WACO, Texas (AP) — Jayden Pierre scored a career-high 25 points, Xavier Edmonds added 23, and TCU defeated Baylor 97-90 on Saturday night.
The Horned Frogs (13-7, 3-4 Big 12) rode a strong second half to the win, outscoring Baylor 59-52 after heading to halftime tied at 38. Pierre scored 14 in the second half, reaching 1,000 career points in the process.
Edmonds scored five points during a 7-0 TCU run that stretched the lead to 17, their largest of the night, with seven minutes remaining. Baylor cut the lead to single-digits late but couldn't complete the comeback, as Edmonds hit six straight free throws with under a minute remaining.
TCU shot 52% from the floor and 46% from 3-point range, and hit 26 of 32 free throws. The Horned Frogs scored 44 points in the paint and led for 25:09, taking the lead for good with 15:14 remaining in the second half during a 9-0 run.
The Bears (11-8, 1-6) were paced by Isaac Williams and Tounde Yessoufou, who each scored 21 points before fouling out. Cameron Carr added 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Sophomore forward David Punch was a late scratch for TCU due to illness. He leads the team with averages of 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds.
The Astros hosted a successful 2026 FanFest on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Daikin Park. The 2026 FanFest wraps up a great week of Astros Caravan stops throughout the Texas community and represents the official launch of baseball season for Astros fans.
The official kickoff of the 2026 season saw 10,420 fans participate in autograph sessions, photo opportunities, games, Fan Forums, Q&As, play catch on the field, take swings in the batting cages, and more.
“We were thrilled to welcome the greatest fans in baseball back to Daikin Park to kick off the 2026 season, and we’re grateful to our players and coaches for spending the day with them,” said Anita Sehgal, Astros Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communications. “Fan Fest is such a special tradition, and we love creating unforgettable moments and memories for all our fans.”
Astros Manager Joe Espada participated in FanFest along with all the members of his coaching and support staff: Omar López (bench coach), Josh Miller (pitching coach), Ethan Katz (assistant pitching coach), Victor Rodriguez (hitting coach), Anthony Iapoce (assistant hitting coach), Dave Clark (first base coach), Tony Perezchica (third base coach), Jason Bell (Major League field coordinator/outfield coach), Tommy Kawamura (game planning coach), Tim Cossins (catching instructor) and Dan Hennigan (director of hitting and offensive coordinator), as well as bullpen catchers Javier Bracamonte and Caleb Nunes.
Astros General Manager Dana Brown also took part in FanFest.
The Astros had 22 players at FanFest, including IF/OF Jose Altuve, OF Yordan Alvarez, RHP Spencer Arrighetti, RHP Hunter Brown, 3B Carlos Correa, RHP Lance McCullers Jr., and OF Cam Smith. The player group also included RHP Jason Alexander, IF Nick Allen, RHP AJ Blubaugh, OF Zach Cole, IF Zach Dezenzo, LHP Colton Gordon, LHP Bryan King, IF Brice Mathews, RHP Jayden Murray, LHP Bennett Sousa, RHP Logan VanWey, LHP Brandon Walter, RHP Ryan Weiss, RHP Hayden Wesneski and IF Shay Whitcomb.
Several Astros alumni were also in attendance, including Astros Hall of Famers José Cruz, Larry Dierker, Terry Puhl, and Shane Reynolds, as well as Alan Ashby, Brandon Backe, Michael Bourn, Jason Castro, Jarred Cozart, J.C. Hartman, Art Howe, Phil Garner, and Chris Sampson.
Many members of the broadcast teams on Astros TV and Astros radio also had a presence. This group included Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum, Julia Morales, Robert Ford, Francisco Romero, Alex Treviño, Brian Bogusevic and Kevin Eschenfelder.
FanFest is also the culmination of a successful Astros Caravan from January 21-23, which gave fans the opportunity to connect with players, manager, alumni, broadcasters and front office personnel at various locations as the club approaches the start of Spring Training. This year’s caravan made visits to Tomball, The Woodlands, Corpus Christi, Central Houston, Austin, Baytown, Port Neches, Beaumont, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Ingram and San Antonio.
