comments from Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman revealed that, according to one source, the Jets and the Detroit Red Wings have a “match” when it comes to a potential trade.
While Friedman emphasized that he was unaware of the exact framework of a possible deal, he suggested the discussions could involve defensemen Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley.
Detroit is well positioned to engage in trade talks, boasting significant draft capital and a deep prospect pool. Those assets could make it relatively easy for the Red Wings to put together a competitive offer for either Stanley or Schenn.
The Red Wings have reportedly been prioritizing players with term on the open market, but they could still have interest in Stanley, a 27-year-old blueliner who may fit their long-term plans. Should he prove to be a good fit in Detroit, the organization could look to negotiate an extension following a trade.
Regardless of whether a deal materializes with the Red Wings, the growing number of rumors around Winnipeg’s roster has created a clear sense that the Jets are preparing to pivot. With postseason hopes fading, the organization appears increasingly focused on selling at the deadline and retooling for next season rather than chasing a long-shot playoff push.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics defends against Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half at the TD Garden on January 30, 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics were coming off of a tough loss at the hands to the Atlanta Hawks and needed a bounce back. They found it on Friday night, with a wire to wire 112-93 win over the Kings. It was Payton Pritchard’s night as he scored 29 points while dishing out 8 assists.
Jaylen Brown missed Friday night’s game with left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion. The Celtics started Baylor Scheierman in Brown’s place with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta in the starting unit. The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook. They started Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa and Maxime Raynaud.
The Celtics got off to a quick 9-1 start, making their first 4 shots, as the Kings called a timeout not even 2 minutes into the game.
The first quarter featured a lot of Payton Pritchard stuffing the stat sheet during the Celtics first 10 field goals, scoring or assisting on 7 of them.
Payton Pritchard has scored or assisted on 7 of the Celtics' first 10 makes
The Celtics led 40-25 after the first quarter. Payton Pritchard led the team with 11 points and 5 assists; Boston shot 17/24 in the quarter, 70.8%, and had 12 assists.
Fouls are what kept the Kings within striking distance, 11 of their first 28 points came at the foul line. Fouls have been an issue for the Celtics this season and it was an issue early in the game.
The Celtics turned up their pressure as the 2nd quarter went on, Pritchard hit a deep three and Baylor Scheierman had a transition layup, putting the Celtics up 21 points.
Boston finished the half on a 25-6 run to lead 72-46 at halftime. It was the Payton Pritchard Show in the first half, he scored 22 points along with 8 assists, going 9/11 from the floor and 4/5 from three point range.
At the midway point of the third quarter, the Celtics led by 28 points, 80-52. Baylor Scheierman was having a great game after a really solid performance in Wednesday’s game against the Hawks. He finished the game with 16 points.
Indeed, Kings took zero shots at the rim with Queta on the floor in the first half https://t.co/ICmSxP4qcP
Can we talk about the leap that Neemias Queta has taken this season? He might just be the Celtics center of the future and at this point last season, I was not a very big fan of his. His rim protection and overall defensive leap has been significant and so has his screening. We are seeing him be much quicker at getting out of screens and committing less illegal ones. He is the third or fourth most important player on the team and it has been very fun to watch.
The Kings could use a player like him…
ESPN Sources: After signing JaVale McGee to a free agent deal, the Sacramento Kings are waiving centers Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta to give them a chance to play elsewhere. Both signed partially guaranteed one-year deals with Kings this summer.
Maxime Raynaud hit a buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter to cut the Celtics lead to 89-66. Payton Pritchard led the team with 26 points while Neemias Queta had 10 points and 15 rebounds against his former team.
We had Chris Boucher minutes in the last 3 minutes of the game in the first time we have seen him play since November 23rd. He was rusty, airmailing his first three point attempt but he hit a buzzer beater at the end to get on the board.
The fourth quarter happened, the Celtics kept the lead at around 20 points the whole time. The Kings never made a real push.
