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Milwaukee faces Dallas on home losing streak

Dallas Mavericks (19-27, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (18-26, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Sunday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bucks -1.5; over/under is 219.5

BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee looks to end its three-game home skid with a win over Dallas.

The Bucks have gone 9-12 in home games. Milwaukee averages 14.0 turnovers per game and is 8-7 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents.

The Mavericks are 5-15 in road games. Dallas is the leader in the Western Conference scoring 19.0 fast break points per game led by Cooper Flagg averaging 3.3.

The Bucks are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points higher than the 46.2% the Mavericks allow to opponents. The Mavericks average 114.3 points per game, 1.2 fewer than the 115.5 the Bucks allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Bucks won the last matchup 116-114 on Nov. 11. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points to help lead the Bucks to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Myles Turner is averaging 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 13.2 points over the last 10 games.

Naji Marshall is scoring 14.7 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson is averaging 3.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 4-6, averaging 108.0 points, 41.4 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points per game.

Mavericks: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 46.4 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.2 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), AJ Green: day to day (illness), Kevin Porter Jr.: out (oblique), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (illness), Taurean Prince: out (neck).

Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Moussa Cisse: day to day (illness), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Jay Vine recovers from kangaroo crash to win Tour Down Under for second time

  • Australian cycling star holds on to lead the hard way

  • Kangaroo caused Vine and others to crash during final stage

The Australian cycling star Jay Vine has survived a race crash caused by a kangaroo to win the Tour Down Under for the second time.

Despite losing two more UAE Team Emirates colleagues on Sunday’s last stage, Vine’s commanding lead was enough of a buffer. He also won the event in 2023.

Continue reading...
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Knicks 112, 76ers 109: “Fugly win”

The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 yesterday, a win familiar for anyone who has ever sat on the edge of their bed at the end of a long day of getting a small child through shopping and vaccinations and missed naps and vegetables and vomiting and felt that peculiar buzz that’s a mix of adrenaline and apathy. The Sixers are the closest thing the Knicks have to a heated rivalry, especially when the teams play at Madison Square Garden West, especially especially when Joel Embiid is healthy and Embidding. At least he was half of the time — the very definition of Embiiding.

Believe it or not, we’re now nearing a decade of Embiid vs. Mitchell Robinson, who still gets as juiced for this matchup as he did his rookie year. Good thing he does, and that he played as well as he did, because the Knicks needed it with Karl-Anthony Towns still rabbit-holing down his one-man magical mystery tour. After five fouls each in four of the last five games, KAT went all “Have thy will, I am the love that dare not speak its name” with foul number six and finally gave in to temptation, fouling out after 16 minutes of play so bizarre they’d leave Kafka pissing his pants. Once Robinson checked in, the Knicks went on a 12-0 run.

“From a certain point onward,” Kafka wrote, “there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.” Mitch was that point.

As Ryan Ruocco reminded the viewers every three minutes, when Embiid is at the top of his game the 76ers are a team every team must fear. Outside of San Antonio, how many teams have a truly unguardable two-way big man? If Embiid is still playing in June, he’s one of maybe four people alive the Thunder don’t have an answer for, along with Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić and Kevin Durant, mysteries for whom neither God nor math offer answers. Peak Embiid is 28 points in 17 first-half minutes without breaking stride, like the Knicks endured Saturday.

As I repeated to Ruocco every three minutes via my TV screen — loudly and profanely late in the first half, when I was hungry and the Sixers took the lead; softer and smarmy most of the second, after mac and cheese and the Knicks resuming control — “‘Embiid’s good!’ isn’t news.” Despite his history with the Knicks, he’s easily one of my favorite players to watch play against them — a real marvel. The playoffs are way better when he’s a meaningful part of them. And yet to ignore the other shoe, the one everyone’s waiting for to drop, is to be a fool. And now is no time for fools. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

After playing only six of Philadelphia’s first 18 games, never more than 26 minutes, yesterday was the 16th time in his last 19 games Embiid’s played 30+. In just over three weeks, he’s played 36+ five times. Last time he played that many in that short a span? Twenty-one months ago. Remember?