When the Florida Panthers took the ice for pregame warmups on Saturday night in Minnesota, there was an unexpected surprise that emerged from the locker room.
Brad Marchand, who has missed each of the past seven games with an undisclosed injury, joined his teammates for warmups.
Marchand lined up on the right side of a line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.
A.J. Greer was moved alongside the duo of Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, while Sam Reinhart slid to a line with Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues.
Florida will seek their fifth road win in six tries against the Wild before heading straight to Chicago to complete a back-to-back set on Sunday.
Despite missing the chunk of time, Marchand remains tied for the team lead in assists and one point back of Sam Reinhart for the team lead in points. He’s been an integral part of Florida remaining in contention during their injury woes.
Photo caption: Jan 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Bilodeau and Trent Perry combined for 28 first-half points and finished with 18 points apiece, leading UCLA to a 71-64 victory over Northwestern on Saturday night.
UCLA used a 10-0 surge to take a 41-27 lead late in the first half and led 41-31 at the break. The Bruins had its largest lead, 58-42 with 12:50 to play. Later in the second half, Northwestern's 7-0 spurt cut its deficit to 62-56. Jamar Brown answered with a 3-pointer and the Bruins then sealed it from the free-throw line.
Bilodeau didn't miss a shot in the first half, going 6 of 6 from the floor with four 3-pointers. He made a layup early in the second half before finally missing on a 3-pointer with 6:43 to play. He finished 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 4 of 8 from long range. Perry scored 12 first-half points and and was 6 of 12 overall.
Donovan Dent, who scored 23 points and had 13 assists in the Bruins' 69-67 win over No. 4 Purdue on Wednesday, added 13 points and five assists against the Wildcats.
Eric Dailey Jr. chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds for UCLA (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten), which has won four of its last five games.
Nick Martinelli scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Northwestern (9-11, 1-8). Tre Singleton had 12 points and six rebounds. The Wildcats have lost six of their last seven games.
The 37-year-old Kimbrel, whose 440 career saves rank fifth all time, spent last year bouncing between Triple-A and the majors in the Rangers, Braves and Astros organizations.
In 14 big league appearances (13 with the Astros), he posted a 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 12 innings. He last closed in 2024, when he had a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves with the Orioles.
Craig Kimbrel closes out a save in the ninth inning while a member of the Phillies in the 2023 season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Kimbrel will have a shot this spring to win a job in a remade Mets bullpen, which lost All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers but added ex-Yankees Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to help replace him in the late innings.
They also signed veteran reliever Luis Garcia to a major league deal earlier this week — part of a flurry of activity in which they acquired infielder Bo Bichette, right-hander Freddy Peralta, swingman Tobias Myers and outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
Among the reported non-roster invite relievers who will join Kimbrel in big league spring training are Carl Edwards Jr., Nick Burdi, Joe Jacques, Anderson Severino and Kevin Herget.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Braeden Shrewsberry scored 22 points and Notre Dame beat Boston College 68-64 in a double-digit second half comeback on Saturday.
Shrewsberry was 8-of-17 shooting for the Irish (11-9, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference). Jalen Haralson added 17 points on 8 of 13 from the floor. Carson Towt had 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.
Fred Payne led the Eagles (9-11, 2-5) with 18 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. Donald Hand Jr. had 17 points and six rebounds. Luka Toews had 14 points.
The Eagles took a 35-24 lead into the half after opening the game on an 8-0 run. The Irish flipped the script in the second half with a 10-run to start the half, and an 18-6 run over eight minutes to take the lead for good. It turned a 13-point deficit into a seven-point advantage with 2:57 remaining.
Shrewsberry had 12 points in the second half, and Haralson had 11.