The Celtics shot 45% from the field and 38% from three while the Kings shot 37% from the field and 32% from three. Boston’s next game is Sunday at home against the Bucks at 3:30 EST for the NBA Pioneer Classic.
The Montreal Canadiens picked up an impressive 7-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. Juraj Slafkovsky played a role in the Canadiens' win over the Avalanche, as he scored a goal and recorded an assist.
With his two-point game, Slafkovsky now has 20 goals, 23 assists, and 43 points in 54 games this season with the Canadiens. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 21-year-old winger has taken a nice step in the right direction with his development this campaign.
Due to his strong play this season, Slafkovsky is already nearing a new career high with February just about here.
Slafkovsky needs to score only one more goal to hit a new career high of 21. The 2022 first-overall pick scored 20 goals in 82 games for the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.
Slafkovsky also needs only 10 more assists and nine more points to set new career highs with those stats as well. With this, there is no question that he is having himself a nice year, and it will be interesting to see what his offensive totals are once we get to the end of the 2025-26 season.
Luka Doncic had 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds against Jamir Watkins and the Wizards on Friday. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
The “competitive edge” Lakers coach JJ Redick requested from his players showed itself right away in the form of dominance from Luka Doncic, more outstanding play from LeBron James and an impressive outing from center Deandre Ayton.
By the time Doncic, James and Ayton completed their night, they had combined for 85 points and 27 rebounds in helping the Lakers build a 38-point lead en route to a 142-111 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday. The Lakers improved to 4-2 on their season-high eight-game trip.
And it centered around the brilliance of Doncic, his triple-double of 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds the catalyst for the Lakers (29-18) winning for the fifth time in their last seven games. He was efficient too, shooting 13 for 21 from the field and six for 13 from three-point range.
"He just came out again with the right mentality, the right mindset," Redick said. “And I do want to just reiterate just how decisive he was ... and obviously to get the defensive rebounds and get a triple-double is fantastic."
Ayton was a tower of strength with 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting, 13 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists.
James had the crowd engaged all game with his play that led to 20 points and six assists.
The left ankle soreness that had Doncic listed as questionable was not an issue for the All-Star guard, his first half showing he was playing at another level with a triple-double of 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes against the overmatched Wizards.
Doncic became the first Laker in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to record a triple-double in a half, a feat he also achieved with the Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic dazzled with no-look and lob passes along with three-pointers that seemed to impress even him, considering he looked over to the Lakers’ bench after several spectacular threes.
“It’s not easy, for sure,” Doncic said. “It might look easy, but it’s not easy. But it just feels good to have that going. ... It’s just fun to be like that in that position.”
The 41-year-old James put on a show, throwing down lobs for dunks, drawing cheers and applause from the fans inside Capital One Arena.
There was the lob from Ayton that James threw down left-handed, making teammates leap off their seats and fans gasp and cheer. For added emphasis, James stared at his left hand as he made his way down the court, a knowing look on his face.
LeBron James passes the ball around Wizards guard Bub Carrington during the first half. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
“That was terrible,” Ayton said about his high pass to James. “I told JJ, I said, ‘If it was not LeBron James at the end of that alley-oop, I’d be right there sitting next to you!’ And he started laughing. It’s just a fact, 'cause I’m like, ‘Yo, I threw the ball out of bounds.’ It was one of those things you see on Bleacher Report, where LeBron does some spectacular things, and that was one of them.”
There was the lob from Marcus Smart that James threw down for a reverse dunk, again bringing fans and teammates out of their seats.
There was the moment James drove by Washington's Alex Sarr and threw down another dunk, causing teammates to jump out of their seats again and fans to cheer even louder.
When asked to rank his dunks, James deferred.
“I don't know. I’ll let my LeBron Faithful fan group rate them,” James said. “I love those guys.”
One player who will be rated on his dunks is Jaxson Hayes. The Lakers center accepted an invitation from the NBA to compete in the All-Star dunk contest at Intuit Dome on Feb. 14.
Etc.
