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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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
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.
The Buffalo Sabres moved one step closer to a top three spot in the Atlantic Division with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday. The Sabres followed the same script as they did in Nashville earlier in the week, jumping out to an early lead and holding on for dear life in the latter part of the game.
Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn, and Zach Benson staked Buffalo to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, but the Habs responded before the end of the middle frame with tallies by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and outshot the Sabres 15-3. Buffalo maintained their lead through the third, and Samuel Montembeault pulled for the extra attacker. Peyton Krebs iced the game away with an empty-netter.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves in the win.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:
Sabres sign Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension
What can you say about your team holding on to leads in these games?
We came out, played a really good first period. You've got to give Montreal a lot of credit. They had a big push in the second. We made a couple errant plays that they took advantage of. (Luukkonen) made some great saves. But then I thought we played a rock-solid third period where maybe gave up one chance in a one-goal game, which I got to give our guys a lot of credit for just locking back into our game.
Does it help your team to play in a heated environment like Montreal?
I think you can see in the East that every team is winning every night. We know how much the game meant to us, and Montreal knows how much the game means to them. And every game, you can win a game. With the run we've had, and you're sitting two points inside a playoff race. It's good training for high-intensity games. For the most part, our guys have been able to pass the test, we've been able to weather some storms, and we've been able to push through and win games.
The Buffalo Sabres have made a roster move, as they have called up defenseman Zac Jones from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Jones being called up to the Sabres' roster comes after fellow defenseman Jacob Bryson exited Buffalo's most recent contest against the Montreal Canadiens due to injury. Now, by recalling Jones, the Sabres have another defenseman to work with.
Jones has been called up several times this season by the Sabres, but he has yet to make his regular-season debut with the NHL club. Yet, he will now be hoping that changes after landing this latest call-up to the Sabres' roster.
Jones has been simply excellent this season down in the AHL with Rochester. In 32 games so far this campaign with the Amerks, the left-shot defenseman has recorded six goals and 37 points. He is also tied for first in the AHL with 31 assists, so he has certainly been making an impact offensively with Rochester.
Jones was also recently named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Game due to his strong play with Rochester this season.
Bangladesh will not travel to India to play in next month’s T20 World Cup, its cricket board confirmed on Thursday, effectively ruling the country out of the tournament.
A player who fits the exact criteria the New York Rangers are looking for has found himself in the thick of trade discussions.
In the letter issued last week by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury emphasizing the team’s intentions to retool the roster, Drury said that the team will focus on obtaining young players.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Seattle Kraken could be willing to trade Shane Wright if the appropriate offer presented itself.
“Teams say that Jason Botterill, the GM of the Seattle Kraken, is listening on Shane Wright,” Dreger said. “But he is in no rush and understandably, the expected return for Shane Wright is incredibly high.”
Wright was selected by the Kraken with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and despite recording a career high of 44 points during the 2024-25 campaign, he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in Seattle.
If the Rangers are indeed looking to get younger and begin the process of retooling the roster, acquiring the 22-year-old forward is a good place to start.
The Kraken are reportedly looking for a top-six winger, and it’s public knowledge now that the Rangers won’t re-sign Artemi Panarin and will look to deal him ahead of the trade deadline on March 6.
There have also been discussions around the Rangers potentially shopping Alexis Lafrenière, who Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman directly links to the Kraken in a hypothetical trade involving Wright.
“The Kraken have never had that dynamic young scorer,” Friedman said. “And I think they're hoping that Wright can get them that (in a trade). (I was asked) 'Could you see them doing Wright for Lafreniere?' I don't know how both teams feel... But when I thought about that, that's not the worst idea I've ever heard... Both players could use a change of scenery... I think there's logic behind it.”
In 49 games this season, Wright has tallied seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points while averaging 13:44 minutes.
My family and I spent some 17 hours of our Australian summer holidays road-tripping, nothing but the open road and the music blaring through the car speakers to stimulate our senses. It was during this—somewhere in-between my country shuffle and the kids’ umpteenth play of“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters—that the idea spawned: when you think of the Bucks’ season so far, what song(s) come to mind? And so it was born—Brew Hoop’s midseason mixtape.