The Eagles cut the deficit to two points with a 3-pointer from Toews with 10 seconds remaining. After Shrewsberry was fouled and made the resulting free throws for the Irish, Payne drove to make a layup, returning the deficit to two points with two seconds on the clock.
The Eagles were assessed a technical foul immediately after the score for calling a timeout when they had none remaining. It gave the Irish a pair of free throws and possession, sealing the result.
Up next
The Irish host No. 14 Virginia on Tuesday.
The Eagles will also host No. 14 Virginia in their next game, next Saturday.
The Mets are adding another veteran reliever to the system.
Right-hander Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a minor league deal with an MLB camp invite, according to a report from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Saturday.
If Kimbrel, 37, appears with the Mets in the big leagues next year, it will be his 17th season in professional baseball. He appeared in just 14 big league games last year, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 12 innings pitched, after signing a minor league deal and spending the majority of his time at Triple-A. The right-hander did strike out 17 of the 49 batters he faced with seven walks while pitching for Atlanta (once) and Houston (13 times).
He pitched to a 3.00 ERA and 1.051 WHIP across 39 innings over 42 minor league appearances last season. He tallied 51 strikeouts to 21 walks.
Kimbrel's last full major league season came in 2024 with Baltimore, and it did not go well for him as he was designated for assignment in late September after losing his spot as the closer. In 57 appearances with the Orioles, he pitched to a 5.33 ERA and 1.357 WHIP over 52.1 innings with 73 strikeouts to 31 walks. He had 23 saves in 29 opportunities.
The Mets will hope Kimbrel can return to the form that made him a surprise All-Star for Philadelphia during the 2023 campaign. He had a 3.26 ERA and 1.043 WHIP across 69 innings and 71 appearances out of the bullpen, with 94 strikeouts to 28 walks.
However, after four good appearances to start the 2023 postseason, he had two blowups in save situations that cost the Phillies Games 3 and 4 of the NLCS. Kimbrel allowed four runs on six hits over six innings with five strikeouts and five walks in seven outings.
Overall, he has 440 saves to his name over his big league career, with a 2.58 ERA over 821.2 innings and 851 games.
The projected No. 1 overall draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft finished with a casual 43 points on 15-of-24 shooting in the 13th-ranked Cougars' 91-78 win over Utah on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Dybantsa's 43 points set a BYU record for the most points scored in a single game by a freshman. It is also the most points in a single game this season by a player in the Big 12, according to Fox's broadcast.
"No weaknesses," former UConn forward and Fox Sports analyst Donny Marshall said of Dybantsa's overall game and performance against Utah on the network's postgame show.
The 6-foot-9 forward showed off a little bit of everything with his game, as he found success inside and outside of the paint, including from beyond the arc as he was 3-of-4 on 3-point shooting attempts. He also added six rebounds and three assists to his career day.
Dybantsa scored 24 of his 43 points in the second half, which included the dagger on the Cougars' fifth conference win of the season: an emphatic dunk that set the arena off into a frenzy with 2:33 remaining in regulation.
"I don't know. To be honest, I was hot from the beginning. I was making a lot of shots that I normally make, so I felt like it was going to be a good day," Dybantsa said to Fox Sports' Casey Jacobsen postgame on his day.
He's one of three freshmen to score at least 40 points on Saturday, with the others being Illinois' Keaton Wagler (46 points vs. No. 4 Purdue) and Houston's Kingston Flemings (42 points vs. No. 12 Texas Tech).
Here's a deeper look into Dybantsa's day against Utah:
CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Trinity Rodman, fresh off signing a contract with the Washington Spirit, scored and the United States had five second-half goals in a 6-0 rout Paraguay on Saturday.
Ally Sentnor added a pair of goals and Reilyn Turner scored in her debut match for the United States. Emma Sears also scored.
Turner, who plays professionally for the Portland Thorns, scored in first-half stoppage time on an assist from Thorns teammate Olivia Moultrie.
Sentnor added a goal in the opening minutes of the second half to put the United States up 2-0.
