The buzz is building around what a healthy Philadelphia 76ers team could do in the second half of the season, and they can pad their record tonight against the 13-37 New Orleans Pelicans.

But Philadelphia had to mount a late comeback to dodge a stumble against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday and it also takes a hit with Paul George sidelined by suspension, leaving my Pelicans vs. 76ers predictions leaning on Tyrese Maxey needing to put on his cape again here.

Get a closer look at this January 31 clash with my free NBA picks and betting angles.

Pelicans vs 76ers prediction

Pelicans vs 76ers best bet: Tyrese Maxey Over 7.5 assists (+110)

After carrying the Philadelphia 76ers offense for large chunks of this season, it must be a nice luxury for Tyrese Maxey to have co-stars to lean on. 

For tonight’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, I’m looking past Maxey’s scoring and targeting his playmaking instead. He’s averaging 6.9 assists per game this year, just outside the Top 10 in the NBA, but there’s a much higher ceiling for this prop these days with a healthier roster around him.

Maxey has nailed this Over in five of his last eight outings, and he’s averaged 8 APG in that span. That’s a reflection of several key developments, including VJ Edgecombe’s continued rise and, most of all, Maxey’s ability to set up Embiid in the pick and roll.

With Embiid crushing opponents in the mid-range, a chunk of Maxey’s dimes stem from that play, and it’s asking a lot for Zion Williamson or Derik Queen to make the right reads.

I’m grabbing the slight plus odds here, especially with the length of Herb Jones shifting Maxey from scorer to passer at times.

Pelicans vs 76ers same-game parlay

The Pelicans have shown some fight lately, and they’ve covered the spread in four straight outings. With the 76ers making hard work of their home date with the Kings earlier this week, I’m taking the points here and trusting Zion and Co. to keep this one close.

Saddiq Bey has been on a steals hot streak, with at least one swipe in each of his past six games, and he snared three steals on Friday against the Grizzlies. With Embiid still a little limited with his movement, he’s a turnover candidate, and that’s where Bey could pounce.

Pelicans vs 76ers SGP

• Tyrese Maxey Over 7.5 assists
• Pelicans +10
• Saddiq Bey Over 0.5 steals

Our "from downtown" SGP: Pels need a dominant Zion

Zion Williamson has nailed this Over in four straight games, and he’s even finished with a double-digit rebounds tally in three of those outings.

An active Zion performance is a must if New Orleans is going to hang around in this matchup.

Pelicans vs 76ers SGP

• Tyrese Maxey Over 7.5 assists
• Pelicans +10
• Saddiq Bey Over 0.5 steals
• Zion Williamson Over 6.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs 76ers odds

• Spread: New Orleans +8.5 (-110) | Philadelphia -8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: New Orleans +230 | Philadelphia -280
• Over/Under: Over 232 (-110) | Under 232 (-110)

Pelicans vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Pelicans are 28-22 ATS this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. 76ers.

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Pelicans vs 76ers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has been given a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug programme, the league has announced.

The nine-time NBA All-Star, who has averaged 20.5 points over his 16-year NBA career, said he mistakenly took an "improper" medication.

George, 35, said in a statement to ESPN: "Over the past few years, I've discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and apologise to the Sixers organization, my team-mates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process.

"I'm focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return."

The NBA said George would be suspended without pay for the duration of his ban. He is not eligible to return until the 76ers play the Chicago Bulls on 25 March - when there will be only 10 games of the regular season remaining.

My mind’s been mush all week. There’s a bug going around the family that finally found me. My ADHD is turned up to 11. I’m absolutely burnt. The harder I try, the worse it gets, like your car’s stuck in the snow and you keep hitting the gas, going nowhere as the rut deepens. I’m behind on work. Focus is difficult, so I step away, do something, anything else, to change my focus, break free from the rut. But doing something, anything else triggers the cortisol chorus of guilt: “Shouldn’t you be working?”

Breaking the cycle means starting small: break the work into smaller pieces. In last night’s 127-97 Knick win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Mikal Bridges only made three baskets. But one of them reminded us — and two Blazers in particular — of the multiplying power of one small step.

In the final minute of the third quarter, the Blazers were down 16, a swing spot, score-wise; give up a 3 and you’re down 19 and getting blown out; make a 3, you’re down 13, just a mini-run from a competitive game. After Bridges missed a corner 3, Shaeden Sharpe rebounded near the foul line, passed to Jerami Grant and got the ball back as he crossed midcourt. 48 seconds in the quarter, 18 on the shot clock. Perfect time to run a little clock and get a quality two-for-one. Entering the fourth down 12 or 13 instead of 16 is big psychologically. The Blazers ended the frame down 18.

