Tobias Harris was one of four Detroit players to score at least 10 points [Getty Images]
Tobias Harris scored 25 points as NBA Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons held on to beat the second-placed Boston Celtics 104-103 on Martin Luther King Jr Day.
Jaylen Brown, who registered 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, almost snatched victory when his shot in the final seconds bounced off the rim at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds and Cade Cunningham 16 points and 14 assists for the Pistons.
"We wanted this game. It's a heck of a win for us," said Harris.
"Two of the best teams in the East - our group is always up for the challenge."
The Pistons improved their record to 31-10, while the Celtics are 26-16.
Western Conference leaders and defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder got back to winning ways with a 136-104 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Thunder went into the game on the back of a defeat by the Miami Heat and dominated the Cavaliers as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points.
Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are second in the Western Conference, to a 123-110 home win against the Utah Jazz.
Wembanyama scored a season-high seven three-pointers in a display which also included 10 rebounds, while six other Spurs players reached double figures in points.
For all the golden moments, rewatching coverage from 40 years ago was a lesson in how much things have improved
Forty years ago this month, the Pet Shop Boys track West End Girls topped the charts. Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea were locked in a four-way battle for the title. And Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on Wogan. Terry: “This new film you’ve made, Commando: it’s very violent isn’t it?” Arnie: “Actually, it’s low-key. I only kill around 100 people.”
How do I know this? Because Facebook’s algorithm serves it to me daily. Terrifyingly, it understands me better than I understand myself. A half-forgotten goal, race or innings? That is my sugar-salt-fat magic. An old Top 40 chart or TV listing? My double‑strength nicotine patch.
In a way, it kind of feels like the Spurs have switched places with their IH-10 Rivals this season. While they’re close in the standings, it has been two entirely different seasons for the Spurs and Houston Rockets. Both teams have been on similar rebuild schedules, with the Rockets being a year ahead, and it culminated in them rising to the second seed in the West last season before they were upset in the first round by the Warriors. They appeared to address most of their depth issues in the offseason and added more star power with the addition of Kevin Durant, but so far, it has been a letdown season in no small part due to the loss of Fred VanVleet.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are experiencing the same rise the Rockets did last season, from play-in-contender who ultimately missed out the season before, all the way up to the second seed the next (although hopefully the similarities end there when all is said and done). Additions like Dylan Harper, Luke Kornet and a healthy version of De’Aaron Fox have shored up depth issues from last season and helped them not only survive a spate of injuries, but even thrive.
Today, the two rivals meet up for the first time since early in November, when the Spurs won a tight contest that was ultimately the launching point to them winning their group and making the NBA Cup Finals.
San Antonio Spurs (30-13) at Houston Rockets (25-15)
January 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: NBC/Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs injuries: Not due until 1 PM.
Rockets Injuries: Steven Adams — out (ankle); Tari Eason — questionable (ankle); Fred VanVleet — out (knee)
What to watch for
No point guard for the Rockets
In a situation the Spurs can relate to from a couple of seasons ago, Houston has been playing the entire season without a true point guard after VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in September. As a result, it has been a point-guard-by-committee approach, with those duties being split between players like Amen Thomson and Reed Sheppard. The result has been a bottom 10 team in the league in turnovers and an offense that can get stagnant and lean too much on Durant at times, but that doesn’t mean the Spurs can take them lightly. They have improved a decent amount in taking care of the ball in the month of January and still rank 4th overall in offensive net rating.
Can the Spurs take their newfound offense on the road?
The Rockets played a very road-heavy schedule to start the season, playing 23 of their first 36 games away from home. (I don’t know why; I work just up the street from the Toyota Center, and unlike the Rodeo for the Spurs, there was nothing of note going on there.) The trade off was fewer games and back-to-backs, but still exhausting. Regardless, they have still have the second best record at home in the West at 14-3 and are currently 3-1 on their five-game homestand, including a win over the Timberwolves, and will look to cap it off with a win tonight.
At the same time, while the Spurs are a good road team this season at 13-8, Houston has been one of those places that gives them trouble over the years, even during their dynasty days. It’s probably safe to say they rediscovered their offensive form while sweeping their three-game homestand, and now they have to take it on the road into a hostile environment. They showed it was no problem earlier in the season, so hopefully the offense starts traveling with them again.
Size on size
Even without Steven Adams, who suffered a scary looking ankle sprain in their last game against the Pelicans and whom the Rockets have played much better with than without, they are still a long, strong team with players like Alperen Sengun, Durant and Jabari Smith. The Spurs also have plenty of length alongside Wemby, especially when they go French Vanilla by playing him with Kornet. I imagine they definitely would have broken it out if Adams was available, but they still might, especially if Wemby keeps shooting threes at this rate, having hit 16-27 over the last three games.