After an own goal in the 53rd minute, Rodman scored her 12th international goal in her 48th appearance with the team. Rodman, named captain for the match, celebrated with a brief dance for the U.S. bench.
Sentnor added her second in the 57th minute, capping a span that saw the United States add three goals in four minutes. Sears made it 6-0 with a goal in the 72nd.
“I think in the first half there were definitely nerves. We were rushing a lot,” Rodman said. “I think there was almost too much space, that we were overthinking things.”
It was the first of two matches for the U.S. team to conclude its January training camp. The United States also plays Chile in Santa Barbara on Tuesday night.
European-based U.S. players were not included in the camp because they are in the midst of their seasons. Gotham players were also left off the roster as they prepare for the final stage of the first Women's Champions Cup in London next week.
The players in the starting lineup Saturday averaged just 10 appearances with the national team. Coach Emma Hayes was working with a group of National Women's Soccer League Players who are coming off an offseason.
“We had three debutantes, players that have only maybe played a second or third cap. There was a lot of inexperience for us, and a lot of nerves that come with that,” Hayes said. “But I thought the team handles themselves really well, considering.”
The team honored retired forward Christen Press before the match. Press won Women’s World Cup titles with the United States in 2015 and 2019 and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Over a decade with the national team, she appeared in 155 matches, scoring 64 goals and 43 assists.
Rodman agreed on Thursday to a three-year contract to remain with the Washington Spirit, ending months of speculation about her future in the NWSL. At issue was the NWSL's salary cap and whether it has hampered the league from attracting and maintaining top players.
The 23-year-old Rodman became a free agent at the end of last season after five years with the Spirit. One of the biggest stars in the NWSL, keeping her in the league was considered important as other U.S. national team stars, including Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, opted to play in Europe.
The financial details of Rodman’s contract were not disclosed, but the Spirit called it “one of the most significant deals in NWSL history.”
Hayes called it a “monumental achievement for the NWSL."
“I think it’s really fantastic for the NWSL that they’ve been able to keep Trinity Rodman," Hayes said in a prematch news conference. "I think knowing that she’s going to be settled and happy in Washington is going to be a win for the U.S. national team, because, as I’ve always said, happiness and what they want is of the highest order to me.”
Aaron Judge was still in uniform after the Yankees were bounced by the Blue Jays in the ALDS in October when he was asked about Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham heading to free agency.
“I hope we can run them back and see what happens,” the captain said.
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Judge did not know it then, but he more or less offered up a tagline for the Yankees’ offseason to come.
Of course, it is not actually that simple, but with just over two weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa for spring training, the Yankees are poised to bring back almost the same roster that ultimately came up short in the playoffs last fall, with a few notable asterisks.
Cody Bellinger runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in New York. AP
The Yankees could still use some reinforcements to solidify the bullpen and a right-handed hitting catcher, as they have not done much to change their admission that they are too left-handed.
Jasson Domínguez, whose role became much less defined with Bellinger back in the fold, could be used as trade bait to address one of those needs.
But for a team that won 94 games during the regular season last year, tied with the Blue Jays for the most in the American League, the Yankees are doubling down on the idea that they can be the best version of that team, not the one that endured another summer swoon and then got clobbered by those Blue Jays in the ALDS.
“Look, obviously the end of our season [last] year was, frankly, as hard a one for me [as we’ve had] — because I felt like we were really good, and really good and healthy and peaking at the right time and got beat in a series against a team that we obviously struggled with last year with the Blue Jays,” manager Aaron Boone said last month at the winter meetings. “So you want to take stock in that. Again, you’re always trying to improve your club and improve your team, but also pause and say, ‘Hey, we’re pretty good here.’ And we’ve got a lot of really good players and a lot of really good young core players that emerged on different levels last year that we need to continue to grow in their big league journey.”
Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham reacts after he pops out ending the 7th inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The biggest potential change from 2025 to 2026 is that the Yankees expect to get Gerrit Cole back early in the season after not throwing a single inning last year because of Tommy John surgery. Exactly what version the former Cy Young winner comes back as, though, remains to be seen.