Sharpe took two dribbles, went around a Donovan Clingan pick, then the career 33% shooter from deep launched from there with 16 on the shot clock and of his teammates behind the arc, while every Knick besides Jalen Brunson, Sharpe’s defender, was either in the paint or the midrange. Sharpe missed, the Knicks rebounded and while Bridges missed a 3 on the other end, he took it with 30 seconds left, leaving just enough time for a New York two-for-one.

With 16 seconds left and Caleb Love dribbling the time down near center court, Sharpe, guarded by Bridges, went to the corner nearest celebrity row, hunched forward and rested his hands on his knees. He held that pose while Love, smothered by Landry Shamet, struggled to get free. He held it while Love lobbed a no-chance 30-footer (with eight seconds left in the quarter and five on the shot clock). He held it even after the shot missed.

To be fair, no Blazer besides Clingan came inside the arc to crash the offensive glass. Maybe their emphasis was getting back in transition if the Knicks made one last push. Spoiler: they didn’t.

As Love’s shot went up, Bridges rotated 90 degrees, from facing Love at the top of the key to facing Sharpe in the corner, to box him out. As soon as Bridges saw Sharpe doing his still-life schtick, his head whipped around to follow the play, rotating his body back to facing midcourt instead of the sideline. Once Bridges realized Diawara had the uncontested rebound, he took off, launching off a slight spring in his step. The flat-footed Sharpe didn’t flinch until Diawara was passing to Brunson, who got the ball with four seconds left.

Brunson took two dribbles, during which time the non-Sharpe Blazers all turned their attention on him, meaning the only Blazer aware of Bridges was the cornerback who’d just been beaten by the receiver. Sharpe got the attention of Sidy Cissoko, normally a good idea. Cissoko is 21 and has a 6-foot-10 wingspan. But Cissoko, like Sharpe, picked a bad time to disassociate.

When Diawara got the rebound, Cissoko was at the 3-point line. When Cissoko first realized Bridges was streaking by, he was at the other 3-point line. For the two seconds in-between, he showed all the hustle of late-stage Barry Bonds after drawing a walk, lollygagging with some extra L’s and G’s thrown in. So it didn’t matter how hard he ran once he recognized Bridges was a threat, the centimeters away he was from deflecting Brunson’s pass. By not taking that first small step toward their larger goal, Sharpe and Cissoko could never get caught up.

By the way, I’m not down at all on Sharpe or Cissoko for these lapses. If there’d been a camera on me at work when I was their age, you couldn’t seen my first day at Wal-Mart, when the lawn and garden manager going on break gave me their medieval dungeon master-sized set of keys and I promptly clipped it around my eyebrow ring, never considering the strength-to-weight ratio of an eyebrow ring versus 10 literal pounds of keys. Reader, it hurt.

Five wins in a row has the Knicks, per sprewellhasmouthstofeed, “grooving.” Next game’s in seven hours, when the Lakers make their annual pilgramage to the Mecca. If you’re struggling with something, do something small. Do small things consistently. Most snow, eventually, melts.

College basketball has quite a conundrum on its hands with eligibility rules, and it's coming to a had rapidly.

The latest player attempting to get reinstated is former UCLA guard Amari Bailey, who was a one-and-done with the Bruins after the 2022-23 college basketball season and played in 10 regular-season games in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets.

REQUIRED READING: He played in NBA, wants back in NCAA basketball. 'Hard no,' says one college leader

"Right now I'd be a senior in college," Bailey told ESPN in a statement. "I'm not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that's their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?"

While he isn't the first player to do rejoin the NCAA after declaring for the NBA, Bailey is the first to have actual NBA playing experience, to which NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley said in a statement on Jan. 30 that the NCAA will not grant an eligibility waiver "to any players who have signed an NBA contract."

American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti also expressed his frustration on the matter on social media.

"Another unnecessary potential obstacle for an aspiring high school athlete. Hard no," Pernetti said.

Those aren't the only reactions from those within college athletics and college basketball, with some reactions including AI generating photos of NBA players playing in college uniforms like LeBron James, who never attended college, and Nikola Jokic.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: Big Ten leads NCAA basketball projection, but one team is slipping

College basketball reacts to Amari Bailey college basketball re-instatement request

Here's a snippet of reactions from social media on Bailey's ask to re-enter college basketball:

Come on...If an athlete signs a professional contract, played in professional games, and is paid as a professional. Cut and dried, the eligibility door is closed. Another unnecessary potential obstacle for an aspiring high school athlete. Hard no. https://t.co/UIBeAZxjdN

— Tim Pernetti (@Tim_Pernetti) January 31, 2026

The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract. Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students. https://t.co/hrSqL7xr8b

— Tim Buckley (@Tim_BuckleyMA) January 30, 2026

College basketball is not a do-over safety net. If you leave it, with a full understanding of the consequences, live with the results of your decision. https://t.co/ROnUgKBA7Z

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 30, 2026

No offense to Amari Bailey, but if you are a head coach and staff, you say “No, thank you.” Don’t waste your energy.

