VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Levante scored in the last minute of stoppage time to beat Elche 3-2 in La Liga on Friday and notch a first home win that boosted its chances of avoiding a quick return to Spain’s second tier.
Levante came into the match as the only club which had not won at home this season and that record did not look like ending after it went behind to an Alvaro Rodríguez goal after 11 minutes.
However, Pablo Martínez levelled five minutes into the second half with a brilliantly executed flick.
Adrián de la Fuente put Levante ahead midway through the second period only for Adam Boayar to equalize for Elche in stoppage time with a stunning overhead kick.
That looked like that until Alan Matturro popped up in the 96th minute to head home from a corner kick and spark delirious scenes at Ciutat de València Stadium.
“Our fans gave us that support, that belief,” Martinez said. "Thanks to them we were able to score the third goal and give them something to celebrate.”
Levante has picked up seven points in the four games since Luís Castro replaced Julián Calero as coach before Christmas. It remained second from bottom but was four points clear of bottom side Oviedo and two behind Alaves.
The Nashville Predators' game time against the Utah Mammoth on Jan. 24 at Bridgestone Arena has moved up to 12:30 p.m. CT in response to the pending winter weather this weekend, the team announced.
The game time moved up two hours, from 2:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., with winter weather moving into the area in the morning of Jan. 24.
Bridgestone Arena doors will open at 11 a.m. on Jan. 24, according to the team.
The National Weather Service currently forecasts snow in the morning of Jan. 24, followed by a possible mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain throughout the rest of the day.
The Predators plan to honor defenseman Roman Josi in a pregame ceremony. He played in his 1,000th career NHL game on Jan. 22.
Of course Giannis Antetokounmpo is frustrated. So is everyone invested in Milwaukee's basketball team, including its players and fans. At media day back in October, Antetokounmpo was clear — "I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win" — and in the past weeks, Milwaukee got to test itself against some of the best teams in the league in Minnesota, Denver, San Antonio and Oklahoma City. What the Bucks found was a huge gap between them and the elite teams (all four games were losses). The latest was a blowout loss to the Thunder, after which Antetokounmpo said the Bucks played selfishly.
So when ESPN's Shams Charania went on the Pat McAfee Show Friday and said that Antetokounmpo is frustrated, that is no doubt accurate — Charania is the definition of well-sourced — but the bigger question is, does his frustration actually change anything on the ground? First, here is Charania's quote.
"The frustration that Giannis Antetokounmpo has is at an all-time high. He's frustrated with the losing. He's frustrated with the situation, and I will say this, I've spoken to about a dozen sources on-and-off for weeks now, and the tension that's in the air within that organization, in that locker room, it's at an all-time high, and there's this somewhat of a splintering environment that we're seeing going on there, because when a player of Giannis' caliber maybe has a wandering eye, or maybe doesn't know what his future holds there, and having these intense conversations with the organization about what that looks like, there's going to be such high levels and degrees of uncertainty within that organization."
This comes after ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on SportsCenter (hat tip Real GM) that the entire league is watching what is happening with Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, but he eventually tapped into reality, even if that is not sexy for ratings or clicks.
"The entire NBA trade season is hinging on what happens with Giannis. Because if Giannis comes onto the market, not only would be there immense interest in him, but because of the size of his contract and the potential of a multi-player trade, I think you could see this see generate two, three, four different teams involved in trades and many, many players.
"The Bucks, to this point, have yet to cross the Rubicon there. And Giannis has yet to cross the red line and ask for the trade."
What league sources have told NBC Sports has not wavered: The Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless he demands it. This is the best player in franchise history, still in his prime, and he's the guy who drives the team's economy right now, that's not a player a smaller-market team trades away. Antetokounmpo has said it’s not in his nature to demand a trade and he would never do that. Unless one side suddenly and unexpectedly flips its position, Antetokounmpo will remain a Buck through the end of the season.
Those same sources say this summer is where the rubber meets the road. The Bucks will offer Antetokounmpo a max contract extension. Every time that has happened before, he has signed the deal (although the last couple of times he used it as leverage to force an upgrade to the roster before putting pen to paper). If he signs it, then the status quo continues. If he's frustrated enough not to sign the extension, then the Bucks have to seriously consider trading him or risk him leaving in 2027 as a free agent and them getting nothing. But all of that is this summer.