But they are also banking on getting a full season with Cam Schlittler in their rotation after his dazzling 14-start cameo last year. They believe there is even more in the tank for Ben Rice, who established himself as a middle-of-the-order bat last season and is now set to take on the challenge of facing lefties more often. They are betting that Grisham’s breakout season was real. And they are hoping that their 2025 trade deadline additions — David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Ryan McMahon, José Caballero, Rosario and Jake Bird — can continue to make an impact over the long haul instead of just a two-month boost.
Will it pay off, or will trying the same — or, at least, very similar — thing over and expecting a different result remind them of the definition of insanity? The Yankees are only a few weeks away from beginning the journey to find out.
The Buffalo Sabres made the first trade under new GM Jarmo Kekalainen Saturday. But if Sabres fans were hoping for a blockbuster, they were sorely disappointed, as Saturday’s deal sent prospect forward Viktor Neuchev to the Carolina Hurricanes in return for veteran American League defenseman Gavin Bayreuther. Neuchev will begin his Canes career with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, while Bayreuther will report to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
However, there’s still plenty of time for Kekalainen to make a trade of significant consequence for his team. And whether it happens before the NHL’s Feb., 4 OIympic roster freeze, or by the league’s March 6 trade deadline, it absolutely has to happen.
But wait, there’s more: recently-acquired Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud may not be long for Calgary. So why shouldn’t Kekalainen bolster his blueline and add Whitecloud to Buffalo’s defense corps? Or what about New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck? We put this out there a couple of weeks ago, and it makes even more sense today.
And heck, if we’re talking about the Sabres stepping up and taking big swings on the trade front, it still makes sense for Kekalainen to try to acquire Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson. Or another Vancouver veteran – rugged winger Jake DeBrusk – could improve Buffalo’s attack.
You can see, then, why there’s really no excuse for the Sabres to stand pat. You want to reward Buffalo’s current players for saving their season, and you don’t do that by sitting on your hands and falling short of the Stanley Cup playoffs because you were too timid to take leap of faith and get the most out of your roster.
No, the best move for Kekalainen & Co. is for him to throw caution to the wind and get ahead of competing teams for experienced veterans of note. Long-suffering Sabres fans deserve to be on the good end of trades, because for too long, they’ve been on the wrong end of them.
Is there a chance a major trade doesn’t work out as hoped for Buffalo? Of course. If there were a risk-free way to improve your team, everybody would be doing it. Thus, the Sabres have to forget about the potential downside of a big trade and embrace the upside of one.
If Saturday’s minor-league trade is all Kekalainen does, Buffalo fans will rightfully be irate. The Sabres have no shortage of potential ways to be a better team by the trade deadline. And the sooner they take a chance on a brand-name player in a big deal, the better they’re likely to be.
Nov 24, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) goes to the basket as New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) defends during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Early in their Nets careers, Drake Powell and Nolan Traore looked like the team’s two rookies least equipped for the NBA.
One didn’t impress in college and missed most of the preseason. The other arrived built like a featherweight and played like the game was on fast-forward.
Powell wasn’t a starter or a featured player at the University of North Carolina, then spent Summer League and the opening stretch of preseason sidelined with a lingering knee injury. ESPN projected him as a second-round pick in its final 2025 mock draft, but Brooklyn selected him at No. 22 felt like a leap of faith, 10 spots earlier than where ESPN had him.
Traore, meanwhile, didn’t look ready from the moment he arrived. At 175 pounds, he was the lightest player from the NBA Combine to be selected in the draft. Even at the G League level, he played like he had a shorter shot clock than everybody else, piling up turnovers while hurrying through possessions that didn’t need to be rushed.
Now, two players who once had their NBA caliber questioned are averaging over 20 minutes per game this month, a reflection of both impressive development and growing trust from the coaching staff.