Jimmy Butler’s aggression on offense had been on an uptick as of late. But this night against his former team felt entirely personal.
With just under eight minutes and thirty seconds left in the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ rematch against the Miami Heat (Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green were unavailable for the first matchup in Miami), Quinten Post hauled in the rebound and promptly passed the ball to Curry, who brought the ball up. Scanning the floor, Curry throws a rocket to Will Richard in the corner, with Bam Adebayo sauntering back and becoming visible on the NBCS Bay Area broadcast.
At that point, Adebayo and the television audience had one thing in common: none of them saw Butler zooming toward the half-court view like a bullet shot out of a gun. With his “stampede” cut, Butler caught the pass from Richard on the run, blew past the unsuspecting Adebayo, and rocketed all the way to the rim for the easy finish:
Butler made it a point to make an example of his former teammate, going at him at every opportunity he could get. Despite good defense from Adebayo under the paint, as he is wont to do as one of the league’s preeminent defenders, Butler was able to create ample separation from Adebayo using a turnaround fadeaway jumper:
If ever there was a night for Butler to move differently — in the sense of having that extra motivation to perform better than usual — it would be against the Heat, a squad Butler led to the Finals in 2020 and 2023. Butler fell short of achieving a championship in both instances, but those runs stamped his reputation as a big-game performer and playoff riser.
A rather acrimonious exit with the organization that Butler toiled for is certainly a catalyst for showing off. The proverbial fire was lit underneath him on both ends of the floor:
Players who have something to prove often get lost in the tunnel vision accompanies wanton aggression. Butler could’ve easily fallen victim to ball-hogging ventures born out of a desire to stick it to his former employers, coaches, and teammates. But in true Butlerian fashion, he refrained from waging a one-man crusade and still sought to create good looks for his teammates.
With Moses Moody setting a “Pistol” screen for him in the possession below, Butler coaxes a switch out of the Heat on the drive. Warriors legend Andrew Wiggins drifts too far off of Moody and Butler simply finds the open Moody for a three:
Things were looking dandy for Butler and the Warriors. In his 20 minutes and 50 seconds of time on the floor, the Warriors outscored the Heat by a total of nine points, buoyed by Butler’s versatile floor game and steadiness on defense (as evidenced by the Warriors’ 94 defensive rating in such minutes). However, a story that was seemingly on its way toward a happy ending quickly turned into a nightmare scenario.
Jimmy Butler had to be helped to the locker room after appearing to injury his knee pic.twitter.com/sOSpAxbbAP
Unable to put much weight on his injured right knee, Butler was taken to the locker room and was promptly ruled out for the rest of the game. As of this writing, he is currently having an MRI to determine the nature and severity of the injury.
Words cannot describe how consequential a potential extended Butler absence would be for the Warriors. Butler has played at a top 15-20 level this season, ranking highly in several advanced metrics such as Estimated Plus-Minus (plus-4.2, 14th), Box Plus-Minus (plus-5.5, 12th), and DARKO Plus-Minus (plus-2.8, 19th). He leads the team in total plus-minus (plus-176) and the Warriors have been 10.9 points per 100 possessions better with Butler on the floor.
Most notably, non-Curry minutes spearheaded by Butler have outscored opponents by 8.9 points per 100 possessions in 561 low-leverage minutes. To not only be a positive during Curry’s bench minutes but be a significant positive is unheard of. With Butler potentially missing time, the fear is that the previous status quo — that of non-Curry lineups having trouble creating any sort of positive impact — will return.
At 36 years old, Butler’s prime years are past him; to be playing at this level, with impact that contributes to winning basketball, is quite an amazing feat. But should Butler miss a year or more, he will be 37 years old. For injuries such as this, the extensive rehabilitation and re-acclimatization process isn’t as kind to older players as it has become to younger ones.
Butler still very much wants to contribute to winning, desiring that championship that has eluded him twice. That window was already somewhat narrow before this injury; it has become much closer to being shut with the untimely and unfortunate inward buckle of his knee.
In the grand scheme of things, if the diagnosis turns out to be what everyone isn’t hoping for it to be, the Warriors’ window for contention will be equally close to being shut. The Warriors will have little incentive to move off of their tradeable assets in Jonathan Kuminga (besides the fact that this relationship has run its course) and their treasure trove of picks. Without a keystone for championship contention, what leverage the Warriors had in trade talks would be eliminated, as well as reasons for front office and ownership to go all in on the remaining years of the Curry era.