In the first half Embiid was the good boyfriend, stroking your hair, using the soft voice he did when you first met, when he first swept you off your feet. He finally met with your uncle for that job interview; it went really well. Why’s he so sweaty? He’s working out again. He’s even seeing a therapist. Things are gonna be different. Then one day he isn’t answering your texts, not since the night before, after he came home sweaty, long past when the gym closed. You’re missing some cash.

Ariel Hukporti fell on his knee. It could have been any number of things, could have happened to anybody. That’s what makes it human. But it’s always something, always happening to the same person. That’s what makes it Embiid.

Embiid played a part in Philly’s last stand, but looked to be laboring through it. For much of the endgame the Knicks played without a center and looked none the worse for it, though Embiid’s partial brilliance might have been enough to knock the Knicks off on a night Towns, Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride went 8-of-31. But there’s one advantage the Knicks enjoy over their fellow Boston-hating East Coast metropolis: OG Anunoby. Whether his flurry of first-half dunks or late game heroics on both ends, Anunoby, if not/alongside Mitch, was the player of the game. His fake swing pass as V.J. Edgecombe came flying at him led to a bounce pass to Landry Shamet in the corner showed the sublime ease of a perfect panenka.

When you sit at the high-rollers table, where the Knicks now do, how you win means less than how much. 85% of New York’s victories this season have been by 5+ points, including six by 20+. Detroit? 75% and five. Who cares? The Pistons have won 32 games, period, while the Knicks have 26. That’s the only number that matters, at least until they all re-set in April.

41 wins matters when you’re up and coming. 50 matters when some dreams have come true and others remain. When you’re the Knicks in January 2026, it’s all about winding your way through 82 games, then winning 16 more. Nobody cares how, or by how much.

Quoth iwamofo: “Fugly win.” It was. This one was never in jeopardy and never in the bag, for either team. When it ended I felt empty, tired, and joyless — but not hopeless. Every day like that is a win. Like the Knicks, all I can do today is win the games I’m in, then do it again tomorrow, every day, long as I can, long as it takes. You too, loves.

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Charles Bediako plays first game back with Alabama after previously signing NBA contract

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Alabama player Charles Bediako receiving instructions from coach Nate Oats during a basketball game

Another former professional basketball player has gone back to school.

Charles Bediako, who has already spent multiple seasons in the G League, played in his first game back with Alabama during their 79-73 loss against Tennessee on Saturday night.

Bediako finished the game with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, along with two steals and two blocks in 25 minutes off the bench.

Bediako said his relationship with coach Nate Oats played a key part in his decision to return.

“That staff really trusts and believes in me and plays to my strengths,” Bediako said after the game. “Obviously when that opportunity came, it just felt right to come back.”

Charles Bediako receives instructions from head coach Nate Oats during the first half of Alabama’s 79-73 over Tennessee on Jan. 24, 2026 in Tuscaloosa. Getty Images

Bediako checked into the game amid a rousing ovation with 16:11 to play in the first half and helped the 17th-ranked Crimson Tide score 26 points in the paint while building a 39-36 lead at the break.

He scored on an inbounds pick-and-roll play, two alley-oop passes and a layup. His emphatic block ignited a fast break that led to a dunk.

The 23-year-old center was quieter in the second half, but he added an inside presence that Alabama had been missing all season.

With starting center Aiden Sherrell in foul trouble throughout the game, Bediako logged the fourth-most minutes on the team and finished with the highest plus-minus rating at plus-10.

“I thought he was good,” Oats said after the loss. “Thought he meshed well with our guys early. For a guy that’s been here a few days, to fit in with the team, I thought he was good. He’s got to get a few more rebounds for us. He knows that. He’s a great teammate. He’s gonna help us moving forward.”

The 23-year-old was granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday which ultimately made him eligible to return to college basketball immediately, making him the first player to return to the NCAA after previously signing an NBA contract.

“We are planning to play him,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said of Bediako on Friday, per ESPN. “He’s eligible to play. We’re going to follow the court orders.”