Finn: “man at the garden” by Kendrick Lamar
Defining lyric:“Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, m*****f*****.”
Connection: On “man at the garden,” Kendrick powerfully asserts his merit for, as he repeats time and time again, “it all.” The superstar rapper cites the work he’s put in (“wakin’ up at 6 a.m./six miles a day, conditionin’ my wind”) and the commendable morals and approaches he’s moved through life with (“I see you as a human first/even when you didn’t understand your worth”), delivering his bars in a way that’s borderline cockily braggadocios, but also just unabashedly honest, as the premise of the song is a man explaining why he deserves to enter a biblical paradise. Kendrick’s attitude on this track feels like a strong match for Giannis this season, especially after the events from the Timberwolves blowout. “I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me what or how I should act on the basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years and I’m basically the all-time leader in everything,” Antetokounmpo said when asked about his booing exchange with Milwaukee fans. That’s not the humility we’re used to seeing from the MVP and it’s understandable—frustration has followed the big fella wherever he’s gone this year. He’s in a position where he wants “it all” and he’s earned “it all,” as well as the right to let the world know. Now, it’s up to the Bucks to prove why they deserve their greatest of all time.
Zac: “Heads You Win” by Charley Crockett
Defining lyric:“I should’ve seen it coming/But fools like me never do/Heads, you win/Tails, I lose.”
Connection: I had a long look at Crockett’s “Welcome to Hard Times” before deciding on this one. “Heads You Win” documents a cowboy’s longing for a lost love, one that stays with him like a “living apparition.” Substitute the lost lover for the Bucks of recent years—heck, even the Bucks that have appeared at certain times this season—and the song works just as well. In this reading, we—Bucks fans—are the narrator, coming to the realisation that, despite all the optimism of the off-season, we really “should’ve seen [this season’s struggles] coming”. Yet, just like the cowboy, “fools like [us] never do.” It also reframes the pain of fandom, acknowledging that “if [we] are being honest/It really ain’t [the Bucks’] fault.” And while we’ve been stuck on a “corner/Spilling memories” of recent glory, Jon Horst has kept flipping coins, only for luck to land the wrong way (injuries, perfect fits on paper not materialising etc.). In the end, “you”—other NBA teams, opposing fans, media—invariably win whether it’s heads or tails, as the Bucks just can’t get it together on a consistent basis and we are left with hearts that “can hardly stand it” and minds that are “unglued,” stuck with a team not good enough to contend and without the assets to make a rebuild attractive.
Jack: “Thought It Was” by Iann Dior feat. Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker
Defining lyric:“I lost my mind/Chasing a feeling in the hills at night/City of Angels, but it hurts sometimes/ Finally made it, but it don’t feel right/Don’t feel like I thought it would.”
Connection: OK, I cheated a bit since I couldn’t think of a song that accurately conveyed my feelings about this season. However, I did find the above song, whose chorus could apply to the last five seasons since Milwaukee won the title in 2021. Put simply, the Bucks have been “losing their mind” by “chasing the feeling” of winning a title. They “finally made” the trade that they believed would get them back there (Lillard), but it “didn’t feel right.” It “didn’t feel like they thought it would.”
Morgan: “We Beseech Thee” by the New Broadway Cast of Godspell (feat. Nick Blaemire)
Defining lyric:“Father, hear thy children’s call/Humbly at thy feet we fall/Prodigals confessing all/We beseech thee, hear us!”
Connection: I’ve been playing this album on repeat after the sibling gifted it to me this Christmas. What does a Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame) musical about the gospels have to do with the 2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks, you ask? This instant ear worm is essentially a repeated chorus ending with, “We beseech thee, hear us!”
Van: “Keep The Customer Satisfied” by Simon & Garfunkel
Defining lyric:“And I’m one step ahead of the shoeshine/Two steps away from the county line/Just trying to keep my customers satisfied/Satisfied!”