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) January 31, 2026

Next up https://t.co/tW7VYizw6rpic.twitter.com/lgBaZPIdOW

— Matthew Travis (@MatthewJTravis_) January 31, 2026

It gets dumber by the day. https://t.co/qMy0ijSTHY

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) January 30, 2026

I’ll say it: shame on any program that recruits Amari Bailey to play for them.

— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) January 30, 2026

A draft deadline has existed for DECADES to vet and guard against these kinds of regrettable choices. Amari Bailey wasn't forced to leave UCLA after averaging 11.2 points. Decisions have consequences. Live with them instead of trying to litigate your way back to a lower level. https://t.co/oEfX3ysQ1S

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) January 30, 2026

Embarrassing… https://t.co/5QTmUwwo5Y

— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) January 31, 2026

Speaking from experience here

I made a bad decision and left school early to play professionally. Full transparency, my career was rewarding in many ways but not what I hoped for.

I had to live with my decision. It changed my life in a positive way.

I think this is all crazy https://t.co/OZEknb6SgR

— Terrence Oglesby (@T_Oglesby22) January 31, 2026

"College sports" are officially dead https://t.co/VVYDcRk6wD

— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) January 30, 2026

I don’t care what colleges are recruiting him. Every single coach and college fan needs to be against this.

This is insanity. https://t.co/4BgtefCbXK

— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) January 31, 2026

https://t.co/sRyiLOQvtUpic.twitter.com/TVk3yyTHeQ

— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) January 30, 2026

To me, the moment you step onto the court in an NBA game, you are ineligible to play in college.

This should be an easy line to draw. https://t.co/JPIdQFscd8

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 30, 2026

The "no consequences for my actions" era! https://t.co/owCykXBQTG

— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) January 30, 2026

One step closer to @KingJames in March Madness inevitably https://t.co/xrkkFS0JRl

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 30, 2026

I'm going back to La Salle to play intramural hoops. https://t.co/uUGoZw5Eae

— Mike Sielski (@MikeSielski) January 30, 2026

This is absurd.

How are there no adults in the room to create and clarify rules to keep this from happening?

Time to move on, bro. https://t.co/xYAjQK9dx1

— SEC Numbers Guy (@secnumbersguy) January 31, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Don't waste your energy.' Social reactions to Amari Bailey's re-entry request

Detroit Pistons point guard Daniss Jenkins, who is currently on a two-way contract, reportedly rejected an offer to have his deal converted into a standard minimum NBA contract, according to Marc Stein on Substack. That should be a temporary bump in the road to securing Jenkins’ future in Detroit for this season and beyond.

It’s been clear for months now that two-way guard Daniss Jenkins is destined to stick with the Detroit Pistons all season and have his deal converted into a standard NBA contract. It’s been clear from Jenkins’ play, and it’s also been clear with how the Pistons have utilized the second-year undrafted player.

Detroit has never been shy about having him up with the big club and putting him into games. Despite there still being several months in the season, Jenkins only has three games of eligibility left with the Pistons under his current two-way deal.

Stein writes that “no alarm bells are sounding in Motown yet.” Stein writes that Jenkins’ camp believes he has played well enough to garner multi-year offers in the open market in July as he enters restricted free agency.

As far as what a final deal might look like, Stein looks at breakout two-way players of years’ past and notes that a Jenkins deal might look similar to Ajay Mithcell’s in OKC (three years, $9 million) or Deuce McBride in New York (three years, $12 million).

Whatever the number ends up being, it shouldn’t impede Detroit’s ability to keep improving the team, and Daniss has been exactly what this team has needed, with toe-to-toe PIstons DNA.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AP) — Ishan Kishan crashed 103 runs off 43 balls as India beat New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth Twenty20 on Saturday.

Kishan hit 10 sixes and six boundaries in India's mammoth 271-5, India's fifth highest T20 total against a full member.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav added 63 off 30 balls with six sixes and Hardik Pandya hit 42 off 17.

World Cup addition Finn Allen powered New Zealand's reply with 80 off 38 but he didn’t get much support and the Black Caps were all out for 225 in 19.4 overs.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh took 5-51 in four overs and rounded off India's last match before beginning its defense of the T20 World Cup title next weekend at home. India finished the five-match series a 4-1 winner.