Bediako, a 7-foot-3 center, had previously spent two seasons playing for the Crimson Tide in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before leaving the school for the NBA Draft.

He ultimately went undrafted and never played in an NBA game, but he did spend the past three seasons on three different G League teams, and signing two-way contracts with them.

Bediako has most recently suited up for the Piston’s G-League affiliate, Motor City Cruise, earlier this month.

Charles Bediako runs up the court during Alabama’s loss to Tennessee. Getty Images

Oats noted that Bediako is still in the five-year window of his high school graduation, comparing his situation to European players who have played professionally before being cleared to play college basketball.

“Since the NCAA has already allowed professionals to play — virtually every team we’ve played this year or will play has a former professional player on their roster — you tell me how I’m supposed to tell Charles and the team that we’re not going to support them when he’s been deemed legally eligible to play,” Oats said.

During his first stint in Alabama, Bediako was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, and later averaged 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds during his sophomore campaign for the Crimson Tide.

Bediako’s return to college basketball comes after James Nnaji of Baylor made his NCAA return earlier this month after being drafted by the Hornets with the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Despite being an NBA draft selection, Nnaji never signed with a team, which is what ultimately made him eligible for college basketball.

— with AP

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McDavid scores in OT, Bouchard nets hat trick as Oilers edge Capitals 6-5

Connor McDavid scored 46 seconds into overtime, Evan Bouchard had his first NHL hat trick and three assists, and the Edmonton Oilers held on for a 6-5 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Bouchard's six-point game came in his 400th regular-season contest. McDavid had a goal and three assists in regulation, Zach Hyman scored and Leon Draisaitl contributed three assists for the Oilers.

Edmonton netminder Connor Ingram gave up three goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Tristan Jarry midway through the second period. Jarry made 13 saves to close out the victory.

Washington got off to a slow start and didn’t register a shot on goal until the final minute of the first period. Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist, while Aliaksei Protas, Justin Sourdif, Dylan Strome and Anthony Beauvillier all got goals. Charlie Lindgren stopped 34 of the 40 shots he faced.

Washington was coming off a 3-1 win over the Flames in Calgary on Friday, and is now 1-4-0 in its last five games.

Washington’s first goal came just 22 seconds after Bouchard opened the scoring and the visitors leveled the score again two minutes and 37 seconds after his second of the night.

The Capitals climbed back into the game despite going down a defenseman late in the first period after Rasmus Sandin was hurt blocking a shot in the dying seconds of the opening frame and had to be helped off the ice. He did not return.

Draisaitl registered his 600th regular-season assist on Bouchard’s second goal. He is the fourth player in franchise history with 600 assists, following McDavid, Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.

Up next

Capitals: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.

Oilers: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat recap and final score: Jazz get steamrolled by the Heat

Jusuf Nurkic made Utah Jazz history in a blowout loss to the Miami Heat.

No Jazz player has ever recorded three consecutive triple-doubles until tonight. Jusuf Nurkic, who was visibly gassed at the end of the game, stayed in despite the Utah Jazz being down by about 30 points. In the final minutes, he grabbed his tenth rebound, securing his third straight game with at least ten points, ten rebounds, and ten assists.

While Nurkic made some fun history, the Utah Jazz played one of their worst games as a team against the Heat. The Miami Heat absolutely dominated the glass all game long. Miami had 64 total rebounds to Utah’s 34, and 26 of the 64 for Miami were offensive rebounds. It was hard to watch, to say the least. The Jazz also shot a mediocre 7/25 from three-point land and just looked flat out there. Brice Sensabaugh shot 4/7 from three, leading the team with 23 points. Standout star Keyonte George couldn’t find any rhythm tonight, going 0/8 behind the three-point line.

Ace Bailey continues to add to his rookie season highlight reel, and Cody Williams keeps proving why he belongs in the NBA with his standout defense, tallying three blocks and a steal. Lauri Markkanen remains out (return-to-competition reconditioning). People can argue about what’s actually going on here, but having Lauri sit and letting the young guys develop—even if the results are tough like they were tonight—will only benefit the Utah Jazz moving toward the future.