Connection: While the title and that lyric might sound a bit on the nose, and not all the lyrics are corollary, this deeper cut by one of my all-time faves immediately popped into my head when thinking about these Bucks. From the iconic duo’s last album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, this was a Paul Simon composition that may allude to his songwriting exhaustion under high expectations and undue criticism. That informed his writing on The Boxer, the album’s lead single, so it probably did here too. Now, this team is certainly facing a lot of just criticism, but the Prohibition-era references feel particularly apt: they’re barely managing to stay above poverty (shining shoes for richer folks/teams) but not quite as close to relative safety (evading mobsters/vultures who want Giannis across the county line/.500 line). They’re in between, trying to keep fans (and Giannis) satisfied. But unlike Simon’s fans, they’re not currently succeeding.
Zac: “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers
Defining lyric: “To put it plain, I just don’t like you/Not a thing about the way you is/And if there ever come a time I got rabies/You’re high on my bitin’ list.”
Connection: I’ll preface this by saying that my connection is solely to the season itself and not any of the Bucks players. You might find it particularly fitting for some though—or even coaching or front office staff. I won’t judge. Promise. A good ol’ sing-along, “Bitin’ List” is one for those of us who need to purge after the frustrations of this season: blowouts to bottom feeders, losing streaks, underwhelming play from our preseason second and third ranked players. So, yeah, if I indeed did have rabies—and the first half of the 2025-26 season was something, you know, tangible—you can bet your bottom dollar that I’d be finding a way to bite it. But only after I’d sharpened my teeth.
Matthew: “Waiting in Vain” by Bob Marley
Defining lyric:“I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.”
Connection: The defining lyric could apply to many things for Giannis this season. Specifically, I thought of it first as Giannis not wanting to wait around for this team to be a contender, because he wants to play meaningful basketball now—not to mention the feeling of waiting to come back from injury and waiting to decide if he will be on the team or not. Other lyrics, like “Don’t treat me like a puppet on a strong/Cuz I know how to do my thing,” also help to reinforce the feeling of how this trade process has been stringing us and him along.
Zac: “Sorrow” by The National
Defining lyric:“Don’t leave my hyper heart alone on the water/Cover me in rag and bone sympathy/‘Cause I don’t wanna get over you/I don’t wanna get over you.”
Connection: One of my favourite songs of all time, “Sorrow” is a portrait of all-consuming lows. Regarding the Bucks’ season, the lyrics stay true but find new meaning, with the opening line—“Sorrow found me when I was young”—a fitting reminder of the losses that found the Bucks following the season’s opening week and a half. And, like the sorrow that finds itself in the speaker’s “honey” and “milk,” sorrow has tainted the pleasures of the Bucks’ season too (see KPJ going down on opening night; the blowout loss to the Nets following what felt like a momentum-building win against the Celtics etc.). But it’s the song’s chorus that’s most poignant: our hearts are still “hyper” and, despite the losses and the injuries and the trade rumours—the season’s sorrows—we “don’t wanna get over” it, and so we keep coming back for more.
Matthew: “Make It Better” by Anderson .Paak
Defining lyric:“Make it better.”
Connection: For a more positive spin, this entire song works as a metaphor for how Giannis and the Bucks have fallen on hard times with their love, but are trying to mend it and make it work. We have to acknowledge the difficulties of the season, but this option is hopeful!
There you have it, from hip hop to country, gospel to reggae, this Bucks season has reverberated across the musical spectrum. It shouldn’t be surprising; after all, basketball is music—the bounce of the ball, the flick of the net, the thumping systole and diastole that comes whether you’re catching a body or watching it happen from the stands. And while the first half of 2025-26 might have mustered mostly melancholy, a key trade or coaching change could easily see the second half turn euphonious.
As always, share your thoughts on our selections in the comments—and don’t forget to queue a track or two of your own!