Most important of all, let us not forget the human element — and hope that Butler will recover expeditiously and in a manner that will allow him to return to play, without any hindrance and setbacks.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alex Killorn broke a second-period tie, rugged newcomer Jeffrey Viel scored his first goal of the season and the Anaheim Ducks beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Monday night.
Cutter Gauthier scored twice on his 22nd birthday — the second into an empty net in the final minute — to push his season total to 22. Mason McTavish also scored to help Anaheim to its fourth victory in a row following a nine-game losing streak.
Lukas Dostal made 19 saves, surviving a wild scramble on a late 21-second two-man advantage.
Matthew Robertson, Artemi Panarin and Vladislav Gavrikov scored for New York, and Spencer Martin stopped 21 shots in his fourth NHL game of the season.
Seeing time with Igor Shesterkin sidelined by a lower-body injury, Martin was back in goal after stopping 25 shots Saturday in a 6-3 victory in Philadelphia that ended a five-game losing streak.
Killorn gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead with 1:58 left in the second period. He scored off a rebound of Jacob Trouba’s long shot after a prolonged scramble behind the goal.
Gauthier padded the lead at 1:01 of the third, and Gavrikov countered for New York at 7:11 with a long shot on a power play.
Viel tied it at 2 at 8:29 of the second with his first goal for the Ducks and the first in 12 NHL games this season. Acquired from Boston on Friday for a 2026 fourth-round pick, Viel controlled Ryan Poehling’s feed from the blue line and beat Martin from close range.
Viel had no points and 30 penalty minutes in 10 games this season for Boston, and added another fighting major in his Ducks debut Saturday night in a 2-1 overtime victory over Los Angeles. In 66 career NHL games, he has four goals, two assists and 188 penalty minutes.
Indiana Pacers (10-34, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (26-16, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Indiana Pacers take on Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference action Wednesday.
The Celtics are 19-10 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston averages 116.7 points while outscoring opponents by 6.7 points per game.
The Pacers are 7-22 against conference opponents. Indiana has a 4-27 record against teams over .500.
The Celtics average 116.7 points per game, 1.6 fewer points than the 118.3 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 110.1 points per game, 0.1 more than the 110.0 the Celtics give up to opponents.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pacers won the last matchup 98-96 on Jan. 13. Pascal Siakam scored 21 points to help lead the Pacers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is shooting 39.1% and averaging 17.7 points for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 27.8 points over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 116.1 points, 48.2 rebounds, 22.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 110.1 points, 42.4 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Josh Minott: day to day (ankle), Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta Hawks (20-25, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (18-23, 11th in the Western Conference)
Memphis, Tennessee; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta looks to break its four-game losing streak with a victory over Memphis.
The Grizzlies are 10-11 in home games. Memphis is 9-9 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 14.9 turnovers per game.
The Hawks are 13-12 in road games. Atlanta is the league leader with 31.0 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 8.0.
The Grizzlies are shooting 45.5% from the field this season, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 47.8% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than the Grizzlies give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 114.3 points, 46.8 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.7 points per game.
Hawks: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 43.6 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 10.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.1 points.
INJURIES: Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (31-10, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (10-35, 15th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will attempt to extend its three-game win streak with a victory against New Orleans.
The Pelicans have gone 7-18 at home. New Orleans averages 13.6 turnovers per game and is 8-15 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.
The Pistons are 13-6 in road games. Detroit ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 32.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 6.8.
The Pelicans make 46.5% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (43.9%). The Pistons average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.6 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Pelicans give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derik Queen is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III is averaging 23.3 points over the last 10 games.
Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 112.5 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.1 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 110.7 points, 44.3 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 11.7 steals and 8.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.3 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Jose Alvarado: out (oblique), Dejounte Murray: out (leg), Herbert Jones: day to day (ankle).
Pistons: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota visits the Utah Jazz after Anthony Edwards scored 55 points in the Timberwolves' 126-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Jazz are 0-8 in division matchups. Utah has a 6-19 record against teams over .500.
The Timberwolves are 4-4 against the rest of their division. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Jazz score 119.1 points per game, 4.4 more points than the 114.7 the Timberwolves give up. The Jazz average 120.0 points per game, 7.5 fewer points than the 127.5 the Jazz allow.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 120-113 on Nov. 11, with Edwards scoring 35 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Keyonte George is averaging 24 points and 6.8 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.