For now, and for all the frustration in Milwaukee, there doesn't appear to be a trade coming.
Nuggets vs Bucks best bet: Aaron Gordon Over 17.5 points (-115)
The Denver Nuggets are still considering making an honest effort against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, the second half of a back-to-back that is taxing an already injury-riddled roster.
They could sit their few healthy starters, but the injury report suggests both Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray may play.
Of Denver’s true five starters, only Gordon is as generous as “probable” tonight.
He has cleared this prop in four of his nine games since returning from his own injury, and Murray’s questionable status tonight lends more value to this prop.
Murray has both hamstring and hip concerns. The smart move would be to rest him tonight.
At that point, the offensive emphasis must be on Gordon.
Denver should ease up as this game goes along, the back-to-back exacting a cost and thus dooming this game to an Under.
Nuggets vs Bucks odds
Spread: Nuggets +8 (-110) | Bucks -8 (-110)
Moneyline: Nuggets +225 | Bucks -275
Over/Under: Over 214.5 (-110) | Under 214.5 (-110)
Nuggets vs Bucks betting trend to know
Milwaukee has hit the game total Under in 21 of its last 30 games (+11.10 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Bucks.
How to watch Nuggets vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Nuggets vs Bucks latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
MILAN (AP) — Serie A leader Inter Milan recovered from conceding two early goals to beat lowly Pisa 6-2 and open a six-point gap on Friday.
One of the shock results of the season looked possible at the San Siro when Inter found itself 2-0 down midway through the first half against a team that had not won in 10 league games.
However, three goals in the seven minutes before halftime transformed the match and put Inter on the way to a ninth win in 10 league games.
Pisa took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to a moment of inspiration from veteran striker Stefano Moreo. Yann Sommer’s pass out was poor and Moreo pounced before looking up from 35 meters out and stroking the ball over the goalkeeper’s head into the empty net.
Stefano doubled Pisa’s lead in the 23rd with a header from a corner kick.
Inter pulled one back from the penalty spot seven minutes before halftime when Piotr Zielinski converted after Matteo Tramoni handled inside the box.
Lautaro Martínez nodded in the equalizer two minutes later and Francesco Pio Esposito hit the third on the stroke of halftime when he headed home a cross from Alessandro Bastoni.
Federico Dimarco made it 4-2 eight minutes from time, Ange-Yoan Bonny added a fifth with a nice individual effort four minutes later, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan rounded off the scoring with a sixth in stoppage time.
Inter was six points clear of city rival AC Milan and nine ahead of defending champion Napoli.
The win was especially welcome for Inter given that the top four play each other this weekend. AC Milan is at fourth-placed Roma on Sunday, and fifth-placed Juventus is at home to Napoli on the same day.
Yesterday, MacKenzie Gore became the first piece of the Juan Soto deal to be traded away from the Nats. However, there is a decent chance he will not be the last. As the Gore trade was finalized, rumblings about the Nats dealing CJ Abrams emerged.
The Washington Post reported that the Nats have been shopping Abrams, as well as defensive ace Jacob Young this offseason. This lines up with reporting earlier this offseason that there was interest in Abrams around the league. In December, Ken Rosenthal reported that Abrams was drawing heavy interest.
However, Paul Toboni’s tone has always been a bit different with Abrams than it was with Gore. Throughout the offseason, Toboni acknowledged that the team was actively listening with Gore. When discussing Abrams, he said the team was picking up the phone, but there has been a subtext that they would really need to be blown away to move him.
That stance was on display today when Toboni talked to Grant and Danny on 106.7. He said that he would pick up the phone, but that he sees Abrams as his shortstop. Toboni was never that committal towards Gore, which tells me something.
Toboni on trading CJ Abrams: “I won’t refuse to pick up the phone but Abrams is our shortstop, and as we speak, no trade is close.”
This is not to say he won’t be traded. There is a chance that we wake up in a couple days and Abrams is on a different team. After all, my feel for these things is not great. Yesterday, I wrote about how a Gore trade felt less likely than ever, and hours later he was dealt. You just never know with these things, but throughout the offseason, I thought a Gore trade was more likely than an Abrams move.
If Abrams gets moved, I feel like the deadline might be a better time. With three years of team control remaining, the Nats should be in absolutely no hurry to move Abrams. They should only move him if they feel like they are getting surplus value in the trade.