POWELL’S TWO-WAY VALUE
BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 16: Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball as Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls plays defense during the game on January 16, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)
Powell’s overall collegiate stat line didn’t jump off the page, but a closer look showed some measurables that hinted at his two-way potential.
While he wasn’t lighting up scoreboards with the Tar Heels, he did score efficiently, shooting 37.9%from three and 48.3%from the field. Beyond his game action, there were some positives. Indeed, his athleticism was on full display at the 2025 NBA Combine, finishing with the top standing (37.5 inches) and max (43 inches) vertical jumps. He also placed among the top five at his position in both the agility drill and the three-quarter sprint.
After ramping-up early in the season — while managing his injury, Powell is now operating at full capacity and proving to be a valuable asset. In a 116–113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this month, the North Carolina product scored a career-high 16 points, including a clutch three with five seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. His defensive impact has shown up as well, recording two steals in Brooklyn’s recent 130–126 loss to the Boston Celtics.
“I see him as a very good shooter, a very good playmaker, I can run plays for him on the second side, he can handle in transition, he can guard the best perimeter player, his athleticism is top in the NBA for his position,” said Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez. “We believe he can be not just a good but a great two-way player, which means that he’s going to be a very good defender.”
That’s high praise for the league’s 19th youngest player.
At 6’5” (in barefeet) and 195 pounds, the 20-year-old possesses the blend of size, athleticism and shooting ability teams look for in an ideal two-way contributor. Sean Marks understood that not all five of his first-round picks would become stars but for a team hoping to eventually contend, filling specific roles matters and Powell is beginning to find and prove his niche.
TRAORE TURNING CHAOS INTO CONTROL
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 2: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 2, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
Based on the way he opened the season, Traore’s recent improvement may come as the biggest surprise in the group.
The Frenchman was a mess … and that’s putting it kindly. He averaged 4.5 turnovers per game through his first four appearances with the Long Island Nets, a rate that would currently lead the NBA. But slow starts aren’t unfamiliar to him. During his time with Saint-Quentin in France’s LNB Elite League, Traore followed a similar arc before being named the FIBA Champions League Best Young Player.
By December, he was averaging 22.2 points, eight assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the G League while cutting his turnovers down to 2.2 before being called back up to Brooklyn. While he still uses his high-end speed to his advantage, the game has slowed down for Traore, allowing him to manipulate defenders with sudden changes of pace.
“He took full advantage of the opportunities he had with Long Island,” said Fernández. “And when he came back here, he did so with a different spirit and a lot more confidence.”
After playing in just ten games throughout the first three months of the season, the rookie point guard has already played in 13 in January, averaging 7.8 points and 3.5 assists while playing 23.4 minutes per game.
During Brooklyn’s 130–126 double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, Traore logged career highs in both minutes (37) and points (21), while also adding three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Indeed, he became the youngest player in franchise history to score 20 points in a game. (He’s also the fifth youngest player in Nets history.)
“His ability to touch the paint, how slippery he is, obviously, he’s gonna keep growing,” Fernandez said after the game. “He’s got to grow that voice, and I’m going to trust him. He’s doing a great job.”
JORDI’S NURTURING
MACAU, MACAU – OCTOBER 12: Coach Jordi Fernandez of Brooklyn Nets reacts during NBA China Games 2025 between Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns at The Venetian Macao on October 12, 2025 in Macau, Macau. 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 Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Ultimately, the rapid development of these young players can’t be discussed without giving credit to Fernández. While growth still depends on the players themselves, much of it comes down to how they’re used, challenged, and ultimately put in positions to succeed.
There’s no tough love without the “love” part, and Fernández does a strong job of reminding his young players what they’re capable of while also jumping on every opportunity to correct them or clean up areas they can improve.
When Powell played only two minutes during a loss to the Dallas Mavericks back in December, his coach didn’t hesitate to call him out publicly.
“These young guys need to understand how important every minute you play is,” Fernández said. “If the intentions are there, I’m completely fine. But if the mistakes are from easing into the game, that’s not how we do it here.”