Craig Berube had 241 fighting majors in his NHL career, but the massive wound he showed off Friday didn’t come from dropping the gloves.
The Maple Leafs head coach suffered a nasty cut requiring several stitches across his forehead and a black out in an accident while working out at a gym Thursday.
“Yeah, I’ll address it, because you’re gonna see it tonight. I had an accident in the gym yesterday,” Berube said when asked by a reporter if he was “OK” following the morning skate ahead of Friday’s game against the Golden Knights. “The other guy looks way worse. There was three of ’em.
Craig Berube showed off a gnarly cut on his head after what he described a a gym accident.
“No, it’s tough. It was stupid. It was just a bad accident, and it’s on me. My fault, and yeah, I’m fine.”
When asked if he expects to be behind the bench against Vegas, the 60-year-old Berube nodded and replied, “yes.”
Berube played 17 NHL seasons for five teams, including one with the Islanders in 2000-01, amassing 159 points and 3,149 penalty minutes over 1,054 games.
Leafs HC Craig Berube reveals a massive gash on his head as the result of an accident in the gym. pic.twitter.com/zVQ25tDGVi
The former enforcer in his second year coaching the Maple Leafs (76-43-13) after spending the previous six seasons with the Blues, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2019. The Alberta native was fired by St. Louis in Dec. 2023 following a 13-14-1 start.
The New York Yankees claimed Michael Siani off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, continuing a busy offseason transactionally for the center fielder in his fourth organization in the last four months.
The 26-year-old has played parts of the last four seasons in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. A .221/.271/.270 career hitter, Siani is much more known for his outfield defense, with 17 career Outs Above Average in only 1,014 innings, a little over two-thirds of a season.
Siani ended last season with the Cardinals, for whom the bulk of his major league playing time has come. He was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on November 6, then claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on December 12, before getting claimed on Friday by the Yankees.
In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.
Fourteen teams play twice this weekend, including the Celtics, Nets, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Pelicans, Thunder, Suns, Kings and Raptors. Prioritize those teams if you’re looking to maximize your games played.
That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.
Absolute must-start: Mavericks F Naji Marshall
Marshall has consistently been one of the best streaming options in fantasy basketball over the last few seasons when he gets the chance to start. As a starter over the past two weeks, Marshall has averaged 21.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 3-pointer per game while shooting 57.3% from the floor.
This weekend, he’ll be matched up against the Lakers and Bucks on a back-to-back. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating and rebounding percentage over their last five games. Marshall’s recent production, combined with two favorable matchups this weekend, is a recipe for him to have another monster weekend.
Guards
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant has been ruled out with an elbow sprain for Friday’s game and could remain out on Sunday. Anytime Morant is out, Spencer should be streamed in confidently. Spencer is averaging 11.4 points and 9.3 assists per game in 10 starts this season, and they get to take on the Pelicans and Nuggets this weekend. Both teams have struggled on defense in recent weeks.
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
Rollins has been at his best this season when Kevin Porter Jr. isn’t in the lineup. KPJ is expected to miss an extended period of time with an oblique injury, so Rollins should be in for a productive weekend. He’s averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.5 triples per game this year when KPJ doesn’t play, and Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets is favorable, even if Sunday’s game against the Mavericks will be tougher.
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks
Christie has been on fire lately, and he is set up this weekend with two favorable matchups. He is averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 5.3 triples over his last three games and gets to take on the Lakers and Bucks in a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. Over their last 10 games, the Lakers are 24th in defensive rating, while the Bucks are 27th. Look for Christie to stay hot this weekend.
Forwards
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tell me if you’ve heard this story before: Tyson is stepping up for the Cavs while other perimeter players are injured. Over the past week, he has averaged 23.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.3 triples per game. Friday’s matchup with the Kings should be easier for him than Saturday’s against the Magic, but that’s enough for him to be worth starting this weekend.
Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics
Hauser’s value is tied to his shooting from deep, and he has been unreal as of late. This is definitely a scenario to ride the hot hand. He’s been starting lately, and over the past two weeks, he has averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 3s per game while shooting 56.1% from the floor. Brooklyn is the Friday matchup, and they have struggled on defense recently. Saturday’s game against the Bulls isn’t quite as favorable, but Chicago hasn’t fielded an elite defense by any means.
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
Coward has been solid all year, but he gets to take on two struggling defenses this weekend, which should lead to some big production. As mentioned previously, both the Nuggets and Pelicans have poor defensive ratings over their last 10 games. Coward hasn’t popped recently, but he has been consistently productive and has the upside to go off.
Centers
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors
The status of Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) is what prevents Mamu from being the absolute must-start of the week. CMB could play, and Mamu should still be productive if he does. However, if CMB remains out, the sky will be the limit for Mamu. Over his last four games, Mamu has averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 triples per game. They’ll take on the Thunder on Sunday, and OKC has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league for most of the season.
Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns
Williams’ up-and-down minutes allocation has been frustrating at times, but this weekend is set up for him to thrive. They’ll take on the Hawks and Heat, and they rank 23rd and 26th in rebounding percentage over their last 10 games. Miami has also struggled to defend the paint recently, and both teams play at a fast pace, which means extra possessions for Williams to produce.
Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Queta is currently questionable with an illness, so if he doesn’t suit up, this spot would turn to Luka Garza or Xavier Tillman. Queta hasn’t missed a game since November, and Tillman started in his place for that one. They’ll take on the Nets and Bulls this weekend, and Brooklyn has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league recently. Queta has been awesome all season and should feast on the Nets down low.
At Mavs Moneyball we operate out of an instance of Slack, that’s how we do business, chat, watch games, etc. It’s one of those things I wish we could open to the public (a Discord?) but I don’t have time to manage one more thing. So sometime I’ll come back to a given Slack channel and see enough for an article. The Draft channel is easily the one where things get the most intense. So we’re going to do a weekly post: what is your hottest draft take from this last week of games or watching tape?
Tyler: Christian Anderson Jr. should have more consideration as a potential lottery guy in this class. Anderson was a standout at the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, earning all-tournament honors. The other two guys to earn those honors? AJ Dybantsa and Mikel Brown Jr., who both should go top 10 in this draft.
On the season, Anderson Jr. is averaging over 20 points and seven assists per contest, while shooting 49% from the floor and over 45% from three. He also plays basically every minute of every game. Anderson Jr. has played 37+ minutes in 17 straight games, going the full 40 in six of them. He’s a workhorse guard who is playing with elite efficiency and orchestrating the entire offense.
Even with the known concerns about his size (just 178 pounds) and athleticism, the Texas Tech product deserves to be in that same tier as your other mid-to-late lottery guards. He’s that good.
Joe: My Hottest take right now is that Dailyn Swain could go as high as late lottery. Not saying he will go that high, but I see the vision. Swain is one of the more intriguing long-term wing bets in this class. He is a 21-year-old two-way connector with size, athleticism, and a game that translates better to the NBA than to a cramped college floor. This season, he is averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting an efficient 56 percent from the field.
The jumper is the clear swing skill at 27 percent from three and 65 percent from the line, but he has improved his production and efficiency every year, keeping his developmental arrow pointing up. Swain impacts games without requiring high usage. He is a good cutter who relocates well, runs the floor hard, and finishes downhill with either hand. In transition, he can handle, pass, and create advantages without forcing shots. As a passer, he plays with feel, even if he occasionally tries to make a difficult read instead of taking the simple one.
Defensively, his versatility drives his value. He can already guard positions one through three and has the frame and mobility to eventually take on some fours in switching schemes. His length, instincts, and movement give him real lineup flexibility at the next level.
The shooting will decide how far he goes. His mechanics and confidence from deep need work, but his efficiency inside the arc, cutting, and transition play already give him ways to score. In an NBA environment with more spacing, his downhill game and defensive impact should pop. If the jumper comes around, Swain profiles as the kind of high-level rotation wing every good team needs.