The deadline honestly feels like a better time to get that surplus value. There are teams that feel confident in their infield situation right now that could not feel so confident as things play out in the season. The Red Sox, Yankees and Royals are three teams that this could apply to. If Anthony Volpe continues to struggle in the Bronx, the Yankees would have a pretty glaring hole at shortstop that Abrams could address.
"I wouldn't be shocked if CJ [Abrams] is traded closer to the deadline than this winter."@SpencerNusbaum_ also wouldn't be surprised if he was traded tomorrow though. pic.twitter.com/NecW0oa1NV
You can never count anything out with Toboni though. If you asked me to name five teams that Gore could be traded to, I am not sure the Rangers would be on the list and if it was, they would have been 4th or 5th on the list. Teams like the Yankees, Orioles, Cubs and even the A’s were speculated about more.
When you think about it though, the Rangers needed a younger number 3 starter behind Degrom and Eovaldi, so the fit made sense. Could there be a team like that for Abrams? The Mariners have been an AL West team that has been oddly quiet lately. Could they be a player for Abrams if they cannot land Brandon Donovan from the Cardinals? I think it is possible.
At the end of the day, if a deal happens, I think it is more likely to take place at the deadline or next offseason. Unlike Gore, the service time clock is not really ticking for Abrams yet. They could hold on to Abrams and still get the same type of package in a few months. The new player development is also probably eager to get their hands on a talent like him.
The Scott Boras factor that existed with Gore is also not there with Abrams. If they really pushed, they could get Abrams extended. It is unclear if they want to do that, but it is a possibility. I hope they at least give it a shot because Abrams is a very exciting message and it would be a good message to send to the fans. Given recent history, Nats fans probably shouldn’t get too attached to Abrams though.
Inter recover from 2-0 down to go six clear in Serie A
In Ligue 1, PSG go above Lens, who play on Saturday
Inter were shocked to go two goals down at home to relegation-battling Pisa but fought back to earn a 6-2 win at San Siro on Friday, as they continue to set the pace at the top of Serie A.
Stefano Moreo scored twice to put Pisa 2-0 up, the first thanks to a howler from the goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but Inter were ahead by the break. Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty and Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito both scored with headers in six minutes just before half-time.
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — St. Pauli and Hamburg drew 0-0 in a lacklustre derby that lifted St. Pauli off the bottom of the Bundesliga on Friday but did little to animate a dismal run of one win in 15.
The match between the two biggest teams in Germany’s second city failed to spark, particularly in a first half that saw just one shot on target, and that in stoppage time.
There were a few more chances in the second 45 minutes but no one with the composure to stamp his mark on the game.
The result moved St. Pauli from last to third to last.
Mainz was in last place.
Hamburg has gone five games without a win but climbed one place to 13th, five points ahead of St. Pauli.
Carlos Mendoza broke down the Mets’ busy week during an appearance on ‘Foul Territory’ on Friday afternoon.
Here are his thoughts:
On where Bo Bichette fits into Mets' lineup…
“This is a guy who is so versatile," he said. "He could hit leadoff, second, third, fourth -- we're still so far from Opening Day, but if you're asking me right now, I could see a combination of [Francisco] Lindor, [Juan] Soto, and Bichette right away.
“I have to have these conversations with the players, but the fact that Bo is such a good hitter, you could put him in front of Soto, you could put him behind him, you could take Lindor out of the leadoff spot and put him third -- there’s so many different ways I could go here.”
On acquiring Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox…
“We’re looking at a very toolsy player,” Mendoza said. “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best. We know the defense, we know the power, we know he can steal bases -- it’s our job to keep him on the field now.
“I know the trainers are already with their hands on him. We have to get to know the player, his routines and the way he prepares, then we have to make some adjustments in communication with him because that’s going to be the goal -- we need this guy on the field.”
On adding Freddy Peralta in trade with Brewers…
“I spoke with him as soon as the transaction went down,” Mendoza said. “I got on the phone with him and had a very good conversation, he was super excited -- everything I’m hearing, we all know the quality of the pitcher, but everyone keeps telling me about the quality of the person.
“You could feel it from my first conversation how excited he was. He’s willing to report to Port St. Lucie early so he can start meeting people, and that, to me, goes a long way -- at the end of the day, he just has to be Freddy Peralta, go out there compete and give us a chance to win every time you take the baseball.”