Though Austin Reaves (left calf strain) was upgraded to questionable for the game, the Lakers guard did not play. He has missed 18 straight games since suffering the injury on Christmas against the Houston Rockets.
Reaves has been working out as he progresses toward a return. The Lakers play again Sunday at the New York Knicks.
"He continues to progress. He hasn't had any setbacks,” Redick said. “Yesterday was five weeks from the injury. He's right on schedule, if not a little bit ahead of schedule. So it's just him being fully confident in his body. And he continues to get great work on the court."
WASHINGTON — Luka Doncic could do no wrong in the nation’s capital.
And the perpetually struggling Washington Wizards didn’t stand a chance against the offensive onslaught Doncic and the Lakers brought with them inside Capital One Arena, where the Lakers picked up a 142-111 win to continue a strong eight-game “Grammy” trip.
Doncic was in full control of Friday’s game from the moment he first touched the ball.
Luka Doncic celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins. Getty Images
The Lakers’ first possession: Doncic assisting Deandre Ayton, whose declining usage and production has been under significant scrutiny as of late, on a layup that started one of Ayton’s best performances since November.
Doncic’s first shot: a nine-foot floater that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Because regardless of the problems the hapless Wizards tried to present, Doncic and the Lakers had the answer.
Force Doncic to pick up his dribble with a double team right after he crosses halfcourt after he scored 16 points in the opening 9 ½ minutes? He responded with an effortless pass that flew by four Wizards defenders to assist Jarred Vanderbilt on a dunk that gave the Lakers a 40-22 lead.
Provide a strong contest and get Doncic off-balance on a pull-up 3-pointer with strong iso defense like Washington guard Jamir Watkins did late in the second quarter? Doncic will bank in the 3 to loud cheers from the crowd.
The result was Doncic having his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Ayton finished with a 28 point-13 rebound double-double, shooting 85.7% (12-of-14) from the field.
LeBron James added 20 points and six assists.
Doncic shoots over a defender. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers not only improved to 29-18, but they also expect to get Austin Reaves back sometime within the next two games, furthering their offensive onslaught.
Turning point
The moment Doncic stepped onto the court.
Seriously.
The Wizards looked helpless trying to figure out how to slow down the MVP candidate.
Doncic had 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the opening quarter, making the game uncompeitive from the outset.
The Lakers not only led by double digits since midway through the opening quarter, but had at least a 20-point lead for the entire second half.
MVP: Luka Doncic
When you make positive history for a storied franchise like the Lakers, this honor becomes easy.
Doncic became the first Laker to record a triple-double in a single half with his 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the opening two quarters at Washington.
It was the second time in his career Doncic recorded a single-half triple-double, with the first coming on Dec. 6, 2023, while he was with the Mavericks.
Doncic shoots over the double team. Getty Images
Stat of the game: First half triple-double
Doncic posted a triple-double… in the first half. In 19 minutes, he put up 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
It was the second time of the play-by-play era (1997-98) that a player recorded a 25+ point triple double in the first half.
The only other person to do it?
Doncic in 2023 when with the Mavericks.
Up next
After bouncing around the country for the last 1½ weeks, the Lakers will be able to be settled for a few days.
They’ll travel to New York for matchups against the Knicks and Nets on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, to close out their eight-game trip.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket as Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, 142-111 at Capital One Arena.
One night after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, there was certainly optimism about what Washington could do tonight against LA. However, the talent disparity showed.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a triple double, scoring 37 points, dishing 13 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds. DeAndre Ayton added 28 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron James scored 20 points and dished 6 assists. The Lakers shot 61.2 percent from the field while the Wizards shot 44.4 percent themselves. The game was effectively decided when the Lakers shot 70.8 percent from the field with Doncic scoring 16 points. LA never took their foot off the gas from there. That tells all you need to know about a game like this.
For Washington, Malaki Branham led scoring 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting. Alex Sarr led the Wizards’ starters with 16 points and 5 assists.
The Wizards’ next game is on Sunday when they host the Sacramento Kings. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. See you then.