Kirk: I don’t really contribute much to draft content, I don’t have the bandwidth. But I saw Nathan Grubel appear on Locked on Mavs and how he talked about Cameron Boozer and I felt compelled to dig deeper. And I just don’t get it. The top of the NBA Draft is about selecting someone who can change your franchise. Numbers are numbers but when I’ve watched Boozer I haven’t felt the impact. Maybe I am crazy but pairing him with Flagg seems like a tremendous waste of a pick and fixes none of the current Maverick problems. Of course that would be a nice problem to have, drafting that high I mean, but that whole take from Nathan. doesn’t pass my casual eye test.
Bryan: Darryn Peterson at 21.6p/4.6r/1.9a on 49/42/82 shooting splits is number one with a bullet in this class and the ongoing debate about Cam Boozer or AJ Dybantsa possibly being drafted first instead still confounds me a bit. Peterson is the most complete prospect in this class and will enter the draft process as the best guard prospect since John Wall in 2010. He’s dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him off the court for a long while and affected his ability to move and drive for a while after his return, but he is usually an explosive athlete both vertically and laterally. Darryn’s an outstanding finisher who can do it with craft, finesse, and explosive leaping ability paired with being a fluid ballhandler with an array of moves, counters, fakes and mid-range step-backs.
His most criticized skill after what some believed to be an outlier senior year of shooting has proven to be elite indeed as he’s now a knockdown three point shooter off the bounce (both in iso and PNR) and off the catch (both standstill and as a movement shooter flying around screens). He has yet to turn the ball over this season as a pick-and-roll ballhandler and has flatly been the best scorer on or off ball in the class. Oh, and he’s also the best defensive prospect in the class not named Jaden Quaintance or Caleb Wilson and has been since high school.
This guy is inevitable and frankly the only reason debate rages on about who should be first overall this coming June is because he’s missed time due to the hamstring (an injury that can linger if not fully healed and very easily be tweaked again) and a need for content to fill the draft news cycle (stone, glass house, yadda yadda). If the Mavericks miraculously land the number one pick again, I know who I’m taking.
David S.: My hot take is Keaton Wagler is a lottery pick and I don’t mean at 14th. Stop me when hear something that doesn’t make an NBA scout drool.. Wagler is an 18 year old jumbo secondary initiator with a tight handle that can shoot the three, has great passing skills, and a high IQ player. He is more crafty than athletic, but his height, ability change speeds, shoot, and distribute the basketball make him an elite offensive weapon on and off the ball. Wagler is averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists with only 1.4 turnovers. Wagler is shooting around 40% from behind the arch and 82% from the free throw line.
Defensively Wagler’s length and IQ make him a promising defender in the NBA. On tape he has a long wing span, but we likely won’t know how long til the NBA combine. Physically Wagler will need to add more muscle to his wiry frame be a solid wing defender at the next level.
While I don’t see Wagler as a number one option in the NBA. If he becomes an average defender, he has the tools to help spread the floor for a teams number one option. The 6’6 combo guard will benefit greatly from an Illini deep run in the March Tournament.
MIAMI (AP) — A former Miami Heat security officer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution for stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia while working for the team.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was sentenced earlier this month, according to court records. He pleaded guilty last August to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
The 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.
“This defendant was a former police officer who betrayed the public trust and exploited his access to our beloved hometown team for personal gain,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones said in a statement. “The Miami Heat represent excellence built through hard work and discipline in South Florida — and this conduct was the opposite."
According to federal prosecutors and the FBI, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold items through various online marketplaces. He had access because he worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center. He was one of a few employees with access to a secured equipment room that stored memorabilia the Heat organization planned to display in a future team museum.
Over a three-year period, authorities say Perez sold more than 100 stolen items for approximately $1.9 million and shipped them across state lines, often at bargain prices. They say he sold a Miami Heat jersey LeBron James wore during the NBA Finals for approximately $100,000. That same jersey later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s home last April and recovered nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, officials said. The Miami Heat confirmed the items had been stolen from their facility.