Mendoza was also asked about a potential extension with Peralta, but like Stearns on Thursday, he said the organization is just focused on letting him get his feet wet and the rest will take care of itself.
On Nolan McLean pitching for Team USA in the WBC...
"The fact that he's going to be able to experience that, playing with and against some of the best players in the world in that type of environment and in those settings, it's just going to continue to help his development. So I'm excited about it and I know he's super excited -- I'm looking forward to watching him pitch."
The Buffalo Sabres did not come out of the 4-2 win over Montreal unscathed, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that defenseman Jacob Bryson would miss some time with an upper-body injury. Bryson left the game in the middle of the second period and did not return.
“He went back to Buffalo today and we'll find out (the severity of the injury),” Ruff said after the team’s practice on Friday. “We'll know next couple days. He'll probably see the doctors today, and we'll get a better idea.”
The Sabres recalled defenseman Zac Jones from AHL Rochester and placed Bryson on injured reserve. Jones is leading the Amerks in scoring with 37 points (6 goals, 31 assists) in 32 games.
Winger Zach Benson scored the game-winner in the second period, but was on the receiving end of an elbow from Habs forward Zachary Bolduc. Benson was on the ice and showing no ill effects at the Northwell Heath Ice Center on Long Island on Friday.
"Incidental or not, I felt it was a little bit of a cheap shot,” Ruff said. “But no, he's back smiling and laughing this morning, so he's doing good."
Team captain Rasmus Dahlin missed practice after blocking a shot in the third period against the Habs, but Ruff stated that it was for maintenance purposes and that they felt that he would be good to go. The Sabres play an afternoon game against the Islanders on Saturday, and will return home to practice before completing their road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.
Technically, Olen Zellweger is 49 games into his third NHL season after playing 62 games in 2024-25 and 26 in 2023-24. The Anaheim Ducks selected the dynamic, “undersized” defenseman with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. As one of the youngest players in that year’s draft, he was six days from eligibility for the 2022 draft.
Following his draft, Zellweger (22) went on to a decorated junior career in his final two seasons in the WHL, scoring a combined 158 points (46-112=158) in 110 regular season games, 38 points (13-25=38) in 20 playoff games, winning two World Junior Championship gold medals, two Bill Hunter trophies as the WHL’s top defenseman, and one CHL defenseman of the year award.
In his rookie year (2023-24), Zellweger played 44 games for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring 37 points (12-25=37), earning a spot as the Gulls’ AHL All-Star representative, and he seemed well on his way to fulfilling his offensive potential.
If anyone were to convey that Zellweger would one day become a top-four defenseman in the NHL, they’d have likely guessed he’d play the role of a team’s top power play unit point man and offensive point producer, with very little defensive responsibility.
The transition into the NHL has been anything but smooth for the now 5-foot-10, 194-pound defender who oozes refined skill and is as flawless a skater as one can find. He had difficulty carving a role for himself under former Ducks head coach Greg Cronin, who favored veterans for key roles, and he, along with Pavel Mintyukov, fell victim to a logjam on the blueline in 2024-25 that caused him to serve as a healthy scratch for 20 games and play a non-conductively safe brand of hockey.
He worked tirelessly, as the last Ducks player off the ice for nearly every morning skate and practice, to refine all areas of his game and iron out any deficiencies on the defensive end, and he became a complete NHL defenseman.
Zellweger was projected as one of the players who would benefit most from the Ducks' hiring of Joel Quenneville as their new coach for the 2025-26 season. The logjam was relieved, and on paper, the wide-open, offensive, pressure system seemed perfectly catered to Zellweger’s play style.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Though his now-polished defensive prowess has earned him the third-most TOI (873:15) among Anaheim blueliners this season, following a difficult stretch for Anaheim’s power play to start the season, in which Zellweger was firmly on the team’s second unit, he’s seen his offensive responsibility evaporate completely.
“The core of strength is still, I think, our power play,” Zellweger said. “I still think I have a lot of untapped potential there (that) I need to find a way to get out. Penalty kill has been really good, a challenge for me. I hadn’t played penalty kill in the NHL until this year, so I really enjoy it. It’s super important, getting lots of kills.”
Though he’s now a bona fide top-four defenseman and is being utilized as such at 5v5, during the Ducks' 15 games since Dec. 16, Zellweger has only logged a grand total of 84 seconds on the power play and not even one second in the last four games.