The following game, Powell responded with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal while helping the Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks.
For the Nets’ young players, progress hasn’t come through comfort or sugarcoating, but through constructive criticism and accountability.
It’ll be a while, maybe a couple of years, for pundits and fans to finally assess the Nets 2025 Draft, but for Powell and Traore, there’s already enough for change perceptions.
The Dallas Mavericks (19-26) host the Los Angeles Lakers (26-17) Friday night on ABC. The Mavericks are riding high having won four straight, most recently against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The Lakers are playing pretty uneven basketball lately, but in their most recent game they fell to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers
WHAT: Luka Doncic returns to the AAC again!
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: ABC
The injury report for the Mavericks has become a game of whack-a-mole. One guy comes back, Daniel Gafford is listed as probable with his ankle issue, but another goes down, in this case Moussa Cisse is doubtful due to illness. Otherwise, it’s the same four guys listed as out that have been out: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, and Dante Exum. The Lakers are without Austin Reaves who is dealing with a calf strain.
If you are watching tonight, please try downloading this app I am working with called Offside. I’ll be hanging out in the game chat with SlightlyBiased during the game. Give it a download, find the game, then look for the chat tab. Hang out, react to the game, drop any trades you want to see, and we’ll have fun during what should be a thrilling game.
When I wrote the longer game preview last night, I felt good about the Maverick chances, but something related to Cisse being out has me spooked. He plays hard, rebounds hard, and sets a tone and Dallas needs that. Gafford is good for some things, but rebounding and team defense aren’t his highest ranking attributes. I think the Mavericks need to push hard in transition to put the Lakers away. Doncic will take and make tough shots, but the Mavericks need to make the game tiring for the Lakers. This one feels like a toss up, though the Lakers are currently a 3.5 point favorite.
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenseman Gavin Bayreuther to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Viktor Neuchev, the team announced on Saturday.
Bayreuther, 31, signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina this offseason to return to North America and had played solely in the AHL this season.
He appeared in 33 games with the Chicago Wolves, registering four goals and 13 points.
With injury issues hitting the Sabres' blueline, this gives Bayreuther a potential chance to once again play NHL games.
Neuchev, 22, was a third-round pick by the Sabres in the 2022 draft and he has spent the last three seasons in AHL with the Rochester Americans.
The 5-foot-11 winger has 130 games of AHL experience under his belt with 24 goals and 66 points to show for it.
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The latest victim to fall in the conference is No. 16 Florida, as the defending national champions lost to Auburn 76-67 on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. It's the Tigers' first signature conference win of the Steven Pearl era.
Keyshawn Hall's team-high 24 points willed the Tigers to their first win against the Gators in Gainesville since Feb. 10, 1996.
The win also marks the second upset in the SEC on Saturday and moves both teams to 5-3 in the conference standings, two things that show the conference remains wide open going into February.
Hall played a big part in Auburn being able to head into the locker room with a 15-point lead at halftime. The Tigers' senior guard had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half, including a 3-of-4 mark from behind the arc. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
Florida trailed at halftime 43-28 but rallied back to tie the game at 54 then at 56-56 at the 8:09 mark following a pair of free throws from Thomas Haugh. But that'd be as close as Todd Golden's squad would get; Auburn never allowed Florida to be closer than five points for the remaining eight minutes.
Haugh led Florida with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field and had 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Two additional Gators finished in double figures, as Urban Klavzar and Rueben Chinyelu added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Alex Condon, who tested the NBA draft waters last offseason following the Gators' national championship, struggled mightily for Florida. Despite grabbing nine rebounds and recording three blocks, the 6-foot-11 forward was held to one point on 0-for-4 shooting from the field and turned the ball over four times. It's the third time this season that an opponent has held Condon to single-digit points.
Auburn will test its now three-game win streak on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at home against Texas at 7 p.m. ET, while Florida will look to bounce back on the road against South Carolina at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 28.