Gobert is scoring 11.0 points per game and averaging 11.4 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 25.2 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 116.8 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 122.6 points, 46.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot), Naz Reid: day to day (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix visits Philadelphia for a non-conference matchup.
The 76ers have gone 11-11 in home games. Philadelphia ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference with 48.2 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 11.7.
The Suns have gone 12-12 away from home. Phoenix has a 4-6 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The 76ers average 116.7 points per game, 4.8 more points than the 111.9 the Suns allow. The Suns average 114.7 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 115.4 the 76ers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the 76ers. Maxey is averaging 28.5 points over the last 10 games.
Devin Booker is averaging 25.3 points and 6.4 assists for the Suns. Dillon Brooks is averaging 19.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 6-4, averaging 117.6 points, 41.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 10.4 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.5 points per game.
Suns: 7-3, averaging 113.3 points, 43.1 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Paul George: day to day (knee).
Suns: Jalen Green: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights closed their three-game homestand winners of another mid-season trade, but on the losing end of a 2-1 decision at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers.
One day after acquiring defenseman Rasmsus Andersson from the Calgary Flames in a blockbuster trade, the Knights were silenced by a hungry Flyers team that ended a six-game slide.
Travis Konecny scored twice while goaltender Samuel Ersson made 23 saves.
Tomas Hertl scored Vegas' lone goal and goalie made 15 saves Adin Hill
Vegas had its seven-game win streak brought to an abrupt halt.
The Golden Knights had won three straight and six of the previous seven meetings with Philadelphia.
KEY MOMENT
Konecny's second goal of the night, in the third period, was the epitome of how the night was going for the Knights. On the penalty kill, Konecny broke free with the puck and skated in untouched for a short-handed breakaway goal to put Philadelphia ahead 2-1.
KEY STAT
7 - Vegas had a season-high seven power play opportunities but capitalized just on time with a man advantage. During its previous seven-game win streak, the Golden Knights were 8 of 17 on the power play.
WHAT A KNIGHT
Hertl scored his fourth goal while registering his ninth point in five games. Hertl ranks fourth on the team with 43 points, with a co-team high 20 goals and 23 assists.
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights open a four-game road trip in Boston on Thursday.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
The New York Rangers were unable to build off of their 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, as they kicked off the west coast road trip with a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Rangers put on a strong push to open up the first period, which seemed like a continuation of their impressive performance in the City of Brotherly Love.
Matthew Roberston opened up the scoring, and after a relatively evenly played period, the score was tied 1-1.
Artemi Panarin’s goal toward the beginning of the second frame extended his point streak to 10 games.
Since it was reported that the Rangers don’t plan to give Panarin a contract extension and will look to trade him before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline, the veteran forward has recorded three goals, two assists, and five points in just two games.
In fact, since Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury sent out what is being called the “Letter 2.0” making clear of the team’s intentions to retool the roster, the Blueshirts have actually played notably better, and specifically more loosely.
“I think there's things that I think we're improving on, as far as the systems go, and being in the right spots and doing the right things, like having the right intentions, but it's just cleaning up the execution is still something we gotta get better at,” Vincent Trocheck said.
In the latter stages of the contest, the Rangers reverted to some of their sloppy tendencies, struggling to move the puck out of their defensive zone, while turnovers also proved to be an issue, which allowed the Ducks to take a 4-2 lead and run away with the victory.
“It’s tough when you turn the puck over the way we turned it over,” Mike Sullivan said. “And when you’re careless with the puck, and you give them those kinds of opportunities, they're going to end up in your net.”
Now that the Rangers have accepted the harsh reality that the playoffs are a long shot, the primary focus must be on making sure the younger players on the roster continue to grow and develop.
Gabe Perreault is starting to find his footing in the NHL and is showing flashes of his offensive potential playing in a top-six role alongside Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller.
His steady strides have not gone unnoticed.
“Gabe had a hell of a game today. I think maybe did a lot of things that people watching don't see,” Miller said. “Obviously, he's a really gifted player with the puck. It's how he's made a name for himself at this point. That being sad, he was in such good spots all over the rink today. You can tell he's learning a lot as he goes.
“He's trying to be a sponge and it's fun to play with. He's just going to get better as he gets going, but I think today, his play without the puck was better. He was good with the puck, but I'm saying his play without the puck really stood out to me.”
The Rangers will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
What a scene in Chase Center Monday night on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There was Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ prized acquisition who was supposed to solve their wing problem once and for all, crumpling to the Chase Center floor with 7:41 left in the third quarter against Miami. His right knee buckled and he couldn’t put weight on it. Teammates helped him limp off the court while the building held its breath.