On the flip side, Zellweger now holds a role on the team’s second penalty kill unit, and over the team’s last eight games, he’s averaging 2:05 TOI on the PK. The Ducks have only allowed one goal when he’s been on the ice for the PK during that stretch.
“I like that versatility in his game, that he can do both things,” Quenneville said. “I think Zelly gives us a great presence when exiting our zone, joining the attack, off the point in the offensive zone, and finding holes in spots. He’s quick to pucks as well. I think when we started him penalty killing, it was a good opportunity for him to get quality ice time as well.
“So far, in a short amount of time, he looks like he’s enjoying the opportunity, but his quickness can help him get to pucks and pressure in the right situations, and get the clear as well. Young guys on defense, that’s a big job description to get done. You gotta like the way he started.”
Zellweger’s been a point producer and point defenseman on the power play at every level he’s played at below the NHL, and is finding ways to translate that skill to his new role as a defensive stalwart.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“I’ve played power play my whole life, so I think just the subtleties when I see a guy have the puck. Maybe he’s looking down, and I can pressure him,” Zellweger continued. “Small things like that, I can kind of see the seams unfolding. I think that helps me a lot going on the PK. It makes it less of a transition to be effective. Using my quickness, and trying to read a play as it unfolds and be in the right positions.”
At 5v5, Zellweger is Anaheim’s second-best defenseman, behind only Jackson LaCombe. When he’s on the ice, the Ducks account for 53.68% of the shot attempts share, 50.87% of the shots on goal share, and 51.25% of the expected goals share. He’s driving 5v5 offense from the blueline, as when he’s on the ice, the Ducks have notched 2.99 expected goals for per 60 minutes (2nd on ANA) and 3.27 goals/60 (1st on ANA). He’s either been too unproductive or hasn’t been given enough of a chance with the man advantage.
That may leave some to wonder what his role is for the Ducks organization moving forward. Is he destined to cap out as a good top-four defenseman who kills penalties on a second unit? If that’s the case, Zellweger will have tough competition nipping at his heels in the Ducks’ pipeline, with Stian Solberg (23rd overall in ’24) and Tyson Hinds (76th in ’21) in the AHL, Lasse Boelius (60th in ’25) in Liiga, Tarin Smith (79th in ’24) in the WHL, and Drew Schock (101st in ’25) in the NCAA.
He’s been passed on the Ducks’ power play depth chart by both Mintyukov and Jacob Trouba, with LaCombe assuming top unit TOI. If he can’t find consistent time with the man-advantage, one could even wonder how the Ducks’ front office views the player and if he has a long-term spot on the roster.
Zellweger has as much puck skill and skating ability as any defenseman in the NHL. He’s worked endlessly to round out his 200-foot game, performing well defensively at 5v5 and on the kill, but his biggest impact comes on the offensive side of the puck. He has 18 points (6-12=18) in 49 games this season and 47 points (15-32=47) in 137 games in his career.
Zellweger is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA when the Ducks’ season concludes. How general manager Pat Verbeek and the Ducks’ front office approach the trade deadline, home stretch of the season, and offseason as it pertains to Olen Zellweger will be immensely telling on how they view him within the framework of the present and future of the organization.
AUXERRE, France (AP) — Bradley Barcola scored his second goal in two games to give Paris Saint-Germain a late win over lowly Auxerre and return to the top of Ligue 1 on Friday.
Barcola rescued PSG when, with the match heading to a 0-0 draw, he finished a counterattack in the 79th minute and squeezed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Until then, second-to-last Auxerre had frustrated second-from-top PSG without threatening to score. Auxerre did not have a shot on target all night at Stade de L’Abbé-Deschamps.
Barcola’s sixth goal of the season capped a fine performance, although the winger will rue missed chances that could have secured the three points earlier.
The result took PSG two points ahead of surprise pace-setter Lens, which faces a difficult tie at third-placed Marseille on Saturday.
Auxerre remained above only last-placed Metz on goal difference.
Boston Celtics (27-16) at Brooklyn Nets (12-30) Friday, December 23, 2026 7:30 pm ET Regular Season Game #44 Road Game #24 TV: NBCSB, YES, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 101.9 FM, Sirius XM Barclays Center
The Celtics head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at Barclays Center for the first of 2 consecutive games on the road. This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first meeting 113-99 in Brooklyn on November 18. They lost the second meeting 113-105 in Boston on November 21. They will meet for the final time on February 27 in Boston.