This Utah Jazz team is young, fun, and inconsistent. Forty-six games into the season with 36 remaining, the Jazz will have to learn how to avoid nights like tonight—especially with next season approaching, when they should finally be ready to start competing. Nights like this show why the Jazz need to focus on keeping their 2026 pick and ignore anyone hoping for a play-in run. Despite Keyonte George ascending right before our eyes and Markkanen playing at an All-NBA level, the Jazz are not ready… yet.

Will Hardy needs to continue prioritizing the youth and letting them find the consistency required to win in the NBA. The Jazz started off decent tonight against Miami, but as the game went on it got worse and worse. Miami might be one of the most “mid” teams in the NBA, and they still rolled over the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

The Utah Jazz still remain firmly at No. 6 in the lottery standings at 15–31. It’ll be tough for them to move up, but not impossible. Tonight wasn’t just historic for Nurkić—it also marked a huge night from a college basketball freshman, who posted insane numbers. If the Jazz keep their top-8 protected pick, they’ll guarantee themselves a high-level prospect regardless of whether the team moves up.

The Miami Heat won tonight 147–116, but the Jazz still appear to be building toward a successful 2025–2026 season despite the blowout.

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Derrick Rose's Bulls jersey retirement ceremony: Top moments

Derrick Rose was honored by the Chicago Bulls with a jersey retirement ceremony Saturday, following the team's dramatic 114-111 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Rose, a Chicago native, spent eight years with the team and became the NBA’s youngest Most Valuable Player when he won the award in the 2010-11 season.

Several familiar faces from Rose’s career were at the United Center in Chicago to celebrate the point guard becoming the fifth player in the franchise’s history to have his jersey retired, joining the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Among the crowd were ex-teammates Taj Gibson, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. Rose's former coach, Tom Thibodeau, was also in attendance.

Here are some of the best moments from the night:

Derrick Rose's Bulls jersey retirement ceremony: Top moments

Rose addressed the crowd with a speech that brought many to tears, including his young son and mother.

Kevin Huerter arrived at the arena wearing a Rose jersey and made a big play like the Bulls legend in the final moments of the game.

Huerter made a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that gave the Bulls a 114-111 lead with 0.2 seconds left in regulation.

Derrick Rose honored by teammates, coaches

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Derrick Rose Bulls jersey retirement ceremony: Top moments

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Watch Chicago legend Derrick Rose have Bull's jersey retired

There are players who become legends because they played like a Hall of Famer for a team and a city. There are players who become legends and are forever associated with the city where they were born.

There are very few who are both. Derrick Rose is that in Chicago, and Saturday night, his No. 1 jersey was retired, hung in the rafters of the United Center.

First, there was this tribute video, narrated by Scottie Pippen.

Next came a series of speeches about Rose from former teammates, as well as coach Tom Thibodeau.

Then Rose himself gave an emotional, thoughtful speech that included some words to his kids.

In his first four seasons with the Bulls, Rose won MVP, Rookie of the Year, was a three-time All-Star, and led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals, as far as the franchise has ever gotten since Michael Jordan retired (the first time).

It ended up being a game Rose could love, a hard-fought game against the Celtics that came down to the wire, when Kevin Huerter hit the game-winner.

It was a great night at the United Center.

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Adebayo's 26 points and 15 rebounds lead Heat to dominant 147-116 win over Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 147-116 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

Nikola Jovic added 23 points and Pelle Larsson had 20 as the Heat matched their most points in a game this season. Miami beat Denver 147-123 last month.

The Heat, who are 2-2 on their five-game West Coast road trip, narrowly ended its streak of nine straight games allowing 117 points or more.

Jusuf Nurkic had 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to become the first player in Jazz history with three consecutive triple-doubles. He had only one triple-double in his career before this streak, and the last came on Jan. 16, 2019, while playing for Portland.

Brice Sensabaugh scored 23 points for the Jazz, which has lost six of seven. Keyonte George finished with 19 points.

The Heat took the lead for good with 6:44 remaining in the first quarter and cruised to a 73-52 lead at halftime.

Miami made 19 3-pointers compared to the Jazz's seven and and outrebounded Utah 64 to 34.