And there was Andrew Wiggins, wearing Heat colors now, who had received a standing ovation during pregame introductions. As the video tribute played on the big screen Wiggins humbly basked in the adulation, more than worthy of the honor he received from Dub Nation. After all, the crowd that had watched him transform from “worst contract in basketball” to championship contributor had every reason to roar their golden approval.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga sat on the bench in warmups for the 13th straight game, having formally demanded a trade just days earlier. Past, present, and potentially absent future, all visible at the same time.
This is what happens when you spend years trying to replace Kevin Durant. You get a carousel of talented wings, each carrying their own baggage, each representing a different gamble, each reminding you that sometimes the house doesn’t win.
The irony was almost too perfect
Remember how the Warriors got Wiggins? It all started with them wanting D’Angelo Russell in that sign-and-trade with Brooklyn after KD left, knowing Russell might not fit but believing his trade value would eventually help them reload. Six months later, Minnesota was desperate to pair Russell with Karl-Anthony Towns. The price? Wiggins and the seventh round pick that became Kuminga.
At the time, people called Wiggins one of the worst players in the league with no trade value. Those fools. The Warriors made him into a two-way force on their 2022 championship team, completing his redemption arc, an arc that coincided with Steph, Klay, Dray, and Iguodala’s fourth rings. Front office was looking like geniuses as Wiggins’ All-Star berth proved he was the man of the hour.
Until they decided last winter Wiggins wasn’t the answer anymore and sent him to Miami.
“Welcome back to the Bay, Andrew Wiggins!
He gets a warm ovation from the crowd in his first game back in Golden State 👏 pic.twitter.com/kQUTwuE2fp
Wiggins is averaging 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with the Heat now. Not spectacular, but Erik Spoelstra thinks it might be the most complete basketball of his career considering the responsibilities he’s handling on both ends. He’s thriving in a system that doesn’t ask him to be someone he’s not.
Kuminga? He started the first 12 games this season leading Coach Steve Kerr to call him a secure starter. Then struggles led to a benching that landed poorly with the 23-year-old. He’s been completely out of the lineup since December 18th and now team sources say everyone agrees the best resolution is trading him before February 5.
Butler was supposed to be the answer, which is why the Warriors gave up Wiggins to get him. They believed his intensity, his playoff pedigree, his two-way dominance would bring All-NBA caliber play to the position. Golden State has gone 12-4 since December 18 with a top-five offense during that stretch.
Losing Butler for any extended time would almost certainly derail that momentum.
Steve Kerr was asked if the Jimmy Butler injury could lead to Jonathan Kuminga minutes.
And so what a scene it was in San Francisco as we got to see those three talented players. They’re on three different trajectories, providing three reminders that sometimes you can make all the smart moves and still end up exactly where you started: searching for the piece that fits.
Butler will get an MRI. The Warriors will hope it’s short-term. They’ll canvas the market for Kuminga trades, prioritizing expiring contracts that don’t lock them into long-term money. They’ll keep spinning the wheel, hoping this time it lands on the right number. Because when you’ve tasted championships, when you’ve had Kevin Durant and know what elite wing play looks like, you can’t stop chasing it.
South Australia’s Jake Lehmann has been awarded Men’s Domestic Player of the Year by Cricket Australia less than a month after switching allegiances and defecting to England on a British passport.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Anthony Duclair scored twice and the New York Islanders beat Vancouver 4-3 on Monday night, handing the Canucks their 11th consecutive defeat.
Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (27-17-5). Ryan Pulock's second goal of the season put New York ahead for good with 4:02 remaining in the second period.
Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer and British Columbia product Mathew Barzal each had two assists. Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots.
Duclair has seven goals in his last seven games after scoring four in his first 38 appearances this season.
Max Sasson, Evander Kane and Drew O’Connor scored for the NHL-worst Canucks (16-28-5), who have lost eight straight games in regulation. They are 0-9-2 during the losing streak, and still winless in 2026.
Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver, which fell to 4-14-3 at Rogers Arena and hasn't won at home since Dec. 6.
Sasson gave the Canucks an early lead, scoring 2:49 into the game, and Kane put them up 2-1 with his eighth goal of the season before the end of the first period.
But the Canucks gave up two goals in 1:24 late in the second and couldn’t recover in the third despite a late goal from O’Connor.
Pulock gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead when he took a pass from Schaefer at the top of the slot and sent a shot over Lankinen.