Brooklyn is the youngest team in the league this season, with an average age of 23.98. The Celtics won the series 4-0 last season. The Celtics are 146-75 overall all time against the Nets and they are 69-40 when playing on the road against Brooklyn. This is the first of back to back games for the Celtics. They will play at Chicago on Saturday. They are 3-3 in the first of back to back games this season.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 2nd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 3 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland and 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 20-10 against Eastern Conference opponents and 6-4 against the Atlantic Division. They are 14-9 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
The Nets are 13th in the East, 7 games behind 10th place Atlanta,5.5 games behind 11th place Milwaukee, and 3 games behind 12th place Charlotte. They are 2 games ahead of 14th place Washington and 3.5 games ahead of 15th place Indiana. They are 9-18 against Eastern Conference opponents and 3-8 against the Atlantic Division. They are 6-16 at home and 2-8 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 3 games.
The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. After this game at Brooklyn, they will head to Chicago for their second straight game on the road. They will then have a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.
After this game at home, the Nets will go on a 5 game road trip through the LA Clippers, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, and Detroit. They will then play one game at home against the Los Angeles Lakers before one game on the road at Orlando. Then they will have a 3 game home stand where they will host Washington, Chicago and Indiana before the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his 9th straight game with an ankle sprain. Derrick White has been added to the injury report and will miss this game for rest. I took a guess that Baylor Scheierman will once again get the start but with Joe, you never know. Neemias Queta was a late addition to the injury list due to illness. He will be a game time decision. I would guess that Luka Garza would get the start if he is unable to play. For the Nets, only Haywood Highsmith is out due to a knee injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Payton Pritchard vs Egor Demin
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Drake Powell
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr
PF: Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney
C: Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Hugo Gonzalez Xavier Tillman Jordan Walsh Luka Garza Chris Boucher 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Josh Minott (ankle) out Derrick White (rest) out Neemias Queta (illness) questionable Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Nets Reserves Tyrese Martin Ben Seraf Day’Ron Sharpe Cam Thomas Nolan Traore Ziaire Williams Jalen Wilson Danny Wolf
Two-Way Players EJ Liddell Tyson Etienne Chaney Johnson
Injuries/Out Haywood Highsmith (knee) out
Head Coach Jordi Fernandez
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr Porter is clearly the Nets best player and is averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1 steal per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games gainst Boston this season, he averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 56.8% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must do a better job of slowing him down in this game.
Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton Claxton is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He is shooting 58.3% from the field and 16.7% from three. In the 2 games this season against the Celtics, he averaged 12.5 points, 11 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1 block while shooting 36.4% from the field with no threes. In the Nets’ win over the Celtics, he put up his first career triple double. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and be aware of him on defense as he is a good rim protector.
Honorable Mention Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney Clowney is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 16 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal while shooting 47.8% from the field and 40% from 3.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game. The Nets are 26th in the league with an offensive rating of 111.4 while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.3 (2nd). The Celtics are 13th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.7. The Nets are 26th with a defensive rating of 117.7. In the Nets win over the Celtics, they shot 52.4% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. The Nets shoot 40.8 three pointers per game (6th) and they make 14.2 per game (10th) so the Celtics need to especially defend them on the perimeter. The Celtics have to play tough defense from the tip through the final buzzer in this one and not allow the Nets to get any offensive rhythm.
Rebound – Rebounding is also an important key to winning every game. The Celtics are 10th in the league, pulling down 45.1 rebounds per game. The Nets are 30th with 39.7 rebounds per game. It is important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to give themselves extra possessions and to prevent the Nets from getting the same along with 2nd chance points. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have got to put out more effort than the Nets to grab rebounds for all 4 quarters.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics need to stay focused and be aggressive from start to finish. The Nets have not been playing well, but they play hard and will always try to beat the Celtics. The Celtics did underestimate them in their last meeting and ended up losing. The Celtics can’t underestimate them because they have lost 8 of their last 10 games. The Celtics should have the talent to win easily, but if they underestimate the Nets and come out with less than 100% effort, they be surprised with another loss to them. They also are coming off a 120-66 drubbing at the hands of the Knicks and so they may be looking to gain back a little self respect with another win over the Celtics. Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are a much better team when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. They are 17-1 when they have 25 or more assists and they are 10-15 when they have fewer than 25 assists. Even though the Celtics usually take good care of the ball, they lose focus at times and turn the ball over too much. They need to make careful passes and keep the ball moving.