The Clippers were in control for the majority of the game against the Lakers on Thursday night.
They jumped out to a double-digit lead early and had everything going their way. By halftime, the trio of Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden were all in double figures.
Kobe Sanders was also dominating, shooting a perfect 3-3 from the bench. Each of his shots was a 3-pointer, and the other LA team led by 17 points after two quarters.
Sure, the Lakers came back and the contest went down to the wire, but they still lost to the Clippers.
Considering how well they played in the second half, it’s clear that their poor defensive play in the opening quarters cost them the game.
During his postgame media availability, Luka Dončić acknowledged this.
“We just got to be better in the first half,” Luka said. “The last three games, I think our defense was excellent in the second half. We just have to translate that to the first half.”
Luka is right about the poor starts in recent losses. In two of their last three games, they’ve been down by 13 or more points entering the third quarter. That’s not a recipe for success.
While Luka mentioned a poor first half defense as an issue to address, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned the team needed to pass the ball more and trust each other offensively.
Had the Lakers done more of that against the Clippers, they likely wouldn’t have had such a big hole to dig out of in the second half.
A team can’t win a game during the opening quarters, but it can certainly lose one.
Being down by so much means not only do you have to go on multiple runs to win, but all the breaks have to go your way. The opposing team has to go cold, no major calls can go against you and clutch time execution has to be perfection.
That’s a lot to ask a team to do expecially on the road.
The Lakers accomplished this in their victory over the Nuggets, but again, that’s not how a good team consistenlty wins games.
Playing a full 48 at a high standard is how you create a winnning culture and dominate in a very comeptitve Western Conference.
This loss against the Clippers is a reminder that the Lakers have work to do to become the team they want to be come playoff time.
With a lot of the top positional talent in the system under 20 years of age, it’s no surprise that the two players that land in the Top 100 are both pitchers. That said, 19 year old left handed pitcher Cam Caminiti leads the charge for the Braves coming in at No. 53 overall. Cam had a fantastic 2025 season that saw him pitch a combined 70 innings across two levels (FCL & Low-A) finishing the season on an absolute tear for Augusta – posting a 2.08 ERA, 11.98 K/9, and 4.15 BB/9. It’s been well documented here that Cam was mainly a two pitch pitcher last year, focusing on his fastball command and sweeper, occasionally throwing in a changeup. 2026 is a big season, as it is expected that the Braves fully unleash Cam and his talented arsenal.
Also coming up with a strong season, and coming in at No. 84 overall, is JR Ritchie. JR pitched across three levels last season (A+, AA, AAA) where he threw a combined 140 innings, had a 2.64 ERA, while maintaining a 9.0 K/9, and 3.47 BB/9. At 22 years of age, JR will be pushing the Braves to include him in Atlanta plans during the spring where he may be a potential addition to the rotation should he show continued strong play. If not, he is likely one of the first arms up should/when the Braves need an additional starting pitcher.
While the Braves landed just two this season, there is a chance that number increases as a number of the positional prospects showcased strong seasons last year in Low-A and A-ball.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day is a welcome initiative but meaningful change will only come with a structural approach
The riverside walk to the Australian Open courts is a scenic joy for the sporting pilgrim. Rowing crews train up and down the water, framed by the city’s sun-flecked skyline. The Melbourne Cricket Ground floodlights signal distantly ahead. Beneath the feet of the crowds hurrying to ticket barriers, the concrete path transforms into an artwork: a twisting confluence of eels honouring their Yarra River migration, which once provided abundant food for the Wurundjeri people.
On Wednesday the celebration of country continued inside the precinct. This was Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day, when the tournament celebrates First Nations people and culture. A packed schedule of entertainment included a smoking ceremony on the steps of Margaret Court Arena, a Q&A with Cathy Freeman, and a performance from the Coodjinburra pop star Budjerah. There were taster sessions and weaving workshops, and all the ball kids were from tennis programmes for Indigenous peoples.