Up next

Heat: Play at Phoenix on Sunday night.

Jazz: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

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Jay Vine wins the Tour Down Under after being knocked off his bike by a kangaroo

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia's Jay Vine was knocked down by a kangaroo on the final stage Sunday but recovered to win the Tour Down Under cycle race, the first event of the 2026 World Tour.

Vine was knocked from his bike when two large kangaroos bounced onto the road on a high speed section with about 96 kilometers (61 miles) left in the undulating 169.8 kilometer (105 mile) stage through the hills around Adelaide. Three riders — Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson and Alberto Dainese — were forced to quit the race and the kangaroo also was injured.

Vine led the race by 1 minute, 3 seconds on general classification entering the last stage. But he was already at a disadvantage because two of his UAE Team Emirates including the defending champion and then second-placed Jhonatan Narvaez crashed out in the fourth stage on Saturday.

Juan Sebastian Molano also abandoned the tour Sunday because of fatigue, leaving Vine with only two teammates on the last stage: Ivo Emanuel Oliveira and Briton Adam Yates.

Vine got up immediately after his crash and changed bikes twice before rejoining the peloton with around 92 kilometers remaining.

He remained near the front of the peloton for the rest of the stage and finished 1 minute, 3 seconds ahead of Mauro Schmid of Switzerland (Team Jayco Alula) and Harry Sweeny (EF Education - Easypost) of Australia who was a further nine seconds behind.

‘Dangerous’ intruders

“Everyone asks me what's the most dangerous thing in Australia and I always tell them it's kangaroos,” said Vine who won his home race for the second time in three years. "They wait and they hide in the bushes until you can't stop and they jump out in front of you. Point proven today.

“Two of them blasted through the peloton when we were doing probably 50 kph (30 mph) and one of them stopped and went left, right, left right, left right and I ended up hitting its backside.”

Matthew Brennan of Britain (Team Visma) won the stage in a sprint ahead of Finn Fisher-Black of New Zealand (Bora Hansgrohe) and Tobias Lund Andresen of Denmark (Decathlon).

The stage covered eight laps of a circuit which involved a slow, steep climb to the finish in the township of Stirling. There were two breakaways during the stage, the second of which came back to the peloton with only one kilometer remaining.

Vine managed to overcome an enormous amount of bad luck to win the race.

“This year we started off really positive and we just had more and more bad luck as the race went on,” he said. "Today was never going to easy and I've been saying all week it's not over until it's over.

“But it's proven to be not over till it's over in this race for us.”

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AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

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Player Grades: Lakers vs. Mavs

What a truly hilarious and odd game from the Lakers.

If you simply fell asleep at halftime and woke up for the final minutes of the contest, you’d think it was a straightforward, comfortable win where the Lakers controlled things throughout.

Across the first, second and fourth quarters, the Lakers outscored the Mavs 112-75. They were dominant, especially in the fourth. They simply mixed in one of their worst quarters of the season in the middle of that.

LA was outplayed so thoroughly in the third, losing the period 35-14, that it almost defied logic, especially in hindsight, given how they responded in the fourth. What do you make of a game like that? I’m not entirely sure. And I don’t know if head coach JJ Redick will know either.

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.

LeBron James

37 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 8-16 FG, 1-3 3PT, -8

A fairly quiet three quarters for LeBron gave way to a fourth quarter where his energy was important in turning the tide. This is the second game in a row where he’s turned it up a notch in the fourth to lead a comeback attempt.

Grade: A-

Jake LaRavia

30 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, 4-8 FG, 2-6 3PT, 3-4 FT, +12

A more consistent, balanced impact in this one as opposed to the Clippers game where it all came at the beginning.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

24 minutes, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 4-16 FG, 1-2 FT, -12

When the Lakers are looking to move on from Ayton in the summer or discussing bringing him off the bench, remember this game. Every one of his shot attempts came in the paint, which makes his box score even more staggering.

Grade: F

Marcus Smart

32 minutes, 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-5 FT, -2

The first three quarters were unmitigated chaos from Smart. At best, there was as much good as bad, but that’s the optimistic take.