Overall, the match aggregate of 496 runs was the second-highest in T20s.

India opted to bat first but Sanju Samson failed again, out for 6. Fellow opener Abhishek Sharma hit 30 off 16 but was out in the fifth over at 48-2.

From there, Kishan and Yadav shared 137 runs off only 57 balls, the second-highest partnership for any wicket for India against New Zealand.

Kishan raced to 50 off 28 and accelerated. The next 50 came off only 14 balls. Overall, he reached 100 off 42 balls, the quickest century against New Zealand and fifth fastest overall for India.

Overall, it was the seventh quickest hundred in T20s.

Yadav, meanwhile, scored 50 off 26 balls. Together they took India close to 200 before Yadav fell in the 15th over, stumped off Mitchell Santner.

Kishan and Pandya combined for another 48 runs off 18 balls before the centurion was out caught.

Pandya hit four sixes and a four as India crossed 250 in the 19th over, setting an imposing challenge for the Kiwis.

In reply, Allen hit his straps immediately and smashed six sixes and eight fours. He notched up 50 off only 22 balls and put on 100 off 48 balls with Rachin Ravindra, who made 30 off 17.

Fit-again Axar Patel bowled Allen in the ninth over to break that partnership. Thereafter, New Zealand lost regular wickets and didn't revive the chase.

Ish Sodhi notched 33 off 15 balls and Daryl Mitchell 26 off 12 but it wasn’t enough.

It’s a perfect night to check in on the NBA rookie class, with the top four picks all in action, headlined by Cooper Flagg in the national TV spotlight.

Dylan Harper and Kon Knueppel go head-to-head in the early tip, while VJ Edgecombe takes on Derik Queen and the New Orleans Pelicans, and my top NBA player props dip into that pool of future stars as well as a wager on a man who played in last year’s Finals.

Read on for my top NBA picks for the January 31 slate.

Best NBA player props today

Prop #1: Pascal Siakam Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists

-110 at bet365

The Indiana Pacers are 6-5 in their last 11 games, and Pascal Siakam deserves a ton of credit for keeping his foot on the gas pedal in a season that’s heading for a high lottery pick. He’s averaging 24.4 ppg in January, and his scoring should be the focal point for cashing this combo Over tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

He’s gone past this O/U number in five of his last seven games, including a 26-9-4 stat line against these same Hawks on Monday – and I’m banking on a repeat effort here.

With Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith providing the spacing, Siakam has had more room to operate, and he should be able to feast against a Hawks team that’s allowing 118.1 PPG, which ranks in the bottom third of the league. Of course, it helps Indiana that Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu are both on the injury report.

But Spicy P’s contributions are showing up elsewhere in the box score, too. He’s dished 5+ assists in six of his past nine outings to go with some big nights on the glass, and his rebounds tally would surely get a boost if Jalen Johnson is ruled out for Atlanta.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SE-Atlanta, FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana

Prop #2: Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 three-pointers

+110 at bet365

When Jaden McDaniels is knocking down three-pointers, the Minnesota Timberwolves become very tough to beat, and he was a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown in Thursday’s statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

McDaniels has found a nice shooting rhythm lately, making 2+ three-pointers in five of his last six contests and posting a 49% mark on triples this month. He’s never going to be a high-volume marksman, but plenty of his looks are wide open with Anthony Edwards drawing a crowd on his drives.

That’s the formula I’m looking for as the T-Wolves take on the Memphis Grizzlies, who are on the second night of a back-to-back set and slumped to a disappointing loss in New Orleans yesterday.

Minnesota has the fourth-highest 3-point percentage in the league at 37.4%, and that spells trouble for a depleted Memphis squad that’s giving up the third-most attempts (40) from beyond the arc this season. Look for McDaniels to be one of the beneficiaries.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-NO, FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis

Prop #3: Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 points

-112 at bet365

It’s worth tuning in for this Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets showdown just to see what Cooper Flagg serves up as an encore after his 49-point masterpiece earlier this week.

Flagg went 20-for-29 from the field against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, and he’s the biggest threat to a gritty Houston defense here, especially with Anthony Davis still out.

While the Rockets have given Flagg tough tests in the three meetings this year, the Dallas rookie is a quick learner, and I expect him to stay on the attack after his season-best outing.

The Mavs are so short on shot creators that the ball is going to end up in Flagg’s hands early and often, and he’s shooting 48% from the field despite shaky numbers from downtown.

Flagg has reached the 20-point mark five times since the calendar flipped to 2026, and he’s hit this Over in four of the five games where he’s logged at least 30 minutes on the court.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ABC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here