X-Factors On the Road Again – The Celtics are playing on the road again after one game at home. They will be playing in front of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go with travel and playing on the road. The Celtics need to focus on the game and not on the distractions that come with playing on the road and in an unfamiliar arena. They need to get some motivation from avenging their loss in the last game against the Nets.
Officiating – I know that I say this every game, but the officiating always can be an x-factor in every game. Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play. Some refs favor the home team and some not so much. We have already seen a game where one non call can change the outcome. The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let the officiating take away from their focus.
The surging Detroit Pistons are sitting atop the East and are the last opponent the Houston Rockets would want to face on the second night of a back-to-back.
Houston is coming off a taxing overtime loss in Philly, and my Rockets vs. Pistons predictions lean on Jalen Duren’s nonstop motor to cause problems for the visitors tonight.
Check out my NBA picks and betting tips for Friday, January 23.
Rockets vs Pistons prediction
Rockets vs Pistons best bet: Jalen Duren to record a double-double (-115)
The Detroit Pistons have a strong case as the best defense in the Eastern Conference, and Jalen Duren is a huge part of that. An All-Star candidate and one of the NBA’s best rebounders, his presence around the rim at both ends makes this a must-have prop.
It all starts on the boards. He ranks fifth in the league with 10.9 rebounds per game, and that jumps to 12.1 RPG on the road. The Houston Rockets will be without Steven Adams here, and the Kevin Durant-Alperen Sengun frontcourt logged big minutes last night.
That makes them vulnerable to the hosts’ bruising style.
The offensive glass — where Duren is hauling in four boards per game — is also often his path to scoring. He’s finished with a double-digit points tally in 12 straight contests, and he’s shooting 63% from the field this year, fueled by a steady diet of dunks.
That part of this pick feels like more of a formality.
Detroit may need Duren’s all-around hustle more than ever tonight, with Cade Cunningham, Caris LeVert, and Ron Holland II dealing with illnesses (though only LeVert is expected to sit out).
In what figures to be a defensive struggle at Little Caesars Arena, look for Duren to own the paint.
Rockets vs Pistons same-game parlay
Both of these teams have peppered the Under lately. It’s 9-1 in the Pistons’ last 10 contests, and 8-2 for the Rockets in that same span.
It’s also been a winning ticket in the past four meetings between these teams, and I see that trend continuing with both teams ranking in the Top 5 in points per game allowed.
I’m laying the points, too, with Cade trending towards playing.
Detroit is 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 outings, while Houston drags an ugly road record into this matchup.
The Rockets are 11-13 SU on their travels this season, and they’ve dropped five in a row away from Toyota Center.
Rockets vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren to record a double-double
Under 218.5
Pistons -4.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dishing Durant!
Houston is asking a lot of Kevin Durant, who’s averaging 38.7 minutes per game this month and doing the heavy lifting in late-clock situations.
KD has dished 5+ assists in three of his last four games, and Detroit will gladly force the ball out of his hands here.
Rockets vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren to record a double-double
Under 218.5
Pistons -4.5
Kevin Durant Over 4.5 assists
Rockets vs Pistons odds
Spread: Rockets +3 (-110) | Pistons -3 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets +135 | Pistons -160
Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)
Rockets vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Pistons.
How to watch Rockets vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Rockets vs Pistons latest injuries
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While Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones remain unclear in their roles for the Yankees after the return of Cody Bellinger in left field, the Yankees added some outfield depth Friday by claiming Michael Siani off waivers from the Dodgers.
The 26-year-old Siani spent most of last year with the Cardinals’ Triple-A Memphis affiliate and appeared in just 19 games with St. Louis.
Michael Siani #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals makes a catch in the outfield against the Houston Astros. MLB Photos via Getty Images
But he played 124 games for the Cardinals in 2024, although he had just a .570 OPS.
A solid defender in center field, Siani was selected off waivers by Atlanta from St. Louis in November and then claimed by the Dodgers last month.
He was designated for assignment by Los Angeles after they signed Kyle Tucker.