He, too, had a strong fourth quarter, though, which brought the Lakers back into it. He and LeBron were the energy spark in the final frame.

Grade: B+

Luka Dončić

39 minutes, 33 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 5 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-15 FG, 3-8 3PT, 14-15 FT, +18

It wasn’t quite as impressive as his first return to Dallas, but it was still a great performance. And he showed up defensively, too!

Grade: A

Gabe Vincent

15 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 foul, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, +8

Yeah, I’ve got nothing.

Grade: D

Jaxson Hayes

15 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 fouls, 3-3 FG, +1

One rebound as a seven-footer in 15 minutes is incredible, and not in a good way. He was also struggling defensively, which probably explains why Redick closed with no center on the floor.

Grade: D

Rui Hachimura

27 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 foul, 6-13 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-1 FT, +21

What a fourth quarter from Rui. He’s taken to his role off the bench, one that looks like he’s set to remain in moving forward, but showed he can still hit big shots when it matters.

Grade: A

Jarred Vanderbilt

12 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, 3-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-2 FT, -4

A solid enough showing from Vando, including a pair of 3-pointers. This was the first game since Dec. 30 where he made multiple threes.

Grade: B+

Drew Timme

Not a bad game from Timme, but not a great one. Redick opted to ride his small ball lineup more in the fourth, so he did not meet the 10-minute requirement.

JJ Redick

To that point, Redick went back to what he believes in, playing a smallball lineup to close this game. Considering the play of Ayton and Hayes, you could hardly blame him. But also, it was a lineup that bludgeoned the Mavs in the fourth.

Grade: A-

Saturday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht

Saturday’s inactives: Austin Reaves, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Moe Odum has 33 points and 8 assists, Arizona State beats Cincinnati 82-68

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Moe Odum had 33 points, eight assists and three steals on Saturday night to help Arizona State beat Cincinnati 82-68 to snap a three-game losing streak.

Odum made 10 of 17 from the field, 6 of 11 from 3-point range and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Anthony Johnson added 11 points and Santiago Trouet 10 for Arizona State (11-9, 2-5 Big 12). Massamba Diop had 10 rebounds to go with six points and four blocks.

Baba Miller had 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Cincinnati (10-10, 2-5) and Moustapha Thiam scored 15. Day Day Thomas and Jizzle James — who went into the game averaging 12.0 (second on the team) and 10.3 points (fourth), respectively — combined to make 3 of 13 from the field, 0 of 5 from behind the arc, and score six points. Thomas, who was scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting, had six assists.

Cincinnati scored eight of the first 11 second-half points to take a one-point lead with 16:49 left in the game, but Trouet answered with a 3-pointer, then added a dunk and two free throws in a 19-7 run that gave the Sun Devils the lead for good. Noah Meeusen hit a 3-pointer that made it 64-52 — their biggest lead of the game — with nine minutes remaining.

Sencire Harris made layups 21 seconds apart to cap a 9-0 spurt that made it a three-point game with 6:50 to go, but Odum responded with back-to-back 3-pointers and then added two free throws with 3:47 left that made it 74-63.

Up next

Cincinnati: The Bearcats host Baylor on Wednesday.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils play Tuesday at UCF.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Brad Marchand scores 2, including decisive OT goal, in Panthers 4-3 win over Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Brad Marchand scored twice, with his second coming 3 minutes into overtime, and the Florida Panthers won their third-straight road game with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Sam Reinhart had a goal and assist, Sam Bennett also scored, and the Panthers improved to 5-2 in their past seven. Reinhart's goal was his 25th of the season, marking the sixth straight year and seventh time overall he's scored that many.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots for his 207th career road win, and he moved into third on the NHL list behind only Martin Brodeur (310) and Marc-Andre Fleury (246). Bobrovsky began the day tied with Ed Belfour.

Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy had a goal and assist each, while Joel Eriksson Ek also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson stopped 30 shots in dropping to 9-2-4 in his past 13.

Marchand, who also added an assist, decided the game in being set up by Carter Verhaeghe on a 2-on-1 break. Verhaeghe gained control of the puck after Boldy was unable to control a pass from Quinn Hughes in the Florida end.

Boldy, in his first game after missing four with an upper-body injury, put the Wild ahead 3-2 with a short-handed goal with 7:51 left in regulation. Bennett, however, tied it 62 seconds later on the same Panthers’ power play.

Florida improved to 15-0-3 in games decided by one goal this season.

Kaprizov extended his points streak to five games, in which he’s combined for three goals and nine assists.

Minnesota’s John Hynes, who is from Rhode Island, coached his 800th career game, becoming the NHL’s fourth U.S.-born coach to reach that plateau.

Up next

Panthers: At Chicago on Sunday night.

Wild: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Player Grades: Reacapping the Mavericks’ 116-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers

After a four-game winning streak, the Dallas Mavericks (19-27) blew a fourth-quarter lead in Luka Dončić’s return, as both the offense and defense collapsed late.

This game was a game of runs, as both teams demonstrated long stretches of dominance, with the Lakers final run ending the game.

Let’s not waste any more time, into the grades:

Cooper Flagg: D

16 PTS / 6 AST / 7 REB / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 34 MIN

A frustrating Flagg performance headlined this game, as he missed plenty of easy shots, and had very uneven aggression.

Flagg struggled to capitalize on some of his easy shots, as he blew some shots he would normally make. He also struggled from behind the arc, as his elevation and shot form was inconsistent.

While a bad game from Cooper is frustrating his process was good, and he made multiple impact plays defensively. Overall, Flagg almost always bounces back from a down performance, so expect a great game on Sunday.

Max Christie: A

24 PTS / 3 AST / 2 REB / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 35 MIN

Cormac Karl “Max” Christie continues to showcase his expanding skillset, as his three-level scoring was on display. Christie was able to leverage his three point shooting by attacking closeouts and mismatches, which is a skill that has become incredibly valuable in the modern NBA.

Christie is a foundational piece of this team, and every game only solidifies his position as the second most important player on the team.

Naji Marshall: B+

21 PTS / 2 AST / 11 REB / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 37 MIN

While the Mavericks’ season has been incredibly uneven, Marshall’s contributions have been a steady constant in every game. His short-range shot-making gave the Lakers problems all game long, and he also popped on the offensive glass.

This type of shot making provides a unique spacing advantage, as even though his three point shooting is lacking, defenders still have to show him respect on the perimeter.

Should the Mavericks trade Naji? Maybe, but only if significant draft compensation is involved.

Caleb Martin: A+

17 PTS / 1 AST / 3 REB / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 24 MIN

A few months ago, I called Caleb Martin the worst player in the NBA.

Oh how things have changed.

Martin has started the last six games and has provided very solid production offensively, which is a stark difference to the first 30 games of the year.

If Martin can keep this up, he could solidify himself as a rotational player for next year’s squad.

Dwight Powell: C

0 PTS / 2 AST / 7 REB / 2 STL / 1 BLK – 24 MIN

Dwight Powell was unfortunately on the other side of the vaunted Doncic pick-and-roll game, and Powell was hunted all night.

Powell can be a solid spot starter and rotational big, but his limitations were on full display in this game. He also struggled to finish at the rim, which hurt especially bad in the 4th quarter.

Daniel Gafford: C-

2 PTS / 1 AST / 2 REB / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 16 MIN

Daniel Gafford continues to stack forgettable performances, struggling to impact the game in any real aspect.

While he was on a minutes restriction, the 16 minutes he did play were unimpactful.

The Mavericks should should heavily explore Gafford trade options, as he no longer fits this roster or system.

P.J. Washington: D-

2 PTS / 3 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 26 MIN

If the Mavericks are going to win games, they cannot survive this level of performance from Washington, as it was a throwback to his days with the Charlotte Hornets.

It’s no secret that Washington feasted on the easy looks that Dončić created, but the utter void of offensive production is incredibly worrying.

Not only has his offense been mediocre, but his elite defensive impact has not been felt.

While I’m not giving up on Washington, questions have to be asked as to whether he makes sense on the team long-term.